Collocations for act - noun
1. thing that sb does
ADJ.
charitable, kind | heroic
a heroic act of bravery
a heroic act of bravery
aggressive, barbaric, hostile, provocative, terrorist, violent | appalling, despicable, outrageous, terrible | criminal, illegal, unlawful, wrongful | careless, foolish, impulsive | conscious, deliberate, positive, voluntary, wilful | private
a private act of revenge
a private act of revenge
public | creative, dramatic, physical, political, symbolic | homosexual, sex/sexual | balancing, disappearing, juggling, vanishing
The UN must perform a difficult balancing act between the two sides in the conflict.
The UN must perform a difficult balancing act between the two sides in the conflict.
VERB + ACT
commit
(law),
(law),
perform
charged with committing an act of gross indecency
charged with committing an act of gross indecency
PREP.
in the ~ of
(= doing something)
(= doing something)
~ of
For Jane, the act of writing was always difficult.
For Jane, the act of writing was always difficult.
PHRASES
an act of faith, love, violence, will, worship, etc., catch sb in the act (of doing sth)
He was caught in the act of stealing.
He was caught in the act of stealing.
the simple/very act of doing sth
The very act of writing out your plan clarifies what you need to do.
The very act of writing out your plan clarifies what you need to do.
2. (also ‘Act’) law made by a government
VERB + ACT
bring in, introduce, pass
The Act was passed by a majority of 175 votes to 143.
The Act was passed by a majority of 175 votes to 143.
amend | repeal
The old Act has now been repealed.
The old Act has now been repealed.
breach, contravene
The company had breached the 1994 Companies Act.
The company had breached the 1994 Companies Act.
ACT + VERB
become law, come into force
The new Children''s Act will come into force next year.
The new Children''s Act will come into force next year.
contain sth, say sth, state sth
The Act contains regulations for banks and building societies.
The Act contains regulations for banks and building societies.
PREP.
under an/the ~
He was charged under the Firearms Act of 1977.
He was charged under the Firearms Act of 1977.
3. entertainment; entertainers
ADJ.
class
(informal) (used for sb who does sth well) Their new striker looks a class act.
(informal) (used for sb who does sth well) Their new striker looks a class act.
double
comedy double act French and Saunders
comedy double act French and Saunders
live
their reputation as one of rock''s most impressive live acts
their reputation as one of rock''s most impressive live acts
main, support
The main act will come on at about ten o''clock.
The main act will come on at about ten o''clock.
cabaret, circus, comedy, song-and-dance, stage, variety
VERB + ACT
do, perform
He does a little song-and-dance act.
He does a little song-and-dance act.
rehearse, work on
4. division of a play
ADJ.
opening | final, last | first, second, etc.
PREP.
in (the) ~
The king is killed in the opening act.
The king is killed in the opening act.
5. insincere behaviour
VERB + ACT
put on
Don''t take any notice - she''s just putting on an act!
Don''t take any notice - she''s just putting on an act!