Collocations for ball - noun
1. round object in games
ADJ.
billiard, cricket, golf, rugby, tennis, etc. | beach | match, practice
VERB + BALL
play with | bat, blast, bounce, bowl, chip, dribble, head, hit, kick, roll, strike, throw
The kids love to kick a ball against my wall.
The kids love to kick a ball against my wall.
clear, cross, pass | catch, stop
He caught the ball.
He caught the ball.
control, trap | chase
She chased the ball all over the pitch.
She chased the ball all over the pitch.
retrieve, run down | return
The fielders try to retrieve the ball quickly and return it to the bowler.
The fielders try to retrieve the ball quickly and return it to the bowler.
miss
The goalkeeper missed the ball.
The goalkeeper missed the ball.
drop, let go of
Oh no! He''s dropped the ball.
Oh no! He''s dropped the ball.
handle | give away, lose | win | retain
BALL + VERB
fly, go, roll, sail
The ball flew over the bar into the sea of Middlesbrough fans. | The ball''s gone over the fence.
The ball flew over the bar into the sea of Middlesbrough fans. | The ball''s gone over the fence.
hit, land
The ball hit the wall and rolled along the road.
The ball hit the wall and rolled along the road.
bounce, rebound
BALL + NOUN
game | control, skills
His ball control was excellent.
His ball control was excellent.
2. kick/hit of a ball
ADJ.
good, great, superb | bad, loose | high, low
He sent over a high ball.
He sent over a high ball.
long, short | quick, slow | cross, through
a superb through ball from John Scott
a superb through ball from John Scott
hand
He was penalized for hand ball.
He was penalized for hand ball.
VERB + BALL
play, send | pick up, pounce on, punish
He pounced on a loose ball and scored.
He pounced on a loose ball and scored.
PREP.
~ from
a great ball from Beckham
a great ball from Beckham
3. round object like a ball
ADJ.
tight | fiery
The sun was a fiery ball, low on the hills.
The sun was a fiery ball, low on the hills.
crystal
(= used for telling fortunes) Without a crystal ball it''s impossible to say where we''ll be next year.
(= used for telling fortunes) Without a crystal ball it''s impossible to say where we''ll be next year.
cannon, musket
VERB + BALL
curl/roll (up) into
The little girl curled up into a ball in her mother''s arms.
The little girl curled up into a ball in her mother''s arms.
form/make sth into, roll/screw sth (up) into, shape sth into
He screwed the letter up into a tight ball.
He screwed the letter up into a tight ball.
PHRASES
a ball of fire/flame, a ball of string/wool
a ball and chain
(figurative) The responsibility was a ball and chain around my ankle.
(figurative) The responsibility was a ball and chain around my ankle.
4. party
ADJ.
college, charity, hunt | costume, fancy dress, masked
We''re going to a masked ball.
We''re going to a masked ball.
VERB + BALL
have, hold, organize
We''re organizing a charity ball.
We''re organizing a charity ball.
attend, go to
BALL + NOUN
gown
ADJ.
at a/the ~
She met him at the college ball.
She met him at the college ball.