Collocations for country - noun
1. area of land with its own government
ADJ.
beautiful, fascinating, great
this great country of ours
this great country of ours
hot, tropical | temperate | cold | foreign, overseas, strange
It''s difficult to live in a foreign country when you don''t speak the language. | students from overseas countries | What must it be like, to grow old in a strange country?
It''s difficult to live in a foreign country when you don''t speak the language. | students from overseas countries | What must it be like, to grow old in a strange country?
home, native | adopted
Many refugee servicemen gave their lives for their adopted country.
Many refugee servicemen gave their lives for their adopted country.
host
The refugees do jobs that workers in the host country refuse to do.
The refugees do jobs that workers in the host country refuse to do.
neighbouring | distant, far, faraway | independent | occupied | free
‘It''s a free country!’ he shouted. ‘I can do what I like.’
‘It''s a free country!’ he shouted. ‘I can do what I like.’
enemy, friendly | neutral, non-aligned | Arab, African, etc. | Eastern, Western, etc. | Anglophone, English-speaking, etc. | EU, NATO, etc. | member, non-member
OECD member countries
OECD member countries
developed, industrial/industrialized | developing, Thirld World, underdeveloped
industrially backward countries
industrially backward countries
advanced
economically advanced countries
economically advanced countries
backward | low-income, poor | affluent, rich | capitalist, communist, democratic, socialist | Catholic, Muslim, etc. | oil-exporting, oil-producing
VERB + COUNTRY
govern, rule, run
The country was ruled by a brutal dictatorship. | the politicians who run the country
The country was ruled by a brutal dictatorship. | the politicians who run the country
lead
He accused the government of leading the country to disaster.
He accused the government of leading the country to disaster.
divide, split
The issue of the single currency has divided the country.
The issue of the single currency has divided the country.
flee, leave
The former president has been forced to flee the country.
The former president has been forced to flee the country.
serve | love
He loved his country deeply.
He loved his country deeply.
betray | play for, represent
She represented her country at the Sydney Olympics.
She represented her country at the Sydney Olympics.
tour, travel, visit
He travelled the country on his motorbike.
He travelled the country on his motorbike.
COUNTRY + VERB
border sth
countries bordering the Black Sea
countries bordering the Black Sea
export sth, import sth
The country exports around 80% of its output.
The country exports around 80% of its output.
agree sth, sign sth
The two countries signed a basic treaty of cooperation.
The two countries signed a basic treaty of cooperation.
PREP.
across a/the ~
travelling across the country
travelling across the country
all over a/the ~
They are holding special events all over the country.
They are holding special events all over the country.
around/round a/the ~
This is just one of 30 sites around the country.
This is just one of 30 sites around the country.
in a/the ~
people who live in this country
people who live in this country
throughout a/the ~
New schools are being built throughout the country.
New schools are being built throughout the country.
PHRASES
country of origin
All goods must be clearly labelled with their country of origin.
All goods must be clearly labelled with their country of origin.
a part of a country
There will be rain in many parts of the country tomorrow.
There will be rain in many parts of the country tomorrow.
the country as a whole
The rich benefited from the reforms, not the country as a whole.
The rich benefited from the reforms, not the country as a whole.
2. area of land with particular features
ADJ.
desert, hill/hilly, mountain/mountainous, open, wooded
The village is surrounded by miles and miles of open country.
The village is surrounded by miles and miles of open country.
rough, wild | farming
This part of Africa is rich farming country.
This part of Africa is rich farming country.
hunting, walking
superb walking country
superb walking country
QUANT.
stretch, tract
a beautiful stretch of country Whole tracts of country, once fertile, have become arid.
a beautiful stretch of country Whole tracts of country, once fertile, have become arid.
3. land away from towns/cities
COUNTRY + NOUN
life | air | lane, road | area, district | town, village | cottage, estate, home, house, mansion, residence, retreat, seat | park | walk | boy, girl | gentleman, squire | dweller, folk, people
PREP.
across ~
riding across country
riding across country
in the ~
She lives in the country.
She lives in the country.