Collocations for feeling - noun
1. sth that you feel/sense/believe
ADJ.
strong | definite, distinct | nagging, sneaking/sneaky, vague
I had a nagging feeling that I had forgotten something.
I had a nagging feeling that I had forgotten something.
glorious, good, great, marvellous, warm, wonderful
It was a good feeling to be arriving home again.
It was a good feeling to be arriving home again.
horrible, nasty, queasy, sick, sinking, terrible, tight, uncomfortable, uneasy
He suddenly had a terrible sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. | I''ve got a tight feeling in my stomach.
He suddenly had a terrible sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. | I''ve got a tight feeling in my stomach.
guilty | curious, eerie, odd, peculiar, strange | gut, instinctive
My gut feeling was that we couldn''t trust her.
My gut feeling was that we couldn''t trust her.
general, popular, public
The general feeling of the meeting was against the decision.
The general feeling of the meeting was against the decision.
VERB + FEELING
feel, get, have
He felt a wonderful warm feeling come over him. | Do you get the feeling that we''re not welcome here?
He felt a wonderful warm feeling come over him. | Do you get the feeling that we''re not welcome here?
give sb, leave sb with
She was left with the feeling that he did not care.
She was left with the feeling that he did not care.
know
(informal) ‘I really resent the way he treated me.’ ‘I know the feeling (= I know how you feel).’
(informal) ‘I really resent the way he treated me.’ ‘I know the feeling (= I know how you feel).’
arouse, evoke, inspire
a case that has aroused strong public feeling
a case that has aroused strong public feeling
FEELING + VERB
come over sb | be mutual
‘I''m going to miss you.’ ‘The feeling''s mutual (= I feel exactly the same).’
‘I''m going to miss you.’ ‘The feeling''s mutual (= I feel exactly the same).’
PREP.
~ about
I don''t have any strong feelings about it one way or the other.
I don''t have any strong feelings about it one way or the other.
~ of
a feeling of excitement
a feeling of excitement
~ on
What are your feelings on this issue?
What are your feelings on this issue?
2. feelings: emotions
ADJ.
deep, intense, strong | ambivalent, mixed
I had mixed feelings about meeting them again.
I had mixed feelings about meeting them again.
positive, warm | hostile, negative | hurt, injured | inner, innermost, real, true | pent-up
releasing her pent-up feelings
releasing her pent-up feelings
personal | religious | sexual
VERB + FEELING
experience, harbour, have, suffer
She experienced a whole range of feelings. | He still harboured feelings of resentment. | She was lucky that she had suffered no more than hurt feelings.
She experienced a whole range of feelings. | He still harboured feelings of resentment. | She was lucky that she had suffered no more than hurt feelings.
express, give vent to, release, show, vent
He finds it difficult to express his feelings. | I finally gave vent to my feelings and started yelling at him.
He finds it difficult to express his feelings. | I finally gave vent to my feelings and started yelling at him.
articulate, describe, discuss, talk about
discussing his innermost feelings with me
discussing his innermost feelings with me
bottle up, hide, mask, repress, suppress
trying to hide her true feelings
trying to hide her true feelings
banish
He was determined to banish all feelings of guilt.
He was determined to banish all feelings of guilt.
hurt
I''m sorry if I''ve hurt your feelings.
I''m sorry if I''ve hurt your feelings.
spare
We didn''t tell Jane because we wanted to spare her feelings.
We didn''t tell Jane because we wanted to spare her feelings.
arouse, engender, evoke, inspire
The debate aroused strong feelings on both sides.
The debate aroused strong feelings on both sides.
heighten
It was the practical aspect of life that heightened her feelings of loneliness and loss.
It was the practical aspect of life that heightened her feelings of loneliness and loss.
understand | reciprocate, return
Although she did not reciprocate his feelings, she did not discourage him.
Although she did not reciprocate his feelings, she did not discourage him.
FEELING + VERB
come into sth
Personal feelings don''t come into it - we have to do what''s right.
Personal feelings don''t come into it - we have to do what''s right.
run high
Feelings were running high (= people were very angry or excited) as the meeting continued.
Feelings were running high (= people were very angry or excited) as the meeting continued.
PREP.
~ for
It makes no difference to my feelings for you.
It makes no difference to my feelings for you.
~ of
his feelings of grief
his feelings of grief
~ towards
her feelings of anger towards him
her feelings of anger towards him
PHRASES
no hard feelings
(informal) Someone''s got to lose. No hard feelings, Dave, eh?
(informal) Someone''s got to lose. No hard feelings, Dave, eh?
3. understanding/sensitivity
ADJ.
great, wonderful
VERB + FEELING
have | develop
He had developed a feeling for when not to disturb her.
He had developed a feeling for when not to disturb her.
PREP.
with ~
She spoke with feeling about the plight of the homeless.
She spoke with feeling about the plight of the homeless.
~ for
She has a wonderful feeling for colour.
She has a wonderful feeling for colour.
4. sympathy/love
VERB + FEELING
have
You have no feeling for the sufferings of others.
You have no feeling for the sufferings of others.
PREP.
~ for
She still had a lot of feeling for David.
She still had a lot of feeling for David.
5. anger
ADJ.
bad, ill
VERB + FEELING
cause, create, lead to | stir up
PREP.
~ against
Their aim was to stir up feeling against the war.
Their aim was to stir up feeling against the war.
~ between
There was a lot of bad feeling between the two groups of students.
There was a lot of bad feeling between the two groups of students.
6. ability to feel physically
VERB + FEELING
lose | regain
PREP.
~ in
After the accident he lost all feeling in his legs.
After the accident he lost all feeling in his legs.
7. atmosphere
VERB + FEELING
create, recreate
They have managed to recreate the feeling of the original theatre.
They have managed to recreate the feeling of the original theatre.
PREP.
~ of
Light colours create a feeling of spaciousness.
Light colours create a feeling of spaciousness.