Collocations for hero - noun
ADJECTIVE
big,
great
He was one of the great football heroes of his day.
He was one of the great football heroes of his day.
genuine,
real,
true
all-time
Einstein is the all-time hero of many scientists.
all-time
Einstein is the all-time hero of many scientists.
unsung
She was an unsung hero of the British film industry.
She was an unsung hero of the British film industry.
forgotten
reluctant, unlikely
brave, intrepid
The song remembers the brave heroes who died for their country.
reluctant, unlikely
brave, intrepid
The song remembers the brave heroes who died for their country.
romantic,
tragic
Being short and overweight, he was an unlikely romantic hero.
Being short and overweight, he was an unlikely romantic hero.
action,
swashbuckling
Tired of playing the swashbuckling hero, he sought out more challenging roles.
Tired of playing the swashbuckling hero, he sought out more challenging roles.
conquering
He returned home from the tournament a conquering hero.
He returned home from the tournament a conquering hero.
all-American
(BrE)
have-a-go (= sb who is not in the police, etc. who tries to prevent a crime)
A have-a-go hero who attempted to stop thieves stealing a car was killed after the robbers ran him over.
have-a-go (= sb who is not in the police, etc. who tries to prevent a crime)
A have-a-go hero who attempted to stop thieves stealing a car was killed after the robbers ran him over.
fallen
a fallen hero trying to regain his position
a fallen hero trying to regain his position
cult
James Dean was a cult hero of the fifties.
James Dean was a cult hero of the fifties.
folk,
hometown (BrE),
local,
national,
popular
fictional, legendary, mythical
real-life
eponymous, titular
Don Quixote, the eponymous hero of the novel by Cervantes
fictional, legendary, mythical
real-life
eponymous, titular
Don Quixote, the eponymous hero of the novel by Cervantes
boyhood,
childhood
Bugs Bunny was one of my childhood heroes.
Bugs Bunny was one of my childhood heroes.
working-class
war
military, naval
decorated
film (esp. BrE), movie (esp. AmE)
comic, football, guitar, musical, sporting (BrE), sports (AmE)
Jimi Hendrix was her guitar hero.
In this album she pays tribute to her musical heroes.
war
military, naval
decorated
film (esp. BrE), movie (esp. AmE)
comic, football, guitar, musical, sporting (BrE), sports (AmE)
Jimi Hendrix was her guitar hero.
In this album she pays tribute to her musical heroes.
Olympic
cultural
cultural
VERB + hero
be hailed (as)
He was hailed as a hero after the rescue.
He was hailed as a hero after the rescue.
become,
make sb into,
turn sb into
The fight to save the forest turned him into a local hero.
The fight to save the forest turned him into a local hero.
die
He died a national hero.
He died a national hero.
celebrate,
commemorate,
honour/honor,
salute
cheer
emulate
play, portray
Tom Cruise played the hero.
cheer
emulate
play, portray
Tom Cruise played the hero.
meet
a chance to meet his hero
a chance to meet his hero
hero + NOUN
status
O'Reilly enjoyed hero status based on his ability with a ball.
O'Reilly enjoyed hero status based on his ability with a ball.
figure
His father was a hero figure to him.
His father was a hero figure to him.
worship
PHRASES
be no hero
John was no hero—he was willing to let others fight.
John was no hero—he was willing to let others fight.
give sb a hero's welcome,
receive a hero's welcome
hero of the hour
Everyone played brilliantly, but Jones was the hero of the hour.
hero of the hour
Everyone played brilliantly, but Jones was the hero of the hour.
(die) a hero's death