Collocations for impulse - noun
1. sudden strong wish
ADJ.
strong | irresistible | first, original
My first impulse was to run away.
My first impulse was to run away.
sudden | basic | instinctual, natural | repressed | conflicting, contradictory, contrary | aggressive, violent | creative | sexual
VERB + IMPULSE
feel, have
She felt a sudden impulse to look to her left.
She felt a sudden impulse to look to her left.
be subject to
We are all subject to aggressive impulses.
We are all subject to aggressive impulses.
be driven by | check, control, deny, fight (back/down), resist, restrain, stifle, suppress
He fought down an impulse to scream.
He fought down an impulse to scream.
give in to, obey, yield to
She gave in to an impulse and took the money.
She gave in to an impulse and took the money.
act on
Acting on impulse, he picked up the keys and slipped them into his pocket.
Acting on impulse, he picked up the keys and slipped them into his pocket.
buy sth on
Some people will buy a puppy on impulse without any idea of what is involved.
Some people will buy a puppy on impulse without any idea of what is involved.
IMPULSE + VERB
arise
Impulses that are repeatedly denied can arise in other forms.
Impulses that are repeatedly denied can arise in other forms.
IMPULSE + NOUN
buy, purchase
The little black designer dress had been an impulse buy.
The little black designer dress had been an impulse buy.
buying | buyer
PREP.
on (an) ~
On an impulse, I went into the shop and bought a box of chocolates.
On an impulse, I went into the shop and bought a box of chocolates.
~ towards
basic impulses towards things such as food and drink
basic impulses towards things such as food and drink
2. movement of energy
ADJ.
electrical, nerve/nervous
VERB + IMPULSE
transmit
Nerve impulses are transmitted to the brain.
Nerve impulses are transmitted to the brain.
convert sth into, transform sth into
Radio waves are converted into electrical impulses.
Radio waves are converted into electrical impulses.
3. sth that causes sb/sth to do sth
ADJ.
positive | political, social
IMPULSE + VERB
lead (sb/sth) to sth, prompt (sb/sth to sth)
the impulse that prompted economic change
the impulse that prompted economic change
PREP.
~ behind
the impulse behind a concept
the impulse behind a concept
~ for
the impulse for social reform
the impulse for social reform
~ toward
the political impulses towards joining a trade union
the political impulses towards joining a trade union