Collocations for life - noun
1. living things
ADJ.
intelligent
Is there intelligent life on other planets?
Is there intelligent life on other planets?
animal, bird, human, insect, marine, plant
LIFE + NOUN
form | cycle
2. existence
VERB + LIFE
lose
He lost his life in an air crash.
He lost his life in an air crash.
bring sb back to, restore sb to | cling to, fight for
She clung to life for several weeks.
She clung to life for several weeks.
risk
She risked her life for the sake of the children.
She risked her life for the sake of the children.
save
a drug that will save lives
a drug that will save lives
spare
She begged the soldiers to spare her son''s life.
She begged the soldiers to spare her son''s life.
give, lay down, sacrifice | claim, cost, end, take
The crash claimed 43 lives. | His foolishness almost cost him his life. | She took her own life.
The crash claimed 43 lives. | His foolishness almost cost him his life. | She took her own life.
start
(figurative) The restaurant started life as a cinema.
(figurative) The restaurant started life as a cinema.
LIFE + VERB
be lost
No lives were lost in the accident.
No lives were lost in the accident.
LIFE + NOUN
assurance, insurance
PHRASES
an attempt on sb''s life
There have been three attempts on the president''s life.
There have been three attempts on the president''s life.
in fear for/of your life
Witnesses are living in fear for their life after giving evidence against the gang.
Witnesses are living in fear for their life after giving evidence against the gang.
life after death
Do you believe in life after death?
Do you believe in life after death?
loss of life
The plane crashed with heavy loss of life.
The plane crashed with heavy loss of life.
a matter of life and death
(figurative) These talks are a matter of life and death for the factory.
(figurative) These talks are a matter of life and death for the factory.
the right to life
anti-abortionists campaigning for the right to life
anti-abortionists campaigning for the right to life
signs of life
The driver showed no signs of life.
The driver showed no signs of life.
3. period between birth and death
ADJ.
long, short | entire, whole | early | adult | later
In later life he took up writing.
In later life he took up writing.
past, previous
He never discussed the unhappinesses of his past life. | I think I may have been an animal in a previous life.
He never discussed the unhappinesses of his past life. | I think I may have been an animal in a previous life.
future, next | working
He was a miner all his working life.
He was a miner all his working life.
VERB + LIFE
go through, live, spend
She went through life always wanting what she couldn''t get. | He spent his whole life in Cornwall.
She went through life always wanting what she couldn''t get. | He spent his whole life in Cornwall.
end
He ended his life a happy man.
He ended his life a happy man.
shorten | prolong | dedicate, devote
He devoted his life to the education of deaf children.
He devoted his life to the education of deaf children.
LIFE + NOUN
history, story | membership | imprisonment, sentence | expectancy, span (also ‘lifespan’)
Japanese people have a very high life expectancy. | the lifespan of a mouse
Japanese people have a very high life expectancy. | the lifespan of a mouse
PREP.
for ~
She thought marriage should be for life.
She thought marriage should be for life.
in your ~
for the first time in her life
for the first time in her life
throughout your ~
Throughout her life she was dogged by loneliness.
Throughout her life she was dogged by loneliness.
PHRASES
all your life
I''ve known her all my life.
I''ve known her all my life.
at sb''s time of life
At his time of life he should be starting to take things easy.
At his time of life he should be starting to take things easy.
the end of your life
Her paintings became more obscure towards the end of her life.
Her paintings became more obscure towards the end of her life.
late in life
She discovered jazz quite late in life.
She discovered jazz quite late in life.
the … of your life
I had the fright of my life when I saw the snake in my bed. | He met the love of his life at college.
I had the fright of my life when I saw the snake in my bed. | He met the love of his life at college.
a phase/stage in/of (your) life
She sensed she was entering a new phase in her life.
She sensed she was entering a new phase in her life.
the prime of life
You''re still in the prime of life.
You''re still in the prime of life.
the remainder/rest of your life
He''ll be haunted by the crash for the rest of his life.
He''ll be haunted by the crash for the rest of his life.
4. activity in the world
ADJ.
daily, day-to-day, everyday | real
a real-life drama
a real-life drama
modern | personal, private
She did not tolerate press intrusion into her private life.
She did not tolerate press intrusion into her private life.
inner
Only his wife had access to his inner life.
Only his wife had access to his inner life.
family, married | social | love, sex | public
His fame was so sudden that he was unprepared for public life.
His fame was so sudden that he was unprepared for public life.
academic, business, cultural, economic, intellectual, political, professional, school | night (also ‘nightlife’)
What''s the nightlife like in the town?
What''s the nightlife like in the town?
city, village, etc.
VERB + LIFE
build, rebuild
He built his whole life around his children. | She is still rebuilding her life after the accident.
He built his whole life around his children. | She is still rebuilding her life after the accident.
PHRASES
an attitude to life, an outlook on life, a philosophy/view of life
I''ve always had a fairly optimistic outlook on life.
I''ve always had a fairly optimistic outlook on life.
a love of life
He always had a great love of life.
He always had a great love of life.
a man/woman in your life
There has only been one woman in his life.
There has only been one woman in his life.
see sth of life
I wanted to see something of life before I settled down.
I wanted to see something of life before I settled down.
the … side of life
His time in London was his first glimpse of the seamier side of life.
His time in London was his first glimpse of the seamier side of life.
want sth from/in/out of life
They both seem to want the same things out of life.
They both seem to want the same things out of life.
5. way of living
ADJ.
good, happy | lonely, miserable, sad, unhappy | hard | easy | active, busy, hectic | exciting | full | peaceful, quiet | normal, ordinary | healthy | sheltered | double
He had been leading a double life, married to two women.
He had been leading a double life, married to two women.
VERB + LIFE
have, lead, live
She leads a busy social life.
She leads a busy social life.
enjoy | change
Learning meditation changed her life.
Learning meditation changed her life.
dominate, take over
He never let his work dominate his life.
He never let his work dominate his life.
ruin
He ruined his life through drinking.
He ruined his life through drinking.
PHRASES
build/make/start a new life
They went to Australia to start a new life.
They went to Australia to start a new life.
enjoy/live life to the full
He always believed in living life to the full.
He always believed in living life to the full.
the high life
enjoying the high life in the smartest hotels and restaurants of New York
enjoying the high life in the smartest hotels and restaurants of New York
live a life of …
They''re living a life of luxury in the Bahamas.
They''re living a life of luxury in the Bahamas.
a/the pace of life
The pace of life is much gentler on the island.
The pace of life is much gentler on the island.
the quality of life
He gave up his high-flying job and now enjoys a better quality of life.
He gave up his high-flying job and now enjoys a better quality of life.
a way of life
She loved the Spanish way of life and immediately felt at home there.
She loved the Spanish way of life and immediately felt at home there.
6. liveliness
VERB + LIFE
come to
The city only comes to life at night.
The city only comes to life at night.
breathe, bring sth to, inject
They need some new, younger staff to breathe some life into the company.
They need some new, younger staff to breathe some life into the company.
burst/hum/teem with
a child bursting with life
a child bursting with life
PHRASES
full of life
It''s nice to see an old man still so full of life.
It''s nice to see an old man still so full of life.