Collocations for sign - noun
1. sth that shows that sth exists/may happen
ADJECTIVE
classic,
clear,
definite,
distinct,
obvious,
real,
sure,
telltale,
unmistakable
He displayed the classic signs of post-traumatic stress disorder.
the telltale signs of drug abuse
He displayed the classic signs of post-traumatic stress disorder.
the telltale signs of drug abuse
telling
The lack of interest in the media is a telling sign of the industry's health.
The lack of interest in the media is a telling sign of the industry's health.
subtle
I detected the subtle signs of disapproval.
I detected the subtle signs of disapproval.
external,
outward,
visible
All the outward signs of growth in the market are there.
All the outward signs of growth in the market are there.
tangible
early, first
Strong dislikes of foods are early signs of pregnancy.
early, first
Strong dislikes of foods are early signs of pregnancy.
increasing
encouraging, good, healthy, hopeful, positive, promising, welcome
He was silent. It was a good sign.
encouraging, good, healthy, hopeful, positive, promising, welcome
He was silent. It was a good sign.
bad,
disturbing,
troubling
(esp. AmE)
danger, ominous, warning
The warning signs were present from the start.
Are appliances you buy safe? We point out the danger signs.
danger, ominous, warning
The warning signs were present from the start.
Are appliances you buy safe? We point out the danger signs.
vital
She checked his vital signs and found that his pulse was slow.
She checked his vital signs and found that his pulse was slow.
VERB + sign
bear,
have
The murder had all the signs of a crime of passion.
The murder had all the signs of a crime of passion.
betray,
display,
exhibit,
give,
show
His face betrayed no sign of emotion.
By now the fish was showing signs of distress.
His face betrayed no sign of emotion.
By now the fish was showing signs of distress.
point to sth
Early signs point to business improving.
Early signs point to business improving.
detect,
find,
notice,
see,
spot
We detected signs that they were less than enthusiastic about their honeymoon.
We detected signs that they were less than enthusiastic about their honeymoon.
miss
ignore
He ignored the warning signs of mounting health problems.
ignore
He ignored the warning signs of mounting health problems.
interpret (sth as),
read,
recognize,
see sth as
look for, watch for
Look carefully for signs of damp.
look for, watch for
Look carefully for signs of damp.
sign + VERB
appear,
come
The first signs of spring appeared.
The first signs of spring appeared.
indicate sth,
point to sth
All the signs pointed to it being more than just a coincidence.
All the signs pointed to it being more than just a coincidence.
PREPOSITION
at a/the sign
He disappeared at the first sign of trouble.
He disappeared at the first sign of trouble.
sign from
The people regarded the earthquake as a sign from God.
The people regarded the earthquake as a sign from God.
sign of
This move will be seen as a sign of weakness.
There's no sign of the snow stopping.
This move will be seen as a sign of weakness.
There's no sign of the snow stopping.
PHRASES
sign of life
There was no sign of life in the house (= there seemed to be nobody there).
There was no sign of life in the house (= there seemed to be nobody there).
a sign of the times
It's a real sign of the times: thirty small businesses face financial ruin this month.
It's a real sign of the times: thirty small businesses face financial ruin this month.
a sign of things to come
I hope this incident isn't a sign of things to come.
I hope this incident isn't a sign of things to come.
not the least sign (of sb/sth),
not the slightest sign (of sb/sth)
He spoke up without the slightest sign of nervousness.
He spoke up without the slightest sign of nervousness.
the signs and symptoms
Get this test if you have signs and symptoms of diabetes.
Get this test if you have signs and symptoms of diabetes.
2. board, etc. giving information/a warning
ADJECTIVE
flashing,
illuminated (esp. BrE),
neon
painted
faded
She spotted a faded sign in the window of a small restaurant.
painted
faded
She spotted a faded sign in the window of a small restaurant.
hand-lettered (AmE),
handwritten
home-made (esp. AmE)
cardboard, wooden
exit
pub (BrE), shop (esp. BrE), store (esp. AmE), street
lawn, yard (both AmE)
I put out a lawn sign in my yard (= to show political support).
home-made (esp. AmE)
cardboard, wooden
exit
pub (BrE), shop (esp. BrE), store (esp. AmE), street
lawn, yard (both AmE)
I put out a lawn sign in my yard (= to show political support).
direction (esp. BrE),
highway (esp. AmE),
motorway (in the UK),
road,
traffic
warning
picket (AmE)
He gets $300 a week from the union for carrying a picket sign.
warning
picket (AmE)
He gets $300 a week from the union for carrying a picket sign.
VERB + sign
erect,
hang,
hang out,
hang up,
place,
post (esp. AmE),
put up
Someone had put up a ‘For Sale’ sign.
Someone had put up a ‘For Sale’ sign.
carry,
hold up,
wave
(all esp. AmE)
The demonstrators shouted and waved signs.
The demonstrators shouted and waved signs.
wear
(usually figurative)
He might as well have been wearing a sign saying ‘I am a tourist’.
He might as well have been wearing a sign saying ‘I am a tourist’.
see,
spot
read
ignore
He yelled at us for ignoring the stop sign.
read
ignore
He yelled at us for ignoring the stop sign.
follow
Just follow the signs for Bridgend.
Just follow the signs for Bridgend.
sign + VERB
read sth
The sign read ‘No Fishing’.
The sign read ‘No Fishing’.
announce sth,
proclaim sth,
say sth,
state sth,
tell sb sth
bear sth
hundreds of signs bearing the single word ‘Peace’
bear sth
hundreds of signs bearing the single word ‘Peace’
indicate sth,
mark sth
This sign indicates that photography is allowed.
This sign indicates that photography is allowed.
point
The sign pointed down a narrow road.
The sign pointed down a narrow road.
advertise sth
warn
signs warning against trespass
warn
signs warning against trespass
hang
flash
A neon sign flashed above the door.
flash
A neon sign flashed above the door.
3. movement with a particular meaning
ADJECTIVE
rude
peace, thumbs-up, V (usually V-sign)
She made a peace sign while having her picture taken.
peace, thumbs-up, V (usually V-sign)
She made a peace sign while having her picture taken.
VERB + sign
give (sb),
make
She gave me a thumbs-up sign.
She gave me a thumbs-up sign.
communicate through
They had to communicate through signs and grunts.
They had to communicate through signs and grunts.
PHRASES
make the sign of the cross
The priest made the sign of the cross over the dead body.
The priest made the sign of the cross over the dead body.
4. mark/symbol with a particular meaning
ADJECTIVE
dollar,
euro,
pound,
etc.
(In the US, the pound sign refers to ‘\#’. In the UK, it refers to the currency sign ‘£’.)
equals, minus, plus, etc.
peace
a T-shirt with a peace sign on it
equals, minus, plus, etc.
peace
a T-shirt with a peace sign on it
call
Bravo Two Zero was the call sign of an eight-man SAS team.
a pilot who goes by the call sign Blaze
Bravo Two Zero was the call sign of an eight-man SAS team.
a pilot who goes by the call sign Blaze
VERB + sign
draw
He drew a huge dollar sign on the paper.
He drew a huge dollar sign on the paper.
use
I used the Chinese sign for ‘father’ instead of ‘uncle’.
I used the Chinese sign for ‘father’ instead of ‘uncle’.
5. star sign
ADJECTIVE
birth,
star
astrological, zodiac
the twelve astrological signs
Mars rules the zodiac sign of Aries.
astrological, zodiac
the twelve astrological signs
Mars rules the zodiac sign of Aries.