collocations.org

Collocations for sink - noun

ADJECTIVE

bathroom (esp. AmE), kitchen
blocked (esp. BrE), clogged (AmE)
marble (esp. AmE), porcelain, stainless-steel
double
The kitchen had a double sink.

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VERB + sink

fill
She filled the sink with hot water.
block (esp. BrE), clog (AmE)
clear (esp. BrE), unblock (esp. BrE), unclog (AmE)
install
You can install a new sink in the kitchen.

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sink + NOUN

unit (BrE)
plunger (BrE)
I bought a sink plunger to clear the blocked kitchen sink.
faucet (AmE), tap (BrE)
counter (AmE)
the sink counter in the bathroom

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PREPOSITION

at the sink
She was at the sink, washing the dishes.
down the sink
Don't pour coffee grounds down the kitchen sink.
in the sink
Put the dishes in the sink.

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Collocations for sink - verb

1. in water, mud, etc.

ADVERB

slowly
fast
Duane was in waist-deep and sinking fast.
down
She sank down into the soft soil.
deep
His boots sank deep into the mud.
nearly
The boat nearly sank under the increased weight.

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VERB + sink

begin to, start to

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PREPOSITION

below, beneath
We watched the boat sink beneath the waves.
into
Our feet sank deep into the soft sand as we walked.
to, up to
He sank up to his knees in the mud.

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PHRASES

sink like a stone
The box sank like a stone.
sink or swim (figurative)
In a situation like this, you either sink or swim.
sink to the bottom (of sth)
The ship had sunk to the bottom of the sea.
sink under the weight (of sth) (often figurative)
The airline industry is sinking under the weight of its losses.
sink without trace
It seemed as though the ship had sunk without trace.

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2. fall/sit down

ADVERB

wearily
gratefully
I sank gratefully into the warm, dry bed.
gracefully
low
The sun was sinking lower.
back, down
Dexter sank back into his seat.

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PREPOSITION

into
He sank lower into his chair.
onto
She sank gracefully down onto a cushion at his feet.

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PHRASES

sink below the horizon
The sun had sunk below the horizon.
sink to the floor, sink to the ground
She sank to the ground and started to cry.
sink to your knees
He sank to his knees, grasping at his stomach.

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3. become weaker/worse

ADVERB

quickly, rapidly
Virgil rapidly sank into depression.
gradually
The project gradually sank into oblivion.

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PREPOSITION

into

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PHRASES

sink to a new low, sink to new lows (both figurative)
With this article the newspaper has sunk to a new low.

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Sink is used with these nouns as the subject:
boat, foot, heart, index, ship, stock, submarine, sun, vessel

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Sink is used with these nouns as the object:
basket, capital, claw, fang, jaw, money, nail, pint, shaft, ship, tooth, vessel, warship, well

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