Collocations for tension - noun
1. inability to relax
ADJECTIVE
inner
emotional, nervous, sexual
He suffers from nervous tension.
emotional, nervous, sexual
He suffers from nervous tension.
muscle,
muscular
premenstrual
premenstrual
VERB + tension
feel,
suffer from
I feel some tension in my shoulders.
I feel some tension in my shoulders.
sense
As soon as he entered, he sensed a tension in the air.
As soon as he entered, he sensed a tension in the air.
cause,
create
relieve
release
relieve
release
PHRASES
a release of tension
Laughter can be a great release of tension.
Laughter can be a great release of tension.
a sign of tension
Horses are very sensitive to signs of tension in humans.
Horses are very sensitive to signs of tension in humans.
2. bad feeling between people, countries, etc.
ADJECTIVE
considerable,
great,
high
More police have been sent to areas of high political tension.
More police have been sent to areas of high political tension.
palpable,
real
slight
escalating, growing, heightened, increased, increasing, mounting, rising
constant, continuous
continuing, ongoing
unresolved
renewed
fundamental, inherent, underlying
ethnic, political, racial, religious, social
communal, family, internal, international, national, regional
creative, dynamic
the creative tension between democracy and business interests
slight
escalating, growing, heightened, increased, increasing, mounting, rising
constant, continuous
continuing, ongoing
unresolved
renewed
fundamental, inherent, underlying
ethnic, political, racial, religious, social
communal, family, internal, international, national, regional
creative, dynamic
the creative tension between democracy and business interests
VERB + tension
cause,
create,
generate
defuse, ease, reduce, release, resolve
She often used humour/humor to defuse tension in meetings.
defuse, ease, reduce, release, resolve
She often used humour/humor to defuse tension in meetings.
exacerbate,
heighten
tension + VERB
build up,
grow,
increase,
mount,
rise
ease
arise
In the early 1960's, new tensions arose between the United States and the USSR.
ease
arise
In the early 1960's, new tensions arose between the United States and the USSR.
exist
run high
Racial tensions in the town were running high.
run high
Racial tensions in the town were running high.
PREPOSITION
tension among
The tension among the audience was palpable.
The tension among the audience was palpable.
tension between
tension between local youths and the police
tension between local youths and the police
tension in,
tension within
The job losses caused greater tensions within the company.
The job losses caused greater tensions within the company.
tension over
There has been increased tension over the border incident.
There has been increased tension over the border incident.
tension with
renewed tension with France
renewed tension with France
3. of rope, wire, etc.
PREPOSITION
in tension
The metal is weak in tension.
The metal is weak in tension.
under tension
Stay clear of cables which are under tension.
Stay clear of cables which are under tension.
tension on
The sudden tension on the line told me I had hooked a fish.
The sudden tension on the line told me I had hooked a fish.
4. feeling of excitement in a film/movie, etc.
VERB + tension
build,
heighten,
increase
the use of editing to heighten the tension
the use of editing to heighten the tension
keep,
keep up,
maintain
break
break
tension + VERB
build,
grow,
mount
Tension builds around the mystery of what will happen to Freddie.
Tension builds around the mystery of what will happen to Freddie.