Collocations for thread - noun
1. piece of cotton, etc.
ADJ.
strong | delicate, fine, fragile, thin | loose | matching | cotton, silk, etc. | embroidery, sewing | warp, weft
QUANT.
length, piece
VERB + THREAD
spin | catch, pull
You''ve pulled a thread in your jumper.
You''ve pulled a thread in your jumper.
PHRASES
hanging by a thread
(often figurative) The player''s career is hanging by a thread after this latest injury to his knee.
(often figurative) The player''s career is hanging by a thread after this latest injury to his knee.
2. connection between ideas, parts of a story, etc.
ADJ.
central, main | common, connecting | consistent, continuous | narrative | loose
Apart from one or two loose threads, the police now had the complete picture of what happened.
Apart from one or two loose threads, the police now had the complete picture of what happened.
VERB + THREAD
follow, trace
I found it hard to follow the main thread of his argument.
I found it hard to follow the main thread of his argument.
lose
The speaker lost his thread halfway through the talk.
The speaker lost his thread halfway through the talk.
keep
She struggled against all the interruptions to keep the thread of her argument.
She struggled against all the interruptions to keep the thread of her argument.
draw together, pick up, pull together, weave
The author eventually picks up the various threads of the plot and weaves them into a masterly conclusion.
The author eventually picks up the various threads of the plot and weaves them into a masterly conclusion.
THREAD + VERB
run through sth
A continuous thread runs through all the versions of the legend.
A continuous thread runs through all the versions of the legend.
emerge
On studying the different historians'' accounts, common threads emerge.
On studying the different historians'' accounts, common threads emerge.
unravel
As the film progresses, the threads of the plot slowly begin to unravel.
As the film progresses, the threads of the plot slowly begin to unravel.