Vocabulary Builders: Useful Phrases, Page 1 (A)

This section of EnhanceMyVocabulary.com focuses on ways to enliven your writing and speech. You'll find a collection of colorful phrases to add extra flavor and help develop your vocabulary


If you are looking for ways to enliven your writing and speech, this classic collection from Grenville Kleiser provides an abundance of colorful phrases.

You can review these lists when you seek a little extra punch in written works, and you can also use them to develop your vocabulary by identifying, looking up, and learning words you don't know.

This set of useful phrases consists of nouns (occasionally verbs or adjectives) modified by adjectives or adverbs.


A

abandoned hope

abated pride

abreviated visit

abiding romance

abject submission

abjured ambition

able strategist

abnormal talents

abominably perverse

abounding happiness

abridged statement

abrogated law

abrupt transition

absolutely irrevocable

absorbed reverie

abstemious diet

abstract character

abstruse reasoning

absurdly dangerous

abundant opportunity

abusive epithet

abysmally apologetic

academic rigor

accelerated progress

accentuated playfulness

accepted littleness

accessible pleasures

accessory circumstances

accidental lapse

accommodating temper

accomplished ease

accredited agent

accumulated burden

accurate appraisal

accursed enemy

accusing glance

accustomed lucidity

aching desire

acknowledged authority

acoustical effects

acquired timidity

acrid controversy

acrimonious warfare

actively zealous

actualized ideals

acutely conscious

adamant rigidity

adaptive wit

adduced facts

adequate execution

adhesive quality

administered rebuke

admirable reserve

admissible evidence

admittedly inferior

admonitory gesture

adorable vanity

adroit flatterer

adulated stranger

adventitious way

adventurous mind

adverse experience

affably accommodating

affected indifference

affectionate approval

affirmative attitude

affluent language

aggravated faults

aggregate body

aggressive selfishness

agile mind

agitated imagination

agonizing appeal

agreeable frankness

aimless confusion

airy splendor

alarming rapidity

alert acceptance

algebraic brevity

alien splendor

alleged reluctance

allegorical vein

allied subjects

alliterative suggestion

all-pervading influence

alluring idleness

alternating opinion

altogether dissimilar

altruistic ideal

amatory effusions

amazing artifice

ambidextrous assistant

ambiguous grimace

ambitious project

ambling pedestrian

ambrosial essence

amiable solicitude

amicable arrangement

amorous youth

ample culture

amusing artlessness

analogous example

analytical survey

ancestral creed

ancient garb

angelic softness

angry protestations

anguished entreaty

angular features

animated eloquence

annoying complications

anomalous appearance

anonymous benefactor

answering response

antagonistic views

antecedent facts

anticipated attention

antiquated prudery

anxious misgiving

apathetic greeting

aphoristic wit

apish agility

apocalyptic vision

apocryphal lodger

apologetic explanation

apostrophic dignity

appalling difficulties

apparent significance

appealing picture

appointed function

apposite illustration

appreciable relief

appreciative fervor

apprehensive dread

apprentice touch

appropriate designation

approving smile

approximately correct

aptly suggested

arbitrarily imposed

arch conspirator

archeological pursuits

architectural grandeur

ardent protest

arduous quest

arid formula

aristocratic lineage

aromatic fragrance

arrant trifling

arrested development

arrogant imposition

artful adaptation

artificial suavity

artistic elegance

artless candor

ascending supremacy

ascetic devotion

ascribed productiveness

aspiring genius

assembled arguments

asserted activity

assiduously cultivated

assimilative power

assumed humiliation

assuredly enshrined

astonishing facility

astounding mistakes

astute observer

athletic prowess

atmospheric vagueness

atoning sacrifice

atrocious expression

atrophied view

attending circumstances

attentive deference

attenuated sound

attested loyalty

attractive exordium

audacious mendicant

audible intimations

augmented force

august tribunal

auspicious moment

austere charm

authentic indications

authoritative critic

autobiographical pages

autocratic power

automatic termination

autumnal skies

auxiliary aids

available data

avaricious eyes

avenging fate

average excellence

averted calamity

avowed intention

awakened curiosity

awed devotion

awful dejection

awkward dilemma

axiomatic truth

azure sky


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Editor's note: This section of EnhanceMyVocabulary.com is excerpted and adapted from Project Gutenberg's Fifteen Thousand Useful Phrases, by Greenville Kleiser.


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