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instinct
ADJECTIVES/NOUN + instinct
a deep/strong/powerful instinct
• He bent down, obeying a deep instinct to protect himself from danger.
a natural instinct
• I followed my natural instinct to run away.
somebody's first/initial instinct
• His first instinct was to try and hide.
somebody's gut instinct
informal (= someone's first instinct )
• Her gut instinct about Jimmy had been right.
human instinct
• It's a natural human instinct to comfort someone who is unhappy.
animal instinct
• It's animal instinct to attack the leader of the herd when his strength begins to fail.
a basic instinct
• The need to survive is the most basic instinct that we have.
survival instinct
(= an instinct to survive in a difficult situation )
• Survival instinct told me to get up and run.
killer instinct
(= an instinct to kill, harm or defeat someone )
• The team needs to develop the killer instinct.
competitive instinct
(= an instinct to compete against others and try to win )
• He now channels his competitive instincts into his job.
maternal instinct
(= the instinct of a mother )
• Kate's maternal instinct told her to pick the child up and comfort it.
political instinct
• The minister's shrewd political instincts didn't let him down.
business/commercial instinct
• I have faith in your business instinct.
verbs
trust your instinct(s)
( also rely on your instincts ) (= believe that your instincts are correct )
• I've trusted my instincts in the past and they've usually been right.
go on your instinct(s)
informal (= trust your instincts )
• I just went on my instincts and refused his offer.
follow/obey your instinct(s)
(= do what your instinct tells you to do )
• You should obey your instincts when dealing with strangers.
have the instinct to do something
• She had the instinct to see what made people unhappy.
lack the instinct to do something
• He lacked the instinct to attack another human being.
an instinct tells somebody something
• Every instinct told her that he was telling the truth.
transnet.ir
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general::
noun ADJ. deep, powerful, strong | gut | first, initial His first instinct was to run away from danger. | good, unerring Against her better instincts, she ran back into the burning house to save some of her jewellery. He had an unerring instinct for when people were lying to him. | base | basic | natural | primitive | creative | aggressive, competitive | maternal, mothering, protective | fighting, hunting, killer, predatory (often figurative) He plays well but lacks that killer instinct that wins matches. | survival | herd What makes all these people come to the club? In my view it's the herd instinct. | sexual | business, commercial, political | animal, human VERB + INSTINCT have | lack | develop In negotiating you have to develop an instinct for when to be tough and when to make a deal. | follow, go on, obey, rely on, trust Why don't you just follow your natural instincts? | ignore, suppress | satisfy | appeal to They accused the campaign of appealing to the electorate's baser instincts. | share Both superpowers shared the same instinct for self-preservation. INSTINCT + VERB tell sb sth Her instinct told her that she was being followed. | guide sb Artists have to learn to be guided by their instincts. | take over Her instincts took over and she dived on the escaping thief. | be right/wrong I've trusted my instincts in the past and they've usually been right. PREP. by ~ Babies know by instinct who their mother is. | on ~ I acted purely on instinct. | ~ for He's got an instinct for survival in a tough job.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary