1
general::
noun mind or feelings ADJ. human PREP. in ~ I will be with you in spirit. spirits: morale ADJ. flagging VERB + SPIRIT keep up, lift, raise We sang songs to keep our spirits up. | revive | break, dampen A string of defeats has failed to dampen the team's spirits. SPIRIT + VERB lift, rise PHRASES in good/high/low/poor, etc. spirits She isn't in the best of spirits today. person ADJ. guiding, leading, moving She was a guiding spirit in primary education. | generous | grudging, mean | brave, proud | free, independent | kindred He found kindred spirits in the peace movement. courage/liveliness ADJ. great, tremendous | adventurous, competitive, fighting, indomitable, pioneer/pioneering VERB + SPIRIT be full of, have She has plenty of fighting spirit. | display, show | break PREP. with ~ He sang with great spirit. PHRASES broken in spirit They tortured him until he was broken in spirit. feelings of loyalty ADJ. community, party, public, team VERB + SPIRIT have | develop, foster, promote attitude/mood ADJ. right He's got the right spirit! | essential, genuine, true | carefree | democratic, revolutionary | entrepreneurial | festive, Christmas VERB + SPIRIT have | enter into PREP. in a ~ of Both sides have come together in a spirit of goodwill. | ~ of a spirit of adventure PHRASES in the right/wrong spirit, the spirit of the age/times real/intended meaning of a rule, an agreement, etc. VERB + SPIRIT obey | be/go against, be contrary to PHRASES the spirit of the law The referee should try to obey the spirit as well as the letter of the law. soul/ghost ADJ. ancestral | evil, malevolent | restless Owls were believed to be restless spirits who had returned to earth. VERB + SPIRIT conjure up, contact, invoke, summon (up) | exorcise, ward off She slept with a cross under the pillow to ward off evil spirits. | be possessed by SPIRIT + VERB live on Many people believe the spirit lives on after death. PHRASES the spirits of the dead (usually spirits) strong alcoholic drink QUANT. measure a single measure of spirits VERB + SPIRIT drink PHRASES a bottle of spirits
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
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general::
spirit
adjectives
high/good
(= used when saying that someone is happy and excited )
• The players were all in high spirits.
low/flagging
(= used when saying that someone is sad )
• She was tired and her spirits were low.
verbs
lift/raise/revive sb’s spirits
(= make them feel happier )
• A brisk walk helped to lift my spirits.
keep sb’s spirits up
(= keep them feeling happy )
• He wrote home often, trying to keep his family’s spirits up.
dampen sb’s spirits
(= make them feel less happy )
• They refused to let the rain dampen their spirits.
sb’s spirits rise/lift/soar
(= they start feeling happier )
• Her spirits rose as they left the ugliness of London behind.
sb’s spirits sink
(= they start feeling less happy )
• His spirits sank at the prospect.
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