ADJ

long-term, permanent
casual, fixed-term, short-term
three-year, two-year, etc.
formal, written
verbal
legal, valid
void
The contract was declared void
enforceable, unenforceable
(law)
big, important, major
lucrative
business, commercial
employment, maintenance, research, service
catering, construction, haulage
marriage

VERB + CONTRACT

have
Many workers do not have written contracts
bid for, tender for
Eighteen companies are bidding for the contract
award (sb), give sb
get, win
lose
The firm lost the contract to a large London company
negotiate
She managed to negotiate a permanent contract with the firm
draw up, write
conclude, enter into, make, sign
He entered into a contract with his former employer
carry out, execute
the firm carrying out the construction contract
cancel, end, repudiate (law) , rescind (law) , terminate
Either party can terminate the contract at any time
be subject to
The offer has been accepted, subject to contract (= the agreement is not legally binding before contracts are signed)
be in breach of, break, violate
If you go on strike you will be in breach of contract
enforce
(law)
exchange
(law) When a house is auctioned the successful bidder must exchange contracts immediately and pay a deposit

CONTRACT + VERB

expire
The contract expires at the end of next year
be worth sth
a series of major contracts worth millions of pounds

CONTRACT + NOUN

worker (= one on a fixed-term contract)
law

PREP

in a/the ~
They put a clause in the contract stipulating that the work should be finished by next month
on a ~
He's on a three-year fixed-term contract
under ~ (to)
At that stage of her career she was still under contract to one of the big Hollywood studios
under a/the ~
Under her contract of employment, Mrs Lee could not be required to work at a different site
~ between
the contract between the employer and the employee
~ for
They won a contract for the delivery of five fighter planes
~ with
Do you have a contract with your employer?

PHRASES

(a) breach of contract
The company is being sued for breach of contract
a contract of employment/sale
You should make sure that you have a formal contract of employment
the terms of a contract
By using cheaper materials, the company has broken the terms of its contract
under the terms of a contract
Under the terms of the contract the job should have been finished yesterday

VERB + CONTRACT

take out
have out
He has a contract out on you

CONTRACT + NOUN

killer, killing

PREP

~ on
She took out a contract on her ex-husband