Despite all their fine words, the council have never done anything to improve road safety
weasel
The government's promises on nurses' pay turned out to be weasel words (= deliberately unclear)
bold, brave
Despite his brave words, I don't believe he can save the factory from closure
wise
well-chosen
He ruined her self-confidence with a few well-chosen words
cautionary
A few cautionary words are necessary regarding driving abroad
soft, whispered
They exchanged whispered words of love
unspoken
The look in her eyes filled in the unspoken words in her sentence
dying, last
Her last words were for her children
final, last
The Chairman always has the last word (= the final decision) on financial decisions
fateful
Seconds after uttering the fateful words 'this is easy' , he crashed
prophetic
magic
VERB + WORD
have
I've had a few words with John, and he's quite happy for you to stay. She had some harsh words to say about her colleagues
put in, say, speak, utter
If you run into the boss, put in a good word for me! Before we begin, I'd like to say a few words about who I am. Nobody's uttered a word to me about it
give, say
Just say the word and I'll go
mumble, mutter
slur
I knew he'd been drinking because he was slurring his words
spit (out)
She was so furious, she almost spat the words out: 'You idiot!'
bandy, exchange, have
I usually exchange a few words with my neighbour when I see him. Words were exchanged (= there was an argument)
find
He couldn't find the words to thank her enough
choose, pick
He chose his words carefully when commenting on her work
quote
distort, twist
She felt angry at how the journalist had twisted her words
hang on
The journalists hung on his every word as he spoke of his ordeal
eat, take back
When he told her she would fail, she swore she would make him eat his words
not mince
He doesn't mince his words when he talks about his ex-boss
not breathe
Don't breathe a word to anyone about what I've told you!
WORD + VERB
conjure sth up, evoke sth
Her words conjured up a strange picture in her mind
burst from sb, come (out), emerge, fall, pour (out), slip (out), spill (out), tumble out
He was nervous, and his words came out in a rush. His words fell into the silence like stones
stick in your throat
He wanted to tell her how he felt about her, but the words stuck in his throat
float, hang in the air
I let my words hang in the air. Maggie was no fool: she must realize I meant it
echo, ring
Her teacher's words echoed in her ears
fade (away), tail away/off, trail away/off
His words faded to silence as he saw she didn't believe him
hit/strike home, strike/touch a chord
sink in
She could feel her temper boiling as his words sank in
PREP
in a ~
'Would you like to help us?' 'In a word (= briefly) , no.'
without a ~
She left without a word
~ about
We never heard anyone say an unkind word about her
~ from
And now a word from our sponsors …
~ of
a word of advice/warning
~ with
Can I have a quick word with you?
PHRASES
get a word in (edgeways)
I wanted to tell you that she'd phoned, but you were talking so much I couldn't get a word in edgeways
a man/woman of few words (= a person who speaks very little), sb never spoke a truer word/never was a truer word spoken
You said we were about to make a big mistake, and never was a truer word spoken! (= you were right),
not a (single) word
Remember? not a word to (= don't tell) Peter about any of this. We didn't say a single word to each other all day
put words into sb's mouth
He felt after the interview that the police officers had been trying to put words into his mouth in (= to make him say what they wanted him to say)
take the words out of sb's mouth
I was about to say we should cancel the trip, but she took the words right out of my mouth (= she said it before me)
a word in sb's ear
Can I have a word in your ear about tomorrow's presentation?
(by) word of mouth
The restaurant does not advertise, but relies on word of mouth for custom