Collocations for "brain"
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word "brain" in context.
WordReference English Collocations © 2025
brain
ⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK.n
- the human brain
- in a [rat, monkey] brain
- in a [rat's] brain
- the [right, left] brain
- the [left] hemisphere of the brain
- a [great, brilliant, developing, recovering] brain
- a [great] brain for [math, analysis, science]
- use your brain!
- the brain [produces, releases]
- the brain sends [messages, signals, electrical impulses] to [the muscles, your body]
- his brain was [damaged, injured]
- brain and [nervous system, spinal cord]
- (had to) operate on her brain
- he [racked, searched] his brain for an answer
- thoughts [churned, swirled, unfolded] inside her brain
- he (always) has [sex, money, fame] on the brain
- has (both) beauty and brains
- can I pick your brains about (the proposal)?
- (was) the brains behind the [idea, plan, plot]
- he's got brains
- brains before beauty
- brain [disease, damage, cancer, death]
- brain [games, teasers, exercises]
- the brain stem
- the [right, left] brain hemisphere
- [damages, kills] brain cells
- has a brain tumor
- lost (all) brain function
- a loss of brain power
- needs brain surgery
- suffered a traumatic brain injury
- the brain drain of [scientists, doctors] (from)
- UK: fell and [nearly, almost] brained him
- UK: I'll brain you if
- UK: [be careful, stop] or you'll brain yourself!
'brain' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
activity
- attack
- bird
- bleed
- brand
- burst
- buster
- capacity
- cell
- clot
- concussion
- damage
- death
- defect
- demanding
- drill
- enter
- evidence
- flow
- fried
- function
- functional
- good
- half
- image
- imaging
- lining
- map
- math
- model
- muddle
- nourish
- numb
- organization
- pathway
- pattern
- process
- puzzle
- rake
- rat
- reel
- reset
- rush
- scan
- scar
- serious
- sex
- shrinkage
- sieve
- soothing