Arm

Verb + arm

• fold your arms

• break an arm

• your arm aches

Adjective + arm

• a broken arm

• a stiff arm

• long / short arms

Common expressions

• put his arms round her

• hold (a baby) in your arms

• carry (a file) under your arm

• stick a needle into (your) arm

Exercise

Verb and adjective collocations

1. My right arm is so stiff after playing tennis yesterday. I can hardly bend it at all today!

2. Mark is perfect as goalkeeper. He's tall, with really big hands and long arms.

3. My grandmother fell awkwardly as she got off the bus, and broke her arm in two places.

4. My arms are aching after carrying these heavy shopping bags from the supermarket.

5. How can he write with a broken arm?

6. The prisoner sat down, folded his arms across his chest and refused to speak.

Common expressions

1. Mr Morris came into the room, carrying a newspaper under his arm.

2. When I met Angela at the airport, she put her arms around me and gave me a big hug.

3. Your mother was holding a large cat in her arms when she opened the door.

4. I tried not to cry, but it really hurt when the nurse stuck the needle into my arm.

Note

If you welcome someone with open arms, you are very pleased to see them.