collar
collar — noun
1. the fabric part of a garment that encircles your neck, often made from a separat
the fabric part of a garment that encircles your neck, often made from a separate section that folds over, stands up, or lies flat.
Theo straightened his shirt collar before walking into the interview room.
collocation: straighten one's collar
Leila's dress had a white collar with small blue flowers sewn onto it.
collocation: white collar / embroidered collar
Yusuf found a stain on his collar after lunch and tried to wipe it off.
collocation: stain on collar
This old jacket has a thick collar you turn up to keep your neck warm.
collocation: turned-up collar
Aiko sewed a new collar onto her blouse after the old one wore out.
collocation: sew a collar onto [garment]
- straighten one's collar
- turn up/down a collar
- stiff collar
- button-down collar
- open collar
- stain on a collar
- neckband
a narrower strip of fabric forming the neck of a garment, less likely to fold over than a collar
Common Mistakes
2. a band made of leather, nylon, or similar material fastened around a pet's neck
a band made of leather, nylon, or similar material fastened around a pet's neck to allow the owner to control, identify, or restrain it.
Ravi put a new collar on his dog with a tag showing the dog's name.
collocation: put a collar on [pet]
The Watanabe family's cat wears a collar with a bell that rings when it walks.
collocation: wear a collar with a bell
Mira bought a bright red collar for her puppy to be seen at night.
collocation: bright red collar for visibility
Make sure the collar is not too tight — you should fit two fingers under it.
imperative for advice on fit
- put on a collar
- wear a collar
- collar with a tag
- collar with a bell
- bright red collar
- leather collar
- tight collar
Usage Note
Subject of the verb put or wear is typically the pet owner. The collar itself is also the subject when describing its features: 'a collar with a bell/tag'.
Common Mistakes
3. a short necklace that fits closely around the neck, often made of precious metal
a short necklace that fits closely around the neck, often made of precious metal or decorated with gems.
Priya wore a pearl collar that fit closely around her neck at the party.
collocation: pearl collar / fit closely
The jewellery shop sells silver collars set with small bright diamonds.
collocation: silver collar set with diamonds
Hana received a gold collar with a simple clasp for her birthday.
collocation: gold collar with a clasp
A diamond collar can be very expensive but adds elegance to any evening dress.
collocation: diamond collar / formal context
- pearl collar
- gold collar
- silver collar
- diamond collar
- fit closely
- collar with a clasp
Usage Note
Unlike a general necklace which can hang loosely, a collar-style necklace is specifically short and sits snugly against the neck. Also called a 'choker' in fashion contexts.
4. a differently coloured band of fur, hair, or feathers encircling the neck area o
a differently coloured band of fur, hair, or feathers encircling the neck area of certain animals or birds and used as a distinguishing feature between species.
The robin has an orange collar that makes it easy to spot in the garden.
collocation: bright orange collar
That breed of dog has a white collar against its dark brown coat.
pattern: 'has a [colour] collar' for describing markings
The bird's black collar stands out clearly against its grey chest feathers.
collocation: stands out against [background]
You can tell this species apart by the yellow collar around its neck.
pattern: 'tell [species] apart by [feature]'
- bright orange collar
- white collar
- black collar
- yellow collar
- collar against [colour]
- stands out against
Usage Note
Common in birdwatching and wildlife guides. Distinguished from the ANIMAL STRAP sense (noun/2) because this is a natural colour marking, not a man-made accessory.
5. a ring-shaped piece of metal, rubber, or other strong material that fits around
a ring-shaped piece of metal, rubber, or other strong material that fits around a pipe, shaft, or mechanical part to connect, support, or seal it.
The plumber tightened the metal collar around the leaking pipe in the kitchen.
collocation: tighten a metal collar around [pipe]
A rubber collar is often used to join two sections of a drainage system.
pattern: passive 'is used to' for describing function
The engineer checked the steel collar that holds the rotating shaft in place.
collocation: steel collar / holds in place
The pipe burst because the collar connecting the two sections was loose.
collocation: loose collar / pipe burst
- metal collar
- rubber collar
- steel collar
- tighten a collar
- loose collar
- collar around a pipe
- collar connecting [parts]
Usage Note
Most common in engineering, plumbing, and automotive contexts. In technical writing, also called a 'coupling collar' or 'shaft collar' depending on the application.
hot under the collar
idiomFeeling angry or embarrassed about something.
Mia got hot under the collar when her brother broke her tablet.
Why did you become so hot under the collar about that small mistake?
collar — verb
1. to fit a collar onto the neck of a pet or wild animal, for control, identificati
to fit a collar onto the neck of a pet or wild animal, for control, identification, or research tracking.
Diego collared his new puppy before letting it run in the garden.
collocation: collar [pet] before letting it [do something]
The research team collared six wolves to track their movements across the forest.
collocation: collar [wild animals] for tracking
Una collared the dog as soon as it stepped out of the car.
pattern: collared [animal] as soon as [clause]
Vets collared the injured fox before treating its wounded leg.
collocation: vets collar [animal]
- collar a dog
- collar a cat
- collar a wolf
- collar for tracking
- collar before letting out
- put a collar on
a longer phrasal equivalent; less formal than 'collar'
Grammar Patterns
collar + animal
Usage Note
Frequently passive: 'The wolf was collared for tracking.' The object is always an animal — never a person for this sense.
2. to approach and detain a person who is about to leave, in order to speak with th
to approach and detain a person who is about to leave, in order to speak with them, especially when they seem busy.
The reporter collared the mayor after the press conference ended.
collocation: collar [person] after [event]
Amara collared her brother in the hallway to ask about the weekend trip.
pattern: collar + person + to-infinitive
Kofi collared the teacher after class to discuss his exam results.
pattern: collar + person after + [time/event] to [purpose]
A stranger collared me outside the station to ask for directions to the museum.
informal register: 'a stranger collared me'
- collar [person] after [event]
- collar [person] in [place]
- collar [person] to discuss [topic]
- buttonhole
a less common synonym with the same meaning; slightly more formal
- stop
more general; lacks the implication of catching someone who is in a hurry
Grammar Patterns
collar + person
collar + person + to-infinitive
Usage Note
Distinguish from ARREST sense (verb/3): this sense does not involve crime or force — the person could be a colleague, friend, or public figure. The purpose is always conversation, not detention.
Common Mistakes
3. to catch and hold a person believed to have committed a crime, especially in a s
to catch and hold a person believed to have committed a crime, especially in a sudden or forceful way.
Police collared the burglars as they tried to escape through the back door.
collocation: police collar [criminals]
The detective collared the suspect after months of careful investigation.
collocation: detective collars suspect
Security guards collared the shoplifter before she could reach the exit doors.
collocation: security collar shoplifter
Customs officers collared the smuggler at the border checkpoint last night.
collocation: customs officer collar smuggler at border
- collar a burglar
- collar a suspect
- collar a shoplifter
- collar a smuggler
- collar at the border
- release
to let someone go after being detained
Grammar Patterns
collar + criminal/suspect
Usage Note
Informal alternative to 'arrest'. Most common in news headlines and spoken police reports. In formal legal writing, 'arrest' is preferred.
Common Mistakes
4. to take or get something quickly and eagerly for yourself, especially before oth
to take or get something quickly and eagerly for yourself, especially before other people can get it.
Nadia managed to collar the last two tickets for the concert on Friday.
collocation: collar the last [items]
Who collared the best office desk before anyone else arrived this morning?
informal register in questions
Bao collared the front-row seat by arriving at the theatre an hour early.
pattern: collar + [position] by [action]
The marketing team collared the biggest advertising budget this year.
collocation: collar a budget / resource
- collar tickets
- collar a seat
- collar a position
- collar a budget
- collar a contract
- miss
to fail to get something before others
Grammar Patterns
collar + thing (ticket, seat, position, budget)
Usage Note
Always implies quick action and a limited resource. Object is typically something desirable that others also want: tickets, seats, positions, budgets, opportunities.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- collaredadjectiveB2
- collarlessadjectiveC1
- collarbonenounB2
- blue-collaradjectiveB2
- white-collaradjectiveB2
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
All four words refer to parts of clothing, but each has a different location and function. A collar is the fabric band that goes around the neck of a shirt, jacket, or dress — it can be folded over, turned up, or buttoned down. A neckline is not a physical band but the shape of the opening at the top of a garment (e.g., a V-neck or scoop neck). A lapel is the folded flap of fabric on each side of the front of a jacket or coat, just below the collar. A cuff is the band of fabric at the end of a sleeve, around the wrist. A neckband is a narrow strip of fabric that forms the neck opening of a garment, often simpler and less prominent than a collar. For example: 'Theo straightened his collar before the interview' (fabric band around the neck); 'Her dress has a round neckline' (shape of the opening); 'He pinned a badge to his lapel' (flap on a jacket front); 'She rolled up her cuffs to wash her hands' (ends of sleeves).
Common collocations
Nouns
- collar size
- collar length
- collar type
Phrases
- hot under the collar
- up to the collar
Prepositions
- with a collar
- by the collar
- around the collar
- on the collar
Etymology
The word 'collar' comes from the Latin 'collāre', meaning 'neckband' or 'something worn on the neck', which was derived from 'collum' meaning 'neck'. The Latin word passed into Old French as 'coler' (neck, collar) and then into Middle English as 'coler' or 'coller' around the 1300s. By the 1400s it was being used for the neckband of a shirt or coat. The verb sense (to grab someone by the collar, and later to stop or arrest someone) developed in the 1600s. The modern informal meaning of 'collar' as a verb — to get something quickly before others — appeared in 20th-century English.