- [uncountable] physical or mental activity that you do to stay healthy or become stronger
- Swimming is good exercise.
- the importance of regular exercise
- health problems resulting from a lack of physical exercise
- strenuous/vigorous exercise
- gentle/moderate exercise
- I don't get much exercise sitting in the office all day.
- John never does any exercise.
- (British English) to take exercise
- Diet and exercise are equally important.
- The mind needs exercise as well as the body.
Collocations Diet and exerciseDiet and exerciseWeight- put on/gain/lose weight/a few kilos/a few pounds
- watch/control/struggle with your weight
- be/become seriously overweight/underweight
- be/become clinically/morbidly obese
- achieve/facilitate/promote/stimulate weight loss
- slim down to 70 kilos/(British English) 11 stone/(especially North American English) 160 pounds
- combat/prevent/tackle/treat obesity
- develop/have/suffer from/struggle with/recover from anorexia/bulimia/an eating disorder
- be on/go on/follow a crash/strict diet
- have/suffer from a negative/poor body image
- have/develop a positive/healthy body image
- eat a balanced diet/healthily/sensibly
- get/provide/receive adequate/proper nutrition
- contain/get/provide essential nutrients/vitamins/minerals
- be high/low in calories/fat/fibre/protein/vitamin D/Omega-3 fatty acids
- contain (no)/use/be full of/be free from additives/chemical preservatives/artificial sweeteners
- avoid/cut down on/cut out alcohol/caffeine/fatty foods
- stop/give up/ (especially North American English) quit smoking
- (British English) take regular exercise
- do moderate/strenuous/vigorous exercise
- play football/hockey/tennis
- go cycling/jogging/running
- go to/visit/ (especially North American English) hit/work out at the gym
- strengthen/tone/train your stomach muscles
- contract/relax/stretch/use/work your lower-body muscles
- build (up)/gain muscle
- improve/increase your stamina/energy levels/physical fitness
- burn/consume/expend calories
- be/get/keep/stay healthy/in shape/(especially British English) fit
- lower your cholesterol/blood pressure
- boost/stimulate/strengthen your immune system
- prevent/reduce the risk of heart disease/high blood pressure/diabetes/osteoporosis
- reduce/relieve/manage/combat stress
- enhance/promote relaxation/physical and mental well-being
Culture sport and fitnesssport and fitnessThe British like sport very much, but many people prefer to watch rather than take part. Many go to watch football, rugby, cricket, etc. at the ground, but many more sit at home and watch sport on television.Most people today take relatively little general exercise. Over the last 30 or 40 years lifestyles have changed considerably and many people now travel even the shortest distances by car or bus. Lack of exercise combined with eating too much fat and sugar has meant that many people are becoming too fat. Experts are particularly concerned that children spend a lot of their free time watching television or playing computer games instead of being active. In recent years, however, there has been a growing interest in fitness among young adults and many belong to a sports club or gym.In Britain most towns have an amateur football and cricket team, and people also have opportunities to play sports such as tennis and golf. Older people may play bowls. Some people go regularly to a sports centre or leisure centre where there are facilities for playing badminton and squash, and also a swimming pool. Many sports centres arrange classes in activities such as aerobics (= exercises to music), step (= stepping on and off a low step) Spinning™ (= exercise on a bike), Zumba™ (= dance based exercise) and keep-fit. Some people work out (= train hard) regularly at a local gym and do weight training (= lifting weights to make their muscles stronger) and circuit training (= a series of exercises that use a lot of energy). Some people do judo or other martial arts (= fighting sports). Others go running or jogging (= running at a slow pace) in their local area or on a treadmill at the gym. For enthusiastic runners there are opportunities to take part in long-distance runs, such as the London marathon. Other people keep themselves fit by walking or cycling. Many people go abroad on a skiing holiday each year and there are several dry slopes and snow domes in Britain where they can practise.Membership of a sports club or gym can be expensive and not everyone can afford it. Local sports centres are generally cheaper. Evening classes are also cheap and offer a wide variety of fitness activities ranging from yoga and Pilates to jazz dancing. Some companies now provide sports facilities for their employees or contribute to the cost of joining a gym.Sports play an important part in American life. Professional baseball and football games attract large crowds, and many people watch games on television. Although many parents complain about their children being couch potatoes (= people who spend a lot of time watching television), there are sports sessions at school for all ages. College students are usually also required to take physical education classes to complete their studies.Many popular keep-fit activities began in the US. Charles Atlas, Arnold Schwarzenegger and others inspired people to take up bodybuilding (= shaping the muscles and making them strong). Some richer people employ their own personal trainer, either at home or at a fitness centre, to direct their exercise programme. But many people just walk or jog in the local park or play informal games of baseball or football.Extra ExamplesTopics Sports: other sportsa1, Health and Fitnessa1- The doctor recommended regular exercise.
- Lack of exercise is a risk factor in heart disease.
- Stop frequently to rest during exercise until you are fitter.
- Try to do fifteen minutes of gentle exercise every day.
- Weight-bearing exercise increases the health of bones.
- Do you take enough exercise?
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- good
- healthy
- hard
- …
- do
- get
- take
- …
- programme/program
- regime
- regimen
- …
- during exercise
- a form of exercise
- a kind of exercise
- a type of exercise
- …
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- [countable] a set of movements or activities that you do to stay healthy or develop a skill
- relaxation/stretching exercises
- Remember to do your breathing exercises every day.
- Perform these exercises carefully to avoid injury.
- Repeat the exercise ten times on each leg.
- an exercise for something exercises for the piano
Extra ExamplesTopics Sports: other sportsa1- Combine yoga with stretching and floor exercises.
- He began his daily exercises.
- I did try some basic relaxation exercises.
- Mental exercises can help older people to sustain their mental abilities.
- She recommends the following exercises to increase circulation.
- This is a great exercise for the upper back.
- You can devise your own exercises to music.
- You may find it helpful to perform this exercise in front of the mirror.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- great
- basic
- simple
- …
- series
- set
- do
- execute
- perform
- …
- [countable] a set of questions in a book that tests your knowledge or practises a skill
- grammar exercises
- I want you to do the next exercise in the book in pairs.
- Do exercise one for homework.
Extra ExamplesTopics Educationa1- Ask your students to try this exercise before the next class.
- You will complete these exercises for homework.
- Role-playing situations allows a finer assessment to be made than in pen-and-paper exercises.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- easy
- simple
- difficult
- …
- series
- set
- do
- try
- complete
- …
- exercise in
- [uncountable] exercise of something the use of power, a skill, a quality or a right to make something happen
- the exercise of power by the government
- One of these powers is the exercise of discretion by police officers.
Extra Examples- Sovereignty means more than just the exercise of power.
- to limit the exercise of political power
- the free exercise of informed choice
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- effective
- free
- legitimate
- …
- limit
- regulate
- justify
- …
- the exercise of authority
- the exercise of power
- the exercise of discretion
- …
- [countable] an activity that is designed to achieve a particular result
- a public consultation exercise
- a communications exercise
- In the end it proved a pointless exercise.
- exercise in something an exercise in public relations
- Staying calm was an exercise in self-control.
Extra ExamplesTopics Successb2- As a public relations exercise the festival was clearly a success.
- The company has just carried out a major cost-cutting exercise.
- The object of the exercise is to increase public awareness of environmental issues.
- This is not a purely academic exercise: it should have a real impact on the way we work as a department.
- The whole consultation process was just a cynical political exercise.
- The Government instituted a massive exercise in social control.
- The seminar was a valuable exercise in information exchange.
- We have conducted training exercises in seven separate states.
- We run team-building exercises with employees at each office.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- simple
- straightforward
- major
- …
- carry out
- conduct
- perform
- …
- exercise in
- the aim of the exercise
- the object of the exercise
- [countable, usually plural] a set of activities for training soldiers
- military exercises
- He was injured in a training exercise.
Extra Examples- The troops go on exercises twice a year.
- US forces took part in joint exercises with the British Navy.
- Half the regiment was away on exercises.
- We were out on a field exercise.
- They recently completed a four-week exercise in Poland.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- major
- field
- field-training
- …
- conduct
- do
- execute
- …
- on exercise
- exercises[plural] (North American English) ceremonies
- college graduation exercises
activity/movements
questions
use of power/right/quality
for particular result
for soldiers
ceremonies
Word OriginMiddle English (in the sense ‘application of a right’): via Old French from Latin exercitium, from exercere ‘keep busy, practise’, from ex- ‘thoroughly’ + arcere ‘keep in or away’.
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