Collins Cobuild English Grammar (42 page)

number plus singular countable noun, e.g.
five-page
,
four-door

Note that compound adjectives formed according to the last of these patterns are always used in front of a noun.

compound qualitative adjectives

2.97
    Here is a list of compound qualitative adjectives:

able-bodied

absent-minded

accident-prone

big-headed

clear-cut

close-fitting

cold-blooded

easy-going

far-fetched

far-reaching

good-looking

good-tempered

hard-up

hard-wearing

ill-advised

kind-hearted

labour saving

laid-back

light-hearted

long-lasting

long-standing

long-suffering

low-cut

low-paid

low-slung

mind-blowing

mouth-watering

muddle-headed

narrow-minded

nice-looking

off-colour

off-hand

off-putting

old-fashioned

one-sided

open-minded

run-down

second-class

second-rate

shop-soiled

short-handed

short-lived

short-sighted

short-tempered

slow-witted

smooth-talking

soft-hearted

starry-eyed

strong-minded

stuck-up

sun-tanned

swollen-headed

tender-hearted

thick-skinned

tongue-tied

top-heavy

trouble-free

two-edged

two-faced

warm-hearted

well-balanced

well-behaved

well-dressed

well-known

well-off

wind-blown

worldly-wise

wrong-headed

compound classifying adjectives

2.98
    Here is a list of compound classifying adjectives:

air-conditioned

all-out

all-powerful

audio-visual

blue-blooded

bow-legged

brand-new

breast-fed

broken-down

broken-hearted

built-up

bullet-proof

burnt-out

cast-off

clean-shaven

cross-Channel

cross-country

cut-price

deep-sea

deep-seated

double-barrelled

double-breasted

drip-dry

drive-in

duty-bound

duty-free

empty-handed

face-saving

far-flung

first-class

free-range

free-standing

freeze-dried

front-page

full-blown

full-face

full-grown

full-length

full-scale

gilt-edged

grey-haired

half-price

half-yearly

hand-picked

high-heeled

home-made

ice-cold

interest-free

knee-deep

last-minute

late-night

lead-free

left-handed

life-size

long-distance

long-lost

long-range

loose-leaf

made-up

man-eating

mass-produced

middle-aged

never-ending

north-east

north-west

nuclear-free

odds-on

off-guard

off-peak

one-way

open-ended

open-mouthed

panic-stricken

part-time

present-day

purpose-built

ready-made

record-breaking

red-brick

remote-controlled

right-angled

right-handed

second-class

second-hand

see-through

silver-plated

single-handed

so-called

so-so

south-east

south-west

strong-arm

tax-free

tone-deaf

top-secret

unheard-of

wide-awake

world-famous

worn-out

year-long

compound colour adjectives

2.99
    Here is a list of compound colour adjectives:

blood-red

blue-black

bottle-green

dove-grey

electric-blue

flesh-coloured

ice-blue

iron-grey

jet-black

lime-green

navy-blue

nut-brown

off-white

pea-green

pearl-grey

royal-blue

shocking-pink

sky-blue

snow-white

long compound adjectives

2.100
  A few compound adjectives are made up of more than two words. Compounds of three or more words are often written with hyphens when they are used in front of nouns, and without hyphens when they are used after a linking verb.

…the
day-to-day
chores of life.
…a
down-to-earth
approach.
…a
free-and-easy
relationship.
…
life-and-death
decisions.
…a trip to an
out-of-the-way
resort.
Their act is
out of date
.