- Do you ever wonder if you’re using “sink” correctly in sentences?
- Are you unsure whether to say “the ship sunk” or “the ship sank”?
- Do native speakers use specific phrases with “sink” that confuse you?
Understanding collocations—words that commonly go together—is crucial for sounding natural and fluent in English. Instead of thinking word by word, learning collocations helps you master natural chunks of language, significantly boosting your comprehension and confidence. This article will dive deep into common and essential collocations involving the word “sink.”
Common Collocations with SINK as a Verb
As a verb, “sink” describes various actions, from physical descent to figurative decline or investment. Let’s explore its most common partnerships.
To Descend, Submerge, or Drop
- sink to the bottom: To drop all the way to the lowest point.
Example: The heavy anchor began to sink to the bottom of the ocean.
- sink without a trace: To disappear completely, leaving no evidence.
Example: After the storm, the small fishing boat seemed to sink without a trace.
- sink into the mud/ground: To gradually move downwards into a soft surface.
Example: The old shed started to sink into the mud after weeks of heavy rain.
- sink like a stone: To sink very quickly and directly downwards.
Example: The heavy object hit the water and immediately sank like a stone.
- sink below the surface: To go underneath the top layer of water or other material.
Example: We watched the sun sink below the surface of the horizon.
To Decline, Worsen, or Lose Hope (Figurative)
- sink into despair/depression: To fall deeply into a state of hopelessness or sadness.
Example: After losing his job, he began to sink into despair.
- sink to a new low: To reach an unprecedentedly bad or immoral state.
Example: The politician’s behavior has sunk to a new low this election cycle.
- sink deeper into debt: To accumulate more and more debt.
Example: Without a steady income, it’s easy to sink deeper into debt.
- sink into oblivion: To be completely forgotten or cease to exist.
Example: Many old traditions have sunk into oblivion in the modern age.
To Invest, Build, or Score
- sink money/funds into: To invest a significant amount of money in something, often with a risk.
Example: They decided to sink a lot of money into renovating their old house.
- sink a well/shaft: To dig a well or mine shaft.
Example: The village needed to sink a new well to ensure a clean water supply.
- sink a putt/basket/shot: To successfully get a ball into a hole (golf), basket (basketball), or goal (various sports).
Example: The golfer managed to sink a difficult putt on the 18th hole.
Essential Collocations using SINK as a Noun
As a noun, “sink” refers to a basin used for washing. Collocations here often relate to its type, function, and actions performed with it.
Types of Sinks
- kitchen sink: A basin found in a kitchen, typically for washing dishes and food.
Example: Please put the dirty dishes in the kitchen sink.
- bathroom sink: A basin found in a bathroom, typically for washing hands and faces.
Example: The bathroom sink was clogged with hair.
- utility sink: A large, deep basin, often found in laundry rooms or garages, used for practical tasks like washing mops or soaking clothes.
Example: He used the utility sink to clean his paint brushes.
- double sink: A sink unit that features two separate basins.
Example: Their new kitchen has a convenient double sink for easy dishwashing.
Actions and States Related to a Sink
- fill the sink: To put water into the basin until it’s full.
Example: I need to fill the sink with hot water to wash these clothes.
- empty the sink: To remove the contents, especially water, from the basin.
Example: Don’t forget to empty the sink after you’re done washing up.
- clean the sink: To wash and scrub the basin to remove dirt and grime.
Example: It’s important to clean the sink regularly to prevent bacteria buildup.
- drain the sink: To let the water flow out of the basin through the drain.
Example: The water slowly began to drain from the sink.
- clogged sink: A sink where the drain is blocked, preventing water from flowing away.
Example: We called a plumber because of the badly clogged sink.
Figurative and Idiomatic Expressions (Noun)
- everything but the kitchen sink: Almost all imaginable things; a very large variety of items.
Example: When they went camping, they brought everything but the kitchen sink.
- kitchen sink drama: A genre of realistic British theatre, film, or television that depicts working-class life.
Example: The new play is a gritty kitchen sink drama set in industrial Manchester.
“Learning collocations not only expands your vocabulary but also trains your ear and mind to recognize and produce natural English.”
The Master Summary Table
| Collocation | Part of Speech | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| sink into despair | Verb | Fall deeply into hopelessness |
| sink to the bottom | Verb | Descend to the lowest point |
| sink money into | Verb | Invest a large amount of money |
| sink like a stone | Verb | Sink very quickly |
| sink a putt | Verb | Successfully get a golf ball into the hole |
| kitchen sink | Noun | Sink in a kitchen |
| fill the sink | Noun | Put water into the sink |
| clogged sink | Noun | A blocked sink drain |
| everything but the kitchen sink | Noun Idiom | Almost every imaginable thing |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
Avoid these common pitfalls to make your English sound more natural when using “sink.”
| Do Not Say | Say This |
|---|---|
| He went into despair. | He sank into despair. |
| The object dropped like a stone. | The object sank like a stone. |
| They put much money into the project. | They sank a lot of money into the project. |
| I need to make the sink full. | I need to fill the sink. |
| The water will go away from the sink. | The water will drain from the sink. |
| He got all things, even the kitchen basin. | He got everything but the kitchen sink. |
Contextual Story
“After weeks of worrying about the failing startup, Mark began to sink into despair. He had personally sunk a lot of money into the venture, hoping for success. Now, it felt like the entire company was destined to sink without a trace. He sat by the kitchen sink, staring blankly, contemplating how to salvage the situation. It felt like his career was about to sink to a new low, taking everything but the kitchen sink with it.”
Frequently Asked Questions about Sink Collocations
What is the correct past tense of “sink”? Is it “sunk” or “sank”?
Both “sank” and “sunk” are forms of the past tense, but they are used differently. “Sank” is the simple past tense (e.g., “The ship sank yesterday.”). “Sunk” is the past participle, used with auxiliary verbs like “has,” “have,” or “had” (e.g., “The ship has sunk.”). So, “The ship sank” is correct, and “The ship has sunk” is also correct.
Can “sink” be used metaphorically in other contexts?
Absolutely! Beyond physical descent, “sink” is widely used metaphorically. For example, a business can “sink” if it fails, or someone can “sink” into a comfortable chair (meaning to settle deeply). It can also describe a feeling of realization: “The news finally sank in” (meaning to be fully understood or realized).
What’s the difference between “sink in” and “sink into”?
“Sink in” typically means for something (like information, news, or a concept) to be fully understood or realized over time. Example: “It took a while for the bad news to really sink in.” “Sink into” implies moving into a state, condition, or physical space. Example: “He sank into despair” or “The car tires sank into the mud.”
Are there any common prepositions that follow “sink”?
Yes, “sink” often pairs with several prepositions depending on the meaning:
- sink into: (a state or physical surface) “sink into despair,” “sink into the sofa,” “sink into the mud.”
- sink to: (a level or depth) “sink to the bottom,” “sink to a new low.”
- sink beneath: (a surface) “sink beneath the waves.”
- sink in: (for comprehension) “The message finally sank in.”
- sink with: (rare, implies a companion) “The captain chose to sink with his ship.”
Is “sink or swim” an active collocation or just an idiom?
“Sink or swim” is a very common idiom meaning that a person must either succeed by their own efforts or fail completely. While it uses the word “sink,” its meaning as a fixed phrase makes it more of an idiomatic expression than an active collocation where “sink” freely combines with other words to form new meanings. It’s used in contexts where someone is left to cope with a difficult situation without help.
The article touched on figurative decline. Could you elaborate a bit more on collocations like 'sink into despair' or 'sink into depression'? Those are very useful for expressing emotions.
Absolutely, Kenji! You've identified some powerful and very common figurative uses of 'sink'. 'To sink into despair,' 'to sink into depression,' or 'to sink into a deep sleep' all describe a gradual, often involuntary, descent into a particular negative or profound state. These illustrate how 'sink' can be used to describe emotional or mental states as well as physical ones. They are indeed very useful for nuanced expression!
Translateen.com always delivers top-notch content for learners. Thank you for making English learning so accessible and engaging, especially with these detailed explanations!
Could you give an example of 'sink' used in the present perfect continuous tense? Like, 'The boat has been sinking...' I sometimes struggle with perfect continuous forms.
Certainly, François! A great example would be: 'The old pier has been slowly sinking into the water for years, and now it's almost completely submerged.' This shows an ongoing action that started in the past and continues into the present. Excellent question to explore tense usage!
I once saw an old, abandoned building slowly 'sink into the ground' after weeks of heavy monsoon rains. This article brought back that vivid memory! English collocations truly describe reality well.
It's interesting how 'sink without a trace' sounds so dramatic! It's not just disappearing, it's *completely* gone, leaving no hint behind. Really paints a picture.
So, 'the ship sank' is correct for the past simple, right? Not 'the ship sunk'?
That's correct, Olga! For the simple past tense, 'sank' is the form to use (e.g., 'The Titanic sank in 1912'). 'Sunk' is only used as a past participle with a helping verb (e.g., 'The Titanic had sunk'). Well done!
Great points! What about 'sink one's teeth into something'? Is that considered a collocation with 'sink' or is it a more idiomatic use that stands alone? I'm curious about the nuances.
Hi Diego! That's an excellent advanced query. While it uses 'sink', 'to sink one's teeth into something' is considered a distinct idiom rather than a typical collocation where 'sink' maintains its core meaning of descent. It means to enthusiastically tackle a task or subject. Its meaning is quite removed from 'sink' as covered in the article, but it's a valid and interesting observation about how words evolve in idioms!
This article is exactly what I needed! My English feels much more natural when I use collocations correctly. It boosts my confidence a lot. Thank you for these practical tips!
Is 'sink to the bottom' always literal? Could a team 'sink to the bottom' of the league standings, for example? Or is that less common?
That's a very perceptive question, Kwame! 'Sink to the bottom' can absolutely be used figuratively. Your example of a team 'sinking to the bottom of the league standings' is perfect. It implies a decline in performance leading to the lowest position. Great thinking!
I never thought about 'sink into the mud' as a specific collocation, but it's so obvious now that you point it out! It makes me realize how many everyday phrases I might be misusing or missing. This is very insightful.