serious injury — bad injury
collocationB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon
An injury that is severe and can have a big effect on your health or daily life.
Say it like a native
Textbook The player sustained severe physical trauma during the match.
Native The player picked up a serious injury during the match.
Natives 'get/pick up a serious injury'; 'sustained physical trauma' is medical/report language.
Pattern: serious injury (noun phrase); suffer/sustain/receive a serious injury
In use
- He was taken to hospital with a serious injury after the car accident.health
- If someone suffers a serious injury at work, it can affect their ability to earn money and support their family.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ He made a serious injury to his knee.
✓ He suffered a serious injury to his knee.
You suffer/sustain/get an injury — you don't 'make' it.
Common collocations
suffer a serious injury— suffer, sustain, avoid, head
Don't confuse it
A 'minor injury' is the opposite and means a small or not dangerous injury.