common sense

common sense
ˌcommon ˈsense noun [uncountable]
the ability to behave in a sensible way and make practical decisions:
    Use your common sense for once__
    a common-sense approach to education
     

COLLOCATIONS

■ verbs
   ▪ have common sense Some people are brilliant thinkers, but they have no common sense.
   ▪ use your common sense If something goes wrong, just use your common sense.
   ▪ be based on common sense The job doesn't require much training because it's based on common sense.
   ▪ show common sense His attitude shows no common sense at all.
   ▪ common sense tells you/me etc something Common sense tells me that I should get more sleep.
   ▪ common sense suggests something People don't always do what common sense suggests.
   ▪ common sense dictates something (=tells you something very clearly) Common sense dictates that you should avoid handling wild animals.
   ▪ common sense prevails (=is strong enough to make you do the sensible thing) Eventually common sense prevailed and they reached an agreement.
   ▪ defy common sense (=not be sensible) The proposed change in the law defies common sense.
■ adjectives
   ▪ simple/plain/basic/sheer common sense (=very obviously sensible) Locking your doors at night is simple common sense.
   ▪ sound common sense (=sensible and reliable) These ideas contained much sound common sense.
■ common sense + NOUN
   ▪ a common sense approach We need a common sense approach to caring for the environment.
   ▪ a common sense view Ross took the common sense view that it would be better to stay at home.
■ phrases
   ▪ a matter of common sense (=something that requires no more than common sense) Not driving too fast is just a matter of common sense.
   ▪ a lack of common sense Leaving the child alone in the car showed a lack of common sense.
   ▪ an ounce of common sense (=a very small amount) Anyone with an ounce of common sense would have realised that was a silly thing to do.