Here's a breakdown:
Complete Sentence:
* Example: The store had many types of snacks: chips, pretzels, and candy bars.
In this case, "The store had many types of snacks" is a complete sentence, followed by a colon and then the list of snacks.
Phrase:
* Example: Here are some tips for making a great cake: choosing fresh ingredients, using a good recipe, and frosting it beautifully.
Here, "Here are some tips for making a great cake" is a phrase, followed by a colon and the list of tips.
Important Note: You shouldn't use a colon directly after a verb. For example, you wouldn't say "The store has: chips, pretzels, and candy bars." Instead, you would use a comma, like "The store has chips, pretzels, and candy bars."