Oxford Collocations Resources

BUSINESS
Starting out …
set up

launch

an agency
a branch
a business
a company
a firm
in business (esp. BrE)
a network

an office
an organization
a project
a scheme (BrE)
a venture
a website

an advertising
campaign
a career
an initiative
an operation
a product
a programme/program

a project
a scheme (BrE)

a takeover bid
a website

Now we’re in business …
do

make

manage

operate

run

the accounts
business
the catering
a deal
the marketing
the paperwork
some research

an appointment
a bargain
cutbacks
a deal
an investment
a killing
a loan
money

a profit
a transaction

a business
a company
demand
the economy
a factory
the finances
a firm
the funds
a restaurant
a team

an airline
a facility (esp. AmE)
a fleet (of trucks, etc.)
a flight
a scheme (BrE)
a service
a store
at full capacity
at a loss

an airline
a bar
a business
a campaign
a company
the economy

a factory
a restaurant

Doing well …
boost
circulation
demand
the economy
production
profits

generate
spending
takings
tourism
trade
turnover

business
capital
cash
employment
income

profit
publicity
revenue

… and not so well …
• a company goes bankrupt/goes

under
• a deal falls apart/falls through
• the euro falls to a new low
• growth slows
• negotiations break down

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•
•
•
•

profits plummet/plunge
recession looms
sales are down
shares plummet/plunge (esp. BrE)
stocks plummet/plunge (esp. AmE)

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CLOTHES
You can wear clothes or you can have clothes on:
I’m going to wear my little black dress to the party.
He’s got a very strange hat on.
You can be dressed in clothes, fabric or a particular colour/color:
She was dressed

in jeans.

all in black.
in green velvet.

You can put on and take off any sort of clothing. You can also:

pull on

pull up

slip on

slip into

boots
gloves
a jacket
a pair of sth
pants
socks
a sweater
tights
trousers
(esp. BrE)

a dress
jeans
knickers (BrE)
pants
a skirt
a sleeve

socks
trousers
(esp.BrE)

a dressing gown a pair of jeans
a coat
(BrE)/a robe
something more a jacket
comfortable
(AmE)
a jacket
a pair of sth
shoes

pull off

pull down

remove

drop

shrug off

kick off

boots
a coat
gloves
a hat

a jacket
a shirt
shoes
socks

knickers (BrE)
pants
a skirt
trousers
(esp.BrE)

clothes
a coat
glasses
gloves
a hat
a helmet
a jacket
a shirt
shoes

pants
trousers
(esp. BrE)

a coat
a jacket

boots
sandals

shoes

do up/undo

zip (up)/unzip

button (up)/ lace up/
unbutton
unlace

tie/untie
(esp. AmE)

fasten/
unfasten

a belt
buttons
flies (BrE)/a fly
jeans
laces
pants (AmE)
a shirt
a tie
trousers
(esp. BrE)
a zip (BrE)/
zipper (AmE)

a coat

a dress
flies (BrE)/a fly
a jacket
jeans
pants (AmE)
a skirt
trousers
(esp. BrE)

a blouse
a coat
a dress
flies (BrE)/fly
a jacket
jeans
pants (AmE)
a shirt

a belt
boots
a robe (AmE)
a scarf
shoes
shoelaces

a belt
a bra
a buckle
buttons
a helmet

a necklace

shrug into/on

throw on
a coat
a dressing gown
(BrE)/a robe
(AmE)
a jacket
a pair of jeans
a shirt
some clothes
a top

She pulled on a pair of faded jeans and a sweater.
Wait while I slip into something more comfortable.
Throwing on his coat, he made for the door.

She pulled off her gloves and held out her hand.
He removed his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
I kicked off my sandals and felt the warm sand slipping
between my toes.

Fasteners

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boots
shoes

His fingers fumbled to do up the small buttons on his shirt.
My laces came undone and I nearly tripped.
Tom buttoned his overcoat up to his neck and raised his collar.

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COLOURS/COLORS
Things can be, look, go or turn blue, green, red, etc. You can also make sth
or colour/color, dye, paint or stain sth blue, green, red, etc.
The pages of the book have gone yellow.
I’ve dyed my shirt green.

bright

brilliant

light

pale

soft

blue
green
orange
pink
purple
red

yellow

blue
green
red

blue
brown
green
grey
pink
purple
red
yellow

blue
brown
gold
green
grey
orange
pink
purple
yellow

blue
brown
green
grey/gray
pink

purple
yellow

a bright red car
The water was a brilliant blue.
light blue eyes
a pale yellow blouse
The walls were painted a soft blue.

dark

deep

dull

rich

vivid

warm

blue
brown
green
grey
pink
purple
red

blue

brown
orange
pink
purple
red
yellow

brown
green
red

blue
brown
green
red

blue
green
orange
pink
red
yellow

brown
red
yellow

She was wearing a dark green skirt.
They choose deep purple for the curtains.
The sky had turned deep orange.

The bricks are a dull grey.
The room was decorated in rich browns and greens.
His eyes were a vivid green.
warm brown eyes

Other expressions:
a shade of ˜

wear ˜

•a beautiful shade of red

• I can’t wear yellow––it makes
my eyes look strange.

in ˜
•She was dressed all in pink.
•Have you got this shirt in blue?
•You look good in green.

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˜ suits sb
•Orange suits you.

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Study page

S10

cOllOcaTIONS with cOMMON VeRBS
do

make

have

take

give

the accounts
business
a crossword
a course in Spanish
damage
a deal
a degree
the dishes
your duty
an exam (esp. BrE)
exercise
an experiment
the food for a party
French at school
(esp. BrE)
good
your hair

‘Hamlet’
your homework
an impression (= an
imitation of sb)
your job
judo
lunch (= meet for
lunch)
60 miles per hour
an operation
Paris (= visit the
sights)
research
the shopping (BrE)/
some shopping
a sketch
a test
a tour
a translation
the washing (BrE)/
the laundry
some work

an appointment
an argument for sth
an attempt
the bed
a cake
a case for sth
changes

a choice
a connection
a contribution
a decision
dinner
an effort
a face
a film/movie
friends
a guess
an impact
an impression (= a
strong effect)
a mark
a mess
a mistake
money
a noise
a note/notes
peace
a photocopy
your point
progress
a promise
a sketch
a speech
a statement
a suggestion
a trip
your will

an accident
an argument
a bath/shower (both
esp. BrE)
a break
breakfast
cancer
a chance
a chat (esp. BrE)
a cold
difficulty
a drink
a feeling
fun
a guess (BrE)
a heart attack
a holiday (BrE)/
vacation (AmE)
an idea
an impact
an interest
a look
a meeting
a party
a plan
a nap
an operation
an opportunity
patience

problems
a shock
a snack
a swim
time
trouble

action
a bath/shower (both
esp. AmE)
a bite
a break
the bus
a (phone) call
a chance
a class
control
a course in Spanish
a decision (BrE)
a deep breath
a dislike to sb
an exam
French at school
a guess (AmE)
a holiday (BrE)/
vacation (AmE)
an interest in sth
the lead
a look
medicine

a nap
notes
notice
a photo/picture
a pill
a risk
a sip
size 14
a swim (esp. AmE)
sb’s temperature
a walk
an X-ray

advice to sb
sb an answer
birth
sb a chance
sb a choice
credit to sb
a cry of pain
an example
sb a headache
sb help
sb a hug
sb an idea
the impression that…
instructions
an insight into sth
sb a kiss
a lecture

sb lessons
sb a lift (BrE)/
ride (AmE)
your opinion
sb an order
a party
a performance
sth a polish (esp. BrE)
sb a present
priority to sth
sth a pull
sb a push
sb a shock
a sigh
a smile
a speech
some thought to sth
sb time (to do sth)
a welcome to sb

1
2
3

Find the nouns in the lists for tasks and duties (for example do the dishes). Which verb is
the most often used? Which tasks are exceptions?
Find expressions in each column that can be substituted by a single verb.
(For example you can do damage to something or just damage something.) Which column
has the most?
Find expressions connected with the following:

speaking

make/give a speech

experiencing something producing something
using your hands,
your mind or your skill
have an accident

make dinner

physical actions

have/take a bath

Can you see any patterns emerging? Are there any exceptions?
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Study page

S11

4
5

How many items can you find that collocate with more than one of the verbs
(for example you can have or take a break)?
Complete each of the following sentences using do, make, have, take or give (more than
one answer may be possible). If the noun in the example is not in the table above, look
for a similar noun. For example, fortune is not in the list but money is. You can check your
answers by looking up the entries for the nouns, but try to predict what the verbs will be
before you do this.

have/take a look at the engine
a Make sure you ___________

j

k She’s always ___________ an interest in current

b After the interview I had to ___________

affairs.

a test.
c

l

They always ___________ us a welcome when

d I sometimes ___________ a nap in the afternoon

m ___________ a picture of me and your dad
together.

e Saturday’s my day for ___________ jobs around
the house.

n The kids are ___________ a terrible racket.

The housing committee will ___________

o Her singing ___________ an impression on me.

priority to the elderly.

p ___________ the handle a twist and the door
should open.

g Let’s ___________ one more swim before we go

q I don’t know the answer, so I’ll _______ a guess.

back to the hotel.

r

h He ___________ a short laugh when he realized

How often do you have to _______ the
medicine?

his mistake.
i

She ___________ her fortune on the stock
market.

we go there.

f

I told her I’d run in the marathon—I’m not going
to ___________ any promises like that again.

before you buy the car.

s

The moment we met we ___________ a dislike

Everyone else was ___________ notes in the
lecture, but I had forgotten my pen.

to each other.
t

A TV company is visiting our school to _______ a
documentary about teaching!

6

Put each of the following adjectives into one of the sentences in exercise 5, before a noun
that it collocates with. If you want to check in the dictionary you will need to look up the
entries for the nouns.
close

copious

instant

keen

lasting

odd

rash

sharp

top

warm

wild

For example: Make sure you have a close look at the engine before you buy the car.

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COmpUTERS
Installing software
• bootup/start up the computer
• insert the program disk/CD-ROM or
download the software from a website
• follow the set up instructions
• reboot/restart the computer

Creating a document
• select the new document option from the
drop-down menu or click on the new
document icon
• type, edit, and format the document
• print (out) the document
• save and close the document

Cutting and pasting text
• scroll down the text to find the block of
text you want to move
• position the cursor at the beginning of the
block of text
• hold down the left mouse button and
drag the mouse to highlight the block of

text
• release the left mouse button
• click on the right mouse button and
select the cut text option from the pop-up
menu
• move the cursor to where you want the
text to go
• select the paste text option

Looking up something on the Internet
• go on the Internet
• type in the website address
or click (on)/ follow a link
• access the website
• browse/search the website to find the
information
• if necessary, download the information

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Running several applications at
the same time
• double-click on the different program icons
• move and resize the program windows as
required
• click on a program’s window to use that
program
• when finished, close the windows

Backing up a file

• if saving data onto a CD-ROM, insert a
blank disk and format it if necessary
• if using an old disk, wipe the disk or delete/
erase some of the files to create space
• compress/zip the file if it is too large
• copy/save the file onto the disk
• eject/remove/take out the disk
• alternatively, back-up or upload the data
onto a server or save it on a memory stick

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Study page

S12

NaTURal DISaSTeRS
In each case, only one of the pair of words in italics forms a common
collocation with the word in bold. Use the dictionary (looking up the bold
word) to decide which is the correct collocation.
a The famine has already claimed/starved thousands of victims.
b The president visited the affected region in the direct/immediate aftermath of the
hurricane.
c

Rescue staff/workers are still looking for survivors.

d A massive relief attempt/effort is underway.

Sentences e-h each contain two pairs of italic words. You need to choose one
from each pair. Again, look up the bold words.

e Several villages have been inundated/soaked by the deepest/severest floods in decades.
f

The city was affected/struck by an enormous/a massive earthquake shortly after
midnight.

g The forest fires, blown/fanned by warm winds, flared/raged out of control for weeks.
h The volcano, which has been dormant/inactive for 50 years, began erupting/exploding
late last night.

cRIMINal jUSTIce
In each of the sentences, there is an example of incorrect collocation in one
of the two underlined sections. Look at the entries for the bold words to help
you, then write a word that could be used in place of the incorrect one in the
space on the right.

a The accused men have been sent to custody to await trial.

remanded
in (BrE)/taken into
____________________

b Police carried out a raid on the premises early this
morning and did two arrests.
c

____________________

The man was judged guilty of assault and sent to prison for
ten years.

____________________

d The woman will stand trial, accused with murdering her
husband.

____________________

e The woman was charged with assault, a crime which holds
a sentence of up to two years in jail.
f

____________________

The judge summarized and the jury deliberated for eight hours
before reaching a verdict.

____________________

g The jury reported a verdict of guilty and then the judge
passed sentence.

____________________

h New evidence came to light and the original verdict was
squashed on appeal.

© Oxford University Press

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Study page

S13

eDUcaTION
Using the entry for the word in bold to help you, cross out any of the words in
italics that do not form common collocations.

a He got full/maximum/top marks in the listening test. (esp. BrE)
b I got a failing/passing/winning grade in math. (AmE)
c

We have to do/make/write a vocabulary test every Friday.

d How many students have joined/signed up for/undertaken the course?
e She was always losing/missing out/skipping classes – no wonder she crashed/failed/
flunked the exam.
f

He suffers badly from exam nerves/stress/worries.

g The teacher made up/set/wrote a difficult exam but checked/graded/marked it leniently.
h We were supposed to do/compose/write the essay by Friday but I delivered it/handed it in
turned it in late.
i

I attended/visited/went to a lecture on Japanese cinema.

j

He went to Oxford where he did/made/took a degree in/of/on chemistry.

DRIVINg
In each case, only one or two of the words in italics form(s) a common
collocation with the word in bold. Use the dictionary (looking up the bold
word) to decide which combinations are possible.

a We drove down a narrow curving/windy/winding road and got stuck behind a truck
carrying/dragging/hauling timber.
b I finished/ran out of/used up the petrol (BrE)/gas (AmE) and had to hitch/hitch-hike/
thumb a lift (BrE)/ride (AmE) to the nearest garage.
c

There’s always busy/heavy/strong traffic on the highway, so I usually take the back/
minor/small roads.

d The car pulled down/pulled over/pulled up by the side of the road where there was a
free parking room/place/slot.
e I realized it was a one-direction/one-way/single-way street, so I had to carry out/do/make

a U-turn.
f

She began/started/switched on the engine to warm up the car and then started rubbing/
scraping/scratching the ice off the windscreen (BrE)/windshield (AmE).

g The demonstration brought/reduced/slowed traffic to a standstill, and some drivers
began to beep/bonk/honk their horns in frustration.
h The car in front cut down/slowed down/sped down in order to let a police car overtake/
pass/take over.
i

I called a breakdown company to haul/pull away/tow away my car as I had two dead/
empty/flat tyres/tires.

j

A car suddenly pulled out/started out/ran out in front of me and I had to hit/slam on/
tread on the brakes.

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Study page

S13

eDUcaTION
Using the entry for the word in bold to help you, cross out any of the words in
italics that do not form common collocations.

a He got full/maximum/top marks in the listening test. (esp. BrE)
b I got a failing/passing/winning grade in math. (AmE)
c

We have to do/make/write a vocabulary test every Friday.

d How many students have joined/signed up for/undertaken the course?
e She was always losing/missing out/skipping classes – no wonder she crashed/failed/
flunked the exam.
f

He suffers badly from exam nerves/stress/worries.

g The teacher made up/set/wrote a difficult exam but checked/graded/marked it leniently.
h We were supposed to do/compose/write the essay by Friday but I delivered it/handed it in
turned it in late.
i

I attended/visited/went to a lecture on Japanese cinema.

j

He went to Oxford where he did/made/took a degree in/of/on chemistry.

DRIVINg
In each case, only one or two of the words in italics form(s) a common
collocation with the word in bold. Use the dictionary (looking up the bold
word) to decide which combinations are possible.

a We drove down a narrow curving/windy/winding road and got stuck behind a truck
carrying/dragging/hauling timber.
b I finished/ran out of/used up the petrol (BrE)/gas (AmE) and had to hitch/hitch-hike/
thumb a lift (BrE)/ride (AmE) to the nearest garage.
c

There’s always busy/heavy/strong traffic on the highway, so I usually take the back/
minor/small roads.

d The car pulled down/pulled over/pulled up by the side of the road where there was a
free parking room/place/slot.
e I realized it was a one-direction/one-way/single-way street, so I had to carry out/do/make
a U-turn.
f

She began/started/switched on the engine to warm up the car and then started rubbing/
scraping/scratching the ice off the windscreen (BrE)/windshield (AmE).

g The demonstration brought/reduced/slowed traffic to a standstill, and some drivers
began to beep/bonk/honk their horns in frustration.
h The car in front cut down/slowed down/sped down in order to let a police car overtake/
pass/take over.
i

I called a breakdown company to haul/pull away/tow away my car as I had two dead/
empty/flat tyres/tires.

j

A car suddenly pulled out/started out/ran out in front of me and I had to hit/slam on/
tread on the brakes.

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fOOd aNd COOkINg
Describing food
• delicious, home-made, moist, rich cake
• a creamy, delicious, rich dessert
• a delicious, savoury, tasty, traditional dish
• a balanced, decent, delicious, gourmet,
healthy, hearty, home-cooked, light,
nutritious, proper, tasty meal
• crisp, crunchy, fresh, green, light salad
• creamy, rich, spicy, sweet-and-sour, tangy,
thick sauce
• a healthy, light, quick, salty, savoury/savory
(esp. BrE), tasty snack

• clear, creamy, hearty, home-made, thick,
thin soup

Preparation

Quantifiers
• a clove of garlic
• a fillet/filet of fish
• a head of lettuce
• a knob of butter (BrE)
• a pat/stick (AmE) of
butter

• a pinch of salt
• a rasher (esp. BrE)/
slice of bacon
• a sprig of parsley
• a stalk of celery (AmE)
a stick of celery (BrE)

Cooking
• melt, soften butter
• boil, fry, poach, scramble eggs
• bake, fry, grill, poach, steam fish
• fry, grill, roast meat
• brown, soften onions
• heat (up), stir soup; bring soup to the boil
• boil, roast, sauté, stir-fry, steam vegetables
• preheat the oven to 350°
• lower, remove the pan from, take the pan off,

turn down/up the heat

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• sprinkle, top with grated cheese
• beat, whisk eggs
• clean, fillet, gut, skin fish
• chop, grind (AmE), marinate, mince (BrE),
slice, tenderize meat
• add, blend, combine, mix, pour in, stir in
ingredients
• chop, peel, wash vegetables

Serving
• garnish with herbs
• sprinkle with lemon juice
• drizzle, pour oil
• drain pasta
• ladle soup
• carve meat
• dress, toss a salad
• season (with salt and pepper) to taste

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fRUIT
Growing
Pineapples grow in tropical climates.
We’ve been growing raspberries for years.

Blackberries ripen in the autumn/fall.
We haven’t had any pears yet this year.
This tree produces very sweet plums.
She picked a ripe apricot and started to eat it.
Growers are expecting a bumper apple harvest.
a bumper apple crop/crop of apples
He’s a peach grower.

Plantations
• apple, cherry orchards
• citrus, lemon, olive, orange groves
• banana, pineapple plantations

Plants
• apple, banana, cherry, lemon, lime, mango,
olive, orange, peach, pear, plum trees
• apple, cherry, lemon, orange blossom
• blackberry, blueberry, gooseberry bushes
• banana, strawberry plants
• grape vines

Seeds
• apple, grape, orange pips (esp. BrE)
apple, grape, orange seeds (AmE)
• apricot, cherry, peach, plum stones
apricot, cherry, peach, plum pits (AmE)
• apple cores

Skin
• apple, banana, grapefruit, lemon, orange peel

• banana, grape skin
• lemon, melon, orange rind
• lemon, lime, orange zest
• the grated rind/zest of a lemon

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Pieces of fruit
• apple, banana, lemon, orange slices
• a slice of apple, lemon, lime, melon, orange
• a wedge of lemon, lime
• pineapple chunks

Preparing and preserving
• peel an apple, a banana, a grape, an orange
• slice an apple, a banana, an orange,
a strawberry
• squeeze a lemon, a lime, an orange
• fried/mashed banana
• baked apple
• dried apricots
• canned/tinned (BrE) peaches, pineapple

Taste
• sweet/sour apples, cherries, grapes, oranges
• juicy apples, grapes, mangoes, melons,
peaches, plums, oranges
• fresh berries, lemons, limes, oranges,
pineapple, strawberries
• ripe bananas, berries, melons, peaches,

pears, plums
• overripe bananas, melons, plums

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Study page

S2

IDeaS INTO WORDS
Look at the entry for idea, sense 1 (plan/suggestion).
1

Look at the adjectives section (marked ADJ). Find adjectives you might
use to express the following ideas. Sometimes more than one adjective
is possible. You may want to use the pop-up definitions on the Oxford
Collocations Dictionary CD-ROM to check the meaning of any words you
don’t know.

a an idea that is helpful, rather than being negative or critical
b an idea that is slightly crazy, in a good way
c

an idea that is completely crazy, in a bad way

d an idea that has not been carefully thought out
e an idea that seems very impressive but is not really very practical

2

Now look at the section marked VERB + IDEA. Find verbs that you might
use to express the following ideas. Usually more than one verb is possible.

a to find an idea
b to suggest an idea
c

to suggest an idea in a very forceful way because you really want people to accept it

d to think about an idea for a while before you decide whether or not it is a good idea
e to talk about a number of different ideas before you decide which ideas are the best

3

Look at the section marked IDEA + VERB. Find verbs that you might use to
express the following:

a when you suddenly think of an idea
b when ideas slowly develop in your mind
c

when ideas go through your mind

d when an idea succeeds
e when an idea does not develop into anything

4

Finally, look at the PHRASES section and find the expression that means

the beginning of an idea.

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ILLNESSES
You can have any illness or disease:
I’m warning you—I have a bad cold.
Have the kids had chickenpox?
Get can be used with diseases or illnesses that you often have:
He gets really bad hay fever every summer.
Suffer from is used in more formal contexts and with more
serious diseases:
This medicine is often recommended for patients who suffer from arthritis.
You can also:

catch

develop

come/go
down with

contract

suffer

chickenpox
a cold
a cough
flu (BrE)/the flu
German measles
measles (BrE)/
the measles
a stomach bug

AIDS
an allergy (to sth)
arthritis
asthma
cancer
cataracts
diabetes
a fever
high blood pressure
an infection
pneumonia
a tumour/tumor
an ulcer

appendicitis
bronchitis
chickenpox
a cold

diarrhoea/diarrhea
flu (BrE)/the flu
food poisoning
measles
mono (AmE)
mumps (BrE)/
the mumps

AIDS
hepatitis
HIV
measles (BrE)/
the measles
meningitis
pneumonia
polio
tuberculosis

a breakdown
a concussion
a heart attack
an injury
a miscarriage
a stroke

an attack of (the) flu, nerves, shingles; an asthma attack
a bout of bronchitis, coughing, the flu, pneumonia, sickness
a bout with cancer, colic, depression, the flu (all AmE)
a coughing, an epileptic fit

Is it serious?
no

yes

a bit of a cold, a cough (both esp. BrE)
mild asthma, depression
a mild attack of sth, bout of sth, case of sth
a mild heart attack, infection
a slight cold, headache

a bad/heavy/nasty cold
a bad/nasty/severe attack of sth, bout of sth
a bad/hacking/racking cough
a bad/splitting headache
a massive/serious heart attack, stroke

What’s the treatment?
take

be given/
be on/take

have/undergo

have/be given

have/be given/
receive /undergo

medicine
pills
tablets
(esp. BrE)

antibiotics
drugs
medication
painkillers

an examination
an operation
surgery
a transplant

acupuncture
an anaesthetic/
anesthetic
a blood transfusion
an injection
a jab (esp. BrE)
a scan
a shot (esp. AmE)
an X-ray

chemotherapy
therapy
treatment

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Study page

S15

jOBS
1

Complete each of these sentences with an adjective from the box. Use the
entries for the words in bold to help you.
team
flexible
proven
short-term
skeleton
repetitive
heavy
high-powered
competitive

high-powered
a He didn’t want the stress of a _______________

f

She joined the company on a ___________
contract.

job.
b He couldn’t stand the ___________ work of

g We gathered in my boss’s office for a ___________
meeting.

the production line.
c

in-house

The company offers a ___________ salary.

h Applicants should have a ___________ track
record in project management.

d Does your job allow you to work ___________
hours?
e She’s hired an assistant to help with her

i

All staff receive ___________ training in IT skills.

j

They only have a ___________ staff on duty

___________ workload.

2

during the holidays.

Fill in each gap with an appropriate verb or phrasal verb. Use the entries for
the words in bold to help you.

apply for the job.
a I saw an interesting ad in the newspaper and decided to ___________
b The company missed his wealth of experience when he chose to ___________ early
retirement.
c

The whole union ___________ strike in protest against the proposed job cuts.

d Extra skills training could ___________ your job prospects.
e She felt she wasn’t ___________ her full potential in her current job so she ___________
her notice.
f

The company had no choice but to ___________ her contract when she ___________
several important deadlines.

g She had always wanted to ___________ her living as a musician, and she finally
___________ her ambition when she was 42.
h I ___________ a brief stint as a waitress when I was a student, but I wouldn’t like to
___________ it ___________ a living.

3

Now find collocations in the sentences from Exercise 2 that match up with
the definitions below:

a a short time spent doing sth

brief stint
____________________

b all that you might possibly achieve

____________________

c

your chances of getting a good job

d the valuable knowledge and skills that you have gained in

____________________
____________________

your life and work

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959

KEY to thE studY pagEs
S2 ideas into words
1

a constructive, positive b wacky c crackpot, crazy, mad, outlandish, wild d halfbaked e grandiose

2

a come up with, dream up, hit on/upon, produce, think up b contribute, moot (esp.
BrE), propose, put forward c promote, push (forward), sell d consider, entertain,
flirt with, mull over, toy with, turn over e bounce around, bounce off sb, brainstorm,
discuss, explore, talk about

3

a come into sb’s brain/head/mind, come to sb, flash through sb’s brain/mind, hit sb,
occur to sb, pop into sb’s head, strike sb b flow c emerge, evolve, form, grow d work
(out) e come to nothing

4

the germ of an idea

S3–5 using a noun entry
adjectives

1

a bewildering array of goods, a biting wind, a burning ambition, a convincing win,
driving rain, a fighting chance, a gaping chasm, a staggering sum of money,
a shining example, a crushing defeat, a haunting melody, a nagging pain, a piercing
scream, a running battle, a sprawling suburb, a sweeping statement

Quantifiers
2

a wisps of cloud b series/spate of attacks c bouts of depression d snatch of their
conversation e stream of traffic f pack of stray dogs g hoots/howls of laughter
h cloves of garlic i pang of guilt j glimmer of hope

Verb + …
3

a got into/had an argument b clear/pay off his debts c came up with/put forward the
suggestion d arrive at/draw any firm conclusions e agreed on/struck a deal
f a meeting has been arranged/scheduled g accept/shoulder the blame
h drummed/tapped his fingers i took/went on a trip j shade/shield my eyes

… + verb
4

the wine had flowed freely … my head was throbbing … my stomach was churning …
the wind howled … the rain lashed against the window … my nerves were on edge …
I heard the key turn/turning … my heart began to hammer in my chest … footsteps
echoed on the stairs … my mind was racing … the bedroom door creaked open … my
eyes accustomed/adjusted to the darkness … the man’s mouth fell open

… + noun
5

a beach resort b leg room c protest rally d traffic accident e famine relief f display
case g shelf space h junk mail i crime wave j night shift

prepositions
6

a in agony b at a disadvantage c confusion over … d above/over the noise
e in writing f at speed g in self-defence/self-defense h in this rain i at(BrE)/
on (esp.Ame)/over the weekend j skill at/in …

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phrases
7 a ... and lend a sympathetic ear. b I just couldn’t keep a straight face.
c …, he pressed his nose up against the glass. d …the first time I set eyes on her.

e They really put their hearts into the task. f If this report falls into the wrong hands
g …, I felt sick to stomach. h …I vowed never to set foot in the place again.
i You must learn to keep your mouth shut. j …she just held/put her head in her hands
and cried.

S6-7 using a verb entry
adverbs
1

a argued fiercely/heatedly b fiercely/passionately defend c grinned sheepishly/
wolfishly d categorically/flatly denies e contrasted markedly/starkly f brutally/
starkly illustrates

Verb + …
2

a was happy to accept b failed to comply c serve to highlight d hasten to add
e take steps to ensure f offered to resign g was determined to fight
h can afford to pay

prepositions
3

a backfired on me b testify against a colleague c comment on their decision
d mistaking me for someone else e treated for sunstroke
f prejudice the jury against him g plotting against him h collaborated on many
projects i advise against drinking alcohol j appealed for calm

phrases
4

a drink and drive b hire and fire c tossing and turning d mix and match
e hoping and praying f forgive and forget g braked to a halt h crack under the
strain i dawned bright and cold j grinning from ear to ear k pausing for breath

Collocations of phrasal verbs
5

I had been left to fend for myself . . . completely cut off from the rest of the world . . .
The water holes had dried up completely and I was forced to rely on cacti for water. I
tried to hang on to my sanity, clinging desperately to the hope . . . I pressed on with
my attempt . . . then by chance stumbled across an oasis. I instantly burst into load
cries of joy . . . and trees that blocked out the sun completely. I lay down in the shade
and slowly drifted off to sleep. I woke up with a start and l . . .

S8–9 using an adjective entry
Verbs
1

I nearly fell asleep. His mistake proved costly. The house smells damp. The house
stood empty. The crowd grew impatient. The roads run parallel. His mistake passed
unnoticed. The driver emerged unscathed.

2

a drove me crazy b held captive c set ablaze d rendered powerless e deemed
unsuitable f beat the security guard senseless g regarded him as eccentric h jerked/
jolted me awake

adverbs

3

a painfully b mutually c fiercely d distinctly e wildly f grossly

4

a unduly concerned b justly proud c blissfully unaware
d conspicuously absent e depressingly familiar f outwardly composed
g eerily silent h downright dangerous

prepositions
5

a damaging to the government b late for school c acquainted with the new software
d insistent on/upon maintaining her privacy e irresistible to women
f limited to two per person g conducive to economic growth h alarmed at/by the
latest crime statistics

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phrases
6

a alive and well b safe and sound c quick and easy d dazed and confused
e ready and willing f neat and tidy g worried sick h wet through i thrilled to bits
(BrE)/to pieces (AmE) j scared out of my wits/stiff/to death k bored out of our brains
(AmE)/out of our minds/rigid (BrE)/silly (BrE)/stiff/to death/to tears

S10–11 collocations with common verbs
The answers to the first three of these exercises are to some extent subjective. The aim is
to get you/your students thinking about how these verbs work. If, after working through
the exercises, you/they feel more confident about this area of collocation and more
familiar with some of these particular collocations, then the exercise has been successful.

1

do is the most usual verb for talking about tasks and duties, for example do the
dishes, do the food for a party, do your homework, do your job, do research, do the/
some shopping, do a translation, do the washing/laundry; exceptions could include
make the bed, make dinner, make a photocopy; have a meeting; take an exam; give sth
a polish

2

do: damage, exercise, experiment, launder, operate, research, search, shop, sketch,
tour, translate, wash

make: argue, attempt, change, choose, connect, contribute, decide, film, guess, impact,
impress, mark, note, progress, promise, sketch, speak, state, suggest

have: argue, bath/bathe, break, breakfast, chat, drink, feel, guess, holiday(BrE),
impact, interest, look, meet, party, nap, shower, snack, swim, vacation(AmE)

take: act, bath/bathe, bite, break, breathe, decide, guess, holiday(BrE), look, nap,
note, notice, photograph, risk, shower, sip, swim, vacation(AmE), walk, X-ray

give: advise, answer, credit, cry, help, hug, instruct, kiss, lecture, opine, order, perform,
polish, prioritize, pull, push, shock, sigh, smile, speak, think, welcome

3

speaking: make a guess, make a promise, make a speech, make a statement, make a
suggestion, have an argument, have a chat, have a guess, take a (phone) call, give a
lecture, give your opinion, give an order, give a speech
experiencing something have an accident, have cancer, have a cold, have difficulty,
have fun, have a heart attack, have an operation, have problems, have a shock, have
trouble

producing something using your hands, your mind or your skill do the food for a
party, do a report, do a sketch, do a translation, make dinner, make a cake, make a
film/movie, make a sketch, take a picture/photo

physical actions do exercise, make a face, have a bath/shower, have a look, have a
nap, have a swim, take a bath/shower, take a bite, take a deep breath, take a nap, take
a pill, take a sip, take a swim, take a walk, give birth, give a cry of pain, give sb a hug,
give sb a kiss, give sb a lift/ride, give sth a polish, give sth a pull, give sb a push, give a
sigh, give a smile

4

do/take a course, do/take an exam, do/take French at school, do/make a sketch,
make/take a decision, make/have/take a guess, make/have an impact, make/take
notes, make/give a speech, have/take a bath/shower, have/take a break, have/take a
holiday/vacation, have/take a look, have/give a party, have/take a nap, have/take a
swim

5/6 a have/take a close look b do/take a test c give us a warm welcome
d have/take a nap e doing odd jobs f give top priority g have/take one more swim
h gave a short laugh i took an instant dislike j make any rash promises
k had/taken a keen interest l made her fortune m take (= a photo)/do (= a
drawing, etc.) a picture n making a terrible racket o made a lasting impression
p give the handle a sharp twist q have/make/take a wild guess r take the medicine
s making/taking copious notes t do/make a documentary

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natural disasters
a

b
c
d
e
f
g
h

The famine has already claimed thousands of victims.
The president visited the affected region in the immediate aftermath of the
hurricane.
Rescue workers are still looking for survivors.
A massive relief effort is underway.
Several villages have been inundated by the severest floods in decades.
The city was struck by a massive earthquake shortly after midnight.
The forest fires, fanned by warm winds, raged out of control for weeks.
The volcano, which had been dormant for 50 years, began erupting late last night.

criminal justice
a sent to remanded in (BrE), taken into custody b did made two arrests c judged found
guilty d accused with of e holds carries a sentence f the judge summarized summed up
g the jury reported returned a verdict h the original verdict was squashed overturned,
quashed (esp.BrE), reversed, set aside, thrown out (esp. AmE)

education
a
b
c
d
e

f
g
h
i
j

He got full/maximum/top marks in the listening test.
I got a failing/passing/winning grade in math.
We have to do (BrE)/make/take a vocabulary test every Friday.
How many students have joined/signed up for/undertaken the course?
She was always losing/missing/skipping(AmE) classes – no wonder she crashed/
failed/flunked (esp.AmE) the exam.
He suffers badly from exam nerves/stress/worries.
The teacher made up/set/wrote a difficult exam but checked/graded (AmE)/
marked(BrE) it leniently.
We were supposed to do/compose/write an essay by Friday but I delivered it/handed
it in/turned it in (esp.AmE) late.
I attended/visited/went to a lecture on Japanese cinema.
He went to Oxford where he did/made/took a degree in/off/on chemistry.

driving
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i

j

We drove down a narrow curving/windy/winding road and got stuck behind a truck
carrying/dragging/hauling/ timber.
I finished /ran out of/used up the petrol/gas and had to hitch/hitch-hike/thumb a
lift/ride to the nearest garage.
There’s always busy/heavy/strong traffic on the highway, so I usually take the back/
little/minor(esp. BrE) roads.
The car pulled down/pulled over/pulled up by the side of the road where there was a
free parking room/place/slot
I realized it was a one-direction/one-way/single-way street, so I had to carry out/do/
make a U-turn.
She began/started/switched on the engine to warm up the car and then started
rubbing/scraping/scratching the ice off the windscreen/windshield.
The demonstration brought/reduced/slowed traffic to a standstill, and some drivers
began to beep/bonk/honk their horns in frustration.
The car in front cut down/slowed down/sped down in order to let a police car
overtake/pass/take over.
I called a breakdown company to haul away/pull away/tow away my car as it had
two dead/empty/flat tyres/tires.
A car suddenly pulled out/ran out/started out in front of me and I had to hit/slam
on/tread on the brakes.

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politics
elections
a rigging, election b led, polls c launch, campaign d ran, office

government
e passed, bill f impose, ban g announced, plans h ruled out, possibility i hold,
referendum j commission, report

opposition
k launched, attack l renewed, call m facing, backlash

international issues
n honour/honor, promise, o deploy, forces p issued, ultimatum q call, ceasefire

jobs
1

a a high-powered job b repetitive work c a competitive salary d flexible hours
e her heavy workload f a short-term contract g a team meeting h a proven track
record i in-house training j a skeleton staff

2

a apply for the job b take early retirement c came out on (esp. BrE), went on strike

d boost, enhance, improve your job prospects e fulfilling, reaching, realizing her full
potential, handed in her notice f cancel, end, terminate her contract, missed several
important deadlines g earn, make her living, achieved, fulfilled, realized her
ambition h did a brief stint, do it for a living

3

a brief stint b full potential c job prospects d wealth of experience

money
1

a an awful lot of money b doubled in value c go up in, increase in, rise in price
d facing financial ruin e lead to, mean, spell economic ruin f starting salary
g went bankrupt h on a fixed, limited, low, modest, shoestring, small, tight budget
i incurred, made, suffered, sustained, took a loss on the deal j arranged, got,
obtained, raised (esp.BrE), took out a large bank loan; had great difficulty paying it
off/back k surge in demand; the company's stock has hit, reached an all-time, an
historic, a new, a record high l lost, made a fortune on the stock market .
m placing, putting a strain on the company's finances.

2

a small change b small fortune c healthy bank balance d take-home pay e false
economy

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mEETINgS
Before the meeting
• call/convene the meeting, or invite people
to attend the meeting
• draw up and circulate an agenda
• If some people are unable to attend, you
may need to postpone or call off/cancel the
meeting.

In a meeting you can:

At the meeting
You usually appoint somebody to:
• chair the meeting
• keep/take minutes
After the chair has opened the meeting, the first
points/items on the agenda are often to:
• approve the minutes of the previous meeting
• agree on the agenda for the current meeting
It may be necessary to:
• add an item to the agenda
• remove sth from/take sth off the agenda

consider
discuss

examine

an issue in depth/detail
a matter

debate
discuss

an issue at length

address
identity
tackle

a problem

have
have
take

an in-depth discussion
about/on the issue
an in-depth look at the issue

As well as making decisions at meetings, you can also:
make

raise

give/state

agree on

reach

a proposal
recommendation
a suggestion

an issue
an objection
a point

your opinion
your view

a compromise
further action

(an) agreement
a compromise
a conclusion
a consensus
a decision

take

adopt

a decision

a vote

a resolution

The commission made a proposal for a new park in the city.
May I make a suggestion to the chairman of the board?
The workers raised an objection to longer working hours.
He invited the committee members to give their opinion.
After hours of negotiation, the two sides reached a compromise.
The shareholders took a vote on the proposed merger.

Ending the meeting
You can:
• adjourn the meeting until a later date
• close the meeting
• bring the meeting to a close
The chairman brought the meeting to a close
by thanking all those who had attended.

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After the meeting
It is usual to:
• write up the minutes
• circulate the minutes

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S16

Study page

MONey
Fill in the gaps in these sentences with an appropriate word or phrase. Use
the entries for the words in bold to help you. Sometimes more than one
answer is possible.

1

awful
a Private health insurance might cost an ___________
lot of money, but it’s worth every penny.
b The shares have almost doubled ___________ value since I bought them.
c

Cigarettes are set to ___________ price for the fifth successive year.

d The failure of the business left him ___________ financial ruin.
e An oil spill would ___________ economic ruin for the local fishing industry.
f

The ___________ salary for new employees is quite generous.

g The company ___________ bankrupt during the recent credit crisis.

Sentences h-m have no words in bold. Read the sentences carefully to decide
for yourself which word(s) you need to look up.

h We’ve been living ___________ a/an ___________ budget since the baby was born.

i

It cost me more to make the chairs than I could sell them for, so I actually ___________

j

She ___________ a large bank loan and then had great difficulty ___________ it

a loss ___________ the deal.
___________ .
k After a surge ___________ demand, the company’s stock has ___________ a/an
___________ high.
l

She ___________ a fortune ___________ the stock market in the 80s.

m The rising cost of fuel is ___________ a strain ___________ the company’s finances.

2

Choose an adjective from the left-hand box and a noun from the righthand box and match them up with the definitions below. You can look up
the entries for the nouns to help you.
small
small

healthy false
take-home

pay fortune change
bank balance* economy

a coins of low value

small change
____________________

b a lot of money

____________________

c

____________________

a fair amount of money in the bank

d the amount of money that you have left after you have
paid tax on your salary

____________________

e an attempt to save money by buying something cheap that
does not really save money at all because the goods are of

____________________

poor quality and do not last very long

* look up balance

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mUSIC
Playing
• abrass/keyboard/percussion/string/wind
instrument
• abass,clarinet,guitar,horn,keyboard,
trumpet, etc. player
• anorchestralplayer
an orchestra player (esp.AmE)
She plays the piano very well.
I play lead guitar in rock band.
The clarinet plays the main theme.
The trumpets sounded to mark the queen’s
arrival.
She plucked/strummed the guitar.
He banged/beat/pounded the drums.
The hunters blew their horns.
Your piano/violin needs tuning.

Learning
My sister is learning the French horn.
I practise/practice the clarinet an hour a day.

He studied piano at the Royal College of Music.
My father took up the oboe in his retirement.
She gave up the violin when she was fifteen.
(esp. BrE)
She quit the violin when she was fifteen.
(esp. AmE)
He teaches flute.
He teaches the flute. (esp. BrE)
• amusic/piano/singinglesson
• amusic/piano/singingteacher
• band,cello,choirpractice
• anorchestrarehearsal
an orchestral rehearsal (esp. BrE)

Artists and performers
• a brass/dance/military/rock band
• a classical/contemporary/modern composer
• an opera/orchestra conductor
• a chamber/pop (esp.BrE)/rock group
• a chamber/symphony orchestra
• a classical/concert/jazz/renowned/
virtuoso pianist, violinist, etc.
• a jazz/string quartet
• a blues/folk/jazz/opera singer
• a solo artist/performer
• a concerto/instrumental/piano/
violin/vocal soloist
• a clarinet/guitar/jazz/violin virtuoso

Performing

• to give a benefit/classical/pop (esp.BrE)/
rock concert
• to do/play/perform/sing a duet/a solo
• to do a live gig
• a concert/debut/solo performance
• to give an organ/a piano/a solo/a vocal recital
• carol/choral/solo singing
• a guitar/drum/piano/violin solo
• a solo instrument/passage/piece/work
The dancers will perform with live musical
accompaniment.
She hummed the first few bars of the song.
The music rose to a deafening crescendo.
The orchestra played the opening movement of
the symphony.
The song has a brisk/quick/upbeat tempo.
James Levine conducts the orchestra.

Making and selling music
Prepositions
on (the) ~
She sang three songs and I accompanied her on
the piano.
That was Miles Davis on trumpet.

for (the) ~
a work for cello, oboe and harpsichord

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• a best-selling/debut/solo album
• a chart hit; to hit the charts (both esp.BrE)
• abest-selling/hit/number-one/smash/topten single
The lyrics were written by Ira Gershwin.
The band is currently on tour in Japan.
The album was produced by Quincy Jones.
He wrote the soundtrack to the movie.
She played the title track from her new CD.
She sang backing vocals on most of the songs.

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Study page

S12

NaTURal DISaSTeRS
In each case, only one of the pair of words in italics forms a common
collocation with the word in bold. Use the dictionary (looking up the bold
word) to decide which is the correct collocation.
a The famine has already claimed/starved thousands of victims.
b The president visited the affected region in the direct/immediate aftermath of the
hurricane.
c

Rescue staff/workers are still looking for survivors.

d A massive relief attempt/effort is underway.

Sentences e-h each contain two pairs of italic words. You need to choose one
from each pair. Again, look up the bold words.

e Several villages have been inundated/soaked by the deepest/severest floods in decades.
f

The city was affected/struck by an enormous/a massive earthquake shortly after
midnight.

g The forest fires, blown/fanned by warm winds, flared/raged out of control for weeks.
h The volcano, which has been dormant/inactive for 50 years, began erupting/exploding
late last night.

cRIMINal jUSTIce
In each of the sentences, there is an example of incorrect collocation in one
of the two underlined sections. Look at the entries for the bold words to help
you, then write a word that could be used in place of the incorrect one in the
space on the right.

a The accused men have been sent to custody to await trial.

remanded
in (BrE)/taken into
____________________

b Police carried out a raid on the premises early this
morning and did two arrests.
c

____________________

The man was judged guilty of assault and sent to prison for
ten years.

____________________

d The woman will stand trial, accused with murdering her
husband.

____________________

e The woman was charged with assault, a crime which holds
a sentence of up to two years in jail.
f

____________________

The judge summarized and the jury deliberated for eight hours
before reaching a verdict.

____________________

g The jury reported a verdict of guilty and then the judge
passed sentence.

____________________

h New evidence came to light and the original verdict was
squashed on appeal.

© Oxford University Press

____________________

photocopiable

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S14

Study page

pOlITIcS
Complete each sentence with a verb from the left and a noun from the right.
You may need to change the form of the verb. You can check your answers in
the dictionary by looking up the entries for the nouns.

elections
rigging the
a The opposition has accused the government of _____________
election
_____________
.

campaign

lead

rig

b A week before the election, the Christian Democrats _____________

office

launch

in the opinion _____________ by 12%.

run
c

election
polls

He will officially _____________ his presidential _____________ on Friday.

d Castorri _____________ for _____________ five times, but was never
elected.

government
announce

e

Congress has finally _____________ the new energy _____________.

ban

commission

f

The government is under pressure to _____________ a _____________

bill

on tobacco advertising.

plans

impose
hold

g The administration yesterday ____________________ new
___________________ to reform the prison system.

pass
rule out

h The Prime Minister has ________________ any _____________ of an
early election.
i

The President confirmed that he intends to _____________ a

j

The Education Secretary is to _____________ a _____________ on the

possibility
referendum
report

________________ on the main clauses of the new constitution.
state of our universities.

opposition
face

k The opposition leader _____________ a scathing _____________ on

launch
renew

l

attack

government policy.

backlash

Animal rights campaigners have _____________ their _____________

call

for a referendum on hunting.
m The government is _____________ a _____________ over its decision

to raise the basic rate of tax.

international issues
call

n

deploy
honour/honor

An international delegation urged the government to _____________

ceasefire

its _____________ on human rights.

forces

o The UN will decide today whether to ___________ peacekeeping
_____________ in the area.

issue

promise
ultimatum

p The government _____________ an _____________ to the rebels for
all arms to be handed over by the 15th.
q The warring factions have agreed to _____________ a _____________
while negotiations take place.

© Oxford University Press

photocopiable

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SpORT
In British English you can do sport or play sports. In American English you do or play sports.
Do you do a lot of sport(s)? We played sports together when we were kids.
You can also:

do

go

play

aerobics
athletics (BrE)/track
(AmE)
gymnastics
the high jump
judo
karate
the long jump
the pole vault
weightlifting

wrestling
yoga

bowling
cycling (esp.BrE)/biking
(esp.AmE)
fishing
mountaineering
riding (BrE)/horseback riding
(AmE)
skateboarding
skating
skiing
swimming
to aerobics, judo, etc. (= to
go to your aerobics, etc. class)

baseball
basketball
cricket
football
golf
hockey
pool
soccer
tennis
against sb
for a team

• beat,defeat,faceanopponent

• bedroppedfrom,beleftoutof,beselectedfor,getinto(esp.BrE),
get on/onto (esp.AmE), join, try out for (esp.AmE) a team
• capture,clinch,defend,lose,retain,take,winthe title
• break,hold,set,shatter,smashthe world record

American football
• carry,catch,fumble,snap,run,throwthe ball
• catch,complete,drop,intercept,throwa pass
• call,make,runa play
• find,getin/into,reach,runintothe end zone
• scorepoints/a touchdown

Baseball
• cross,step(up)to the plate
• hit,make,take,throwa pitch
• throwabreaking/curve/ground/fly/foulball
• swingthebat; be at the bat
• hitahome run
• reach,stealbases; play second base
• scoreruns in the bottom of the ninth inning

Golf
• chip,drive,hit,puttthe ball
• hitanapproach/abunker/achip/ateeshot
• hit,missthe fairway/the green
• hole,miss,sinkaputt
• hookyourdriveinto the rough

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Basketball
• dribble,dunk,get,handle,have,move,pass,
protect, receive, shoot, steal the ball
• block,getoff,hit,make,miss,takea shot
• ablocked/foul/jumpshot
• get,scorean easy basket
• call,commit,drawa foul

Football/soccer
• chip,clear,cross,drive,giveaway,head,kick,
lob, lose, pass, strike, win the ball
• scoreagoal
• book,foul;mark,sendoff,tacklea player
• award,concede,miss,take,winapenalty
• blast,block,fire,getin,have,saveashot

Tennis
• hit,return,rundown,slicethe ball
• have,miss,saveamatch point
• lose,play,winapoint/rally
• drop,hold,return(a)serve
• hitadrop/passingshot

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