Collocations List

On this page you can find a few short lists of collocations to give you more of
an idea about them. Many good learner's dictionaries show collocations
associated with specific words. There are also dictionaries of collocations,
though these are more difficult to find.
Some common verbs
have
do
make
have a bath: tomarse un
do business: hacer
make a difference
bao
negocios
make a mess:
have a drink: tomarse algo do nothing: no hacer
make a mistake:
have a good time: pasarselo nada
cometer un error
bien
do someone a favour:
make a noise: hacer un
have a haircut: cortarse el
hacerle a alguien un
ruido
pelo
favor
make an effort: hacer
have a holiday: tomarse unas do the cooking: hacer la un esfuerzo
vacaciones
comida
make furniture
have a problem: tener un
do the housework: hacer make money: hacer
problem
la limpieza
dinero
have a relationship: tener
do the shopping: hacer la make progress:
una relacin
compra
progresar
have a rest: tomarse un
do the washing up: lavar make room: hacer sitio
descanso
los platos
make trouble: dar
have lunch: almorzar
do your best:
problemas
have sympathy
do your hair: arreglarte
el pelo
do your homework: hacer
los deberes
take
take a break: darse un
descanso
take a chance
take a look: echar un vistazo
take a rest: descansar
take a seat: tomar asiento
take a taxi: coger un taxi
take an exam: hacer un
exmen
take notes: coger apuntes
take someone's place:
quitarle el sitio a alguien
take someone's temperature:
tomarle la temperatura a
alguien

break
catch
break a habit
catch a ball: coger una
break a leg: romperse
pelota
una pierna
catch a bus: coger un
break a promise: romper autobus
una promesa
catch a chill: coger
break a record:
fro
break a window: romper catch a cold: coger un
una ventana
resfriado
break someone's heart: catch a thief: coger un
romperle el corazn a
ladrn
alguien
catch fire
break the ice: romper el catch sight of
hielo
catch someone's
break the law: infringir la attention:
ley
catch someone's eye
break the news to
catch the flu: coger la
someone
gripe

pay
pay a fine: pagar una multa
pay attention: prestar
atencin
pay by credit card: pagar con
tarjet de crdito
pay cash: pagar en metlico
pay interest:
pay someone a compliment:
darle un cumplido a alguien
pay someone a visit: hacerle
una visita a alguien
pay the bill: pagar la cuenta
pay the price:
pay your respects

come
come close
come complete with
come direct
come early: llegar pronto
come first: llegar primero
come into view
come last: llegar ltimo
come late: llegar tarde
come on time: llegar a
tiempo
come prepared: llegar
preparado
come right back: volver en
seguida
come second: llegar segundo
come to a compromise
come to a decision:
come to an agreement
come to an end
come to a standstill
come to terms with
come to a total of
come under attack

break the rules: infringir

las reglas
save
keep
save electricity: ahorrar keep a diary
electricidad
keep a promise:
save energy: ahorrar
mantener una promesa
energa
keep a secret: guarder
save money: ahorrar
un secreto
dinero
keep an appointment
save one's strength
keep calm:
save someone a seat:
mantenerse
guardarle el sitio a
keep control
alguien
keep in touch: estar en
save someone's life:
contacto
salvarle la vida a alguien keep quiet
save something to a disk: keep someone's place
guardar algo en un disco keep the change:
save space: ahorrar
guardarse el cambio
espacio
save time: ahorrar
tiempo
save yourself the trouble:
ahorrarte el problema
go
go abroad: irse al
extranjero
go astray
go bad
go bald
go bankrupt
go blind: volverse ciego
go crazy: volverse loco
go dark
go deaf: volverse sordo
go fishing: ir a pescar
go mad: enfadarse,
volverse loco
go missing:
go on foot
go online
go out of business
go overseas: irse a otro
continente
go quiet
go sailing: irse a navegar
go to war: ir a la guerra
go yellow

get
get a job: conseguir un
trabajo
get a shock
get angry: enfadarse
get divorced:
divorciarse
get drunk:
emborrocharse
get frightened:
asustarse
get home: llegar a
casa
get lost: perderse
get married: casarse
get nowhere:
get permission
get pregnant:
quedarse embarazada
get ready
get started:
prepararse
get the impression
get the message
get the sack

get upset
get wet: mojarse
get worried:
preocuparse

Time
bang on time
dead on time
early 12th century
free time
from dawn till dusk
great deal of time
late 20th century
make time for
next few days
past few weeks
right on time
run out of time
save time
spare time
spend some time
take your time
tell someone the time
time goes by
time passes
waste time

Miscellaneous
Business English
annual turnover
bear in mind
break off negotiations
cease trading
chair a meeting
close a deal
close a meeting
come to the point
dismiss an offer
draw a conclusion
draw your attention to
launch a new product
lay off staff
go bankrupt
go into partnership
make a loss
make a profit
market forces
sales figures
take on staff

Classifiers
a ball of string
a bar of chocolate
a bottle of water
a bunch of carrots
a cube of sugar
a pack of cards
a pad of paper

Do or Make Collocations Quiz

1 What do you do/make for a living?
2 Have you done/made your homework already?
3 My husband does/makes the grocery shopping.
4 Amber did/made badly on her geography exam.
5 The children made/did a mess in the kitchen.
6 We are having guests tonight, so please make/do your bed.
7 I only made/did one mistake in my English test.
8 I have to ask you to do/make me a favour.

9 Have you and your friend made/done a decision yet?

10 Please excuse me while I make/do a phonecall.
Score: ________
Time Collocations Quiz
1 He arrived exactly at 11am, bang/straight on time.
2 What do you do in your free/loose time?
3 We couldn't finish because we through/ran out of time.
4 If we take this short cut we'll grow/save some time.
5 I damaged/wasted time, and now doth time waste me.
6 There have been several burglaries in the past few/few past weeks.
7 The Internet was developed in the last 20th/late 20th century.
8 They have no time. They work from dawn to/from day to dusk.
9 You'll forget it when time comes/as time goes by.
10 Can you make time/cut time for me this weekend?
Score: ________