COLLOCATIONS

GRACIA MORALES
 THE ENVIRONMENT
• ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE
– Cause/contribute to climate change/ global
warming.
– Produce pollution/ CO2/ greenhouse emissions
– Damage/destroy the environment/ a marine
ecosystem/ the ozone layer/ coral reefs
– Degrade ecosystems/ habitats/ the environment
– Harm the environment/ wildlife/ marine life
– Threaten natural habitats/ coastal ecosystems
– Deplete natural resources/ the ozone layer
 THE ENVIRONMENT
• ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE
– Pollute rivers and lakes/waterways/the aire/ the
atmosphere/ the environment/ oceans
– Contaminate groundwater/ the soil/ food/ crops
– Log forests/ rainforests/ trees
 THE ENVIRONMENT
• PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT
– Address/ combat/ tackle the threat/ effects/
impact of climate change
– Fight/ take action on/ reduce/ stop global
warming
– Limit/ curb/ control
air/water/atmospheric/environmental/electromag
netic/ garbage pollution
– Cut/ reduce pollution/ greenhouse gas emissions
 THE ENVIRONMENT
• PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT
– Reduce (the size of) your carbon footprint
– Achieve/ promote sustainable development
– Preserve/conserve natural resources/ biodiversity
– Protect endangered species/ a coastal system
– Prevent/stop soil erosion/ overfishing/ massive
deforestation/ damage to ecosystems
– Raise awareness of environmental issues
– Save the planet/ the rainforests/ an endangered
species
 THE ENVIRONMENT
• ENERGY AND RESOURCES
– Conserve/ save/ consume/ waste energy
– Manage/ exploit/ be rich in naural resources
– Dispose of/ throw away litter/ garbage/ rubbish/
trash/ sewage
– Be made from recycled/ recyclable/biodegradable
material
– Recycle bottles/ packaging/ paper/ plastic/ waste
– Promote/ encourage recycling/ sustainable
development/ the use of renewable energy
 THE ENVIRONMENT
• ENERGY AND RESOURCES
– Develop/ invest in/ promote renewable energy
– Reduce your dependence/ reliance on fossil fuels
– Get/obtain/ generate/ produce electricity from
wind, solar, and wave power/ renewable
resources
– Build/ develop a wind farm
– Install solar panels
– Be powered by solar panels
 RULES AND REGULATIONS
• REGULATION/ LAW/ LEGISLATION/ ROYAL
DECREE/ STATUTE/ COMMANDMENT
– Obey a rule/ the regulations/ a law/ a commandment
– Be against the rules/ regulations/ laws
– Break a rule/ regulation/ law/ commandment

• CONTROL/ POWER/ AUTHORITY/ COMMAND

– Rule/ control somebody/ something
– Be under somebody’s control/rule/ command
 RULES AND REGULATIONS
• CRIMINAL JUSTICE
– Break/ violate/ obey/ uphold the law
– Be investigated/ arrested for a crime/ a robbery/
fraud
– Be arrested/ indicted/ convicted on charges of rape/
fraud
– Be arrested on suspicion of arson/ robbery/
shoplifting
– Be accused of/ be charged with murder/homicide
 RULES AND REGULATIONS
• CRIMINAL JUSTICE
– Admit your guilt/ liability/ responsibility ( for sth)
– Deny the allegations/ claims/ charges
– Confess to a crime
– Bring somebody to/ Be on trial
– Take somebody to court
– Face/ avoid/ escape prosecution
– Hold/ conduct/ attend a trial
– Persuade/ convince/ influence the jury
– Call/question a witness
 RULES AND REGULATIONS
• COMMITTING A CRIME
– Commit a crime/ a murder/ a violent assault/ a brutal
killing/ an armed robbery/ a fraud
– Be involved in terrorism/ human trafficking
– Participate in criminal activity/ illegal practices/ acts of
mindless vandalism
– Steal somebody’s purse/ wallet/ mobile phone
– Rob a bank/ a person/ a tourist
– Break into/ burgle a house/ an appartment
– Hijack a plane/ ship/ bus
– Smuggle drugs/ immigrants/ weapons/ arms
– Launder drug money (through something)
– Forge documents/ passports/ certificates
– Pay/ offer somebody a bribe
– Accept a bribe
 RULES AND REGULATIONS
• FIGHTING CRIME
– Combat/ fight crime/ terrorism/ corruption/ drug
trafficking
– Prevent/ stop child abuse/ software piracy/
credit-card fraud
– Deter/ stop criminals/burglars/ thieves/
shoplifters
– Reduce/ tackle gun/ violent/ street crime
– Help/ support/ protect the victims of crime
 RULES AND REGULATIONS
• INVESTIGATING A CRIME
– Report an incident/ a crime/ a theft/ a rape/ an attack to
the police
– Witness the crime/ attack/ murder/ incident
– Investigate a murder/ a homicide/ a burglary
– Conduct/ launch/ pursue an investigation /murder inquiry
– Investigate/ reopen a criminal/ murder case
– Examine/ investigate/ find fingerprints at the crime scene
– Gather/ collect forensic evidence
– Uncover new evidence/ a fraud/ a conspiracy/ political
corruption
– Describe/ identify a suspect/ the culprit/ the perpetrator/
the assailant/ the attacker
– Question/ interrogate a witness
– Solve/ crack the case
 TRAVEL
• JOURNEY/ TOUR/ TRIP/ EXPEDITION/ EXCURSION/ DAY
OUT/ OUTING
– TRIP: an act of travelling from one place to another.
– JOURNEY: an act of travelling from one place to another,
especially when they are a long way apart.
– TOUR: a journey made for pleasure during which several
different places are visited.
– EXPEDITION: an organized journey with a particular
purpose, especially to find out about a place that is not
well known.
– EXCURSION: a short trip made for pleasure, especially one
that has been organized for a group of people.
– OUTING: a short trip made for pleasure or education
– DAY OUT: a trip to somewhere for a day (to have a day out)
 TRAVEL
• A (n) foreign/ overseas trip/ journey/ tour/
expedition
• A bus/ coach/ train/ rail trip/ journey/ tour
• To go on a trip/ tour expedition
• To make a(n) journey/ trip/ expedition/ tour…
• To set out/ off on a (n) trip/ journey/ tour…
 HEALTHY LIFE
• WEIGHT
– Put on/ gain/ lose weight/ a few kilos/ a few pounds
– Watch/ control your weight or struggle with your weight
– Be/ become seriously overweight/ underweight
– Be/ become clinically/ morbidly obese
– Achieve/ facilitate/ promote weight loss
– Combat/ prevent/ tackle/ treat obesity
– Develop/ suffer from/ recover from anorexia/bulimia (an
eating disorder)
– Be on/ go on/ follow a strict diet
– Suffer from a negative body image
– Have/ develop a positive body image
 HEALTHY LIFE
• HEALTHY EATING
– Eat a balanced diet
– Receive/ provide adequate/proper nutrition
– Contain/ provide essential nutrients/ vitamins/
minerals
– Be high/ be low in calories/ fat/ fibre/ protein
– Contain/ use/ be full of/ be free form additives/
chemical preservatives/ artificial sweeteners
– Avoid/ cut down on/ cut out alcohol/ caffeine/ fatty
foods
– Stop/ give up/ quit smoking
 HEALTHY LIFE
• EXERCISE
– Take regular execise (BrE)
– Do moderate/ vigorous exercise
– Play football/ hockey/ tennis
– Go cycling/ jogging/ running
– Go to/ work out the gym
– Strengthen/ tone/ train your stomach muscles
– Contract/ relax/ stretch your lower-body muscles
– Build up/ gain muscle
– Improve/ increase your energy levels/ physical fitness/
stamina
– Burn/consume/ expend calories
 HEALTHY LIFE
• STAYING HEALTHY
– Be/ get/ stay/ keep healthy / fit/ in shape
– Lower your colesterol/ blood pressure
– Boost/ stimulate/ strengthen your immune
system
– Prevent/ reduce the risk of heart disease/ high
blood pressure/ diabetes/ osteoporosis
– Reduce/ relieve/ manage/ combat stress
– Enhance/ promote relaxation/ physical and
mental wellbeing
 CITY & VILLAGE LIFE
• TOWN
– Live in a city/ a town/ an urban environment/ the suburbs/
shanty towns/ slums
– Live in the downtown area/ in the city centre
– Enjoy/ like the hectic pace of life
– Cope with the stress/ pressure of urban life
– Prefer/ seek the anonymity of life in a big city
– Resist the lure of the big city
– Enjoy/love the vibrant/ lively nightlife
– Have/ be close to all the amenities
– By sorrounded by towering skycrapers
– Use/ travel/ rely on public transport/ public transportation
– Put up with/ get stuck in endless/heavy/massive traffic jams
– Be affected by pollution
– Ease/ reduce/ alleviate the heavy/ severe traffic congestion
 CITY & VILLAGE LIFE
• COUNTRY
– Live in a village/ the countryside/ an isolated area
– Enjoy the relaxed/ slower pace of life
– Enjoy/love/explore the great outdoors
– Look for/ find/ enjoy a little peace and quiet
– Need/want to get back/ closer to nature
– By surrounded by open/unspoilt/picturesque
countryside
– Seek/achieve a better/healthy work-life balance
– Create/build/foster a strong sense of community
– Tackle/address the problem of rural unemployment
 EDUCATION
• LEARNING
– Acquire/ get/ lack education/training/ some
qualifications
– Receive/ provide somebody with training
– Develop/design/ plan a curriculum/ course/
syllabus/ program
– Give/ go to/ attend a class/ lesson/ seminar/
workshop
– Sign up for/take a course/ classess/ lessons
 EDUCATION
• SCHOOL
– Go to/ start preschool/kindergarten/nursery school
– Be in the first, second, etc grade/year
– Leave/finish/drop out of/ quit school

• PROBLEMS AT SCHOOL
- Be the victim/ target of bullying
- Skip/cut class/school
- Cheat in/on an exam/ a test
- Get/ be given a detention (for doing sth)
- Be expelled from/be suspended from school
 EDUCATION
• WORK AND EXAMS
– Do your homework/ a project on sth
– Work on/ write/ do/ submit an essay/ a dissertation/
a thesis/ an assignment/ a paper
– Finish/complete your studies
– Study/prepare/revise/review/cram for a test/an
exam
– Take/do/sit a test/an exam
– Mark/grade homework/a test
– Do well in/on a test/an exam
– Pass/fail an exam/ a course/ a subject
 EDUCATION
• UNIVERSITY
– Apply to/ get into/ go to/ start college/ university
– Leave/graduate from law
school/college/university
– Study for a law degree/ a degree in physics
– Earn/receive/be awarded/hold a master’s
degree/ a bachelor’s degree/ a PhD in econocmics
 FASHION
• CLOTHES AND FASHION
– Be wearing a new outfit/bright colours/fancy
dress/fur/uniform
– Be dressed in black/red/jeans and a T´shirt/ your best
suit
– Be dressed for work/dinner/school/ a special occasion
– Be dressed as a man/woman/clown/pirate
– Wear/dress in casual/designer/second-hand clothes
– Wear jewelry/accessories/ a watch/glasses/ contact
lenses/perfume
 FASHION
• CLOTHES AND FASHION
– Put on/ take off your clothes/coat/shoes/helmet
– Pull on/pull off your coat/gloves/socks
– Change into/get changed into a pair of jeans/ your pyjamas

• APPEARANCE
– Change/enhance/improve your appearance
– Create/get/give something a new/contemporary/retro look
– Have/get a haircut/your hair cut/a new hairstyle
– Have/get a piercing/your nose pierced
– Have/get a tattoo/a tattoo done (on your arm/ a tattoo
removed
– Have/get cosmetic surgery
– Use/wear/apply/put on make-up/cosmetics
 FASHION
• FASHION
– Follow/keep up with (the) fashion/the latest fashions
– Spend/waste money on designer clothes
– Be fashionably/ sylishly/ well dressed
– Have a great/ terrible/ awful taste in clothes
– Update/ revamp your wardrobe
– Be /come into/ go out of fashion
– Create a style/ a trend/ vogue for something
– Organize/ put on a fashion show
– Show/unveil a designer’s spring/summer collection
 ENTERTAINMENT
• FUN/ RECREATION/ RELAXATION/ PLEASURE/
AMUSEMENT
– I go jogging/ hiking for relaxation/ recreation/
business/ pleasure/ amusement/ entertainment/
fun
– To provide entertainment/ amusement/
recreation/ relaxation/ fun
– There are a wide variety of amenities/ theme
parks/ shopping malls/centres…
 MUSIC
• LISTENING
– Listen to/ enjoy/ love classical music/jazz/pop, etc
– Listen to the radio/ an MP3 player/ a CD
– Put on/ play a CD/ some music/ a song
– Turn down/ up the music/ radio/ volume/ bass
– Go to a concert/ festival/ gig/ performance/ recital
– Copy/ burn/ rip music/ a CD/ a DVD
– Download music/ an album/ a song/ a demo/ a video

• PLAYING

– Play a musical instrument/ the piano/ percussion/ a note/ the

melody/ a duet/ a concerto/ by hear
– Sing an anthem/ a ballad/ a solo/ in a choir/ out of tune
– Hum a tune/ a lullaby
– Accompany a singer/ choir
 MUSIC
• PERFORMING
– Form/ start/ join/ quit/ leave a band
– Give a performance/ a concert/ a recital
– Do a concert/ recital/ gig
– Play a concert/ gig/ festival
– Perform at/in a concert
– Go on/ embark on a (world) tour
– Hold an event/ a concert
 MUSIC
• RECORDING
– Write/ compose music/ a ballad/ a melody/ a
song/ an opera/ a symphony
– Record/ release an album/ a single/ a CD
– Enter the charts as number one
 SHOPPING
• Go/ go out shopping
• Go to the shops/ a shop/ the mall
• Do the shopping/ the grocery shopping/ a bit of
window-shopping
• Try on clothes/ shoes
• Cut/ reduce your spending
• Be/ get caught shoplifting
• Donate something to a charity shop/ a thrift store
• Buy/ sell/ find something at a garage sale/ a yard sale
• Find/ get/ pick up a bargain
 SHOPPING
• AT THE SHOP/STORE
– Stand in/ wait in the checkout queue
– Pack (away) your shopping
– Stock/ restock the shelves at a store ( with
something)
– Be (found) on the supermarket/shop/store/shelves
– Be out of stock/ run out of stock
– Deal with/ help/ serve customers
– Be on special offer
 SHOPPING
• BUYING GOODS
– Make/ complete a purchase
– Buy/ purchase something online/ by mail order
– Buy/ order something in bulk/ in advance
– Accept/ take credit cards
– Pay in cash/ pay by credit card/ pay with a gift voucher
– Enter your pin number
– Ask for/ obtain a receipt
– Return/ exchange an item/ a product
– Ask for/ demand/ be entitled to a refund
– Compare prices
– Offer/ give (somebody)/ receive a 30% discount
 CELEBRATIONS
• FESTIVITIES/PARTY/FUNCITON/EVENT/OCCASION
– (A) special occasion/ celebration/ festivities/ party
– Celebrations/ festivities/ parties/ events are held
– Celebrations/ festivities/ parties/ events take place

– A cause for celebration

– A celebratory dinner/ drink
 BUSINESS
• Make/create/ do (informal) a good impression/
your own clothes
• Develop (think of and produce) a new software
• Produce/ generate/create/develop/make
something from/out of something
• Create/produce/generate income/ profits/
wealth
• Produce/ generate electricity/ heat/ power
MAKE: general/ physical things
CREATE: unusual and original/ physical things