265 Collocations - Chìa khóa nâng điểm cho IELTS Speaking and Writing

Verb collocations

have do make

have a bath do business make a difference

have a drink do nothing make a mess
have a good time do someone a favour make a mistake
have a haircut do the cooking make a noise
have a holiday do the housework make an effort
have a problem do the shopping make furniture
have a relationship do the washing up make money
have a rest do your best make progress
have lunch do your hair make room
have sympathy do your homework make trouble

take break catch

take a break break a habit catch a ball

take a chance break a leg catch a bus
take a look break a promise catch a chill
take a rest break a record catch a cold
take a seat break a window catch a thief
take a taxi break someone's heart catch fire
take an exam break the ice catch sight of
take notes break the law catch someone's attention
take someone's place break the news to someone catch someone's eye
take someone's temperature break the rules catch the flu

pay save keep

pay a fine save electricity keep a diary

pay attention save energy keep a promise
pay by credit card save money keep a secret
pay cash save one's strength keep an appointment
pay interest save someone a seat keep calm
pay someone a compliment save someone's life keep control
 pay someone a visit save something to a disk keep in touch
pay the bill save space keep quiet
pay the price save time keep someone's place
pay your respects save yourself the trouble keep the change

come go get

come close go abroad get a job

come complete with go astray get a shock
come direct go bad get angry
come early go bald get divorced
come first go bankrupt get drunk
come into view go blind get frightened
come last go crazy get home
come late go dark get lost
come on time come prepared go deaf get married
come right back go fishing get nowhere
come second go mad get permission
come to a compromise go missing get pregnant
come to a decision go on foot get ready
come to an agreement go online get started
come to an end go out of business get the impression
come to a standstill go overseas get the message
come to terms with go quiet get the sack
come to a total of go sailing get upset
come under attack go to war get wet
go yellow get worried

Miscellaneous collocations

Time Business English Classifiers

bang on time annual turnover a ball of string

dead on time bear in mind a bar of chocolate
early 12th century break off negotiations a bottle of water
free time cease trading chair a bunch of carrots
from dawn till dusk a meeting close a cube of sugar
great deal of time a deal close a meeting a pack of cards
 late 20th century come to the point a pad of paper
make time for next few days dismiss an offer
past few weeks draw a conclusion
right on time draw your attention to
run out of time launch a new product
save time lay off staff
spare time go bankrupt
spend some time go into partnership
take your time make a loss
tell someone the time make a profit
time goes by market forces
time passes sales figures
waste time take on staff

Collocations With The Words Big, Great, Large, Deep, Strong, And Heavy English

Collocations With The Word BIG

The word BIG is often used in collocations with a happening or event, for example:
● a big accomplishment
● a big decision
● a big disappointment
● a big failure
● a big improvement
● a big mistake
● a big surprise

English Collocations With The Word GREAT

The word great is often used in collocations with feelings or qualities.

Great + feelings
● great admiration
● great anger
● great enjoyment
● great excitement
● great fun
● great happiness
● great joy

Great + qualities
● in great detail
 ● great power
● great pride
● great sensitivity
● great skill
● great strength
● great understanding
● great wisdom
● great wealth

English Collocations With The Word LARGE

The word large is often used in collocations involving numbers and measurements.
● a large amount
● a large collection
● a large number (of)
● a large population
● a large proportion
● a large quantity
● a large scale

English Collocations With The Word STRONG

The word strong is often used in collocations with facts and opinions:
Strong + facts/opinions
● strong argument
● strong emphasis
● strong evidence
● a strong contrast
● a strong commitment
● strong criticism
● strong denial
● a strong feeling
● a strong opinion (about something)
● strong resistance
Strong + senses
● a strong smell
● a strong taste

English Collocations With The Word DEEP

The word deep is used for some strong feelings:
● deep depression
● deep devotion

It is also used in these expressions:

 ● in deep thought
● in deep trouble
● in a deep sleep (when the person won’t wake up easily)

English Collocations With The Word HEAVY

Heavy is used for some weather conditions…
● heavy rain
● heavy snow
● heavy fog
The word heavy is also used for people with bad habits:
● a heavy drinker
● a heavy smoker
● a heavy drug user
There’s also the expression “​a heavy sleeper​” – that’s not someone who sleeps a lot; instead,
it’s a person who doesn’t wake up easily when sleeping.
The word heavy is also used in collocations with two unpleasant things: ​TRAFFIC and
TAXES!
● heavy traffic
● heavy taxes

16 Common English Collocations With The Word TIME

Spend Time
To pass your time doing some activity.
Eg: I ​spend a lot of time​ studying English.​

Waste Time
Doing something that is not a good use of time.
​ asting time p​ laying computer games and get to work!
Eg: Stop w

Make Time
For To “create” time in a busy schedule.
Eg: I need to ​make time for regular exercise – maybe I can go to the gym before
work​.

Save Time
Something that is efficient and gives you extra time
Eg: Shopping online s​ aves me time​ because I don’t have to wait in line at the store.

Free/Spare Time
Time in which you have no obligations, and you can do whatever you want.
Eg: In my​ free time,​ I enjoy reading, painting, and cooking.
Have Time
Be available to do something.
​ ave enough time.
Eg: I’d like to take violin lessons, but I don’t h

Kill Time / Pass The Time

Do something to make the time pass faster while you’re waiting for something else.
Eg: Let’s bring some magazines to help​ pass the time o​ n the train ride.

Take Your Time

You can use as much time as you want, you don’t have to go fast.
Eg: “I like all of these computers. I’m not sure which one I want to buy yet​.”
“That’s OK –​ take your time.​ ”

On Time
On schedule, at the right time.
Eg: It’s important to arrive o​ n time​ for a job interview​.

Just In Time
At the perfect time, soon before something else happens
Eg: Hi, Henry! Have a seat – you got here​ just in time​ for dinner.

Have A Hard/Rough Time

Something difficult, or a difficult period in life.
Eg: I’m ​having a hard time​ solving this math problem. Could you help me?

It’s About Time

An expression that means “Finally!”
Eg: I​ t’s about time t​ hey fixed the air conditioner in my classroom! It’s been broken
for three years!

Pressed For Time

In a rush, in a hurry (when you need to do something and you don’t have enough time)

Eg: Sorry, I can’t talk at the moment – I’m a bit pressed for time.​ Can I call you back
later?
Run Out Of Time
Have no more time before the limit.
Eg: I r​ an out of time before I finished the test, so I didn’t answer the last five
questions.

Stall For Time

Delay.
Eg: My son didn’t want to go to bed, so he tried to ​stall for time by asking me to read
him another bedtime story.

Take Time Off

Not go to work.
Eg: I’m​ taking some time off​ in July to go camping with my family.