COLLOCATIONS LIST

COLLOCATIONS 3
A feeble joke/excuse

Down-to-earth pragmatism

Invent/concoct a tale

Feline features

Fundamentally deficient

Seriously flawed

Armed insurrection

Falsify data/records/accounts

Personal aggrandizement

Ardent lovers

Romantic ardour

Congenial company/surroundings/working environment

Evokes memories of

Camera whirred

Autoland Germany

Revulsion at/against/towards

Self-satisfied smirk

Long overdue

Mildly surprising

Hefty profit/price tag

Obstreperous customers

Physical proximity

Unobstructed (clear) view

1
Releaf the streets

Contumacious contempt of

Emotionally/romantically involved

Landslide victory

Cheery countenance

Amorous exploits

Baby/wife battering

Problem child

Non-pecuniary costs

Suffocating bureaucracy

Absolutely fascinated

Brute force

A recherché word/topic/menu

Figure-hugging clothes

Little riddles

Incalculable value

A willing/reliable workhorse

Domestic drudgery

Toil tirelessly

Staid image

Ingrained prejudices

Uphill learning curve

COLLOCATIONS 4
Passing concern

Uncouth laughter

Sexual appetite

2
Unexceptionable speech

A glamorous job

Indescribably awful

Creative destruction

Strange/odd quirk of fate

Irresolvable rancour

Fond memories

Cyclonic weather

Scant respect

Rank carelessness

Expensive luxury

Power breakdown

Vile mood/temper

Latest/current/passing fad

Never-ending treadmill

Olympian detachment

Sheer lunacy

Rogue-trading

Touch-and-feel rapport

Deal pipeline

Investible surplus

Career-killing mistakes

Fast/sound asleep

Careless abandon

Morally bankrupt

Stunningly/dazzingly beautiful

3
Accelerated evolution

Smutty jokes/conversations

Soberly dressed

Incongruously relaxed

Pleasantly uninteresting

Bank bosses

Open disagreement

Wilful neglect/disregard

Wilfully ignored

Peripherally related

Turbulent marriage

Irreverent attitude/approach/comment

Categorically denied

Rikshaw puller

Celebratory mood

Endless times

Feel possessive

Mighty excited

Visual delight

Spill-resistant

Terrace cafes

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COLLOCATIONS 5
Agreeably surprised

Unvarnished truth

Vehicle occupants

4
Receding hair/a receding hairline

Exemplary behaviour

Privileged birth right

Wedding festivities

Arbitrary take-over

Mass sensitisation

Emeritus Professor

Stern test

Lane discipline

Glorious past

Local tradespeople

Tirelessly helpful staff

A close-to-nature resort

Behavioural flexibility

Non-book revenues

Tearing hurry

Feeder services

Visibly annoyed

Notoriously fickle

Depressingly common

Illusory happiness

Bench/idle workforce

Employee unfriendly

Financial irregularities

Professional death trap

Executive cadre

5
Unquenchable/Unslakable/unslakeable thirst

Teeth-chattering cold

Funky helmets

Dishevelled hair

Sexual allure

Worryingly high cost

Factory floor

Bundled deals

Gladly agree

Aerobic/anaerobic exercise

Rond-the-clock duty

Urban flirt

Unrealised gains

Investment horizon (e.g. 10 yrs)

Unearthly hour

Best/better off

Irresistible temptation

Baby-faced

Undated cheque/letter

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COLLOCATIONS 6
Substantive issues/changes

Adverse publicity

Share play

Calamitous consequences

Armed confrontation

6
Listed price

Binge eating

Wave frantically

Succession planning

Devilishly quick

Hand-written/typed letter

Outlandish idea

Sexual barrenness

Bachelor shopping

Tangible financial benefits

Extremely doubtful

Near-term risks

Room rate

Women’s intimate wear (niche category)

Reverse migration

Failing eyesight

Precious little

Domestic duties

Floating population

Talent mobility

Cash-starved Indian cos

Narrow bracketing

Down shutters

Price/value/style conscious

Deposit base

By invitation

7
Forging agreements

Music labels

Minimum guarantee

Lifelong employment

Year-ago period

Temper tantrums

Slack muscles

Brand essence

High footfall outlet

Gap narrowing

Phenomenal memory

Lords and ladies

Search helicopters

Rumours swirl

Utterly bewildered

Far-flung destinations

Tacit acknowledgement

Educationally priceless

Chocolaty celebration

Frothy coffee

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COLLOCATIONS 7

Comical quotes

Moustache bash

Buy-and-hold strategy

Malevolent gaze

8
Well respected global corporation

Want-should conflict

Part and parcel

Irreversible damage

Cash and cash equivalents

Blissful sleep

Modest beginning

Sun-control film

Harshest criticism

Financially fit

Badass creature

Cost conservation

Desperately dry

Essential needs

Part sell

Financial autonomy

Muscle tone

A quiet escape

Young blood

Automatic doors

Flash crash

Cash rich

Significant other

Utterly penurious

Six-day week

Rare privilege

9
Overly concerned

Family-style teamwork

Delicious privacy

Lazy irresponsibility

Discouraging discussion

Overcrowded space

Inclusive growth

Supreme test

Token amount

Tournament-ready

Impromptu team meetings

Doomsday dates

World-class poverty

Burning question

Return gift

Middle & lower level management

Jobless growth

Fast-unto-death

Floral chudi

Fictitious entity

Situations vacant

Sturdy build

On-off relationship

Fearless female

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COLLOCATIONS 8

10
Undercover antics

Bad choice

Breezy read

A gifted speaker

Focus groups

Attrition backfill

Consumption expenditure

Gut instinct

Open challenge

Shadowy corporations

Red-flagged

Simply put

Personnel speculation

Management reshuffle

Workforce planning

Fudging facts

End-price

Simultaneous rollout

Mean/median pay

Tight lending norms

Just-concluded

Self-soothe

Pressure cooker environment

Multi-volume book

Ethnically diverse

State-owned enterprise

11
Off-course

Carried away

Imagined insult

Indefinite delay

Gap funding

Employee cost

Leave encashment

Illustrious family

Esteemed customers

Non-fattening

Downstream effects

Vivid imagination

Grand strategy

Habitual offender

Rectify mistakes

Cut ad spend

Traffic density

Crowning moment

Shoddy construction

Asinine publicity

Ever-present/ready smile

Ultra HNI

Pot-of-gold opportunity

Then-known actress

Magnificently right

Supremely lucky

12
Two-fold jump

Scouting options

Tone down

Leapfrog ahead of

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COLLOCATIONS 9

Travel advisory

Intimate lunch

Retail demand

Set multiple alarms

Nuclear deterrents

Horse-wagon

Lower/upper/top/higher echelons

Multi-pronged approach

Copyright infringement

Stand aside

Economically unviable

Behave responsibly

Unprotected social media profile

Finishing touches

Intellectual vigour

Specimen signature

Returnable glass bottle

Differentiated product

Erroneous interpretations

Prescription spectacles

13
Rimless sunglasses

A facile victory/speaker

Brainless tasks

Fresh alternative

Thinly staffed

Most alluring dress

Welcome step

Field trails

In-principle nod

Bubble packing

Within specified time

Significantly cheaper

Commercial breaks

Healthy conflict

New-comer

Birthday bash

Problems compounded

Best resale value

Global standpoint

Robust supply chain

Competitive cost

Wholly gone

Mistaken identity

High voltage/octane action

Posh school

Overriding object/factor/consideration/concern

14
Investment climate

Interesting twist

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COLLOCATIONS 10

Perfunctory acknowledgement

Social intercourse

Evocative smell/sound/music

Dashboard light

Environmental lunacy

Wistful envy

Induction programme

Energy zapping

Accounts deceivable

Computer technicians

Inching higher

Bank guarantees

Sticker price

Prime location

Working capital

Shop front

Aspirational value

Value-for-money bikes

Business titan

Broad-based monitoring

Unequalled assurance

Undisputed leader

15
Action agenda

Clear roadmap

Sibling rivalry

Adopted adults

Sweet will

Open (= obvious) hostility

Unostentatious building

Police interference/patrol

Torn/riven asunder

Fitful sleep

Personal mobility

Slump spectacularly

On an undreamt-of scale

Foreseeable future

Hardly matter

Risk free

Muscle density, size and strength

Health implications

Small wonder

Polar opposite

Mono-brand store

Body art

Eerily accurate

Deprecating stare

Technical snag

Price escalation

16
Sexual revolution

Twin focus

Difficult customer

Prompt payers

Landing gear

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COLLOCATIONS 11

Kiss goodbye

Limitless energy

Filled-to-the-brim work schedule

Hot shorts or mini skirt

Toned legs

Underwhelming battery life

Absolute steal

Active social life

Perennially out-of-service lifts

Humble fee

Differently-abled people

Career development

Outstandingly successful women

Technological marvel

A spectral figure/presence

Greatest accomplishment

Pillion seat/passenger

Methods of crowd control

In anticipation of your visit

17
Product upgrades

Night time misbehaviour

Quick quips

Terrific strain

Extreme expectations

Reasonable price

Always accessible

Immediate priorities

Big minds

Unclaimed/uncashed dividends

Home-grown wisdom

Flatly refused

Intellectual discussion

Tall talks

Instant happiness boost

Missed deadlines

Office clown

Surrender charges

Scandal-tainted press

Eye grip

Strange bedfellows

Stand/sit still

Expectant moms

Extremely decentralised

Clinical trials

Petty politics

18
Self-aggrandizing question

Awkward silence

Persistent worry

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COLLOCATIONS 12

Long-view look

Unoccupied corner

Baby bump

Wearable art (watch)

Significant penalty

Cold, drizzly night

Exuberant spectators

Wedding reception

Top-end model

Seats flip forward

Constant start-stop/bumper-to-bumper traffic

Bump absorption

At a moment’s notice

Meaningful relationships

Consumer consumption

Endless essentials

High/overzealous compliment

Delinquent bliss

Asserting headline

Long overdue

Right-hand-drive

19
Fictional future day

Intolerable turncoat

Petty squabbles

Truth-stretchers

Kind lies

Rude awakenings

Hassle-prevention lies

Defence mechanism

Evade responsibility

Fine print

Readable writing

Potential downside to

Strongly objected

Cycle track

Prominently displayed

Mystical cousins

Southern/northern sojourn

Home/away match

Daylight robbery

Loan losses

Job progression

Unjailed bankers

Capacity utilization

Hopeless stock

Unwelcome spotlight

Neck rest pillow

20
Admit reality

Underperforming businesses

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COLLOCATIONS 13

Relentlessly tight-lipped

Incomprehensible jargon

Infantry combat

New recruit

Carefully considered decision

Switch allegiance

Bottomless expertise

Hopeful signs

Globally minded firm

Data cockpit

Inexcusable excuse

Informed journalist

Well-constructed story

Spare time

First fight

Diverse opinions

Emotional jolt

Dream factory

Carefree honeymoon

Immortal mortal

Sizzling sex

Thrift shopper

21
Common hazard

Biodiversity hotspot

Ignition cause

Frontline banks

Specialist knowledge

Indubitably incorrect

Mistaken belief

Book-signing event

Outdoorsy folks

Slightly below par

Sand sculpture

Keynote speaker

Reciprocal relationship

Neon lights

Animated conversations

Jury duty

Cast-conscious

Rough journey

Strike rate

Settlement cheque

Pleasant companion

Amorous favours

Bloated workforce

Mysterious creature

Field test

Instant rapport

22
Long-lost friend

Conspicuously absent

To-fix list

Emotional investment

Fun time

Exponential growth

Lookout notice

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COLLOCATIONS 14

Less - competitive arena

Growth plans

Minimum hassle & documentation

Highly likely

Confusingly similar

Stirring speech

Completely anonymous

Surpassed expectations

Cloud commuting

Personalized service

Devilish temper

Happy warrior

Border war

Enjoyable dinner

Unconditional guarantees

Impatiently single

Wedding shopping

23
A many-sided character

Sporadic showers

Visiting journalist

Ride quality

Half lying down, half sitting

Eagle-eyed reader

Serial underperformance

Sensational legs

Eternally relevant

Practically transparent

Political lampoon

Flight attendants

Discriminated blatantly

Pending dues

Spectacularly beautiful

Careless caretakers

Human error

Far-reaching benefits

Standard warranty

Unsurpassed brilliance

Work-work balance

Organized workforce

Earned leave

Escapist answer

Complex situation

Blistering performance

24
Loaded cabin

Exaggerated claims

Instant relief

Animal welfare activists

Human rights activists

Windy winters

Dire necessity

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COLLOCATIONS 15

Ladies’ man

Create additional posts

Sovereign property

Smart marketing

Effective immediately

Class presentation

Snake cucumber

Consensual, flirtatious relationship

Butt-on-seats business

Dietary restrictions

Rely heavily

Unwavering support/loyalty

Anti-tarnish strip

Passing impulse

Prime example

Mounting evidence

Heart-to-heart chat

25
Misleadingly attractive

Mainstream competitor

Photo safari

Lifestyle diseases

Electronic evidence

Slender margin

Adversarial politics

Spotlessly clean

Most bankable

Cold sweats

Power-starved state

Track-suit

Serious girlfriend

Thank goodness!

Heredity factor

Sexual athlete

Blemished marriage

Bamboo scaffolding

Conscientious intern

Aberrant behaviour

Revolutionary shift

Encouraging response

Paltry initial salary

First-time consumers

Defy understanding

Electronic form

26
Sr Territory Manager

Throttle-happy daredevil

Spontaneous activity

Real subtle

Within hearing distance

Impersonal trainer

Even steven

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COLLOCATIONS 16

Finalisation stage

Fleet expansion

Drop by

Toggle up & down

MBA literature

Sustainable business approach

Wind turbine

Discretionary spending

Intriguing disparity

Avoidance strategy

Micro mini dress

Vastly safer

Captivating speech

Strong stage presence

Compelling destination

Distinctly different

Enviable pair

27
Access control

Irresolvable dispute

Media shy

Percentage points

Amateur attempt

Wrapping paper

Sage advice

Swiftly executed

Yawning gap

Anguished shareholders

Celebratory occasion

In late May

Capacity-demand mismatch

Hot-air balloon

Ingest muligitan

Unrelated response

Pair living

Extraordinary gains

China trouble

Top suitor

Email query

Low urgency emergency

Uncomfortably high

Unstinting help/support

Open invitation

Primitive thinking

28
Firm title

Domain specialist

Unmarked speed breakers

Hiring environment

Clear choice

Crisp advice

Desperate straits

Educated man

Frontline stock

Junk stock

Alleviate boredom

Worry-free operation

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COLLOCATIONS 17

Tight cost control

Barely discernible

Discernible reason

Dry fit t-shirts

Fellow colleagues

Compensation structure

Comparative advertising

Kids scooter

Unconventional methods

Acutely aware

Beach chair

Appallingly low

29
Thrill engineer

Service tax arrears

Fitness freak/health nut

Regular dividend

Helpless confusion

Slow job market

Early riser

Special appearance

Offer tax-breaks

Memorable moments

Commune time

Ridership record

Agrestic simplicity

Highly personal

Vain hope

Central assistance

Movie-time munchy

Clear-cut marketing

Inexpensive alternative

Last-mile connectivity

Emotional sundial

Teeth-clenching

Swift execution

Immediate comment

Musical conductor

Matchless imagination

30
Table enemies

Unwonted enthusiasm/eagerness

Savagely criticised

Feeling horny

Realistic price

Follow-your-heart

Dead-end job

Sequential growth

Staff trimmed

Track trends

Illegal immigrants

Ardent naturalist

Growing closer

Diehard fans

Exceptional circumstances

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COLLOCATIONS 18

Early bird prizes

Circuitous (long & indirect) explanation

An astronomical sum/ rent/ price/ fee

Wedding shopping

Draw hasty conclusions

Biggest gainer

Invigorating taste

Pleasantly plump

Wise or folly

31
Stultifyingly dull/boring

A 21-gun salute

Pre-noon trade

Diploma scrolls

Undisguised admiration

Twin treat

Hot date

Inattentive children

Key consideration

Understandable limitations

Strong contrast

Picture perfect pose

Open thieves

Rote learning

Predictably hysterical

Factitious laughter

Photofinish camera

Oral report/thermometer

Cyclical scrip

Give back rub

Give a hard-on

Drip irrigation

Hand tight

Triple riding

Scalding tea/water

Ear piercing/splitting

32
Stupendous achievements

Grammar maven

Sweat copiously

Unspoiled wilderness

Harsh criticisim

Uncalled – for

Ideating stage

Eulogistic performance

Erstwhile partner

Devout devotee

Superior preparedness

Natural openness

Modern conveniences

Half-run, half-walk

Shoulder bag

Family function

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

COLLOCATIONS 19

Long-time friends

Romantic getaway

Magnetic persona

Gym-toned body

Weekend jaunt

Lively imagination

Deep neck

Unseen India

33
Drying laundry

Meet whole-heartedly

Squeezed firmly

Lady friend

Leaders & laggards

Flashy car

Arid discussion

Arrant liar/nonsense

Immediate gratification

A deep, resonant voice

Vital triangle

Feel comfortable

Smart casuals

Ceasefire violation

Fee revision

Braying neighbour

Incandescent idea

Busy-looking supervisor

Elusive meeting

Considerable advantage

Smitten kittens

Million watt smile

Chaotic traffic

Bodyweight workouts

Lush green lawn

In-flight announcement

34
Cyclostyle machine

Funky watch

Joyful surprise

False beard

Miss photogenic

Promoter group

Parking brake

Empty hand bag

Scorching hot

Breathing break

Beautiful answer

Holiday season

Windfall gain

Elective (optional) courses

Illustrious alumni

Growth path

Miraculous memory

A decorous kiss

Horrible temper

Transit mixer

Deeply conservative family

Wife-swapping

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

COLLOCATIONS 20

Office sweetheart

Newlywed couple

35
Stage fright

High-end world travel

Littoral countries

Ballpark estimate

Premium perfumes

Special relationship

Motor trolley

Fiery temper

Importunate beggar/crowd

High-flown language

Conspirational grin/wink/grances

Contemptuous manner/laugh

Base variant

Able-bodied youth

Internecine feud/war

Nodded mutely

Repeat incredulously

Legendarily naughty

Players huddle together

Timeless advice

Fighter’s instinct

Walk unhindered

Textile king

Absolutely delicious

Heart-warming gesture

Ultra blue chip company

36
Classic blue chips

Outrageously expensive

Strict vegetarian

Motion-simulator ride

Higher income bracket

Flex-boards

Migrant workers

Foot overbridge

Potential reputational impact

Desiccated coconut

Bitter cold

Pinky swear

Rapturous kiss

Flowering personality

Desk calendar

Study buddy

Rigidly compartmentalized

Main competitor

Delicious looking woman

Male sexual equipment

Stories stick

Smoking hot woman

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COLLOCATIONS 21

Cool, bold Indians

Orphaned planet

37
Great crowd

Tonsil stones

Crowd gatherer

Forthcoming books

Would-be parents

Treasured moments

Memories worth saving

Lifelong student

Enviable qualifications

Fatigue-free drive

Unshakable pragmatism

Special friend

Perfectly sufficient

Musical sweetness

Incredible intellect

Scissor doors

Real connection

True affection

Plus size models

Management commentary

The aspirational class

Woefully inadequate

Fee/salary revision

Under-age

Breakneck speed

Air quotes

38
Swelteringly hot

Preternaturally quiet

Eternally optimistic

Constant friend

Prolific artist

Astute observer

Safe response

6 straight hours

Frighteningly ubiquitous

Knotty problems

Thieving fingers

Super long meetings

Marital rape

Enthusiastic consent

Newly alive

Notoriously verbose

Converse soundlessly

Indicative price

Unseasonal snowfall

Slick passing

Ferry boats

Unfailingly regular

Effortlessly funny

Roaring business

Fairer sex

Spray on body lotion

39
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

COLLOCATIONS 22

Uber-rich

Quells rumours

Affordable substitute

Mistake rectified

Awesome wesome

Amazing discount

Unmarried mother

Skate scooter

Ineffable happiness

Laptop sleeve

Keynote speaker

Clink glasses

Smile icon

Smooth sailing

Skinny jeans

Cable car

Party animal

Potholed roads

Irrepressible laughter

Calm mien

Unwavering commitment

Comparatively expensive

Staff strength

Opposite poles

40
Tree-lined campus

Frightfully expensive

Ferocious weather

Straight-talking father

Bubble wrap

General interest topics

Future benefit

Evil genius

Combination lock

Dusky woman

Store atmospherics

Tupperware unsealed

Chinese incursion

Supremely happy

Prodigious memory

Beach wave hairstyle

Incredibly young

Affectionate welcome

Thin trading volume

High-earning professionals

Photography buff

Pertinacious cough

Stunningly beautiful

Seriously impressive shots

Top end flagship phone

Details look pin sharp

41
Extortionately expensive

Extended balance sheet

Camera shutter button

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COLLOCATIONS 23

Lose character

Monster meetings

Unequal dual

Singular focus

Immensely popular

Heartless brute

Front slit

Precipitous fall/decline

Outrageously posh

Captivating synergy

Stage fright

Absolute favourite

Forward bend

Gas-lift chair

Roaring rally

Waggish remark

Near-instant replies

Black eye

Nonpotable water

Rammed hard

Overweening pride

42
Above reproach

Collapsible ladder

Resounding success

Sling bag

Youthful indiscretions

About-turn

Positively biased

Restrictive warranty clause

Laugh riot

Prison garb

Kolhapuri chappals

One-to-one attention

Paralysing roar

Chocolatey chehra

Treacherous terrain

Predawn darkness

Neat hairdo

Hopelessly trapped

Business-savvy individuals

Denial mechanism

Jigsaw puzzle

Place attachment

Research-based approach

Musty old books

Bizarre coincidence

Authentically chilling

43
Fantastically wealthy

Absolutely gorgeous

Foot massage

Scented candles

Differently-abled

Soft-touch back panel

Lady love

Deadly boring

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COLLOCATIONS 24

44