Collocations Flashcards

1
Q

How do you express “doing a task” with more emphasis on the effort involved?

A
  • To tackle a task
  • To handle a task
  • To take on a task
  • To work through a task
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2
Q

What’s another way to describe someone putting in a lot of effort?

A

To exert oneself
To exert effort in/for something

also to push oneself, to strive

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3
Q

How would you describe handling many details or getting into complex matters?

A
  1. To be in the weeds
  2. To dive into the details
  3. bogged down in details

Related: meticulous, fastidious

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4
Q

What’s a phrase to use for handling something with extreme care to avoid issues?

A

To walk on eggshells

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5
Q

How can you say “winning by a large margin” or “defeating someone soundly”?

A

To trounce someone by something.

Other verbs include to crush, to outmatch, to overwhelm, or to wipe out an opponent.

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6
Q

What’s a way to describe joining a popular trend or activity that everyone else is doing?

A

To jump/get on the bandwagon;

related phrases include to follow the crowd, to go with the trend, or to hop on the bandwagon.

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7
Q

How would you express “building up a large number of wins or achievements”?

A

To rack up

If a sportsman, sportswoman, or team racks up wins, they win a lot of matches or races.

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8
Q

What expression describes someone who is really eager and impatient to start something?

A

Champing at the bit.

similar expressions include itching to start or raring to go.

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9
Q

How do you say “returning to the beginning after making progress”?

A

To be back to square one;

similar phrases include to start over, to return to the drawing board, or to go back to basics.

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10
Q

What’s another way to describe sweating when working out or putting in physical effort?

A

To break (into) a sweat.

Other related phrases include to start sweating, to work up a sweat, or to exert oneself.

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11
Q

How can you describe making progress inconsistently, with pauses and starts?

A

In fits and starts

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12
Q

What’s a phrase to describe keeping up with the latest news or developments?

A

To stay/keep abreast (of something).

Related expressions include to stay updated, to follow closely, or to remain informed.

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13
Q

What expression can you use for comforting someone or going easy on them?

A

To cut someone some slack;

Similar phrases include to give someone a break, to be lenient with someone, or to show understanding.

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14
Q

How would you describe temporarily ignoring something to focus on something else more important?

A

To put on the back burner

Related expressions include to deprioritize, to set aside, or to delay until later.

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15
Q

What phrase describes looking back and understanding things more clearly afterward?

A

Hindsight.

Other ways to express this idea include to have hindsight or to reflect on the past.

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16
Q

What’s a phrase to express deep sorrow or sadness?

A

To cry one’s heart out.

Similar phrases include to weep bitterly, to let one’s emotions out, or to grieve deeply.

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17
Q

What’s a way to describe not being easily affected by stress or pressure?

A

To withstand something/someone (e.g., to withstand pressure, to withstand criticism).

Related verbs include to endure, to hold up against something, or to resist.

18
Q

How can you describe focusing on minor details and missing the bigger picture?

A

To get hung up about something.

Related phrases include to obsess over details or to fixate on small issues.

19
Q

What’s a way to say “relying on past experience or knowledge”?

A

To draw on something (e.g., to draw on one’s experience).

Related phrases include to call upon past experience, to utilize knowledge, or to fall back on experience.

20
Q

How would you describe an old problem reappearing unexpectedly?

A

To come back to haunt someone; similar phrases include to resurface or to have consequences later.

21
Q

What phrase expresses seeing the positive side of a challenging situation?

A

The silver lining.

Related expressions include the bright side or a hidden blessing.

22
Q

What’s a way to say something is very common or not unique?

A

A dime a dozen.

Other phrases include commonplace, very frequent, or widely available.

23
Q

What’s a way to describe thinking deeply about something or examining a problem closely?

A

To pore over something.

Other expressions include to scrutinize, to analyze carefully, or to reflect deeply on something.

24
Q

How do you say something is gradually decreasing in amount or intensity?

A

To tail off.

similar phrases include to fade out, to dwindle, or to subside.

25
Q

What phrase describes a person with great skill or mastery in a particular area?

A

Prowess (e.g., to show prowess in something like marketing, athletic prowess).

Similar words include expertise, skillfulness, or talent.

26
Q

What’s another way to say something has a negative impact on something or someone?

A

to affect something/someone adversely.

Also

  • To negatively impact (e.g., to negatively impact productivity)
  • To harm (e.g., to harm the environment)
  • To do harm to (e.g., to do harm to public health)
  • To have a detrimental effect on (e.g., to have a detrimental effect on learning)
27
Q

How would you describe a situation where the economy faces reduced growth or negative trends?

A

Economic downturn

related terms include: recession, market downturn, financial slump, or economic slowdown

28
Q

and/or whatnot

A

People sometimes say ‘and whatnot’ or ‘or whatnot’ after mentioning one or more things, to refer in a vague way to other things which are similar.

[informal, spoken, vagueness]

The women were there in their jeans and T-shirts and overalls and whatnot.

The council can send messages or letters or whatnot in Spanish.

You can buy snacks and whatnot at the bar.

That’ll give you enough time to get the table set and whatnot.

29
Q

How would you describe something that initially feels unfamiliar or awkward, but with time and repeated exposure, becomes easier to manage or understand?”

A

It takes some getting used to

The new color is nice, but it’ll take some getting used to.

I love being in England, but it takes some getting used to driving on the other side of the road!

30
Q

What do you call the process of training or influencing a person or animal to respond or behave in a certain way through repeated exposure or reinforcement?

A

to condition someone/something to do something

We were conditioned to accept things the way they were.

In Pavlov’s experiment, the dogs were conditioned to associate a particular sound with the arrival of food.

31
Q

How would you describe a common belief that many people accept as true, even though it has little or no scientific basis?

A

There is a widely held superstition that garlic protects against evil.

This theory is no longer widely accepted.
His work on DNA was widely admired.

32
Q

How would you describe the feeling when someone finds great enjoyment or excitement in doing something?

A

I got a real kick out of that wacky movie we saw last night.

33
Q

What do you call shops that sell luxury, high-quality items, often featuring exclusive brands and a sophisticated atmosphere?

A

High-End Boutiques

She prefers to shop at these upscale stores where designer labels are the main attraction.

These high-end boutiques often carry unique pieces that aren’t found in regular retail outlets.

34
Q

What is the term for places that provide free meals to those in need, often supported by volunteers?

A

Soup kitchens

Many volunteers dedicate their time to serve food at soup kitchens to help those facing financial hardship.

During the holidays, people often donate supplies to soup kitchens to support their efforts in feeding the community.

35
Q

What do you call dining establishments known for high-quality ingredients, an upscale ambiance, and refined service?

A

Fancy restaurants

For their anniversary, they decided to celebrate at a fancy restaurant with a five-course meal.

Fancy restaurants often require reservations due to their popularity and exclusivity.

36
Q

What is the term for tall buildings, often over 10 or more floors, that dominate city skylines and are commonly used for apartments or office spaces?

A

High-rise buildings

The city’s skyline is filled with high-rise buildings that provide space for businesses and residents.

Living on the top floor of a high-rise building offers a breathtaking view of the entire city.

37
Q

What do you call stores that sell donated, gently used items like clothes, books, and furniture to raise funds for charity?

A

Thrift stores

She loves hunting for vintage finds and unique clothes at thrift stores.

Many people donate their old belongings to thrift stores to support sustainable shopping practices.

38
Q

What is the phrase used to describe someone who was born in a particular place and spent their childhood there, often suggesting a strong connection to the local culture or values?

A

To be born anr raised/bred

Although he’s traveled all over the world, he’s proud to be born and raised in Chicago.

She’s born and bred in a small town, and her values reflect the close-knit community she grew up in.

39
Q

What is the term for improperly disposing of garbage or other unwanted materials, often harming the environment?

A

To dump waste

Factories that dump waste into rivers face serious penalties for environmental damage.

Some companies have strict policies to ensure they don’t illegally dump waste, protecting local ecosystems.

40
Q

What is the phrase used to describe something that has been altered so much that it no longer resembles its original form?

A

changed beyond recognition

After the renovation, the old building was changed beyond recognition and looked completely modern and new.

The town centre had changed beyond all recognition.

The bakery business has changed beyond all recognition in the last 10 years.

41
Q

What is the phrase used to describe a situation where something is urgently or desperately required?

A

in dire need of

After the long drought, the region was in dire need of rainfall to save the crops.

I’m in dire need of money and I’m having to sacrifice on the price of my car.

42
Q

What is the phrase used to express that something is unquestionably true or cannot be disputed?

A

There’s no denying the fact that

There’s no denying the fact that technology has transformed the way we communicate.

There’s no denying the fact that money talks.