Collocation in Use

KNOW ENGLISH, KNOW SUCCESS

NGUYỄN KHẮC THỨC

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1 DANANG 2015

WORD COLLOCATIONS MEANING

ILLNESS have an illness/suffer from an illness

recover from an illness

serious illness

minor illness

short/long illness

childhood illness

acute illness (=an illness that becomes serious very

quickly)

chronic illness (=an illness that lasts a long time and

cannot be cured)

fatal illness (=an illness which causes death)

terminal illness (=an illness which cannot be cured and

that causes death, often slowly)

mental illness

the symptoms of an illness (=the things that show that

someone has it)

through illness (=because of illness)

DISEASES have/suffer from a disease

heart/liver/brain etc disease

a disease of the brain/stomach etc

catch a disease

mailto:[email protected]




2 DANANG 2015

contract a disease

f

ormal (=catch a disease)

a disease spreads/the spread of a disease

infectious/contagious disease (=one that spreads

quickly from one person to another)

a fatal/deadly disease (=one that causes death)

an incurable disease (=one that cannot be cured)

a degenerative disease (=one that gradually gets worse

and worse)

a cure for a disease

the symptoms of a disease (=the things that show that

someone has it)

OPPORTUNITY opportunity to do something

ideal/perfect opportunity

rare/unique opportunity

once-in-a-lifetime opportunity

ample opportunity

golden opportunity (=a very good opportunity)

wasted/lost/missed opportunity (=one you do not use)

take/seize/use an opportunity

provide/present/open up an opportunity

an opportunity comes (along/up)

an opportunity arises





3 DANANG 2015

take the/this opportunity to do something (=use a

chance to say something you want to say)

at the first/earliest opportunity (=as soon as possible)

at every (possible) opportunity (=whenever possible)

land of opportunity (=a country where you have a lot

of good opportunities)

window of opportunity (=a time when you can do

something)

PROBLEM have a problem

big/serious/major problem

cause a problem

deal with/sort out a problem

solve/fix/overcome a problem

address/tackle a problem

pose/present a probem

a problem arises/occurs/comes up (=it happens)

economic/financial problems

personal problem (=a problem in someone's private

life)

money/family problems

drink/drug problem (=when someone drinks too much

alcohol or takes too many drugs)

thorny/knotty problem (=a difficult problem)

KNOWLEDGE have knowledge

acquire/gain knowledge (=learn something)





4 DANANG 2015

technical/scientific knowledge

in-depth knowledge

detailed knowledge

specialist knowledge (=knowledge about a particular

subject)

first-hand/personal knowledge (=knowledge from

experiencing something for yourself)

background knowledge (=knowledge you need to

understand or do something)

general knowledge (=knowledge about a lot of

different subjects)

a thirst for knowledge (=when you want very much to

learn things)

UNDERSTANDIN

G

have an understanding/some understanding of

something

have little/no understanding of something

gain/get an understanding of something

a better/greater/deeper understanding of something

a clear understanding of something

a thorough/proper/full understanding of something

a basic understanding of something

CHANCE there's a chance (that) (=it is possible that)

there's every chance (that) (=it is very likely)

some chance

little chance





5 DANANG 2015

no chance

a good/fair chance (=something is likely)

a slight/slim/outside chance (=something is unlikely)

a fifty-fifty chance (=the possibility of something

happening or not happening is equal)

a million to one chance/a one in a million chance

(=something is extremely unlikely to happen)

lessen/minimize/reduce the chance(s) of something

(=make it less likely)

increase/improve the chance(s) of something (=make it

more likely)

chances are (=it is likely)

POSSIBILITY possibility (that)

possibility of (doing) something

a strong/real/distinct possibility (=something that is

quite likely to happen)

a remote/faint possibility (=something that is very

unlikely to happen)

not beyond the bounds/realms of possibility (=not

impossible, but unlikely)

within the bounds/realms of possibility (=possible)

raise the possibility (=say or show that something may

be possible)

ISSUE the issue of something

raise an issue (=say that an issue should be discussed)

address an issue (=discuss or deal with an issue)





6 DANANG 2015

resolve an issue

avoid/dodge/duck/evade an issue (=avoid discussing an

issue)

confuse/cloud an issue (=make an issue more difficult

by talking about things not related to it)

important/key/major/big issue

thorny/vexed issue (=difficult issue)

complex issue

sensitive issue

political/social/economic/environmental issues

something is not the issue

s

poken (=used to say that something is not the

important part of what you are discussing)

LAW break the law (=do something illegal)

obey the law

become law (=officially be made a law)

enforce the law (=make people obey the law)

by law (=according to the law)

be against the law (=be illegal)

within the law (=legal or legally)

tax/copyright/divorce etc law (=all the laws about tax

etc)

criminal law

civil law





7 DANANG 2015

international law

federal law

American English (=the law of the US, not of a

particular state)

SUBJECT change the subject (=start talking about something

different)

get onto a subject (=start talking about something)

get off a subject (=stop talking about something)

keep/stay off a subject (=not talk about something)

drop the subject (=stop talking about something)

raise a subject (=mention a subject and start talking

about it)

broach a subject (=start talking about something that

people may be sensitive about)

on the subject of something (=talking about something)

subject of discussion/debate

a

lso subject for discussion/debate

touchy subject (=something people are sensitive about)

subject area

VIEW have strong views (about something)

have different/conflicting/opposing views

share somebody's view/this view etc (=think the same

as someone else)

express a view





8 DANANG 2015

take the view that (=think that)

hold a view

strongly/deeply/widely held views

in somebody's view (=used to show whose opinion it

is)

support a view (=help show that it is right)

an exchange of views (=when people say what they

think)

the general view (=what most people think)

IDEA have an idea

get an idea

give somebody an idea

come up with/hit on an idea (=think of a new idea)

the idea of (doing) something

good/great/brilliant idea

bad/stupid/crazy idea

it is a good/bad idea to do something

be full of ideas

a

lso be bursting with ideas (=have a lot of ideas)

toy with an idea (=think about a plan, but not very

seriously)

exchange/share ideas

a

lso an exchange of ideas





9 DANANG 2015

fire ideas off each other (=discuss each other's ideas

and think of good new ones)

OPINION in somebody's opinion

general/popular opinion (=what most people think

about something)

public opinion (=what ordinary people think about

something)

somebody's personal opinion

difference of opinion

a matter of opinion

ask (for) somebody's opinion

express/give/state an opinion

strong opinion

keep your opinions to yourself (=not say what you

really think)

contrary to popular opinion (=despite what most

people think)

ADVANTAGE

have an advantage

give somebody an advantage

big/great/major/distinct advantage

unfair advantage

enjoy an advantage (=have an advantage)

be at an advantage (=have an advantage)

be to your advantage/work to your advantage

(=something gives you an advantage)





10 DANANG 2015

RISK risk (that)

reduce/minimize the risk of something

increase the risk of something

carry/pose a risk

not be worth the risk

high/low risk

increased/reduced risk (=a higher or lower risk than

usual)

a real risk

a calculated risk (=a risk you think will have a good

result)

an element of risk (=some risk, but not much)

the risks involved in/associated with something

risk factor

the benefits outweigh the risks

BENEFIT be of benefit (to somebody) (=be useful to someone)

have the benefit of something

get/gain/derive benefit (from something)

reap the benefits (of something) (=enjoy the

advantages of something)

the full benefit (of something)

for somebody's benefit

be to the benefit of somebody

mutual benefit (=useful to two or more people)





11 DANANG 2015

with/without the benefit (of something) (=using/not

using something)

economic/financial/social benefits

health benefits

something outweighs the benefits of something

(=something is more important than the benefits)

HARM do harm (to something)/do something harm

cause (somebody/something) harm

suffer harm

do more harm than good (=cause more problems rather

than improving the situation)

serious harm

physical harm

psychological/emotional harm

there is no harm in (doing) something (=used to say

that something seems reasonable)

where's the harm in that?

s

poken (=used when you think that something seems

reasonable, although other people may not)

no harm done

s

poken (=used to tell someone not to worry about

something they have done)

INSPIRATION provide inspiration (for something)

seek/look for inspiration





12 DANANG 2015

draw/take inspiration (from somebody/something)

(=get inspiration from someone or something)

inspiration comes from somebody/something

have an inspiration

flash of inspiration

source of inspiration (for/to somebody)

divine inspiration (=inspiration from God)

creative/poetic/artistic inspiration

chieve/fulfil/realize an ambition

lifelong ambition

He always had this burning ambition (=very strong

desire)

a

n ambition to do something/of doing something

cherish/nurse/harbour an ambition (=have it secretly

for a long time)

TALENT have talent

show talent

talent contest/show/competition (=a competition in

which people show how well they can sing, dance etc)

(a) natural talent

a hidden talent

musical/artistic/creative etc talent

a man/woman of many talents (=someone who can do

many things well)





13 DANANG 2015

a wealth of talent (=when there are a lot of people with

talent)

WAR win/lose a war

fight a war/wage (a) war (=used about countries or

groups)

fight in a war (=used about people)

be at war (with somebody)

go to war (with somebody)

declare war (on somebody)

war breaks out

a

lso the outbreak of war

civil war (=a war between opposing groups within a

country)

world war

nuclear war

the war years

JOB apply for a job

offer somebody a job

get/find a job (as something)

land a job

i

nformal (=get a job)

take a job (=accept a job that you are offered)

hold down a job (=keep a job when this is difficult)





14 DANANG 2015

lose a job

leave/quit a job

be out of a job (=not have a job)

temporary job

permanent job

part-time job

full-time job

steady job (=a job that is likely to continue)

job satisfaction (=the enjoyment you get from your

job)

job security (=how permanent your job is likely to be)

HABIT good/bad habit

become a habit

be in the habit of doing something also have a/the habit

of doing something (=do something regularly)

get into/in the habit (of doing something) (=start doing

something regularly)

get out of the habit (of doing something) (=stop doing

something regularly)

develop/form a habit

change a habit

break/kick a habit (=stop doing something which is bad

for you)

change/break the habit(s) of a lifetime (=stop doing

what you have done for many years)





15 DANANG 2015

out of habit/from habit (=because it is a habit)

(by/from) force of habit (=because it is a habit which is

difficult to change)

eating/drinking habits (=the kinds of things you eat or

drink regularly)

buying/spending habits (=the kinds of things you buy

regularly)

viewing habits (=the kind of television shows you

regularly watch)

social habits

CONTROL have control (over/of something)

take/gain control (of/over something)

fight/struggle for control (of/over something)

lose control (of/over something)

be under control

keep something under control (=keep something

happening in the way you want)

get/go out of control (=stop happening in the way you

want)

beyond/outside somebody's control (=impossible for

someone to control)

full/total control

LUCK not have much/any luck

have no luck

have good luck





16 DANANG 2015

have more/better luck

have the luck to do something

can't believe your luck

sheer luck (=used to emphasize something happened

only by luck)

a piece of luck

a stroke of luck (=very good luck)

an element of luck (=used to say that luck is involved

in something)

dumb luck

American English (=good luck that happens by chance,

without you planning it at all)

DEBATE heated/fierce/intense debate (=one in which people

express strong and very different opinions)

widespread debate

lively debate

public debate

a debate rages (=it happens over a period of time and

people have strong feelings about it)

long-running debate

ongoing debate (=continuing debate)

provoke/trigger/spark off a debate (=cause a debate)

DISPUTE be involved in a dispute

get into a dispute (=become involved)





17 DANANG 2015

settle/resolve a dispute

bitter dispute

long-running dispute (=one that lasts a long time)

political/legal dispute

pay dispute

industrial dispute British English labor dispute

American English (=between workers and employers)

territorial dispute (=about land)

domestic dispute (=between a couple who live

together)

be in dispute with somebody (=be involved in a

dispute)

a dispute arises (=it starts)

CRIME commit crime

combat/fight crime

turn to crime (=start committing crimes)

crime rate (=the amount of crime that happens

somewhere)

crime figures/statistics

crime prevention

violent crime

serious crime

petty crime (=crime that is not very serious)





18 DANANG 2015

car crime

British English

street crime

victim of crime

juvenile/youth crime (=by children and teenagers)

tough on crime (=always punishing crime severely)

HEALTH damage your health

improve your health

good/excellent health

poor/ill health

failing health (=when someone is becoming more ill)

be in good/excellent/the best of health

be in poor health

be good/bad for your health

somebody's state of health

mental health

health care

health problem

health benefits (of something)

health risk/hazard (=something that could damage your

health)

health warning (=a warning printed on a product that

can harm you)





19 DANANG 2015

LANGUAGE speak a language

master a language (=succeed in learning a language)

language teacher/student/learner

foreign language

somebody's first language/native language (=the first

language someone learned)

somebody's second language

somebody's command of a language (=someone's

ability to speak a language)

the language barrier (=the problem of communicating

with people who speak a different language)

the English/Japanese/German etc language

the official language

modern languages (=languages that are still spoken)

dead language (=a language that is no longer spoken)

SCHOOL go to school

attend school

f

ormal (=go to school)

a new school (=a school that you are going to for the

first time)

somebody's old school (=the school someone used to

go to)

school children/pupils/teacher

school uniform





20 DANANG 2015

school playground/library/bus etc

school meal/dinner

British English

school holiday(s)

MONEY spend money

make/earn money

make money (=make a profit)

lose money (=not make a profit, so that a business

owes more than it earns)

cost money/cost a lot of money

save money

lend/borrow/owe money

waste money (on something)

be a waste of money

charge (somebody) money

raise money

pay money (for something)

give somebody their money back/refund somebody's

money

a sum/an amount of money

get/earn good money (=be paid good wages)

FAMILY the whole family/all the family

member of a family/family member





21 DANANG 2015

a family of three/four/five etc

a close/close-knit family (=a family whose members

have a close relationship)

immediate family (=closest relations)

nuclear family (=a family consisting of a mother, a

father, and their children)

family background (=the sort of family someone

comes from)

one-parent family/single-parent family

the Royal Family (=the King or Queen and their

family)

family home/car/holiday etc

a family film/show etc (=that is suitable for children as

well as adults)

family life

family resemblance (=when members of the same

family look like each other)

family gathering (=when members of a family who do

not live together arrange to meet)

family unit

BEHAVIOUR good/bad behaviour

violent/aggressive/criminal etc behaviour

human/social behaviour

pattern of behaviour/behaviour pattern

behaviour problem (=when someone often behaves

badly)





22 DANANG 2015

change/modify your behaviour

influence somebody's behaviour

FRIEND a friend of mine/yours/Billy's etc

best friend (=the friend you like the most)

good/close friend (=one of the friends you like the

most)

old friend (=a friend you have known for a long time)

trusted friend

lifelong friend (=someone who is your friend for the

whole of your life)

friend of a friend

circle of friends (=all the friends someone has)

a mutual friend (=someone who is a friend of both you

and someone else)

a childhood/boyhood/girlhood friend

DUTY do your duty

it is somebody's duty to do something

have a duty to do something

have a duty to somebody/owe somebody a duty

sense of duty

moral duty

legal duty

fail in your duty (=fail to do something that you should

do for someone)





23 DANANG 2015

be duty-bound to do something formal (=have a duty to

do something)

INTEREST have an interest in something

show interest (in something)

express (an) interest (in something) (=say that you are

interested in something or want to buy it)

take an interest (in something) (=be interested in

something)

have no interest in something

lose interest (in something) (=stop being interested)

arouse/generate/attract interest (=make people

interested)

pique somebody's interest

American English (=make someone interested)

great/keen interest

abiding interest (=an interest you have had for a long

time)

lack of interest

with interest

LACK a complete/total lack of something

an apparent lack of something

for lack of something (=because something is not

present or does not exist)

a distinct/marked lack of something

no lack of something (=plenty of something)





24 DANANG 2015

a relative/comparative lack of something

no lack of something (=plenty of something

REASONS reason (that)

reason why

reason for (doing) something

reason to do something

a good reason

a compelling reason (=a reason that persuades you)

give a reason (for something)

for some reason (or other/or another) (=for a reason

that you do not know)

for personal reasons

for sentimental reasons (=because of your feelings, not

for practical reasons)

for the simple reason (that)

for obvious reasons

for reasons of something

for reasons best known to himself/themselves etc

(=used when someone does something surprising)

no/any reason whatsoever

have your reasons (=have a secret reason for doing

something)

see no reason why/to do something





25 DANANG 2015

by reason of something

f

ormal (=because of something)


Collocation in Use

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