COLLOCATIONS (from Cambridge English Collocations in Use) 1. strictly forbidden 2. bitterly cold 3. pitch dark 4. breeds crime 5. substantial meal 6. make mistake/arrangements/changes/choic e/decision/effort/friends/imprivemen t/progress 7. live music 8. key ring 9. heavy snow 10. valid passport 11. bitterly disappointed 12. give a lift 13. made one’s way 14. desperately jealous 15. making demands 16. run a bath 17. sharp pain/bend/turn/contrast/rise/drop 18. ease the pain 19. brief chat 20. swelling with pride 21. filled with horror 22. pull steadily 23. whisper softly 24. smile proudly 25. fully aware 26. blissfully unaware 27. raise capital 28. highly unusual/profitable/recommended 29. absolutely ridiculous/wrong/convinced/devastat ed 30. deeply ashamed/affected/moved 31. ridiculously cheap/large/small 32. strongly oppose/influence/believe/object 33. do damage/harm 34. go mad/bald/grey/blind/deaf 35. turn gold/red/(colours) 36. atmosphere/mood lightens 37. dark thoughts 38. expression darkens 39. idea/conversation flows 40. people trickle 41. stream of traffic 42. heated debate/conversation 43. fiery temper 44. tempers flared 45. sunny smile 46. weather deteriorates 47. thick fog 48. strong sun 49. hard frost 50. biting winds 51. travel brochures 52. humble origins 53. tiring journey 54. overnight journey 55. make reservation 56. fully booked 57. smart hotels 58. budget accommodation 59. surrounding countryside 60. gentle landscape 61. rocky mountains 62. follow a path 63. dramatic setting 64. steep slope 65. mountains towering 66. dense forest 67. panoramic/spectacular view 68. beach stretches 69. secluded beach 70. golden sands 71. city skyline 72. cobbled streets 73. upmarket shops 74. tree-lined avenues 75. no-go areas 76. strewn with litter 77. sprawling city 78. exhaust fumes 79. incessant roar 80. shanty towns 81. play joke/trick 82. take a joke 83. swallow your pride 84. lose patience 85. come to terms with
86. droopy moustache 87. pointed face 88. upturned nose 89. slender waist 90. lovely complexion 91. immaculately groomed 92. coarse hair 93. broad hips 94. well-built 95. youthful appearance 96. bushy eyebrows 97. tiny tot 98. dumpy woman 99. portly gentleman 100. lanky youth 101. dishevelled hair 102. striking resemblance 103. close-knit family 104. estranged husband/wife 105. strike up a friendship 106. cement a friendship 107. casual acquaintance 108. blissfully happy 109. increasingly anxious 110. mounting anger 111. widespread condemnation 112. aroused feelings 113. seething anger 114. emotional wreck 115. short-let accommodation 116. fully furnished 117. fully-fitted 118. off-road parking 119. airy bedrooms 120. add an extension 121. completely refurbished 122. dilapidated building 123. draughty hall 124. chilly corridor 125. take out mortgage 126. nourishing meals 127. fresh produce 128. food additives 129. perishable food 130. engrossed in a book 131. compulsive reading 132. flick through a book 133. beautifully written 134. easy listening 135. catchy tunes 136. haunting melodies 137. virtuoso performance 138. contract disease 139. suffer injuries 140. terminally ill 141. excruciating pain 142. incurable illness 143. ill health 144. alleviate pain 145. splitting headache 146. get a grade 147. fulfilling job 148. supervise work 149. embark on a career 150. climb the career leader 151. career takes off 152. stiff competition 153. cut-throat competition 154. commit plagiarism 155. acknowledge sources 156. draws an analogy 157. reach a verdict 158. act as a deterrent 159. hardened criminal 160. hit the headlines 161. squander money (on) 162. throw money around 163. rock-bottom prices 164. call a ceasefire 165. lasting peace 166. restore order 167. heroic fight 168. unsung hero 169. sleeping rough 170. alleviate property 171. eradicate poverty 172. political asylum 173. ear-splitting noise 174. muffled sound 175. shrill voice 176. raucous laughter 177. grating noise 178. roar traffic 179. far-flung places 180. tender/tough meat 181. fragrant perfume
182. distinctive aroma 183. distinguished author 184. overpowering stink 185. whiff of perfume 186. unpleasant taste 187. widespread damage/support/interest 188. constant interruptions 189. continual complaining 190. fell/rise sharply/steeply 191. dramatic rise/fall 192. increase steadily/gradually 193. remained constant/stable 194. fast car/train/lane/computer 195. quick glance/answer/decision/shower/lunc h 196. rapid growth/decline/change 197. speedy recovery/conclusion/access 198. swift action/reaction 199. prompt payment/reply/response 200. brisk walk/pace/business/efficiency 201. hasty decision/exit/conclusion/words 202. unhurried manner 203. leisurely breakfast 204. painfully slow 205. gathered/picked up speed 206. make/take a detour 207. steer the conversation 208. went astray 209. change the subject 210. change the baby (change baby’s diaper) 211. delicate subject 212. lengthy discussion 213. gentle stroll 214. wander aimlessly 215. stride angrily/confidently/purposefully 216. walking encyclopaedia 217. faltering steps 218. ran great strides 219. spectacular failure 220. fail miserably 221. immediate cause 222. underlying cause 223. unforeseen outcome 224. adverse effects 225. cause an uproar 226. cause a sensation 227. vaguely remember 228. clean/completely forgotten 229. stir up memories 230. memories fade 231. going numb 232. acute hearing 233. settle a dispute 234. agree wholeheartedly 235. fundamentally disagree 236. differences exist 237. unanimous decision 238. sensible decision 239. sound judgement 240. burning desire 241. heavy hints 242. clearly implied 243. broad hints 244. leaked documents 245. serious allegations 246. unfounded claims 247. long-running battle 248. strongly deny 249. contradictory evidence 250. particular liking 251. passionate love 252. greatest regard 253. sheer enjoyment 254. strong preference 255. intense dislike 256. huge aversion 257. deep hatred 258. thunderous applause 259. richly deserved 260. outstanding performance 261. warmly congratulate 262. rave reviews 263. singing praises 264. standing ovation 265. condemn severely 266. sharply critical 267. roundly criticised 268. universal condemnation