Collocations in Use: Advanced English Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards to help reinforce advanced collocations and metaphors in English.

Metaphor

A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.

Shoulder the blame

To take responsibility for something bad.

Foot the bill

To pay for something.

Head a team

To lead a project group.

Keep someone on their toes

To make someone stay active and concentrated.

Have an eye for

To be good at noticing details.

Hand in hand with

To occur at the same time as or as a result of.

Heavy responsibility

A significant or serious obligation or duty.

Light reading

Reading material that is not serious.

Slim chance

A small possibility of something happening.

Fat chance

Almost no chance; very informal.

Metaphorically

Using words in a non-literal sense.

Filler

Words or phrases used to fill pauses in speech.

Discourse markers

Words or phrases used to manage discourse.

Metaphor

A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.

Pronunciation: /ˈmɛtəfɔːr/

Shoulder the blame

To take responsibility for something bad.

Pronunciation: /ˈʃoʊldər ðə bleɪm/

Foot the bill

To pay for something.

Pronunciation: /fʊt ðə bɪl/

Head a team

To lead a project group.

Pronunciation: /hɛd ə tiːm/

Keep someone on their toes

To make someone stay active and concentrated.

Pronunciation: /kiːp ˈsʌmwʌn ɑn ðɛr toʊz/

Have an eye for

To be good at noticing details.

Pronunciation: /hæv ən aɪ fɔːr/

Hand in hand with

To occur at the same time as or as a result of.

Pronunciation: /hænd ɪn hænd wɪð/

Heavy responsibility

A significant or serious obligation or duty.

Pronunciation: /ˈhɛvi rɪˌspɑːnsəˈbɪləti/

Light reading

Reading material that is not serious.

Pronunciation: /laɪt ˈriːdɪŋ/

Slim chance

A small possibility of something happening.

Pronunciation: /slɪm ʧæns/

Fat chance

Almost no chance; very informal.

Pronunciation: /fæt ʧæns/

Metaphorically

Using words in a non-literal sense.

Pronunciation: /ˌmɛtəˈfɔrɪkli/

Filler

Words or phrases used to fill pauses in speech.

Pronunciation: /ˈfɪlər/

Discourse markers

Words or phrases used to manage discourse.

Pronunciation: /ˈdɪskɔːrs ˈmɑrkərz/