Collocations

If you _______ my advice, you’ll have nothing more to do with him.

What did you ______ his comments to mean?

She should ______ a break because she looks really spent.

take

There is a(n) ______ on sterling following its rise in value against the dollar.

We enjoyed an exceptional ______ of good weather this year.

When the robbers saw the police they broke into a ________.

run

He made his children’s lives a misery with all his petty ________.

The aim is to get each member coutry to adhere to a single set of _______.

Follow these few simple _______, and you won’t go far wrong.

rules

The announcement brought cries of ________ from the crowd.

The party boycotted the election in ________ at alleged rigging.

The strikers returned to work, but under _________-

protest

He _______ away his late arrival by blaming it on crowded roads.

The general principles behind the method used are _______ clearly and concisely.

When I visited the factory, an expert ________ the entire process to me.

explained

Cities have always acted as the principal _________ of political life.

At this stage of the trial the defence lawyer often shifts the _______ onto the victim.

This case has brought the problem of drug abuse in schools into sharp ________.

focus

The jeweller was stabbed as he tried to ________ the robbers off.

We need a good manager who is prepared to ________ for a fair share of profits.

He did not believe that the enemy was ready to ___________.

fight

The rise in crime is often cited as ________ of general breakdown of authority.

The scandal is damning ________ of the government’s contempt for democracy.

On present _________ the team will be happy to make the final.

evidence

After the meeting with his boss he burned with ________ for everyone and everything.

When she admitted to being involved in the scandal, she became a(n) ________ figure for politicians on the left.

Ever since I was a child, jazz has been a pet ______ of mine.

hate

The safest cheques are those ______ directly by the bank - known as banker’s draughts.

This document was _______ jointly by the Treasury and the Home Office.

During the last riots, some of the police were ________ with the rifles.

issued

It was comforting ________ that at least her father hadn’t suffered.

The job is so repetitive, it does not require much conscious __________.

Spare a(n) _________ for us - we’ll be working through the night to finish the report.

thought

We will keep you informed to the best of our ________.

Both players demonstrated their _________ to hit the ball hard.

I seem to have lost my _________ to attract clients.

ability

The politicia called for a(n) _________ of mood in Scottish politics.

The television has undergone a drastic __________ in the last two years.

He needs to show a(n) _________ in attitude if he is to succeed.

change

Pupils should be encouraged to _________ critically the information they are given.

A decision has been made to convene a conference to _________ the country’s political future.

We will ________ this matter at the meeting next week.

discuss

Strong dislikes of various foods are another of the early _______ of pregnancy.

We detected _________ that they were less than enthusiastic about the holiday.

The wizard drew some strange ________ in the air with his hand.

signs

Last year’s champion is in with a _______ chance of repeating his success in the grand prix.

Some of the home owners are hoping to get compensation for the poor building work and I think they have a very _______ case.

There’s no point in trying to put the tent up, the wind is far too _______-

strong

At the end of the holiday, ________ on to any unused foreign currency because it may come in handy on another occasion.

If your call is not answered within two minutes, you’re advised to ________ up and try again.

The company decided to ________ a portrait of the retiring managing director in the boardroom.

hang

After a long series of meetings, with the management, the workers _________ for a 3% pay increase.

Before leaving for Australia, Ray sold his car and _________ his account at the local garage.

The contents ot he jar ________ during the long car journey and it no longer looked so full.

settled

It is necessary to wash clothes made from _______ fibres at a low temperature.

Negotiations between the rival fractions have reached a very ___________ stage, with neither side willing to give an inch.

Although it is made from various root vegetables, the dish has a very _________ taste.

delicate

When the commanding officer entered the room, the young cadets all ________ to attention.

They were moving steadily through the seemingly impenetrable jungle when suddendly a large animal __________ at them from out of the undergrowth.

With the arrival of the ebullient young actor, the party really _________ to life.

sprang

Because he failed to ________ up for the job interview, Mr Garrard has been crossed off the shortlist of applicants.

In terms of recognition, Tamsin had little to _________ for all the effort she’d put into reorganising the office.

Despite her poor reception in New York, the artist is still keen to _________ her work across the rest of the USA.

show

Many people fail to recognize that the mind needs regular __________ just like any other part of the body.

Trying to get every member of staff to take their holiday at a different time was a very frustrating ___________.

Every __________ in the book is designed to build up your reasoning skills.

exercise

People say that Frank is a nasty individual but whenever Iv’ve met him, I’ve always _______ him very pleasant.

You’ve ______ fault with absolutely everything at the hotel - I’ve never known anyone complain so much!

Despite all the evidence against him, he was ________ not guilty when the case came to court.

found

The team showed no improvement on their previous terrible performances and so it was inevitable that they would lose __________ again.

A change in the law has been agreed but the government have _________ to announce exactly when it will come into force.

I expect John will contact me with the details but as _______ I haven’t heard from him.

yet

Suddendly becoming very famous went to his _______ and he became extremely arrogant.

There had been a lot of discontent among the staff and matters came to a ________ at the monthly meeting, when an argument broke out.

The groups’ most loyal fans were at the ________ of the queue, having waited overnight for the concert tickets to go on sale.

head

I was sitting at the next table to them so I couldn’t ________ overhearing their conversation.

My financial situation is pretty bad anyway, so this unexpected bill doesn’t exactly _________.

I wish you wouldn’t ________ yourself to my CDs without asking me first.

help

He used to be one of the top players in the world but he has now had a __________ of 15 consecutive matches without a single victory.

Leaving college without completing the course may seem like a good idea now, but I think you may come to regret it in the long _______.

The film is about someone who escapes from prison and goes on the _______.

run

There was a very _________ contrast between the scenes of wealth I saw in some parts of the country and the scenes of poverty I witnessed in others.

Trudy is a very _________ businesswoman and that is what has enabled her to make all the right decisions for her company.

There was a very _________ bend in the road and for a moment I nearly lost control of the car.

sharp

From her description of events, it was hard to get a clear mental ________ of what exactly happened.

As regards the economic situation, the overall ________ looks much the same as it did six months ago.

For some reason, we never get a very good ________ on this channel on our TV.

picture

I was feeling a bit __________ because I’d had a late night and I was beginning to get the flu.

I know you can’t give me the exact figure but could you give me a ______ idea of what it might cost?

The sea was very _________ and I began to feel ill halfway accross.

rough

I know you’re very upset now but I’m sure the feeling will ______ soon.

His comment was so rude that I couldn’t let it ________ without telling him that I thought he shouldn’t have said it.

It was so hot in that room that I felt I might _________ out at any moment.

pass

When all the facts came to ________, there was such a scandal that he was forced to resign.

We built a huge bonfire in the garden out of all the rubbish and set ________ to it.

It has been decided that, in the _________ of all the criticism it has recieved, the scheme will be abandoned.

light

The situation was already bad but your interference has made it worse _________.

I feel a bit guilty about what happened; __________, there’s nothing I could have done to prevent it so I know I shouldn’t feel bad.

I haven’t officially signed any agreement so I can __________ change my mind if I want to.

still

After the concert, all the equipment was _________ away and transported in a convoy of lorries to the next venue.

George _________ in his job and went travelling around the world for a year.

The club was absolutely _______ and there was no room at all on the dance floor.

packed

The workers were up in ________ about the proposed pay cuts.

I was welcomed back wit open ________.

They obviously aren’t used to having their _________ twisted like that.

arms

The ________ are against winning the jackpot twice.

I’ve just got a few ________ and ends to pick up from my old flat.

What he said yesterday was at ________ with all his previous statements.

odds

Which are the _______ the tourist simply mustn’t miss?

You should always set your _______ as high as you possibly can.

They may have to lower their ________ somewhat in the light of the competition.

sights

So much for all our good _______!

What are your _______ concerning my daughter, young man?

I’m sure he intervened with the best _________.

intentions

They bought the preoperties with an _______ to making a quick profit.

Keep a careful _______ on your bag in crowded places.

The police decided to turn a blind _______.

eye

The biggest union is calling for strike ________.

Nearly 50000 people were killed in _________.

Your prompt ________ probably saved my life.

action

It was an excellent plan but I don’t think it really _______ off in the end.

The students ________ up with a number of interesting questions after the lecture.

When the truth about the scandal eventually _______ out, nobody could believe it.

came

I wonder who it was who ________ the story about that John was resigning.

Their constant chatter about their medical histories rather ________ me off my lunch.

Don’t forget to _______ back by an hour this evening.

put

The teacher _________ back the work to her students.

It was a large family and clothes were ________ down from one child to the next.

At the end of his final week, he ________ over his responsibilities to his successor.

handed

They often have blazing rows but they soon _______ over.

These photographs are too small: why don’t you _______ them up a bit?

We’ll just have to stay inside and wait for the storm to _______ itself out.

blow

They argued for hours about the exact _______ of the agreement.

I find summer ______ the longest because of all the exams.

It took him a long time to come to _______ with the fact that he didn’t get the job.

terms

You know what they say: stilll ______ run deep.

The boat ran aground in the shallow ______ of the day.

My father says he _______ his vegetable garden twice a day in the summer.

waters

A _______ of sunshine came through the stained glass window.

The escape plan gave the prisoners some ______ of hope.

There was a dim _______ of light coming from the open door.

ray

A _________ of armoured cars was occupying the inside lane of the motorway.

On the horizon I could see a __________ of smoke rising into the air.

He added up a long ________ of figures rapidly in his head.

column

He’s a dull person: not exactly a _______ of fire I’m afraid.

A _______ of flames burst out of the burning roof.

Would you mind passing me that ______ of wool?

ball

The police found a _______ of blood in his jacket.

He spoke without a ________ of bitterness in his voice.

The ghost then vanished without _______, or so they claimed.

trace

He handed her a an enourmous ______ of flowers as a thank-you present.

I wish you’d all stop standing like a ______ of idiots.

The caretaker carried a large ________ of keys wherever he went.

bunch

I seem to be having a ________ of bother with my car at the moment.

I think I felt a ________ of rain.

How about a _______ of lunch?

spot

Jo felt a sudden ________ of nausea.

A ________ of anger swept over the crowd.

With a ______ of his hand, he was gone.

wave

Enthusiasm for the project was sadly ________.

The champion is ________ in any kind of humility.

The team are still _______ a good central defender.

lacking

Tourists inevitably ________ to the main square in the Old Town.

A _______ of geese suddendly flew over.

Most of the farmer’s ________ have been infected by a mysterious virus.

flock

A ______ of flame shot towards us.

I’ve got an enormous blister on the _______ of my left foot.

In the old days kids would play for hours with a ______ of string and a pair of scissors.

ball

The crime _____ very rarely seems to go down.

Most writers _____ her as the most promising playwright around.

At this _______ we’ll have spent all our money by the end of week one.

rate

I will try with all the _______ at my disposal.

The situation is by no _______ hopeless.

The llama is the main _______ of transport in that part of the world.

means

Considering the ________ of his injuries, he’s remaining remarkably cheerful.

It’s the parents who, to a lesser or greater _______, are normally to blame.

The full ________ of disaster was not immediatly obvious.

extent

There’s _______ chance you’ll get some kind of grant for your studies,

________ so often he completely loses his composure.

She had _______ reason to feel cheated.

every

Earthquakes sometimes seem to come so soon one after _________.

_________ few years and she’lll be a world champion.

Shoplifting’s one thing: robbery with violence is quite _________.

another

The politician insisted that she was addressing the audience in her _________ as a mother and not as a Member of Parliament.

The pop group were delighted to discover that they were playing in a hall that was filled to ________.

Since animals lack the _________ for reproach, our relationships with them tend to cause us less concern than those with our fellow human beings.

capacity

Helen rubbed her carpet as hard as she could but the stain wouldn’t ________ out.

I’m afraid people don’t _______ much meaner than my neighbour, she even re-uses her old tea bags!

Matt has gone out this evening to try and forget how badly his presentation went, but in the cold light of day it’ll _______ back to haunt him.

come

Everyon was surprised to discover that the young man was eligible to _______ for president.

The factory closure became such a contentious issue that even the national newspapers decided to _______ a series of articles on it.

The supervisor had to _______ through the safety guidelines several times before she was convinced that all the staff had understood.

run

There are many jobs that my sister could do but she seems unwilling to __________ herself to anything.

The varnish will not have a smooth finish if you ________ it too liberally.

I was attempting to complete the whole form until I realised that half the questions didn’t _______ to me.

apply

The children looked up to see their father entering the room _________ gifts from foreign countries.

Glancing in his rear-view mirror, the learner driver was horrified to see a large articulated lorry _________ down on him.

__________ in mind everything you’ve told me, I think we should postpone our trip until later in the year.

bearing

The toddler looked up pitifully at his mother, aware that he had not recieved a fair _______ when the cake had been handed out.

The manager informed his staff that despite the economic downturn, there was every reason to believe that the forthcoming ________ would go ahead as planned.

It’s a sad fact that in every newspaper there’s a good _______ of material that you can flick through mindlessly.

deal

The children were surprised to hear the tree branch _______ as they sat down on it.

Barry realised that he needed to ________ out of his despodent mood if he was going to have any chance of getting a job.

‘I think you’d better go back to bed if all you can do is ______ at me first thing in the morning!’ Amy’s mother said.

snap

Clarissa’s bad temper ________ something of a shadow over the whole meeting.

One of the director’s main responsibilities is to ________ the show before rehearsals begin.

The opposing sides in the disoute agreed to _______ aside their differences and work for the common good.

cast

Although students on the course should be familiar with the basic theories of economics, ther are not expected to have any great _______ of understanding.

In the company of such well-known figures as the town’s mayor and a presenter from the local radio station, Paula felt out of her ______, and so remained quiet.

When planting asparagus, it is necessary to dig a trench of sufficient ________ to ensure that the roots will be entirely covered.

depth

I was on the ______ of my seat during the grand prix because it was such a close race.

If you drink a glass of water before each meal, you’ll find that it takes the _____ off your appetite.

Joan appeared to be rather on _______ during the evening and the other guests wondered if she was worried about something.

edge

In their desparate struggle to get a conviction, the police succeeded in _________ the blame for the murder on an innocent bystander.

If the actress persists in marrying a wealthy man more than twice her age, she will be _______ herself open to the obvious criticism.

At the end of the event, the organisers are _______ on a meal to thank all those who have helped-

laying

The assistant ______ me to believe that the equipment would operate in any country, but that just wasn’t the case.

After the presentation, a panel of experts ________a half-hour discussion, during which time the audience was able to ask a number of questions.

A series of police raids in the early hours of the last friday ________ to several arrests being made.

led

Jenny realised that she had become so engrossed in what she was doing that she had lost all ________ of time passing.

There is no ________ in trying to persuade someone to give up smoking if they don’t really want to.

Just sitting in this old building gives me a real ________ of history and culture.

sense

After six moths’ hard work at a town centre restaurant, Kevin eventually succeeded in __________ together enough money to go on a trip around the world.

With so many labour-saving devices on the market Kate finds it irritating that her mother continues _________ the skin from potatoes with a blunt knife.

The social worker asked Mrs Timmins how she was managing financially and the old woman had to admit that she was barely _________ by.

scraping

Quite a number of families in the area have decided to ________ from electric to gas central heating.

If you should detect a leak, _______ off the mains water supply and call a plumber.

Tanya is billingual in Welsh and English and can _________ effortlessly from one language to the other.

switch

The policeman was subjected to a ________ of abuse when he asked what the young men were doing on the roof of the building.

Sensibly, Mick decided to postpone his purchase of a CD player until the recently advertised models came on _______.

When Jenny returned to school after the holidays, she was surprised to find that she had been placed in a higher ________ for maths.

stream

Although they’ve tried dozens of local restaurants, Jenny and her husband still _________ that Richard’s Place is the best.

After retirement, many old age pensioners find it difficult to __________ their previous standard of living.

Families in Britain are not as close as they used to be and very few people _________ regular contact with relatives outside their immediate family group.

maintain

Because of a lack of adequate regulation, the system whereby students supposedly have equal access to the college computer network is ________ open to abuse.

The company’s estimates of how quickly demand for their products would rise have tended to be rather ________ of the mark.

Although she hadn’t slept very well, Hayley was feeling ________ awake and ready for the day ahead.

wide

For four years _______ the team won the European Cup.

The fil contained a ________ joke about the main character ‘s digestive disorder.

We’d better hurry because we’re _______ a bit late.

running

My watch is _____ several minutes a day.

The car in second place is ______ on the leader.

I think that the chances of our _______ access to such sensitive information are slim.

gaining

The performance will start _____ on time.

The race was declared a _________ heat.

I was awoken in the ______ of night by a strange noise from outside.

dead

The winning goal was scored in the ______ seconds of the game.

I’ve been _______ to meet you for ages.

Throughout the world, many minority languages are in danger of _________ out completely.

dying

I’m sure such practices were common in the ________ and distant past.

The judge took a ________ view of her excuses.

I’m afraid I have only a ______ recollection of the events.

dim

Early evening is normally considered _______ viewing time by television bosses.

As a singer, she is at the ______ of her career.

As this is _______ season, I’m afraid flights are difficult to find.

peak

I think it’s important to ________ this meeting for future reference.

Please let me know the ________ she arrives.

The doctor asked to be kept up to the _______ on any major developments.

minute

A heated debate has ________ out in the media about corruption in high places.

She comes from a _______ home but has never beeen worried about only seeing one parent at a time.

I had a night of very _______ sleep and am consequently feeling a bit slow this morning.

broken

I think the whole _______ of doing this is perfectly clear.

She said she could ________ to a number of reasons for doing it her way.

Could I just ________ out that I find your actions completely unreasonable.

point

The new system is a real _______ of fresh air.

He found himself fighting for ______ in the thin atmosphere.

Take a deep _______ and start again.

breath

He is the only leader with a strong ______ of where the country should be heading.

Her ______ became blurred when she was accidentally struck on the head.

My line of ________ was blocked by the person standing in front of me.

vision

If you ask me, she must be _______ raving mad.

His death was a ________ reminder of our own mortality.

We are faced with a ________ choice: cut expenses or go to the wall.

stark

We all arrived safe and ______ despite the difficult journey.

The basic structure of the house is _________ but it needs totally redecorating.

He’s a sticker for discipline, by the ________ of it.

sound

I just managed to get there in the ________ of time.

I saw George trying to _____ your pen earlier.

His razor was horribly blunt and he managed to _______ himself in several places.

nick

When questioned, the minister said that he would _______ by what he said earlier.

Everybody should learn to ________ up for themselves.

If we ________ to our plans, we should make a lot of money.

stick

It’s time we ______ aside our differences and learned to work together.

Building their extension ________ them back by several thousand pounds.

He’s _______ his heart on getting a new music system.

set

It’s time you learned to _______ the fact that we’re losing money.

You can’t keep running away from difficult decisions: it’s time to _______ the music.

I really can’t ________ the idea of doing the whole thing again.

face

I don’t think children should be _________ under such pressure at such an early age.

Can you _____ in a good word for me with the boss?

If you _______ your mind to it, you can achieve virtually anything.

put

You’re _______ to get a good grade with the amount of work you’ve put in.

With one ______ he sprang through the window and made his escape.

The pile of papers were ________ with red ribbon.

bound

He has good qualifications, but is lacking in _________.

The __________ will hold you in good stead later.

I have no __________ of working with children.

experience

Lessons can’t be all ________ and games.

Knowing the results takes the ______ out of watching the match highlights.

It’s no _______ not knowing what’s going on.

fun