ENGLISH COLLOCATIONS IN USE ADVANCED
BY FELICITY O DELL AND MICHAEL
MCCARTHY 2025 TO 2026 COMPLETE STUDY
GUIDE KEY COLLOCATIONS PRACTICE
EXERCISES AND EXAM PREPARATION
spread a rumor -CORRECT ANSWER-Someone has been spreading
rumours about us.
rumors fly around -CORRECT ANSWER-(=are talked about by a lot of
people)
There were wild rumours flying around the office on Wednesday.
engage somebody in conversation -CORRECT ANSWER-(=start talking
to them)
Sometime when you engage sb in conversation, it may become more
serious.
open your heart -CORRECT ANSWER-to tell someone your real
thoughts and feelings because you trust them
Three quarters of all the teenagers questioned would open their hearts at
home.
win/lose an argument -CORRECT ANSWER-The party hopes to win the
argument about how to reform the health system.
,The first one who resorts to violence is usually the one who's lost the
argument.
Some people always want to win an argument, for others losing the
argument is not important as they simply enjoy a good discussion.
carry on a conversation -CORRECT ANSWER-It's impossible to
hold/carry on a conversation with all this noise going on!
hold a conversation -CORRECT ANSWER-to have a conversation
Aileen knew how to hold a conversation with twelve people and work hard
at the same time.
broach the subject/question/matter etc -CORRECT ANSWER-to
mention a subject that may be embarrassing or unpleasant or cause an
argument
I broached the subject of his past.
At some point we've got to discuss money but I don't know how to broach
the subject with him.
change the subject -CORRECT ANSWER-(=start talking about
something different)
She tried to change the subject.
bring up the subject -CORRECT ANSWER-deliberately start talking
about it)
You brought the subject up, not me.
,take somebody/something seriously -CORRECT ANSWER-to believe
that someone or something is worth your attention or respect
As a teacher, it's important that the kids take you seriously.
It's only a joke - don't take it seriously!
overstate my case -CORRECT ANSWER-to talk about something in a
way that makes it seem more important, serious etc than it really is SYN
exaggerate OPP understate
To say that all motorists speed in residential areas is overstating the case.
The importance of a child's early years cannot be overstated (=is very
important).
bombard sb with questions
/bɒmˈbɑːd $ bɑːmˈbɑːrd/ -CORRECT ANSWER-hey bombarded him
with questions.
Today we are bombarded with advice on what to eat and what to avoid.
broad generalizations
/ˌdʒenərəlaɪˈzeɪʃən $ -lə-/ -CORRECT ANSWER-[countable] a statement
about all the members of a group that may be true in some or many
situations but is not true in every case
You can't make generalizations about what men and women are like.
broad/sweeping/gross generalization
a sweeping generalization based on speculation
drop the subject -CORRECT ANSWER-(=stop talking about it)
To her relief, Julius dropped the subject.
, bad /strong/ foul language
/faʊl/ -CORRECT ANSWER-rude and offensive words
She claimed she had been subjected to abuse and foul language.
TV dramas today use much more bad/strong/foul language than they did
40 years ago.
four-letter words -CORRECT ANSWER-a word that is considered very
rude and offensive, especially one relating to sex or body waste SYN
swearword
Please try to express your feelings without using four-letter words.
opening gambit -CORRECT ANSWER-a remark made in order to start a
conversation
'You're a teacher, aren't you?' was his opening gambit.
a rash promise
/ræʃ/ -CORRECT ANSWER-promises made without thinking
Don't make any rash promises. Think before you agree to anything.
an empty promise -CORRECT ANSWER-promises made which the
speaker has no intention of keeping.
She's full of empty promises. You shouldn't believe a word she says.
a tough question -CORRECT ANSWER-difficult question to answer
Do I regret anything? That's a tough question
BY FELICITY O DELL AND MICHAEL
MCCARTHY 2025 TO 2026 COMPLETE STUDY
GUIDE KEY COLLOCATIONS PRACTICE
EXERCISES AND EXAM PREPARATION
spread a rumor -CORRECT ANSWER-Someone has been spreading
rumours about us.
rumors fly around -CORRECT ANSWER-(=are talked about by a lot of
people)
There were wild rumours flying around the office on Wednesday.
engage somebody in conversation -CORRECT ANSWER-(=start talking
to them)
Sometime when you engage sb in conversation, it may become more
serious.
open your heart -CORRECT ANSWER-to tell someone your real
thoughts and feelings because you trust them
Three quarters of all the teenagers questioned would open their hearts at
home.
win/lose an argument -CORRECT ANSWER-The party hopes to win the
argument about how to reform the health system.
,The first one who resorts to violence is usually the one who's lost the
argument.
Some people always want to win an argument, for others losing the
argument is not important as they simply enjoy a good discussion.
carry on a conversation -CORRECT ANSWER-It's impossible to
hold/carry on a conversation with all this noise going on!
hold a conversation -CORRECT ANSWER-to have a conversation
Aileen knew how to hold a conversation with twelve people and work hard
at the same time.
broach the subject/question/matter etc -CORRECT ANSWER-to
mention a subject that may be embarrassing or unpleasant or cause an
argument
I broached the subject of his past.
At some point we've got to discuss money but I don't know how to broach
the subject with him.
change the subject -CORRECT ANSWER-(=start talking about
something different)
She tried to change the subject.
bring up the subject -CORRECT ANSWER-deliberately start talking
about it)
You brought the subject up, not me.
,take somebody/something seriously -CORRECT ANSWER-to believe
that someone or something is worth your attention or respect
As a teacher, it's important that the kids take you seriously.
It's only a joke - don't take it seriously!
overstate my case -CORRECT ANSWER-to talk about something in a
way that makes it seem more important, serious etc than it really is SYN
exaggerate OPP understate
To say that all motorists speed in residential areas is overstating the case.
The importance of a child's early years cannot be overstated (=is very
important).
bombard sb with questions
/bɒmˈbɑːd $ bɑːmˈbɑːrd/ -CORRECT ANSWER-hey bombarded him
with questions.
Today we are bombarded with advice on what to eat and what to avoid.
broad generalizations
/ˌdʒenərəlaɪˈzeɪʃən $ -lə-/ -CORRECT ANSWER-[countable] a statement
about all the members of a group that may be true in some or many
situations but is not true in every case
You can't make generalizations about what men and women are like.
broad/sweeping/gross generalization
a sweeping generalization based on speculation
drop the subject -CORRECT ANSWER-(=stop talking about it)
To her relief, Julius dropped the subject.
, bad /strong/ foul language
/faʊl/ -CORRECT ANSWER-rude and offensive words
She claimed she had been subjected to abuse and foul language.
TV dramas today use much more bad/strong/foul language than they did
40 years ago.
four-letter words -CORRECT ANSWER-a word that is considered very
rude and offensive, especially one relating to sex or body waste SYN
swearword
Please try to express your feelings without using four-letter words.
opening gambit -CORRECT ANSWER-a remark made in order to start a
conversation
'You're a teacher, aren't you?' was his opening gambit.
a rash promise
/ræʃ/ -CORRECT ANSWER-promises made without thinking
Don't make any rash promises. Think before you agree to anything.
an empty promise -CORRECT ANSWER-promises made which the
speaker has no intention of keeping.
She's full of empty promises. You shouldn't believe a word she says.
a tough question -CORRECT ANSWER-difficult question to answer
Do I regret anything? That's a tough question
