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COLLOCATIONS BY TOPIC (PART 3)

TOPIC: SPEAKING
COLLOCATIONS MEANINGS & EXAMPLE
1 Making small talk Talking casually about simple topics
2 Strike up a conversation Start a conversation
3 Delicate subjects Sensitive topics
4 Lengthy discussion A long discussion
5 Have an argument Have a verbal fight
6 Lull in the conversation A pause in the conversation
7 Go on and on Talk too much
8 Brief chat A quick conversation
9 Apologize profusely Apologize many times
10 Get straight to the point Talk directly about the essential message
11 Dropping hints Trying to communicate very indirectly
12 Tells lies Says things that aren’t true
13 Stretches the truth Exaggerates and distorts the facts
14 Give your word Make a promise or statement of the truth
15 Tone of voice The emotion with which you speak
16 Disparaging comments Very negative and destructive comments
17 Constructive criticism Criticism that helps the situation improve

TOPIC: STARTING / FINISHING

COLLOCATIONS
1 Got off to a good start
Encouraging start or promising
2 Eg: the soccer team got off to a promising
start
3 Shaky start or unsteady start
4 Disappointing start
5 Disastrous start
MEANINGS & EXAMPLE
It began well
These expressions show that there is hope for
good results in the future.
start, winning the first four games of the
season
If it is not so certain that there will be good
results in the future, then you can say a shaky
start or unsteady start
Eg: the business had a shaky start in the
second quarter of 2013, with sales numbers
fluctuating daily
If the beginning of something did not meet
expectations, you can call it a disappointing
start
If it was really terrible, you can describe it as a
disastrous start

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Eg: kevin failed every single one of his first

6 Humble/modest beginning
7 Put the finishing touches on it
8 Come to an end/ draw to a close
9 The beginning of the end
10 Abrupt/sudden end
11 No end in sight
exams – his semester was off to a disastrous
start
When a successful person or company started
without being famous or rich, then we say they
had a humble/modest beginning
When you make the final changes to something
before it is completed, we say you put the
finishing touches on it
Two expressions used to talk about ending
something are come to an end or draw to a
close
Something that will probably end soon
Eg: the explosion at the factory was the
beginning of the end for our company
When something ends quickly, then it comes to
an abrupt/sudden end
When an activity appears that it will continue
forever, then we say there’s no end in sight

TOPIC: SUCCESS & FAILURE

COLLOCATIONS MEANINGS & EXAMPLE
1 Unprecedented success Success in something for the first time in history
2 Crowning achievement Best or most significant achievement
3 Modest success Some limited success
4 Room for improvement Potential for improvement
Make a sudden advance in success, especially
5 Make a breakthrough
when you overcome an obstacle
6 Dashing his hopes Making him abandon hope
7 Lost his nerve Lost his courage
Average work, not very special
Eg: he was eventually hired, but later lost his job
8 Mediocre performance during an economic downturn due to his
mediocre performance and total lack of
remarkable achievements
9 A recipe for disaster Very likely to result in disaster
10 Way off the mark Completely inaccurate
11 Went under Lost all its money and shut down
12 Doomed to failure Destined to be unsuccessful
13 If all else fails If everything is unsuccessful
14 As a last resort A final possibility

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https://www.ryanielts.com/
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TOPIC: CAUSE & EFFECT

COLLOCATIONS MEANINGS & EXAMPLE
A strong negative reaction/manifestation from
1 Cause an uproar
the public
You can describe something as cause for
concern or cause for alarm – meaning a
Cause for concern or cause for
2 reason for concern or alarm
alarm
Eg: the growing number of teenagers dropping
out of school is cause for concern
3 Short-term vs. Long-term effects The time of the effect
4 Visible effects vs. Subtle effects Whether or not the effects are obvious
Powerful effect vs.
5 How strong the effect was
Minimal/negligible effect
6 Beneficial effect vs. Adverse effect To describe positive and negative effects
Describe the primary effect or an additional
7 Main effect vs. Side effect
effect
The preliminary results are the early ones, and
8 Have/produce results after more time passes, you’ll get the final
results.
Results that obviously exist and can be proved
9 Concrete/tangible results
are called concrete/tangible results
A result that is impossible to avoid is an
10 Inevitable result
inevitable result
The result that you want is called the desired
11 The desired result
result
12 Logical outcome The result you would expect
13 Unexpected outcome One you didn’t predict

TOPIC: MEMORIES
COLLOCATIONS
1 Vaguely remember
2 Memories come flooding back
3 Refresh my memory
4 Bring back fond memories
5 Haunt
6 Serves as a sobering reminder
7 My mind went blank
8 I racked my brain
MEANINGS & EXAMPLE
Remember a little bit, not in much detail
Memories come to mind
Remind me of a fact i’d forgotten
Pleasant memories
The sad/profound memory stays with me
It provides a serious reminder
I couldn’t think of anything
Tried hard to remember something
Eg: I racked my brain, but nothing came to
mind

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https://www.ryanielts.com/

TOPIC: AGREEING & DISAGREEING
COLLOCATIONS
1 Agrees wholeheartedly
2 I agree up to a point
3 I agree in principle
4 Worlds apart
5 Reach a compromise
6 Heated argument
7 I see your point
8 Minor/slight disagreement
9 Major/serious disagreement
10 Settle a disagreement
11 Disagrees vehemently
12 Long-running dispute
13 Bitter dispute
14 Agree to disagree
TOPIC: BELIEFS & DOUBTS
COLLOCATIONS
1 Deeply-held belief
2 Unshakable belief
3 Subconscious belief
4 Color your judgment
5 Believe in superstitions
6 Blind faith
7 Strengthen/reinforce your belief
8 Undermine/weaken your belief
4
MEANINGS & EXAMPLE
100% agreement
You can say “I agree up to a point” if you agree
with part of the person’s opinion, but disagree
with another part
If you agree with the idea, but not with the
practical application.
If the difference of opinion is very big, then the
two sides are said to be “worlds apart” on the
issue
Agree on a fair solution
Angry/intense argument
You can also say “I see your point” to
communicate the fact that you understand the
other person’s idea or opinion
We call a small disagreement a minor/slight
disagreement, and a big disagreement is a
major/serious disagreement.
Resolve a disagreement
With intense emotion and expression
If a conflict continues for a long time, it can be
called a long-running dispute
If it involves lots of angry and negative
emotions, then it’s a bitter dispute.
Tolerate the other person’s opinion, despite
disagreeing
MEANINGS & EXAMPLE
When you strongly/firmly believe something,
we can call it a deeply-held belief or an
unshakable belief – the latter phrase implies
that it would be difficult to convince you to
change your mind
A belief that you are not actively aware of
Influence your opinions/decisions
Irrational beliefs that have no basis in fact
Believe in something without thinking
Make it stronger
Make it weaker
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False beliefs held by many people are called

9 Common misconceptions
common misconceptions
Eliminate them
Eg: scientists and other researchers often
publish material to help dispel
10 Dispel misconceptions
misconceptions – for example, “contrary to
popular belief, it’s not harmful to go
swimming immediately after eating.”
If you are completely sure about something,
Beyond/without a shadow of a
11 then you can describe it as “beyond/without a
doubt
shadow of a doubt.”
When you have a small doubt that persists and
Gnawing/lingering/nagging/niggling
12 continues to bother you – this is called a
doubt
gnawing/lingering/nagging/niggling doubt

TOPIC: DECIDING & CHOOSING

COLLOCATIONS MEANINGS & EXAMPLE
1 Pros and cons Advantages and disadvantages
2 Trust your intuition Listen to your deep, instinctive feelings
3 Discussing the issue in-depth Talking about it in a lot of detail
4 Take their advice Implement their advice
A decision made spontaneously, without very
5 Spur-ofthe-moment decision
much thinking or planning
One determined by chance or impulse, not by
6 Arbitrary decision
logic or principle
7 Costly mistake A mistake with serious negative consequences
8 Weighing the possible outcomes Analyzing the possible future results
9 Having second thoughts Reconsidering, doubting your previous decision
10 Having no choice Being limited to only one course of action
11 Sound judgment The intelligent ability to decide things
12 Wise decisions Good and smart decisions

TOPIC: CLAIMING & DENYING

COLLOCATIONS MEANINGS & EXAMPLE
1 Denies the allegations Says the accusations are not true
2 Substantiate his claims Prove his claims are true or reasonable
A secret document that was accidentally
3 Leaked document
released to the public
4 Heavily implies Says indirectly but strongly

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5 Spreading the rumor
6 Widely acknowledged
7 Fueled speculation
8 Ulterior motive
9 Claims are unfounded
TOPIC: LIKING & DISLIKING
COLLOCATIONS
1 Sheer enjoyment
2 Fleeting pleasure
3 Hold him in the highest regard
4 Grew quite attached
5 Have nothing but contempt
6 Blind/irrational hatred
7 Develop a strong aversion
8 Hate him with a passion
TOPIC: PRAISING & CRITICIZING
COLLOCATIONS
1 Barrage of criticism
2 Give their blessing
3 Countered their criticism
4 Grudging approval
5 Frown of disapproval
6 Thinks the world of me
7 Heartily approved
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Transmitting the comment
Known by many people
Created beliefs
A hidden reason
Eg: this has fueled speculation that there may
be an ulterior motive for his accusations
His claims have no basis in fact
MEANINGS & EXAMPLE
Pure pleasure
Eg: in addition to the sheer enjoyment of
listening to their music, i’m also a great admirer
of bono and his philanthropic work
Momentary enjoyment
Eg: he’s concerned not only with the fleeting
pleasure of fame and fortune, but also with
making a difference in the world.
Have great respect for him
Strongly like/love over time
Only hate
Hatred without a logical reason
Develop an intense dislike
Hate him a lot
MEANINGS & EXAMPLE
Intense attack of negative comments
Give their approval/support
Argued against their criticism
Angry and reluctant approval
Disapproving facial expression
Eg: although they gave their grudging
approval to my enrollment in music school, i
could tell by my father's frown of disapproval
that he wished i'd study law or medicine instead
Has great respect and admiration for me
Completely and sincerely approved
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https://www.ryanielts.com/
 7

When the audience stands up and claps for an

8 Standing ovation
extended period of time
9 Rave reviews Extremely positive evaluations
10 An outstanding performance An excellent, superior performance
11 Congratulated me warmly Congratulated me with love
12 Scathing criticisms Very strong and hurtful criticisms
13 Speaking highly of Saying good things about

TOPIC: METAPHOR
COLLOCATIONS MEANINGS & EXAMPLE
A number of words in english are used
1 Metaphorically metaphorically – with a meaning that is not
exactly the same as their literal meaning
When we say that something is lightning fast,
we are using the quality of lightning (which is
2 Lightning fast
almost instantaneous) to describe something
that is extremely fast.
The deepest, most basic or fundamental reason
3 The root of the problem
for the problem
Someone’s eyes are shining with If someone’s face or eyes light up, it means that
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delight they suddenly get very happy or excited
The expression lighten the mood means to
5 Lighten the mood make a depressing atmosphere/situation more
relaxed and happy
Someone’s face/eyes/expression
6 They suddenly appear sad or angry.
darkens
Periods of time that are bad or unpleasant, full
7 Dark days or dark times
of problems
Ideas are flowing/ conversation is
8 When it is proceeding easily and naturally.
flowing
People poured/streamed into the Continuous movement of large groups of
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stadium people
10 People trickled into the church When only a few people come, occasionally
Waves of disappointment or waves
11 Strong feelings
of sadness
One that is very intense, often with negative
12 Heated discussion or heated debate
emotions like anger.
When they get angry, they get very angry, and
13 Fiery temper
could possibly explode
14 Tempers flared A situation when people began to get angry.
Starting positive things – something can kindle
15 Kindle
interest/enthusiasm/hope

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Starting negative things – something can spark

16 Spark
outrage/controversy
17 Gets off to a rocky start It encountered many problems in the beginning
A matter that is difficult, complicated, and
18 A thorny issue
possibly dangerous
19 Romance/friendship is blossoming It is developing in a beautiful way
If your efforts begin to produce the desired
20 Efforts are bearing fruit results, we can say your efforts are bearing
fruit
Plants seeds of hope / seeds of It produces a small feeling that can grow into a
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jealousy stronger emotion over time.

Composed by Vu Hai Ryan

https://www.ryanielts.com/