CONFUSING

COLLOCATIONS
 HAVE AN ADVANTAGE / TAKE ANVANTAGE OF
• As she already knew French, she had an • Let’s take advantage of the good weather
advantage over the rest of the class. and go to the beach.

be in a better position compared to someone else take action so that you profit or benefit from the
situation
 MAKE AN APPOINTMENT / HAVE AN APPOINTMENT
• Please talk to the receptionist – he’ll make an • I have an appointment for 10.30.
appointment for your next visit.

the action of settling or scheduling an after the appointment is made – it scheduled

appointment
 TAKE A BREAK / MAKE A BREAK
• After driving 2 hours he took a coffee break • Trying to escape from the crowd, he made a
and had a short rest. break for the exit.

pause an activity or work so that you can have run suddenly and try to escape
some rest for a short time
 HAVE A CHANCE / TAKE A CHANCE
• I didn’t have a chance to talk to her – she left • She’s trying to find a publisher who will take
very early. a chance on her new book..

have some time available to do something try something risky or dangerous that might not
succeed
 MAKE A CALL / TAKE A CALL
• Do you mind if I just make a quick phone • The boss made it clear that he isn’t taking
call? calls today.

you call somebody, you initiate the call you receive the call and you agree to answer it
 MAKE AN EXCEPTION / TAKE EXCEPTION TO
• I don’t usually lend people money, but in your • Tom took great exception to my remark
case I’ll make an exception. about Americans.

you let someone do something against the rules strongly disagree or be offended by
 HAVE FUN / MAKE FUN OF
• I’m sure we’ll have a lot of fun tomorrow at • It’s cruel to make fun of other people’s
the party. imperfections..

enjoy yourself tease or mock a person – it could be funny but it

could also hurt feelings
 HAVE TIME do
/ MAKE TIME
something slowly and/carefully
TAKE YOUR TIME
• When you have time, please see if you can fix • It’s important to make time to read to your
this handle. children.

time is available for you to use adjust your schedule in order to create an
opportunity for the task

I don’t know when this house will be finished

– the builders are really taking their time!
 HAVE TROUBLE / MAKE TROUBLE / TAKE THE TROUBLE
• I have some trouble sleeping these days – • Tom! Stop making trouble back there or I’ll
make a special effort to do something
maybe it’s the weather. send you to the principal’s office!
take the trouble
have a problem or difficulty cause a problem or difficulty
TA K E E X C E P T I O N T O

strongly disagree or be
offended (exception)
TAKE A CHANCE

try something risky or

dangerous to achieve
success (chance)
 MAKE TIME

adjust schedule in order

to make the opportunity
for a task (time)
 TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF

take action so that you

profit or benefit from the
situation (advantage)
MAKE A BREAK

run suddenly and

try to escape (break)
TAKE TROUBLE
TO

make special effort to

do something
(trouble)
 USE A COLLOCATION
took his time answering, knowing that he must select his
• He ____________
words with great care. (time)
make fun ofme all you want, but I love these shoes.
• You can __________
(fun)
• It was a Sunday afternoon, so I __________
had trouble finding
somewhere to park. (trouble)
take a break
• You've been looking after the kids all day —go ___________
for a while. (break)
• They _________________
have the advantageof an extra day of rest after the
semi-finals. (advantage)