Collocations, phrasal verbs and idioms

Collocations, phrasal verbs and idioms

A rich vocabulary is essential for B2 level. The EVAU tests not only individual words but also collocations, phrasal verbs and idiomatic expressions.

1. Collocations

A collocation is a combination of words that frequently occur together. Knowing collocations makes your English sound natural.

Verb + noun collocations

• make: make a decisión, make a mistake, make an effort, make progress, make sense, make a living, make an appointment, make a complaint.
• do: do homework, do research, do business, do damage, do harm, do a favour, do your best, do an exam.
• take: take action, take advantage, take care, take effect, take place, take responsibility, take a risk, take notes, take turns.
• have: have a look, have a rest, have a chat, have an argument, have difficulty, have an effect, have fun.
• pay: pay attention, pay a compliment, pay a visit, pay respect.
• give: give advice, give permission, give priority, give evidence, give an impression.

Adjective + noun collocations

• heavy: heavy rain, heavy traffic, heavy smoker, heavy workload.
• strong: strong opinión, strong argument, strong coffee, strong wind.
• deep: deep sleep, deep breath, deep thought, deep trouble.
• wide: wide range, wide variety, wide gap, wide awake.

2. Phrasal verbs (B2 level)

• bring up: raise a child / mention a topic. She was brought up by her grandparents.
• carry out: perform, execute. Scientists carried out the experiment.
• come across: find by chance. I came across an old photo.
• come up with: think of (an idea). She came up with a brilliant solution.
• cut down on: reduce. You should cut down on sugar.
• get along (with): have a good relationship. Do you get along with your colleagues?
• give up: stop doing. He gave up smoking.
• look forward to: anticipate with pleasure. I'm looking forward to the holidays.
• make up: invent / reconcile. She made up an excuse. / They argued but made up later.
• put off: postpone. Don't put off studying until the last minute.
• set up: establish. She set up her own company.
• take up: start a hobby. He took up tennis last year.
• turn down: reject. She turned down the offer.
• turn out: result, prove to be. It turned out to be a great day.
• work out: exercise / solve / calculate. I work out three times a week.

3. Idioms

• a piece of cake: very easy.
• break the ice: make people feel comfortable.
• hit the nail on the head: say exactly the right thing.
• the tip of the iceberg: only a small part of a bigger problem.
• a blessing in disguise: something bad that turns out to be good.
• once in a blue moon: very rarely.
• to be on the same page: to agree, to have the same understanding.
• to miss the boat: to miss an opportunity.