Collocation 1

Question 1

A _________ accent (Strong)

Answer 1

Board

Question 2

In _________ agreement (overall)

Answer 2

In board agreement

Question 3

A _________ hint (Strong)

Answer 3

A board hint

Question 4

_________ circumstances (making something less harmful or unpleasant)

Answer 4

Mitigating circumstances

Question 5

_________ hair (reddish brown in colour)

Answer 5

Auburn hair

Question 6

A _________ smile (wide)

Answer 6

A board smile

Question 7

A _________ location (attractive in appearance in an old fashion way)

Answer 7

A picturesque location

Question 8

_________ a meeting/trial (delay)

Answer 8

adjourn a meeting

Question 9

_________ weather (unpleasant with cold rain and wind)

Answer 9

inclement weather

Question 10

To ____ __ a list/ contract. (prepare something, usually official, in writing)

Answer 10

to draw a list/contract

Question 11

To ____ __ a chance/an opportunity. (fail to take advantage of)

Answer 11

to pass up a chance

Question 12

to bear pressure

Answer 12

to withstand pressure

Question 13

An opportunity a____ for me to work in China.

Answer 13

Arose

Question 14

It’s time you ___ ___ _____ _______ ____ and started focusing on the future (move on)

Answer 14

put the past behind you

Question 15

People feel educational standards s____ when the government cut finances.

Answer 15

Slipped

Question 16

There’s been a s_____ of attacks/thefts in our area recently (unusually large number happening in close succession)

Answer 16

spate

Question 17

The minster had to put up with a b_______ of questions/insults from the angry audience (barra

Answer 17

barrage

Question 18

By a s_____ of luck I found my keys in the rubbish bin! (sudden, unexpected piece of luck)

Answer 18

stroke

Question 19

She gave me a s________ of information which is top secret. (small piece of information)

Answer 19

snippet

Question 20

An I____ threat (simply a threat)

Answer 20

idle

Question 21

He waited in the v___ hope that… (unlikely to be fulfilled hope)

Answer 21

vain

Question 22

There is m_________ concern/criticism/fury over the decision (growing concern)

Answer 22

mounting

Question 23

Mary was looking forward to retiring and _________ __ ____ ___ _ _____ (living a life of idleness and leisure)

Answer 23

taking it easy for a while

Question 24

The wind _____

Answer 24

howls

Question 25

The teeth ________

Answer 25

chatter

Question 26

(synonym) I don’t want to say no to the chance of meeting such a famous person

Answer 26

pass up

Question 27

(synonym) We’ll have to write a contract before you start work, as it’s a new position.

Answer 27

draft/draw up

Question 28

(synonym) You’re working too hard. You should try to relax for a short period of time.

Answer 28

(take it easy for a while)

Question 29

(synonym) This new bullet-proof car can take the impact of a rocket-propelled grenade.

Answer 29

withstand

Question 30

(synonym) Do you have any interesting little bits of information about our new boss to tell us?

Answer 30

snippets

Question 31

(synonym) | The minister faced a large number of questions from reporters.

Answer 31

barrage

Question 32

(synonym) I had some luck last week. The police found my stolen wallet and nothing was missing.

Answer 32

a stroke of luck

Question 33

(synonym) There’s been a number of violent attacks in the area recently.

Answer 33

spate

Question 34

(synonym) The moon c____ a white light into the room (to send light or shadow in a particular direction)

Answer 34

cast

Question 35

(synonym) Her arrival c___ a s _______ over/on the party (made it less pleasant)

Answer 35

cast a shadow

Question 36

(synonym) The discovery of the dinosaur skeleton has c___ l_____ on why they became extinct (to provide an explanation)

Answer 36

cast light on

Question 37

(synonym) C___ a look/glance/smile/an eye over something (to look in a particular direction/look quickly at something)

Answer 37

cast

Question 38

(synonym) His opponent made critical and damaging remarks about his honesty.

Answer 38

(cast aspersions on sb/sth)

Question 39

(synonym) The point you’re making is quite unrelated to our topic.

Answer 39

(have no relevance to)

Question 40

(synonym) The speaker praised Janice’s contribution to the project.

Answer 40

(pay a tribute to sb/sth)

Question 41

(synonym) I’ve never met a five-year-old as well behaved as your son – he is an evidence of your good characters.

Answer 41

(be a tribute to sth/somebody)

Question 42

(synonym) As soon as she got home Kay started working.

Answer 42

(set her working)

Question 43

(synonym) His rudeness made us all fall silent. (rendered)

Answer 43

(rendered us speechless)

Question 44

(synonym) It is uncertain how many workers will be affected by the changes.(indeterminate)

Answer 44

(indeterminate number of)

Question 45

(synonym) I am slightly unsure about these sales figures. (niggle)

Answer 45

(feel a niggle about)

Question 46

(synonym) The marketing campaign was better than we had expected.

Answer 46

(exceed) exceed our expectations

Question 47

(synonym) You’re never going to run in the Olympics. It’s time you accepted reality.

Answer 47

(faced up to the facts)

Question 48

(synonym) Although others were also responsible for the problem, Sue decided to take responsibility.

Answer 48

(shoulder the blame)

Question 49

(synonym) Choose what you like from the menu – the company is paying.

Answer 49

(footing the bill)

Question 50

(synonym) Jo leads a team working on crime prevention.

Answer 50

(heads)

Question 51

(synonym) Having three sons under the age of five makes Jana stay active and concentrated.

Answer 51

(keeps Jana on her toes)

Question 52

(synonym) Gina is good at noticing detail, so ask her to check the report.

Answer 52

(has an eye for detail)

Question 53

(synonym) Unemployment happens at the same time or as a result of social unrest.

Answer 53

(goes hand in hand with)

Question 54

(synonym) A book with difficult content.

Answer 54

(weighty tome)

Question 55

(synonym) Almost no chance.

Answer 55

(fat chance)

Question 56

(synonym) His father was extremely angry when he only just managed to get his degree.

Answer 56

(hopping mad)

Question 57

(synonym) When he left university he got a job very easily.

Answer 57

(walk straight into a job)

Question 58

(synonym) If their relationship ended, he would run into trouble at work too.

Answer 58

(hit the rocks)

Question 59

(synonym) Difficult and serious problems.

Answer 59

(weighty problems/matters)

Question 60

(synonym) Several people have made a formal complaint about the bank manager’s rudeness.

Answer 60

(lodged a complaint)

Question 61

(synonym) It took Sam ten minutes to make a meal very quickly.

Answer 61

(rustle up a meal)

Question 62

(synonym) This weekend I’m going to sew some curtains for my new room.

Answer 62

(make quickly using a sewing machine)

Question 63

(synonym) This month our company should make a profit for the first time.

Answer 63

(turn in a profit)

Question 64

(synonym) The charity makes clear its objectives as being to help underprivileged children.

Answer 64

(state its aim/purpose/goal)

Question 65

(synonym) The staff on reception required each visitor to say what their intentions are before issuing them with an entry permit.

Answer 65

(state their business)

Question 66

(synonym) In her lecture Lucia recounted her trip to the Andes.

Answer 66

(gave an account of)

Question 67

(synonym) The old man tried to teach his sons a thing or two. (formal)

Answer 67

(impart his knowledge/wisdom)

Question 68

(synonym) I was rather quiet as I didn’t feel I had much to add on the subject.

Answer 68

(impart)

Question 69

(synonym) Preservatives can give colour and flavour to a product.

Answer 69

(impart)

Question 70

(synonym) The journalist gets amazing stories but he won’t disclose his sources.

Answer 70

(divulge his sources)

Question 71

(synonym) The internet is a powerful means of spreading information.

Answer 71

(disseminating)

Question 72

(synonym) Although found guilty, Robson continued to insist that he was not guilty.

Answer 72

(protest his innocence)

Question 73

(synonym) He said he knew nothing of the dent to the car but I think he was lying.

Answer 73

(professed ignorance)

Question 74

(synonym) The Justice Minister said he would accept the decision of the High Court to free the prisoner

Answer 74

abide

Question 75

(synonym) The new Regional Governor will start work in an official position on 1 March

Answer 75

(take up office)

Question 76

(synonym) The police, acting on a secret warning, arrested the thieves as they left the building.

Answer 76

(on a tip-off)

Question 77

(synonym) The police intend to punish very strongly on anyone causing trouble at tomorrow’s football final.

Answer 77

(come down heavily on)

Question 78

(synonym) It was great just sitting in the town square and enjoying the feel of the place, wasn’t it?

Answer 78

(soaking up the atmosphere)

Question 79

(synonym) I think we should both arrange out work schedules, so we don’t have to work in May

Answer 79

(free up some time)

Question 80

(synonym) I’m finding it hard to find time to practise the French I learnt at school

Answer 80

(keeping up my French)

Question 81

(synonym) It’d suit my arrangement if we could meet up at lunch-time

Answer 81

(fit in with my plans too)

Question 82

(synonym) The hotel wasn’t as good as I thought it would be.

Answer 82

(did not live up to my expectations)

Question 83

(synonym) The club had to spend part of the saving to pay for the repairs to the roof

Answer 83

(dip into their funds)

Question 84

(synonym) He’s tough guy. He got rid of several intruders who were trying to break into his house.

Answer 84

(see off an intruder/opponent)