Collocation 2

Question 1

synonym

Then the school began to go through a difficult period and had to -dismiss staff

Answer 1

lay off

Question 2

synonym

I managed to -make a special position- for myself as a specialist in dermatology

Answer 2

(carve a niche for myself)

Question 3

synonym

I did a job swap for a year with -someone doing the same job- in a different location

Answer 3

(my opposite number)

Question 4

synonym

I went back to my old job and also -started work- as an editor of a leading medical journal

Answer 4

(took up the post)

Question 5

synonym

I was put on a fast-track scheme and was -promoted very fast-

Answer 5

(moving up the ladder)

Question 6

synonym

I felt that I needed to -give importance to the right aspects of life-

Answer 6

(get my priorities right)

Question 7

synonym

I decided that -other aspects of my life should be more important than my work-

Answer 7

(take priority over)

Question 8

synonym

He was certainly -dismissed- at ARG under mysterious circumstances

Answer 8

(relieved of his duties)

Question 9

synonym

Fair enough. He must -have a lot of courage- to risk losing his own livelihood

Answer 9

(strength of character)

Question 10

synonym

So could we pencil in a meeting for considering the references? And then I’d better leave you and go and deal with the papers before -I leave work-.

Answer 10

(clear the desk)

Question 11

synonym

He’ll just have to -pretend to be sick- from time to time

Answer 11

(throw a sickie)

Question 12

synonym

He feels there might be some prospects for him there eventually, even if he was just being -worked in terrible condition- at the moment

Answer 12

(used as sweated labour)

Question 13

synonym

I hope so. But they have a very high turnover of staff and it won’t be easy from him to -remain there until he is successful-

Answer 13

(stay the course)

Question 14

synonym

I am going to -make a very forcible complaint-.

Answer 14

(kick up such a fuss).

Question 15

synonym

And I’ll certainly -take my custom elsewhere in future-

Answer 15

(not buy from the same place again).

Question 16

synonym

I -believe- that we are all responsible for our own actions

Answer 16

(take the view)

Question 17

synonym

It’s -absolutely certain- that Jaime will win the race

Answer 17

(a foregone conclusion)

Question 18

synonym

I don’t -hold the opinion- that nature and nurture are of equal significance, but it is now a widespread belief

Answer 18

(subscribe to the theory)

Question 19

synonym (2)

-People hold different views- as to whether mothers of young children should go out to work or not, but -I am totally convinced- that different things suit different families

Answer 19

(opinion are divided; it is my firm conviction)

Question 20

synonym

Don’t be -too critical of him-. He really couldn’t have done things differently.

Answer 20

(judge…harshly)

Question 21

synonym

Deciding to set up a business now shows -a bad assessment- of the economic situation

Answer 21

(poor judgement)

Question 22

synonym

Di’s quick to -criticise other people- but she’s far from perfect herself

Answer 22

(pass judgement on)

Question 23

synonym

I finally agreed to go out with him, -despite the knowledge that it was a bad idea-

Answer 23

(against my better judgement)

Question 24

synonym

Promoting Alec was -a serious bad decision-.

Answer 24

(error of judgement)

Question 25

synonym We can approaching the problem in -an imaginative and original way-.

Answer 25

(thinking laterally)

Question 26

synonym Someone has a f_______ imagination

Answer 26

(fertile)

Question 27

synonym Struggle to find a solution

Answer 27

(wrestle with a problem)

Question 28

synonym An unpleasant feeling of doubt that -will not go away-

Answer 28

(nagging doubt)

Question 29

synonym His resignation encourages people to consider that an imminent cabinet reshuffle may be true

Answer 29

(fuels speculation)

Question 30

synonym Conditions at the time provided -encouraging setting -for revolutionary movements

Answer 30

(fertile ground)

Question 31

synonym The directors feel that development will -bring advantages- for everyone living in the area

Answer 31

(pay dividends)

Question 32

synonym This hike in prices will seriously alter -the net income-

Answer 32

(affect the bottom line)

Question 33

synonym We have set ourselves clear objectives and are confident we will still be able to -spend more than we have earned-

Answer 33

(balance the books)

Question 34

synonym We have no intention of -going bankrupt-

Answer 34

(calling in the receivers)

Question 35

synonym We do what we said we would do

Answer 35

(honour all our commitments)

Question 36

synonym So if you feel that once of our products does not -reach appropriate standards-, then we will immediately offer you’re a replacement.

Answer 36

(come up to standards)

Question 37

synonym When she was a small child, Amelia’s teachers identified her as having -unusual intelligence and remarkable ability to think quickly and clearly-.

Answer 37

(mental agility)

Question 38

synonym She secured a place at tone the of country’s most -prestigious education institution- to read English Literature.

Answer 38

(seats of learning)

Question 39

synonym It is a pity that sometimes his -concentration in class is not steady-.

Answer 39

(concentration wavers)

Question 40

synonym He will not make any progress until he stops -being absent without permission-.

Answer 40

(playing truant)

Question 41

synonym The book offers -a very forceful defenc-e of free market economics and -lend support to- privatisation of all state-owned industries.

Answer 41

(vigorous defence, makes the case for)

Question 42

synonym The essay -takes the issues by its horns- which are of current importance in development countries.

Answer 42

(confronts issues)

Question 43

synonym McGraw -argues for- single-sex primary education but he fails to tackle all of the issues the opponents of this approach

Answer 43

(puts the case for)

Question 44

synonym (2) Although Kristov’s book -includes a lots of area of knowledge-, it does not offer a full explanation of the events leading to the civil war. Indeed, -the main idea- of Kristov’s argument is that such an account cannot be written

Answer 44

(covers a lot of ground, the thrust of )

Question 45

synonym | How was your weekend? My old school friend Emma came on -a visit that doesn’t last long-

Answer 45

(flying visit).

Question 46

synonym They thought 30 years together definitely meant that -a celebration was appropriate-

Answer 46

(called for a celebration)

Question 47

synonym The vicar who’d married them even -showed up for a short time-

Answer 47

(put in an appearance)

Question 48

synonym I was just sorry I couldn’t -spend much time to give complete attention-

Answer 48

(spend quality time)

Question 49

synonym It won’t be such -a very brief visit-

Answer 49

(whirlwind visit)

Question 50

synonym life is its usual busy -non-stop set of social events-

Answer 50

(social whirl)

Question 51

synonym First let me thank the County Council, on behalf of the Festival Organising Committee, for-providing the facilities for the welcome reception-

Answer 51

(playing host to)

Question 52

synonym You might simply want to wine and dine new business contacts in-a very friendly and welcoming atmosphere-

Answer 52

(convivial atmosphere).

Question 53

synonym (2) Some conversations are not serious. They consist of -small talk-, in which the speaker just make polite conversation or share shocking -tittle-tattle- about their friends and colleagues

Answer 53

(idle chatter; exchange pleasantries)

Question 54

synonym Rumours are spreading fast

Answer 54

(flying around)

Question 55

synonym I found it vey hard to -begin a discussion-

Answer 55

(broach the subject)

Question 56

synonym I tried not to -attach too much importance to a point of view- for leaving and just put things as simply as I could

Answer 56

(overstate my case)

Question 57

synonym A remark made in order to start a conversation

Answer 57

(opening gambit)

Question 58

synonym | Promises made without thinking

Answer 58

( rash promises)

Question 59

synonym | Promises made which the speaker has no intention of keeping

Answer 59

(empty promises)