List of Most Common Collocations
A word or phrase that is often used with another word or phrase, in a way that sounds correct to people who have spoken the language all their lives.
Collocation with Have and Do
have | do |
have a
bath | do business |
have a
drink | do nothing |
have a
good time | do someone a
favour |
have a
haircut | do the cooking |
have a
holiday | do the
housework |
have a
problem | do the shopping |
have a
relationship | do the washing
up |
have a
rest | do your best |
have
lunch | do your hair |
have
sympathy | do your
homework |
Collocation with Take and Break
take | break |
take a
break | break a habit |
take a
chance | break a leg |
take a
look | break a promise |
take a
rest | break a record |
take a
seat | break a window |
take a
taxi | break someone’s
heart |
take an
exam | break the ice |
take
notes | break the law |
take
someone’s place | break the news
to someone |
take
someone’s temperature | break the rules |
Collocation with Pay and Save
pay | save |
pay a
fine | save electricity |
pay
attention | save energy |
pay by
credit card | save money |
pay cash | save one’s
strength |
pay
interest | save someone a
seat |
pay
someone a compliment | save someone’s
life |
pay
someone a visit | save something
to a disk |
pay the
bill | save space |
pay the
price | save time |
pay
your respects | save yourself
the trouble |
Collocation with Come and Go
come | go |
come
close | go abroad |
come
complete with | go astray |
come
direct | go bad |
come
early | go bald |
come
first | go bankrupt |
come
into view | go blind |
come
last | go crazy |
come
late | go dark |
come on
time | go deaf |
come
prepared | go fishing |
come
right back | go mad |
come
second | go missing |
come to
a compromise | go on foot |
come to
a decision | go online |
come to
an agreement | go out of
business |
come to
an end | go overseas |
come to
a standstill | go quiet |
come to
terms with | go sailing |
come to
a total of | go to war |
come
under attack | go yellow |
Collocation with Make and Keep
make | keep |
make a difference | keep a diary |
make a
mess | keep a promise |
make a
mistake | keep a secret |
make a
noise | keep an
appointment |
make an
effort | keep calm |
make
furniture | keep control |
make
money | keep in touch |
make
progress | keep quiet |
make
room | keep someone’s
place |
make
trouble | keep the change |
Collocation with Catch and Get
catch | get |
catch a ball | get a job |
catch a
bus | get a shock |
catch a
chill | get angry |
catch a
cold | get divorced |
catch a
thief | get drunk |
catch
fire | get frightened |
catch
sight of | get home |
catch
someone’s attention | get lost |
catch
someone’s eye | get married |
catch
the flu | get nowhere |
Additional Resources
- The Academic Collocation List
- Collocations Worksheets
- Collocations Quiz
- Another Collocation Quiz
- Online Collocation Dictionary