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