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DANANG 2015
COMMON COLLOCATIONS IN USE
Using words correctly and applying more collocations related to the topic given enable you
to improve the using style of languages, in particular, writing and speaking, to boost your
score band.
WORD
COLLOCATIONS
MEANING
ILLNESS
have an illness/suffer from an illness
recover from an illness
serious illness
minor illness
short/long illness
childhood illness
acute illness (=an illness that
becomes serious very quickly)
chronic illness (=an illness that lasts
a long time and cannot be cured)
fatal illness (=an illness which
causes death)
terminal illness (=an illness which
cannot be cured and that causes
death, often slowly)
mental illness
the symptoms of an illness (=the

things that show that someone has
it)
through illness (=because of illness)

DISEASES
have/suffer from a disease

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heart/liver/brain etc disease
a disease of the brain/stomach etc
catch a disease
contract a
disease

formal (=catch a disease)
a disease spreads/the spread of a
disease
infectious/contagious disease (=one
that spreads quickly from one
person to another)
a fatal/deadly disease (=one that
causes death)
an incurable disease (=one that
cannot be cured)
a degenerative disease (=one that

gradually gets worse and worse)
a cure for a disease
the symptoms of a disease (=the
things that show that someone has
it)
OPPORTUNITY
opportunity to do something
ideal/perfect opportunity
rare/unique opportunity
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
ample opportunity

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DANANG 2015
golden opportunity (=a very good
opportunity)
wasted/lost/missed opportunity
(=one you do not use)
take/seize/use an opportunity
provide/present/open up an
opportunity
an opportunity comes (along/up)
an opportunity arises
take the/this opportunity to do
something (=use a chance to say
something you want to say)

at the first/earliest opportunity (=as
soon as possible)
at every (possible) opportunity
(=whenever possible)
land of opportunity (=a country
where you have a lot of good
opportunities)
window of opportunity (=a time
when you can do something)
PROBLEM
have a problem
big/serious/major problem
cause a problem
deal with/sort out a problem
solve/fix/overcome a problem
address/tackle a problem

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DANANG 2015
pose/present a probem
a problem arises/occurs/comes up
(=it happens)
economic/financial problems
personal problem (=a problem in
someone's private life)
money/family problems

drink/drug problem (=when
someone drinks too much alcohol or
takes too many drugs)
thorny/knotty problem (=a difficult
problem)
KNOWLEDGE
have knowledge
acquire/gain knowledge (=learn
something)
technical/scientific knowledge
in-depth knowledge
detailed knowledge
specialist knowledge (=knowledge
about a particular subject)
first-hand/personal knowledge
(=knowledge from experiencing
something for yourself)
background knowledge
(=knowledge you need to
understand or do something)

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general knowledge (=knowledge
about a lot of different subjects)
a thirst for knowledge (=when you

want very much to learn things)
UNDERSTANDIN
G
have an understanding/some
understanding of something
have little/no understanding of
something
gain/get an understanding of
something
a better/greater/deeper
understanding of something
a clear understanding of something
a thorough/proper/full understanding
of something
a basic understanding of something

CHANCE
there's a chance (that) (=it is
possible that)
there's every chance (that) (=it is
very likely)
some chance
little chance
no chance
a good/fair chance (=something is
likely)
a slight/slim/outside chance
(=something is unlikely)

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a fifty-fifty chance (=the possibility
of something happening or not
happening is equal)
a million to one chance/a one in a
million chance (=something is
extremely unlikely to happen)
lessen/minimize/reduce the
chance(s) of something (=make it
less likely)
increase/improve the chance(s) of
something (=make it more likely)
chances are (=it is likely)
POSSIBILITY
possibility (that)
possibility of (doing) something
a strong/real/distinct possibility
(=something that is quite likely to
happen)
a remote/faint possibility
(=something that is very unlikely to
happen)
not beyond the bounds/realms of
possibility (=not impossible, but
unlikely)
within the bounds/realms of

possibility (=possible)
raise the possibility (=say or show
that something may be possible)

ISSUE
the issue of something

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raise an issue (=say that an issue
should be discussed)
address an issue (=discuss or deal
with an issue)
resolve an issue
avoid/dodge/duck/evade an issue
(=avoid discussing an issue)
confuse/cloud an issue (=make an
issue more difficult by talking about
things not related to it)
important/key/major/big issue
thorny/vexed issue (=difficult issue)
complex issue
sensitive issue
political/social/economic/environme
ntal issues
something is not the

issue

spoken (=used to say that something
is not the important part of what you
are discussing)
LAW
break the law (=do something
illegal)
obey the law
become law (=officially be made a
law)

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DANANG 2015
enforce the law (=make people obey
the law)
by law (=according to the law)
be against the law (=be illegal)
within the law (=legal or legally)
tax/copyright/divorce etc law (=all
the laws about tax etc)
criminal law
civil law
international law
federal
law


American English (=the law of the
US, not of a particular state)
SUBJECT
change the subject (=start talking
about something different)
get onto a subject (=start talking
about something)
get off a subject (=stop talking about
something)
keep/stay off a subject (=not talk
about something)
drop the subject (=stop talking about
something)
raise a subject (=mention a subject
and start talking about it)

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DANANG 2015
broach a subject (=start talking
about something that people may be
sensitive about)
on the subject of something
(=talking about something)
subject of
discussion/debate


also subject for discussion/debate
touchy subject (=something people
are sensitive about)
subject area
VIEW
have strong views (about something)
have different/conflicting/opposing
views
share somebody's view/this view etc
(=think the same as someone else)
express a view
take the view that (=think that)
hold a view
strongly/deeply/widely held views
in somebody's view (=used to show
whose opinion it is)
support a view (=help show that it is
right)
an exchange of views (=when
people say what they think)

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DANANG 2015
the general view (=what most
people think)

IDEA
have an idea
get an idea
give somebody an idea
come up with/hit on an idea (=think
of a new idea)
the idea of (doing) something
good/great/brilliant idea
bad/stupid/crazy idea
it is a good/bad idea to do something
be full of
ideas

also be bursting with ideas (=have a
lot of ideas)
toy with an idea (=think about a
plan, but not very seriously)
exchange/share
ideas

also an exchange of ideas
fire ideas off each other (=discuss
each other's ideas and think of good
new ones)

OPINION
in somebody's opinion
general/popular opinion (=what
most people think about something)


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public opinion (=what ordinary
people think about something)
somebody's personal opinion
difference of opinion
a matter of opinion
ask (for) somebody's opinion
express/give/state an opinion
strong opinion
keep your opinions to yourself (=not
say what you really think)
contrary to popular opinion
(=despite what most people think)
ADVANTAGE

have an advantage
give somebody an advantage
big/great/major/distinct advantage
unfair advantage
enjoy an advantage (=have an
advantage)
be at an advantage (=have an
advantage)
be to your advantage/work to your
advantage (=something gives you an

advantage)

RISK
risk (that)
reduce/minimize the risk of
something

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increase the risk of something
carry/pose a risk
not be worth the risk
high/low risk
increased/reduced risk (=a higher or
lower risk than usual)
a real risk
a calculated risk (=a risk you think
will have a good result)
an element of risk (=some risk, but
not much)
the risks involved in/associated with
something
risk factor
the benefits outweigh the risks
BENEFIT
be of benefit (to somebody) (=be

useful to someone)
have the benefit of something
get/gain/derive benefit (from
something)
reap the benefits (of something)
(=enjoy the advantages of
something)
the full benefit (of something)
for somebody's benefit
be to the benefit of somebody

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mutual benefit (=useful to two or
more people)
with/without the benefit (of
something) (=using/not using
something)
economic/financial/social benefits
health benefits
something outweighs the benefits of
something (=something is more
important than the benefits)
HARM
do harm (to something)/do
something harm

cause (somebody/something) harm
suffer harm
do more harm than good (=cause
more problems rather than
improving the situation)
serious harm
physical harm
psychological/emotional harm
there is no harm in (doing)
something (=used to say that
something seems reasonable)
where's the harm in
that?

spoken (=used when you think that
something seems reasonable,
although other people may not)

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no harm
done

spoken (=used to tell someone not to
worry about something they have
done)

INSPIRATION
provide inspiration (for something)
seek/look for inspiration
draw/take inspiration (from
somebody/something) (=get
inspiration from someone or
something)
inspiration comes from
somebody/something
have an inspiration
flash of inspiration
source of inspiration (for/to
somebody)
divine inspiration (=inspiration from
God)
creative/poetic/artistic inspiration


chieve/fulfil/realize an ambition
lifelong ambition
He always had this burning ambition
(=very strong
desire)

an ambition to do something/of
doing something

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cherish/nurse/harbour an ambition
(=have it secretly for a long time)
TALENT
have talent
show talent
talent contest/show/competition (=a
competition in which people show
how well they can sing, dance etc)
(a) natural talent
a hidden talent
musical/artistic/creative etc talent
a man/woman of many talents
(=someone who can do many things
well)
a wealth of talent (=when there are a
lot of people with talent)

WAR
win/lose a war
fight a war/wage (a) war (=used
about countries or groups)
fight in a war (=used about people)
be at war (with somebody)
go to war (with somebody)
declare war (on somebody)
war breaks
out


also the outbreak of war

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civil war (=a war between opposing
groups within a country)
world war
nuclear war
the war years
JOB
apply for a job
offer somebody a job
get/find a job (as something)
land a
job

informal (=get a job)
take a job (=accept a job that you are
offered)
hold down a job (=keep a job when
this is difficult)
lose a job
leave/quit a job
be out of a job (=not have a job)
temporary job

permanent job
part-time job
full-time job
steady job (=a job that is likely to
continue)

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job satisfaction (=the enjoyment you
get from your job)
job security (=how permanent your
job is likely to be)
HABIT
good/bad habit
become a habit
be in the habit of doing something
also have a/the habit of doing
something (=do something
regularly)
get into/in the habit (of doing
something) (=start doing something
regularly)
get out of the habit (of doing
something) (=stop doing something
regularly)
develop/form a habit

change a habit
break/kick a habit (=stop doing
something which is bad for you)
change/break the habit(s) of a
lifetime (=stop doing what you have
done for many years)
out of habit/from habit (=because it
is a habit)
(by/from) force of habit (=because it
is a habit which is difficult to
change)

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eating/drinking habits (=the kinds of
things you eat or drink regularly)
buying/spending habits (=the kinds
of things you buy regularly)
viewing habits (=the kind of
television shows you regularly
watch)
social habits
CONTROL
have control (over/of something)
take/gain control (of/over
something)

fight/struggle for control (of/over
something)
lose control (of/over something)
be under control
keep something under control
(=keep something happening in the
way you want)
get/go out of control (=stop
happening in the way you want)
beyond/outside somebody's control
(=impossible for someone to
control)
full/total control

LUCK
not have much/any luck
have no luck
have good luck

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have more/better luck
have the luck to do something
can't believe your luck
sheer luck (=used to emphasize
something happened only by luck)

a piece of luck
a stroke of luck (=very good luck)
an element of luck (=used to say that
luck is involved in something)
dumb
luck

American English (=good luck that
happens by chance, without you
planning it at all)
DEBATE
heated/fierce/intense debate (=one in
which people express strong and
very different opinions)
widespread debate
lively debate
public debate
a debate rages (=it happens over a
period of time and people have
strong feelings about it)
long-running debate
ongoing debate (=continuing debate)

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provoke/trigger/spark off a debate

(=cause a debate)
DISPUTE
be involved in a dispute
get into a dispute (=become
involved)
settle/resolve a dispute
bitter dispute
long-running dispute (=one that lasts
a long time)
political/legal dispute
pay dispute
industrial dispute British English
labor dispute American English
(=between workers and employers)
territorial dispute (=about land)
domestic dispute (=between a
couple who live together)
be in dispute with somebody (=be
involved in a dispute)
a dispute arises (=it starts)

CRIME
commit crime
combat/fight crime
turn to crime (=start committing
crimes)
crime rate (=the amount of crime
that happens somewhere)

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crime figures/statistics
crime prevention
violent crime
serious crime
petty crime (=crime that is not very
serious)
car
crime

British English
street crime
victim of crime
juvenile/youth crime (=by children
and teenagers)
tough on crime (=always punishing
crime severely)
HEALTH
damage your health
improve your health
good/excellent health
poor/ill health
failing health (=when someone is
becoming more ill)
be in good/excellent/the best of
health

be in poor health
be good/bad for your health

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somebody's state of health
mental health
health care
health problem
health benefits (of something)
health risk/hazard (=something that
could damage your health)
health warning (=a warning printed
on a product that can harm you)
LANGUAGE
speak a language
master a language (=succeed in
learning a language)
language teacher/student/learner
foreign language
somebody's first language/native
language (=the first language
someone learned)
somebody's second language
somebody's command of a language
(=someone's ability to speak a

language)
the language barrier (=the problem
of communicating with people who
speak a different language)
the English/Japanese/German etc
language
the official language

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modern languages (=languages that
are still spoken)
dead language (=a language that is
no longer spoken)
SCHOOL
go to school
attend
school

formal (=go to school)
a new school (=a school that you are
going to for the first time)
somebody's old school (=the school
someone used to go to)
school children/pupils/teacher
school uniform

school playground/library/bus etc
school
meal/dinner

British English
school
holiday(s)


MONEY
spend money
make/earn money
make money (=make a profit)

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lose money (=not make a profit, so
that a business owes more than it
earns)
cost money/cost a lot of money
save money
lend/borrow/owe money
waste money (on something)
be a waste of money
charge (somebody) money
raise money

pay money (for something)
give somebody their money
back/refund somebody's money
a sum/an amount of money
get/earn good money (=be paid good
wages)
FAMILY
the whole family/all the family
member of a family/family member
a family of three/four/five etc
a close/close-knit family (=a family
whose members have a close
relationship)
immediate family (=closest
relations)

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nuclear family (=a family consisting
of a mother, a father, and their
children)
family background (=the sort of
family someone comes from)
one-parent family/single-parent
family
the Royal Family (=the King or

Queen and their family)
family home/car/holiday etc
a family film/show etc (=that is
suitable for children as well as
adults)
family life
family resemblance (=when
members of the same family look
like each other)
family gathering (=when members
of a family who do not live together
arrange to meet)
family unit
BEHAVIOUR
good/bad behaviour
violent/aggressive/criminal etc
behaviour
human/social behaviour
pattern of behaviour/behaviour
pattern