57 Social English

All the collocations in this unit are typical of informal English.

A Conversations
Zita: I was looking for a birthday Ana: How do you feel about Nina going to
present for my nephew but work in Tasmania?
I didn’t have much luck. Tania: Goodness, news travels fast! I didn’t
You don’t have any bright realise anyone else knew about it
ideas, do you? yet. Well, it came as a bit of a shock
Alan: You could just give him when she first told me. But, to be
some money or a book brutally honest, now I’ve had time to
token perhaps? think about it, I’m finding it a bit of a
Zita: That thought occurred welcome relief.
to me, but then it looks Ana: I know the feeling4. She can be good
like I haven’t gone to any fun but she’s so sharp-tongued that I
trouble. have to say I’ll be glad to see the back
of 5 her.

Lisa: I really hate my sister’s new Paula: Are you up for6 going to Sam’s leaving
boyfriend, Greg. I went out party tonight? We’re planning to give
for a meal with them last him a really good send-off7.
night and he really had a Adam: I really don’t think I can make it. I’m
go at her for being late. He just too tired. The simple reason is I’ve
really got to her1. been on the go8 all week and I haven’t
Pat: You’re being a bit hard had a decent night’s sleep for ages.
on him. I’m sure he didn’t I just can’t face the thought of going
mean any harm2. out tonight.
Lisa: I’m not so sure about that. Paula: Well, that’s a feeble excuse, if ever
Actually, I don’t think I can there was one.
bear the thought of ever Adam: I know, and I feel terrible about it
having to spend time with because I really like him. I might invite
him again. him to my house for dinner next week
Pat: Well, it’s not you who is going instead. Would you like to come too?
out with him. I wouldn’t lose Paula: Sure, I’ll be up for that. Give me a ring9
any sleep3 over it. or drop me an email with the details.

1 6
made her very upset would you like to
2 7
intend to do or say anything hurtful do something special to say goodbye
3 8
wouldn’t worry been very busy
4 9
I feel the same phone me
5
happy to see someone leave

B Common errors
The Cambridge Learner Corpus shows that candidates for advanced English exams often make
mistakes with these collocations:

example of error correct sentence

I hope I didn’t bring you any trouble. I hope I didn’t cause you any trouble / put you to any trouble.

I’m very looking forward to seeing you. I’m really / very much looking forward to seeing you.

I strongly hope you will apologise. I sincerely / very much hope you will apologise.

I’m very delighted by your invitation. I’m absolutely delighted by your invitation.

It’s a big pleasure to hear from you again. It’s a great pleasure to hear from you again.

118 English Collocations in Use Advanced

 Exercises
57.1 Choose the correct collocation to complete each short dialogue.
1 Jan: Have you decided what to do for Sophie’s birthday?
Gus: No, I’m afraid I haven’t had any decent / bright / welcome ideas at all.
2 Liz: That wasn’t a very nice thing for her to say when we were only trying to get / make / give her
a good send-off.
Will: I know, but I’m sure she didn’t mean / lose / drop any harm.
3 Tom: Are you still on / up / in for a night out tonight?
Sue: No, I’m afraid not. I really need to get a big / simple / decent night’s sleep tonight.
4 Ros: Congratulations! I hear you’ve been promoted.
Ana: Wow! News goes / comes / travels fast!
5 Flo: I wish I hadn’t had / got / given a go at him for forgetting my birthday.
Ed: Well, I wouldn’t lose any luck / sleep / shock over it! He’s very thick-skinned.
6 Nell: I wish I’d spent less time going out with my friends and more time revising.
Tim: I mean / know / have the feeling. I made exactly the same mistake.
57.2 Correct the collocation errors in these sentences.
1 I’m very delighted with my wonderful present.
2 I’m absolutely shattered – I’ve been in the go all week.
3 It was a big pleasure to meet you.
4 I’m very looking forward to hearing from you soon.
5 It got as a bit of a shock when I heard that Ellen and Jim had split up.
6 To be strongly honest, I don’t think he’ll ever make a good teacher.
7 I didn’t get much luck when I was trying to find a new dress for the party.
8 I hope I didn’t bring your parents any trouble.
9 We strongly hope that you will visit us again soon.
10 The thought happened to me that he might be in some kind of trouble.
11 Please don’t come to any trouble on my account!
12 Drop me a ring when you want to be picked up from the station.
57.3 Complete the crossword.
Across
1 I don’t want to go there again tomorrow. I can’t the 1
A
thought of it.
2 He got to me with his nasty comments. 2
3 Oddly enough, I found it a welcome to be living in a
much smaller flat.
4 Don’t forget to drop us an from time to time. 3
E
5 I’m glad to be seeing the of my old boss.
6 The simple why I can’t stand him is that he was very 4
A
rude to my best friend.
Down 5

1 You can’t be too tired to come out tonight. That’s a really

. 6
E
E
Over to you
If you are not often in an English-speaking situation, you may find it hard to learn
collocations that are typical of spoken English. English-language films can help. You can
download scripts from www.simplyscripts.com. Get the script of your favourite film and
note any good collocations from either the first or your favourite scene.

English Collocations in Use Advanced 119

56.2 1 worth 4 ignored 7 shot 10 required
2 determined 5 heeded 8 strenuous 11 pinning
3 doomed 6 desire 9 devoting 12 reap

56.3 1 It’ll be an uphill struggle to get your work finished by the deadline.
2 The appeal of Shakespeare’s plays has certainly stood the test of time.
3 It would be sensible for you to follow his advice.
4 No parents can provide a solution to/for all their children’s problems.
5 After a few months you will begin to reap the rewards of all your hard work.
6 Rob made a valiant effort not to fall behind in the race but he just didn’t have enough stamina.
7 (Hard) physical exertion certainly works up an appetite.
8 A lawyer would probably be the best person to offer you advice.
9 I’m pinning my hopes on winning a scholarship to the college.
10 Elisa has been making a concerted effort to do better this term.

Unit 57
57.1 1 bright 2 give; mean 3 up; decent 4 travels 5 had; sleep 6 know

57.2 1 I’m really/absolutely delighted with my wonderful present.

2 I’m absolutely shattered – I’ve been on the go all week.
3 It was a great pleasure to meet you.
4 I’m really / very much looking forward to hearing from you soon.
5 It came as a bit of a shock when I heard that Ellen and Jim had split up.
6 To be brutally honest, I don’t think he’ll ever make a good teacher.
7 I didn’t have much luck when I was trying to find a new dress for the party.
8 I hope I didn’t cause your parents any trouble. Or I hope I didn’t put your parents to any trouble.
9 We sincerely / very much hope that you will visit us again soon.
10 The thought occurred to me that he might be in some kind of trouble.
11 Please don’t go to any trouble on my account!
12 Give me a ring when you want to be picked up from the station.

57.3 1
F A C E
E
2
R E A L L Y
B
3
R E L I E F
E
4
E M A I L
X
5
B A C K
U
6
R E A S O N
E

Unit 58
58.1 1 broke; promise 4 rejected; charge
2 offer; explanation 5 dodge; question
3 reaffirm; commitment 6 betrayed; trust

58.2 1 gave repeated assurances

2 went back on his promise
3 give a straight answer

English Collocations in Use Advanced 157