Friends, do you know what COLLOCATIONS is in the English language? Collocations are pairs or groups of words that frequently go together; they are not fixed idioms, but predictable combinations that improve fluency. Common types include verb + noun, adjective + noun, adverb + adjective, and noun + noun.
Key Examples of Collocations:
- Verb + Noun: Do homework, make a bed, take a risk, commit a crime.
- Adjective + Noun: Heavy rain, fast food, quick shower.
- Adverb + Adjective: Deeply disappointed, highly unlikely, perfectly happy.
- Noun + Noun : Computer disk, bath towel, research paper.
Here are some more Collocations with their meanings:
1 Abject poverty –Extreme lack of money and resources.
2 Acid test– Decisive proof of quality.
3 Acute awareness– Keen understanding of something.
4 Back Burner– Lower priority for now.
5 Balanced budget– Spending equals income.
6 Bare minimum– Least acceptable amount.
7 Calculated risk– Risk taken after careful thought.
8 Cast doubt– Make something seem uncertain.
9 Damning evidence– Strong proof of guilt or fault.
10 Dead end– Situation with no progress.
11 Deep regret– Strong sorrow about past actions.
12 Ease tension– Reduce conflict or strain.
13 Ethical dilemma– Hard choice about right and wrong.
14 Economic downturn– Period of declining economy.
15 False alarm– Mistaken sign of danger.
16 Firm commitment– Strong promise to do something.
17 Gain momentum– Increase speed, support or progress.
18 Gentle reminder– Soft prompt to remember something.
19 Genuine concern– Real worry or care.
20 Habitual offender– A person who repeatedly breaks rules.
21 Harsh reality– Unpleasant truth.
22 Heated debate– Intense argument with strong feelings.
23 Hard evidence– Solid, verifiable proof.
24 Idle chatter– Casual, unimportant talk.
25 Immediate family– Closest relatives.
26 Ironclad guarantee– Promise that can not be broken.
27 Joint effort– Work done together.
28 Jump to conclusion– Decide too quickly without evidence.
29 Juvenile delinquent– A young person who breaks laws.
30 Keen interest– Strong curiosity or attention.
31 Kick the habit– Stop a harmful routine.
32 Knee-jerk reaction– Automatic response without thought.
33 Landmark decision– Important ruling or choice.
34 Lasting impressions– Memory that remains strong.
35 Level playing field– Equal conditions for everyone.
36 Make amends– Repair harm done to others.
37 Make ends meet– Manage financially with difficulty.
38 Material evidence– Physical proof in a case.
39 Mutual respect– Shared regard for each other.
40 Narrow escape– Close avoidance of danger.
41 Natural disaster– Catastrophic event caused by nature.
42 Near future– Time not far away.
43 Notable achievement– Worthy accomplishment.
44 Objective assessment– Fair evaluation without bias.
45 Obvious mistake– Clear, easily seen error.
46 Official statement– Formal announcement from authority.
47 Painful truth– fact that is hard to accept.
48 Passive income– Earnings requiring little ongoing work.
49 Peak performance– Best possible level of output.
50 Pressing Issue– Urgent problem needing attention.
51 Qualifying round– Stage to determine advancement.
52 Quantum leap– Sudden major advance.
53 Quick fix– Temporary, easy solution.
54 Raging storm– Violent, intense storm.
55 Raise awareness– Increase public knowledge.
56 Rapid growth– Fast increase in size or amount.
57 Safe haven– Secure place of refuge.
58 Salient point– Most important detail.
59 Seasoned professional– Highly experienced worker.
60 Serious consequence– Major results from an action.
61 Short notice– little time in advance.
62 Significant other– Romantic partner
63 Solid foundation– Strong base for future success.
64 Solid judgment– Good decision-making ability.
65 Stark reality– Plain, often unpleasant truth.
66 Steady progress– Consistent improvement over time.
67 Stern warning– Serious caution about consequences.
68 Strictly speaking– In exact terms.
69 Sweeping Changes– Large-scale reforms.
70 Take responsibility– Accept blame and duty.
71 Tangible benefits– Real, measurable advantages.
72 Time will tell– Future will reveal the outcome.
73 Troubled past– History marked by problems.
74 Unforeseen circumstances– Unexpected events affecting plans.
75 Unspoken rules– Customs not formally stated.
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
2nd April 2026