COLLOCATIONS AND IDIOMS

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I. Part 3: Match the words in Column A with their strongest collocates in Column B and
then use the full phrases to fill the gaps in the sentences below.
A B
keep your cool
hit a nerve
draw a conclusion
make a point
shed light on
lose track of time
carry weight
stick to your guns
get cold feet
push the limits
Fill in the blanks with the full phrases:
31.Despite the heated argument, she managed to ______ and respond calmly.
32.His comment about her work ethic clearly ______, and she became visibly upset.
33.After reviewing all the evidence, the investigator was able to ______ about the
suspect's motive.
34.During the presentation, he managed to ______ that innovation is key to success.
35.The documentary aims to ______ the environmental impact of fast fashion.
36.I was so engrossed in the book that I completely ______ and missed my appointment.
37.In any organization, the opinions of senior staff members often ______ when making
decisions.
38.No matter how much criticism he received, he decided to ______ and stick to his
original plan.
39.She was all set to walk down the aisle, but at the last minute, she began to ______.
40.Elite athletes constantly try to ______ to achieve new records.
II. Part 3: Match the words in Column A with their strongest collocates in Column B
and then use the full phrases to fill the gaps in the sentences below.
A B
bite the bullet
make an impression
take responsibility
cut corners
come to terms with
set a goal
hold your breath
give a presentation
meet expectations
throw in the towel
Fill in the blanks with the full phrases:
 31.The project manager decided not to ______ even though the deadline was tight,
ensuring high-quality results.
32.Despite his fears, he had to ______ and undergo surgery.
33.It took her months to ______ the reality of her sudden job loss.
34.He managed to ______ during his job interview, leaving the panel impressed with his
answers.
35.As the team leader, it’s your duty to ______ for the failure of the project.
36.Before announcing the final results, everyone seemed to ______ in anticipation.
37.The athlete refused to ______, even after a series of losses in the tournament.
38.The CEO will ______ at the annual conference next week to discuss the company’s
vision.
39.The final product didn’t ______, and the client was visibly disappointed.
40.At the beginning of the year, she decided to ______ of completing a marathon.
III. Part 3 Match the words in Column A with their strongest collocates in Column B
and then use the full phrases to fill the gaps in the sentences below.
A B
hit the road
face the music
let your guard down
make a fool of yourself
spill your guts
come clean
keep a straight face
set an example
pull yourself together
gain approval
Fill in the blanks with the full phrases:
31.It’s getting late; we should probably ______ if we want to avoid traffic.
32.You’ll have to ______ after breaking the rules at work—there’s no escaping the
consequences.
33.Don’t ______ in negotiations, or they’ll take advantage of you.
34.Stop shouting and panicking—it’s time to ______ and focus on the task.
35.After weeks of hiding the truth, he finally decided to ______ and admit his mistake.
36.As a team leader, it’s your job to ______ for your colleagues by showing
professionalism.
37.You seem really flustered right now; take a deep breath and ______.
38.He didn’t realize he’d ______ with that awkward joke at the party.
39.If you want to avoid penalties, you’d better ______ during the competition.
40.The new design had to ______ from the board before production could begin.
IV. Part 3: Match the words in Column A with their strongest collocates in Column B
and then use the full phrases to fill the gaps in the sentences below.
A B
bite off more than you can chew
run out of steam
 A B
keep your word
play it by ear
jump on the bandwagon
make a difference
raise your voice
take a stand
meet a deadline
give someone the cold shoulder
Fill in the blanks with the full phrases:
31.He promised to help with the project, and I hope he’ll ______ and not let us down.
32.After hours of hiking uphill, she began to ______ and had to take a break.
33.Let’s not plan every detail of the trip—let’s just ______ and see how things go.
34.She decided to ______ against the unfair treatment of her colleagues.
35.If you want to succeed in this role, you’ll need to ______ and complete tasks on time.
36.He decided to ______ and join the latest social media trend to promote his business.
37.During the argument, he started to ______, making everyone uncomfortable.
38.Volunteering at the shelter every weekend has allowed her to truly ______ in people’s
lives.
39.You’ve signed up for three different committees—don’t ______ or you’ll end up
overwhelmed.
40.After their disagreement last week, she’s been giving him ______ and avoiding
conversation.
V. Part 3: Match the words in Column A with their strongest collocates in Column B
and then use the full phrases to fill the gaps in the sentences below.
A B
hit the ground running
spread yourself too thin
turn over a new leaf
blow off steam
miss the boat
make an effort
keep an eye on
face the facts
lend a hand
call it a day
Fill in the blanks with the full phrases:
31.After a stressful week at work, he went to the gym to ______ and relax.
32.When you start your new job, try to ______ and show them what you’re capable of.
33.She promised to ______ the kids while we went out for dinner.
34.He’s decided to ______ and focus on improving his health and lifestyle.
35.If you want this opportunity, you’ll have to act fast, or you might ______.
36.It’s getting late, and we’ve done enough work for today—let’s ______.
 37.Sometimes, you just have to ______, even if the truth is hard to accept.
38.He tried to do too many things at once and ended up ______, accomplishing very
little.
39.If we want to succeed, we’ll all need to ______ and contribute to the team effort.
40.You’ll need to ______ if you want to improve your grades this semester.
VI. Part 3: Match the words in Column A with their strongest collocates in Column B
and then use the full phrases to fill the gaps in the sentences below.
A B
break the ice
catch someone off guard
take into account
run a risk
draw the line
pay a visit
set a limit
hit a snag
make a complaint
bite the dust
Fill in the blanks with the full phrases:
31.When we met for the first time, he told a joke to ______ and make everyone feel
comfortable.
32.If you invest in that company, you might ______ of losing a significant amount of
money.
33.The hiker’s old boots finally ______ after years of heavy use on rough trails.
34.Before finalizing your decision, you need to ______ all the potential consequences.
35.They were making good progress on the project until they ______ that delayed
everything.
36.The teacher had to ______ with the students’ behavior after things got out of hand.
37.He decided to ______ to his old school to see how things had changed.
38.During the interview, one of the questions completely ______, and she struggled to
answer.
39.If you’re unhappy with the service, you should ______ with the management.
40.Sometimes, you just have to ______ and refuse to accept unreasonable demands.
VII. Part 3: Match the words in Column A with their strongest collocates in Column B
and then use the full phrases to fill the gaps in the sentences below.
A B
leave a mark
cut to the chase
bear fruit
keep your chin up
fall into place
make an exception
stick to the point
 A B
reach a milestone
jump to conclusions
hold a grudge
Fill in the blanks with the full phrases:
31.After years of hard work, his efforts finally began to ______, and he received a big
promotion.
32.Please ______ during the meeting—we don’t have time for unrelated topics.
33.It took a while, but eventually, everything started to ______, and the plan worked out
perfectly.
34.Despite the argument, he doesn’t ______ and prefers to move on quickly.
35.Let’s ______ and discuss the main issue instead of wasting time on minor details.
36.His inspirational speech managed to ______ on everyone in the audience.
37.You shouldn’t ______ without hearing all sides of the story first.
38.We usually close at 6 PM, but today I’ll ______ since you’ve traveled so far.
39.Completing this project on time was a huge accomplishment—it feels like we’ve
______.
40.Things might seem difficult now, but try to ______ and stay positive.
VIII. Part 3: Match the words in Column A with their strongest collocates in Column B
and then use the full phrases to fill the gaps in the sentences below.
A B
blow your own trumpet
play a role
catch your breath
reach a verdict
set the record straight
make a scene
pull the strings
take advantage of
hit rock bottom
give someone the benefit of the doubt
Fill in the blanks with the full phrases:
31.He didn’t want to ______, but his contribution to the project was truly significant.
32.After climbing up the steep hill, she stopped to ______ before continuing.
33.We need to ______ about what happened during the meeting yesterday—there are too
many rumors.
34.The actor’s powerful performance managed to ______ in raising awareness about
social injustice.
35.After months of testimony and evidence, the jury was able to ______ in the case.
36.Despite the misunderstanding, I decided to ______ and believe she didn’t mean any
harm.
37.During the argument, he started to ______ in the middle of the restaurant, drawing
everyone’s attention.
 38.It’s clear someone in the background is ______ to get things done their way.
39.When his business failed, he felt like he had ______, but he slowly rebuilt his life.
40.You shouldn’t let others ______ you just because you’re trying to be kind.
IX. Part 3: Match the words in Column A with their strongest collocates in Column B
and then use the full phrases to fill the gaps in the sentences below.
A B
bend the rules
call the shots
lose your way
come in handy
save face
make a profit
keep your word
take a toll
see eye to eye
break the news
Fill in the blanks with the full phrases:
31.After hours of hiking without a map, they began to ______ and felt completely
disoriented.
32.You promised to finish the task today, and I hope you'll ______.
33.He’s been managing this project for months, and it’s clear he likes to ______.
34.It’s always good to have a multi-tool with you; you never know when it might ______.
35.When the company’s poor performance was revealed, the CEO tried to ______ with a
carefully worded press release.
36.The constant overtime and high-pressure environment began to ______ on her health.
37.During their conversation, it became clear they didn’t ______ on how to move
forward with the deal.
38.He had to ______ to his team about the company's sudden decision to cut funding.
39.Sometimes you need to ______ slightly to get things done efficiently without causing
too many problems.
40.After all the expenses were deducted, the store was still able to ______ this quarter.
X. Part 3: Match the words in Column A with their strongest collocates in Column B
and then use the full phrases to fill the gaps in the sentences below.
A B
bite the bullet
burn your bridges
draw a blank
keep a low profile
miss the point
take it for granted
play devil's advocate
hit the nail on the head
give someone a hard time
 A B
pull the plug
Fill in the blanks with the full phrases:
31.I tried to remember her name, but I completely ______ during the meeting.
32.You’ve been in the spotlight too much lately; maybe it’s time to ______ for a while.
33.After weeks of indecision, he finally had to ______ and make a tough choice.
34.When you left that job so abruptly, you really ______, and now they won’t take you
back.
35.He decided to ______ during the debate to challenge everyone's assumptions.
36.I explained it three times, but I still think you completely ______ of what I was trying
to say.
37.You shouldn’t ______ your family’s support ______; not everyone is so lucky.
38.When she described the problem, he immediately ______ with his suggestion for a
solution.
39.Stop ______ him ______ about his mistake—he already feels bad enough.
40.The company decided to ______ on the failing project to avoid further financial
losses.
DAP AN
I. Answer Key (Questions 31–40)
31.Keep your cool
32.Hit a nerve
33.Draw a conclusion
34.Make a point
35.Shed light on
36.Lose track of time
37.Carry weight
38.Stick to your guns
39.Get cold feet
40.Push the limits
Explanations of Phrases:
1. Keep your cool: Stay calm under pressure or in a difficult situation. (Idiom)
2. Hit a nerve: Say something that affects someone emotionally. (Idiom)
3. Draw a conclusion: Arrive at a decision or judgment after considering evidence.
(Collocation)
4. Make a point: Express an idea or argument clearly. (Collocation)
5. Shed light on: Clarify or provide insight into something. (Idiom)
6. Lose track of time: Be unaware of how much time has passed. (Idiom)
7. Carry weight: Have influence or importance in a situation. (Idiom)
8. Stick to your guns: Refuse to change your position or opinion despite criticism.
(Idiom)
9. Get cold feet: Become nervous or anxious about proceeding with something. (Idiom)
10.Push the limits: Go beyond the usual boundaries to achieve something extraordinary.
(Idiom)
II. Answer Key (Questions 31–40)
31.Cut corners
32.Bite the bullet
33.Come to terms with
34.Make an impression
35.Take responsibility
36.Hold your breath
37.Throw in the towel
38.Give a presentation
39.Meet expectations
40.Set a goal
Explanations of Phrases:
1. Cut corners: Do something quickly and cheaply, often sacrificing quality. (Idiom)
2. Bite the bullet: Do something difficult or unpleasant that you’ve been avoiding.
(Idiom)
3. Come to terms with: Accept something difficult or unpleasant. (Idiom)
4. Make an impression: Create a strong impact or effect on someone. (Collocation)
5. Take responsibility: Accept accountability for something. (Collocation)
6. Hold your breath: Wait anxiously for something to happen. (Idiom)
 7. Throw in the towel: Give up or stop trying. (Idiom)
8. Give a presentation: Deliver information formally to an audience. (Collocation)
9. Meet expectations: Achieve the desired or required standard. (Collocation)
10.Set a goal: Establish an objective to achieve. (Collocation)
III. III. Answer Key (Questions 31–40)
31.Hit the road
32.Face the music
33.Let your guard down
34.Pull yourself together
35.Come clean
36.Set an example
37.Pull yourself together
38.Make a fool of yourself
39.Follow the rules
40.Gain approval
Explanations of Phrases:
1. Hit the road: Start a journey or leave a place. (Idiom)
2. Face the music: Accept the consequences of your actions, especially when they are
unpleasant. (Idiom)
3. Let your guard down: Stop being cautious or careful, often making yourself
vulnerable. (Idiom)
4. Make a fool of yourself: Do something embarrassing or silly in front of others.
(Idiom)
5. Come clean: Admit the truth, especially after keeping a secret. (Idiom)
6. Set an example: Behave in a way that shows others how to act properly.
(Collocation)
7. Pull yourself together: Calm down and regain control of your emotions. (Idiom)
8. Keep a straight face: Maintain a serious expression, even when something is funny
or awkward. (Idiom)
9. Follow the rules: Obey or adhere to established guidelines or regulations.
(Collocation)
10.Gain approval: Receive formal or official consent for something. (Collocation)
IV. Answer Key (Questions 31–40)
31.Keep your word
32.Run out of steam
33.Play it by ear
34.Take a stand
35.Meet a deadline
36.Jump on the bandwagon
37.Raise your voice
38.Make a difference
39.Bite off more than you can chew
40.Give someone the cold shoulder
Explanations of Phrases:
1. Keep your word: Do what you promised to do. (Collocation)
 2. Run out of steam: Lose energy, enthusiasm, or momentum. (Idiom)
3. Play it by ear: Handle a situation spontaneously rather than following a set plan.
(Idiom)
4. Take a stand: Speak or act firmly in support of or against something. (Collocation)
5. Meet a deadline: Finish something by a specific time or date. (Collocation)
6. Jump on the bandwagon: Join others in doing something popular or fashionable.
(Idiom)
7. Raise your voice: Speak loudly, often in anger or frustration. (Collocation)
8. Make a difference: Have a positive impact on a situation or someone’s life.
(Collocation)
9. Bite off more than you can chew: Take on more responsibilities than you can handle.
(Idiom)
10.Give someone the cold shoulder: Deliberately ignore or be unfriendly to someone.
(Idiom)
V. Answer Key (Questions 31–40)
31.Blow off steam
32.Hit the ground running
33.Keep an eye on
34.Turn over a new leaf
35.Miss the boat
36.Call it a day
37.Face the facts
38.Spread yourself too thin
39.Lend a hand
40.Make an effort
Explanations of Phrases:
1. Blow off steam: Release stress or frustration, often through physical activity. (Idiom)
2. Hit the ground running: Start something with energy and enthusiasm from the very
beginning. (Idiom)
3. Keep an eye on: Watch or monitor something or someone carefully. (Idiom)
4. Turn over a new leaf: Make a fresh start or positive change in your behavior or habits.
(Idiom)
5. Miss the boat: Fail to take advantage of an opportunity because you acted too late.
(Idiom)
6. Call it a day: Decide to stop working on something, usually because enough has been
done. (Idiom)
7. Face the facts: Accept the reality of a situation, even if it’s difficult. (Idiom)
8. Spread yourself too thin: Try to do too many things at once, reducing effectiveness in
all of them. (Idiom)
9. Lend a hand: Help someone with a task or problem. (Idiom)
10.Make an effort: Try hard to achieve something. (Collocation)
VI. Answer Key (Questions 31–40)
31.Break the ice
32.Run a risk
33.Bite the dust
 34.Take into account
35.Hit a snag
36.Set a limit
37.Pay a visit
38.Catch someone off guard
39.Make a complaint
40.Draw the line
Explanations of Phrases:
1. Break the ice: Do or say something to make people feel more relaxed, especially in a
social setting. (Idiom)
2. Run a risk: Do something that could have negative or dangerous consequences.
(Idiom)
3. Bite the dust: Fail, break, or stop working, often after a long time. (Idiom)
4. Take into account: Consider something when making a decision. (Collocation)
5. Hit a snag: Encounter an unexpected problem or difficulty. (Idiom)
6. Set a limit: Establish a boundary or restriction. (Collocation)
7. Pay a visit: Go to see someone or someplace, often briefly. (Collocation)
8. Catch someone off guard: Surprise someone in an unexpected way. (Idiom)
9. Make a complaint: Formally express dissatisfaction with something. (Collocation)
10.Draw the line: Set a clear boundary about what is acceptable or unacceptable. (Idiom)
VII. Answer Key (Questions 31–40)
31.Bear fruit
32.Stick to the point
33.Fall into place
34.Hold a grudge
35.Cut to the chase
36.Leave a mark
37.Jump to conclusions
38.Make an exception
39.Reach a milestone
40.Keep your chin up
Explanations of Phrases:
1. Bear fruit: Produce successful results after a period of effort. (Idiom)
2. Stick to the point: Focus on the main topic without getting distracted. (Idiom)
3. Fall into place: Start to make sense or come together in an orderly way. (Idiom)
4. Hold a grudge: Remain angry or upset with someone for a long time. (Idiom)
5. Cut to the chase: Get straight to the main point of a discussion. (Idiom)
6. Leave a mark: Have a lasting effect or influence on someone or something. (Idiom)
7. Jump to conclusions: Make a decision or judgment without knowing all the facts.
(Idiom)
8. Make an exception: Allow a special case that doesn’t follow the usual rules.
(Collocation)
9. Reach a milestone: Achieve an important stage or goal. (Collocation)
10.Keep your chin up: Stay optimistic and positive, even in tough situations. (Idiom)
VIII. Answer Key (Questions 31–40)
 31.Blow your own trumpet
32.Catch your breath
33.Set the record straight
34.Play a role
35.Reach a verdict
36.Give someone the benefit of the doubt
37.Make a scene
38.Pull the strings
39.Hit rock bottom
40.Take advantage of
Explanations of Phrases:
1. Blow your own trumpet: Talk proudly about your achievements or abilities. (Idiom)
2. Catch your breath: Pause to recover after physical exertion. (Idiom)
3. Set the record straight: Clarify facts to correct misunderstandings. (Idiom)
4. Play a role: Have an impact or contribute to a particular outcome. (Collocation)
5. Reach a verdict: Make a formal decision or judgment, usually in a legal setting.
(Collocation)
6. Give someone the benefit of the doubt: Believe someone is telling the truth, even if
you're not sure. (Idiom)
7. Make a scene: Behave in a loud or exaggerated way in public, drawing attention.
(Idiom)
8. Pull the strings: Control or influence a situation from behind the scenes. (Idiom)
9. Hit rock bottom: Reach the lowest or most desperate point in a situation. (Idiom)
10.Take advantage of: Exploit someone or something for your own benefit. (Collocation)
IX. Answer Key (Questions 31–40)
31.Lose your way
32.Keep your word
33.Call the shots
34.Come in handy
35.Save face
36.Take a toll
37.See eye to eye
38.Break the news
39.Bend the rules
40.Make a profit
Explanations of Phrases:
1. Lose your way: Become unsure of your direction, either literally or metaphorically.
(Idiom)
2. Keep your word: Fulfill a promise or commitment. (Collocation)
3. Call the shots: Be the one who makes the important decisions. (Idiom)
4. Come in handy: Prove useful in a particular situation. (Idiom)
5. Save face: Avoid embarrassment or maintain dignity in a difficult situation. (Idiom)
6. Take a toll: Have a negative effect, usually over time. (Idiom)
7. See eye to eye: Agree with someone on a particular matter. (Idiom)
8. Break the news: Tell someone important or often unpleasant information. (Idiom)
 9. Bend the rules: Modify or ignore rules slightly to achieve a goal. (Idiom)
10.Make a profit: Earn more money than what was spent. (Collocation)
X. Answer Key (Questions 31–40)
31.Draw a blank
32.Keep a low profile
33.Bite the bullet
34.Burn your bridges
35.Play devil's advocate
36.Miss the point
37.Take it for granted
38.Hit the nail on the head
39.Give someone a hard time
40.Pull the plug
Explanations of Phrases:
1. Draw a blank: Be unable to remember or think of something. (Idiom)
2. Keep a low profile: Avoid attracting attention to yourself. (Idiom)
3. Bite the bullet: Force yourself to do something difficult or unpleasant. (Idiom)
4. Burn your bridges: Do something that makes it impossible to return to a previous
situation. (Idiom)
5. Play devil's advocate: Argue against a viewpoint for the sake of debate or to test its
strength. (Idiom)
6. Miss the point: Fail to understand the main idea or purpose of something. (Idiom)
7. Take it for granted: Assume something will always be available without appreciating
it. (Idiom)
8. Hit the nail on the head: Describe or identify a situation or problem exactly. (Idiom)
9. Give someone a hard time: Criticize, tease, or make things difficult for someone.
(Idiom)
10.Pull the plug: Stop something from continuing, often a project or activity. (Idiom)