I 0 Synonyms and confusable words I
Common synonym pairs
The (a) and (b) words in each pair in the table have similar meanings. Sometimes either
word can be used in a sentence to give the same meaning, but in the collocations below onlj
one word is possible.
synonyms
(a) cfose
(b) shut
(a) start
(b) begin
(a) big
(b) large
(a) end
(b) finish
(a) example
The chairperson closed the meeting at
4.30.
[We close meetings/discussions/
conferences, etc.]
It was a cold morning and 1 could not start
my car.
[Start, NOT begin, is used for engines and
vehicles.
It was a big decision to make.
There were some big problems to solve.
The film ended with the hero dying.
They ended their relationship a year ago.
[End here means decide to stop.]
(b) example
She was very rude. She said 'Shut your
mouth!' [impolite way of telling someone not

(b) damage
(a) grow
(b) raise
(a) example
1 need to charge my phone.
[used for batteries, electrical items]
Three injured people were taken to
hospital after the accident.
[collocates with words to do with people]
In the south the farmers grow crops.
[collocates with crops, plants]
(b) example
They loaded the lorry and drove away.
[used for cargoes, lorries, vans, ships, etc.
and for weapons]
The shop tried to sell me a damaged sofa
but 1 noticed it just in time.
[collocates with words for things]
In the north the farmers mostly raise cattle.
[collocates with animals, children]
24 English Collocations in Use
Exercises
10.1 Choose the correct collocation.
1 The dentist told me to shut / close my mouth.
2 I didn't know what to do when I got into my car and couldn't start I begin the engine.
3 I want to buy a sweater for my dad. He needs one in a big I large size.
4 I haven't finished I ended my essay yet. I can't decide how to finish I end it.
5 At what time do you plan to shut I close the conference?
6 All societies develop their own stories about how the world started / began.
7 It's far too big I large a problem for you to solve on your own.

Verbs connected with gaining, winning and achieving
Note these typical collocations connected with 'gaining' or 'achieving'.
verb
gain
gain
[formal]
win
win
earn
make
achieve
beat/
defeat
collocates with
power, control,
access
a reputation,
publicity,
recognition,
an advantage
an award, a
prize, a medal,
a match
a battle, a war,
an election
a salary, money
a profit, money
success,
your goals,
your aims

You can make money by investing
etc., not just by working.
Achieve is used mainly with abstract
nouns.
You win a match but beat/defeat
an opponent.
Defeat is more formal than beat.
Other words that are often confused
You'll need to take warm
clothes when you go to
Alaska. (NOT c u r ry )
I always carry my mobile
phone whenever I go out.
(NOT wear)
She was wearing a hat.
(NOT carrying)
He kindly offered to carry
my suitcase for me.
She's wearing a dress.
(NOT«^«g)
He's using a laptop.
WARNING
Notice how spend is used when talking about time and money.
We spent three days in the mountains. It was wonderful. (NOT pasaed)
If you buy a big car you'll have to spend more money on petrol. (NOT «se)
Last night I spent two hours watching TV. (NOT stayed)
I spent an hour looking for the keys before I found them in my bag. (NOT pasood)
26 English Collocations in Use
Exercises
I I. I Look at A. Use a verb from the box in the correct form to complete each collocation.

4 I spent a lot of money last month.
5 Our company made a loss last year.
I 1.5 Complete these questions. Then answer them.
1 Where did you your last holiday?
2 How much money did you last week?
3 What do you always with you when you go out?
4 Have you ever a trophy?
5 What aim would you particularly like to in life?
English Collocations in Use 27
12 Metaphor
If someone uses a metaphor, they use a word in a way that is slightly different from its basic
meaning. For example, the first meaning of sunny is connected with the weather, so we talk
about a sunny day. However, sunny can also be used in expressions like a sunny smile, the
children's sunny faces to mean happy; in these collocations sunny is used in a metaphorical
way. Metaphors are more common in written than spoken English and often have the effect
of sounding quite poetic.
Light and dark
Light in English is associated with happiness. So a face shines with pleasure and eyes shine
with excitement or delight. If someone's face lights up or their eyes light up, they show that
they suddenly feel happy. If an atmosphere lightens or a mood lightens, it becomes more
relaxed or cheerful than it was.
Darkness is associated with unhappiness and negative feelings. Dark thoughts are gloomy or
sinister ones and dark days or dark times are unpleasant times to live through. If someone's
face darkens or their eyes darken or someone's expression darkens, then we know that that
person is unhappy, often because they are feeling angry.
Water
collocation
ideas flow,
conversation flows
a flood / floods of

Words associated with fire and heat often suggest anger in English. A heated debate, a
heated discussion or a heated conversation is one in which people disagree in an angry way
with each other. If you say that someone has a fiery temper, you mean that they often get
suddenly angry. The word flare means show a bright light in the dark. If you say tempers
flared, you mean that people became angry with each other. Similarly violence flares up and
troubles flare up. These all mean that problems which existed in the past suddenly become
serious again.
However, not all metaphors relating to fire suggest anger. If you feel very embarrassed, your
cheeks burn with embarrassment. A blaze is a very bright fire. We talk about a blaze of
glory or a blaze of publicity meaning there is a lot of it and it is spectacular.
1
When you are reading English, try to notice metaphorical uses of language.This will help you to see
how familiar words can be used in extra, interesting ways.
28 English Collocations in Use