30 Essential English Collocations That Will Make You Sound Like a Native Speaker

Why Collocations Are the Secret to Fluent English

Have you ever wondered why some English learners sound natural while others sound awkward, even when their grammar is perfect? The secret often lies in collocations — words that native speakers naturally use together.

You can say "do homework" but not "make homework." You "make a decision" but "take a break." These combinations aren't random — they're deeply embedded in how English works. Learning them is essential for sounding fluent.

In this guide, we've compiled 30 essential collocations organized by context: business, daily life, academic, and emotional. Each one includes the meaning, when to use it, and real example sentences.

1What Are Collocations and Why Do They Matter?

A collocation is a combination of words that frequently appear together. Native speakers learn these naturally through exposure, but language learners need to study them deliberately.

Why are they important?

Sound Natural

Using correct collocations is what separates "textbook English" from natural speech.

Communicate Faster

Your brain processes familiar word combinations more quickly than individual words.

Avoid Confusion

Wrong collocations can sound strange or even change the meaning of your sentence.

Improve Writing

Academic and professional writing relies heavily on appropriate collocations.

Business & Professional Collocations

Essential phrases for the workplace

make a decision

To decide something after thinking about it

Context:Used in meetings, planning, and any situation requiring a choice

Example:"We need to make a decision about the budget by Friday."

Not: do a decision

meet a deadline

To finish something by the required time

Context:Work projects, assignments, any time-sensitive task

Example:"The team worked overtime to meet the deadline."

Not: catch a deadline

reach an agreement

To come to a mutual understanding with someone

Context:Negotiations, contracts, resolving disputes

Example:"After three hours, both parties reached an agreement."

Not: make an agreement

take responsibility

To accept that you are accountable for something

Context:Leadership, admitting mistakes, ownership

Example:"A good leader takes responsibility for their team's failures."

Not: have responsibility

conduct research

To carry out a systematic investigation

Context:Academic work, market analysis, any investigation

Example:"We conducted research to understand customer preferences."

Not: do research (informal but acceptable), make research (wrong)

launch a product

To introduce a new product to the market

Context:Marketing, business announcements, startups

Example:"Apple will launch a product next month."

Not: start a product

draw a conclusion

To form an opinion based on evidence

Context:Analysis, presentations, academic writing

Example:"Based on the data, we can draw a conclusion about market trends."

Not: make a conclusion

raise concerns

To express worries or doubts about something

Context:Meetings, feedback sessions, risk discussions

Example:"Several employees raised concerns about the new policy."

Not: lift concerns

address an issue

To deal with or discuss a problem

Context:Problem-solving, meetings, customer service

Example:"Let's address this issue before it becomes bigger."

Not: speak an issue

submit a report

To officially give a document to someone in authority

Context:Work deliverables, academic assignments

Example:"Please submit the report by end of day."

Not: give a report (less formal)

Daily Life & Conversation Collocations

Phrases you'll use every day

take a break

To stop working and rest for a short time

Context:Work, studying, any activity requiring a pause

Example:"Let's take a break and grab some coffee."

Not: make a break, have a break (British)

make time

To arrange your schedule to do something

Context:Prioritizing activities, relationships, self-care

Example:"I always make time for exercise in the morning."

Not: create time, find time (different meaning)

catch a cold

To become sick with a common cold

Context:Health, explaining absence, small talk

Example:"I caught a cold from my coworker."

Not: get a cold (acceptable but less common)

pay attention

To focus and listen carefully

Context:Classes, meetings, important conversations

Example:"Please pay attention to the safety instructions."

Not: give attention

keep in touch

To maintain contact with someone

Context:Farewells, networking, friendship

Example:"It was great meeting you — let's keep in touch!"

Not: stay in touch (also correct)

have a good time

To enjoy yourself

Context:Parties, vacations, social events

Example:"We had a good time at the concert last night."

Not: make a good time

make a mistake

To do something incorrectly

Context:Admitting errors, learning, casual conversation

Example:"Everyone makes mistakes — it's how we learn."

Not: do a mistake

get along with

To have a friendly relationship with someone

Context:Describing relationships, work dynamics

Example:"I get along with most of my colleagues."

Not: go along with (different meaning)

run out of

To use up all of something

Context:Shopping, resources, time management

Example:"We ran out of milk — can you pick some up?"

Not: finish of

look forward to

To anticipate something with pleasure

Context:Emails, expressing excitement, future plans

Example:"I look forward to meeting you next week."

Not: look ahead to

Academic & Formal Collocations

Perfect for essays, reports, and formal communication

carry out

To perform or complete a task

Context:Research, experiments, official duties

Example:"Scientists carried out experiments to test the hypothesis."

Not: do out

highly recommended

Strongly suggested as good or suitable

Context:Reviews, references, advice

Example:"This book is highly recommended for beginners."

Not: very recommended

widely accepted

Believed or approved by most people

Context:Academic writing, established facts

Example:"It is widely accepted that exercise improves mental health."

Not: largely accepted (less common)

strictly prohibited

Completely not allowed

Context:Rules, regulations, legal documents

Example:"Smoking is strictly prohibited in this area."

Not: strongly prohibited

pose a threat

To present a danger or risk

Context:Risk analysis, security, environmental discussions

Example:"Climate change poses a threat to coastal cities."

Not: make a threat (different meaning)

Emotional & Descriptive Collocations

Express feelings and describe things vividly

deeply concerned

Very worried about something

Context:Expressing worry, formal complaints, news

Example:"Parents are deeply concerned about online safety."

Not: very concerned (acceptable but weaker)

bitterly disappointed

Extremely upset about something that didn't happen

Context:Expressing strong disappointment

Example:"She was bitterly disappointed when she didn't get the job."

Not: very disappointed (acceptable but weaker)

perfectly clear

Completely obvious or easy to understand

Context:Clarifying points, emphasizing understanding

Example:"Let me make this perfectly clear: we will not accept late submissions."

Not: totally clear (informal)

heavy rain

Rain that falls in large amounts

Context:Weather descriptions, news, casual conversation

Example:"The heavy rain caused flooding in several areas."

Not: strong rain

strong opinion

A firmly held belief about something

Context:Discussions, debates, expressing views

Example:"He has a strong opinion about immigration policy."

Not: heavy opinion

6How to Practice Collocations Effectively

Knowing collocations isn't enough — you need to practice using them. Here are proven strategies:

Learn in Context

Don't memorize isolated word pairs. Learn collocations within sentences and stories. When you read or watch content, notice how words combine naturally.

Use Flashcards with Full Sentences

Create flashcards that show the collocation in a complete sentence, not just the two words. This helps your brain remember the context.

Practice Active Production

Don't just recognize collocations — use them. Write sentences, speak them aloud, and try to include them in your daily conversations.

Group by Topic

Organize collocations by theme (business, health, emotions) so you can recall them when you need them in specific situations.

Use AI Tools for Context

Tools like FlexiLingo can automatically detect collocations in videos and texts, showing you exactly how native speakers use them naturally.

7Common Collocation Mistakes to Avoid

Using a similar but wrong verb (e.g. "do a decision" instead of "make a decision"). Always check the correct partner verb when you learn a noun.
Overusing "very" instead of strong collocations (e.g. "very recommended" instead of "highly recommended"). Native speakers often use fixed adverbs.
Translating word-for-word from your language. Collocations don't transfer; learn them as chunks in English.

8Using Collocations in Writing

In essays and reports, swap generic phrases for strong collocations. Instead of "do well," use "achieve success"; instead of "get better," use "make progress."

Read model answers (IELTS, TOEFL) and underline collocations. Then reuse them in your own writing on similar topics.

9Learning Collocations with FlexiLingo

FlexiLingo highlights phrases and collocations when you watch YouTube videos or read texts. Click any phrase to save it with context and review it with spaced repetition.

Use it on business videos, news, and documentaries to build a collocation deck that matches real usage—not just textbook lists.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many collocations should I learn?

Start with 30–50 high-frequency ones (like in this guide). Add more as you meet them in reading and listening. Quality and context matter more than quantity.

Can I use FlexiLingo to learn collocations?

Yes. FlexiLingo detects phrases and collocations in videos and texts. Save them to your deck and review with SRS so they stick.