Advanced English Collocations: Learning and Studying

Here you can learn some useful collocations to talk about classes, subjects, diplomas, learning progress etc.

1) Collocations with DO

2) Collocations with GET

 3) Informal Versus Formal Collocations

to get a place (at a university) - to secure a place
to go to lectures - to attend lectures 
the class will be - the class will be held
give essays - hand in essays
send in applications - submit applications
leave the course -  withdraw from the course

4) Collocations to Describe Student's Abilities and Progress

gifted children
natural talent
mental agility
proven ability
thirst for knowledge
a quick learner
to demonstrate an ability
to show considerable initiative
to show marked improvement
to achieve full marks
to win a scholarship

smb's attention wanders
smb's concentration wavers
there is room for improvement
to play truant

 
 Sources:
1. M. McCarthy, F. O'Dell. English Collocations in Use.
2. M. McCarthy, F. O'Dell. English Collocations in Use. Advanced.

Advanced English Phrasal Verbs Infographics: Come

Advanced English Phrasal Verbs Flashcards: Get

Phrasal Verbs: Get

Here are flashcards to practice translating phrasal verbs with 'get' from Russian into English. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to embed them here (it just didn't work this time), but I did add the link:
  Get Flashcards

Advanced English Phrasal Verbs: Money

Here are the phrasal verbs that may help you speak about having and repaying debts, saving and spending money, buying and selling.

Having Debts

RUN UP smth or RUN smth UP

do things that cause you to owe large amounts of money

Ex. I've run up such a huge bill (debt / overdraft) that I don't know how I'm going to pay it.

Repaying Debts

PAY BACK smth/smb or PAY smth/smb BACK 

 pay someone the money that you owe them.

Ex. Lend me ten pounds and I'll pay you back tomorrow.

SETTLE UP (with)

pay someone the money that you owe them.

Ex. Can you lend me another 20 pounds and I'll settle up with you next week. We settled up and checked out of the hotel.

PAY OFF smth or  PAY smth OFF  

 pay back all the money (mortgage, loan, overdraft) you owe. 

Ex. I won't pay off the mortgage on my house until 2021.

PAY UP 

 (informal) 

 give someone the money that you owe them, especially if you don't want to.

Ex. I owe my friend some money and he says I have to pay up by 30 April.

Getting Money from Banks or People

TAKE OUT smth or TAKE smth OUT

withdraw money from a bank

Ex. I took $ 100 out at the ATM yesterday.

GET smth BACK or GET BACK smth

have somehting returned to you.

Ex. Forget about your money. You won't get it back.

Saving Money / Spending Little Money

SAVE UP (smth) or SAVE (smth) UP

keep money so that you can buy smth with it in the future.

Ex. I'm saving up for a holiday.

SET / PUT ASIDE smth or SET / PUT smth ASIDE

keep smth, especially time or money, for one purpose and no other purpose.

Ex. You should have set aside some cash to pay household expenses.

       The money has been put aside for their retirement.

PUT smth BY 

(especially BrE)

save money so that you can use it later for a particular purpose.

Ex. Why don't you put by a little money each week? That way you'll soon be able to afford a motorcycle.

SAVE ON smth

spend less money on smth than you did before.

Ex. If I cycled to work I could save on petrol.

SKIMP  ON  smth

spend too little money on or use too little of

Ex. We should never skimp on healthy foods.

    

SCRIMP ON smth 

(AmE)

spend too little money for smth or buy smth that is very cheap.

Ex. Builders seem to scrimp on windows to keep costs down.

CUT BACK smth or CUT smth BACK or CUT BACK ON smth

reduce the amount of money that you spend or the amount of smth that you use

Ex. Since the children were born, we've really had to cut back our spendings.

      The government is cutting back on the education budget.

Spending a Lot of Money 

  FORK OUT (smth) 

(informal)

spend a lot of money on smth, esrecially if you don't want to.

Ex. We had to fork out $ 900 to fix our car.

 SPLASH OUT 

(BrE informal)

spend a lot of money on smth which is very pleasant but which you don't need.

Ex. We splashed out on lots of furniture last month. I feel like splashing out a bit.

Shopping and Buying

SHOP AROUND

look at different shops and compare prices.

Ex. - Shall we buy the TV set here? - No, let's shop around a bit. they may be cheaper somewher else.

CLUB TOGETHER

( BrE)

put money together as a group to buy smth.

Ex. We clubbed together to buy her a leaving present.

STOCK UP (on smth)

buy a lot of smth, especially food and drink, for example if it's cheap or in order to keep it for when you need it later.

Ex. We need to stock up on wine  for Christmas.

LOAD UP (on smth)

get or buy a lot of smth that you want or need.

Ex. We should load up on fruit and vegetables not buy so much junk food.

 SNAP UP smth or SNAP smth UP

 (slightly informal)

buy smth quickly because it is very cheap or exactly what you want.

Ex. All the tickets for the game were snapped up in less than two hours. 

PICK UP smth or PICK smth UP

1) buy smth cheaply;

2) buy smth when you have gone to a place to do smth else.

Ex. 1) I picked up the vase for $5. It was a real bargain.

       2) If you are going into town, can you pick up a magazine for me?

Selling

SELL OFF smth or SELL smth OFF

sell smth at a low price because you don't want it or because you need some money.

Ex. They are selling off printers at half price at the computer store.

SELL OUT (of)

have no more of a particular product available to buy.

Ex. Most music stores have already sold out of Ice Cube's new album. The bakery is usually sold out of my favorite cake within two hours.

RIP smb OFF or RIP OFF smb 

(informal)

cheat smb by making them pay too much money for smth.

Ex. A lot of the taxi drivers here will try and rip you off if they think you are a tourist.

A RIP-OFF

(informal)

smth that is far too expensive.

Ex. A lot of those tourist shops are a real rip-off. You can get the same things in ordinary shops for half the price.

Asking for and Offering Discounts

BEAT smb/smth DOWN or BEAT DOWN smb/smth
(BrE)
force someone to reduce the price of smth.

 Ex.  He wants $ 7,000 for his car, but I'm sure I can bit him down a bit.

KNOCK smth OFF (smth) or KNOCK OFF smth

take a particular amount away from smth. especially a price (= deduct).

Ex. The dealer knocked 10 % off the price because I offered to pay cash. 

Sources:
1. M. McCarthy, F. O'Dell. English Phrasal Verbs in Use.
2. Cambridge International Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
3. Longman Phrasal Verbs Dictionary.

Advanced English Phrasal Verbs: Reading and Writing

Here  are some phrasal verbs that may come in handy while speaking about various ways of writing (as soon as you get the information, quickly, on an official document etc.) and reading (aloud, quickly, only parts of a book, carefully etc.), as well as about improving a piece of writing.

Writing

WRITE DOWN smth or WRITE smth DOWN

 write information on a piece of paper , in a book etc so that you will not forget it or so that it can be used later

Ex. I know I wrote that phone number down somewhere.

PUT DOWN smth or PUT smth DOWN

write something, especially a name or a sum of money, on a form or list

Ex. Could you just put down the titles and the names of the authors please?

NOTE DOWN smth or NOTE smth DOWN

write down information as soon as you get it, so that you will be able to use it later

Ex. I'd better note that down or I'll forget it.

Synonym: make a note of

JOT DOWN smth or JOT smth DOWN

write short, quick notes of facts or ideas so that you can use them later

Ex. Let me jot down your adress on this piece of paper.

SCRIBBLE DOWN smth or SCRIBBLE smth DOWN

write smth in a hurry with the result that it may be difficult to read

Ex. The lecture spoke so fast that I could only scribble down a few notes.

WRITE OUT smth or WRITE smth OUT (1)

write information, such as your name, the date etc on a document 

(e.g. a cheque,  a prescription) so that it can be used

Ex. She took the money, wrapped up the plates and wrote me out a receipt.

MAKE OUT smth or MAKE smth OUT

write all necessary information on an official document (e.g. a cheque, an application, a ticket)

Ex. If you have time to wait, we could make out your airline ticket now.

 FILL IN smth or FILL smth IN 

(especially BrE)

write all necessary information in the empty spaces on an official document or test

Ex. Please fill in the registration form and return it by 18 September.

FILL OUT smth or FILL smth OUT

write all necessary information in the empty spaces on an official document or test

Ex. Let's fill out this questionnaire together.

WRITE OUT smth or WRITE smth OUT (2)

Write something again in a better, neater or more complete way

Ex. Do your essay in rough first and then write it out.

WRITE UP smth or WRITE smth UP

write a report, article etc. in its final form

Ex. You have to write up your essay and submit it a week before the course ends.

Improving a Piece of Writing

CUT OUT smth or CUT smth OUT
remove a piece of writing

Ex. I've put a line through this sentence; you should cut it out.

TONE DOWN smth or TONE smth DOWN

make a piece of writing, a speech or a performance less offensive or less critical

Ex. This paragraph here is a bit strong - why not tone it down a bit?

TOUCH ON (UPON) smth

to mention a subject briefly when writing or speaking about smth

Ex. You only touch on the issue of government control. Surely that deserves a bit more space.

CROP UP 
(about a word, name or subject) appear in smth that you read, hear or see

Ex. Your point about crime crops up in several places - why not deal with it in just one paragraph?

SUM UP (smth/smb) or SUM (smth/smb) UP
describe briefly the most important points or characteristics of something or someone

Ex. It'd be a good idea to add a paragraph summing up your main points at the end.

SET OUT smth or SET smth OUT

explain ideas, facts or opinions in a clearly organised way.

Ex. I think you should try to set the whole thing out better!

Reading

READ UP ON smth

read a lot about a particular subject in order to learn about it

Ex. Can you all please read up on air pollution for next week.

READ OUT smth or READ smth OUT

read a list, results, a letter etc to someone, especially because they need the information that it contains

Ex. Jane, will you please read out the paragraph at the top of the sheet?

SKIM THROUGH (smth)

read the whole of smth quickly so that you get a general idea of what it is about

Ex. If there isn't enough time, you'll just have to skim through the text.

DIP INTO smth

read small parts of a book or magazine because you don't feel like reading the whole thing or 

because you are looking for a particular piece of information.

Ex. An encyclopedia is not the kind of book you read from cover to cover, but something you dip into when you need a particular fact.

LEAF / FLICK / THUMB THROUGH smth

turn the pages of a book, magazine etc. without reading much of it,

 looking for something interesting or useful

Ex. She flicked through the guidebook, looking for somewhere to visit in the afternoon.

READ THROUGH / OVER smth or READ smth THROUGH / OVER

read smth carefully, especially to check every detail or find any mistakes

Ex. Students are always advised to read through what they have written before leaving the exam room.

PORE OVER smth

read smth for a long time, very carefully, and with great interest

Ex. Ian pored over the letter and soon committed it to memory.

BURY ONESELF IN smth

give all your attention to smth that you are reading very carefully, 

often in order to avoid thinking about something or talking to someone

Ex. At breakfast Duncan buried himself in the newspaper and pretended to ignore her.

PLOUGH THROUGH smth (BrE) / PLOW THROUGH smth (AmE)

read all of something even though it takes a lot of time and is boring

Ex. As I ploughed through the book I began to wonder whether it was worth it.

Sources:
1. M. McCarthy, F. O'Dell. English Phrasal Verbs in Use.
2. M. McCarthy, F. O'Dell. English Phrasal Verbs in Use. Advanced.
3. Longman Phrasal Verbs Dictionary.
4. Longman Language Activator.

Advanced English Idioms: Money

Here are the idioms connected with money. 

I've divided them into several groups to make it easier to remember them.

 1. Rich or Poor? 

 Idioms that describe how much money you' ve got.

BE ROLLING IN IT 

  have lots of money (informal).

Ex. It would be great to be rolling in it, wouldn't it?
Russian equivalent: купаться в деньгах.
There are variations here. You may say: be rolling in money / in cash / in luxury etc.

HAVE MONEY TO BURN 

 have so much money that you can buy anything you want

Ex. Every time I see her she's wearing a new pair of shoes. She must have money to burn.

Russian equivalent: денег куры не клюют.

 MAKE ENDS MEET

have just enough money to pay for the things you need

Ex. It was the time of their lives when they found it hardest to make ends meet.

Russian equivalent: сводить концы с концами.

BE STRAPPED FOR CASH 

  not have enough money.

Ex. - Could you lend me fifty pounds for a week?

      - Sorry, mate, I'm a bit strapped for cash at the moment.
Russian equivalent: быть на мели.

LIVE ON A SHOESTRING  

 live on very little money.

Ex. I'm tired of living on a shoestring.

Russian equivalent: жить впроголодь, перебиваться с хлеба на квас.

GO FROM RAGS TO RICHES

become very rich after being extremely poor

Ex. Although he came from a poor family, he managed to go from rags to riches.

Russian equivalent: из грязи в князи.

2. I'm not that Rich!

 Idioms to say you aren't rich when someone wants you to buy them smth or pay for them.

 NOT MADE OF MONEY

 Not rich (when someone wants you to spend more money than you think you can afford)

Ex. Why don't we move to a bigger house? I'm not made of money, you know!

Russian equivalent: я деньги не печатаю.

MONEY DOESN'T GROW ON TREES

money is not easy to earn (when someone else, such as your child or spouse, is spending more of your money than you think you can afford)

Ex. Look how much you've spent on clothes last month! Money doesn't grow on trees, you know!

Russian equivalent: деньги на дороге не валяются.

3. Easy Matter or Hard Work? 

Idioms that describe the way people earn money.

MONEY FOR OLD ROPE / MONEY FOR JAM

money that is easily earned (informal)

Ex. Some people think being a professional footballer is money for old rope. 

Russian equivalent: легкие деньги.

BE LAUGHING ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK

make a lot of money easily (often because someone has been stupid)

Ex. If this business idea is successful, we'll be laughing all the way to the bank.

Russian equivalent: сорвать большой куш.

SCRAPE A LIVING

get just enough food or money to stay alive

Ex.  However long and however hard they worked to scrape a living, they would always be poor.

Russian equivalent: с трудом зарабатывать на жизнь.

4. She or He? 

Idioms to say who earns money for the family needs.

THE BREADWINNER

the person who earns the mony for the family needs

Ex. Since my husband lost his job, I'm the breadwinner in my family.

Russian equivalent: кормилец.

BRING HOME THE BACON

earn the money the family lives on

Ex. I bring home the bacon in my family too.

Russian equivalent: быть кормильцем, зарабатывать на жизнь.

5. Spend or Save? 

Idioms to deal with the way people use money.

THROW MONEY DOWN THE DRAIN

waste money

Ex. I can't believe you've bought a new car! We can't afford to throw money down the drain.

Russian equivalent: бросать деньги на ветер.

NO-EXPENSE-SPARED / SPARE NO EXPENSES

a lot of money is spent to make it good

Ex. Enter our competition for a chance to win a no-expense-spared weekend in Paris.

Russian equivalent: роскошный / не жалеть расходов.

SCRIMP AND SAVE

live very economically

Ex. Ted has never had much money. He has always had to scrimp and save.

Russian equivalent: экономить каждую копейку.

PENNY-PINCH 

spend as little money as possible

Ex. I wish we had more money. I hate being so penny-pinching all the time.

Russian equivalent: крохоборничать

PAY OVER THE ODDS
pay more than something is worth

Ex. This dress is too expensive. There is just no point in paying over the odds for it.

Russian equivalent: переплачивать.

6. Honesty or Dishonesty? 

Idioms about the way people behave for money's sake.

TAKE SOMEONE TO THE CLEANER'S

get as much money from someone as you can (informal)

Ex. He got into a game of poker with two professional gamblers and, of course, they took him to the cleaner's.

Russian equivalent: ободрать как липку.

WOULD SELL THEIR OWN GRANDMOTHER

would do anything to get money (informal)

Ex. Sue is so greedy! She would sell her own grandmother.

Russian equivalent: мать родную не пожалеет.

7. Cheap or Expensive?

 Idioms to speak about how much something costs.

CHEAP AND CHEERFUL

cheap but good or enjoyable

Ex. We had a lunch in a cheap and cheerful restaurant.

Russian equivalent: дёшево и сердито.

NOT BREAK THE BANK

 not cost a lot

Ex.  And at £12.99 a bottle, this is a champagne that won't break the bank.

Russian equivalent: сильно не потратимся.

GO FOR A SONG

be sold very cheaply

Ex. I bought a new guitar at the weekend. It was going for a song at only 40 pounds.

Russian equivalent: продаваться за бесценок.

Sources:
1. F. O'Dell, M. McCarthy. English Idioms in Use. Advanced.
2. Free Dictionary by Farlex.
3. The British National Corpus.

Advanced English Idioms: IN THE RED vs IN THE BLACK vs IN THE PINK

 There are three english idioms that can be easily remembered together as they have a common pattern. They are: in the red, in the black and in the pink.

IN THE RED 

Meaning: 'owing money to a bank' or 'losing money (earning less than you spend)'.

Ex.: I've paid off most of my credit card bills, but I'm still in the red.

Russian equivalents: без денег; влезший в долги; работающий с убытками, «в минусе».

IN THE BLACK 

Meaning:  'having money in the bank account' or 'in a financially good position (earning more than you spend).

 Ex.: I wish my accounts were in the black.

Russian equivalents: имеющий положительный баланс, работающий без убытков, с положительным сальдо, «в плюсе».

IN THE PINK  

Meaning:  'in very good health' or 'in very good condition both physically and emotionally'.

Ex.: Ruth looks very well - she's certainly in the pink.

Russian equivalents: в добром здравии, здоров как бык, цветет и пахнет.

To recap, 'in the red' and 'in the black' are the opposites referring to one's financial positon, whereas 'in the pink'  characterises a person's state of health.