CAE/CPE Phrases, Collocations, Expressions
Phrasal Verbs
Carry out (do/perform)
tests/experiments/studies/orders.
End up – We ended up sleeping in a doorway.
Run out (none left) – We’ve run out of milk.
Run short/low on (not have much left) – we’re
running short on milk.
Lead to (cause) – The accident led to huge traffic
jams on the main road.
Meet up with (people) – We always meet up at
the same café on Sunday afternoon.
Take up space/time – We threw our old sofa out
because it took up too much space. I can’t do
yoga anymore; it takes up too much of my time.
Stand out (be obviously different) – Alan is
185cm at 14 so he really stands out in his class.
Take after (a parent) (inherit their
traits/characteristics) – Neil really takes after his
Dad, their mannerisms are exactly the same.
Call for (require) – This job calls for a good head
for numbers.
Meet with (encounter) problems/reactions –
Joe’s plans for the company met with angry
reactions from the employees.
To wear out (to be damaged with use/tired) –
The two kids wear me out so much at the
weekend. My tires are completely worn out; I
need to buy new ones.
Put in (effort/time) – I put a lot of time and
effort into the project.
Cut down on (consume less) – I’m going to cut
down on cigarettes.
Collocations
A head for figures/numbers (talent)
On an annual/daily basis (every year/day)
An error of judgement
Loose clothes, a loose tooth, the animals got
loose (escaped)
Run a business (manage)
A spot of rain, a spot for a picnic, To spot
something (see)
Put something to use
Make use of something
Have a vast impact on st
A fall/drop/rise in the number of…
River bank
Sea shore
Clearly distinguishable
Come to light
Animal behaviour
Herds of dinosaurs/cows
Operate machinery
Operate on a person
Raw materials
Disposal of waste/waste disposal
The state of the environment
A pressing problem
Confront/face a problem/be confronted/faced
with a problem
Life support systems
Set fire to st
A risk of fire
It soon became clear
Keep an area clear
Short space of time
parking space
release a film/CD/album
Release fumes into the atmosphere
A great deal of + uncountable noun (a lot of)
Snow-capped mountains
A point of interest
Pursue a hobby/leisure activity
A small/large sum of money
Expressions
A metre/day/etc. or so (approx.)
I think of him as a father figure
As much (noun) as possible
Upside-down
Back-to-front
Inside-out
Run into trouble (encounter problems)
Take somebody on a tour
… will be followed by…
It follows that (therefore/so)
Even the (superlative) bravest person would be
scared.
Contrary to popular belief…
Behind/ahead of schedule
What do you make of this? (think about)
To make (quite) a name for oneself
I’d be grateful if you could…
This belongs to me
… is nowhere near…
… isn’t anywhere near…
… proved to be… (turned out)
Well over + number (there were well over 100
people at the event)
…is/are considered to be
… would make an excellent/terrible…
(doctor/parent etc.)
It’s hard to believe that…
Prevent something from happening
At the height of his fame/success
In (his/its etc.) heyday
At its height (the height of its success/fame)
Common Key Word Transformation Expressions and Grammar
Would rather (not) do something (no to)
Would prefer (not) to do something
Deny + gerund – She denied having
stolen/stealing the money
Accuse sb of + gerund
Spend time doing st
It took me (10 mins) to do ….
In spite of/Despite never having done st….
In spite of/Despite + noun
Get something done – I need to get my passport
renewed
Were to + inf in conditionals. If I were to win the
lottery, I would…
In the process of doing st – the house is in the
process of being rebuilt
We wasted little time (in) starting the game.
There wasn’t a single… left.
Have great difficulty (in) doing st – he had great
difficulty opening the box.
I can’t make it (come) to the meeting.
On no account/under no circumstances +
should/must/to be – On no account should this
door be opened. Under no circumstances am I to
be disturbed.
As far as… Is concerned… is… - As far as
computers are concerned, John is a real expert.
It was only when …. That …. – It was only when I
arrived home that I realised I had been robbed.
Just about to do st
To be on the point of doing st – I was just about
to open the door when the phone rang.
The lack/absence of … caused…