Essential English Vocabulary: Collocations and Phrasal Verbs

Essential English Collocations

• A wise decision: A thoughtful or sensible resolution or verdict.
• Have the freedom to choose: Have the liberty to select or decide.
• Reach a decision: Make up your mind or take a verdict.
• Take advice: Receive or accept counsel.

Key Vocabulary

• Struggle (v): Fight.
• Account (n): Consideration or explanation.
• Current (adj): Present, ongoing, or modern.
• Get a foot in the door: To have an initial opportunity.
• Hands-on (adj): Involved, active experience of something.
• Invest (v): Put money into something or provide resources.
• On the look-out: Searching for something or someone.
• Suit (v): To match or to please.

Common Phrasal Verbs

• Think over: Consider or weigh up.
• Weigh up: Consider or evaluate.
• Settle on: Accept, receive, or pick.
• Lose out: Decline or break down.
• Pick up: Collect or gather.
• Put off: Postpone or suspend.
• Result in: Turn into or end in.

Professional Expressions

• Be faced with: Confront or deal with someone or something.
• Feel uncertain about: Have no security about something.
• Give priority to: Set something or someone in first place.

Employment Terminology

• A career path: Steps to advance in your work.
• A growing industry: Escalating or rising business or manufacture.
• A pension plan: Saving strategy for your retirement.
• A reference letter: A communication of recommendations.
• A starting salary: Initial wage.
• A vacant position: Job not taken or covered.
• Be made redundant: To be fired or laid off.
• Be self-employed: Work independently, not for a company.
• Get a promotion: Ascend in your career.
• Health insurance: Coverage for your health.
• Perks of the job: Advantages or benefits of the job.
• Work overtime: Work extra hours.

English Homonyms

• Be fired (work) (v): To be made redundant.
• Fire (a gun) (v): Shoot.
• Board (of a company) (n): Investors or management team.
• Board (n): Plank to cut or chop things.
• Fold (a company) (v): Close down a company.
• Fold (paper) (v): Bend or double a paper.
• Lead (a team/meeting) (v): Direct or manage a team.
• Lead a race (v): Winning a race.
• Point (n): Reason.
• Point (n): Sharpest bit.
• Set (a record) (v): Establish a record.
• Set (the table) (v): Lay the table.