This lesson practises 30 C2 collocations on Friendship, Family & Relationships. Collocations are fixed word pairings that native speakers expect — Cambridge examiners test them in Use of English Part 1 and reward precise lexis in Writing. Run through the interactive drills first, then open this glossary to revise every item in the set. For question-by-question feedback, use Review mode after you finish the session.
child prodigy
At six, she was already recognised as a child prodigy on the violin.
newborn baby
The newborn baby slept through the family dinner.
friend for life
He knew she would be a friend for life.
friendly smile
The nurse greeted the anxious child with a friendly smile.
childhood friends
Although they live abroad, the two childhood friends still video-call each week.
support a family
He works two jobs to support a family of five.
circle of friends
Moving cities helped him build a new circle of friends.
make friends
It took her a few weeks to make friends at the new school.
girls’ night out the details
They planned a girls' night out after finishing their exams.
have a baby
They were delighted to have a baby after years of trying.
within living memory
Within living memory, the town has changed beyond recognition.
provide moral support
She travelled with him to provide moral support at the hearing.
provide emotional support
His friends continue to provide emotional support after the loss.
gifted children
The school runs a separate programme for gifted children.
close friend
She asked a close friend to collect the children.
close friends
They have been close friends since university.
family gathering
The relatives arranged a family gathering to celebrate their grandmother's birthday.
low-income family
The grant helped a low-income family cover school meals.
give the friend a good send-off
Colleagues wanted to give their friend a good send-off before she moved overseas.
cordial relations
Despite the dispute, the neighbours maintained cordial relations.
cool reception
His apology received a cool reception from the family.
complete stranger
It is risky to share personal details with a complete stranger online.
on bad terms
The former business partners remained on bad terms after the dispute.
not trust someone an inch
After the scandal, the journalist did not trust the politician an inch.
firm friends
The two former rivals became firm friends after working together.
abuse trust
Sharing those private messages would abuse the trust your friend placed in you.
warm smile
Her warm smile made the new neighbours feel welcome.
close confidant
Her sister remained her close confidant during the divorce.
lifelong friends
The cousins grew up to become lifelong friends.
maintain close ties
Even after emigrating, they maintain close ties with their grandparents.