This lesson practises 30 C2 collocations on Leisure, Social Life & Celebrations. 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.
make the guest welcome
A handwritten note can make the guest feel welcome from the moment they arrive.
put on a display
The fireworks team will put on a display over the harbour.
annual tradition
The family's picnic by the lake is an annual tradition.
flying visit
We made a flying visit to the exhibition before catching the train home.
age-old tradition
The lantern parade is an age-old tradition in the village.
event marks
The event marks the beginning of the festive season.
host a dinner party
Marta will host a dinner party for her neighbours on Saturday.
catch up with friends
She uses the festival weekend to catch up with friends from university.
full refund
The theatre offered a full refund when the performance was cancelled.
observe a festival
Many families observe a festival by preparing traditional dishes together.
have a party
They are planning to have a party for her retirement.
dip into funds
To pay for the reunion, the group had to dip into funds saved for emergencies.
festival marks
The festival marks the start of the summer season.
poison the atmosphere
Constant complaints can poison the atmosphere at an otherwise enjoyable gathering.
throw a party
The host decided to throw a party to celebrate the anniversary.
special occasion
They saved the vintage wine for a special occasion.
festival celebrates
The festival celebrates the town’s long tradition of folk music.
occasional twinge
She still feels an occasional twinge in her ankle during long walks.
go clubbing
After the concert, some of the group decided to go clubbing.
keep up the tradition
The siblings hope to keep up the tradition of meeting every New Year.
surprise party
Her friends organised a surprise party after she passed her exams.
calls for a celebration
Passing the final exam calls for a celebration.
festive season
The town becomes busiest during the festive season.
perform a dance
The children will perform a dance at the summer celebration.
find time
Even during busy weeks, they find time to share a meal together.
hold a festival
The council will hold a festival to celebrate local crafts.
organise a barbecue
The neighbours will organise a barbecue if the forecast improves.
break with tradition
This year, the organisers chose to break with tradition and hold the concert outdoors.
spend quality time
The weekend gave the grandparents a chance to spend quality time with the children.
propose a toast
The best man will propose a toast to the newlyweds.