This lesson practises 32 C2 collocations on People, Personality & Behaviour. 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.
reveal the truth
A careful conversation may reveal the truth about what happened.
stubborn streak
His stubborn streak made him refuse help even when he needed it.
the highest bidder
At a discussion of personal behaviour, the personality profile featured the highest bidder.
natural talent
The young researcher showed natural talent for identifying rare plants.
sharp wit
Her sharp wit made even difficult meetings more enjoyable.
constant nagging
The parent's constant nagging made the teenager stop listening altogether.
grumpy old man
The neighbours saw him as a grumpy old man, though he was often helpful.
spoilt brat
The film portrays him as a spoilt brat who never hears no.
take personal responsibility
When mistakes happen, employees should take personal responsibility.
not come to any harm
The children did not come to any harm during the storm.
take friends for granted
It is easy to take friends for granted.
have an attitude problem
The coach said he seemed to have an attitude problem when feedback was offered.
blame rests with the contractor
The report concluded that the blame rests with the contractor.
act their age
They need to act their age when speaking to younger staff.
bone idle
At a discussion of personal behaviour, the participants were bone idle.
reveal a talent
The field course helped Mia reveal a talent for wildlife photography.
have a quality
Some people have a quality that makes others feel listened to.
look their age
With a relaxed style, some people do not look their age.
buying habit
Her buying habit changed after she started tracking every purchase.
show genuine empathy
Good managers show genuine empathy when staff discuss personal difficulties.
make a habit of doing something
She made a habit of checking the details before submitting a report.
strong point
Listening carefully is a strong point for her.
feel their age
After the long hike, they began to feel their age.
totally out of order
His remark about her accent was totally out of order.
leave unchecked
Managers should not leave unchecked small acts of rudeness.
good behaviour
The teacher praised the child's good behaviour during the trip.
sell their story
The witness tried to sell their story to a newspaper.
senior moment
Forgetting the password was just a senior moment, not a serious problem.
become a habit
Checking the evidence can become a habit after a few research projects.
go through a phase
Many children go through a phase of refusing unfamiliar foods.
force for good
A thoughtful mentor can be a force for good in a young person's life.
downright rude
Interrupting the speaker was downright rude.