This lesson practises 30 C2 collocations on Success, Failure & Effort. 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.
worth the effort
Repairing the system was worth the effort in the end.
make mistakes
New staff will make mistakes while they are learning.
put into practice
The company is ready to put into practice a new safety rule.
change gear
The cyclist had to change gear before climbing the steep hill.
overcome a setback
They worked together to overcome a setback after the supplier withdrew.
stroke of luck
Finding the missing file was a stroke of luck.
sounds like hard work
Training for a marathon sounds like hard work, but the athlete is determined.
uphill struggle
Securing enough funding proved an uphill struggle.
complete disaster
Launching without a test was a complete disaster.
determined effort
The repair succeeded only because of determined effort from the whole team.
overcome a hurdle
The team had to overcome a hurdle before the project could start.
make a success of
They managed to make a success of the difficult task despite limited resources.
spot an error
A second reviewer may spot an error in the final report.
have a go at
The athlete decided to have a go at the new training drill.
make an effort
Everyone should make an effort to arrive on time.
bring something to a close
The chair formally brought the meeting to a close after two hours.
abandon an attempt
After repeated failures, they decided to abandon an attempt to repair the old system.
dream comes true
Winning the scholarship meant that her dream came true.
joint effort
The rescue of the archive was a joint effort by staff and volunteers.
hard work
Learning the new system takes hard work and patience.
achieve a breakthrough
The team hopes to achieve a breakthrough after months of testing.
constant struggle
Balancing work and care can be a constant struggle.
golden era
The company remembers the 1990s as a golden era of growth.
difficulty arises
If difficulty arises, the project team will review the schedule.
make an attempt
She decided to make an attempt at the advanced exercise.
fight for survival
The company had to fight for survival during the recession.
give the difficult task their best shot
The volunteers decided to give the task their best shot despite the weather.
not-so-distant future
In the not-so-distant future, electric buses may replace older vehicles.
fight for her life
After the accident, the patient had to fight for her life.
hard slog
Restoring the building was a hard slog, but the result was worth it.