This lesson practises 30 C2 collocations on Communication & Conversation. 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.
profess ignorance
When challenged, the minister chose to profess ignorance of the leaked memo.
overstate a case
The report may overstate a case for immediate intervention.
go back on a promise
The company could not go back on a promise to keep the factory open.
state a purpose
The speaker should state a purpose before explaining the background.
bring up the subject
She waited for a quiet moment to bring up the subject of unpaid leave.
jot down a phone number
Please jot down a phone number in case the line goes dead.
state their business
At reception, visitors must state their business before going upstairs.
divulge a secret
The journalist refused to divulge a secret source.
speak very highly of
During the introduction, the host chose to speak very highly of the guest's research.
have no respect for
The chief seemed to have no respect for the guest who mocked the other speakers.
it goes without saying
It goes without saying that patient safety must come first.
wouldn’t say no to
After the long journey, the travellers wouldn’t say no to a hot meal.
opening gambit
His opening gambit was to ask what both teams could agree on.
bombard the guest with questions
The host did not bombard the guest with questions during the first interview.
articulate a nuanced position
During the debate, she was able to articulate a nuanced position on data privacy.
be drawn into an argument
During the interview, the spokesperson was drawn into an argument about the policy.
clarify a position
The director wrote a note to clarify a position that had been misrepresented.
abject apology
The minister issued an abject apology after misleading Parliament.
enter into a discussion
The panel agreed to enter into a discussion about how to protect local services.
pending the response
The decision was delayed pending the response from the regulator.
put a question to the guest
The presenter was invited to put a question to the guest about the policy change.
divulge a source
The journalist refused to divulge the source of the information.
field questions
After the presentation, the researcher fielded questions from the audience.
gift for languages
Her gift for languages made her a valuable interpreter on the project.
tell a secret
She promised not to tell a secret that her sister had shared.
engage the guest in conversation
The host tried to engage the guest in conversation before the broadcast began.
not say a word
The witness did not say a word during the interview.
barrage of questions
The witness faced a barrage of questions from both sides.
engage in constructive dialogue
The two sides agreed to engage in constructive dialogue rather than trade accusations.
with all due respect
With all due respect, the reporter challenged the minister’s explanation.