This lesson practises 29 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.
develop a good relationship
Over several months, shared volunteer work helped the neighbours develop a good relationship.
trust the friend implicitly
She could trust her friend implicitly with the news.
casual acquaintance
He was only a casual acquaintance, so she did not know how he would react.
experience a breakdown in trust
Teams may experience a breakdown in trust after a secret is leaked.
win the friend's trust
Over time, his consistency helped him win his friend's trust.
relationship breaks down
A relationship breaks down when trust is repeatedly damaged.
remain on friendly terms
After the divorce, they managed to remain on friendly terms for the children.
file for divorce
After months of conflict, she decided to file for divorce.
put some distance between
The mediator tried to put some distance between the two groups before the argument escalated.
stable relationship
Mutual respect is essential for a stable relationship.
perfectly friendly
Although they disagreed, the former housemates remained perfectly friendly.
platonic relationships
The book argues that platonic relationships can be as important as romantic ones.
barrage of insults
The online abuse turned into a barrage of insults that ended the friendship.
forge a lasting bond
Working through the crisis helped the siblings forge a lasting bond.
unreliable witness
The family doubted the unreliable witness who claimed to know their history.
reliable source
A reliable source of advice can help new parents feel less isolated.
hit the rocks
After years of arguments, their marriage began to hit the rocks.
long-term relationship
They celebrated twenty years in a long-term relationship.
fairytale wedding
They planned a fairytale wedding in a small castle by the lake.
spring to the friend's defence
Maya will spring to her friend's defence if the rumours begin again.
make the friend's acquaintance
At the reunion, he was pleased to make her acquaintance.
dysfunctional family
The counsellor worked with a dysfunctional family experiencing constant conflict.
betray the friend's trust
Do not betray your friend's trust by sharing private messages.
pre-wedding nerves
Despite their excitement, both partners had pre-wedding nerves.
make a commitment
Before moving in together, they were ready to make a commitment.
establish a good relationship
The tutor tried to establish a good relationship with every new student.
make a relationship work
Regular honesty and patience can help make a relationship work.
prenuptial agreement
They signed a prenuptial agreement after discussing their finances openly.
forge new relationships
The support group allowed newcomers to forge new relationships.