This lesson practises 30 C2 collocations on Money & Personal Finance. 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.
evoke an atmosphere
Warm lighting can evoke an atmosphere of trust in a financial advert.
cheap source
The library became a cheap source of reliable financial information.
interest-free overdraft
The student account includes an interest-free overdraft up to a fixed limit.
default on a loan
The borrower may default on a loan if the repayments become unaffordable.
look forward to
Few people look forward to the monthly budget review, but it prevents surprises.
supplemented her income
The teacher supplemented her income by tutoring at weekends.
state of euphoria
Winning the contract left the founders in a state of euphoria.
credit-card fraud
The bank refunded the customer after confirming credit-card fraud.
make a contribution
Every household can make a contribution to the community fund.
cost-cutting measure
Reducing office space was introduced as a cost-cutting measure.
bottle up their feelings
Debt worries can cause people to bottle up their feelings.
pay back a loan
She hopes to pay back a loan early once her income improves.
surge of adrenalin
The auction ended with a surge of adrenalin as the final bid arrived.
outstanding debt
The lender contacted him about the outstanding debt on the account.
incur substantial debt
Students may incur substantial debt if they borrow without a plan.
run up a huge debt
Without a spending limit, it is easy to run up a huge debt.
write off a debt
The lender agreed to write off a debt after reviewing the circumstances.
foot the bill
The company agreed to foot the bill for the client dinner.
recovery of money
The legal process focused on the recovery of money lost through the error.
source of income
Freelance work became an important source of income during the recession.
affordable housing
The council is under pressure to deliver more affordable housing.
astronomical fees
Families complained about the astronomical fees charged for the course.
demographic profile
The lender considered the area's demographic profile before opening a branch.
default on repayments
The bank contacted customers who had defaulted on repayments.
run up an overdraft
He could run up an overdraft by relying on his card before payday.
one’s budget does not stretch to something
The family budget does not stretch to a larger flat in the city centre.
financial acumen
Her financial acumen helped the charity avoid unnecessary borrowing.
get the recognition you deserve
Careful budgeting can help you get the recognition you deserve.
sense of adventure
Buying a modest home abroad appealed to their sense of adventure.
fill the borrower with dread
A letter about missed repayments can fill the borrower with dread.