This lesson practises 30 C2 collocations on Sport, Exercise & Competition. 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.
mounting criticism
The selectors faced mounting criticism after the unexpected omission.
be given a yellow card
The defender was given a yellow card for the late tackle.
clear their desk
After the match, the analyst stayed late to clear their desk.
put up a determined performance
The underdogs put up a determined performance against the champions.
fat chance
Fat chance of the match starting on time in this heavy rain.
break through the defence
The winger managed to break through the defence before crossing the ball.
be awarded a penalty
The striker was awarded a penalty after the foul.
contain their excitement
The children could barely contain their excitement before the final.
have a whale of a time
The children hope to have a whale of a time at the community sports day.
blank expression
At a pre-match briefing, the players were blank expression.
declare the athlete the winner
The judges may declare the athlete the winner after reviewing the finish.
execute a tactical manoeuvre
The captain executed a tactical manoeuvre in the final minutes of the match.
growing disparity
The report highlighted a growing disparity between elite and local facilities.
score stands at 2–1
At half-time, the score stands at 2–1.
proclaim a victory
The captain was quick to proclaim a victory after the final whistle.
tackle the issue
The league promised to tackle the issue of abusive chanting.
tackle a problem
The coaching staff met to tackle a problem with late injuries.
minimise a risk
Wearing the correct footwear can minimise a risk of injury.
pushed herself to the limits
The athlete pushed herself to the limits during training.
state a goal
Before training, each player had to state a goal for the season.
Against their better judgement
Against their better judgement, the coach allowed the injured player to continue.
manageable chunk
The coach divided the training plan into one manageable chunk at a time.
sustain a competitive advantage
The club needs to sustain a competitive advantage through youth development.
convincing victory
The team secured a convincing victory despite the wet conditions.
downright disgrace
The coach called the racist chanting a downright disgrace.
take the easy way out the details
The team did not take the easy way out when redesigning the training plan.
mounting concern
The cancelled fixtures became a mounting concern for the organisers.
menial tasks
New assistants were not left with only menial tasks during the event.
give a performance
The dancers gave a performance that impressed the judges.
play brilliantly
A midfielder can play brilliantly throughout the second half.