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.
meet the challenges
The team has the skills to meet the challenges ahead.
nasty piece of work
The supervisor called the broken mechanism a nasty piece of work.
hinder progress
Unclear responsibilities can hinder progress on the project.
get their hands dirty
Leaders sometimes need to get their hands dirty to solve practical problems.
take up a challenge
She decided to take up a challenge that scared her at first.
strenuous effort
Moving the equipment required strenuous effort from everyone.
relish a challenge
She tends to relish a challenge rather than avoid it.
lull in the fighting
A lull in the fighting allowed aid workers to reach the town.
tough challenge
Learning the system was a tough challenge for the new team.
put their best foot forward
Applicants should put their best foot forward in the interview.
fail miserably
Without preparation, the plan is likely to fail miserably.
extremely successful
The pilot was extremely successful and will now be expanded.
pass up an opportunity
She did not want to pass up an opportunity to lead the project.
bring stability
Clear procedures can bring stability after a period of rapid change.
encounter a difficulty
Teams often encounter a difficulty when a project changes direction.
experience difficulties
Small firms may experience difficulties during a sudden downturn.
sustain a prolonged effort
The rescue team had to sustain a prolonged effort through the night.
lose their livelihood
Workers may lose their livelihood when the factory closes.
spectacularly successful
In a progress review, the outcome was spectacularly successful.
belittle the participant's achievements
No mentor should belittle the participant's achievements.
opportunity arises
An opportunity arises when the company opens a new office.
valiant effort
Their valiant effort kept the service running until help arrived.
have difficulties
New users may have difficulties with the first version of the form.
create instability
Repeated leadership changes can create instability in a small organisation.
abortive attempt
Their abortive attempt to automate the process revealed several flaws.
yield diminishing returns
Working longer hours can yield diminishing returns when people are exhausted.
severe blow
The cancelled contract was a severe blow to the team.
finite number
There is only a finite number of places on the course.
realise their potential
Training can help employees realise their potential.
deal with the complexities
The team met weekly to deal with the complexities of the project.