Verbs: make, do, take…: English expressions with meanings

Common verb collocations: make, do, take, get, have, give, keep, break and more

142 wordsA1 · 9A2 · 62B1 · 55B2 · 16

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Make · 19

Word	Level	Definition
make a decision	A2	to choose what to do after thinking about it
make progress	A2	to keep moving forward toward finishing something
make an effort	A2	to try hard to do something even when it is not easy
make a mistake	A2	to do something wrong that you did not plan to do
make a difference	A2	to change something in a way that matters
make money	A1	to get money by working
make friends	A1	to start being friends with someone new
make a promise	A2	to tell someone you will do something for sure
make a complaint	B1	to tell someone that you are not happy about something
make an appointment	A2	to set a time to meet someone like a doctor
make a suggestion	B1	to share an idea about what could be done
make an excuse	B1	to give a reason for something, often not the true one
make sense	A2	to be clear and easy to understand
make sure	A2	to check carefully that something is correct
make up your mind	B1	to finally decide after thinking for a long time
make room	A2	to move things to create more free space
make a living	B1	to earn enough money to pay for what you need in life
make a point	B1	to say something important you want others to hear
make the most of	B1	to use a chance or time in the best way you can

Do · 13

Word	Level	Definition
do homework	A1	to complete school work that a teacher gives you
do business	A2	to work with another person or company to make money
do research	A2	to study something carefully and learn new facts
do damage	B1	to harm something badly
do a favor	A2	to help someone because they asked you nicely
do your best	A2	to try as hard as you can in what you are doing
do the dishes	A1	to wash the cups and bowls after a meal
do the laundry	A1	to wash your clothes in a machine
do well	A2	to do a good job at something you try
do harm	B1	to cause damage to someone
do justice	B2	to treat something in a fair and proper way
do wonders	B1	to make things much better
do without	B1	to manage without something you want

Take · 19

Word	Level	Definition
take a break	A2	to stop what you are doing and rest for a short time
take a chance	A2	to try something even if you are not sure it will work
take action	A2	to start doing something to fix a problem
take responsibility	B1	to accept that a problem is yours to handle
take a look	A1	to look at something quickly
take notes	A2	to write down important information
take place	A2	to happen at a certain time and place
take part	A2	to join other people in doing something
take advantage of	B1	to use a good chance to help yourself
take into account	B1	to think about a fact when making a decision
take turns	A2	to do something one after another, not all at the same time
take time	A2	to need a while to finish something
take pride in	B1	to feel good and happy about something you did well
take for granted	B1	to not notice how good something is because you have it
take care of	A2	to look after something that needs help
take a risk	A2	to do something when you know it could go wrong
take your time	A2	to do something slowly and without feeling rushed
take offense	B2	to feel upset about something someone said
take a toll	B2	to cause harm or damage over a long period of time

Get · 17

Word	Level	Definition
get rid of	A2	to throw away or remove something you do not want
get along with	A2	to be friendly with someone and not fight
get used to	A2	to become comfortable with something that was new before
get ready	A1	to make yourself ready for something that will happen soon
get lost	A2	to not know where you are or which way to go
get better	A1	to become well again after being sick, or to become good at something
get worse	A2	to become less good than it was before
get started	A2	to begin doing something you plan to do
get in touch	A2	to contact someone
get the point	B1	to understand the main idea of what someone is saying
get over	B1	to feel better after being sick or sad
get carried away	B1	to become too excited and lose control of yourself
get the hang of	B1	to learn how to do something well
get ahead	B2	to make progress and become more successful
get on someone's nerves	B1	to annoy a person and make them feel angry
get away with	B1	to do something bad without being caught
get to the bottom of	B2	to find the real reason for a problem

Have & Give · 17

Word	Level	Definition
have fun	A1	to enjoy yourself and feel happy while doing something
have a chat	A2	to talk with someone in a relaxed and friendly way
have a go	A2	to try something even if you have not done it before
have a word	B1	to talk to someone about something serious
have an impact	B1	to cause a strong effect on something
have doubts	B1	to not feel sure that something is true
have in common	A2	to share the same interests with someone
have access to	A2	to be able to use or enter a place or system
have no choice	A2	to be in a situation where you must do one thing only
give advice	A2	to tell someone what you think they should do
give a hand	A2	to help someone with a task they are doing
give permission	A2	to allow someone to do something they asked about
give a speech	B1	to stand and talk to a group of people about a topic
give priority	B1	to treat something as more important than other things
give rise to	B2	to cause something new to start or to happen
give the impression	B1	to make people think or feel a certain way about you
give way	B1	to stop and let someone else go first

Keep & Hold · 15

Word	Level	Definition
keep in mind	A2	to remember something while you think or decide
keep a promise	A2	to do what you told someone you would do
keep track of	B1	to watch or follow something so you know what happens
keep quiet	A2	to stay silent and not say anything
keep a secret	A2	to not tell anyone something private that you know
keep up with	B1	to stay at the same level as something else without falling behind
keep an eye on	B1	to watch something carefully to make sure it is safe
keep calm	A2	to stay relaxed and not become worried or afraid
keep in touch	A2	to continue talking with someone even when you are apart
keep going	A2	to continue doing something and not stop
hold a meeting	A2	to bring people together to talk about work or plans
hold your breath	A2	to stop air from going in and out of your body
hold someone accountable	B2	to make sure a person takes blame for their actions
hold on	A2	to wait or keep holding something
hold back	B1	to stop yourself or someone from doing something

Break & Catch · 14

Word	Level	Definition
break a habit	B1	to stop doing something that you do again and again
break the law	A2	to do something that is against the rules of a country
break a record	A2	to do better than anyone has ever done before
break the rules	A2	to not follow the rules that everyone should follow
break the news	B1	to tell someone about something important or surprising
break the silence	B1	to start talking after a time with no one speaking
break even	B2	to earn the same amount of money that you spend
break new ground	B2	to do something that has never been done before
catch fire	A2	to start burning
catch a cold	A2	to become sick with a cold
catch someone's eye	B1	to get someone to notice you or look at you
catch up	B1	to reach the same level as others
catch someone off guard	B2	to surprise a person when they did not expect it
catch on	B2	to understand or become popular

Pay & Run · 14

Word	Level	Definition
pay attention	A2	to listen and watch carefully so you do not miss things
pay a compliment	B1	to say something nice about a person or their work
pay a visit	B1	to go to see someone or a place for a short time
pay the price	B1	to suffer bad results because of what you chose to do
pay respect	B1	to show that you think highly of someone or something
pay off	B1	to succeed and bring a good result
run a business	A2	to be in charge of a company and manage how it works
run a risk	B1	to do something knowing that something bad could happen
run out of	A2	to use up everything so nothing is left
run into	A2	to meet someone you know when you did not plan to see them
run smoothly	B1	to work well without any problems or delays
run late	A2	to be behind the time when you should have been somewhere
run short of	B1	to have very little of something that you need
run the show	B2	to be the person who controls how everything works

Put, Set & Come · 14

Word	Level	Definition
put effort into	B1	to work hard on something because it matters to you
put pressure on	B1	to push someone to do something they may not want to
put into practice	B1	to start using an idea or plan in real life
put up with	B1	to accept something bad without getting angry
set a goal	A2	to decide what you want to reach or do in the future
set an example	B1	to act in a way that shows others how they should act
set a deadline	B1	to pick a date by which something must be finished
set the record straight	B2	to tell the truth about something people got wrong
come to a conclusion	B1	to reach a final answer after thinking carefully
come to terms with	B2	to accept a hard truth and learn to live with it
come in handy	B1	to be useful at a time when you really need help
come across	B2	to meet or find someone by chance while doing something else
come up with	B1	to think of an idea or plan
come to light	B2	for hidden truth to become known to people at last

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