Cut the lines of text into strips and place them face down. Put students into two teams (A and B). Team A starts by choosing a strip of paper and identifying which collocation is incorrect. Team B then does the same. Both teams take turns until there are no more strips left. The team with the most correct guesses at the end of the game is the winner. The answers to the activity are at the bottom of the page.
Odd One Out
discuss about talk about argue about write about
talk to someone reply to someone call to someone write to someone
make a contribution make research make a phone call make a profit
in control in denial in charge in average
take permission take a break take responsibility take charge
schedule a meeting cancel a meeting make a meeting chair a meeting
highly qualified highly unlikely highly worried highly educated
put an effort put together put forward put aside
strongly oppose strongly support strongly agree strongly regret
take advice take feedback take a risk take offense
run an errand run a business run a conference run a credit check
similar to in reference to the same to look forward to
primary chance big chance last chance second chance
on track on expectation on target on pace
turn down an offer turn down an invitation turn down a request turn down an objective
consist on agree on comment on decide on
take the blame take the credit take the praise take the lead
at home at job at work at school
spend time spend a fortune spend money spend effort
relieve stress relieve difficulty relieve tension relieve pain
do a favor do your best do a promise do harm
tell something tell a story tell a lie tell the difference
take a message take your time take copies take responsibility
proud of depend of take advantage of consist of
rely on count on depend on trust on
by purpose by mistake by accident by chance
argue about worry about debate about concerned about
reach a decision reach an agreement reach a consensus reach a choice
matter to respond to smile to contribute to
give turns give permission give an example give help
ready for prepared for depend for vote for
get aware get ready get angry get the impression
Answers
discuss about talk about argue about write about (discuss + no preposition)
talk to someone reply to someone call to someone write to someone (call someone)
make a contribution make research make a phone call make a profit (do research)
in control in denial in charge in average (on average)
take permission take a break take responsibility take charge (get permission)
schedule a meeting cancel a meeting make a meeting chair a meeting (arrange/set up a meeting)
highly qualified highly unlikely highly worried highly educated (extremely/really/terribly worried)
put an effort put together put forward put aside (make an effort)
strongly oppose strongly support strongly agree strongly regret (deeply regret)
take advice take feedback take a risk take offense (receive feedback)
run an errand run a business run a conference run a credit check (lead a conference)
similar to in reference to the same to look forward to (the same as)
primary chance big chance last chance second chance (first chance, first opportunity)
on track on expectation on target on pace
turn down an offer turn down an invitation turn down a request turn down an objective
consist on agree on comment on decide on (consist of)
take the blame take the credit take the praise take the lead (receive praise)
at home at job at work at school
spend time spend a fortune spend money spend effort (make an effort)
relieve stress relieve difficulty relieve tension relieve pain
do a favor do your best do a promise do harm (make a promise)
tell something tell a story tell a lie tell the difference (say something)
take a message take your time take copies take responsibility (make copies)
proud of depend of take advantage of consist of (depend on)
rely on count on depend on trust on (trust + no preposition)
by purpose by mistake by accident by chance (on purpose)
argue about worry about debate about concerned about (debate + no preposition)
reach a decision reach an agreement reach a consensus reach a choice (make a choice or choose)
matter to respond to smile to contribute to (smile at)
give turns give permission give an example give help (take turns)
ready for prepared for depend for vote for (depend on)
get aware get ready get angry get the impression (become aware)