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Odd-one-out Collocations Game

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)