Collocations for confidence - noun
1. belief in others
ADJ.
absolute, complete, full, total
The company needs the full confidence of its investors.
The company needs the full confidence of its investors.
great, high, real
Confidence is high among the team''s supporters.
Confidence is high among the team''s supporters.
reasonable | growing, increased, increasing | new, renewed | misplaced
The general''s confidence in his army proved misplaced.
The general''s confidence in his army proved misplaced.
international | popular, public
public confidence in the government
public confidence in the government
business, consumer, customer, investor, market
VERB + CONFIDENCE
enjoy, feel, have
This government no longer enjoys the confidence of the public. | We all have complete confidence in this product.
This government no longer enjoys the confidence of the public. | We all have complete confidence in this product.
express
He expressed confidence in the new plans.
He expressed confidence in the new plans.
be lacking in, lack | share
She wished that she shared his confidence.
She wished that she shared his confidence.
maintain, preserve
to maintain public confidence in the system of justice
to maintain public confidence in the system of justice
bolster, boost, build (up), enhance, improve, increase, lift, raise
Higher profits should raise business confidence.
Higher profits should raise business confidence.
gain | command, create, develop, encourage, engender, generate, give (sb), inspire, instil
The training is designed to give staff confidence in managing problems. | The company''s record does not really inspire confidence.
The training is designed to give staff confidence in managing problems. | The company''s record does not really inspire confidence.
rebuild, restore, revive
Only if the chairperson resigns will we be able to restore the confidence of our members.
Only if the chairperson resigns will we be able to restore the confidence of our members.
lose
This government has lost the confidence of the public.
This government has lost the confidence of the public.
damage, dent, sap, shake, undermine, weaken
Only one bank scandal is needed to shake the confidence in the financial markets.
Only one bank scandal is needed to shake the confidence in the financial markets.
destroy, shatter
CONFIDENCE + VERB
decrease | grow, increase, rise | return
Confidence has returned to the market.
Confidence has returned to the market.
PREP.
~ about
The captain was not lacking in confidence about his team''s prospects.
The captain was not lacking in confidence about his team''s prospects.
~ among
a loss of confidence among investors
a loss of confidence among investors
~ between
efforts to build confidence between employers and unions
efforts to build confidence between employers and unions
~ in
They have no confidence in the legal system.
They have no confidence in the legal system.
PHRASES
a crisis of confidence
There is a crisis of confidence in the university about its future role.
There is a crisis of confidence in the university about its future role.
have every/little/no/some confidence
The captain of the football team said he had every confidence in his men.
The captain of the football team said he had every confidence in his men.
a lack of confidence, a loss of confidence, a vote of (no) confidence
This is a tremendous vote of confidence for the government.
This is a tremendous vote of confidence for the government.
a (no) confidence motion/vote
The government lost a parliamentary confidence vote.
The government lost a parliamentary confidence vote.
2. belief in yourself
ADJ.
considerable, enormous, great | sublime, supreme, tremendous, utter | added, extra | fresh, new-found | increased, increasing, growing | calm, quiet
giving an outward appearance of quiet confidence
giving an outward appearance of quiet confidence
easy
She spoke in a tone of easy confidence.
She spoke in a tone of easy confidence.
false
All his false confidence had drained away.
All his false confidence had drained away.
inner, personal | social
VERB + CONFIDENCE
have
She has very little confidence in her own abilities.
She has very little confidence in her own abilities.
show | feel
‘I can explain,’ he said, with a confidence he did not feel.
‘I can explain,’ he said, with a confidence he did not feel.
brim with, exude, be full of, ooze, radiate
Since she got the new job, she''s been brimming with confidence. | a man who exudes confidence
Since she got the new job, she''s been brimming with confidence. | a man who exudes confidence
be lacking in, lack
A lot of children are lacking in confidence.
A lot of children are lacking in confidence.
acquire, develop, gain, gather
She''s gained a lot of confidence over the last year.
She''s gained a lot of confidence over the last year.
grow in
As the weeks went by he grew in confidence.
As the weeks went by he grew in confidence.
lose
During his illness he really lost his confidence.
During his illness he really lost his confidence.
get back, rebuild, recover, regain, restore
He''s really striking the ball well and has got his confidence back.
He''s really striking the ball well and has got his confidence back.
bolster, boost, build (up), enhance
Winning the competition really boosted her confidence.
Winning the competition really boosted her confidence.
give sb, instil
to instil confidence in staff who feel nervous about taking on new roles
to instil confidence in staff who feel nervous about taking on new roles
dent, sap, shake, undermine, weaken
Failing his exams really dented his confidence.
Failing his exams really dented his confidence.
destroy, shatter
CONFIDENCE + VERB
drain (away), evaporate, go
My confidence went completely after my first major defeat.
My confidence went completely after my first major defeat.
grow, increase, rise
Their confidence grew with each success.
Their confidence grew with each success.
return
CONFIDENCE + NOUN
boost, booster
The home side badly need a confidence booster.
The home side badly need a confidence booster.
building
Getting the certificate does a lot in terms of confidence building.
Getting the certificate does a lot in terms of confidence building.
PREP.
with ~
She answered the question with confidence.
She answered the question with confidence.
~ about
I lacked confidence about how I looked
I lacked confidence about how I looked
~ in
his confidence in himself
his confidence in himself
PHRASES
a lack of confidence, a loss of confidence
3. trust
ADJ.
absolute, complete, full, total | mutual
VERB + CONFIDENCE
enjoy, have
The Cabinet must enjoy the confidence of Parliament.
The Cabinet must enjoy the confidence of Parliament.
keep, retain | gain, get, win | build
an environment which builds mutual confidence
an environment which builds mutual confidence
betray, break | place, put
Are we to place confidence in a minister who cannot remember a phone call he made last week?
Are we to place confidence in a minister who cannot remember a phone call he made last week?
withhold | take sb into
She thought she might take Leo into her confidence.
She thought she might take Leo into her confidence.
CONFIDENCE + NOUN
trick, trickster
PREP.
in ~
She told me in confidence - I couldn''t break that confidence, could I?
She told me in confidence - I couldn''t break that confidence, could I?
PHRASES
a breach of confidence
Telling other people what I''d said was a total breach of confidence.
Telling other people what I''d said was a total breach of confidence.
in strict confidence
Enquiries will be dealt with in the strictest confidence.
Enquiries will be dealt with in the strictest confidence.
4. secret
ADJ.
whispered
VERB + CONFIDENCE
exchange, share
The girls exchanged whispered confidences.
The girls exchanged whispered confidences.
keep | betray
I could never forgive Mike for betraying a confidence.
I could never forgive Mike for betraying a confidence.
encourage, invite
She didn''t encourage confidences.
She didn''t encourage confidences.
PHRASES
an exchange of confidences