Collocations for work - noun
1. effort/product of effort
ADJ.
hard
It''s hard work trying to get him to do a few things for himself. | It doesn''t require skill - it''s a matter of sheer hard work.
It''s hard work trying to get him to do a few things for himself. | It doesn''t require skill - it''s a matter of sheer hard work.
arduous, back-breaking, challenging, complicated, demanding, difficult, gruelling, intensive, labour-intensive, tiring, tough
The show is the product of two years'' intensive work.
The show is the product of two years'' intensive work.
rewarding | heavy
They employ a couple of young men to do the heavy work.
They employ a couple of young men to do the heavy work.
donkey
I did the donkey work (= hard work requiring little skill) but I hired a professional builder for the tricky bits.
I did the donkey work (= hard work requiring little skill) but I hired a professional builder for the tricky bits.
light
She''s only allowed to do a little light work because of her bad arm.
She''s only allowed to do a little light work because of her bad arm.
easy | close
I need to wear glasses for close work.
I need to wear glasses for close work.
physical | delicate | dangerous | dirty
Engine maintenance is dirty work. | (figurative) The drugs gang used children to do their dirty work for them.
Engine maintenance is dirty work. | (figurative) The drugs gang used children to do their dirty work for them.
humdrum, monotonous, repetitive, tedious | fascinating, interesting | purposeful
Many unemployed people welcome the chance to do purposeful work, even if unpaid.
Many unemployed people welcome the chance to do purposeful work, even if unpaid.
valuable
The research institute needs funds in order to carry on its valuable work.
The research institute needs funds in order to carry on its valuable work.
paid, unpaid | professional | men''s, women''s
They think that looking after children is women''s work.
They think that looking after children is women''s work.
intellectual, mental | creative, imaginative | practical (see also ‘fieldwork’, ‘paperwork’) | investigative | undercover
The scandal was revealed after months of undercover work by journalists.
The scandal was revealed after months of undercover work by journalists.
leg (also ‘legwork’)
Her job as a market researcher involves a lot of legwork (= walking around to collect information).
Her job as a market researcher involves a lot of legwork (= walking around to collect information).
course (also ‘coursework’) | written
His written work is the best in the class.
His written work is the best in the class.
individual | group | project | collaborative, joint
classroom activities involving collaborative work between children | The report is the joint work of an economist and a sociologist.
classroom activities involving collaborative work between children | The report is the joint work of an economist and a sociologist.
remedial
The poorly designed bridge needs remedial work to make it safe.
The poorly designed bridge needs remedial work to make it safe.
background, preliminary, preparatory | follow-up | honest
He preferred to make his money from honest work rather than from gambling.
He preferred to make his money from honest work rather than from gambling.
good, nice (informal), outstanding, sterling
Nice work, James! I''m impressed. | In accepting the award, she mentioned the sterling work of her assistants.
Nice work, James! I''m impressed. | In accepting the award, she mentioned the sterling work of her assistants.
careful, meticulous, painstaking | poor, shoddy, sloppy | charitable, humanitarian | community, youth | ground-breaking, innovative, pioneering
He did pioneering work on microbes.
He did pioneering work on microbes.
experimental | academic, commercial, educational, environmental, scientific | building, construction | your own
Is this all your own work (= did you do it without help from others)?
Is this all your own work (= did you do it without help from others)?
QUANT.
bit, piece
It was an interesting piece of work.
It was an interesting piece of work.
VERB + WORK
carry out, do, put in
All the construction work was carried out in 2001. | I''ve got lots of work to do today. | She''s put in a lot of work on the design.
All the construction work was carried out in 2001. | I''ve got lots of work to do today. | She''s put in a lot of work on the design.
get done, have done
I think I''d better try and get some work done. | We''re going to have some building work done on the house.
I think I''d better try and get some work done. | We''re going to have some building work done on the house.
produce
Work produced on a word processor tends to look more professional.
Work produced on a word processor tends to look more professional.
get, have
We get far too much work at this time of year.
We get far too much work at this time of year.
take on, undertake
I''ve taken on more work than I''ve got time to do.
I''ve taken on more work than I''ve got time to do.
create, make
Big football matches make a lot of work for the police.
Big football matches make a lot of work for the police.
begin, commence, get down to, set about/to, start
They began work on the project towards the end of the year. | Stop talking and get down to work. | We set to work on the outside of the house (= for example, painting it).
They began work on the project towards the end of the year. | Stop talking and get down to work. | We set to work on the outside of the house (= for example, painting it).
go about
She went cheerfully about her work.
She went cheerfully about her work.
carry on, continue | complete, finish | halt, hold up, stop
Work on the project was halted.
Work on the project was halted.
lose
They lost the work to a competitor.
They lost the work to a competitor.
undo
The new president spent the first year undoing the work of his predecessor.
The new president spent the first year undoing the work of his predecessor.
oversee, supervise
The assistant manager supervises work on the factory floor.
The assistant manager supervises work on the factory floor.
set sb to
She set them to work painting the fence.
She set them to work painting the fence.
require
To carry out accurate market research requires a huge amount of work.
To carry out accurate market research requires a huge amount of work.
hand in
We''re supposed to hand in this work tomorrow.
We''re supposed to hand in this work tomorrow.
WORK + VERB
come
The work comes in bursts according to the time of year.
The work comes in bursts according to the time of year.
wait
That work can wait until tomorrow.
That work can wait until tomorrow.
go
How''s the work going this morning?
How''s the work going this morning?
involve sth
What does the work involve?
What does the work involve?
begin, start | continue, go on | come to a standstill
Work came to a complete standstill when rumours of redundancies started to circulate.
Work came to a complete standstill when rumours of redundancies started to circulate.
cost
How much will the work cost?
How much will the work cost?
WORK + NOUN
ethic | rate
Her boss told her she had to increase her work rate.
Her boss told her she had to increase her work rate.
programme, schedule | surface
Work surfaces should be left clear and clean.
Work surfaces should be left clear and clean.
PREP.
at ~
He''s been hard at work all morning.
He''s been hard at work all morning.
~ on
I have to do some work on the engine before it''ll be ready to drive.
I have to do some work on the engine before it''ll be ready to drive.
~ with
She''s done a lot of work with disadvantaged children.
She''s done a lot of work with disadvantaged children.
PHRASES
a backlog of work
It will take a month to clear the backlog of work.
It will take a month to clear the backlog of work.
keep up the good work
The hotel manager thanked the staff for their efforts so far and told them to keep up the good work.
The hotel manager thanked the staff for their efforts so far and told them to keep up the good work.
your life''s work
The art collection was his life''s work.
The art collection was his life''s work.
make light/short work of sth
(= to do sth quickly and easily) Mike made short work of fixing the engine.
(= to do sth quickly and easily) Mike made short work of fixing the engine.
never/not a stroke of work
She never does a stroke of work.
She never does a stroke of work.
pressure of work
Pressure of work forced him to cancel his holiday.
Pressure of work forced him to cancel his holiday.
work in progress
The showroom has been designed so that people can see work in progress.
The showroom has been designed so that people can see work in progress.
2. job
ADJ.
lucrative, well paid | badly paid | full-time, part-time | permanent | temporary | regular, steady
He hasn''t been in regular work since he left school.
He hasn''t been in regular work since he left school.
casual
In the college vacations he does casual work in the local hospital.
In the college vacations he does casual work in the local hospital.
freelance | voluntary | skilled | semi-skilled | unskilled | manual | indoor, outdoor | daily, day-to-day, everyday, routine
People went about their daily work despite the war. | Ambulance crews alternate between emergency and routine work.
People went about their daily work despite the war. | Ambulance crews alternate between emergency and routine work.
piece
It''s piece work, so how much you earn depends on how fast you can work.
It''s piece work, so how much you earn depends on how fast you can work.
administrative, clerical, office, secretarial | managerial | domestic | social | research | agricultural, farm | building | nice
(humorous) A hundred grand for two days a week? Nice work if you can get it!
(humorous) A hundred grand for two days a week? Nice work if you can get it!
VERB + WORK
have
He''s got a bit of freelance work at the moment.
He''s got a bit of freelance work at the moment.
look for
He got made redundant, so now he''s looking for work again.
He got made redundant, so now he''s looking for work again.
find, get
Full-time work is hard to find.
Full-time work is hard to find.
go to
I go to work on the bus.
I go to work on the bus.
go out to
Some mothers of young children choose not to go out to work.
Some mothers of young children choose not to go out to work.
start | finish, knock off
What time do you finish work?
What time do you finish work?
stop
She stops work at the end of this month.
She stops work at the end of this month.
give up
Just before he was sixty, he decided to give up work.
Just before he was sixty, he decided to give up work.
go back to, return to
She has just returned to work after the birth of her child.
She has just returned to work after the birth of her child.
coordinate
Sales reps meet up monthly to coordinate their work.
Sales reps meet up monthly to coordinate their work.
WORK + VERB
go
Work''s going well at the moment.
Work''s going well at the moment.
start
What time does work start in the morning?
What time does work start in the morning?
finish
WORK + NOUN
hours
Employees must not make personal calls in work hours.
Employees must not make personal calls in work hours.
place (also ‘workplace’) | area, environment, room (also ‘workroom’) | station (also ‘workstation’) | roster, schedule | experience
He''s doing a month''s unpaid work experience with an engineering firm.
He''s doing a month''s unpaid work experience with an engineering firm.
permit | incentive
High income tax can undermine work incentives.
High income tax can undermine work incentives.
practice
An independent report has described some work practices in the industry as old-fashioned.
An independent report has described some work practices in the industry as old-fashioned.
PREP.
at ~
‘Where''s Diane?’ ‘She''s at work.’ | We had a party at work.
‘Where''s Diane?’ ‘She''s at work.’ | We had a party at work.
in (your) ~
With so much unemployment, I''m lucky to be in work. | It''s important to be happy in your work.
With so much unemployment, I''m lucky to be in work. | It''s important to be happy in your work.
off ~
She''s been off work with a bad back since July.
She''s been off work with a bad back since July.
out of ~
He''s been out of work since the factory closed.
He''s been out of work since the factory closed.
through ~
I met him through work.
I met him through work.
PHRASES
a line of work
‘What line of work are you in?’ ‘Computing.’
‘What line of work are you in?’ ‘Computing.’
a place of work
3. book/music/art
ADJ.
classic, fine, great | definitive, seminal
Her book is still considered the definitive work on beetles.
Her book is still considered the definitive work on beetles.
influential | erudite, scholarly | ambitious | literary | dramatic | critical | autobiographical, biographical | artistic | art (also ‘artwork’)
The artwork in the book is superb.
The artwork in the book is superb.
abstract, figurative, graphic | choral, orchestral, piano | collected, complete
the collected works of Stephen King
the collected works of Stephen King
early | late, mature
Picasso''s mature works
Picasso''s mature works
QUANT.
series | collection, exhibition
VERB + WORK
compose, produce, write
Beethoven composed his greatest works towards the end of his life.
Beethoven composed his greatest works towards the end of his life.
commission | perform, play | hear, read, see
Her work can be seen in most of the major European galleries.
Her work can be seen in most of the major European galleries.
conduct, direct, edit, produce, publish, put on
Over the next two years, the theatre is putting on the complete works of Brecht.
Over the next two years, the theatre is putting on the complete works of Brecht.
display, exhibit, show
The town hall is exhibiting works by local artists.
The town hall is exhibiting works by local artists.
WORK + VERB
be called sth, be entitled sth
a work entitled ‘Forward Pass’
a work entitled ‘Forward Pass’
PREP.
in a/the ~
She''s studying the theme of death in the works of Beckett.
She''s studying the theme of death in the works of Beckett.
~ by
a work by an unknown eighteenth century writer
a work by an unknown eighteenth century writer
PHRASES
an exhibition of sb''s work
The gallery is staging a special exhibition of Monet''s early works.
The gallery is staging a special exhibition of Monet''s early works.
a work of art/fiction/literature
The building is hated by some and considered a work of art by others. | (humorous) They discovered that his CV was a complete work of fiction.
The building is hated by some and considered a work of art by others. | (humorous) They discovered that his CV was a complete work of fiction.
a work of genius
Her latest novel is a work of genius.
Her latest novel is a work of genius.
4. (also ‘works’) building/repairing
ADJ.
extensive, major | road (also ‘roadworks’) | maintenance, repair, restoration | demolition
VERB + WORK
carry out
We are planning to carry out major works on the site.
We are planning to carry out major works on the site.
plan | announce
WORK + VERB
continue, go on
The works will continue until the end of July.
The works will continue until the end of July.
PREP.
at the ~
A contraflow is in operation at the works near Junction 5.
A contraflow is in operation at the works near Junction 5.
5. works: factory
VERB + WORKS
open | close (down), shut down
WORKS + VERB
turn sth out
The works at Bury turned out thousands of television sets a week.
The works at Bury turned out thousands of television sets a week.
open | close (down)
WORKS + NOUN
foreman, manager, supervisor | canteen
PREP.
at the ~
the night shift at the works
the night shift at the works