Daily Routines

Everyday collocations for common activities and habits

Introduction

Daily life is full of collocations we use without thinking. We "do the shopping" not "make the shopping", "have a shower" not "take a shower" (in British English). These are among the first collocations learners need to master.

This chapter covers the everyday collocations that native speakers use from morning to night.

Themes

All Collocations in This Chapter (27)

• do the shopping To go to the shops and buy groceries or necessities
• do the washing To wash clothes, usually in a washing machine
• do the ironing To press clothes with an iron to remove wrinkles
• do the cooking To prepare and cook meals
• have a shower To wash yourself under a shower
• have a bath To wash yourself by sitting in a bathtub filled with water
• brush your teeth To clean your teeth using a toothbrush and toothpaste
• set the alarm To program an alarm clock to wake you at a specific time
• make the bed To tidy the bedcovers and pillows after sleeping
• tidy up To make a room or space neat and organised
• take out the rubbish To carry household waste outside to the bin or collection point
• run errands To go out to do various small tasks or chores
• commute to work To travel regularly between home and the workplace
• grab a bite To eat something quickly, usually a small meal or snack
• have a lie-in To stay in bed later than usual in the morning
• early night Going to bed earlier than usual
• heavy sleeper A person who sleeps very deeply and is hard to wake up
• light sleeper A person who wakes up easily from small sounds or disturbances
• daily routine The regular activities you do every day in the same order
• morning person Someone who feels most energetic and productive in the morning
• night owl Someone who naturally stays up late and is most active at night
• kill time To do something unimportant while waiting for something else
• spare time Free time when you are not working or doing obligations
• quality time Time spent giving full attention to someone, especially family
• lunch break The midday period when you stop work to eat lunch
• weekday routine The regular pattern of activities followed on working days (Monday to Friday)
• weekend plans Activities or events you intend to do on Saturday and Sunday