3
general::
effort
verbs
make an effort
(= try )
• She made an effort to change the subject of the conversation.
put effort into (doing) something
(= try hard to do something )
• Let’s try again, only put more effort into it this time.
take the effort out of something
(= make it easy )
• An automatic car takes the effort out of driving.
something takes effort
( also it takes effort to do something ) (= you have to try hard )
• It takes a sustained effort to quit smoking.
something requires/involves effort
formal (= it takes effort )
• Trying to get my mother to change her mind requires considerable effort.
ADJECTIVES/NOUN + effort
successful
• Their efforts were successful, and they won the contract.
unsuccessful
• Efforts to save the hospital from closure have been unsuccessful.
futile
(= having no chance of succeeding, and therefore not worth doing )
• Doctors knew that any effort to save his life would be futile.
a big/great effort
• The government has made a big effort to tackle the problem of poverty.
considerable effort
(= a lot of effort )
• The police put considerable effort into finding his car.
a supreme/tremendous effort
(= a very big effort )
• It was only with a supreme effort that Roger controlled his temper.
a special effort
(= one that you do not normally make )
• I made a special effort to be nice to the children.
a constant effort
(= one that never stops )
• Walking was a constant effort.
a sustained effort
(= one that you continue making for a long time )
• It will take a sustained effort over the next 5 years to achieve our objectives.
a conscious/deliberate effort
(= one that you concentrate on in order to achieve something )
• He made a conscious effort to become a better person.
a determined effort
(= showing a lot of determination )
• She had made a determined effort to lose weight.
a desperate effort
(= one you make when you are in a very bad situation )
• The fox made a desperate effort to get away.
a concerted effort
(= involving a lot of different actions, or a lot of people working together )
• It will take a concerted effort to change the culture of binge-drinking in the country.
a joint/team effort
(= involving a group or team of people )
• We had many fine individual performances, but the win was a real team effort.
a collaborative/cooperative effort
formal (= with different people or groups working together )
• This was a collaborative effort involving the three largest energy companies.
physical/mental effort
• He struggled back from two sets down to win the match, showing great physical and mental effort.
a final/last-ditch effort
(= a last effort, when you want very much to achieve something )
• Sam took a deep breath and prepared herself for one final effort.
phrases
make the effort
(= do something that requires some effort )
• I felt too tired to go to a party, but decided to make the effort.
make every effort to do something
(= try very hard )
• I made every effort to see their point of view.
make no effort to do something
(= not try at all )
• They make no effort to speak the local language.
be (well) worth the effort
(= used to say that something is worth doing even though it is hard )
• It’s a difficult place to get to, but it's well worth the effort.
with effort
formal (= trying very hard )
• With great effort, he managed to keep quiet.
without effort
(= easily, without trying hard )
• Her horse jumped the fence without any effort.
effort 2
NOUN + effort
a relief effort
• The UN is organizing the relief effort to the region affected by the earthquake.
a fund-raising effort
• The party is planning a huge fund-raising effort later this year.
the war effort
• Taxes were raised to support the war effort.
transnet.ir
4
general::
noun physical/mental energy needed to do sth ADJ. considerable | hard It took a whole day of hard effort to knock down the wall. | constant, sustained | extra | physical | intellectual, mental QUANT. amount the amount of effort required VERB + EFFORT demand, need, require, take It takes constant effort to become fluent in a language. | devote, expend, put in All the team members have put in a great deal of effort. | spare no No effort has been spared to make this hotel a welcoming, comfortable place. | be (well) worth The walk is difficult but well worth the effort. EFFORT + VERB go into A lot of effort went into making the costumes. PREP. with/without ~ This can be done quickly and with very little effort. PHRASES a great deal of effort attempt to do sth ADJ. all-out, big, brave, determined, enormous, great, herculean, heroic, huge, major, remarkable, special, strenuous, superhuman, tremendous, valiant I can see you have made a big effort to clean up. | desperate, frantic their frantic efforts to put out the fire | final, last, last-ditch The UN General Secretary flew in in a last-ditch effort to save the talks. | genuine, positive, real, serious | feeble She made a feeble effort to smile, then started crying again. | sporadic I make sporadic efforts to sort out my files. | successful | fruitless, futile, unsuccessful | collaborative, collective, concerted, cooperative, joint, team Students, teachers and families got together in a team effort to decorate the school. | conscious, deliberate I have to make a conscious effort to be polite so early in the morning. | voluntary The museum relies on the voluntary efforts of enthusiasts. | fund-raising VERB + EFFORT make | increase, intensify, redouble, renew, step up The police have renewed their efforts to find the murderer. | channel, concentrate, focus The police channelled their efforts into searching around the river. | fail in He failed in h | resist The wound resisted all my efforts to stop it bleeding. | abandon | be rewarded for, reward Her efforts were rewarded when she won an Oscar. | applaud The gallery owner applauded the efforts of firefighters to save the exhibits. EFFORT + VERB come to nothing, fail PREP. in an/your ~ The club has changed the rules in an effort to make them fairer. | through sb's ~ Through their efforts, enough money was raised to buy the equipment. PHRASES your best efforts Despite our best efforts, we didn't manage to win the match. | a reward for your efforts Second prize was a fair reward for his efforts. | make every effort We are making every effort to obtain the release of the hostages.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary