COLLOCATIONS

EXPRESS

express something 

Teachers have expressed concern about the changes.

His views have been expressed in numerous speeches.

to express fears/doubts/reservationsto express interest/regret/surpriseexpress how, what, etc… 

Words cannot express how pleased I am.

express yourself   Teenagers often have difficulty expressing themselves.

express yourself + adv./prep.    Perhaps I have not expressed myself very well.

SHAKE

shake hands (with somebody) (on something) 

Do people in Italy shake hands when they meet?

They shook hands on the deal (= to show that they had reached an agreement).

shake somebody’s hand    He shook my hand warmly.

shake somebody by the hand     Our host shook each of us warmly by the hand.

She shook her head in disbelief.

HOLD

hold somebody/something (+ adv./prep.) to carry something; 

to have somebody/something in your hand, arms, etc.    She was holding a large box.

I held the mouse by its tail.

The girl held her father's hand tightly.

He was holding the baby in his arms.

The winning captain held the trophy in the air.

We were holding hands (= holding each other's hands).

hold something      to have a meeting, competition, conversation, etc.     The meeting will be held in the community centre.

It's impossible to hold a conversation with all this noise.

The country is holding its first free elections for 20 years.

FIND

 to have a particular feeling or opinion about somethingfind something + adj. 

You may find your illness hard to accept.

You may find it hard to accept your illness.

I find it amazing that they're still together.