agony column
phrase · Collocation / phrase C1
Plain meaning
a newspaper or magazine section that gives personal advice
Exam-register meaning
In academic or exam contexts, it means a newspaper or magazine section that gives personal advice, usually in a more formal register.
In context
naturalThe discussion gave us a useful example of agony column.
examPolicy makers must consider agony column when evaluating long-term social and economic outcomes.
Common collocations
agony columna clear example of agony columnuse agony column appropriately
Watch out
Do not change the key word order in “agony column”; collocations sound natural because the words travel together.