The article focuses on the study of collocations in a conceptual domain. On the basis of the example of two syntactic constructions (NV and NAdj) with nouns referring to the emotion of “fear” and that of “courageous attitude” in Polish and French, the problem of cognitive motivation of collocations is discussed. The introduction of the component of “intensity” in the paradigmatic and syntagmatic relations allows to point to some directions in the description of collocations in a more systematic way, more adequate to the cognitive processes in the language user’s mind. The cognitive dimension can also form an additional criterion in collocate identification in contrast to free conventional syntagms.