Vocabulary for Examination Sentence Transformation 1-9

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Why don't you spend a little time listening to recording of

different English accents?
(ADVISED) He ADVISED me to listen to recording of
different English accents.

I can't often afford to spend my holiday abroad.

(SELDOM) I'm SELDOM ABLE to spend my holiday abroad.

Never mind your previous failures - Try to forget them

and think of what your next venture might be!
(BEHIND) PUT your previous failures BEHIND you and think
of what your next venture might be.

The two young men introduced a virus into the computer

system.
(ALLEGED) The two young men were ALLEGED to have
introduced a virus into the computer system.

This is an important scheme and we want him to approve.

(APPROVAL) We want his APPROVAL of / for this important
scheme.

I wouldn't object to moving to a larger flat.

(RATHER) I'd RATHER like to move to a larger flat.

You'll need the choke out to start the car.

(WITH) The car will only start WITH the choke.

Some people always live within the limitations of their

own experience.
(OUTSIDE) Some people never GO OUTSIDE their own
experience.

There was one policeman on my left, another on my right.

(BETWEEN) I was BETWEEN two policemen.

I don't think she 's good enough to join my class.

(UP) I don't think she is UP TO THE STANDARD of our class.

Ten thirty is too late to arrive.

(BEFORE) You must arrive BEFORE ten thirty.

Her job is making her miserable.

(DOWN) Her job is GETTING HER DOWN.
Get sb down (phrv) Lm chn, tht vng, = to DISAPPOINT/
DISMAY.

I'm not considering that suggestion.

(OUT) That suggestion is OUT/ I've RULED OUT that
suggestion.
Rule out (phrv) Loi tr, = to EXCLUDE.

My cat has lost its appetite.

(OFF) My cat has GONE OFF/ is OFF its appetite.
Go off (phrv) Chn, khng thch nh xa. [To GO OFF
DOING STH]

He's so careless that he lost his passport.

(IN) He lost his passport IN CARELESSNESS.

Soft lighting usually makes people look younger.

(BY) People look younger BY soft lighting.

You don't think about me when I'm not here.

(OUT) You don't think about me when I'm OUT OF SIGHT.

I'm sorry, but I don't think there any hope for your
brother now.
(BEYOND) I'm sorry, but I think your brother is BEYOND
HOPE now.

You have to be eighteen to vote. You 're not old enough.

(UNDER) You can't vote if you're UNDER eighteen.

Alcohol makes some people act very foolishly.

(LIKE) Alcohol makes some people ACT LIKE FOOLS.

I'm going to give up drinking. Today I'll have my last glass

of wine.
(AS FROM) AS FROM tomorrow, I'll give up smoking.

I'd do anything to be able to travel to China.

THERE'S nothing I wouldn 't do to be able to travel to
China.

It was two years ago at the end of this week that I started
working here.
AT THE END of this week I will have been working here for
two years.

Fischer will require bottlers to use water that Fischer

specifies.
BOTTLERS are required to use water specified by Fischer.

The dress was so tempting that I bought it.

I COULDN'T RESIST the temptation to buy the dress.

The weather forecast was inaccurate, so we didn't take

the right precautions.
HAD the weather forecast been accurate, we might have
taken the right precautions.

The passengers don't realize how lucky they have been.

LITTLE do the passengers realize how lucky they have
been.

You must not leave important documents lying around.

(ACCOUNT) ON NO ACCOUNT should you leave important
documents lying around.

You don't seem very well.

(RUN) You seem a bit RUN DOWN.
To be RUN DOWN = to be OFF-COLOR = to be UNDER THE
WEATHER: Bnh.

It's age since that telephone worked properly.

(ORDER) The telephone has been OUT OF ORDER for ages.

Do you think you could come to the point ? I'm in a hurry.

(BUSH) Please stop BEATING AROUND THE BUSH. I'm in a
hurry.
To BEAT AROUND THE BUSH: Vng vo tam quc.

We should abolish all these antiquated customs.

(DONE) These antiquated customs should be DONE AWAY
WITH.

I'm afraid our problems are only just beginning.

(ICEBERG) I'm afraid our problems are just THE TIP OF THE
ICEBERG.

His spoken English is very poor indeed.

(SCARECELY) He can SCARCELY speak English.

I haven't the faintest idea what you are talking about.

(EARTH) I don't know WHAT ON EARTH you 're talking
about.

I am sure it wasn 't Bob 's fault.

IT CAN'T have been Bob 's fault.

I don't think it is a good idea for you to go out this

evening.
I'D RATHER you didn 't go out this evening.

I'm sure it was Tom who cleared everything up.

TOM MUST have cleared everything up.

The Pacific Ocean is on average deeper than the Atlantic.

THE AVERAGE depth of the pacific ocean is greater than
that of the Atlantic.

Alice did not decide to move to a new house until the roof
fell in.
ONLY WHEN the roof fell in did Alice decide to move to a
new house.

He suggested that Tom and I should go ahead and get the

tickets.
HE SAID: "What about Tom and you going ahead and
getting the ticket?"

Jo may not be very well but he still manages to enjoy life.

JO'S poor health does not prevent/ stop him (from) enjoying
life.

That reminds me of the time I climbed to the top of the

Mount Fuji.
(BACK) That TAKEs me BACK to the time I climbed to the
top of the Mount Fuji.

The weather never seems as bad abroad as it does at

home, does it?
(BETTER) The weather always seems better abroad than it
does at home, doesn't it ?

When I bought it I thought it was a beautiful colour, but I

don't like it any more.
(GONE) When I bought it I thought it was a beautiful colour
but I've GONE OFF it now.

They will have given him the news by now.

(TOLD) He will have been TOLD about the news by now.

To be successful in business you must work very hard.

(ESSENTIAL) It is ESSENTIAL to work hard if you want to be
successful in business.

Some people say that Tsiolkovsky invented the space

rocket.
(CREDITED) Tsiolkovsky is/ has been CREDITED with
inventing the space rocket/ having invented the space
rocket.
Credited (a) c ghi nhn.

It's no use arguing.

(POINT) There is NO POINT IN arguing.

What exactly am I supposed to have done wrong?

(STAND) What exactly do I STAND ACCUSED OF?
To STAND ACCUSED OF STH: B co buc.

Good colour sense is instinctive for some people.

(COME) Good colour sense COMES NATURALLY to some
people.

Don't ask him about the accident, he 's upset already.

(STATE) Don't ask him about the accident, he's IN A STATE
already.
To be IN A STATE = to be UPSET/ NERVOUS: Bun b/ lo
lng.

Everyone is saying the government is about to resign.

(RUMORED) It is RUMORED that the government is about to
resign.

The senior students believe that they are old enough to

choose which classes to attend.
(REGARD) The senior students REGARD THEMSELVES AS
being old enough to choose which classes to attend.

Since the company's methods were exposed in a

newspaper, people have lost their good opinion of it.
(DISREPUTE) Since..., it has FALLEN INTO DISREPUTE.
To FALL INTO DISREPUTE: Chu tai ting.

What really depresses me is this continual wet weather.

(GETS) What really GETS ME DOWN is this continual
weather.

We missed the bus because we had overslept.

(CONSEQUENCE) We missed the bus AS A CONSEQUENCE
OF oversleeping.

She passed the world around that she was looking for a
flat.
(KNOWN) She LET IT BE KNOWN that she was looking for a
flat.

They continued to suggest that I was lying.

(PERSISTED) They PERSISTED IN suggesting that I was
lying.

We couldn't have managed without my father's money.

IF IT hadn't been for my father's money, we couldn't have
managed.

I had only just put the phone down when the boss rang
back.
HARDLY had I put the phone down when the boss rang
back.

It was Walter Raleigh who introduced potatoes and

tobacco into England.
THE ENGLISH OWE the introduction of potatoes and
tobacco to Walter Raleigh.

"If my members agree to that, I'll be very surprised," said

the union delegate.

THE UNION DELEGATE OBSERVED THAT he would be very

surprised if his members agreed.

While I strongly disapprove of your behavior, I will help

you this time.
DESPITE MY strong disapproval of your behavior, I will help
you this time.

I'm sorry I missed Professor Baker's lecture.

I'M SORRY NOT to have heard/attended Pro Baker's lecture.

We may not be able to give the concert.

THE CONCERT may have to be cancelled.

I was not surprised to hear that Harry had failed his

driving test.
IT CAME AS NO SURPRISE TO me that Harry had failed his
driving test.

John inflated the tyres of his bicycle.

(BLEW) JohnBLEW UP the tyres of his bicycle.
Inflate (v) thi cng, thi phng, = to BLOW UP.

We'd better leave them a note, because it's possible

they'll arrive later.
(CASE) We'd better leave them a note IN CASE they arrive
later.

Before he came here he worked for Mr/ Smith.

(PREVIOUS) Before he came here, his PREVIOUS
boss/employer was Mr. Smith.

He speaks German extremely well.

(COMMAND) He HAS AN excellent COMMAND OF German.
To HAVE A GOOD COMMAND OF STH = To be GOOD AT STH:
Gii.

His criticisms are quite unfair.

(JUSTIFICATION) There is NO JUSTIFICATION for his
criticisms.

I can't understand why they are reluctant to sign the

contract.

(BAFFLED) I am BAFFLED BY their reluctance to sign the

contract.

I always find chess problems like that quite impossible.

(DEFEAT) Chess problens like that (always) DEFEAT me!

This must be kept secret.

(KNOW) You mustn't LET anyone (else) KNOW (this).

I can't afford a new dress, that old blue one will have to
do.
(MAKE) I can't afford a new dress. I'll (have) to MAKE DO
WITH that old blue one.
To MAKE DO WITH STH: Dng tm.

I only recognized him when he came into the light.

NOT UNTIL he came into the light did I recognize him.

That rumor about the politician and the construction

contract is absolutely false.
THERE IS (absolutely) no truth in that rumour about the
politician and the construction contract.

They never made us do anything we didn't want to do.

WE were never made to do anything we didn't want to.

My mother was the most warm-hearted person I've ever

known.
I'VE never known a more warm-hearted person than my
mother (was).

You can't possibly expect me to have supper ready by 8

o'clock.
(QUESTION) THERE IS NO QUESTION OF supper being ready
by 8 o'clock.
Supper (n) Ba cm ti; ba n nh bui ti.

It is my opinion that there is no advantage in further

discussion.
(SEE) AS FAR AS I CAN SEE, there is no advantage in further
discussion.
As far as I can see = As far as I'm concerned = In my
opinion = From my perspective.

Please excuse Jane's poor typing. She's only been

learning for a month.
(ALLOWANCES) Please MAKE ALLOWANCES FOR Jane's poor
typing. She...
To MAKE ALLOWANCES FOR SB = to EXCUSE SB.

There is no way that young man can achieve success in

this test.
(BOUND) That young man is BOUND to fail in this test.

Although the dog appeared harmless, it was, in fact, quite

dangerous.
(CONTRARY) CONTRARY TO (its) (harmless) appearance,
the dog was in fact quite dangerous.
Contrary to sth: Tri vi.

If Smith hadn't broken his leg, he would have played

football for England.
(REPRESENTED) If Smith hadn't broken his leg, he would
have REPRESENTED England.

This hotel is inaccessible in winter.

(POSSIBLE) It's not POSSIBLE to get to/to reach this hotel in
winter.

As far as I know, he is still working in Bristol.

(KNOWLEDGE) TO MY BEST KNOWLEDGE, he is still working
in Bristol.
To my best knowledge = As far as I know: Theo nh ti
c bit.

The workers only called off the strike after a new pay
offer.
ONLY AFTER a new pay offer did the workers call off the
strike.

He was sentenced to six months in prison for his part in

the robbery.
HE RECEIVED A sentence of six months for his part in the
robbery.

You can eat as much as you like for 5$ at the new lunchbar.
THERE IS NO limit/restriction to how much you eat at the
new lunch-bar.

She wore a hearing-aid, even though she could hear the

phone ring perfectly well.
SHE WASN'T SO deaf/hard of hearing that she couln't hear
the phone.

You will never meet anyone more generous than Mrs.

Jones.
MRS JONES IS the most generous person you will/could
ever meet/ (be likely) to meet.

My parents let me go abroad alone for the first time last

year.
I WAS allowed to go abroad alone for the first time last
year.

It was his incompetence which led to their capture.

IF he hadn't been so imcompetent they wouldn't have been
captured.

I'm certainly not going to give you any more money.

I HAVE NO INTENTION OF giving you any more money.
To have no intention of doing sth: Khng c d nh.

I don't think there will be any applicants for this post.

(LIKELIHOOD) There is LITTLE/ NO LIKELIHOOD that there
will be applicants for this post.
To HAVE LITTLE/ NO LIKELIHOOD: C t kh nng.

It was difficult for Susan to believe the good news

(HARDLY) Susan could HARDLY believe the good news.

You must make allowances for his inexperience.

(ACCOUNT) You must TAKE his INEXPERIENCE INTO
ACCOUNT.
To take sth into account = To make allowances = To excuse:
Chiu c, b qu.

This contract is not binding until we both sign it.

(BOUND) Neither one of us is BOUND by this contract until
we both sign it.
Bound (a) Rng buc, = to be BINDING.

He wasn't to blame for the accident.

(FAULT) The accident was not his FAULT.

You shouldn't take his help for granted.

(ASSUME) You should /do not ASSUME (that) he will help
you.
To take sth for granted = to assume: inh ninh, cho rng.

Our hotel booking hasn't been confirmed.

WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED confirmation of/about our hotel
booking (yet).

The sales man told me that my new car would be

delivered next Wednesday.
ACCORDING the salesman my new car would/will be
delivered next Wednesday.

The Yeti has very rarely been seen at this altitude.

THERE HAVE very few sightings of the Yeti at this altitude.

It's not certain that Jones will get the job.

It is OPEN TO QUESTION (as to) whether Jones will get the
job.
To be OPEN TO QUESTION = to be NOT CERTAIN = to be IN
DOUBT: Khng chc chn.

Everyone started complaining the moment the

announcement was made.
NO SOONER had the announcement been made than
everyone started complaining.

A house in that district will cost you at least 100,000$.

YOU WON'T BE ABLE to buy/get a house in that district for
less than/under $100.000.

Alan worked too hard at the office, and this led to his
illness.
ALAN'S ILLNESS was caused by/brought about/due to/the
result of his working too hard at the office.

Mr. Bill managed to repair the garage roof only because

his neighbor helped him.
(WITHOUT) WITHOUT the help of his neighbor, Mr. Bill
would/could not/never have repairted the garage roof.

Nobody is infallible.
(MISTAKES) Everyone makes MISTAKES.

The last Olympic Games were held in Seoul.

(TOOK) The last Olympic Games TOOK PLACE in Seoul.

He talked about nothing except the weather.

(SOLE) His SOLE topic/subject of conversation was the
weather.

In the end, I felt I had been right to leave the club.

(REGRETS) I HAD NO REGRETS about/on/over leaving the
club in the end.

It is stupid of you to refuse Richard's offer of a loan.

(IDIOT) You are an IDIOT to refuse Richard's offer of a loan.

The company has decided to replace this model.

(INTENTION) It's the company's INTENTION to replace this
model.

In the next few years we'll probably hear a lot more about
environmental pollution.
(LIKELY) We're likely to hear a lot more about
environmental pollution in the next few years.

Keeping calm is the secret of passing your driving test.

AS LONG AS you (can) keep/stay calm, you
will/should/ought to pass your driving test.

Immediately after his appointment to the post, the new

editor fell ill.
NO SOONER had he been/was he appointed to the post
than the new editor fell ill.

The protest has been so vociferous that the committee

has had to reconsider.
THERE HAS BEEN such a vociferous protest that the
committee has had to reconsider.

You think that fat people are always jolly but you are
wrong.
CONTRARY TO your belief/opinion, fat people are not
always jolly.

My boss works better when he's pressed for time.

THE LESS time my boss has, the better he works.

The patient recovered more rapidly than expected.

THE PATIENT MADE a more rapid/a quicker/faster recovery
than expected.

There isn't a pair of thermal socks left in the shop,

Madam.
WE ARE COMPLETELY (sold) out of thermal socks, Madam.

Their chances of success are small.

IT'S NOT (very) likely (that) they will succeed.

Their problems are all self-inflicted.

(MAKING) Their problems are all of their own MAKING.
Of your own making = Your own fault: Li ca ring mnh.

The travel agent was able to offer a 50% reductionon

holidays to the Costa Brava.
(HALF) The travel agent was able to offer HALF-PRICE
holidays to the Costa Brava.

If you take that job, you'll have to get up at 6 a.m every

morning
(MEAN) Taking that job will MEAN (that) you'll have to get
up at 6a.m every morning.

The only thing they could do was to look for a new flat.
(ALTERNATIVE) They had no ALTERNATIVE but to look for a
new flat.

If only one could rely on what she says.

(PITY) IT'S A PITY (that) one/we cannot rely on what she
says.

An open fire can't be compared to central heating.

(COMPARISON) There is no COMPARISON between an open
fire and central heating.
Comparison between 2 things.

I remember very few things about my childhood.

(SCARCELY) I can SCARCELY remember anything /a thing

about my childhood.
Scarcely = Hardly = Rarely = Barely.

Several members of the committee said they were

worried abot the chairman's proposals.
(CONCERN) Several members of the committee EXPRESSed
CONCERN about/at/over the chairman's proposal.
To EXPRESS CONCERN: By t quan ngi.

The river Volta overflowed last year.

(BURST) The river Volta BURST its banks last year.

Some people will do anything to lose weight.

(LENGTHS) Some people will DO/ GO TO GREAT LENGTHS to
lose weight.
To GO TO GREATH LENGTHS = To TRY YOUR BEST.

The number of people out of work has been going down

little by little.
(GRADUAL) There has been a GRADUAL
decrease/decline/fall in the number of people out of work.

House prices have risen dramatically this year.

THERE HAS been a dramatic increase in (the) house prices
this year.

This affair does not concern you.

THIS AFFAIR IS NO concern of yours.
No concern of yours = None of your business.

You must submit articles for the magazine by June 18th.

THE FINAL DATE for you to submit articles for the magazine
is June 18th.

Although Jimmy was the stronger of the two, his attacker

soon overpowered him.
DESPITE HIS (superior) strength, Jimmy was (soon)
overpowered by his attacker.

What a surprise to see you here!

FANCY seeing you here!
Fancy (v, BrE) = Like.

Gerald never had enough to live on until he married that

rich businesswoman.
(SHORT) Gerald was (always) SHORT OF MONEY
until/before he married that rich businesswoman.

William decided that an actor's life was not for him.

(CUT) William (decided that he) was not CUT OUT to be an
actor.

You're under no obligation to accept their offer.

YOU CAN PLEASE yourself/ yourselves about whether you
accept their offer or not.

The company presents a gold watch to each of its retiring

employees.
EACH of the company's retiring employee is represented a
gold watch.

The only thing that kept us out of prison was the way he
spoke the local dialect.
BUT FOR HIS COMMAND of (the) local dialect we would
have been jailed/ put into jail.

My father finds maps hard to follow.

MY FATHER HAS difficulty following maps.

Under no circumstances should you phone the police.

THE LAST thing you should/must/ought to do is to
phone/phoning the police.

People don't want to buy cars with large engines any

more
(CALL) There isn't much CALL FOR cars with large engines.
Call (for) = Demand: Nhu cu.

Twenty years ago this region produced twice as much

coal as it does now.
(HALVED) Coal production/The coal produced in this region
has (been) HALVED in the last 20 years.
Halve (v, from "half") Gim na.

The prime Minister is unlikely to call an early general

election.

(LIKELIHOOD) There is little LIKELIHOOD of the PM calling

a(n) (early general) election.
To have LITTLE LIKELIHOOD of sb doing sth: t c kh nng,
= to be IMPOSSIBLE.

Nobody could possibly believe the story he told us.

(BEYOND) The story he told us is/was BEYOND BELIEF.
To be BEYOND BELIEF = to be UNBELIEVABLE: Khng th tin
c.

Scientists say forests are being destroyed by air pollution.

(BLAME) Scientists BLAME our pollution FOR the
destruction of the forests.
= Scientists BLAME the destruction of the forests ON our
pollution.

Blame (v)
li.
- BLAME tc nhn FOR hu qu
- BLAME hu qu ON tc nhn

His reactions are quite unpredictable.

(KNOWS) One never KNOWS how he is going
to/will/may/might react.

The project received the unanimous approval of the

committee.
(FAVOR) The whole committee was/were IN FAVOR OF the
project.
To be in favor of sth = to approve of sth = to like sth.

There are several categories of people who do not have

to pay the new tax.
(EXEMPT) There are several categories of people who are
EXEMPT FROM (paying) the new tax.
To be exempt from sth: Min. Exempt form tax: Min thu.

"That's a lovely new dress, Jean" said her mother.

JANE'S MOTHER COMPLIMENTED Jean on her lovely new
dress.

We couldn't find George anywhere.

GEOGRE WAS nowhere to be found.

Customs officials are stopping more travellers than usual

this week.
AN INCREASED of travellers is/are being stopped by
customs officials this week.

She listens more sympathetically than anyone else I

know.
SHE IS A more sympathetic listener than anyone else I
know.

The minister's popularity suffered as a result of the

scandal.
(EFFECT) The scandal had a bad/negative EFFECT (on the
Minister's popularity).

The teachers agreed to introduce the new methods.

(AGREEMENT) There was (an) AGREEMENT among the
teachers to introduce new methods.

Jenny didn't feel like going to the party.

(MOOD) Jenny wasn't IN THE MOOD to go to the party/for
(going to) the party.

The councilor answered every question frankly.

(FRANK) The councilor gave frank answers to every
question.

It is said that he has been to prison several times.

(REPUTED) He is REPUTED to have been (sent) to prison.
Be REPUTED = Be RUMORED: c n i...

Most stores will accept a credit card instead of cash.

(ALTERNATIVE) Most stores will accept a credit card as an
ALTERNATIVE to cash.

Our opinions on the subject are identical.

(DIFFERENCE) There is (absolutely) NO DIFFERENCE
in/between our opinions on the subject.
Identical (a) Y c, = similar.

Local residents said they were against the new traffic

scheme.
(DISAPPROVAL) Local residents EXPRESSED/ VOICED their
DISAPPROVAL of the new traffic scheme.

I am amazed by the mistakes he makes

WHAT amazes me is/are the mistakes he makes.

No one has challenged his authority before.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME (that) someone has challenged his
authority.

"If Brian doesn't train harder, I won't select him for the
team," said the manager.
THE MANAGER THREATENED not to select Brian (if he didn't
train harder/unless he trained harder).

You'll certainly meet lots of people in your new job.

YOU ARE bound/sure/certain to meet lots of people.

I left without saying goodbye as I didn't want to disturb

the meeting.
RATHER than disturb the meeting, I left without saying
goodbye.

There aren't many other books which explain this

problem so well.
IN FEW OTHER BOOKS would one see this problem well
EXPLAINED.

I dislike it when people criticize me unfairly.

I OBJECT to people criticizing me unfairly.

Robert is sorry now that he didn't accept the job.

ROBERT NOW WISHES (that) he had taken/accepted the
job.

If interst rates are cut, the economic situation may

improve.
(REDUCTION) A REDUCTION OF/IN interest rates may
improve the economic situation.

The architect's new design was heavily criticized.

(CRITICISM) There was a heavy criticism of the architect's
new design.
= The architect's new design suffered from a heavy
CRITICISM.

Very little money was raised by the charity appeal

(RESPONSE) There was very little RESPONSE to the charity
appeal.

Ours is the only company allowed to import these

chemicals
(MONOPOLY) Our company has got (the/a) MONOPOLY
of/on/over the importation of these chemicals.
To have a/the monopoly on sth: c quyn.

The coach's tactics were directly responsible for the

team's defeat.
(CONSEQUENCE) The team's defeat was a/the direct
consequence of the coach's tactics.
= As a CONSEQUENCE of...., the team was defeated.

We have no idea where he is.

(WHEREABOUTS) We don't know his WHEREABOUTS/His
WHEREABOUTS is/are unknown to us.

The policeman acted quickly and averted an accident.

(PROMPT) The PROMPT action of the policeman averted an
accident.
Avert (v) y lui, ngn nga, = to PREVENT.

This new record is certain to sell a lot of copies

(DOUBT) There is NO DOUBT that this new record will sell a
lot of copies.
There is no doubt...: Khng cn nghi ng g na.

"Nothing will persuade me to sleep in that haunted

house," she said.
SHE FLATLY refused to sleep in that haunted house.
To FLATLY RUFUSE: T chi thng thng.

It wasn't necessary for them to call for help after all.

THEY didn't have/need to call for help after all.

You won't find a more dedicated worker anywhere than

Mrs. Jones.
NOWHERE will you find a more dedicated worker than Mrs.
Jones.

I want to be left alone.

(DISTURBED) I don't want to be DISTURBED.

He took the company to court on the grounds of unfair

dismissal.
(UNFAIRLY) He took the company to court on the grounds of
being UNFAIRLY dismissed.

We're likely to be a little late, I'm afraid.

(EVERY) There's EVERY LIKELIHOOD/ POSSIBILITY that we'll
be a little late.
To have every likelihood/ possibility: C mi kh nng.

The Committee said they liked the first proposal best.

(PREFERENCE) The committee EXPRESSed A PREFERENCE
for the first proposal.
To express a preference for sth = to prefer: Thch hn.

I really must answer all these letters.

(GET DOWN) I really must GET DOWN TO answerING all
these letters.

It's not your fault.

(BLAME) You are NOT TO BLAME.

People seem to be criticizing the police quite a lot

nowadays.
(CRITICISM) There's quite a lot of CRITICISM directed at the
police nowadays.

In a nutshell, the man's an idiot.

(BLUNTLY) BLUNTLY, the man's an idiot.
In a nutshell: Ni ngn gn l. (=to put it in a nutshell)
Bluntly: Thng thng m ni.

I'm dying to meet them.

(WAIT) I (just) CAN'T WAIT to meet them.

They lay on the beach the whole week sunbathing.

(SPENT) They SPENT the whole week LYING on the beach
sunbathing.

I SERIOUSLY DOUBT whether this will work.

(DOUBTS) I have serious doubts as to whether this will
work.

I have no intention of giving up now.

(TEND) I DO NOT INTEND to give up now.

Richard only took over the family business because his

father decided to retire early.
HAD it not been for his father's early retirement, Richard
wouldn't have taken over the family business.

We would always take great care when flying at night.

WE ALWAYS USED to have/keep our wits about us when
flying at night.
KEEP/HAVE YOUR WITS ABOUT YOU
- aware of what is happening
- ready to think and act quickly

There haven't been such a long queues at the cinema

since the release of the last blockbuster.
NOT since the release of the last blockbuster have there
been such long queues at the cinema.

I will only be satisfied if the manager apologizes fully.

NOTHING SHORT of a full apology from the manager will
satisfy me.

She was concentrating so hard on her work that she

didn't notice when I came in. (WRAPPED)
She was so WRAPPED UP IN HER WORK that she didn't
notice when I came in.
BE WRAPPED UP IN WORK
- up to ears in work
- up to your neck in work
- snowed under with work
- to have too much on your plate

The price of the house has been reduced as much as

possible because the owner needs some money. (BONE)
The house has been CUT/PARED TO THE BONE because the
owner needs some money.
CUT/PARE STH TO THE BONE
- to reduce sth as much as possible

The permit expires at the end of the month.

THE PERMIT IS NOT valid at the end of the month.

The first sign of the disease is blurred vision. (ONSET)

THE ONSET of the disease is blurred vision.
ONSET (n)
- the first sign of sth bad

Don't say anything negative about her hair because she's

very sensitive and might be offended by your remarks.
(OFFENCE)
Don't say anything negative about her hair because she's
very sensitive and might TAKE OFFENCE AT your remarks.
TAKE OFFENCE AT STH
- to take exception to sth
- to feel upset and annoyed

The new teacher was so nervous that the class react

mischievously. (REACTION)
The new teacher's nervousness drew mischievous
REACTION from the class.
DRAW STH FROM STH
- to get something from a particular place

George seems to have been putting his website together

for a long time. (UNDER CONSTRUCTION)
George's website seems to have been UNDER
CONSTRUCTION for a long time.
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
- being built

They've been having discussions on the issue for over

two weeks. (PROGRESS)
Discussions on the issue have been IN THE PROGRESS for
over two weeks.

The accused never expressed regret for what he had

done. (TIME)
AT NO TIME did the accused expressed regret for what he
had done.
AT NO TIME

- on no occasion
- never

These adverts look exactly the same as the articles in this

magazine. (DIFFERENCE)
It's impossible to TELL THE DIFFERENCE between the
adverts in this magazine.

Terry and I started arguing about the situation in the

Middle East. (INTO)
I GOT INTO AN ARGUMENT WITH Terry about the situation
in the Middle East.
GET INTO AN ARGUMENT
- to start to argue
- to argue over/about sth
- up in arms about sth

There's no need for me to tell you that you'll be paid

handsomely for this. (SAYING)
It GOES WITHOUT SAYING that you'll be paid handsomely
for this.
IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING (that...)
- obviously
- certainly

In the end Pauline phoned the insurance firm.

WHAT Pauline did in the end was phone the insurance firm.

I wouldn't eat too many of those, if I were you.

YOU'D better not eat too many of those.

It's possible that Mary and helen have not heard from the
bank yet.
MARY AND HELEN might/may not have heard from the bank
yet.

By law, all rear-seat passengers are obliged to wear seatbelts.

BY LAW, SEAT-BELTS have to be worn by all rear-seat
passengers.

In the end of nuclear weapon being used, we are all

doomed.

SHOULD IT happen that nuclear weapons are used, we are

all doomed.

You haven't by any chance got a copy of the report, have

you?
THERE isn't any chance of you having a copy of the report,
is there?

She felt so disappointed that she suddenly started to cry.

(SUCH)
Her disappointment was SUCH that she burst into tears.

The boy's work can surely be improved. (OF)

The boy's work must be CAPABLE OF improvement/being
improved.

The Japanese are the best at making pocket-sized

technology. (COMES)
The Japanese are SECOND TO NONE WHEN IT COMES TO
making pocket-sized technology.
SECOND TO NONE
- the best
- the peerless
WHEN IT COMES TO DOING STH
- when mentioning sth

If the applicants are all equal in qualification and ability,

we'll choose those who applied first. (PAR)
If the applicants are all ON A PAR, we'll choose those who
applied first.
ON A PAR (with sb/sth)
- equally good, fine etc.

No one likes his behaviour. (DESIRED)

The way he behaves LEAVES A LOT TO BE DESIRED.
LEAVE A LOT TO BE DESIRED
- bad
- unacceptable

She wasn't very big but she was very strong. (LACKED)
What she LACKED in size she made up in strength.

More than 300 workers were considered useless after the

factory had closed down. (SCRAP)
With the closure of the factory, more than 300 workers
were THROWN ON THE SCRAP HEAP.
THROW SB ON THE SCRAP HEAP
- make sb useless
- make sb unemployed

No one could deny that he had won all the international

competitions. (UNDISPUTED)
He was the UNDISPUTED champion of the world.
UNDISPUTED
- undoubted
- indubitable

You can be highly intelligent but not have much common

sense.
HAVING common sense doesn't mean that you are highly
intelligent.

The audience didn't enjoy his performance. (DOWN)

The audience didn't GO DOWN WELL WITH his
performance.
GO DOWN WELL WITH STH
- to like sth

Although she was upset, there was never any question of

revenge. (LAST)
Upset as she was, revenge was THE LAST THING ON HER
MIND.

You must not leave the iron switched on for a long time.
ON NO OCCASION should you leave the iron switched on
for a long time.
ON NO OCCASION
- at no time
- never

If you want, you can leave. (LIBERTY)

You are AT LIBERTY to leave as you wish.

AT LIBERTY
- free
- allowed to do sth

That jacket of yours is worn-out - isn't it time you bought

a new one?
That jacket of yours has SEEN ITS BETTER DAYS - isn't it
time to buy a new one?
HAVE SEEN BETTER DAYS
- old
- in bad condition
- worn-out (of clothes)

Joe waited for her, pretending to tie his shoelaces.

(PRETENCE)
Joe waited for her UNDER THE PRETENCE OF tying his
shoelaces.
UNDER THE PRETENCE OF DOING STH
- pretending to do sth

She didn't make a noise for fear of walking up her

parents. (LEST)
She didn't make a noise LEST she wake her parents.
LEST SB DO STH
- for fear of/that...

Because of being injured, he was no longer a candidate

for the title. (CONTENTION)
Injury PUT HIM OUT OF CONTENTION for the contention.
PUT SB IN/OUT OF CONTENTION (for sth)
- to make sb able/unable to contend

As far as I'm concerned, the project is nearly completed.

(NEARING)
TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, the project is NEARING
completion.
TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE
- as far as I'm concerned
- as far as I know

- as far as is known
Near (v).
Nearing completion (coll).

The two sides never looked likely to reach an agreement.

AT NO TIME did the two sides look likely to reach an
agreement.

For further information, please send a self-addressed

envelope to the above address.
FURTHER INFORMATION CAN be obtained by sending a selfaddressed envelope to the above address.

With six children to look after, she is extremely busy.

(HANDS)
With six children ON HER HANDS, she is extremely busy.
HAVE STH ON YOUR HANDS
- to have difficulties to deal with

Only final-year students are allowed to use the main

college car park. (RESTRICTED)
The use of the main college car park is RESTRICTED TO
final-year students
RESTRICTED TO SB
- limited to sb

The new computer system has caused quite a few

problems for the manager. (AGAINST)
The manager has COME UP AGAINST quite a few problems
with the new computer system.
COME UP AGAINST STH
- to deal with difficulties
- to face sth difficult

We agreed that each of us would do this washing-up on

alternative days. (TURNS)
We agreed that each of us would TAKE TURNS to do this
washing-up.

You should be able to dress yourself by now.

IT'S HIGH time you dressed yourself by now.

Could I stay with you in Chicago for a few days, John?

(PUT)
Could you PUT ME UP in Chicago for a few days, John?
PUT SB UP
- to let sb stay in your house
- to let sb rent your house

I didn't feel like doing something energetic. (MOOD)

I was not IN THE MOOD for doing something energetic.
IN THE MOOD for doing/to do sth
- to feel like doing sth
- to feel up to do sth
- to want/like to do sth

* If I hadn't helped you, you would have been in trouble

with your girlfriend.
WERE I not to have helped you, you would have been in
trouble with your girlfriend.

He wasn't present at the party, which made her very

happy. However, no one expected to welcome him.
HAD he been present, she wouldn't have been happy, nor
he would have been welcomed.

People shouldn't think that Miss World must have the

great appearance.
IT IS NOT ALWAYS thought ESSENTIAL that Miss World must
have the great appearance.
THINK STH + ADJ -> BE THOUGH + ADJ

I think that these talkative girls are chatting about my

problem.
THESE TALKATIVE GIRLS must be chatting about my
problem.

He causes me a lot of trouble. (FLESH)

He is A THORN IN MY FLESH.
A THORN IN YOUR FLESH/SIDE
- a person who causes trouble an unwanted shit

I'm sorry, James. But I'm very busy with my work. (UP)
I'm sorry, James. But I'm UP TO MY NECK IN WORK.
UP TO YOUR NECK IN WORK
- up to ears in work
- snowed under
- wrapped up in work
- to have too much in your plate

If you continue to be stuck-up, everyone will ignore you.

YOU WILL FALL ON DEAF EARS if you continue to be stuckup.
FALL ON DEAF EARS
- ignored
- shunned
- ostracized

Our independence on overseas trade sets a special value

upon drive and resourcefulness in export industries.
(PUTS)
Our independence on overseas trades PUTS drive and
resourcefulness in export industries AT A PREMIUM.
PUT STH AT A PREMIUM
- to make sth valuable

* The audience were misled by the idea that economic

recovery was close at hand. (AWAY)
The audience RAN AWAY WITH the idea that economic
recovery was close at hand.

I decided to go home and make myself clean and smart to let everyone know that life has not got me down.
I decided to go home and SPRUCE MYSELF UP - to let
everyone know that life has not got me down.
SPRUCE YOURSELF/SB UP
- make yourself/sb cleaner/tidier to improve the general
appearance

I couldn't stop thinking about the exam despite playing

backgammon with Paul. (MIND)
PLAYING BACKGAMMON with Paul failed/didn't TAKE MY
MIND OFF the exam.

TAKE YOUR MIND OFF STH

- to make you stop thinking about sth

Pete said that Josh doesn't usually lie. (LIKE)

"IT isn't like Josh to tell lies". Pete said.

* I can spend more time with my grandchildren when I

retire. (FREE)
Retirement will FREE ME UP to spend more time with my
grandchildren.

* Oscar is qualified to teach Russian because he has a

degree in it. (HIM)
Oscar's Russian degree qualifies HIM to teach the
language.

I'm glad you now see sense and agree that your parents
are right. (SENSES)
I'm glad you have COME TO SENSES that your parents are
right.
COME TO SENSES
- to understand sth

* I didn't tell Angie because I didn't want to hurt Eddie's

feelings. (CONSIDERATION)
I didn't tell Angie OUT OF CONSIDERATION FOR Eddie.
OUT OF CONSIDERATION FOR SB
- for sb's sake

You have to use logical and lateral thinking in equal

measure in this job. (STRIKE)
You have to STRIKE A BALANCE between logic and lateral
thinking in this job.
STRIKE A BALANCE (between A and B)
- to make A and B equal

Ralph would hand in his resignation immediately if he

could find a better job. (HAT)
Ralph would hand in his resignation AT THE DROP OF A HAT
if he could find a better job.
AT THE DROP OF A HAT

- at once
- on the spot
- immediately

The parents of that girl are furious about her expulsion.

(ARMS)
The parents of that girl are UP IN ARMS ABOUT her
expulsion.

She furiously threw the book across the room.

SUCH as her fury that she threw the book across the room.

I went down with flu as soon as I had recovered from

bronchitis.
NO SOONER had I recovered from the bronchitis than I
went down with flu.
BRONCHITIS (n) Vim ph qun.

However friendly he seems, he's not to be trusted.

FRIENDLY as he may seem, he's not to be trusted.

I didn't realize how much he was influenced by his

brother.
I DIDN'T REALIZE THE EXTENT to which he was influenced
by his brother.

Police are warning people to check for forged notes which

are currently in circulation. (LOOKOUT)
Police are warning people to be ON THE LOOKOUT for
forged notes which are currently in circulation.
ON THE LOOKOUT
- careful
- cautious
- circumspect

Jack made absolutely sure nothing would go wrong when

he planned the expedition. (CHANCE)
Jack LEFT NOTHING TO CHANCE when he planned the
expedition.
LEAVE NOTHING TO CHANCE
- to make sure nothing bad will happen

I could tell by the tone of his voice how serious the

situation was. (HOME)
The tone of his voice BROUGHT IT HOME to me how serious
the situation was.

Vanessa was taken on by a big firm as soon as she

graduated. (LANDED)
ON GRADUATION, Vanessa LANDED A JOB WITH a big law
firm.

Taxpayers had to pay the cost of the privatization plan.

(FOOT)
Taxpayers had to FOOT THE BILL for the cost of the
privatization plan.
FOOT THE BILL (for sth)
- to pay for sth

Don't tell the boss anything about this. (BREATHE)

Don't BREATHE A WORD OF THIS TO the boss.
BREATHE A WORD (of sth to sb)
- to let on a secret
- to give away a secret

You cannot say anything that would persuade me to live

overseas.
NOTHING you say would persuade me to live overseas.

* The chairman's leaving just before you're due to arrive.

BY the time you arrive, the chairman will have just left.

It was difficult to understand her colleagues' open

hostility towards her proposal.
THAT her colleagues were so hostile towards her proposal
was difficult to understand.

The club owner became a media celebrity, as well as

extremely rich.
NOT ONLY did the club owner become a media celebrity, he
was also extremely rich.

David played the main role when the proposal was

drafted.

David was INSTRUMENTAL IN drafting the proposal.

INSTRUMENTAL (in sth)
- playing a main/key/indispensable role
- important

* If you hadn't changed our original agreement,

everything would have been fine. (STUCK TO)
If you had STUCK TO what we originally agreed, everything
would have been fine.

* Mai felt entirely comfortable when her boss was around.

Mai felt entirely AT EASE WITH THE PRESENCE of her boss.
AT EASE
- comfortable

The direct aim of the statement is to make the public

aware of the present situation.
THE STATEMENT BOILS down to making the public aware of
the present situation.
BOIL DOWN TO STH/DOING STH
- chung quy l v...

My sister is not feeling well these days.

MY SISTER IS FEELING a bit under the weather these days.
UNDER THE WEATHER
- off-color
- unwell

I've never thought of buying a new laptop.

BUYING a new laptop has never CROSSED MY MIND.
CROSS YOUR MIND
- come to your mind

Only the manager and the secretary know the details.

KNOWLEDGE of the details is LIMITED/RESTRICTED TO only
the manager and the secretary.

These dangerous lizards live only in the tropical regions.

(PECULIAR)

These dangerous lizards are PECULIAR TO the tropical

regions.
PECULIAR
- belonging to a place, situation, person etc.

We are unlikely to have clear weather for our picnic

tomorrow. (PROSPECT)
THERE IS LITTLE PROSPECT that we will have clear weather
for our picnic.
THERE IS LITTLE PROSPECT (that...)
- there is little likelihood that...
- there is little probability that...

* The police are advising vigilance as there have been

more robberies lately.
Due to an INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF robberies, the
police are advising vigilance.

You may be dismissed if you fail to observe the

company's dress code.
FAILURE to observe the company's dress code may LEAD
TO your dismissal.
Dismissal (n) <- Dismiss (v).

"There is no point in writing it all out in longhand if you

can use a typewriter, isn't there?"
SHE DISSUADED me from writing it all out in longhand.

I tried to remember what has happened all those years

before.
I CAST MY MIND BACK TO what has happened all those
years before.
CAST YOUR MIND BACK TO STH
- remember sth
- take sb back to sth

There is an enormous variety of tourist attractions in this

part of the countries. (MANNER)
THERE ARE ALL MANNER OF tourist attractions in this part
of the country.
THERE ARE ALL MANNER: Despite the fact that "Manner" is

singular and uncountable, it has to go with "There are". It's

like a collocation.
- different types of sth
- many kinds of sth

Her latest novel isn't as good as good as her previous

one. (PAR)
Her latest novel was not ON A PAR with her previous one.

Students at the school are not allowed to go into the

Rainbow Disco. (BOUNDS)
The Rainbow Disco are OUT OF BOUNDS TO students at the
school.
OUT OF BOUNDS (to sb)
- not allow people to go in

David reckoned that his success was due to incredible

luck. (PUT)
David PUT HIS SUCCESS DOWN TO incredible luck.

Don't forget those who are at work on this lovely, sunny

day. (SPARE)
SPARE A THOUGHT for those who are at work on this lovely,
sunny day.

* Alice is the most generous person I have ever met.

I'VE never met anyone who is more generous than Alice

We won't get to the airport in less than 30 minutes.

(LEAST)
It will take us AT LEAST 30 minutes to get to the airport.

Perhaps no one will ever know what happened that

fateful night.
WHAT HAPPENED that fateful night will never be known.

* She is almost certain to turn down your proposal.

I DOUBT whether she will accept your proposal.

No one stands a chance of beating Mansell in this year's

championship.
It's a FOREGONE CONCLUSION that Mansell will win this
year's championship.

FOREGONE CONCLUSION
- a result obvious to everyone

They haven't decided whether to sack him or not.

THEY HAVEN'T COME to decision ABOUT whether to save
him or not.

In the event, the extra insurance they took out wasn't

necessary.
IN THE EVENT, WE needn't have taken out the insurance.

* A great many people will congratulate her if she wins.

(SHOWERED)
She will be SHOWERED WITH CONGRATULATIONS if she
wins.

I remained neutral during their disagreement because I

liked both of them. (SIDES)
I didn't TAKE SIDES during their disagreement because I
liked both of them.

To put it bluntly, we are making no progress with this

rehabilitation scheme. (STANDSTILL)
This rehabilitation scheme is AT A STANDSTILL
AT A STANDSTILL
- making no progress

The mistake in the account was not noticed until the

figures were re-checked. (LIGHT)
The mistake in the account didn't COME TO LIGHT until the
figures were re-checked.

* Their heavy downpour brought their picnic to an abrupt

end. (CUT)
They have to CUT THEIR PICNIC SHORT because of the
heavy downpour.
CUT STH SHORT
- to stop doing sth before it is finished

* The reforms will not succeed unless they are carefully

planned. (CRUCIAL)
Careful planning is CRUCIAL for success of the reforms.

* I feel completely exhausted when I've listened to Marion

for half an hour. (LEAVES)
Half an hour listening to Mario LEAVES ME FEELING
completely exhausted.

* There were very few people who understood what the

professor said in the meeting. (VIRTUALLY)
There was VIRTUALLY NO ONE who understood what the
professor said in the meeting.

It's impossible to predict how long it will take to finish this

kind of job. (TELLING)
THERE IS NO TELLING HOW long it will take to do this kind
of job.
THERE IS NO TELLING +Wh

I was about to hand in my notice when I was

unexpectedly offered promotion. (ON)
I was ON THE POINT OF handing my notice when I was
unexpectedly offered promotion.
ON THE POINT OF DOING STH
- about to do sth

Winning that prize has made him very conceited. (HEAD)

Winning that prize has GONE TO HIS HEAD.

* The prisoner was recaptured as he rushed towards the

gate. (DASH)
The prisoner was recaptured as he MADE A DASH FOR the
gate.
MAKE A DASH FOR STH
- to dash for sth
- to rush towards sth

Before you leave the office, please look at the new

contract. (EYE)
Before you leave the office, please CAST AN EYE OVER the
new contract.
CAST AN/YOUR EYE OVER STH
- to look quickly at sth

* The conflict between two political parties will carry on

for a long time. (MEANS)
The conflict between two parties is BY NO MEANS over.
BY NO MEANS
- definitely not
- certainly not

It's too complex to understand why you quit your job

while you haven't got another one. (BEYOND)
It's BEYOND MY COMPREHENSION to understand why you
quit your job while you haven't got another one.

Since the company's methods were exposed in a

newspaper, people have lost their good opinion of it.
Since the company's methods were exposed in a
newspaper, it has FALLEN INTO DISREPUTE
FALL INTO DISREPUTE
- to not be respected or trusted

If you need any help, please don't hesitate to ask.

If I can be OF ANY ASSISTANCE, please don't hesitate to
ask.
OF (ANY) ASSISTANCE
- of (any) help
- helpful

The audience suddenly started to applaud loudly.

ALL of a sudden there was a loud applause from the
audience.

Attendances at the exhibition have been down this year.

THE EXHIBITION has not been well-attended this year.

* We had a long discussion about the problem but we

couldn't solve it.
WE DISCUSSED the problem AT LENGTH but we couldn't
solve it.

Few people smoke these days.

THERE IS a decrease in the number of smokers these days.

Why are you against inviting Jack to the party?

WHAT'S the reason of your objection to inviting Jack to the
party?

There isn't enough space in this room for a big cupboard.

A BIG CUPBOARD will TAKE UP/OCCUPY too much space in
this room.

The river overflowed last year.

THE RIVER burst its bank last year.

Bill was much taller than all of his classmates.

Bill TOWERED OVER all of his classmates.
TOWER OVER
- very tall in comparison to others

Please make sure you have all the documents available

before the meeting. (FINGERPRINTS)
Please make sure you have all the documents AT YOUR
FINGERTIPS before the meeting.
AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
- getting and using sth easily

Mimi knew for sure her boyfriend was lying to her.

(SHADOW)
Mimi knew WITHOUT A SHADOW OF DOUBT that her
boyfriend was lying to her.
BEYOND/WITHOUT A SHADOW OF DOUBT
- there is no doubt that something is true

Tim tried to be like his idol when he was a teenger.

(MODELLED)
As a teenager, Tim MODELLED HIMSELF ON his idol.
MODEL YOURSELF ON SB
- to try to be like sb
- to set sb as an example for you to make progress, or
simply to follow, imitate their behavior

Be sure to say goodbye to your grandmother before you

leave. (WITHOUT)

Be sure not to leave WITHOUT saying goodbye to your

grandmother.

They'll have to take the dog on holiday with them.

(BEHIND)
They can't LEAVE THE DOG BEHIND when they go on
holiday.

* In order to stay open, the charity shop needs at least

four helpers. (ENABLE)
NO fewer than four helpers are need to ENABLE the charity
shop to stay open.

The motorcyclist rounded the corner at a quite

unbelievable speed. (WHICH)
The speed AT WHICH the motorcyclist rounded the corner
was quite unbelievable.

I'll be thinking of you and hoping that you have good luck
on the day of your interview. (FINGERS)
I'll KEEP MY FINGERS CROSSED for you on the day of your
interview.
KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED/CROSS YOUR FINGERS
- to hope that things will happen nicely

Don't panic about something so trivial. (MOUNTAIN)

Don't MAKE A MOUNTAIN OUT OF A MOLEHILL.

That jumper you knitted for my daughter no longer fits

her. (GROW)
My daughter has GROWN OUT OF that jumper you knitted
for her.
GROW OUT STH # GROW INTO STH

They accused me of causing the accident. (BLAME)

They PUT THE BLAME ON ME FOR the accident.
PUT THE BLAME ON SB (for sth)
- to blame sb for sth
- to blame sth on sb
- to accuse sb of sth

She began to suffer from irrational fears. (PREY)

She FELL PREY TO irrational fears.

BE/FALL PREY TO STH
- to be hurt or deceived by sth bad

The tourists were unharmed after the train crash.

The tourists were NONE THE WORSE after the train crash.
NONE THE WORSE, BETTER, RICHER etc.
- not worse, better, richer etc.

You should always be grateful for what you are given.

You should NOT LOOK A GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH.
NOT LOOK A GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH
- to not appreciate or question a gift

* He said he had nothing to do with the accident.

HE REFUSED to take the blame for the accident.

She isn't very good at arranging flowers. (FLAIR)

She doesn't HAVE much of A FLAIR FOR arranging flowers.
HAVE A FLAIR FOR STH
- to have a natural ability to do sth well

* Uncle August did not suffer from his experience.

(WORSE)
Uncle August was NONE THE WORSE after his experience.

The impression most people have of him is that he is an

honest person. (COMES)
He COMES ACROSS/OVER AS an honest person.
COME ACROSS/OVER AS STH/ADJ
- to be understood in a particular way

* Fred has only himself to blame for losing his driving

license for repeated speeding. (SERVES)
IT SERVES Fred to lose his driving license for repeated
speeding.
SERVE SB
- it's because of sb's mistake

The incident ruined my chance of promotion. (PAID)

The incident PUT PAID TO my chance of promotion.
PUT PAID TO STH
- to ruin
- to finish
- to destroy

Jack doesn't know all the answers, though he pretends to.

JACK ACTS as if he knew all the answers

It was an impressive building but it wasn' to my taste.

IMPRESSIVE as the building was, it wasn't to my taste.

We had not expected we should have so much difficulty

in finding the place.
THE PLACE was much more difficult to find than we had
expected.

I hardly think he will agree to give you a pay rise.

THERE IS LITTLE LIKELIHOOD that he will agree to give you
a pay rise.

* How likely is it she will pass the exam?

WHAT ARE HER CHANCES of passing the exam?
WHAT ARE YOUR CHANCES...: always plural.

* They have discovered some interesting information.

(LIGHT)
Some interesting information has COME TO LIGHT.

* They suspended Jack for the next two matches.

(BANNED)
Jack was BANNED FROM playing in the next two matches.
BAN SB FROM DOING STH
- to forbid sb from doing sth
- to refuse to allow sb to do sth

I really want to see her again. (DYING)

I'M DYING to see her again.

That dress has only the slightest mark on it.

I CAN BARELY make out/see a mark on that dress.

The truth only came out on the publication of the

general's personal diaries.
ONLY WHEN the general's personal diaries were published
did the truth come out.

When you do decide want you want to do, please let us

know. (MIND)
WHEN you have made up your mind what you want to do,
please let us know.

* He liked the new job straight away. (DUCK)

He TOOK TO the new job LIKE A DUCK TO WATER.
TAKE TO STH LIKE A DUCK TO WATER
- to like sth so much
- to have a natural ability to do sth well

There is surely a better way of encouraging people to

recycle more. (HAS)
THERE HAS TO BE a way of encouraging people to recycle
more.

If there's no reason not to, I'll vote for Carol.

ALL THINGS BEING EQUAL, I'll vote for Carol.
ALL THINGS BEING EQUAL: Nu khng c g thay i.
- if everything happens as expected

* The instructions said I should use glue. I did use glue.

(AS)
I used glue AS it said I should in the instructions.

* This system of communication only worked within

groups.
BETWEEN groups this system didn't work.

The enquiry was held in private. (DOORS)

The enquiry was held BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
- If something happens behind closed doors, it is hidden or
kept secret from public view

* He was unable to control his emotions after his big win.

(SPILLED)
His emotions SPILLED OVER after his big win.
SPILL OVER
- to go over the edge (literary)

* She paid tribute to him in her farewell speech.

(SHOWED)
She SHOWED her admiration for him in her farewell
speech.

If you want my opinion, he's useless. (WORTH)

FOR WHAT IT IS WORTH, he's useless.
FOR WHAT IT IS WORTH
- even though it/my opinion may not be important or
valuable

We need to stamp out the prejudice. (GET)

We need to GET RID OF the prejudice.
STAMP STH OUT = GET RID OF STH = REMOVE STH

No one believed in the accused's explanation about the

illegal merchandise during the trial. (RING)
The accused's explanation didn't RING TRUE during the
trial.
RING TRUE/FALSE
- to seem true/false
- to seem believable/unbelievable

What Daniel told me was more of an order than a piece of

advice.
WHAT DENIEL TOLD ME WAS NOT so much a piece of
advice as an order.
NOT SO MUCH STH AS STH: Khng ging nh... m l...
e.g: - They're not so much lovers as friends
- I don't feel angry so much as sad.

* Should they strike the consultant off, she will never

work again.

IF SHE BE struck off, the consultant will never work again.

It's bad you spent your past years doing trivial things.
(ERRANDS)
YOU SHOULDN'T have spent your past years RUNNING
ERRANDS.
RUN ERRANDS
- to go out or to buy sth
- to do trivial things

* We regret not having been able to come to Uncle Tom's

funeral. (RESPECTS)
We would like to have been able to come to PAY OUR LAST
RESPECTS to Uncle Tom when he died.
PAY YOUR LAST RESPECTS
- to honor sb after their death
- to pay tribute to sb dead

You've eaten so much that it's logical you feel sick.

(STAND)
You have eaten so much that IT STANDS TO REASON you
feel sick.
IT STANDS TO REASON (that...)
- it makes sense
- it is obvious

I suspected him when he started being so helpful. (RAT)

I SMELT A RAT when he started being so helpful. (RAT)
SMELL A RATE
- to smell sth fishy
- to suspect sb

The handling of the matter has been heavily criticized by

the press. (SCORN)
The press has POURED SCORN ON handling of the matter.
POUR SCORN ON SB/STH
- to say sb/sth is stupid
- to criticize sb/sth

Our broken immersion heater must be repaired urgently.

(SEEN)

We must have our broken immersion heater SEEN TO

urgently.
SEE TO SB/STH
- to deal with a problem, person or task
- to fix/repair sth

* The government is always changing its policies on

transportation. (LACK)
There's a LACK OF CONSISTENCY in the government's
policies on transportation.

* A party will be thrown for the twins when they return.

(THEM)
The twins will have a party thrown for THEM when they
return.

* It's just possible that we may have to introduce pay

cuts. (RULED)
We haven't RULES OUT the possibility of introducing pay
cuts.
RULE STH OUT
- to exclude

Alex grimaced as he swallowed the foul-tasting medicine.

(PULLED)
Alex PULLED A FACE as he swallowed the foul-tasting
medicine.
PULL A FACE: nhn mt
- to grimace

* Most people are indifferent to the mistreatment of

animals. (SHOW)
Most people SHOW little/no concern about the
mistreatment of animals.
SHOW LITTLE/NO CONCERN ABOUT STH
- to not give a damn
- to not give a rat's ass

* The majority of their clientele is made of local people.

(COMPRISE)
Local people COMPRISE the majority of their clientele.

* The custom dates back to medieval times. (ROOTS)

The ROOTS of the custom date backs medieval times.

* It's difficult to imagine his work being improved on by

anyone. (BETTERING)
It's difficult to imagine anyone BETTERING his work.

Anthony wasn't at all discouraged by this bad experience.

(PUT)
This bad experience didn't PUT Anthony OFF in the least.

Coming second didn't make her feel any better because

she only wanted to win. (CONSOLATION)
Coming second was OF NO CONSOLATION TO her because
winning was all that mattered to her.

I couldn't understand a word of what he said. (TAIL)

I couldn't MAKE HEAD OR TAIL what he said.
MAKE HEAD OR TAIL: hiu r ngn ngnh
- to understand

Bad publicity badly affects sales figures. (DETRIMENTAL)

Bad publicity is DETRIMENTAL TO sales figures.
DETRIMENTAL (to)
- harmful to sb
- deleterious to sb

I'm not to blame for your financial problems.

YOU CAN'T HOLD me responsible for your financial
problems.
HOLD SB RESPONSIBLE FOR STH: quy trch nhim
- to blame sth for sth

Customs officials are stopping more travelers than usual

this weekend. (SEARCHED)
An increased number of travelers are being SEARCHED by
customs officials this weekend.

The store will probably accept a credit card instead of

cash. (ALTERNATIVE)

It is likely that the store will accept a credit card AS AN

ALTERNATIVE TO cash.

It is said that he has acted in a very determined way.

(ACCOUNTS)
He has showed a great DETERMINATION in his actions, BY
ALL ACCOUNTS.
BY/FROM ALL ACCOUNTS
- as said by many people

You don't have to pay now if you would rather not.

(UNDER/PREFER)
You are UNDER NO OBLIGATION to pay if you'D PREFER not.

It's possible the looming crisis won't ever actually

materialize. (BOUNDS)
It's not BEYOND BOUNDS OF POSSIBILITY that the looming
crisis won't ever actually materialize.
NOT BEYOND BOUNDS OF POSSIBILITY
- not impossible
- possible

* The only explanation for him being so late is that his

train was delayed.
HIS TRAIN must have been delayed for him to be so late.

Could you possibly get here before lunch?

IS THERE any chance you can get here before lunch?

It doesn't matter what happens, we'll still go somewhere

nice for your birthday.
COME WHAT MAY, we'll still go somewhere nice for your
birthday.
COME WHAT MAY
- whatever happens

You just can't compare the quality of her work with his.
THERE'S NO point in comparing the quality of her work with
his.

A rise in temperature in the next century seems likely.

IN ALL PROBABILITY, there will be a rise in temperature in

the next century.

* If we delay too long, we are likely to clinch the deal.

THE LONGER we delay, the more likely we ARE TO clinch
the deal.
CLINCH
- to get sth
- to win sth

* The brochure gives hardly any useful information.

PRECIOUS little useful information was given in the
brochure.

You could be arrested for not giving a breath sample to

the police.
REFUSAL to give a breath sample to the police could lead
to your arrest.

My boss doesn't allow us to eat at our desk. (LINE)

My boss DRAWS THE LINE AT us eating at our desk.
DRAW THE LINE AT STH
- to never do sth
- to not allow sb to do sth

* Somehow no one found out he had stolen the technical

design from another company. (AWAY)
Somehow he MANAGED TO GET AWAY WITH the technical
design from another company.

What he told me made me very curious to hear the rest

of the history. (APPETITE)
What he told me WHETTED MY APPETITE for the rest of the
story.

* Don't eat so many sweets and won't have to visit the

dentist so often. (SAVE)
Eating few sweets will SAVE YOU HAVING to visit the dentist
so often.

Some people tend to do better in a pressurized working

environment. (CONSTANT)

Some people work better when they are UNDER CONSTANT

PRESSURE at work.

* Let's hope so-called mad cow disease doesn't break out

again. (ANOTHER)
Let's hope there won't be ANOTHER outbreak of the socalled mad cow disease.

There don't seem to be many talented athletes around at

the moment. (SUFFERING)
We seem to be SUFFERING FROM a paucity/lack of talented
athletes at the moment.

Educationalists don't agree on the value of learning by

computer. (EYE)
Educationalists don't SEE EYE TO EYE on the value of
learning by computer.

There is sometimes a discrepancy between out outgoings

and our earnings. (TALLY)
What we spend doesn't always TALLY with what we earn.
TALLY
- to match or agree with sth

His analysis of the situation was far too complex for me

to grasp. (HEAD)
His analysis of the situation WENT RIGHT OVER MY HEAD.
GO OVER YOUR HEAD
- to not understand sth

It was an extremely far-fetching proposal. (EXTREME)

What was being proposed was far-fetching IN THE
EXTREME.
IN THE EXTREME
- extremely

The actor suddenly couldn't remember what he was

supposed to say. (DRIED)
The actor suddenly DRIED UP.
DRY UP

- to suddenly stop talking because you know not what to

say

A house in that district will cost you at least $100.000.

YOU WON'T BE ABLE to buy that house for less than
$100.000

The Yeti has very rarely been seen at this altitude.

THERE HAVE BEEN few sightings of the Yeti at this altitude.

It was more of an argument than a discussion.

IT WAS NOT SO much a discussion as an argument.

Their chances of success are small.

IT IS NOT likely they will succeed.

* The committee members said they would remain loyal

to the chairman. (PLEDGED)
The committee members PLEDGED their loyalty TO the
chairman.

Saying something is not the same as doing it. (WORLD)

There is A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN saying
something and doing it.

The house was dirty because no one bothered to keep it

clean. (TROUBLE)
The house was dirty because no one TOOK THE TROUBLE
to keep it clean.
TAKE THE TROUBLE
- to bother to do sth

In a nutshell, Joseph's not up to the job.

THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT, Joseph's not up to the
job.
THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT
- in a nutshell
- generally
- generally/broadly speaking

* I felt relaxed at Gita's house because her parents

greeted me so warmly. (EASE)

Gita's parents MADE ME FEEL AT EASE with the warmth of

their greetings.

Since we have encountered many problems, we should

stop conducting this research. (HALT)
Since we have encountered many problems, we should
CALL A HALT TO this research.
CALL A HALT TO STH
- to put an end to sth
- to put a stop to sth
- to stop/end/halt sth

Fancy you and I meeting in the middle of Africa like this.

IT'S REALLY ODD that you and I should meet in the middle
of Africa like this.

Gary is proud of the fact that he is never late.

GARY PRIDES himself on never being late.
PRIDE YOURSELF ON STH
- proud of sth
- to take pride in sth

The goods you want won't come in until next week.

The goods you want are OUT OF STOCKS at the moment.

None of us was expecting to have a test this morning.

(BLUE)
The morning's test CAME OUT OF THE BLUE for every one
of us.

You can't just decide to go on a safari. You need to plan

things very carefully. (SPUR)
Going on a safari isn't a decision you can make ON THE
SPUR OF THE MOMENT. You need to plan things very
carefully.
ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT
- on an impulse
- on a whim
- on a caprice
- impulsively/whimsically/capriciously

Something told me to say exactly what I thought, but I

didn't. (SORELY)
I was SORELY TEMPTED to say exactly what I thought.

The severity of the punishment bore no relation to the

seriousness of the crime. (PROPORTION)
The severity of the punishment was OUT OF PROPORTION
FOR the seriousness of the crime.

In the area, Thailand is much better than all other

countries in football. (SHOULDERS)
In the area, Thailand is HEAD AND SHOULDERS ABOVE all
other countries in football.

* Don't you remember anything about your lifetime in

London as a child? (RECOLLECTION)
Haven't you HAD ANY RECOLLECTION OF your lifetime in
London as a child?

Social scientists find it hard to accept that the fall in birth

rate is responsible for the old age of our society.
(RESISTANCE)
There is RESISTANCE AMONG social scientists to the idea
that the fall in birth rate is responsible for the old age of
our society.

That rumor about the politician and the construction

contract is absolutely false.
THERE IS absolutely no truth in the rumor about the
politician and the construction contract.

You can eat as much as you like for $5 at the new lunch
bar.
THERE IS no limit on how much you can eat with $5 at the
new lunch bar.

You think that fat people are always jolly, but you are
wrong.
CONTRARY TO what you think, fat people are not always
jolly.

It won't harm us to see what special offers are on at the

moment.
WE might as well see what special offers are on at the
moment.

He could certainly make a decision on whether learning

abroad is a good idea.
THERE IS EVERY likelihood that he will make a decision on
whether learning abroad is a good idea.

Tom upset Fiona a bit when he said she behaved like her
mother.
Tom RUFFLED FIONA'S FEATHERS when he said she
behaved like her mother.
RUFFLE SB'S FEATHERS
- to upset or annoy sb

After she married him, he revealed his true character and

she saw him as he really was. (EYES)
After she married him, he revealed his true character and
THE SCALES DROPPED FROM HER EYES.
THE SCALES DROP/FALL FROM YOUR EYES: tnh ng
- you suddenly realize or know the truth

He made an embarrassing mistake when he described his

girlfriend as "plump". (FOOT)
He PUT HIS FOOT IN IT when he described his girlfriend as
"plump".
PUT YOUR FOOT IN IT/IN YOUR MOUTH: nh mm
- to say a stupid thing

* After a six-week strike, the workers have started talks to

solve the dispute with the management. (ENTERED)
After a six-week strike, the workers have ENTERED INTO
NEGOTIATION to solve the dispute with the management.

* Although found guilty, Robson continued to insist that

he was not. (PROTEST)
Although found guilty Robson continued to PROTEST HIS
INNOCENCE. (= strongly said he was not guilty)

* I knew that the whole project could never have

succeeded right from the start. (DOOMED)
I knew that the whole project was DOOMED TO FAILURE
right from the start.

DOOMED TO FAILURE
- unable to be successful

We were all surprised that the plan worked perfectly.

(PLAIN)
TO OUR SURPRISED, the plan turned out to be PLAIN
SAILING.
PLAIN/SMOOTH SAILING: thun bum xui gi
- fine/Ok/good

It's not a good thing you keep agreeing with people's

ideas like that. (TIDE)
You shouldn't be SWIMMING/GOING AGAINST THE TIDE like
that.
SWIM/GO AGAINST THE TIDE
- to not follow what everyone else is doing

I hate it when my colleagues try to get involved in

everything in my business. (FINGER)
I object to having my colleagues HAVING A FINGER IN
EVERY PIE in my own business.
HAVE A FINGER IN EVERY PIE: chuyn g cng xa mi vo

* Because of his lack of confidence right at the last

minute, he backed out of the plan. (FEET)
If he hadn't had COLD FEET at the last minute, he wouldn't
have backed out of the plan.

Looking back, I think he was trying to deceive us. (LEG)

IN RETROSPECT, I think he was trying to PULL OUR LEG.
IN RETROSPECT: hi tng
- looking now about sth in the past
PULL YOUR LEG
- to deceive
- to fool

However intelligent he may seem, I don't think he can

come up with a sudden solution. (RABBIT)
Intelligent as he may seem, I don't think he can PULL A
RABBIT OUT OF THE HAT.

PULL A RABBIT OUT OF THE HAT

- to do sth unexpected to improve difficult situations

To tell the truth, market competitions sometime become

very fierce. (RED)
AS A MATTER OF FACT, market competitions are sometimes
RED IN TOOTH AND CLAW.
RED IN TOOTH AND CLAW
- fierce
(As predatory animals sometimes cover their teeth and
claws in blood of their preys as they kill or devour them)

* We suppose the new models are about ten thousand

dollars. (VICINITY)
The new models are supposed to be IN THE VICINITY OF ten
thousand dollars.
IN THE VICINITY OF STH
- approximately
- about

We are having problems because we didn't take out

medical insurance. (COST)
We are COUNTING THE COST because medical insurance
wasn't taken out.
COUNT THE COST: gnh chu hu qu
- to have problems because you have done sth wrong

The head master is well-known for his reliability and

dedication. (REPUTED)
The head teacher is REPUTED to be a reliable and
dedicated person.
REPUTED
- famous
- well-known

My grandfather had completely forgotten that he phoned

me last night. (RECOLLECTION)
My father HAD NO RECOLLECTION of phoning me last
night.

* When you lie, some gestures can show you are lying.

SOME GESTURES can give you away when you lie.

* My decision to get and dance coincided with the band's

decision to stop playing.
THE MOMENT I got up to dance, the band stopped playing.

It's nobody's fault that the match was cancelled.

NOBODY IS TO blame for the cancellation of the match.

Something must be done quickly to solve the problem of

unemployment.
URGENT action must be taken to solve the problem of
unemployment.

You shouldn't talk to people who will not listen. (FALL)

You shouldn't FALL ON DEAF EARS.

I couldn't make Julie give a definite answer. (PIN)

I couldn't PIN Julie DOWN TO a definite answer.
PIN SB DOWN TO STH
- to make sb make a decision
- to make sb provide details of sth

My husband has had to earn the income since I broke my

leg.
My husband has BROUGHT HOME THE BACON since I broke
my leg.
BRING HOME THE BACON
- to earn money

James Hogg Ltd. is the only shop that supplies this

product. (EXCLUSIVE)
James Hogg Ltd. is the EXCLUSIVE supplier of this product.

I think that my parents cope calmly with everything I do.

(STRIDE)
I'm under the impression that my parents TAKE everything I
do IN STRIDE.
TAKE STH IN STRIDE
- to deal with sth calmly

* Simon hadn't expected that he would feel so weak after

the operation.
THE OPERATION left Simon feeling weaker than he had
expected.

When they broke the news, she stayed perfectly calm and
controlled. (HAIR)
When they broke the news, she did NOT TURN A HAIR.
NOT TURN A HAIR
- to not show emotions when told sth bad has happened

The police didn't mention whether or not the suspects

were armed. (OMITTED)
The police OMITTED to mention whether ot not the
suspects were armed.
OMIT (to say/mention sth)
- to refuse to talk about/mention sth

It's not certain that Jones will get the job.

IT IS OPEN TO DOUBT whether Jones will get the job.
OPEN TO DOUBT/DISPUTE/QUESTION
- not certain

The defense contributed enormously to the team's

success. (MADE)
The defense MADE AN enormous CONTRIBUTION TO the
team's success.

I was about to leave the house when I heard the phone

ring. (VERGE)
I WAS ON THE VERGE OF leaving when I heard the phone
ring.
ON THE VERGE OF DOING STH
- about to do sth
- on the point of doing sth

My friend persuaded me to go to the party in fancy dress.

MY FRIEND TALKED me into going to the party in fancy
dress.

* The thief ran right past you, so I'm sure you saw his
face.
YOU must have seen the thief's face because he ran past
you.

* There's no way we can agree to this solution.

(CONCERNED)
This solution is out of the question AS FAR AS I'M
CONCERNED.

When I grow up, I'm going to be really important. (CAT)

I'm going to be a FAT CAT when I grow up.
FAT CAT
- big fish/gun/noise/shot/wheel
- someone so important and powerful

I'm never going to speak to Annie again. She made me

look foolish in front of all my friends. (MONKEY)
I'm never going to speak to Annie again. She MADE A
MONKEY OUT OF ME in front of all my friends.
MAKE A MONKEY OUT OF SB
- to make fun of sb
- to make a mockery of sb
- to take the mickey/mick out of sb
- to mock/tease sb

You'll have to work harder if you want to pass your

exams. (SOCKS)
You'll have to PULL YOUR SOCKS UP if you want to pass the
exams.
PULL YOUR SOCKS UP
- to try to improve your work or behavior

* It will be necessary to pay the full amount when you

book. (PAID)
The full amount will have to be PAID when you look.

* So many people were really delighted when the

government lost the election. (JUBILATION)
There was much JUBILATION when the government lost the
election.

* The staff hated Frank's new policies intensely and so

went on strike. (HATRED)
So intense was the HATRED for Frank's new policies that
the staff went on strike.

I feel it's wrong that this site is going to be redeveloped

by the council. (EARMARKED)
I feel it's wrong that this site is EARMARKED FOR
redevelopment by the council.
EARMARK (for sth)
- to keep or intend sth for a particular purpose

* What put me off the idea was simply how expensive it

was going to.
THE SHEER expense/cost was what put me off the idea.

* The fund-raisers have not officially decided where to

send the proceeds of the concert.
NO official decision has been made ABOUT where to send
to send the proceeds of the concert.

Every possible effort was made by the orphanage to find

the boy's parents.
THE ORPHANAGE LEFT NO STONE unturned in an attempt
to find the boy's parents.

Experts say that the fall in the birth rate between 1946
and 1977 caused the drop in the number of school
leavers.
THE DROP in the number of school leavers is said to have
been caused by the fall in the birth rate between 1946 and
1977.

The ban on hunting was only imposed because the

Minister insisted.
BUT FOR the Minister's insistence, the ban wouldn't have
been imposed.

We would have had a nice party if he hadn't behaved so

badly.
IT WAS HIS behavior that prevented us from having a nice
party.

* We would like to have a copy of your new prospectus.

WOULD YOU BE so kind as to send us a copy of your new

prospectus.

Why should anybody be proud of the fact that they got

rid of 200 jobs?
WHY SHOULD ANYBODY TAKE pride in the fact that they got
rid of 200 jobs?

* Travellers consider themselves superior to those who

lead a more sedentary life. (DOWN)
Travellers LOOK DOWN ON those who lead a more
sedentary life.

I know I don't make clear what I mean sometimes.

(EXPRESS)
I know I don't EXPRESS MYSELF clearly sometimes.

I only called the police when I had tried everything else.

(RESORT)
I only called the police AS A LAST RESORT.

* The girl's behavior was incomprehensible to the Head

Teacher. (LOSS)
The Head teacher was AT A LOSS to comprehend the girl's
behavior.

He threatened the officers with violence.

HE MADE threats of violence against the officers.

Whatever the methods used to obtain the result, drugs

were definitely not involved.
THERE WAS NO QUESTION of drugs being involved,
whatever the methods used to obtain the result.

* It was the ability to incorporate loan words that made

English so rich in vocabulary.
ENGLISH BECAME rich in vocabulary because of its ability
to incorporate loan words.

To pass the time, I looked through some pictures.

I WHILED AWAY the time by looking through some pictures.

* The manufacturing process was delayed by problems no

one had foreseen. (HELD)

The manufacturing process WAS HELP UP DUE TO

UNFORESEEN problems.

Eliza would never have got the job if her brother hadn't
advised her when she completed the application form.
(WITHOUT)
Eliza would never have got the job WITHOUT HER
BROTHER'S HAVING ADVISED HER WHEN completing the
application form.

* "My trainer's foreign accent makes it hard to follow

what she says", Sue said. (WHICH)
Sue explained to me that it WAS HER TRAINER'S FOREIGN
ACCENT WHICH MADE it hard to follow what he said.

* The guide point out to us the magnificent carvings

above the window. (DREW)
The guide DREW OUR ATTENTION TO the magnificent
carvings above the window.

* We ask passengers not to leave their seats until the

aircraft door have been penned. (REMAIN)
Passengers ARE ASKED TO REMAIN SEATED until the
aircraft doors have been penned.

Keeping calm is the secret of passing your driving test.

AS long as you keep calm, you will pass your driving test.

I left without saying goodbye as I didn't want to wake him

up.
RATHER than wake him up, I left without saying goodbye.

This liver condition is common among those who drink a

lot.
THIS LIVER CONDITION is common among heavy drinkers.

"I think the whole idea is ridiculous", he said.

HE DISMISSED the whole idea as being ridiculous.

It shouldn't have surprised me that my children didn't like

the new, cheaper ice-cream.
I MIGHT have known that my children wouldn't like the
new, cheaper ice-cream.

Her lateness made the boss angry. (BANANAS)

IT WAS BECAUSE SHE was late that her boss WENT
BANANAS
GO BANANAS
- to go ape
- to hit the roof
- to blow your top
- to see red

She wore headphone in order not to disturb anyone.

SHE WORE HEADPHONE LEST she should disturb anyone.

She is not very good at arranging flowers. (FLAIR)

She doesn't have much of a FLAIR for arranging flowers.

Bill changed his ways when he came out of prison. (LEAF)

Bill TURNED OVER A NEW LEAF when he came out of
prison.

You must not, I repeat not, open this box until Christmas
Day.
UNDER no circumstances is this box to be opened until
Christmas Day.

Sorry, you can't do whatever you want. (PICK)

SORRY, YOU'RE NOT IN the position to pick and choose.

This vase seems too big for this small table.

(PROPORTION)
THIS VASE LOOKS OUT OF PROPORTION for this small table.

A lot of awards on his wall point to his great success.

(TESTIMONY)
THE NUMEROUS awards on his wall BEAR TESTIMONY TO
his great success.
BEAR TESTIMONY/WITNESS
- to say you know that sth is true

Concerns about job and public safety are more important

than other issues. (SEAT)
OTHER issues have to TAKE A BACK SEAT TO this concerns
about job and public safety.

Your license may be suspended if you refuse to take the

breathalyzer.
REFUSAL to take the breathalyzer may lead to your
LICENSE SUSPENSION.

Venezuelan mourners queued for hours to attend the

funeral of the country's late leader, Hugo Chavez.
(TRIBUTE)
VENEZUELAN MOURNERS LINED up for hours to PAY
TRIBUTE TO their late leader, Hugo Chavez.

A lot of good men have been destroyed by drink.

MANY A good man HAS been destroyed by drink.

* She was embarrassed when she realized that everyone

was listening to her singing.
MUCH to her embarrassment, she realized that everyone
was listening to her singing.

Mr. Tipper's wife was very sorry she couldn't celebrate

the New Year with her husband.
MRS. TIPPER GREATLY regretted not being able to celebrate
the New Year with her husband.

The journalists only heard about the changes to the

wedding plans when they arrived at the venue.
IT WAS ONLY when they arrived at the avenue THAT the
journalists heard about the changes to the wedding.

* Success in the academic field depends on your ability to

amass qualifications.
THE MORE qualifications you are able to amass, the more
success you will have.

Do you have any idea how Jack made enough money to

buy that new sports car. (LIGHT)
Can you SHED LIGHT ON how Jack made enough money to
buy that new sports car?
SHED/CAST/THROW LIGHT ON STH
- to explain

* The stranded climber would never have been rescued if

his brother hadn't had an ingenious plan. (INGENUITY)
But for his brother's INGENUITY, the stranded climber
would never have been rescued.

* When I started to work, I was so inexperienced that I

didn't know how to send a fax. (CLUE)
I didn't HAVE A CLUE how to send a fax when I started to
work.
NOT HAVE A CLUE
- to not know sth/how to do sth

Nobody knows what caused the collapse of the building.

IT'S unknown what caused the collapse of the building.

* We aren't willing to support the strike, we don't approve

it.
FAR FROM being willing to support the trike, we don't
approve it.
FAR FROM DOING/BEING STH
- almost opposite to doing/being sth

* His mood began to improve as soon as he drank a glass

of wine.
SCARCELY had he drunk a glass of wine when his mood
began to improve.
SCARCELY... WHEN
- hardly... when
- no sooner... than

Were Mike not so affluent a man, Ann wouldn't be dating

him.
BUT for Mike's affluence, Ann wouldn't be dating him.

* Apart from a few minor mistakes, you did a good job on

the whole.
BY AND LARGE, you did a good job.
BY AND LARGE
- generally
- in general
- generally speaking
- the long and the short of it

* Diane finds that creating things tops her from thinking

about her work. (MIND)
Diane finds that creating things TAKES HER MIND OFF her
work.

The manager praised one particular player. (SINGLED)

One particular player was SINGLED OUT FOR praise by the
manager.
SINGLE SB OUT FOR STH
- to choose one person from a group, usually for praise or
criticism

He is said to be a very good pianist.

HE HAS a reputation for being a very good pianist.

* I have little confidence that he will be able to do the job.

I HAVE SERIOUS doubts about his ability to do the job.

I agreed to do the work because I understood that I would

be paid for it.
MY UNDERSTANDING WHEN I agreed to do the work was
that I'd be paid for it.

* Those of us at the back couldn't hear most of the play.

(INAUDIBLE)
Most of the play was INAUDIBLE TO those of us at the back.
INAUDIBLE
- unable to be heard

Sean did all the illustration for the book but no one
acknowledged his work. (CREDIT)
Sean wasn't GIVEN ANY CREDIT for doing all the illustration
for the book.
GIVE SB CREDIT (for doing sth)
- to acknowledge

* Having finished your studies, you must decide what to

do next. (FUTURE)
You must decide upon your FUTURE now that you have
finished your studies.

We didn't phone you in case we woke you up. (SO)

We didn't phone you SO AS NOT TO wake you up.

Only Martha survived the crash. (SOLE)

Martha was THE SOLE survivor of the crash.

Now that their parents have consented to their marriage,

their future happiness is guaranteed. (STANDS)
Now that they have their parents' CONSENT to marry,
nothing STANDS IN THE WAY of their future happiness.
STAND IN THE WAY OF SB/STH
- to prevent
- to forbid
- to not allow

Puzzle-solving is one of her favorite pastimes and always

has been. (PASSION)
She has HAD A PASSION for solving puzzle since she was a
child.
HAVE A (consuming) PASSION FOR STH
- to like sth very much

They all agreed that the new dress code was a complete
success. (HAILED)
The new dress code was HAILED as a complete success.
HAIL SB/STH AS STH
- to praise sb/sth

* She know nothing of her husband's impending

promotion. (ABOUT)
Little did she know that her husband was ABOUT to be
promoted.

She only ever has one chocolate at a time. (PERMITS)

She never PERMITS herself more than one chocolate at a
time.
PERMIT YOURSELF STH
- to allow yourself to do sth

The police had to let the suspect go because new

evidence was produced. (LIGHT)
The police had to let the suspect go because new evidence
was BROUGHT TO LIGHT.
BRING STH TO LIGHT: lm r
- to make public
- to discover sth

Don't let her relaxed manner deceive you; she is an

extremely shrewd woman. (TAKEN)
Don't let yourself be TAKEN IN by her relaxed manner; she
is an extremely shrewd woman.
TAKE SB IN (often passive)
- to deceive
- to fool
- to have sb on

I feel that I don't fit in with the people in the new office.
(FISH)
I feel LIKE A FISH OUT OF WATER with the people in the
new office.
LIKE A FISH OUT OF WATER
- strange and awkward
- not familiar

The two children began to argue fiercely about who had

damaged the bicycle. (BROKE)
A fierce argument BROKE OUT between the two children
about who had damaged the bicycle.

* It's important to be well-prepared for an interview

because if you make a mistake, you may not get the job.
A MISTAKE IN AN INTERVIEW MAY COST you a job so it is
important to be well-prepared.

"Nothing will persuade me to sleep in that haunted

house", she said.
SHE FLATLY refused to sleep in that haunted house.

The news that the Prime Minister had resigned came as a

great shock to everyone.
EVERYONE WAS TAKEN aback by the news that the Prime
Minister had resigned.

TAKEN ABACK
- surprised
- shocked

* A computer breakdown was blamed for the delayed

despatch of the brochures.
A COMPUTER BREAKDOWN WAS GIVEN as the reason for
the delayed despatch of the brochures.

* It would be much better for you to ask someone who

really knows about the law.
YOU'D BE FAR better off asking someone who really knows
the law.

* When I made my suggestion, he laughed.

HE GREETED my suggestion with laughter.

Why is it so funny that I want to learn the saxophone?

WHAT'S SO FUNNY about my wanting to learn the
saxophone?

* Considering how young he is, he has achieved a lot.

IF YOU BEAR HIS age in mind, he has achieved a lot.

* Jane enjoys looking after young children very much.

JANE GETS a lot of enjoyment out of looking after children.
GET ENJOYMENT OUT OF DOING STH
- to enjoy

By the beginning of the next century, we will have used

up all fossil fuels. (OUT)
FOSSIL FUELS will have RUN OUT by the beginning of the
next century.

She gets bored quickly at parties because there is so

much trivial conversation. (SMALL)
Too much SMALL TALK is the reason why she gets bored
quickly at parties.
SMALL TALK: chuyn phim

Your excuse are beginning to sound unconvincing to me.

(THIN)
Your excuses are WEARING THIN as far as I'm concerned.
WEAR THIN
- to become weaker or unacceptable

You can rely on Kate to always say exactly what she

thinks. (COUNT)
You can always COUNT ON Kate to always say exactly what
she thinks.

* We have no seats left for the concert on December

14th.
ALL THE seats for the concert on December 14th have
been booked.

*** Mary knew what the answer was after reading the
book.
BY THE TIME Mary finished reading the book, she knew
what the answer was.

The people who were at the meeting will say nothing to

the press.
NOBODY who was at the meeting will say anything to the
press.

Every day, it's the same routine in my job.

DAY IN, DAY OUT, it's the same routine in my job.

I find his clothes the most irritating about him.

WHAT MOST irritates me about him is his clothes.

Will you please stay with me for a while? (COMPANY)

Will you KEEP ME COMPANY for a while?
KEEP SB COMPANY
- to stay with sb so that they're not alone

He got angry because we all disagreed with him.

(TEMPER)
He LOST HIS TEMPER because we all disagreed with him.
LOSE YOUR TEMPER
- to blow your top

- to hit the roof

- to see red
- to fly into a temper/fury/rage

We hadn't been told about the removal until last Friday.

IT WAS NOT until last Friday that we WERE told about the
removal.

* The inspector showed us four potential hazards.

THE INSPECTOR DREW our attention to four potential
hazards.

He would do anything to win the girl's hand. (LENGTHS)

He would GO TO GREAT LENGTHS to win the girl's hand.
GO TO GREAT LENGTHS
- to go to great pains
- to take great pains
- to be at pains
- to try/endeavour

I think those tools will prove useful. (HANDY)

I think those tools will COME IN HANDY.
COME IN HANDY
- to prove useful

Since their father's death, they have had serious financial

problems. (STRAITS)
Since their father's death, they have been IN DIRE STRAITS.
IN DIRE STRAITS: qun tng
- very poor

I advise you to stop smoking cigarettes. (SHOES)

If I were IN YOUR SHOES, I would stop smoking.
IN YOUR SHOES
- in your position
- if I were you

* John has taken it upon himself to look after the baby

tomorrow. (COMMITTED)
John has COMMITTED HIMSELF TO LOOKING after the baby.

COMMIT YOURSELF TO DOING STH

- to promise sincerely to do sth

Further progress was impossible because of the flood.

THE FLOODS made further progress impossible.

* That's the second time this year that Susan refused to

marry him. (DOWN)
Susan has TURNED DOWN his proposal of marriage twice
this year.

* Your examination results will determine whether or not

you get into university. (ON)
Your entry to university DEPENDS ON your examination
results.

He oftens gets ill at this time of the year. (PRONE)

He's PRONE TO GETTING ill at this time of the year.

I am not normally keen on cycling at the weekend. (IN)

I don't normally GO IN FOR cycling at the weekend.
GO IN FOR STH
- to do sth regularly
- to enjoy sth

* Buying new clothes is something I almost never make

the effort to do.
I HARDLY bother buying new clothes.

* There is nobody in this office that will offer a different

opinion to the one I gave one.
WHOEVER you ask in thi office will say the same thing as I
did.

"Without the rapid growth in population there would be

fewer food shortages".
HE BLAMES the food shortages ON the rapid growth in
population.
HE BLAMES the rapid growth in population FOR the food
shortages.

* Not a word came out of her mouth. (LOST)

She was LOST FOR WORDS.

That hotel is a bit too expensive for us, I'm afraid.

That hotel is a bit BEYOND OUR REACH , I'm afraid.
BEYOND YOUR REACH
- you can't afford it

I don't think it was reasonable of you to complain so

much about the service. (MAKE)
I don't think it was reasonable of you to MAKE SUCH A FUSS
ABOUT the service.

Robert was offended when he was left out of the team.

(EXCEPTION)
Robert TOOK EXCEPTION TO being left out of the team.

* Ours is the only company allowed to import these

chemicals.
Our company HAS A MONOPOLY OVER importing these
chemicals.
HAVE A MONOPOLY OVER STH: chim c quyn

* There was nothing we could do to stop him.

(POWERLESS)
We were POWERLESS to stop him.

* I'm on the tenth page of the report I am writing.

So far I have written ten pages of the report.

On receipt of your cheque, we shall send the goods to

you.
AS SOON AS we receive your cheque, we shall send the
goods to you.

* These new machines have put an end to queuing.

BEFORE these new machines, people had to queue.

I had to clear the spare room before I could start

decorating. (CLEARED)
Only when I had CLEARED the room could I start
decorating.

* Buying a plane ticket at the last minute isn't often

possible. (TO)
Rarely is it possible TO buy a plane ticket at the last
minute.

He didn't ask her anything about her study. (QUESTION)

Not a single QUESTION did he ask her about her study.

Einstein proved that energy and mass are basically the

same thing.
What EINSTEIN PROVED WAS THAT energy and mass are
basically the same thing.

You can do jogging anytime whatever the weather is like.

You can do jogging at anytime, COME RAIN OR SHINE.
COME RAIN OR SHINE
- come what may
- whatever happens

Mary was born in a village very far away from the city.
(NOWHERE)
Marry was born in a village IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.
IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE
- remote
- far away

Jim played truant this morning, so his father has punished

him severely. (BOOK)
Jim played truant this morning, so his father has THROWN
THE BOOK AT HIM.
THROW THE BOOK AT SB
- to punish sb severely

* Coming to class late is inexcusable. (EXCUSE)

There is no EXCUSE FOR coming to class late.

The construction workers recklessly disregarded the

safety at work. (SHOWED)
The construction workers SHOWED a reckless disregard for
the safety at work.

They have known each other since they were at infant

school. (INFANTS)
They have known each other since they were IN THE
INFANTS.
THE INFANTS
- infant school

I was surprised to discover that the hotel was a long way

from the center. (TURNED)
To my surprise, the hotel TURNED OUT to be a long way
from the center.

He easily loses his temper. (FLIES)

He easily FLIES INTO A TEMPER.
FLY INTO A TEMPER/FURY/RAGE
- to blow your top
- to hit the roof
- to see red
- to go ballistic

* I find Tom's behavior quite incomprehensible. (LOSS)

I find myself AT A LOSS to comprehend Tom's behavior.

They've been arguing about the motorway extension for

years. (BONE)
The proposed motorway extension has been A BONE OF
CONTENTION for years.
BONE OF CONTENTION
- sth sb argue about.

I'm afraid our problems are just beginning. (ICEBERG)

The problems are just THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG, I'm afraid.
THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG
- the lull before the storm
- the calm before the storm

You don't have to buy one if you don't like it.

YOU ARE UNDER no obligation to buy one if you don't like
it.

* There aren't many other books which explained this

problem so well.
IN FEW OTHER BOOKS in this problem well-explained.

* His condition improved so rapidly that he went home

four days after the operation.
THERE was such a rapid improvement IN his condition that
he went home four days after the operation.

* You're a trainee for three months and then you become

a junior employee.
YOU BECOME A JUNIOR EMPLOYEE ONCE you have been a
trainee for three months.

* The cause of the explosion is still unknown.

NOBODY knows what caused the explosion.

I think you misunderstood, Kevin.

I think you must have GOT THE WRONG END OF THE STICK,
Kevin.

You only have a short time to do this work, so don't waste

time.
You are WORKING AGAINST THE CLOCK, so don't waste
time.
DO STH AGAINST TIME/THE CLOCK
- to do sth as fast as possible

* They painted the wall very well. (MADE)

They MADE A GOOD JOB OF painting the wall.
DO/MAKE A GOOD/BAD JOB OF STH
- to do sth well/badly

* Although he is young, there are several ministers even

younger than him. (MEANS)
Although he is young, he is BY NO MEANS the youngest
minister.

* Williams remained silent throughout the meeting.

Williams MADE NO CONTRIBUTION TO the discussion at the
meeting.

* They could not warn people by electronic mail because

that might spread the computer virus. (FEAR)
They could not warn people by electronic mail FOR FEAR
OF spreading the computer virus.

* He used to be a teacher, so he really knows what it's

like in the classroom. (FIRST-HAND)
He has FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE of the classroom.

I tried as hard as I could to make sure that this problem

would not arise. (POWER)
I did everything IN MY POWER to prevent this problem for
arising.
DO STH IN YOUR POWER
- to do sth you can

* Jill's success could be put down to hard work.

HARD WORK was what caused Jill's success.

* The sole survivor of the crash was Mary Peters.

MARY PETERS was the only passenger not killed in the
plane crash.

* The number of people who understand his idea exceeds

his expectations.
MORE people understand him than he expects.

* The job is yours provided your references are

satisfactory.
THE JOB OFFER is dependent on your satisfactory
references.

* An announcement of engagement appeared in the local

paper.
THEIR ENGAGEMENT was announced in the local paper.

* His efforts to find a solution didn't deserve such savage

criticism.
HE SHOULDN'T have been savagely criticized for his efforts
to find a solution.

* You won't reach the station in less than 20 minutes.

IT WILL TAKE you AT LEAST 20 minutes to reach the station.

Julie always listens to my complaints about work.

Julie always LENDS AN EAR TO my complaints about work.

* We must include buying new furniture in our household

budget this year. (ACCOUNTED)
Buying new furniture must be ACCOUNTED FOR in our
household budget this year.
ACCOUNT FOR STH
- to form the total of sth

We should waste no words talking to that stubborn guy.

(BREATH)
We should SAVE OUR BREATH BY not talking to that
stubborn guy.
SAVE YOUR BREATH: ng c ph hi
- to not talk to sb
- to consider sb not worth talking to

* The writer's writing styles contrasted sharply with his

spoken language. (CONTRAST)
There was a sharp CONTRAST BETWEEN the writer's writing
style and his spoken language.

* What has this experience taught you? (DRAWN)

What CONCLUSION has you DRAWN FROM this experience?

That reminds me of the time I climbed to the top of

Mount Fuji.
THAT TAKES me back to the time I climbed to the top of
Mount Fuji.

People are persuaded by adverts to spend more than

they can afford.
ADVERTS TEMPT people INTO spending more than they can
afford.
TEMPT SB INTO DOING STH
- to talk sb into doing sth

* It was pure chance that a policeman was passing as I

was attacked.

ONLY by chance was a policeman passing as I was

attacked.

You've got a nerve, implying it was all my fault.

HOW dare you imply that it was all my fault.

* I was greatly relieved to hear that her condition was not

serious.
IT WAS with great relief to hear that her condition was not
serious.

* Be considerate to other road users.

YOU ARE NOT enough to other road users.

* I'd really hate to live in a city.

LIVING in a city is NOT TO MY LIKING.

* There is a predominance of boys in this class.

THERE ARE more boys than girls in this class.

Were you to lose your ticket , no duplicate would be

issued.
Should YOU LOSE YOUR TICKET, IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE
to issue a duplicate.

It was assumed that Roy would marry that rich old lady.
People TOOK IT FOR GRANTED that Roy would marry that
rich old lady.

There were many mistakes in her typing.

Her typing was RIDDLED WITH MISTAKES.
RIDDLED WITH MISTAKES
- full of mistakes

Things considered, he did try his best to save the

company. (FAIRNESS)
IN ALL FAIRNESS TO HIM, he did try his best to save the
company.
IN ALL FAIRNESS TO SB: cng bng m ni

He failed in everything he did. (BALLOON)

He WENT DOWN LIKE A LEAD BALLOON.

GO DOWN LIKE A LEAD BALLOON
- unsuccessful
- unaccepted

Don't worry about that. These problems are just

imaginary. (MIND)
Don't worry about that. These problems are ALL IN YOUR
MIND.
ALL IN YOUR MIND
- if a problem is all in the mind, it does not exist and is only
imagined

Nobody said anything even though they all wanted to say.

(PREGNANT)
There was A PREGNANT SILENCE/PAUSE.
PREGNANT SILENCE/PAUSE
- an occasion when nobody speaks, although people are
aware that there are feelings or thoughts to express

I really think she should stop ignoring me in meetings.

(SHOULDER)
It's about time she STOPPED GIVING ME A COLD SHOULDER
in meetings.
GIVE SB A COLD SHOULDER
- to ignore sb
- to give sb the brush-off
- to turn a deaf ear/blind eyes to sth
- to bury your head in the sand
- to close your eyes to sth
- to shut your eyes to sth

* In my opinion, it was an absolute miracle that they

survived the accident. (SHORT)
The fact that they survived the accident was NOTHING
SHORT OF an absolute miracle.

* She disapproved of my suggestion. (DIM)

She TOOK A DIM VIEW OF my suggestion.
TAKE DIM VIEW OF STH

- to frown on sth
- to disapprove of sth

Payment will be made when the order is received.

(RECEIPT)
Payment will be made ON RECEIPT OF the order.
ON RECEIPT OF STH
- when sth is received

The villagers prepared themselves to withstand the

coming storm. (BRACED)
The villagers BRACED THEMSELVES to withstand the
upcoming storm.
BRACE YOURSELF
- to prepare (physically and mentally)

* Organic vegetables are said to be very healthy.

(WONDERS)
Organic vegetables are said to DO WONDERS TO your
health.

* The Presidential visit attracted such an enormous crowd

that all traffic came to a standstill.
SO MANY people turned out to see the Presidential visit
that all traffic came to a standstill.

* They declared war on the pretext of defending their

territorial rights.
THE EXCUSE for the declaration of war was the defence of
their territorial rights.

* Our science correspondent sees this new inventions the

answer to many of our problems.
ACCORDING to our science correspondent, this invention is
the answer to many of our problems.

* Cheques should only be accepted with proof of identity.

NEVER accept cheques without proof of identity.

* People no longer smoke so many cigarettes as they

used to.
THE smoking of cigarettes is no longer as popular as it
used to be.

* The engine failed because a part had been badly fitted.

THE ENGINE FAILURE was due to a badly fitted part.

* I'm absolutely sure that they weren't playing in this

weather.
THEY CAN'T have been playing in this weather.

It is not a habit of mine to sleep in the afternoon.

I AM not in the habit of sleeping in the afternoon.
IN THE HABIT OF DOING STH
- to be used/accustomed/given to doing sth

I would like to express my thanks for everything you've

done for me. (THANKFUL)
I'd like to say HOW THANKFUL I am for everything you've
done for me.

* They probably don't live at the same address anymore.

(DOUBT)
I DOUBT WHETHER THEY ARE LIVING at the same address
any more.

The authorities have improved the public transport

system here recently. (IMPROVEMENTS)
The authorities HAVE MADE SOME IMPROVEMENTS IN the
public transport system here recently.

He seemed to be worried about something. (IMPRESSION)

I GOT THE IMPRESSION THAT something was worrying him.
GET/HAVE THE IMPRESSION (that...)
- to think/reckon (that...)

When should we collect the books we ordered last week?

When ARE WE SUPPOSED TO PICK up the books we ordered
last week?

It is certain that he will compensate you for the damage

he has done.
HE IS BOUND to make it up to you for the damage he has
done.

MAKE IT UP TO SB (for sth)

-

I don't mind staying in on Saturday night if I have good

company.
I'M NOT AVERSE to staying in on Saturday night if I have
good company.
NOT AVERSE TO DOING STH
- to not dislike doing sth
- to like doing sth

Helen won't be happy until she gets a full refund.

NOTHING short of a full refund will SATISFY Helen.

It wasn't very polite of you not to notify them about the

change of plans.
YOU COULD have notified them about the change of plans.

* We were elated by the birth of our first grand-child.

WE were OVER THE MOON when our first grand-child was
born.
OVER THE MOON
- elated
- delighted
- happy

Being her only niece, Ann is very precious to her. (APPLE)

Being her only niece, Ann is THE APPLE OF HER EYES.

A holiday in the UK is very expensive these days. (ARM)

A holiday in the UK COSTS YOU AN ARM AND A LEG these
days.
COST SB AN ARM AND A LEG
- to charge sb too much
- to be too expensive

* How could you come on Saturday? (SUIT)

How does COMING on Saturday SUIT you?

There's a possibility that you may be able to get a grant.

(ELIGIBLE)

We are pleased to say that you may be ELIGIBLE to get a

grant.

If you wait for a good opportunity until the market

improves, you'll get a better return on your investment.
(BIDE)
If you BIDE YOUR TIME until the market improves, you'll get
a better return on your investment.
BIDE YOUR TIME
- to wait calmly for a good opportunity to come

*** Some people are not able to learn English. (UNABLE)

Some people find it UNABLE to learn English.

* Marry got the wrong end of the stick.

MARRY misunderstood something.

*** The man is a bit over the top when you first meet
him. (EXAGGERATED)
The man is EXAGGERATED IN his behavior when you first
meet him.

*** He is rather A COLD FISH when you first meet him.

(FORMAL)
He is FORMAL and a bit unfriendly when you first meet him.

Anne was afraid her neighbors would despise her for not
having a washing machine. (LOOK)
Anne was afraid her neighbors would LOOK DOWN ON
HER/LOOK DOWN THEIR NOSES AT HER for not having a
washing machine.
LOOK DOWN ON SB = LOOK DOWN YOUR NOSE AT SB
- to depreciate sb
- to devalue sb
- to despise sb

They don't mind which film they go to. (MATTER)

It doesn't MATTER to them which film they go to.

* I was not willing to buy the product because it was too

expensive. (OFF)
The sheer expense/cost of the product PUT me OFF buying
it.

We never buy things in small quantities as we would

make profits. (BULK)
With a view to making profits, we always buy things IN
BULK.
BUY STH IN BULK
- to buy sth a lot

*** We really loved to have a chance to visit the

Colosseum but we couldn't. (FOOT)
We would sooner have had a chance to SET FOOT ON the
Colosseum.

* The committee had a long discussion but they could not

make up their mind. ._. (REACH)
Lengthy as their discussion might be, they could not
REACH A CONCLUSION.

He decided to become the boss of a small company

instead of working for a multinational company. (FISH)
In preference to working for a multinational company, he
decided to become a BIG FISH IN A SMALL POND.
IN PREFERENCE TO DOING STH
- rather than do sth

It was not surprising when my parents were furious with

my getting a tattoo. (ARMS)
It came as no surprise that my parents were UP IN ARMS
ABOUT my getting a tattoo.

* You could be in trouble for not giving a breath sample to

the police. (HOT)
On refusal to give a breath sample to the police, you could
be IN HOT WATER.
IN HOT WATER/GET INTO HOT WATER
- in trouble
- having problems

* We certainly will win if we exchange ideas with each

other. (HEADS)
We are bound to win if we PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER.

PUT YOUR HEADS TOGETHER

- to exchange ideas
- to discuss sth together

If anyone succeeds in solving the problem right away, it

will probably be him. (SPOT)
He stands a chance of solving the problem ON THE SPOT.
ON THE SPOT
- right away
- at once
- immediately

He is famous for his vast knowledge of primitive religion.

(AUTHORITY)
He is an AUTHORITY ON primitive religion.
AN AUTHORITY ON STH
- an expert at sth
- an old hand at sth
- a master of sth

The disagreement was a lot of a fuss about nothing.

(TEACUP)
The disagreement was A STORM IN A TEACUP.
A STORM IN A TEACUP
- a tempest in a teapot

This is not the first time he has openly disagreed with the
party leader. (SWORDS)
This is not the first time he has CROSSED SWORDS WITH
the party leader.
CROSS SWORDS WITH SB
- to argue with sb

He made too many mistakes to be considered for

promotion. (FREQUENT)
His mistakes are too FREQUENT for him to be considered
for promotion.

* We found her manner rather off-putting. (BY)

We were put off BY her manner.

* The police said that the circumstances of her death are

suspicious. (TREATING)
The police are TREATING the circumstances of her death as
suspicious.

I suggest he doesn't know the right answer.

I DOUBT whether he knows the right answer.

"You liar!", she said to him.

SHE CALLED him a liar.

His daughter has startling intelligence, though she wastes

most evenings playing games.
INTELLIGENT as his daughter is, she wastes most evenings
playing games.

In a nutshell, Joseph's not up to the job.

THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT, Joseph's not up to the
job.

* What alienated the workforce was that management

never consulted them.
IT WAS the fact that management never consulted them
that alienated the workforce.

When are the council going to do something about the

city's traffic problem?
IT'S HIGH TIME SOMETHING was done by the council about
the city's traffic problem.

He is so keen on basketball that he spends almost all of

his time playing it.
HIS KEENNESS on basketball is such that he spends almost
all of his time playing it.

If the government urged you to join the army, would you

accept it?
WERE you to be urged to join the army BY the government,
would you accept it?

* The harvest workers think they were maltreated.

(CLAIM)
The harvest workers CLAIM to have been maltreated.

After years of arguing about who would be the first heir,

all the members of the family agreed to forget their
differences.
Who WOULD BE THE FIRST HEIR has been settled among
ALL MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY by BURYING THEIR HATCHET.
BURY THE HATCHET
- to stop arguing and become friends again

He seems to be more active because he has won a

scholarship to study overseas. (LEASE)
That he has won a scholarship to study overseas GIVES HIM
A NEW LEASE OF LIFE.
GIVE SB A NEW LEASE OF LIFE
- to make sb more energetic and active than before

Sometimes I have got a bad memory, so most

importantly I need regular practice.
First and foremost I need regular practice because I have
got a MEMORY/MIND LIKE A SIEVE
MEMORY/MIND LIKE A SIEVE
- to be very absent-minded

* Maldivies attract hordes of tourists to its beach resorts

and 24-hour bustling nightlife. (CLOCK)
It is Maldivies' beach resorts and ROUND-THE-CLOCK
nightlife that tourists are attracted to.

* The company tried unsuccessfully to secure a bank

loan. (AVAIL)
The company's efforts were TO NO AVAIL IN securing a
bank loan.
TO NO AVAIL (in sth)
- in vain
- without success

* If Mary were feeling well, she would have come to Tom's

party. (SINCE)
Mary must be ill SINCE she didn't come to Tom's party.

* In my opinion, computers are more trouble than they're

worth. (HINDRANCE)

In my opinion, computers are more of a HINDRANCE than a

help.
HINDRANCE
- something that causes trouble and difficulty

There was hardly any movement in the traffic in front of

us. (INCHED)
The traffic INCHED ALONG in front of us.
INCH
- to move very slowly

* The letter arrived completely unexpectedly this

morning. (BLUE)
The letter arrived completely OUT OF THE BLUE this
morning.

Sam was really anxious, waiting to see if he had got a

place in the cricket team. (TENTERHOOKS)
Sam was ON TENTERHOOKS, waiting to see if he had got a
place in the cricket team.
ON TENTERHOOKS
- worried/anxious/nervous
- sitting on pins and needles
- at wits' end

Harry was disappointed to hear the news that the match

had been cancelled.
News of the cancellation of the match CAME AS A
DISAPPOINTMENT to Harry.

At this time of year, the area often affected by violence

storm.
At this time of year, the area often FEELS THE EFFECTS OF
the violence storm

*** The tree blown down in the storm were not cleared
away for weeks.
It WAS WEEKS BEFORE the tree blown down in the storm
were cleared away.

* There were very little paper left in the printer.

The printer had almost RUN OF OUT paper.

* Without access to the statistics, I will not be able to

complete the report. (HOLD)
Unless I GET HOLD OF the statistics, the report will not be
completed.
GET HOLD OF STH
- to find sb/sth
- to obtain sth

* The suspect could not explain why he had sand in his

boots. (ACCOUNT)
The suspect could not ACCOUNT FOR why he sand in his
boots.

* He is too irresponsible to run the department. (CHARGE)

He is not responsible to be IN CHARGE OF the department.

* Sheila is worried about the proposed changes at work.

(PROSPECT)
The PROSPECT of changes at work makes Sheila worry.

I can recommend you to the manager; I'm a friend of his.

(WORD)
I can PUT IN A GOOD WORD FOR you to the manager; I'm a
friend of his.

Martine cannot go any higher in his career. (PINNACLE)

Martine has REACHED THE PINNACLE OF his career.
REACH THE PINNACLE OF STH
- to reach the most successful part of sth

* The board had a secret meeting in order to discuss

changes in the company. (DOORS)
The board met BEHIND CLOSED DOORS in order to discuss
changes in the company.

He got up very early this morning. (CRACK)

He got up AT THE CRACK OF DAWN this morning.
AT THE CRACK OF DAWN
- very early in the morning
~ the small hours

* Even though Simon rarely has a lot of money, he always

buys his mom a birthday present.
HOWEVER short of money Simon is, he always buys his
mom a birthday present.

* It would have taken a miracle to save the paintings from

the fire.
NOTHING short of a miracle would have saved the
paintings from the fire.

* If the pay were not good, I wouldn't stay in this job.

BUT for the good pay, I wouldn't stay in this job.

I'm going to write and complain to the council.

I intend to make A WRITTEN COMPLAINT TO THE COUNCIL.

We don't think you should have done that.

We'd rather YOU HADN'T DONE THAT.

Mary's performance in last week's test was nowhere near

as good as it was in today's.
Mary performed MUCH BETTER IN TODAY'S TEST THAN IN
LAST WEEK'S.

* You mustn't open the lid of the machine until it has

stopped making that noise.
Only when IT HAS STOPPED MAKING THAT NOISE ARE YOU
ALLOWED TO OPEN THE LID OF THE MACHINE.

I have searched everywhere for my purse.

I have SEARCHED HIGH AND LOW for my purse.
SEARCH HIGH AND LOW (for sth)
- to search here and there and everywhere

* After her cry, she felt calmer and more in control.

After her tears had RUN ITS COURSE, she felt calmer and
more in control.
RUN ITS COURSE
- to develop and finish naturally

** After a long hard journey, I cheered up when I saw my

home. (SPIRITS)
After a long hard journey, my SPIRITS LIFTED when I saw
my home.

Don't tell them what to do any more since they have

grown up. (DEVICES)
LEAVE THEM TO THEIR OWN DEVICES since they have
grown up
LEAVE SB TO THEIR OWN DEVICES: t quyt nh
- to allow sb to make their own decisions

* It seems that no one predicted the final outcome of the

negotiation.
NO ONE seems to have predicted the outcome of the
negotiation.

They often went to the zoo with their parents as children.

THEIR PARENTS WOULD take them to the zoo as children.

We would have preferred them not to have stayed so

long, that's true.
WE WOULD SOONER they hadn't stayed so long, that's
true.

Her remarks simply made his rage more uncontrollable.

The remarks simply ADDED FUEL TO THE FIRE OF his rage.
ADD FUEL TO THE FIRE (of sth): thm du vo la

We found it easy to do the test. (NO)

We had NO difficulty doing the test.

The new plans for the road have been approved by the
local authority. (MET)
The new plans for the road have MET WITH THE APPROVAL
OF the authority.

* We all discussed the issue at length, but came to no

decision. (HAD)
We HAD a long discussion, but came to no decision.

I haven't seen John for a long time. (EYES)

I haven't CLAPPED/LAID/SET EYES ON John for a long time.

CLAP/LAY/SET EYES ON STH
- to see sb

Whenever we go out for meals, we share the cost. (HALF)

Whenever we go out for meals, we GO HALF AND HALF.
GO HALF AND HALF: 50/50

* It was inevitable that they should feel personally

degraded.
THEIR personal feeling of degradation was INEVITABLE.

* Summerhill seldom has a case of homesickness.

AT SUMMERHILL SELDOM is there a case of homesickness.

* They'll arrive soon.

IT won't be long before they arrive.

It's not useful feeling sorry about something which has

already happened.
IT'S NO USE CRYING OVER SPILT MILK.

She ran down the steps with a group of journalists

following her very closely. (HOT)
She ran down the steps with a group of journalists HOT ON
HER HEELS.
HARD/HOT/CLOSE ON YOUR HEELS
- following sb very closely

He's asking for trouble by lying to the police. (ICE)

He's SKATING ON THIN ICE by lying to the police.
SKATING ON THIN ICE
- on the line
- putting/laying sth on the line
- playing with fire
- sailing close/against the wind

Hal found something unexpected when he cleared out the

attic. (DISCOVERY)
Hal MADE AN UNEXPECTED DISCOVERY when he cleared
out the attic.

Kira didn't say anything about her illness last night.

(MADE)
Kira MADE NO MENTION OF her illness last night.
MADE NO MENTION OF STH
- to make no reference to sth

Paul and Pete share so many similar interests. (COMMON)

Paul HAS SO MUCH IN COMMON WITH Pete.

It would be in your interests to take an early train on

Sunday. (OFF)
You would be BETTER OFF TAKING an early train on Sunday.

* Nobody approved of the new law when it was

introduced. (APPROVAL)
The new law didn't MEET WITH ANYONE'S APPROVAL.

I promised my mum I would work hard this year.

I made A PROMISE TO MY MUM that I would work hard this
year.

*** The witness thought I was a thief, but realized she

was wrong.
The witness MISTOOK me for the thief, but realized she was
wrong.

* The fourth time he asked her to marry him, she

accepted.
ONLY ON the fourth proposal did she accept to marry him.

* The Mayor hoped to have a good day for the parade.

THE MAYOR WAS IN the hope of having a good day for the
parade.
IN THE HOPE OF DOING STH
- with a view to doing sth

* We missed the bus because we had overslept.

(CONSEQUENCE)
We missed the bus AS A CONSEQUENCE OF over-sleeping.
AS A CONSEQUENCE OF STH

as a result of sth
due to
because of
owing to
on account of

If ever student dared to ask a question, the professor

would sigh heavily.
IN THE EVENT OF a student daring to ask a question, the
professor would sigh heavily
IN THE EVENT OF STH
- if

* The soldier entered the castle while it was dark.

UNDER THE COVER OF DARKNESS, the soldier entered the
castle.

They suddenly decided to go away for the weekend.

They decided ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT to go away
for the weekend.
ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT
- on a whim
- on an impulse
- on a caprice
- on the spot

* There was loud applause as he left the stage.

(ACCOMPANIMENT)
He left the stage TO THE ACCOMPANIMENT OF loud
applause.
TO THE ACCOMPANIMENT OF STH
- with sth

Harry was close to winning the big race.

Harry was WITHIN AN ACE OF winning the big race.
WITHIN AN ACE OF DOING STH
- close to doing/being sth

They only reimbursed us because we took legal advice.

WE WOULDN'T have been reimbursed if we hadn't taken
legal advice.

*** The inhabitants were far worse-off twenty years ago

than they are now.
THE INHABITANTS ARE NOWHERE near as badly-off as they
were twenty years ago.
BADLY OFF - WORSE OFF - WORST OFF

* When I noticed it was a formal dress, it was too late.

NOT until I noticed it was a formal dress was it too late.

I need someone to take my place at the ceremony. (IN)

I need someone to STAND IN FOR my place at the
ceremony.
STAND IN FOR SB'S PLACE: th ch

* Mass tourism has been one of the cause of the problem.

(BLAME)
Mass tourism was PARTLY TO BLAME for the problem.

The regiment's reputation was really damaged by his

outrageous conduct. (HARM)
His outrageous behavior DID GREAT HARM TO the
regiment's reputation.
DO HARM TO SB
- to inflict harm to sb

*** Going to and fro with all the cases is what I can't
stand about holidays. (TOING)
It's all the TOING AND FROING with all the cases that I can't
stand about holidays.
TOING AND FROING: i i li li
- the act of repeatedly going from one place to another

Her primus stove ceased to function on the last day.

(GASP)
Her primus stove GAVE ITS LAST GASP on the last day.
GIVE ITS LAST GASP
- stand on its last legs
- in very bad condition
- dead

* The tourists were unharmed after the train cash.

The tourists were NONE THE WORSE FOR their experience
in the train crash.
# none the worse FOR sth

* Besides mapping the mountain ranges, there were

many other reasons for the expedition. (MORE)
There was MORE TO THE EXPEDITION THAN simply
mapping the mountain ranges.
# MORE TO A THAN B

In the end they left me to settle up with the restaurant.

(FOOT)
In the end I was left to FOOT THE RESTAURANT BILL.

The effects of the gale were felt mainly along the South
coast. (BRUNT)
The South coast BORE THE BRUNT OF THE gale.
BEAR/TAKE THE BRUNT OF STH: chu nh hng
- to take/bear the main force of sth unpleasant

*** As a result of bad weather, there may be delay to

some international flights. (SUBJECT)
Due to bad weather, some international flights are SUBJECT
TO possible delay.
SUBJECT TO STH
- likely to be affected by sth bad

* The film was so controversial that it was banned in

several parts of the world. (CAUSED)
Such was controversy CAUSED by the film that it was
banned in several parts of the world.

It's HIGHLY likely that the house will be pulled down.

(LIKELIHOOD)
There is A STRONG LIKELIHOOD that the house will be
pulled down.

In summer the volume of traffic creates problems for

local traders. (DIFFICULT)

The volume of traffic MAKES IT DIFFICULT for traders to go

about their work.

* I felt relaxed at Gita's house because her parents

greeted me so warmly.
Gita's parents MADE ME FEEL AT EASE WITH THE WARMTH
OF THEIR GREETINGS.

*** His whole life was one of deceit and treachery. (HE)
THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE HE WAS DECEITFUL AND
DANGEROUS.

"It's none of your business what I do with my money!",

Daisy informed her father. (CONCERN)
Daisy informed her father that what she did with her
money was NO CONCERN OF HIS.

* No matter what happens, we will never do business with

that firm again. (EVER)
Under no circumstances will we EVER do business with that
firm again.

* Philip's inability to make decisions dates from his

accident.
EVER since his accident, Philip's been unable to make
decisions.

A government official leaked the story to the world press.

(WIND)
The world press GOT WIND OF the story FROM a
government official.
GET WIND OF STH (from sb): nghe phong thanh

Julia soon calmed down and explained her problem.

(PULLED)
Julia soon PULLED HERSELF TOGETHER and explained her
problem.
PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER
- to calm down (and act normally)

* Hardly any of the people in Britain speaks my language.

NOT MANY of the people in Britain speaks a word of my
language.

* There is no doubt that Davis will win the gold medal.

IT SEEMS TO be a FOREGONE CONCLUSION that Davis will
win the gold medal.

* I'm sure that he missed the eleven o'clock train.

HE CAN'T have caught the eleven o'clock train.

You couldn't do anything more stupid than to give up your

job now. (HEIGHT)
It would be THE HEIGHT OF YOUR STUPIDITY to give up
your job now.
THE HEIGHT OF YOUR STUPIDITY: nh cao ca s ngu dt

* Trade has deteriorated and staff are being laid off.

(BAD)
Trade has GONE FROM BAD TO WORSE and staff are being
laid off.

Since the advertisement, we have had more applications

than we can deal with. (SWAMPED)
Since the advertisement, we have been SWAMPED with
applications.
SWAMPED WITH STH
- flooded with sth
- full of sth

* Mary is far superior to me in terms of technical

knowledge. (MATCH)
When it comes to technical knowledge, I'm NO MATCH FOR
Mary.

Mike is never reluctant to make tough decisions as a

manager. (SHRINKS)
Mike never SHRINKS FROM making tough decisions as a
manager.
SHRINK FROM DOING STH
- to hesitate to do sth
- to be afraid to do sth
- to be reluctant to do sth

* The Mountain Rescue Team is pessimistic about the

missing climbers.
THE MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM DOESN'T HOLD out much
hope for the missing climbers.
HOLD OUT HOPE FOR SB/STH: nui hy vng

* The President's bodyguard stood behind him watching.

WATCHFULLY standing behind the President was his body
guards.

The sales director told his staff nothing about the new
marketing post. (DARK)
The sales director KEPT HIS STAFF IN THE DARK about the
new marketing post.

* He stood no chance of passing his exams.

IT WAS INEVITABLE that he would fail his exams.

** It wasn't Melaine's fault that she ended up breaking

the law.
THROUGH NO fault of hers, Melaine ended up breaking the
law.
THROUGH NO FAULT OF YOURS
- although you don't do it

This house is very different from the little flat we used to

live in. (CRY)
This house is a FAR CRY from the little flat we used to live
in.
A FAR CRY (from sth)
- different from sth

* Hard work was what caused Jill's success.

JILL'S SUCCESS CAN BE PUT DOWN TO hard work.

When she sold the jewellery at such a low price, she was
cheated.
When she sold the jewellery at such a low price, she was
TAKEN INTO A RIDE.
TAKE SB FOR A RIDE
- to take sb in

- to have sb on
- to pull sb's leg
- to cheat/deceive/fool

* Any personal involvement on the part of the PM in this

scandal would be disastrous. (CAUGHT)
If the PM GOT CAUGHT UP in this scandal, it would be a
disaster.
GET CAUGHT UP IN STH
- get involved in sth unpleasant

Even if they don't like it, I'm not going away with my
parents this year.
WHETHER they like it or not, I'm not going away with my
parents this year.

* Jane shut the door with her keys inside.

WHAT HAPPENED was that Jane shut the door with her keys
inside.

** It's highly unlikely that the meeting will end before

7:00.
THE CHANCES are that the meeting will end before 7:00 is
LOW/NOT HIGH.

He modestly understated his part in the rescue. (DOWN)

He modestly PLAYED DOWN his part in the rescue.
PLAY STH DOWN
- to make sth less important or less bad than it is

We have made neither a profit nor a loss this year. (EVEN)

We have BROKEN EVEN this year.
BREAK EVEN: hu vn

* We must always bear in mind that many scientific

breakthroughs are due to luck. (SIGHT)
We must not LOSE SIGHT OF the fact that lucks plays a
large part in many scientific breakthroughs.
LOSE SIGHT OF STH
- to forget sth

** When it comes to friendship, I prefer having a few

close friends to many acquaintances. (RATHER)
As far as friendship is concerned, I'd RATHER have a few
close friends than many acquaintances.

* The authorities failed to provided adequate warnings,

which as caused considerable concern.
CONSIDERABLE CONCERN has been caused by THE
FAILURE OF THE AUTHORITIES to provide adequate
warnings.

The restoration of communications and essential services

if of prime importance to the council.
THE FIRST priority for the council is that restoration of
communications and essential services.

* His memory gradually failed as he grew old.

THE OLDER he got, the more his memory failed him.

Trudging through malaria-infested swamps demanded

tremendous strength of character.
IT TOOK tremendous strength of character to trudge
through the malaria-infested swamps.

You wouldn't find a more affectionate animal anywhere in

the world.
NOWHERE in the world would you find a more affection
animal.

Liz said unforgivable things to her father at the dinner

party.
WHAT Liz said to her father at the dinner party was
unforgivable.

* The realization that I had been swindled came much

later.
ONLY much later did I realize I had been swindled.

* The rain brought about the cancellation of the tennis

match.
THE TENNIS MATCH was rained off.
RAIN STH OFF
- if an event is rained off, it cannot start or continue
because it is raining

* The fog is heavier than usual tonight.

THERE is more fog tonight than there usually is.

The fte will take place on Sunday, come rain or shine.

WHETHER it rains or shines, the fte will take place on
Sunday.

* Failing prompt payment, the goods must be returned by

you.
YOU MUST EITHER pay the bill at once or return the goods.

* Thanks to her uncle's legacy of 15,000 dollars, she was

able to buy the house she wanted.
HAD HER uncle not died and given her a legacy of 15,000
dollars, she wouldn't have been able to buy the house she
wanted.

* Batigol is the footballer I admire most of all.

THERE IS no footballer I admire more than Batigol.

* The man's life was one of great poverty.

THROUGHOUT his life, the man was poor.

* Tin Giang is a far less hilly province than Lm ng.

LM NG HAS more hills than Tin Giang.

* There isn't a pair of jeans left in the shop, Miss.

WE ARE COMPLETELY out of jeans in the shop, Miss.

* She doesn't know why they are attracted to spending all

day on the beach.
SHE CAN'T SEE the attraction of spending all day on the
beach.

* The collision didn't damage my car car.

NOT A GREAT deal of damage was done to my car.

I thought about what had happened all those years

before.
I CAST MY MIND BACK TO what had happened all those
years before.

CAST YOUR MIND BACK TO STH

- to think about sth in the past

* I almost gave up at one point.

I CAME VERY close to giving up at one point.

He said he had won as a result of good luck.

HE ATTRIBUTED his victory to good luck.
ATTRIBUTE STH TO STH
- to put sth down to sth

* Scientists have tried very hard to find a cure for this

disease.
ENORMOUS efforts have been made to find a cure for this
disease.

The new science building should soon be finished. (WAY)

The new science building is WELL UNDER WAY/UNDERWAY.
UNDER WAY/UNDERWAY
- having started
- in progress

The new musical has delighted theater audiences

throughout the country. (STORM)
The new musical has TAKEN theater audiences BY STORM.
TAKE STH BY STORM
- to be successful very quickly

* If you wish to complain, you must write a letter.

(WRITING)
If you wish to complain, you must do so IN WRITING.
IN WRITING
- in written form

* His handwriting is illegible, as far as I'm concerned.

(OUT)
I cannot MAKE OUT his handwriting at all.

** It will take a while for your visa to come through.

(COURSE)

Your visa will come through IN DUE COURSE.

IN DUE COURSE
- at a suitable time in the future

* Some efforts will have to be made and try to sort out

the mess. (BEST)
We will DO OUR BEST and try to sort out the mess.
DO YOUR BEST
- to try your best
- to exert yourself
- to go to great lengths
- to take/go to great pains
- to be at pains

To put it bluntly, we are making no progress with this

rehabilitation scheme. (STANDSTILL)
The rehabilitation scheme is AT A STANDSTILL.

This car is far superior to the other models. (CUT)

This car is A CUT ABOVE other models.
A CUT ABOVE
- sb/sth of high a level/class

* They will not announce the decision formally.

NO FORMAL announcement of the decision will be made.

** Its lack of irregular verbs makes Esperanto a unique

language.
UNLIKE other languages, Esperanto has no irregular verbs.

* They have been living in Germany for five years now.

IT has been five years since they went/moved to live in
Germany.

I am determined to refuse his offer.

I HAVE NO intention of accepting his offer.

"Why don't you buy a new coat?" Marry said to her

husband.
MARRY SUGGESTED her husband that he BUY a new coat.

* Leave us your address so that any post can be sent on

to you. (FORWARD)
Leave us your address so that we can FORWARD any post
TO you.
FORWARD STH TO SB
- to send sth to sb

Could you help me with these cases as they are very

heavy? (LEND)
Could you LEND ME A HAND with these cases as they are
very heavy?

* This interpretation is as valid as that one. (EQUALLY)

Both interpretations are EQUALLY valid.

* The authorities in Kenya claim to have eliminated

poaching. (ACCORDING)
ACCORDING TO the authorities in Kenya, poaching has
been eliminated.

* I would like to receive a copy of your latest annual

report. (GRATEFUL)
I would be GRATEFUL if you could send me a copy of your
annual report.

I feel I am not being treated fairly. (RAW)

I feel I'm being GIVEN A RAW DEAL.
GIVE SB A RAW DEAL: chi rn mt vi ai
- to treat sb unfairly

In his recent article, Bob Lee pointed out that all the
faults in the government's new transport policy.
In his recent article, Bob Lee was CRITICAL OF the
government of the government's new transport policy.
CRITICAL OF STH
- criticizing sb considerably

The company have been reviewing their recruitment

policy for the last three month.
THE COMPANY'S recruitment policy has been UNDER
REVIEW for the last three months.

UNDER REVIEW
- being reviewed

* I'm absolutely sure he took the money on purpose.

HE COULDN'T POSSIBLY have taken the money BY MISTAKE.
BY MISTAKE
- by chance
- by accident
- unintentionally
# On purpose, deliberately

** He delayed writing the book until he had done a lot of

research.
ONLY AFTER he had done a lot of research did he BEGIN to
write his book.

Skyscrapers in the USA are on average taller than

anywhere else in the world.
THE AVERAGE height of skyscrapers in the USA is taller
than anywhere else in the world.

** It's more than a fortnight since anyone saw Julian.

JULIAN was last seen a fortnight ago.

The deadline for the receipt of the completed application

forms is 3.00 p.m. on Friday, 18th December.
COMPLETED APPLICATION forms must be HANDED IN NO
LATER than 3.00 p.m. on Friday, 18th December.

She felt uncomfortable in the huge hotel. (PLACE)

She felt OUT OF PLACE in the huge hotel.
OUT OF PLACE
- not comfortable

* The "environmental friendly" label on this product is

misleading. (CONTRARY)
CONTRARY TO what it says on the label, this product is not
environmentally friendly.

** Changes in the water table have adversely affected

the monuments. (GOOD)

Changes in the water table have DONE the monuments NO

GOOD.
DO SB/STH NO GOOD
- not useful

* Make yourself at home. (CEREMONY)

Don't STAND ON CEREMONY.
STAND ON CEREMONY: khch so

** Let me give you a clue to help you remember. (JOG)

Let me help you JOG YOUR MEMORY.

He feels better and interior because he didn't go to

university.
He GOT A CHIP ON HIS SHOULDER because he didn't go to
university.
HAVE/GET A CHIP ON YOUR SHOULDER: mc cm

I don't want to point out a trivial little difference, but your

facts aren't quite right. (SPLIT)
I don't want to SPLIT HAIRS, but your facts aren't quite
right.
SPLIT HAIRS: bi lng tm vt

When she left home, she had to do everything on her

own. (FEND)
When she left home, she had to FEND FOR HERSELF.
FEND FOR YOURSELF
- to do everything on your own

Fortunately, the boat hadn't left. (STROKE)

BY A STROKE OF FORTUNE, the boat hadn't left.
BY A STROKE OF FORTUNE/LUCK
- fortunately/luckily

* Whoever did that must have been a very brave person.

ONLY a very brave person could have done that.

* Doris tiptoed up the stairs because she didn't want to

wake anyone up.
TO avoid waking up anyone, Doris tiptoed up the stairs.

** Nancy is proud of being a good cook.

NANCY PRIDES herself on her cooking.

* My protests were ignored by everybody.

NOBODY TOOK ANY NOTICE OF my protests.
TAKE NOTICE OF STH
- to pay attention to sth

* Kate is the only real friend that Dolly has.

EXCEPT for Kate, Dolly has no real friends.

* Rita doesn't realize how serious her husband's

operation is going to be.
LITTLE does Rita realize how serious her husband's
operation is going to be.

* Offering her more money wouldn't make any difference.

EVEN IF you offered her more money, it wouldn't make any
difference.

*Driving at that speed is dangerous, whether you are an

experienced driver or not.
HOWEVER experienced a driver you are, driving at that
speed is dangerous.

It's such a wonderful opportunity that we mustn't miss it.

IT'S TOO wonderful an opportunity for us to miss.

Go ask Willy. I'm sure he'll know the answer. (BOUND)

Go ask Willy. He's BOUND to know the answer.
BOUND TO DO/BE STH
- sure to do/be sth
- certain to do/be sth

* You shouldn't pay so much attention to their complaints.

(NOTICE)
You shouldn't TAKE MUCH NOTICE OF their complaints.

* We insist on knowing the truth about all this. (DEMAND)

We DEMAND to know the truth about all this.

Everybody enjoyed the play except Raymond. (ONLY)

Raymond was the ONLY person who didn't enjoy the play.

It's such a large house that she doesn't like being alone it
it. (OWN)
It's such a large house that she doesn't like BEING ON HER
OWN in it.

** Who gave you my name and my address? (TOUCH)

Who PUT YOU IN TOUCH WITH me?

* All of a sudden, Alice thought of a solution to the

problem. (OCCURED)
All of a sudden, a solution OCCURRED TO Alice.

It's very interesting to talk to him. (HE)

HE is very interesting to talk to.

Your hair is much too long, dear. (NEEDS)

Your hair NEEDS cutting, dear.

** This is the last time I ask you to help me. (NEVER)

I SHALL NEVER ask you to help me AGAIN.

Mass tourism has been one of the causes of the problem.

- Mass tourism is to BLAME for the problem.
- Mass tourism has CONTRIBUTED to the problem.

You must accept the fact that she has left you.
You must RESIGN YOURSELF TO THE FACT that she has left
you.
RESIGN YOURSELF TO STH
- to accept sth unpleasant

* The report says that the pyramids will deteriorate.

The reports says that there'll be further DETERIORATION in
the condition of the pyramids.

* It's roughly estimated that some turtles lay 28,000 eggs

a year.

- AT A GUESS, some turtles lay 28,000 eggs a year.

- ON AVERAGE, some turtles lay 28,000 eggs a year.

* He's tried as hard as he can. (BEST)

He's DONE HIS BEST.

** They have narrowed many applicants down to three.

(SHORT)
They have SHORT-LISTED three applicants.

I'm not keen on gold, I much prefer silver. (RATHER)

I'd RATHER have silver than gold.

He made an unsuccessful attempt to buy the company.

(WITHOUT)
He attempted to buy the company WITHOUT SUCCESS.
WITHOUT SUCCESS
- in vain

The long-term economic forecast implies that prospects

of recovery look bleak. (ACCORDING)
ACCORDING TO the long-term economic forecast, prospects
of recovery look bleak.

They disapprove of smoking in this restaurant.

(FROWNED)
Smoking is FROWNED UPON in this restaurant.
FROWN UPON STH
- to disapprove of sth

* I'd been thinking about helping them for some time.

I'd been thinking about giving them our BACKING/BACKING
THEM UP for some time.
GIVE SB YOUR BACKING
- to back sb up
- to support sb
BACKING = SUPPORT.

Under no circumstances would I have missed the concert.

(WORLD)

I wouldn't have missed the concert FOR ALL THE WORLD.

FOR ALL THE WORLD (in negative sentence)
- for anything in the world
- for all the tea in China

You'll just have to take a chance. (POT)

You'll just have to TAKE POT LUCK.
TAKE POT LUCK
- to go for sth
- to give sth a try
- to do sth by chance

I can't often afford to spend my holidays abroad.

I'M SELDOM able to spend my holidays abroad.

The Prime Minister gave no precise figures about the

casualties.
THE PRIME MINISTER DIDN'T GO INTO DETAIL about the
casualties.
GO INTO DETAIL
- to tell or include all the facts about something

* The company will make a profit next year.

I WOULDN'T be surprised if the company made a profit
next year.

Imagine my surprise when a policeman appeared at the

door.
When a policeman appeared at the door, I was TAKEN
ABACK.
TAKEN ABACK
- surprised

She slept well last night.

SHE HAD a good sleep.

Only Maria's mother is French. (SIDE)

Maria is French only ON HER MOTHER'S SIDE.
ON YOUR MOTHER/FATHER'S SIDE: bn ngoi/bn ni

* Their flat has been broken into twice this year. (HAD)
They has HAD their flat broken in twice this year.

Linda's plan for a picnic has been spoilt by the weather.

Linda's plan for a picnic has FALLEN THROUGH because of
the weather.
FALL THROUGH
- to be spoilt/ruined

*** I didn't see her again for five years. (BEFORE)

Five years had gone by BEFORE I saw her.

* I found this film quite disappointing. (LET)

I felt quite LET DOWN by this film.

She looks great with her new hair style. (WONDERS)

Her new hair style DOES WONDERS FOR her.

Doctors say that smoking is not good for your health.

(HARM)
Doctors say that smoking DOES YOU HARM.

Why do I always get the boring jobs? (DONKEY)

I'm fed up with always DOING THE DONKEY WORK.
DO THE DONKEY WORK
- to do the boring work

I didn't agree with the idea. (FAVOR)

I'm not IN FAVOR OF the idea.

* You didn't think carefully enough before you decided.

You ought to have THOUGHT more carefully before she
decided.

I'd rather you didn't phone me at work. (PREFER)

I'd PREFER you not to phone me at work.

* Mathew didn't listen to what the doctor told him.

(NOTICE)
Mathew TOOK NO NOTICE OF what the doctor told him.

Teams of experts are examining the damage to the

building. (EXAMINED)
The damage to the building is being EXAMINED by teams of
experts.

I don't mind whether we will have the meeting today or

tomorrow. (MAKES)
IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE TO ME whether we will have the
meeting today or tomorrow.

Don't you regret not learning to swim? (WISH)

Don't you WISH you had learnt to swim?

* I'd like to express my thanks for everything you have

done for me. (THANKFUL)
I'd like to SAY HOW THANKFUL I am for everything you
have done for me.

There aren't many people who have read this novel to the
end, but John is one of them. (FEW)
John is one of THE FEW people who have read this novel to
the end.

Did you enjoy the party? (GOOD)

Did you HAVE A GOOD TIME AT the party?

There's no point in asking George for help.

IT ISN'T worth asking George for help.

Their chances of success are small.

IT ISN'T likely they will succeed.

The only reason the party was a success was that a

famous film star attended.
HAD IT not been for THE ATTENDANCE of a famous film
star, the party wouldn't have been a success.

My parents find fault with everything I do.

NO MATTER what I do, my parents always find fault with it.

I didn't realize who he was until later.

ONLY LATER did I realize who he was.

The fate of the two climbers are unknown.

IT'S A MYSTERY what happened to the two climbers.

If the work is finished by lunch time, you can go home.

GET the work finished by lunch time and you can go home.

Mrs. Wilson says she's sorry she didn't attend the

meeting yesterday morning.
MRS. WILSON SENDS her APOLOGIES for not attending the
meeting yesterday morning.
SEND YOUR APOLOGIES (for doing sth) <- apology must be
in plural form: apologies.

We've been trying to sell our house for well over six
months.
Our house has been ON THE MARKET/UP TO SALE for well
over six month.
ON THE MARKET/UP FOR SALE
- available for sale

By being absent so often, Jim failed the exam. (COST)

Being absent so often COST Jim the chance of passing the
exam.

My impression of her is that she is a very active teacher.

(STRIKES)
She STRIKES ME AS a very active teacher.

We run the business together. (JOINT)

We run the business as A JOINT VENTURE.
JOINT VENTURE: lin doanh
- a business or business activity that two or more people or
companies work on together

Digging the garden always makes me feel hungry.

(GIVES)
Digging the garden always GIVES ME AN APPETITE.
GIVE SB AN APPETITE
- to make sb hungry

I owe three week's rent. (BEHIND)

I am three weeks BEHIND WITH my rent.

What you have been saying is quite irrelevant. (BESIDE)

What you have been saying is BESIDE THE POINT.
BESIDE THE POINT
- irrelevant

These two makes of computer are practically the same.

(HARDLY)
There is HARDLY any difference between these two makes
of computer.

Harry couldn't get his parents' permission to buy a

computer. (LET)
HARRY'S PARENTS couldn't LET him buy a computer.

We can start at either 1 pm or 2 pm.

IT MAKES no difference to me whether we will start at 1 pm
or 2 pm.

* Although her leg hurt, Van finished her marathon race.

IN SPITE of a pain in her leg, Van finished her marathon
race.

* It was such a pity that I couldn't go to the party.

I'D LIKE to have gone to the party.

* The thief must have come in through the window.

THE THIEF ALMOST certainly came in through the window.

* All of you are likely to be able to enter college.

THE chances are that all of you will be able to enter
college.

Alice lost all her hope; she decided to stop her business.
SUCH was her HOPELESSNESS that Alice decided to stop
her business.

* It was disappointing their son failed the entrance exam

to university.
THEIR SON DISAPPOINTINGLY failed the entrance exam.

* We have to settle this matter in a definitive manner.

(ALL)

We have to settle this matter ONCE AND FOR ALL.

He gambled, lost everything and began to owe money.

(INTO)
He gambled, lost everything and RAN INTO DEBT.
RUN INTO DEBT: mc n

They claim to provide the best service in business, but I

think that can be questioned. (DISPUTE)
They claim to provide the best service in business, but I
think that can be IN DISPUTE.
IN DISPUTE
- in doubt
- questionable

You should punish him severely so that others will be

afraid to behave as he did. (EXAMPLE)
You should MAKE AN EXAMPLE OF HIM so that others will be
afraid to behave as he did.
MAKE AN EXAMPLE OF SB
- to punish sb so as to warn others

* When I came back, my car was gone. (SEEN)

When I came back, my car was NOWHERE TO BE SEEN.

Did you see Alice at the party last night. (CATCH)

Did you CATCH SIGHT OF Alice at the party last night.
CATCH SIGHT OF SB
- to see sb

He is a generous person. (MIDDLE)

GENEROSITY is his MIDDLE NAME.
BE SB'S MIDDLE NAME
- to be a quality that is an important part of someone's
character

* I think a week's holidays would do you good. (FROM)

I think you can BENEFIT FROM a week's holidays.

* Graham spends all his time to working. (DEVOTED)

Graham has DEVOTED all his time TO working.

Was she offended by what I said? (TAKE)

Did she TAKE what I said AMISS?
TAKE STH AMISS
- to get the wrong end of sth
- to misunderstand

I didn't expect to see Tom here. (LAST)

Tom was the LAST person I expected to see here.

** If children do not get affection, it is harmful. (LACK)

LACK of affection is harmful to children.

*** Young ladies are supposed not to use vulgar

language. (BECOMES)
Vulgar language doesn't BECOME young ladies.

She was born into a scholarly family. (LEARNED)

She was BORN OF LEARNED parents.
BORN OF SB = BORN INTO STH

The older I get, the less I want to travel.

AS I GET older, I want to travel less.

She listens more sympathetically than anyone else I

know.
SHE'S THE most sympathetic LISTENER I've ever known.

* You have been ignoring me. (NO)

You have been PAYING NO ATTENTION TO/TAKING NO
NOTICE OF me.

Our teacher is so strict that he won't tolerate any

nonsense in the class. (STAND)
Our teacher is so strict that he won't STAND FOR any
nonsense in the class.
STAND FOR STH
- to tolerate sth
- to put up with sth

She's determined to be successful in her new career. (GO)

She's determined to MAKE A GO OF her new career.
MAKE A GO OF STH
- to try to succeed

Since Alberto doesn't like the ballet, we rarely go.

Since Alberto doesn't like the ballet, we go ONCE IN A BLUE
MOON.
ONCE IN A BLUE MOON
- rarely
- hardly
- almost never

I hope you are not going to discourage my plans my

saying you can't go.
I hope you are not going to THROW COLD WATER ON my
plans by saying you can't go.
THROW COLD WATER ON STH: di go nc lnh
- to discourage sth
- to be negative about sth

* She and her date got along well.

They HIT IT OFF right away.
HIT IT OFF: tm u hp
- to get on like a house on fire
- to get along well

We want you to inform all the details.

We want you to inform all the INS AND OUTS.
INS AND OUTS
- everything about sth
- EVERYTHING

* Only if you work hard now, have you any chance of

success. (DEPENDS)
- Your chance of success DEPENDS ON your hard work.
- Whether or not you succeed DEPENDS ON your working
hard.

Now, we start something. (BALL)

Now, we GET THE BALL ROLLING.

GET/SET THE BALL ROLLING
- to start sth big

* My school is not far from my house. (STONE)

My school is WITHIN A STONE'S THROW OF my house.
WITHIN A STONE'S THROW OF STH
- a stone's throw from sth
- within walking distance

We assembled at school punctually and ms. Tan took the

class attendance before we boarded the bus.
We assembled at school punctually and ms. Tan DID A
HEAD COUNT before we boarded the bus.
DO/CONDUCT/TAKE A HEAD COUNT (headcount): im
danh

My father always imposes his opinions on me.

My father always THROWS HIS WEIGHT AROUND/ABOUT
me.
THROW YOUR WEIGHT AROUND/ABOUT SB
- to impose on sb
- to act as if you have a lot of authorities and power

Fat Stephen is the joker of the class. He cracks all kind of

jokes, even practical jokes. He usually makes us cackle.
(SPLIT)
... He usually makes us SPLIT OUR SIDES WITH LAUGHTER.
SPLIT YOUR SIDES WITH LAUGHTER/LAUGHING
- to cackle: ci nh in (dis)

When he does anything, he is always without planning.

(PLAYS)
When he does anything, he PLAYS IT BY EAR.
PLAY IT BY EAR
- to decide how to deal with a situation as it develops
rather than by having a plan to follow

When I knew the truth, I was very angry.

When I knew the truth, I FLEW INTO A RAGE.

FLY INTO A RAGE
- to fly into a fury/temper
- to fly off the handle
- to lose your temper
- to blow your top/lid/stack
- to hit the roof
- to see red
- to go ballistic
- to go postal
- to go bananas
- to go ape (apeshit: slang)
- to go nuts

* Oil was slowly coating the edge of the shore.

THE EDGE OF THE SHORE was becoming coated by oil.

We may not be able to give the concert.

THE CONCERT may have to be cancelled.

This hotel is inaccessible in winters. (POSSIBLE)

It's not POSSIBLE to reach this hotel in winters

* The orchestra is looking for alternative accommodation.

(ELSE)
The orchestra is looking for SOMEWHERE ELSE to perform.

** The coach's tactics were directly responsible for the

team's defeat. (CONSEQUENCE)
The team lost AS A DIRECT CONSEQUENCE of the coach's
tactics.

* Who will inherit the estate? (HEIR)

Who is the HEIR TO the estate?
HEIR (to sth): ngi tha k

The bottle must not be laid on its side. (UPRIGHT)

The bottle must be KEPT/PLACED UPRIGHT.
UPRIGHT: thng ng

* He likes people to call him "Professor". (ADDRESSED)

He likes to be ADDRESSED AS "Professor".

There's no point in phoning Caroline - she's away. (TIME)

Don't WASTE YOUR TIME phoning Caroline - she's away.
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