Idioms Flashcards
able to
Example: John was able to see the fireworks from his rooftop.
ability to
Example: Ants have the ability to lift anywhere from 20 to 100 times their weight.
accompanied by
Example: Children under the age of 17 must be accompanied by a parent at R-rated movies.
afraid of
Example: The little boy was afraid of the dark.
aid in
Construction: aid in + noun/gerund; aid X in Y
Note: You give aid to or for a person, country, etc., but you aid in an activity
Correct: The tutor aided the student in preparing for the test.
Incorrect:
- The tutor aided the student to prepare for the test.
- The tutor aided the student at preparing for the test.
- The tutor aided the student of preparing for the test.
appear to
Construction: appear to + base verb
Note: Other verbs that can take this construction are claim, decide, seem.
Example: Sam appeared to have it all together, but secretly he was panicked.
as X as Y
Note: Used for comparisons
Example: The band hopes to one day be as popular as The Beatles.
attribute X to Y
Construction: attribute X to Y; attribute to + noun/gerund
Example: I attribute my success to years of hard work.
averse to
Construction: averse to + noun/gerund
Example: The school board is averse to radical changes to the curriculum.
based on
Construction: based on + noun
Example: The updated recommendations are based on a meta-analysis of more than 100 studies.
belief/believe in
Example: Her belief in ghosts made spending the night in such an old house a scary prospect for her, but the other guests did not believe in ghosts.
believe that
Example: Some conspiracy theorists believe that the moon landing was staged.
believe to be
believe X to be Y
Example: The butler is believed to be the culprit.
Example: Fire department officials believed faulty wiring to be the cause of the explosion.
better than
Example: There is nothing better than a glass of iced tea on a hot summer day.
between X and Y
Example: The couple couldn’t decide between a DJ and a band for their wedding.
both X and Y
Correct:
- Material from both the textbook and the class discussion will be covered on the test.
- She was interested both in plants and in animals.
- She was interested in both plants and animals.
Incorrect:
- She was interested both in plants and animals.
- She was interested both in plants as well as animals.
- She was interested both in plants but also in animals.
capable of
Example: Studies show that humans are not capable of multitasking in an efficient way.
center on
Example: The discussion centered on fracking’s environmental impact.
choose from
Example: You can choose from dozens of toppings at the ice cream shop.
choose to
Example: This is your mission, should you choose to accept it.
collide with
Example: Hopefully, the asteroid will not collide with Earth!
combine with
combine X with Y
Example: Olive oil combined with balsamic vinegar and fresh lemon makes a delicious salad dressing.
Example: For the salad dressing, simply combine olive oil with balsamic vinegar.
comment on
Example: The police commissioner refused to comment on an active investigation.
common to (meaning “shared by”)
Example: The desire for happiness is common to all people.
in common with
Example: Natasha has nothing in common with her coworkers.
compare to
Used for dissimilar things
Example: The young artist is already being compared to Dali.
compare with
Used for similar things
Example: Comparing the new safety features with the old ones really highlights how far the technology has advanced.
composed of
The city council was composed of residents of all ages and backgrounds.
consider X Y
Correct:
- I consider it a huge honor to officiate your wedding.
- I consider her a friend.
- I consider her intelligent.
- I consider illegal the law passed last week by the new regime. (Note: you can switch the order of the 2 objects; if one is long, place it second, as in the next example)
- The law is considered illegal.
Incorrect:
- The judge considers the law as illegal (or as being illegal).
- The judge considers the law should be illegal.
- The judge considers the law as if it were illegal.
consist of
Example: The reading list consists of both novels and biographies.
consistent with
Example: The shattered window is consistent with evidence of a break-in.
contrast X with Y
Example: If you contrast his findings with those of previous studies, you will see that further research is necessary.
in contrast to
Example: The executive order stands in stark contrast to the president’s campaign promise.
date at
Meaning “determine the date to be”
Example: Archaeologists dated the vase at about 3,000 years old.
date from
Meaning “originate from the time of”
Example: Laboratory analysis showed that the artifact dated from the 5th century.
defend against
Example: His publicist defended him against the media onslaught
defend against
Example: His publicist defended him against the media onslaught
define as
Example: The law is not always clear about what it defines as self-defense.
delighted by
Example: Lena was delighted by her sister’s suggestion that they split the lottery winnings.
depict as
Example: The film depicted the soldiers as heroes.
depend on (whether)
Example: The success of the company depends on whether there is a demand for the product.
descend from
Example: All domesticated dogs descended from wolves.
descendant of
Example: My dog acts like a descendant of royalty.
different/differ from
Example: IQ tests are very different from other types of exams.
discourage from
Example: Sheila tried to discourage her son from watching TV all afternoon.
distinguish between X and Y
Example: From a very young age, children can distinguish between lying and telling the truth.
distinguish X from Y
Example: Are you able to distinguish fantasy from reality?
due to
Meaning “caused by”
Example: The traffic was due to an accident on the highway.
either X or Y
neither X nor Y
Example: You can either eat your vegetables or go to your room.
Example: Neither the search dogs nor the psychic could find the buried treasure.
embarrassed by
Example: Craig was embarrassed by his parents’ public displays of affection.
estimate to be
Example: The family fortune was estimated to be nearly a billion dollars.
exchange X for Y
Example: He exchanged the shoes for a more comfortable pair.
familiar with
Example: Before he took the course in classical music, he wasn’t even familiar with Beethoven’s Fifth.
fascinated by
Example: Frannie is particularly fascinated by string theory.
fascination with
Example: Her fascination with physics isn’t limited to controversial theories.
focus on
Example: You will be more productive if you focus on the task at hand and ignore any distractions.
for every X, Y
Example: For every ten dollars in sales, the company will donate one dollar to charity.
forbid/forbidden to
Example: The hunters were forbidden to enter private lands.
from X to Y
Correct:
- The drive from New York to New Jersey is a quick one.
- The price fell from 10 euros to 3 euros.
- The price fell to 3 euros from 10 euros.
Wrong:
- The price fell from 10 euros down to 3 euros.
- The price rose from 3 euros up to 10 euros.
independent from
Example: The three branches of the U.S. government are independent from one another.
independent of
Example: The Supreme Court is supposed to uphold the Constitution, independent of personal politics.
indifferent/indifference towards
Example: His indifference towards the homeless makes his displays of wealth seem all the more tasteless.
just as X, so (too) Y
Example: Just as the President leads the United States, so the Prime Minister leads Canada.
known as
Example: The serial killer known as Jack the Ripper was never identified or captured.
mistake X for Y
Example: Jane realized when she tried to open the car door that she had mistaken Randall’s keys for her own.
modeled after
model X after Y
Example: The solar-powered concept car is modeled after the American muscle cars of the 1960s.
Example: The little boy models his behavior after his father’s.
move away from
Example: The new party leaders are moving away from the more regressive policy proposals of the past.
native of
Construction:
[person] is a native of [place]
Example: Monica is a native of France.
native to
Construction:
[thing] is native to [place]
Example: The Arnica plant is native to Siberia.
necessary to
Example: Although you need to work hard, it is still necessary to prioritize your health.
not X but Y
Correct:
- The loan came not from his parents but from his best friend.
- She did not eat mangoes but ate other kinds of fruit.
- She did not eat mangoes but liked other kinds of fruit and later began to like kiwis, too.
- A tomato is not a vegetable but a fruit.
- A tomato is not a vegetable but rather a fruit.
Incorrect:
- She did not eat mangoes but other kinds of fruit.
not only X, but also Y
Example: Clint Eastwood is not only an actor but also a director.
not so much X as Y
Example: Al Gore is now famous not so much for serving as vice president as for raising awareness about climate change.
originate in
Meaning “start in”
Example: The Christian celebration known as All Hallows Eve originated in eighth century Europe.
originate from
Meaning “arise from”
Example: Halloween originated from an ancient pagan festival.
originate with
Meaning “begin with”
The ancient pagan festival that became Halloween originated with the Celts.
perceive as
Example: The strategy, while profitable, is perceived as unethical.
potential to
Example: Advancements in artificial intelligence have the potential to change the way humans view consciousness.
prefer X to Y
Example: I prefer reading books to watching television.
prevent/prohibit from
Example: The sign prohibited the group from hunting on the wildlife preserve
protect against
Example: Regular exercise helps protect against heart disease.
provide X with Y
Example: The venture capital provided the company with sufficient funding to expand operations.
range from X to Y
Example: Topics in the media literacy course ranged from source evaluation to the influence of corporate advertisers.
range of
Example: The latest SUV model offers a range of pricey optional features.
rather than
rather X than Y
Correct:
- Why don’t you run outdoors rather than use a treadmill?
- I would rather run outdoors than use a treadmill.
Incorrect:
- He wrote with pencils instead of with pens. (Of with is incorrect)
regard as
Example: She is regarded as one of the top surgeons in the country.
replace X with Y
Example: The baker replaced chocolate chips with carob chips in the vegan version of the cookies.
same to X as to Y
Example: Scientists have yet to figure out whether dreams look the same to infants as to adults.
save for
Meaning “except for”
Example: Save for her best friend, Tina didn’t know anyone who attended her gallery exhibition.
separate from
Example: You must separate the wheat from the chaff.
similar to
Example: Research suggests that the intelligence of pigs is similar to that of dogs.
so X as to Y
Correct:
- Her victory was so decisive as to arouse suspicions that she was using performance-enhancing drugs.
Incorrect:
- The sauce had such heat as to burn my mouth.
- The sauce had so much heat as to burn my mouth.
so X that Y
Correct:
- The earthquake was so powerful that the windows shattered.
- She gave money so that the school could offer scholarships.
Incorrect:
- She gave money so the school could offer scholarships.
substitute X for Y
Example: You cannot substitute charm for good manners.
suffer from
Example: After Jackson claimed to suffer from numerous rare illnesses, the doctor diagnosed him as a hypochondriac.
target at
Example: The early morning advertisements are targeted at senior citizens.
think of X as Y
Example; If you think of mistakes as learning opportunities, you are more likely to succeed.
thought to be
thought X
Example: The painting was thought to be one of Picasso’s early works but turned out to be a forgery.
Example: Everyone thought him a fool, but he was actually a genius.
unlike X, Y
Correct:
- Unlike many butterflies, moths are generally not brightly colored.
- Unlike the spiny anteater, the aardvark is docile.
Incorrect:
- Unlike with the spiny anteater, the aardvark is docile.
view as
Example: Viewing your setbacks as stepping stones is a very healthy attitude.
worry about
Example: The study found that students who worried excessively about fitting in with their peers performed worse in class.
allow to
Meaning “permits an action”
Example: The holiday allows Maria to watch the movie today.
allow for
Meaning “permits the existence of”
Example: The demolition of the old building allows for new construction.
because
Example:
- Because the sun shines, plants grow.
- Because of the sun, plants grow.
- By shining, the sun makes plants grow.
- Plants grow, for the sun shines.
being
Example:
- Being infected does not make you sick.
- The judges saw the horses being led to the stables.
but
Correct:
- I study hard but take breaks.
- I study hard, but I take breaks.
- Although I take frequent naps, I study effectively.
- Despite taking frequent naps, I study effectively.
- I take frequent naps, yet I study effectively.
Wrong:
- I study effectively although taking frequent naps.
- Although I take frequent naps, yet I study effectively.
- Although I take frequent naps, and I study effectively.
- Despite taking frequent naps, yet I study effectively.
can
Correct:
- The manager can run the plant.
- The plant can cause damage.
- The manager is capable of running the plant.
Incorrect:
- The manager has the capability of running the plant.
- The manager has the ability of running the plant.
- The plant has the possibility of causing damage.
expect
Correct:
- We expect the price to fall.
- The price is expected to fall.
- We expect that the price will fall.
- It is expected that the price will fall.
- Inflation rose more than we expected.
- There is an expectation that the price will fall.
Incorrect:
- The price is expected for it to fall.
- It is expected that the price should fall.
in order to
Correct:
- She drank coffee in order to stay awake.
- She drank coffee to stay awake.
Incorrect:
- She drank coffee for staying awake.
- Coffee was drunk by her to stay awake (or in order to stay awake). (The subject coffee is not trying to stay awake.)
indicate
Correct:
- A report indicates that unique bacteria live on our skin.
Incorrect:
- A report indicates unique bacteria live on our skin. (That is needed)
- A report is indicative that unique bacteria live on our skin.
- A report indicates unique bacteria as present on our skin.
- A report indicates unique bacteria to live on our skin.
like
Correct:
- Like his sister, Matt drives fast cars. (Both drive fast cars.)
- Matt drives fast cars like his sister’s. (Both drive similar cars; or, less optimally, one of the cars he drives is his sister’s.)
Incorrect:
- Matt drives fast cars like his sister does.
- Like his sister, so matt drives fast cars.
such as
Correct:
- Matt drives fast cars, such as Ferraris. (introducing examples)
- Matt enjoys driving such cars as Ferraris.
- Matt enjoys intense activities, such as driving fast cars.
Incorrect:
- Matt drives Ferraris and the like.
- Matt drives Ferraris and other cars such as these.
- Matt trains in many ways such as by driving on racetracks.
- Matt enjoys intense activities, such as to drive fast cars.
than
Correct:
- His books are more impressive than those of other writers.
- This paper is less impressive than that one.
- This paper is no less impressive than that one.
- This newspaper cost 50 cents more than that one.
- More than 250 newspapers are published here.
- Sales are higher this year than last year.
whether
Correct: I do not know whether I will go.
Incorrect: I do not know if I will go (IF requires a consequence)
whether… or
Correct:
- I decided to eat the food, whether it was tasty or not.
- Whether trash or treasure, the recyclables must be picked up.
Incorrect:
- Whether trash or also treasure, the recyclables must be picked up.
- Whether they be trash or treasure, the recyclables must go.
