Idioms Flashcards
0
Q
Ability to
A
+ a verb
1
Q
Abide by
Abide in
A
Abide by a rule
Abide in a place or state
2
Q
Accords with
Accords to x
A
Accords with = agrees with
According to x (e.g. A document)
3
Q
Accuse of
A
Accuse of a crime
4
Q
Adapt from
Adapt to
A
Adapt from a source
Adapt to a situation
5
Q
Agree on
Agree to
Agree with
A
Agree on a plan
Agree to a proposal
Agree with a person
6
Q
Allow to
A
+ a verb
7
Q
Alternately
Alternatively
A
Alternately = in turn, first one and then the other Alternatively = or
8
Q
Angry with
Angry about
A
Angry with someone
Angry about something
9
Q
At once
A
At once x and y
10
Q
Both x and y
A
Both x and y are (need plural verb)
11
Q
Capable
A
Capable of doing something
12
Q
Charge for
Charge with
A
Charge for a purchase
Charge with a crime
13
Q
Concur in
Concur with
A
Concur in an opinion
Concur with a person
14
Q
Consist
A
Consist of
15
Q
Contend for
Contend with
A
Contend for a principle
Contend with a person
16
Q
Continue to
A
Continue to + a verb
17
Q
Contrast
A
Contrast x with y
18
Q
Convince
Persuade
A
Convince = to induce belief Persuade = to induce action
19
Q
Define
A
Define x as y
20
Q
Depend
A
Depend on x
21
Q
Differ about Differ over Differ from Differ with Different from
A
Differ about a question Differ over a question Differ from an appearance Differ with a person X is different from y
22
Q
Difficult
A
Difficult to + a verb
23
Q
Discreet
Discrete
A
Discreet = cautious or prudent especially in speech Discrete = separate or distinct
24
Disinterested
| Uninterested
```
Disinterested = unbiased and impartial
Uninterested = not interested
```
25
Distinguish
Distinguish from x from y
26
Do so
Do so(NOT "do it")
27
Effect
| Affect
```
Effect = the noun "result"
Affect = the verb "to influence"
```
28
Either
| Neither
Either x or y(verb agrees with y)
| Neither x nor y(verb agrees with y)
29
Emigrate
| Immigrate
```
Emigrate = to leave a country
Immigrate = to come to a country
```
30
Estimate
Estimate x to be y
31
Farther
| Further
```
Farther = About distance(you run a mile farther than someone else.)
Further = about time or quantity(You study a topic further.)
```
32
Fascinated
Fascinated by
33
Flaunt
| Flout
```
Flaunt = to show off
Flout = to mock
```
34
For all their talk
For all their talk about x
35
Identical
Identical with
| Identical to
36
Impatient at
Impatient of
Impatient for
Impatient with
Impatient at behavior
Impatient of restraint
Impatient for something to happen
Impatient with someone
37
Independent
Independent of x
38
Indifferent
Indifferent toward x
39
Inferior
Inferior to
40
Inter
| Intra
```
Inter = between or among
Intra = within
```
41
Just as
Like
As or as if
Just as ... so too
Like = controls nouns and pronouns
As or as if = controls phrases and clauses
42
Likely
Likely to + verb
43
Not only
Not only ... but(also)
44
Not so much
Not so much x as y
45
Oblivious of or to
| Oblivious of
Oblivious of or to one's surroundings
| Oblivious of something forgotten
46
Occupied by
Occupied in
Occupied with
Occupied by a person
Occupied in study
Occupied with a thing
47
Offer of
| Offer to
Offer of assistance
| Offer to + verb
48
Oral
Oral = spoken, not written
49
Verbal
Verbal = in words (spoken or written)
50
Part from
| Part with
Part from a person
| Part with a possession.
51
Permit to
Permit to + a verb
52
Prefer
Prefer x to y
53
Prevent from
Prevent from x-ing
54
Prior to
Prior to x
55
Regard
Regard x as y
56
Required to
Required to + a verb
57
Rewarded by
Rewarded for
Rewarded with
Rewarded by the judge
Rewarded for something done
Rewarded with something(like a gift)
58
So
So x that y
59
Subscribe
Subscribe to x
60
Superior
Superior to x
61
The x
The x... The y
62
Try to
Try to + a verb
63
Wait at
Wait for
Wait on
Wait at a place
Wait for something
Wait on someone
64
Among
| Between
```
Among = a preposition used for three or more objects(the friendship among the students)
Between = a preposition used for two objects (the correspondence between Sue and Stu)
```
65
Amount
| number
```
Amount = use for non countable items(amount of money, love, power)
Number = use for countable items (number of dimes, weddings, votes)
```
66
Anxious
| Eager
Anxious: use when you await something with unpleasant expectations
Eager: use when you await something with pleasant expectations
67
Can
May
Might
Can: is able to
May: has permission to or is possible to
Might: is possible to(but the odds are not quite as good with May)
68
Compare to
| Compare with
Compare to: to show similarities between different objects (compare red birds to blue jays)
Compare with: to show differences between similar objects(compare Mozart with Chopin)
69
Connotation
| Denotation
Connotation: what a word suggests (it's associations and overtones)
Denotation: what a word actually, objectively means
Synonyms like "kill" and "execute" and "slaughter" have the same Denotation, but different connotations
70
Consider x
| Consider as x
Consider x: despite the problems with her work, the boss considered her competent.
Consider as x: to examine or discuss(The textbook considered Washington first as a politician and then as national icon).
71
Fewer
Less
Less
Fewer: use with countable items (usually with a plural noun): fewer people, fewer dimes, fewer votes
Less: use with non-countable items (usually with a singular noun): less money, less anger, less energy;
Less: can also be used with plural nouns that act as a collective noun(less than Thirty five dollars)
72
Lay
| Lie
Lay: the verb takes an object; means "to place" (principal parts: lay, laid, laid)
Lie: the verb does not take an object; means "to rest" (principal parts: lie, lay, lain)
73
Much
| Many
Much: use for non-countable items(much effort, energy, enthusiasm)
Many: use for countable items (many attempts, invitations, songs)
74
Principal
| Principle
Principal: the adjective meaning "main" or the noun meaning "the main thing" or "the head person"
Principle: the noun meaning "rule"
75
That
Which
Which
That: use when the phrase or clause is essential to the meaning of the sentence
Which: use when the phrase or clause can be left out without compromising the meaning of the sentence
Which: when choosing between that and which in a sentence, realize that "which" should be preceded by a comma
76
Whether
| If
Whether: use when there is a stated or implied alternative (whether ... Or not)
If: use to introduce a conditional statement (if ... Then...)
