list of common idiomatic expressions

8/3/2019 List of Common Idiomatic Expressions

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The following chart presents common idioms that can appear on the GMAT. Most of the Xs and Ys represent nouns,

pronouns, or noun phrases. To create an idiomatic expression, substitute words or phrases for the X and Y

a lot of X account to X for Y accuse X of Y

acquaintance with X adapt to X affection for X

afraid of X agree to X agree with X about Yalarmed at X a lot of X amazed at X

amused at X amused by X angry at X

angry with X apologize to X for Y apparent to X

appeal to X apply to X for Y appropriate to X

approve of X argue about X argue with X for Y

ashamed of X ask X for Y ask X of Y

assure X of Y at the top of X attraction to X

aware of X bargain with X for Y because of X

believe in X blame X for Y blind to Xby means of X call to X from Y capable of X

certain of X challenge X to Y characteristic of X

cheat X of Y close to X comment on X

communicate with X communicate X to Y comparable to X

compare to X compare with Xcompetition with X for

Y

complain to X about Y composed of X concerned about X

concerned with X confess to X confidence in X

confident of X congratulate X on Y conscious of X

consideration for X consult with X about Y consult with X on Y

contempt for X contented with X contrast with X

contribute to X control over X converse with X about Y

convict X of Y convince X of Y copy from X

correspond with X count on X for Y cure for X

deal with X decide on X dedicate X to Y

defend X against Y defend X from Y delight in X

delighted with X demand X of Y depend on X for Y

deprive X of Y designed for X desire for X

different from X disagree with X about Y disappointed in X

disappointed with X disgusted with X displeased with X

distrust of X do X about Y doubt about X

dream about X dream of X due to X

duty to X engaged to X escape from X

excel in X exception to X excuse for X


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excuse X from Y explain X to Y failure of X in Y

faithful to X fascinated with X fearful of X

for the sake of X full of X grateful to X for Y

guard against X guess at X hear about X

hear of X hint at X horrified at Xin case of X in common with X in favor of X

in place of X in search of X independent of X

influence over X inform X of Y inquire into X

insist on X intent on X interested in X

interfere with X introduce X to Y invite X to Y

irrelevant to X laugh at X lecture on X

listen to X look at X look for X

made of X make X for Y mistaken for X

need for X obligation to X on account of X

opportunity for X opposition to X pay X for Y

pay X to Y pity for X point at X

prefer X to Y prejudice against X protect X from Y

provide X for Y punish X for Y qualified to do X

quarrel with X over Y quote X from Y reason for X

reason with X about Y recover from X related to X

rely on X remind X of Y reply to X about Y

require X of Y research in X responsible to X

result from X result in X result of X

rob X of Y satisfactory to X search for Xsend for X shocked at X shocking to X

similar to X smile at X stare at X

start with X supply X with Y sure of X

take advantage of X take care of X talk over X with Y

talk to X about Y tell X about Y thankful for X

think about X think of X think over X

threaten X with Y tired of X trust in X

trust X with Y wait for X weary of X

Its helpful to know and recognize some of the most commonly-tested idioms youll see on the GMAT. Someof these you probably wont have to think twice about. Others, you may need to study. While this isnt an

exhaustive list of every possible idiom you may encounter

a result ofa responsibility to

a debate over

appeal toapprove of / disapprove

ofas a consequence of X


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as asas as do / as as

doesas good as or better than

as many X as Y ask X to do Yattribute X to Y (one

attributes x, an effect, to y, a cause; or,

if a passive construction is used, x is

attributed to y)

averse to based on be afraid of

believe X to be Y between X and Y both X and Y

centers on choose from / choose tocompare to

(emphasizes similarities)

comparewith

(emphasizes differences)concerned with collaborate with

concerned about conform toconsider(ed) (with to

be)

consider(ed) (without

to be) consistent with contrast X with Yconvert to credit X with having debate over

declare X to be Y demonstrate that depends on whether

desirous of determined by differ from / differ with

different fromdisagree with (person /

idea)

differentiate between X

and Y

differentiate X from Y distinguish X from Y

distinguish between X

and Y(The verb

distinguish needs to be followed by from

unless its followed by between)enamored of / with enough X that Y fascinated by

from X rather than from

Yhypothesize that help to

identical with in contrast to in association with

indifferent toward(s)in regard to / with

regard tointend(ed) to

intersection of X and Y in the same way that in violation of

independent from just as X, so (too) Y less X than Y

mistake X for Y neither X nor Y not X but rather Y

not only X but (also) Y not so much X as Yon the one hand / on the

other hand

in comparison toin conjunction with

in danger of

prefer X to Y prohibit X from Y question whether

regard as replace with responsible for


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refer to so X as to be Yso X that Y (so clause A

that clause B)

the more X the greater

Yto result in used to (not use to)

view X as Y whether X or Y X regarded as Y

call... to considerIdioms with Built-In Parallel Structure (Manhattan)

X Acts As Y Y Distinguish X From X is the Same As Y

As X, So Y Estimate X To Be YX is good, and So Too

is Y

Between X And Y X Instead Of Y X, Such As Y (example)

Compared To X, Y X is Known To Be Y Think Of X As Y

Consider X Y X is Less Than Y X is Thought To Be Y

In Contrast To X, Y Make X Y View X As Y

Declare X Y Mistake X For Y Whether X Or Y

X Develops Into Y Not Only X(,) But Also Y(the comma is optional)

X Differs From Y

Regard X As Y Not in.but inIn the coming

months(weeks)

On the GMAT, you should always put a that between the Reporting Verb and the thought.Agree that announce that assert thatClaim that believe that confess that

Contend that Declare that Find that

Indicate that Reveal that Rule that

demonstrate that doubt that expect that

hold that know that mention that

observe that proclaim that reason that

recognize that repeat that state that

think that warn that be convinced that

be certain that be assured that Show thatSay (Somewhat oddly, the GMAT

does not require you to put that

after the verb say)

list of common idiomatic expressions

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