Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Idioms - COMPETITIVE EXAMS
Idioms - COMPETITIVE EXAMS
'Why have you got such a long face?' 'I just lost The idea of a vacation to Florida this winter
all my money in the casino.' appeals to me a lot.
Correct Usage: Bats have the ability to fly in Correct Usage: These days, fewer people are in
the dark danger of dying due to bacteria related
diseases.
Incorrect Usage: Bats have ability of flying in
the dark Incorrect Usage:
associate with
allow for
I always associate Water with pizza for some
Allowing for his youth and lack of experience, I reason
forgave him completely for his oversight.
attend to choose as
Please attend to your teacher's instructions We will choose her as our representative.
We attribute our success to your good advice He claims that he can run backwards.
compare with
continue with
Does my casual dress conform to your Correct Usage: Newton is credited with
regulations? discovering the laws of motion
Incorrect Usage:
In contrast to previous reports, one senior The candidates debate about taxes tomorrow
British official suggested an attack was not
imminent,
debate on
Mary should get a lot of credit for the team's Incorrect Usage: The Dictator declared all
success. fundamental rights as unconstitutional.
credit to define as
We had to credit much of our success to simple We have to define that comment as careless
good luck. and unthinking.
delighted to dream about
I'm delighted to make your acquaintance, I dreamed about you all night last night.
Psychopaths cannot distinguish between right finding a good job is easier said than done.
and wrong.
easy to come by
distinguish from
A good job is not very easy to come by
Psoriatic arthritis can be difficult to distinguish
from rheumatoid arthritis
either x or y
By the end of the contest I had drawn upon all The caterpillar would emerge as a butterfly in a
the energy I had short time
draw to enable to
He was drawn to the sports car. This money will enable me to open my own
business
encourage in essential to
except for
encourage to
The car is beautiful and perfect, except for one
We encouraged her to develop her musical thing - the price
talents
Except for being good with numbers, she
wasn't anything great.
enough to
escape from
escape notice
I hope I do not fail in math. A big argument has grown out of a tiny
disagreement!
flee from
have a run of something
The children fled from the wrath of the old
man. I had a run of bad luck at the casino
The little mouse fled to its hole in the wall I helped the puppy over the barrier.
when the cat came around.
independent from
grow into 'The children have been independent from
The child grew into a tall, powerful athlete. their parents
indicate that just as x, so y
Studies indicate that women actually live Just as Kate was considered for a seat at
longer than men. Harvard Business School, so was Tina.
indicate to known to
Fred indicated his assent to me. Correct Usage: Even as a young boy he was
known to explore different ways of doing
things.
indifferent towards Incorrect Usage: Even as a young boy, he was
Can you make yourself indifferent towards known as wanting to explore different ways of
someone you might love? doing things.
Correct Usage: She began dating the playboy in The trainer led away the dog from the other
order to go to the best parties. animals.
My dark hair was inherited from my father. left, right and centre
isolated from
Correct Usage: For some people, mobile The cobra is native to Africa
phones are just a means to an end.
Incorrect Usage:
necessary to
- For some people, mobile phones are a means
for an end. Lisa deemed it necessary to go home.
originate in
Correct Usage: Because of the sisters' similar All your troubles originate in your lungs.
looks, one was often mistaken for the other
modeled after
Correct Usage: Only when we prohibit people The employees were required to hand over the
from driving fast will we reduce the number of pass when the quit the company.
accidents.
range from
range over
reluctant to
sacrifice to
refer to I sacrificed a lot of money to a fancy lifestyle
My doctor referred me to a specialist.
seem like
regard as seemed like such a nice person when I met
I have always regarded you as my friend. you.
seem to speak from
Correct Usage: The officer went to question Believe me, I speak from experience.
the man who seemed to be hiding something.
seek out
good advantage
target at
speak against
Correct Usage: The uncomplimentary remarks
Please don't speak against cats in my presence. were targeted at the host.
Correct Usage: He was trained to become an e.g. I have to choose between studying &
athlete ever since he was a child. watching a movie.
Incorrect Usage: He was trained as an athlete I have been admitted to several schools. I now
ever since he was a child. need to choose the best among them.
Correct Usage: He tried to start afresh after the Use "both" to point similarities, "each" to point
set back. differences. "Each" is always singular