Name: ………………………..

Date: …………………
IDIOMS AND COLLOCATIONS CHECKING 2
PART 1
1. The tiny details on the butterfly’s wings are too small to see without a magnifying
glass. NAKED
The tiny details on the butterfly’s wings are impossible to see
________________________, but a magnifying glass helps.
2. Emma was thrilled about her wedding, but at the last moment, she became anxious
and reconsidered. COLD
Emma was excited about her wedding, but she ________________________ and
considered calling it off.
3. My teacher often raises his voice, but he isn’t as strict as he appears. BARK
My teacher always shouts at us, but he’s actually very kind—
____________________________________.
4. After running quickly to catch the bus, Laura struggled to breathe. BREATH
After sprinting to catch the bus, Laura was ________________________ and could barely
talk.
5. The employees were furious and strongly opposed the company's decision to reduce
salaries. ARMS
The workers ________________________ when the company announced pay cuts.
6. I mistakenly exposed a secret that was meant to stay private. CAT
I accidentally __________________________________________ when I told John about his
surprise party.
7. If you need assistance, just let me know, and I’ll be there immediately. HAT
If you need help moving, just call me; I’ll be there
_______________________________________________.
8. His sudden fame made him arrogant and overconfident. HEAD
His sudden rise to fame _________________________________________, and he started
acting arrogant.
9. After staying up all night studying, she was so exhausted that she nearly passed out.
ON
After staying up all night studying, she was __________________________ collapsing from
exhaustion.
10.The manager refused to allow any further delays and enforced the rules strictly.
FOOT
The manager ___________________________________ and refused to approve any more
last-minute changes.
11.Ever since he was denied a promotion, he has been bitter and resentful toward
others. CHIP
Ever since he was overlooked for a promotion, he ___________________________________
and acts bitter.
12.She realized that sometimes avoiding bad news makes life easier. IGNORANCE
She chose not to read the news anymore because sometimes
___________________________________.
13.Tim takes longer than most people to grasp new concepts. SLOW
It takes Tim a while to understand jokes; he’s a bit
___________________________________.
14.The café was so crowded with customers that there was barely any space left.
BURSTING
The small café was ___________________________________ with customers on Sunday
morning.
15.Steve landed in serious trouble at work after missing an important deadline. DEEP
After failing to submit the project on time, Steve found himself
________________________________ with his boss.
1
 16.James never had to worry about money because he was born into a wealthy family.
SPOON
Unlike his hardworking colleagues, James ___________________________________ and
never had to struggle.
17.I plan to confront my neighbor about the excessive noise at night. PIECE
I’m going to ___________________________________________________ for playing loud
music all night.
18.The new policy was applied equally to all students. ACROSS
The school implemented new rules ___________________________________ for all
students.
19.His work did not meet the required standard and needed to be improved. SCRATCH
His performance wasn’t ___________________________________, so he had to redo his
work.
20.Without a map, we had no idea where we were or how to get back. SEA
Without a map, we ___________________________________ and had no idea how to find
our way.
21.His resignation was completely expected after months of tension. SURPRISE
His resignation ___________________________________ after months of tension.
22.Traffic stopped suddenly due to a serious accident. CAME
The traffic ________________________________________________ due to a major accident.
23.Due to strong public demand, the band scheduled an extra concert. REQUEST
The band added another concert date
________________________________________________.
24.He was chosen for the scholarship because of his outstanding academic
achievements. BY
He was selected for the scholarship ___________________________________ his academic
excellence.
25.Of course! Feel free to visit anytime! BY
________________________________________________, come and visit anytime!
26.Do you happen to know where my wallet is? BY
Do you, ___________________________________, know where my wallet is?
27.When the situation became urgent, a firm decision had to be made. CRUNCH
When it ___________________________________, you have to make a decision and stick
with it.
28.Generally speaking, the trip went well despite a few minor issues. LARGE
___________________________________, the trip was a success despite a few delays.
29.The argument had been building up for days but finally escalated yesterday. CAME
The argument had been simmering for days but finally
___________________________________ in yesterday’s meeting.
30.Through persistence and effort, he built a successful business. DINT
___________________________________ hard work, he managed to build a successful
business.
31.No matter how you measure it, her performance was outstanding. BY
___________________________________, her performance was extraordinary.
32.He finally realized he was making bad financial decisions and changed his habits.
CAME
He finally ___________________________________ and stopped wasting money on
gambling.
33.From what I’ve heard, the new policy has been a huge success. BY
___________________________________, the new policy is a great success.
34.This hotel provides a level of luxury that no other place can match. CLASS
This hotel ________________________________________________ in terms of luxury.

2
 35.His recovery was a perfect example of how effective medical treatment can be.
TEXTBOOK
His recovery from surgery ___________________________________ of proper medical care.
36.She finally understood that she needed to make lifestyle changes for better health.
CAME
She ___________________________________ that she needed to change her lifestyle for
better health.
37.The police officer followed procedures exactly while handling the case. BOOK
The police officer always ________________________________________________ when
making arrests.
38.I learned to bake by experimenting and making mistakes. TRIAL
I learned how to bake
___________________________________________________________________.
39.My best friend can always tell when something is bothering me. READ
My best friend can ___________________________________ and knows when something is
wrong.
40.The judge gave the thief the harshest punishment possible. BOOK
The judge ______________________________________ the thief and gave him the
maximum sentence.
41.A firefighter quickly stepped in to help when the house caught fire. CAME
Luckily, a firefighter ___________________________________ when the house caught fire.
42.Some believe that artificial intelligence will eventually replace many human jobs.
SCHOOL
There is ___________________________________ that believes technology will soon
replace most human jobs.
43.I knew from mistakes that leaving things until the last minute leads to stress. HARD
I ___________________________________ that waiting until the last minute to study is a
bad idea.
44.After losing all his money, he realized the importance of handling finances wisely.
TWO
After losing all his money on bad investments, he ___________________________________
about finance.
45.My grandfather refuses to use modern technology because he dislikes change. DOG
My grandpa refuses to use a smartphone; you
_________________________________________________.
46.The journalist exposed widespread corruption within the government. LID
The journalist _________________________________________ corruption in the government.
47.All his effort went to waste when the project was unexpectedly canceled. DRAIN
His hard work ___________________________________ when the project was canceled.
48.We need to resolve these small problems before we launch the product. IRON
We need to ___________________________________ the difficulties before launching the
product.
49.He expected success to come easily without any effort on his part. PLATE
He expected success to
______________________________________________________________________.
50.The new parking rules will officially take effect next week. COME
The new parking regulations will ________________________________________________
next week.
51.I wouldn’t believe everything he says—he tends to exaggerate. SALT
______________________________________________________________________; he tends to
exaggerate.
52.When everything is considered, the most important factor is effort. BOILS
At the end of the day, ___________________________________ how much effort you put in.

3
 53.Our team completely dominated the competition. WIPED
Our team ________________________________________________ with the competition.
54.To sum it up, we need to improve communication within the team. NUTSHELL
___________________________________, we need better teamwork.
55.The test was extremely easy—I finished it in a few minutes. PIECE
The test was ___________________________________; I finished it in 10 minutes.
56.The most powerful and influential people attended the charity event. CREAM
The charity gala was attended by ________________________________________________.
57.He was determined to achieve success, no matter what it took. HOOK
He was determined to succeed ________________________________________________.
58.His speech made me think deeply about the issue. FOOD
His speech gave me a lot of ________________________________________________.
59.I can’t go out tonight because I have no money left after paying my bills. BEAN
I can’t go out tonight; I ___________________________________ left after paying my bills.
60.My grandmother is one of the most genuine and kind-hearted people I know. SALT
My grandmother is ________________________________________________—kind and
selfless.
61.Winning the trophy was an extra bonus on top of an already successful season.
ICING
Winning the trophy was ________________________________________________ after a great
season.
62.He only criticized the job because he didn’t get hired. SOUR
He said the job was boring, but it’s just
_______________________________________________ because he wasn’t hired.
63.When she turned 18, she gained full legal rights, including the ability to vote. AGE
When she turned 18, she ___________________________________ and was finally allowed
to vote.
64.I took on more responsibilities than I could handle. CHEW
I ___________________________________ by taking on too many projects.
65.The manager told me about the promotion but asked me to keep it confidential. HAT
The boss told me about the promotion, but I have to
___________________________________ until the official announcement.
66.The company fired him after giving him several warnings. BOOT
After repeated warnings, the company finally ___________________________________ for
coming in late every day.
67.Trends in fashion appear and disappear, but some classic designs remain. COME
Fashions ___________________________________, but classic designs remain popular.
68.After losing his job, he had to spend less money and cut unnecessary expenses.
BELT
After losing his job, he had to ___________________________________ and cut down on
unnecessary expenses.
69.They finally settled their disagreement and became friends again. PATCHED
They finally ___________________________________ after weeks of not speaking to each
other.
70.If you want to succeed, you need to put in more effort. SOCKS
If you want to pass the exam, you need to ___________________________________ and
study harder.
71.I have a feeling he has an advantage that he isn’t revealing. SLEEVE
I don’t trust him; I feel like he ________________________________________________.
72.His speech seemed natural, but he actually didn’t plan it. OFF
His speech sounded well-prepared, but he actually delivered it off the cuff.
73.We missed the bus, got caught in the rain, and to make things worse, our hotel lost
our booking. CAP

4
 We missed our flight, lost our luggage, and ___________________________________, the
hotel had no record of our booking.
74.Since his promotion, Tom has been acting like he’s more important than everyone
else. BOOTS
Ever since his promotion, Tom has been acting like he
__________________________________________.
75.You can’t expect to have everything without making sacrifices. CAKE
You can’t expect to ___________________________________; you need to make sacrifices
to succeed.
76.Even after playing all day, the kids still had tons of energy. BEANS
Even after a long day at school, the kids ___________________________________ and
wanted to play.
77.I wanted to say something, but I held back to avoid causing an argument. TONGUE
I wanted to correct my boss’s mistake, but I _______________________________ to avoid
an argument.
78.He betrayed the company that gave him his first job. HAND
He criticized the company that gave him his first job; he really
___________________________________.
79.He always takes himself too seriously and never relaxes. SHIRT
He’s such ___________________________________—always acting superior to everyone
else.
80.He acts like an expert, but he has no idea what he’s talking about. HAT
He claims to know everything about finance, but he’s
___________________________________.
81.He lost everything after making a risky financial investment. SHIRT
He ___________________________________ investing in a failing business.
82.He’s been going through a tough time after losing his job. LUCK
After losing his job and his apartment, he was really
____________________________________________.
83.She loves coffee so much that she drinks five cups a day. EXTENT
She loves coffee ___________________________________ she drinks five cups a day.
84.There are no limits to what you can accomplish. SKY’S
With your talent, ___________________________________ for what you can achieve.
85.After years of dating, he finally proposed. QUESTION
After dating for five years, he finally ___________________________________ last night.
86.The new policy caused a lot of controversy. RISE
The new tax laws ___________________________________ protests across the country.
87.She always performs better when she’s in a competitive environment. BEST
Competition ___________________________________; she always performs better under
pressure.
88.The project started well but lost momentum halfway through. STEAM
The project started strong, but it ___________________________________ halfway through.
89.After a stressful day, I went for a run to clear my mind. STEAM
After a stressful day at work, I go for a run
________________________________________________.
90.He completely lost his temper over something minor. FLEW
He ___________________________________ when he found out his brother took his car
without asking.
91.The case was simple, with clear evidence against him. DRIED
The case was ___________________________________; there was enough evidence to
convict him.
92.The author stretched the story to keep the audience interested. SPUN
The author ___________________________________ for several chapters before revealing
the truth.

5
 93.The two politicians had a heated and intense debate. HAMMER
The two politicians ___________________________________ during the debate.
94.The unexpected storm ruined our carefully planned event. SPANNER
The unexpected weather ___________________________________ for our outdoor
wedding.
95.She made a very accurate observation about the situation. NAIL
When she said we needed better communication, she really
___________________________________.

Part 2
1. She was concentrating so hard on her work that she didn't notice when I came in.
WRAPPED
She was ________________________________________________________ she didn't notice when I
came in.
2. Five actors were competing for the leading role in the play. CONTENTION
There ________________________________________________________ the leading role in the play.
3. Everyone is sure that he will beat his opponent in the next round. WIN
In all ________________________________________________________ his opponent in the next
round.
4. I suppose it’s possible that she didn’t understand my message. MAY
It is ________________________________________________________ my message.
5. The government recommends a balance of reward and punishment when dealing
with young offenders. STICK
The government favours ________________________________________________________ to young
offenders.
6. Selina first worked for the local radio before landing a job on a national daily. TEETH
Selina ____________________________________________ the local radio before landing a job on a
national daily.
7. This essay shows a slight improvement on the last. MARGINALLY
This essay ________________________________________________________ the last.
8. I did not attend the farewell party last night because I had a lot of work to deal with.
NECK
If I ________________________________________________________ in work, I would have attended
the farewell party last night.
9. I tried to talk to Thompson about the problem but he was too busy. WORD
I tried ________________________________________________________ about the problem but he
was too busy.
10.The tourists were unharmed after the train crash. WORSE
The tourists were ________________________________________________________ their experience
in the train crash.
11.This car only cost me five hundred pounds. PICKED
I ________________________________________________________ only five hundred pounds.
12.I never thought that I would win a prize. CROSSED
It ________________________________________________________ that I’d win a prize.
13.Mrs. Wilson says she’s sorry she didn’t attend the meeting yesterday morning.
SENDS
Mrs. Wilson ________________________________________________________ the meeting yesterday
morning.
14.He makes sure that he isn’t associated with policies he disagrees with. DISTANCES
He makes sure ________________________________________________________ policies he
disagrees with.
15.Should there be a problem, contact us at all costs. LINE
In ________________________________________________________ at all costs.

6
 16.We all wished to be treated equally. AS
We all wished ________________________________________________________.
17.Harry is very knowledgeable about the cultures of England. MINE
Harry is ________________________________________________________ the cultures of England.
18.She is a quiet woman but her passion is easy to see in her music. SHINES
She is a quiet woman but ________________________________________________________.
19.It’s time for you to start working determinedly and do some revision. HEAD
It’s time ________________________________________________________ some revision.
20.His friends incited him to keep hitting other boys. EGGED
He hit the other boys again and again as
________________________________________________________.
21.I would advise you to wait and see what develops. CAT
I would advise you to wait and ________________________________________________________.
22.I really like her voice but not her choice of songs. CHOOSES
Much ________________________________________________________.
23.The police have put barriers around the building because of a suspected bomb.
CORDONED
In view ________________________________________________________ the building.

Name: ……………………….. Date: …………………

1. The tiny details on the butterfly’s wings are too small to see without a magnifying
glass. NAKED
The tiny details on the butterfly’s wings are impossible to see with the naked eye,
but a magnifying glass helps.
2. Emma was thrilled about her wedding, but at the last moment, she became anxious
and reconsidered. COLD
Emma was excited about her wedding, but she got cold feet and considered calling
it off.
3. My teacher often raises his voice, but he isn’t as strict as he appears. BARK
My teacher always shouts at us, but he’s actually very kind—his bark is worse
than his bite.
4. After running quickly to catch the bus, Laura struggled to breathe. BREATH
After sprinting to catch the bus, Laura was out of breath and could barely talk.
5. The employees were furious and strongly opposed the company's decision to reduce
salaries. ARMS
The workers were up in arms when the company announced pay cuts.
6. I mistakenly exposed a secret that was meant to stay private. CAT
I accidentally let the cat out of the bag when I told John about his surprise party.
7. If you need assistance, just let me know, and I’ll be there immediately. HAT
If you need help moving, just call me; I’ll be there at the drop of a hat.
8. His sudden fame made him arrogant and overconfident. HEAD
His sudden rise to fame went to his head, and he started acting arrogant.
9. After staying up all night studying, she was so exhausted that she nearly passed out.
ON
After staying up all night studying, she was on the verge of collapsing from
exhaustion.
10.The manager refused to allow any further delays and enforced the rules strictly.
FOOT

7
 The manager put his foot down and refused to approve any more last-minute
changes.
11.Ever since he was denied a promotion, he has been bitter and resentful toward
others. CHIP
Ever since he was overlooked for a promotion, he’s had/got a chip on his
shoulder and acts bitter.
12.She realized that sometimes avoiding bad news makes life easier. IGNORANCE
She chose not to read the news anymore because sometimes ignorance is bliss.
13.Tim takes longer than most people to grasp new concepts. SLOW
It takes Tim a while to understand jokes; he’s a bit slow on the uptake.
14.The café was so crowded with customers that there was barely any space left.
BURSTING
The small café was bursting at the seams with customers on Sunday morning.
15.Steve landed in serious trouble at work after missing an important deadline. DEEP
After failing to submit the project on time, Steve found himself in deep water with
his boss.
16.James never had to worry about money because he was born into a wealthy family.
SPOON
Unlike his hardworking colleagues, James was born with a silver spoon in his
mouth and never had to struggle.
17.I plan to confront my neighbor about the excessive noise at night. PIECE
I’m going to give my neighbor a piece of my mind for playing loud music all
night.
18.The new policy was applied equally to all students. ACROSS
The school implemented new rules across the board for all students.
19.His work did not meet the required standard and needed to be improved. SCRATCH
His performance wasn’t up to scratch, so he had to redo his work.
20.Without a map, we had no idea where we were or how to get back. SEA
Without a map, we were (completely/all) at sea and had no idea how to find our
way.
21.His resignation was completely expected after months of tension. SURPRISE
His resignation came as no surprise after months of tension.
22.Traffic stopped suddenly due to a serious accident. CAME
The traffic came to a halt due to a major accident.
23.Due to strong public demand, the band scheduled an extra concert. REQUEST
The band added another concert date by popular request.
24.He was chosen for the scholarship because of his outstanding academic
achievements. BY
He was selected for the scholarship by virtue of his academic excellence.
25.Of course! Feel free to visit anytime! BY
By all means, come and visit anytime!
26.Do you happen to know where my wallet is? BY
Do you, by any chance, know where my wallet is?
27.When the situation became urgent, a firm decision had to be made. CRUNCH
When it came to the crunch, you had to make a decision and stick with it.
28.Generally speaking, the trip went well despite a few minor issues. LARGE
By and large, the trip was a success despite a few delays.
29.The argument had been building up for days but finally escalated yesterday. CAME
The argument had been simmering for days but finally came to the boil/came to a
head in yesterday’s meeting.
30.Through persistence and effort, he built a successful business. DINT
By dint of hard work, he managed to build a successful business.
31.No matter how you measure it, her performance was outstanding. BY
By any standards, her performance was extraordinary.

8
 32.He finally realized he was making bad financial decisions and changed his habits.
CAME
He finally came to his senses and stopped wasting money on gambling.
33.From what I’ve heard, the new policy has been a huge success. BY
By all accounts, the new policy is a great success.
34.This hotel provides a level of luxury that no other place can match. CLASS
This hotel is in a class of its own in terms of luxury.
35.His recovery was a perfect example of how effective medical treatment can be.
TEXTBOOK
His recovery from surgery was a textbook case of proper medical care.
36.She finally understood that she needed to make lifestyle changes for better health.
CAME
She came to the realisation that she needed to change her lifestyle for better
health.
37.The police officer followed procedures exactly while handling the case. BOOK
The police officer always went by the book when making arrests.
38.I learned to bake by experimenting and making mistakes. TRIAL
I learned how to bake by trial and error.
39.My best friend can always tell when something is bothering me. READ
My best friend can read me like a book and knows when something is wrong.
40.The judge gave the thief the harshest punishment possible. BOOK
The judge threw the book at the thief and gave him the maximum sentence.
41.A firefighter quickly stepped in to help when the house caught fire. CAME
Luckily, a firefighter quickly came to the rescue when the house caught fire.
42.Some believe that artificial intelligence will eventually replace many human jobs.
SCHOOL
There is a school of thought that believes technology will soon replace most
human jobs.
43.I knew from mistakes that leaving things until the last minute leads to stress. HARD
I learned (it) the hard way that waiting until the last minute to study is a bad idea.
44.After losing all his money, he realized the importance of handling finances wisely.
TWO
After losing all his money on bad investments, he learned a lesson/thing or two
about finance.
45.My grandfather refuses to use modern technology because he dislikes change. DOG
My grandpa refuses to use a smartphone; you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.
46.The journalist exposed widespread corruption within the government. LID
The journalist lifted the lid on corruption in the government.
47.All his effort went to waste when the project was unexpectedly canceled. DRAIN
His hard work went down the drain when the project was canceled.
48.We need to resolve these small problems before we launch the product. IRON
We need to iron out the difficulties before launching the product.
49.He expected success to come easily without any effort on his part. PLATE
He expected success to be handed to him on a plate.
50.The new parking rules will officially take effect next week. COME
The new parking regulations will come into force/effect next week.
51.I wouldn’t believe everything he says—he tends to exaggerate. SALT
Take what he says with a pinch/grain of salt; he tends to exaggerate.
52.When everything is considered, the most important factor is effort. BOILS
At the end of the day, it all boils down to how much effort you put in.
53.Our team completely dominated the competition. WIPED
Our team wiped the floor with the competition.
54.To sum it up, we need to improve communication within the team. NUTSHELL
In a nutshell, we need better teamwork.

9
 55.The test was extremely easy—I finished it in a few minutes. PIECE
The test was a piece of cake; I finished it in 10 minutes.
56.The most powerful and influential people attended the charity event. CREAM
The charity gala was attended by the cream of society/the crop.
57.He was determined to achieve success, no matter what it took. HOOK
He was determined to succeed by hook or by crook.
58.His speech made me think deeply about the issue. FOOD
His speech gave me a lot of food for thought.
59.I can’t go out tonight because I have no money left after paying my bills. BEAN
I can’t go out tonight; I haven’t a bean left after paying my bills.
60.My grandmother is one of the most genuine and kind-hearted people I know. SALT
My grandmother is the salt of the earth—kind and selfless.
61.Winning the trophy was an extra bonus on top of an already successful season.
ICING
Winning the trophy was the icing on the cake after a great season.
62.He only criticized the job because he didn’t get hired. SOUR
He said the job was boring, but it’s just sour grapes because he wasn’t hired.
63.When she turned 18, she gained full legal rights, including the ability to vote. AGE
When she turned 18, she came of age and was finally allowed to vote.
64.I took on more responsibilities than I could handle. CHEW
I bit off more than I could chew by taking on too many projects.
65.The manager told me about the promotion but asked me to keep it confidential. HAT
The boss told me about the promotion, but I have to keep it under my hat until the
official announcement.
66.The company fired him after giving him several warnings. BOOT
After repeated warnings, the company finally gave him the boot for coming in late
every day.
67.Trends in fashion appear and disappear, but some classic designs remain. COME
Fashions come and go, but classic designs remain popular.
68.After losing his job, he had to spend less money and cut unnecessary expenses.
BELT
After losing his job, he had to tighten his belt and cut down on unnecessary
expenses.
69.They finally settled their disagreement and became friends again. PATCHED
They finally patched up their quarrel after weeks of not speaking to each other.
70.If you want to succeed, you need to put in more effort. SOCKS
If you want to pass the exam, you need to pull your socks up and study harder.
71.I have a feeling he has an advantage that he isn’t revealing. SLEEVE
I don’t trust him; I feel like he has something up his sleeve.
72.His speech seemed natural, but he actually didn’t plan it. OFF
His speech sounded well-prepared, but he actually delivered it off the cuff.
73.We missed the bus, got caught in the rain, and to make things worse, our hotel lost
our booking. CAP
We missed our flight, lost our luggage, and to cap it all (off), the hotel had no
record of our booking.
74.Since his promotion, Tom has been acting like he’s more important than everyone
else. BOOTS
Ever since his promotion, Tom has been acting like he’s (getting/growing) too big
for his boots.
75.You can’t expect to have everything without making sacrifices. CAKE
You can’t expect to have your cake and eat it too; you need to make sacrifices to
succeed.

10
 76.Even after playing all day, the kids still had tons of energy. BEANS
Even after a long day at school, the kids were still full of beans and wanted to
play.
77.I wanted to say something, but I held back to avoid causing an argument. TONGUE
I wanted to correct my boss’s mistake, but I bit my tongue to avoid an argument.
78.He betrayed the company that gave him his first job. HAND
He criticized the company that gave him his first job; he really bit the hand that
feeds/fed him.
79.He always takes himself too seriously and never relaxes. SHIRT
He’s such a stuffed shirt—always acting superior to everyone else.
80.He acts like an expert, but he has no idea what he’s talking about. HAT
He claims to know everything about finance, but he’s talking through his hat.
81.He lost everything after making a risky financial investment. SHIRT
He lost his shirt investing in a failing business.
82.He’s been going through a tough time after losing his job. LUCK
After losing his job and his apartment, he was really down on his luck.
83.She loves coffee so much that she drinks five cups a day. EXTENT
She loves coffee to the/such an extent that she drinks five cups a day.
84.There are no limits to what you can accomplish. SKY’S
With your talent, the sky’s the limit for what you can achieve.
85.After years of dating, he finally proposed. QUESTION
After dating for five years, he finally popped the question last night.
86.The new policy caused a lot of controversy. RISE
The new tax laws gave rise to a lot of protests across the country.
87.She always performs better when she’s in a competitive environment. BEST
Competition always brings out the best in her; she always performs better under
pressure.
88.The project started well but lost momentum halfway through. STEAM
The project started strong, but it ran out of steam halfway through.
89.After a stressful day, I went for a run to clear my mind. STEAM
After a stressful day at work, I go for a run to let off steam.
90.He completely lost his temper over something minor. FLEW
He flew off the handle when he found out his brother took his car without asking.
91.The case was simple, with clear evidence against him. DRIED
The case was cut and dried; there was enough evidence to convict him.
92.The author stretched the story to keep the audience interested. SPUN
The author spun the story out for several chapters before revealing the truth.
93.The two politicians had a heated and intense debate. HAMMER
The two politicians went at it hammer and tongs during the debate.
94.The unexpected storm ruined our carefully planned event. SPANNER
The unexpected weather threw a spanner in the works for our outdoor wedding.
95.She made a very accurate observation about the situation. NAIL
When she said we needed better communication, she really hit the nail on the
head.

Part 2
24.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.
25.Five actors were competing for the leading role in the play. CONTENTION
There were five actors in contention for the leading role in the play.
26.Everyone is sure that he will beat his opponent in the next round. WIN
In all probability/likelihood, he will win over/against his opponent in the next round.
27.I suppose it’s possible that she didn’t understand my message. MAY

11
It is my supposition that she may not have understood my message.
28.The government recommends a balance of reward and punishment when dealing
with young offenders. STICK
The government favours a carrot(-)and(-)stick approach to young offenders.
29.Selina first worked for the local radio before landing a job on a national daily. TEETH
Selina cut her teeth on the local radio before landing a job on a national daily.
30.This essay shows a slight improvement on the last. MARGINALLY
This essay is marginally better than the last.
31.I did not attend the farewell party last night because I had a lot of work to deal with.
NECK
If I hadn’t been up to my neck in work, I would have attended the farewell party last
night.
32.I tried to talk to Thompson about the problem but he was too busy. WORD
I tried to have a word with Thompson about the problem but he was too busy.
33.The tourists were unharmed after the train crash. WORSE
The tourists were none the worse for their experience in the train crash.
34.This car only cost me five hundred pounds. PICKED
I picked this car up for only five hundred pounds.
35.I never thought that I would win a prize. CROSSED
It had never crossed my mind that I’d win a prize.
36.Mrs. Wilson says she’s sorry she didn’t attend the meeting yesterday morning.
SENDS
Mrs. Wilson sends her apologies for not having attended /attending the meeting
yesterday morning.
37.He makes sure that he isn’t associated with policies he disagrees with. DISTANCES
He makes sure (that) he distances himself from policies he disagrees with.
38.Should there be a problem, contact us at all costs. LINE
In the event of a problem, drop (us) a line at all costs.
39.We all wished to be treated equally. AS
We all wished to be treated as equals.
40.Harry is very knowledgeable about the cultures of England. MINE
Harry is a mine of information about/on the cultures of England.
41.She is a quiet woman but her passion is easy to see in her music. SHINES
She is a quiet woman but her passion shines through in her music.
42.It’s time for you to start working determinedly and do some revision. HEAD
It’s time you got / put your head down and did some revision.
43.His friends incited him to keep hitting other boys. EGGED
He hit the other boys again and again as his friends egged him on.
44.I would advise you to wait and see what develops. CAT
I would advise you to wait and see which way the cat jumps.
45.I really like her voice but not her choice of songs. CHOOSES
Much as/though I like her voice, I don’t like the way she chooses (her) songs.
46.The police have put barriers around the building because of a suspected bomb.
CORDONED
In view of a suspected bomb, the police have cordoned off the building.

12