B2 – 1 … strike a balance
… strike a balance
… It’s difficult to strike a balance between complex tasks and rest.
… She tries to strike a balance in her intense schedule.
… strike a balance is To find a middle point between two opposing needs.
… strike a balance
/ strike a balance
… It’s difficult to strike a balance between complex tasks and rest.
/ It’s difficult to strike a balance between complex tasks and rest.
… It’s difficult to strike a balance between complex tasks and rest.
… She tries to strike a balance in her intense schedule.
/ She tries to strike a balance in her intense schedule.
… She tries to strike a balance in her intense schedule.
B2 – 2 … weather the storm
… weather the storm
… The company managed to weather the storm during the economic crisis.
… He weathered the storm after facing severe criticism.
… weather the storm is To survive a difficult situation.
… weather the storm
/ weather the storm
… The company managed to weather the storm during the economic crisis.
/ The company managed to weather the storm during the economic crisis.
… The company managed to weather the storm during the economic crisis.
… He weathered the storm after facing severe criticism.
/ He weathered the storm after facing severe criticism.
… He weathered the storm after facing severe criticism.
B2 – 3 … come to terms with
… come to terms with
… She finally came to terms with the inevitable changes.
… He came to terms with the emotional truth.
… come to terms with is To accept something unpleasant.
… come to terms with
/ come to terms with
… She finally came to terms with the inevitable changes.
/ She finally came to terms with the inevitable changes.
… She finally came to terms with the inevitable changes.
… He came to terms with the emotional truth.
/ He came to terms with the emotional truth.
… He came to terms with the emotional truth.
B2 – 4 … take a toll on
… take a toll on
… The constant stress took a toll on his health.
… Long working hours can take a toll on your mental well-being.
… take a toll on is To have a negative effect on something.
… take a toll on
/ take a toll on
… The constant stress took a toll on his health.
/ The constant stress took a toll on his health.
… The constant stress took a toll on his health.
… Long working hours can take a toll on your mental well-being.
/ Long working hours can take a toll on your mental well-being.
… Long working hours can take a toll on your mental well-being.
B2 – 5 … come under fire
… come under fire
… The policy came under fire for its controversial rules.
… The team came under fire after a major mistake.
… come under fire is To be criticized strongly.
… come under fire
/ come under fire
… The policy came under fire for its controversial rules.
/ The policy came under fire for its controversial rules.
… The policy came under fire for its controversial rules.
… The team came under fire after a major mistake.
/ The team came under fire after a major mistake.
… The team came under fire after a major mistake.
B2 – 6 … be prone to
… be prone to
… Young children are prone to frequent colds.
… He’s prone to impulsive decisions.
… be prone to is To be likely to do or experience something.
… be prone to
/ be prone to
… Young children are prone to frequent colds.
/ Young children are prone to frequent colds.
… Young children are prone to frequent colds.
… He’s prone to impulsive decisions.
/ He’s prone to impulsive decisions.
… He’s prone to impulsive decisions.
B2 – 7 … pave the way for
… pave the way for
… The discovery paved the way for advanced research.
… Her efforts paved the way for significant progress.
… pave the way for is To make something possible in the future.
… pave the way for
/ pave the way for
… The discovery paved the way for advanced research.
/ The discovery paved the way for advanced research.
… The discovery paved the way for advanced research.
… Her efforts paved the way for significant progress.
/ Her efforts paved the way for significant progress.
… Her efforts paved the way for significant progress.
B2 – 8 … leave no stone unturned
… leave no stone unturned
… The investigators left no stone unturned in their thorough search.
… She left no stone unturned to achieve her ambitious goal.
… leave no stone unturned is To try every possible method to achieve something.
… leave no stone unturned
/ leave no stone unturned
… The investigators left no stone unturned in their thorough search.
/ The investigators left no stone unturned in their thorough search.
… The investigators left no stone unturned in their thorough search.
… She left no stone unturned to achieve her ambitious goal.
/ She left no stone unturned to achieve her ambitious goal.
… She left no stone unturned to achieve her ambitious goal.
B2 – 9 … turn a blind eye
… turn a blind eye
… They turned a blind eye to the obvious problem.
… He turned a blind eye to the unethical behavior.
… turn a blind eye is To ignore something intentionally.
… turn a blind eye
/ turn a blind eye
… They turned a blind eye to the obvious problem.
/ They turned a blind eye to the obvious problem.
… They turned a blind eye to the obvious problem.
… He turned a blind eye to the unethical behavior.
/ He turned a blind eye to the unethical behavior.
… He turned a blind eye to the unethical behavior.
B2 – 10 … pay the price
… pay the price
… If you ignore the rules, you’ll pay the price for your careless actions.
… She paid the price for her reckless decision.
… pay the price is To suffer the consequences of one’s actions.
… pay the price
/ pay the price
… If you ignore the rules, you’ll pay the price for your careless actions.
/ If you ignore the rules, you’ll pay the price for your careless actions.
… If you ignore the rules, you’ll pay the price for your careless actions.
… She paid the price for her reckless decision.
/ She paid the price for her reckless decision.
… She paid the price for her reckless decision.
B2 – 11 … zero in on
… zero in on
… The team zeroed in on the critical issue.
… Researchers zeroed in on a specific pattern.
… zero in on is To focus closely on something.
… zero in on
/ zero in on
… The team zeroed in on the critical issue.
/ The team zeroed in on the critical issue.
… The team zeroed in on the critical issue.
… Researchers zeroed in on a specific pattern.
/ Researchers zeroed in on a specific pattern.
… Researchers zeroed in on a specific pattern.
B2 – 12 … boil down to
… boil down to
… The argument boils down to a fundamental difference.
… It all boils down to one crucial choice.
… boil down to is To be essentially about something.
… boil down to
/ boil down to
… The argument boils down to a fundamental difference.
/ The argument boils down to a fundamental difference.
… The argument boils down to a fundamental difference.
… It all boils down to one crucial choice.
/ It all boils down to one crucial choice.
… It all boils down to one crucial choice.
B2 – 13 … hinge on
… hinge on
… The success hinges on effective communication.
… The result hinges on a key factor.
… hinge on is To depend completely on something.
… hinge on
/ hinge on
… The success hinges on effective communication.
/ The success hinges on effective communication.
… The success hinges on effective communication.
… The result hinges on a key factor.
/ The result hinges on a key factor.
… The result hinges on a key factor.
B2 – 14 … brush aside
… brush aside
… He brushed aside the legitimate concerns.
… She brushed aside a minor complaint.
… brush aside is To ignore or dismiss something.
… brush aside
/ brush aside
… He brushed aside the legitimate concerns.
/ He brushed aside the legitimate concerns.
… He brushed aside the legitimate concerns.
… She brushed aside a minor complaint.
/ She brushed aside a minor complaint.
… She brushed aside a minor complaint.
B2 – 15 … iron out
… iron out
… They met to iron out the remaining problems.
… We need to iron out some technical issues.
… iron out is To resolve small problems or differences.
… iron out
/ iron out
… They met to iron out the remaining problems.
/ They met to iron out the remaining problems.
… They met to iron out the remaining problems.
… We need to iron out some technical issues.
/ We need to iron out some technical issues.
… We need to iron out some technical issues.
B2 – 16 … shrug off
… shrug off
… She shrugged off the negative comments.
… He shrugged off a minor setback.
… shrug off is To treat something as unimportant.
… shrug off
/ shrug off
… She shrugged off the negative comments.
/ She shrugged off the negative comments.
… She shrugged off the negative comments.
… He shrugged off a minor setback.
/ He shrugged off a minor setback.
… He shrugged off a minor setback.
B2 – 17 … crack down on
… crack down on
… The government is cracking down on illegal activities.
… Schools are cracking down on disruptive behavior.
… crack down on is To take strong action to stop something.
… crack down on
/ crack down on
… The government is cracking down on illegal activities.
/ The government is cracking down on illegal activities.
… The government is cracking down on illegal activities.
… Schools are cracking down on disruptive behavior.
/ Schools are cracking down on disruptive behavior.
… Schools are cracking down on disruptive behavior.
B2 – 18 … phase out
… phase out
… The company will phase out outdated equipment.
… They plan to phase out harmful materials.
… phase out is To gradually stop using or doing something.
… phase out
/ phase out
… The company will phase out outdated equipment.
/ The company will phase out outdated equipment.
… The company will phase out outdated equipment.
… They plan to phase out harmful materials.
/ They plan to phase out harmful materials.
… They plan to phase out harmful materials.
B2 – 19 … take precedence over
… take precedence over
… Safety should take precedence over financial concerns.
… Her health takes precedence over professional goals.
… take precedence over is To be more important than something else.
… take precedence over
/ take precedence over
… Safety should take precedence over financial concerns.
/ Safety should take precedence over financial concerns.
… Safety should take precedence over financial concerns.
… Her health takes precedence over professional goals.
/ Her health takes precedence over professional goals.
… Her health takes precedence over professional goals.
B2 – 20 … bring up to date
… bring up to date
… The report was brought up to date with relevant data.
… He brought the system up to date using modern tools.
… bring up to date is To update something with the latest information.
… bring up to date
/ bring up to date
… The report was brought up to date with relevant data.
/ The report was brought up to date with relevant data.
… The report was brought up to date with relevant data.
… He brought the system up to date using modern tools.
/ He brought the system up to date using modern tools.
… He brought the system up to date using modern tools.
B2 – 21 … follow through on
… follow through on
… She followed through on her strategic plan.
… He followed through on a challenging promise.
… follow through on is To complete something you promised to do.
… follow through on
/ follow through on
… She followed through on her strategic plan.
/ She followed through on her strategic plan.
… She followed through on her strategic plan.
… He followed through on a challenging promise.
/ He followed through on a challenging promise.
… He followed through on a challenging promise.
B2 – 22 … get around to
… get around to
… I finally got around to reading that lengthy article.
… She got around to finishing the pending task.
… get around to is To finally do something after delaying it.
… get around to
/ get around to
… I finally got around to reading that lengthy article.
/ I finally got around to reading that lengthy article.
… I finally got around to reading that lengthy article.
… She got around to finishing the pending task.
/ She got around to finishing the pending task.
… She got around to finishing the pending task.
B2 – 23 … set forth
… set forth
… The document sets forth the official guidelines.
… He set forth a comprehensive proposal.
… set forth is To explain something clearly.
… set forth
/ set forth
… The document sets forth the official guidelines.
/ The document sets forth the official guidelines.
… The document sets forth the official guidelines.
… He set forth a comprehensive proposal.
/ He set forth a comprehensive proposal.
… He set forth a comprehensive proposal.
B2 – 24 … break away from
… break away from
… She broke away from the traditional style.
… They broke away from conventional methods.
… break away from is To separate from something or someone.
… break away from
/ break away from
… She broke away from the traditional style.
/ She broke away from the traditional style.
… She broke away from the traditional style.
… They broke away from conventional methods.
/ They broke away from conventional methods.
… They broke away from conventional methods.
B2 – 25 … come under pressure
… come under pressure
… The team came under pressure during the intense competition.
… He came under pressure to meet strict deadlines.
… come under pressure is To be forced or pushed by external demands.
… come under pressure
/ come under pressure
… The team came under pressure during the intense competition.
/ The team came under pressure during the intense competition.
… The team came under pressure during the intense competition.
… He came under pressure to meet strict deadlines.
/ He came under pressure to meet strict deadlines.
… He came under pressure to meet strict deadlines.
B2 – 26 … lay the groundwork for
… lay the groundwork for
… The research laid the groundwork for innovative solutions.
… Her efforts laid the groundwork for future success.
… lay the groundwork for is To prepare the basic foundation for something.
… lay the groundwork for
/ lay the groundwork for
… The research laid the groundwork for innovative solutions.
/ The research laid the groundwork for innovative solutions.
… The research laid the groundwork for innovative solutions.
… Her efforts laid the groundwork for future success.
/ Her efforts laid the groundwork for future success.
… Her efforts laid the groundwork for future success.
B2 – 27 … live with
… live with
… He learned to live with the ongoing challenges.
… She lives with a chronic condition.
… live with is To accept and continue despite a problem.
… live with
/ live with
… He learned to live with the ongoing challenges.
/ He learned to live with the ongoing challenges.
… He learned to live with the ongoing challenges.
… She lives with a chronic condition.
/ She lives with a chronic condition.
… She lives with a chronic condition.
B2 – 28 … look ahead to
… look ahead to
… We look ahead to a promising future.
… She looks ahead to significant changes.
… look ahead to is To anticipate something in the future.
… look ahead to
/ look ahead to
… We look ahead to a promising future.
/ We look ahead to a promising future.
… We look ahead to a promising future.
… She looks ahead to significant changes.
/ She looks ahead to significant changes.
… She looks ahead to significant changes.
B2 – 29 … weigh against
… weigh against
… We must weigh the benefits against the potential risks.
… He weighed the options against practical concerns.
… weigh against is To compare two things carefully.
… weigh against
/ weigh against
… We must weigh the benefits against the potential risks.
/ We must weigh the benefits against the potential risks.
… We must weigh the benefits against the potential risks.
… He weighed the options against practical concerns.
/ He weighed the options against practical concerns.
… He weighed the options against practical concerns.
B2 – 30 … take issue with
… take issue with
… She took issue with the misleading statement.
… He took issue with the unfair rule.
… take issue with is To disagree strongly with something.
… take issue with
/ take issue with
… She took issue with the misleading statement.
/ She took issue with the misleading statement.
… She took issue with the misleading statement.
… He took issue with the unfair rule.
/ He took issue with the unfair rule.
… He took issue with the unfair rule.
B2 – 31 … come into play
… come into play
… Several external factors came into play.
… The psychological effects came into play during the test.
… come into play is To start to have an effect.
… come into play
/ come into play
… Several external factors came into play.
/ Several external factors came into play.
… Several external factors came into play.
… The psychological effects came into play during the test.
/ The psychological effects came into play during the test.
… The psychological effects came into play during the test.
B2 – 32 … bring to light
… bring to light
… The investigation brought to light hidden details.
… The report brought to light critical errors.
… bring to light is To reveal something hidden.
… bring to light
/ bring to light
… The investigation brought to light hidden details.
/ The investigation brought to light hidden details.
… The investigation brought to light hidden details.
… The report brought to light critical errors.
/ The report brought to light critical errors.
… The report brought to light critical errors.
B2 – 33 … put into perspective
… put into perspective
… The experience put my worries into realistic perspective.
… Her advice put the situation into broader perspective.
… put into perspective is To understand something by seeing it in context.
… put into perspective
/ put into perspective
… The experience put my worries into realistic perspective.
/ The experience put my worries into realistic perspective.
… The experience put my worries into realistic perspective.
… Her advice put the situation into broader perspective.
/ Her advice put the situation into broader perspective.
… Her advice put the situation into broader perspective.
B2 – 34 … come to fruition
… come to fruition
… The plan finally came to fruition after extensive work.
… His efforts came to fruition with remarkable results.
… come to fruition is To be completed successfully.
… come to fruition
/ come to fruition
… The plan finally came to fruition after extensive work.
/ The plan finally came to fruition after extensive work.
… The plan finally came to fruition after extensive work.
… His efforts came to fruition with remarkable results.
/ His efforts came to fruition with remarkable results.
… His efforts came to fruition with remarkable results.
B2 – 35 … make headway
… make headway
… We’re making headway on the complex project.
… She made headway despite significant obstacles.
… make headway is To make progress.
… make headway
/ make headway
… We’re making headway on the complex project.
/ We’re making headway on the complex project.
… We’re making headway on the complex project.
… She made headway despite significant obstacles.
/ She made headway despite significant obstacles.
… She made headway despite significant obstacles.
B2 – 36 … fall victim to
… fall victim to
… Many people fall victim to misleading information.
… The town fell victim to severe flooding.
… fall victim to is To be harmed or affected by something.
… fall victim to
/ fall victim to
… Many people fall victim to misleading information.
/ Many people fall victim to misleading information.
… Many people fall victim to misleading information.
… The town fell victim to severe flooding.
/ The town fell victim to severe flooding.
… The town fell victim to severe flooding.
B2 – 37 … give way to
… give way to
… The old system gave way to advanced technology.
… His anger gave way to genuine relief.
… give way to is To be replaced by something else.
… give way to
/ give way to
… The old system gave way to advanced technology.
/ The old system gave way to advanced technology.
… The old system gave way to advanced technology.
… His anger gave way to genuine relief.
/ His anger gave way to genuine relief.
… His anger gave way to genuine relief.
B2 – 38 … hold true
… hold true
… The rule holds true in various situations.
… The idea holds true for modern society.
… hold true is To remain valid or accurate.
… hold true
/ hold true
… The rule holds true in various situations.
/ The rule holds true in various situations.
… The rule holds true in various situations.
… The idea holds true for modern society.
/ The idea holds true for modern society.
… The idea holds true for modern society.
B2 – 39 … keep abreast of
… keep abreast of
… It’s important to keep abreast of current trends.
… She keeps abreast of emerging research.
… keep abreast of is To stay informed about the latest developments.
… keep abreast of
/ keep abreast of
… It’s important to keep abreast of current trends.
/ It’s important to keep abreast of current trends.
… It’s important to keep abreast of current trends.
… She keeps abreast of emerging research.
/ She keeps abreast of emerging research.
… She keeps abreast of emerging research.
B2 – 40 … lose ground
… lose ground
… The team lost ground after the unexpected setback.
… The company is losing ground to stronger competitors.
… lose ground is To fall behind or become weaker.
… lose ground
/ lose ground
… The team lost ground after the unexpected setback.
/ The team lost ground after the unexpected setback.
… The team lost ground after the unexpected setback.
… The company is losing ground to stronger competitors.
/ The company is losing ground to stronger competitors.
… The company is losing ground to stronger competitors.
B2 – 41 … make sense of
… make sense of
… It’s hard to make sense of the complex data.
… She made sense of the confusing instructions.
… make sense of is To understand something complicated.
… make sense of
/ make sense of
… It’s hard to make sense of the complex data.
/ It’s hard to make sense of the complex data.
… It’s hard to make sense of the complex data.
… She made sense of the confusing instructions.
/ She made sense of the confusing instructions.
… She made sense of the confusing instructions.
B2 – 42 … pay tribute to
… pay tribute to
… They paid tribute to his remarkable achievements.
… The event paid tribute to historic leaders.
… pay tribute to is To show respect or admiration.
… pay tribute to
/ pay tribute to
… They paid tribute to his remarkable achievements.
/ They paid tribute to his remarkable achievements.
… They paid tribute to his remarkable achievements.
… The event paid tribute to historic leaders.
/ The event paid tribute to historic leaders.
… The event paid tribute to historic leaders.
B2 – 43 … set in motion
… set in motion
… The decision set in motion a series of major changes.
… Her idea set in motion an important project.
… set in motion is To start a process or action.
… set in motion
/ set in motion
… The decision set in motion a series of major changes.
/ The decision set in motion a series of major changes.
… The decision set in motion a series of major changes.
… Her idea set in motion an important project.
/ Her idea set in motion an important project.
… Her idea set in motion an important project.
B2 – 44 … stand in contrast to
… stand in contrast to
… His calm attitude stands in contrast to the chaotic situation.
… The new design stands in contrast to the traditional style.
… stand in contrast to is To be noticeably different from something.
… stand in contrast to
/ stand in contrast to
… His calm attitude stands in contrast to the chaotic situation.
/ His calm attitude stands in contrast to the chaotic situation.
… His calm attitude stands in contrast to the chaotic situation.
… The new design stands in contrast to the traditional style.
/ The new design stands in contrast to the traditional style.
… The new design stands in contrast to the traditional style.
B2 – 45 … take effect
… take effect
… The new law will take effect next month.
… The medicine took effect after a short time.
… take effect is To begin to work or produce results.
… take effect
/ take effect
… The new law will take effect next month.
/ The new law will take effect next month.
… The new law will take effect next month.
… The medicine took effect after a short time.
/ The medicine took effect after a short time.
… The medicine took effect after a short time.
B2 – 46 … work in tandem with
… work in tandem with
… The software works in tandem with external devices.
… She works in tandem with a professional team.
… work in tandem with is To work together with something or someone.
… work in tandem with
/ work in tandem with
… The software works in tandem with external devices.
/ The software works in tandem with external devices.
… The software works in tandem with external devices.
… She works in tandem with a professional team.
/ She works in tandem with a professional team.
… She works in tandem with a professional team.
B2 – 47 … add fuel to the fire
… add fuel to the fire
… His hostile comment added fuel to the fire.
… The rumor added fuel to the fire during the tense meeting.
… add fuel to the fire is To make a bad situation worse.
… add fuel to the fire
/ add fuel to the fire
… His hostile comment added fuel to the fire.
/ His hostile comment added fuel to the fire.
… His hostile comment added fuel to the fire.
… The rumor added fuel to the fire during the tense meeting.
/ The rumor added fuel to the fire during the tense meeting.
… The rumor added fuel to the fire during the tense meeting.
B2 – 48 … come to grips with
… come to grips with
… She came to grips with the challenging reality.
… He came to grips with his personal issues.
… come to grips with is To begin to understand or deal with something difficult.
… come to grips with
/ come to grips with
… She came to grips with the challenging reality.
/ She came to grips with the challenging reality.
… She came to grips with the challenging reality.
… He came to grips with his personal issues.
/ He came to grips with his personal issues.
… He came to grips with his personal issues.
B2 – 49 … get to the bottom of
… get to the bottom of
… We need to get to the bottom of this serious problem.
… She got to the bottom of the mysterious incident.
… get to the bottom of is To find the true cause of something.
… get to the bottom of
/ get to the bottom of
… We need to get to the bottom of this serious problem.
/ We need to get to the bottom of this serious problem.
… We need to get to the bottom of this serious problem.
… She got to the bottom of the mysterious incident.
/ She got to the bottom of the mysterious incident.
… She got to the bottom of the mysterious incident.
B2 – 50 … have a bearing on
… have a bearing on
… The results have a bearing on future decisions.
… His attitude has a bearing on the overall outcome.
… have a bearing on is To influence something.
… have a bearing on
/ have a bearing on
… The results have a bearing on future decisions.
/ The results have a bearing on future decisions.
… The results have a bearing on future decisions.
… His attitude has a bearing on the overall outcome.
/ His attitude has a bearing on the overall outcome.
… His attitude has a bearing on the overall outcome.
