E 1 .… be weary of .
… be weary of .
… Many teachers grow weary of rushed meetings.
… She was weary of repeating the same explanation.
… be weary of .
/ be weary of .
… Many teachers grow weary of rushed meetings.
/ Many teachers grow weary of rushed meetings.
… She was weary of repeating the same explanation.
/ She was weary of repeating the same explanation.
E 2 .… from hand to mouth .
… from hand to mouth .
… After the disaster, some families lived from hand to mouth.
… Freelancers sometimes live from hand to mouth between gigs.
… from hand to mouth .
/ from hand to mouth .
… After the disaster, some families lived from hand to mouth.
/ After the disaster, some families lived from hand to mouth.
… Freelancers sometimes live from hand to mouth between gigs.
/ Freelancers sometimes live from hand to mouth between gigs.
E 3 .… in substance .
… in substance .
… In substance, the proposal calls for more teacher training.
… The report, in substance, supports the recommended changes.
… in substance .
/ in substance .
… In substance, the proposal calls for more teacher training.
/ In substance, the proposal calls for more teacher training.
… The report, in substance, supports the recommended changes.
/ The report, in substance, supports the recommended changes.
E 4 .… bear the brunt of .
… bear the brunt of .
… Small businesses bore the brunt of the closures.
… Frontline staff bore the brunt of the increased workload.
… bear the brunt of .
/ bear the brunt of .
… Small businesses bore the brunt of the closures.
/ Small businesses bore the brunt of the closures.
… Frontline staff bore the brunt of the increased workload.
/ Frontline staff bore the brunt of the increased workload.
E 5 .… slip of the tongue .
… slip of the tongue .
… Calling her by the wrong name was a slip of the tongue.
… He apologized for the slip of the tongue during the meeting.
… slip of the tongue .
/ slip of the tongue .
… Calling her by the wrong name was a slip of the tongue.
/ Calling her by the wrong name was a slip of the tongue.
… He apologized for the slip of the tongue during the meeting.
/ He apologized for the slip of the tongue during the meeting.
E 6 .… abound in .
… abound in .
… Wildflowers abound in the meadows each spring.
… Local markets abound in fresh seasonal produce.
… abound in .
/ abound in .
… Wildflowers abound in the meadows each spring.
/ Wildflowers abound in the meadows each spring.
… Local markets abound in fresh seasonal produce.
/ Local markets abound in fresh seasonal produce.
E 7 .… exert oneself to .
… exert oneself to .
… She exerted herself to finish the grant application on time.
… Volunteers exerted themselves to prepare the shelter before nightfall.
… exert oneself to .
/ exert oneself to .
… She exerted herself to finish the grant application on time.
/ She exerted herself to finish the grant application on time.
… Volunteers exerted themselves to prepare the shelter before nightfall.
/ Volunteers exerted themselves to prepare the shelter before nightfall.
E 8 .… equate A with B .
… equate A with B .
… Don’t equate success solely with high test scores.
… Some people equate busyness with productivity, but they are different.
… equate A with B .
/ equate A with B .
… Don’t equate success solely with high test scores.
/ Don’t equate success solely with high test scores.
… Some people equate busyness with productivity, but they are different.
/ Some people equate busyness with productivity, but they are different.
E 9 .… wrestle with .
… wrestle with .
… The committee wrestled with the budget dilemma for weeks.
… He wrestled with doubts before deciding to accept the role.
… wrestle with .
/ wrestle with .
… The committee wrestled with the budget dilemma for weeks.
/ The committee wrestled with the budget dilemma for weeks.
… He wrestled with doubts before deciding to accept the role.
/ He wrestled with doubts before deciding to accept the role.
E 10 .… be indebted to .
… be indebted to .
… We are indebted to volunteers for their tireless help.
… He felt indebted to his mentor for early support.
… be indebted to .
/ be indebted to .
… We are indebted to volunteers for their tireless help.
/ We are indebted to volunteers for their tireless help.
… He felt indebted to his mentor for early support.
/ He felt indebted to his mentor for early support.
E 11 .… in the suburbs of .
… in the suburbs of .
… They moved to a house in the suburbs of the city.
… Several families live in the suburbs of the university town.
… in the suburbs of .
/ in the suburbs of .
… They moved to a house in the suburbs of the city.
/ They moved to a house in the suburbs of the city.
… Several families live in the suburbs of the university town.
/ Several families live in the suburbs of the university town.
E 12 .… inflict A on B .
… inflict A on B .
… The policy inflicted extra burdens on small schools.
… The storm inflicted damage on roads and bridges.
… inflict A on B .
/ inflict A on B .
… The policy inflicted extra burdens on small schools.
/ The policy inflicted extra burdens on small schools.
… The storm inflicted damage on roads and bridges.
/ The storm inflicted damage on roads and bridges.
E 13 .… to no purpose .
… to no purpose .
… They worked all night to no purpose when the files were lost.
… He argued strongly, but to no purpose — the decision was final.
… to no purpose .
/ to no purpose .
… They worked all night to no purpose when the files were lost.
/ They worked all night to no purpose when the files were lost.
… He argued strongly, but to no purpose — the decision was final.
/ He argued strongly, but to no purpose — the decision was final.
E 14 .… have a flat tire .
… have a flat tire .
… She had a flat tire on the way to the conference.
… Having a flat tire delayed the supply delivery by an hour.
… have a flat tire .
/ have a flat tire .
… She had a flat tire on the way to the conference.
/ She had a flat tire on the way to the conference.
… Having a flat tire delayed the supply delivery by an hour.
/ Having a flat tire delayed the supply delivery by an hour.
E 15 .… zero in on .
… zero in on .
… The team zeroed in on the main cause of the glitch.
… Researchers zeroed in on a promising intervention for literacy.
… zero in on .
/ zero in on .
… The team zeroed in on the main cause of the glitch.
/ The team zeroed in on the main cause of the glitch.
… Researchers zeroed in on a promising intervention for literacy.
/ Researchers zeroed in on a promising intervention for literacy.
E 16 .… all thumbs .
… all thumbs .
… I’m all thumbs with sewing; someone else should mend the costume.
… He felt all thumbs using the new lab equipment the first day.
… all thumbs .
/ all thumbs .
… I’m all thumbs with sewing; someone else should mend the costume.
/ I’m all thumbs with sewing; someone else should mend the costume.
… He felt all thumbs using the new lab equipment the first day.
/ He felt all thumbs using the new lab equipment the first day.
E 17 .… in the mood for .
… in the mood for .
… I’m in the mood for something light and creative today.
… Students were in the mood for a relaxed discussion after exams.
… in the mood for .
/ in the mood for .
… I’m in the mood for something light and creative today.
/ I’m in the mood for something light and creative today.
… Students were in the mood for a relaxed discussion after exams.
/ Students were in the mood for a relaxed discussion after exams.
E 18 .… rest on .
… rest on .
… The success of the event rests on careful planning.
… Responsibility for the mistake rests on outdated procedures.
… rest on .
/ rest on .
… The success of the event rests on careful planning.
/ The success of the event rests on careful planning.
… Responsibility for the mistake rests on outdated procedures.
/ Responsibility for the mistake rests on outdated procedures.
E 19 .… complain of .
… complain of .
… Several parents complained of inconsistent schedules.
… He complained of a persistent headache after the long meeting.
… complain of .
/ complain of .
… Several parents complained of inconsistent schedules.
/ Several parents complained of inconsistent schedules.
… He complained of a persistent headache after the long meeting.
/ He complained of a persistent headache after the long meeting.
E 20 .… tear off .
… tear off .
… She tore off the receipt and handed it to the cashier.
… The crew tore off the old wallpaper before repainting.
… tear off .
/ tear off .
… She tore off the receipt and handed it to the cashier.
/ She tore off the receipt and handed it to the cashier.
… The crew tore off the old wallpaper before repainting.
/ The crew tore off the old wallpaper before repainting.
E 21 .… snap out of .
… snap out of .
… He finally snapped out of his gloom after good news arrived.
… She snapped out of distraction and returned to work.
… snap out of .
/ snap out of .
… He finally snapped out of his gloom after good news arrived.
/ He finally snapped out of his gloom after good news arrived.
… She snapped out of distraction and returned to work.
/ She snapped out of distraction and returned to work.
E 22 .… under fire .
… under fire .
… The administration was under fire for slow responses.
… Scientists under fire clarified their methods publicly.
… under fire .
/ under fire .
… The administration was under fire for slow responses.
/ The administration was under fire for slow responses.
… Scientists under fire clarified their methods publicly.
/ Scientists under fire clarified their methods publicly.
E 23 .… halfway house .
… halfway house .
… The program acted as a halfway house for returning volunteers.
… The community center served as a halfway house between services.
… halfway house .
/ halfway house .
… The program acted as a halfway house for returning volunteers.
/ The program acted as a halfway house for returning volunteers.
… The community center served as a halfway house between services.
/ The community center served as a halfway house between services.
E 24 .… fall prey to .
… fall prey to .
… New users may fall prey to misleading online ads.
… Communities can fall prey to misinformation during crises.
… fall prey to .
/ fall prey to .
… New users may fall prey to misleading online ads.
/ New users may fall prey to misleading online ads.
… Communities can fall prey to misinformation during crises.
/ Communities can fall prey to misinformation during crises.
E 25 .… trot out .
… trot out .
… They trotted out old data to support the familiar argument.
… The presenter trotted out examples from last year’s report.
… trot out .
/ trot out .
… They trotted out old data to support the familiar argument.
/ They trotted out old data to support the familiar argument.
… The presenter trotted out examples from last year’s report.
/ The presenter trotted out examples from last year’s report.
E 26 .… from A to Z .
… from A to Z .
… The workshop covered grant-writing from A to Z.
… She planned the festival from A to Z with the organizing team.
… from A to Z .
/ from A to Z .
… The workshop covered grant-writing from A to Z.
/ The workshop covered grant-writing from A to Z.
… She planned the festival from A to Z with the organizing team.
/ She planned the festival from A to Z with the organizing team.
E 27 .… shed light on .
… shed light on .
… The study shed light on student engagement patterns.
… The interview shed light on the committee’s decision-making.
… shed light on .
/ shed light on .
… The study shed light on student engagement patterns.
/ The study shed light on student engagement patterns.
… The interview shed light on the committee’s decision-making.
/ The interview shed light on the committee’s decision-making.
E 28 .… pass through .
… pass through .
… The convoy passed through the town before dawn.
… Delegates passed through customs quickly thanks to arrangements.
… pass through .
/ pass through .
… The convoy passed through the town before dawn.
/ The convoy passed through the town before dawn.
… Delegates passed through customs quickly thanks to arrangements.
/ Delegates passed through customs quickly thanks to arrangements.
E 29 .… all told .
… all told .
… All told, the project involved over a hundred volunteers.
… All told, the repairs took three weeks to complete.
… all told .
/ all told .
… All told, the project involved over a hundred volunteers.
/ All told, the project involved over a hundred volunteers.
… All told, the repairs took three weeks to complete.
/ All told, the repairs took three weeks to complete.
E 30 .… take offense at .
… take offense at .
… Don’t take offense at constructive criticism; it helps growth.
… She took offense at the sarcastic remark and left the room.
… take offense at .
/ take offense at .
… Don’t take offense at constructive criticism; it helps growth.
/ Don’t take offense at constructive criticism; it helps growth.
… She took offense at the sarcastic remark and left the room.
/ She took offense at the sarcastic remark and left the room.
E 31 .… not absolutely .
… not absolutely .
… The plan is helpful but not absolutely certain to succeed.
… That claim is plausible but not absolutely proven by the data.
… not absolutely .
/ not absolutely .
… The plan is helpful but not absolutely certain to succeed.
/ The plan is helpful but not absolutely certain to succeed.
… That claim is plausible but not absolutely proven by the data.
/ That claim is plausible but not absolutely proven by the data.
E 32 .… bowl over .
… bowl over .
… The audience was bowled over by the student performances.
… The generous donation bowled over the small charity.
… bowl over .
/ bowl over .
… The audience was bowled over by the student performances.
/ The audience was bowled over by the student performances.
… The generous donation bowled over the small charity.
/ The generous donation bowled over the small charity.
E 33 .… far cry from .
… far cry from .
… The new system is a far cry from the old paper process.
… His calm response was a far cry from his earlier panic.
… far cry from .
/ far cry from .
… The new system is a far cry from the old paper process.
/ The new system is a far cry from the old paper process.
… His calm response was a far cry from his earlier panic.
/ His calm response was a far cry from his earlier panic.
E 34 .… lie on .
… lie on .
… The responsibility for scheduling lies on the coordinator.
… The final decision lies on the board, not the committee.
… lie on .
/ lie on .
… The responsibility for scheduling lies on the coordinator.
/ The responsibility for scheduling lies on the coordinator.
… The final decision lies on the board, not the committee.
/ The final decision lies on the board, not the committee.
E 35 .… take a beating .
… take a beating .
… Small shops took a beating during the economic slump.
… The project took a beating when funding was cut.
… take a beating .
/ take a beating .
… Small shops took a beating during the economic slump.
/ Small shops took a beating during the economic slump.
… The project took a beating when funding was cut.
/ The project took a beating when funding was cut.
E 36 .… put emphasis on .
… put emphasis on .
… The course puts emphasis on practical, hands-on learning.
… We should put emphasis on clear communication in reports.
… put emphasis on .
/ put emphasis on .
… The course puts emphasis on practical, hands-on learning.
/ The course puts emphasis on practical, hands-on learning.
… We should put emphasis on clear communication in reports.
/ We should put emphasis on clear communication in reports.
E 37 .… be destitute of .
… be destitute of .
… The report seemed destitute of concrete examples.
… That argument is destitute of supportive evidence.
… be destitute of .
/ be destitute of .
… The report seemed destitute of concrete examples.
/ The report seemed destitute of concrete examples.
… That argument is destitute of supportive evidence.
/ That argument is destitute of supportive evidence.
E 38 .… break into tears .
… break into tears .
… She broke into tears when the surprise was revealed.
… The volunteer broke into tears at the moving farewell.
… break into tears .
/ break into tears .
… She broke into tears when the surprise was revealed.
/ She broke into tears when the surprise was revealed.
… The volunteer broke into tears at the moving farewell.
/ The volunteer broke into tears at the moving farewell.
E 39 .… cast off .
… cast off .
… They cast off outdated procedures to try a new approach.
… Cast off the extra supplies once the event is over.
… cast off .
/ cast off .
… They cast off outdated procedures to try a new approach.
/ They cast off outdated procedures to try a new approach.
… Cast off the extra supplies once the event is over.
/ Cast off the extra supplies once the event is over.
E 40 .… go astray .
… go astray .
… Some emails went astray during the server update.
… The plan went astray when key data were ignored.
… go astray .
/ go astray .
… Some emails went astray during the server update.
/ Some emails went astray during the server update.
… The plan went astray when key data were ignored.
/ The plan went astray when key data were ignored.
E 41 .… in all likelihood .
… in all likelihood .
… In all likelihood, the workshop will be rescheduled for spring.
… In all likelihood, the new policy will improve safety.
… in all likelihood .
/ in all likelihood .
… In all likelihood, the workshop will be rescheduled for spring.
/ In all likelihood, the workshop will be rescheduled for spring.
… In all likelihood, the new policy will improve safety.
/ In all likelihood, the new policy will improve safety.
E 42 .… round and round .
… round and round .
… The discussion went round and round without a resolution.
… The children ran round and round the playground at recess.
… round and round .
/ round and round .
… The discussion went round and round without a resolution.
/ The discussion went round and round without a resolution.
… The children ran round and round the playground at recess.
/ The children ran round and round the playground at recess.
E 43 .… in a bad temper .
… in a bad temper .
… He returned in a bad temper after a frustrating meeting.
… Try not to respond when someone is in a bad temper.
… in a bad temper .
/ in a bad temper .
… He returned in a bad temper after a frustrating meeting.
/ He returned in a bad temper after a frustrating meeting.
… Try not to respond when someone is in a bad temper.
/ Try not to respond when someone is in a bad temper.
E 44 .… stick up .
… stick up .
… The statue stuck up above the treeline and could be seen from afar.
… A few students stuck up for the newcomer during the debate.
… stick up .
/ stick up .
… The statue stuck up above the treeline and could be seen from afar.
/ The statue stuck up above the treeline and could be seen from afar.
… A few students stuck up for the newcomer during the debate.
/ A few students stuck up for the newcomer during the debate.
E 45 .… think out .
… think out .
… Think out the schedule carefully before publishing it.
… They thought out contingency plans for possible delays.
… think out .
/ think out .
… Think out the schedule carefully before publishing it.
/ Think out the schedule carefully before publishing it.
… They thought out contingency plans for possible delays.
/ They thought out contingency plans for possible delays.
E 46 .… take root .
… take root .
… New habits took root after consistent practice.
… The program took root in several schools within a year.
… take root .
/ take root .
… New habits took root after consistent practice.
/ New habits took root after consistent practice.
… The program took root in several schools within a year.
/ The program took root in several schools within a year.
E 47 .… drink to .
… drink to .
… Let’s drink to the success of the graduating class.
… They drank to the volunteers’ hard work at the farewell.
… drink to .
/ drink to .
… Let’s drink to the success of the graduating class.
/ Let’s drink to the success of the graduating class.
… They drank to the volunteers’ hard work at the farewell.
/ They drank to the volunteers’ hard work at the farewell.
E 48 .… behind the scenes .
… behind the scenes .
… Volunteers worked behind the scenes to set up the hall.
… Negotiations continued behind the scenes until an agreement was reached.
… behind the scenes .
/ behind the scenes .
… Volunteers worked behind the scenes to set up the hall.
/ Volunteers worked behind the scenes to set up the hall.
… Negotiations continued behind the scenes until an agreement was reached.
/ Negotiations continued behind the scenes until an agreement was reached.
E 49 .… put up at .
… put up at .
… They put us up at a small guesthouse near the campus.
… The organizers put visiting speakers up at a nearby hotel.
… put up at .
/ put up at .
… They put us up at a small guesthouse near the campus.
/ They put us up at a small guesthouse near the campus.
… The organizers put visiting speakers up at a nearby hotel.
/ The organizers put visiting speakers up at a nearby hotel.
E 50 .… do A harm .
… do A harm .
… Neglecting safety checks can do harm to both students and staff.
… Misinformation did harm to the community’s trust in authorities.
… do A harm .
/ do A harm .
… Neglecting safety checks can do harm to both students and staff.
/ Neglecting safety checks can do harm to both students and staff.
… Misinformation did harm to the community’s trust in authorities.
/ Misinformation did harm to the community’s trust in authorities.
