Idioms - Gmat

GMAT Idiom List

Navigating the world of idioms can be a potential minefield for students, especially if you are a non

native speaker. There are thousands of idioms around and can confuse even the best authors &

journalists.

Fortunately however, the there is a regular set of idioms that appear frequently on the GMAT

Sentence Correction section.

The following comprehensive list is compiled from a list of idioms that have appeared in the GMAT in

recent past.

a long face

'Why have you got such a long face?' 'I just lost all my money in the casino.'

ability to

Correct Usage: Bats have the ability to fly in the dark

Incorrect Usage: Bats have ability of flying in the dark

act as

A big tree can act as an umbrella in the rain.

act like = behave in a certain way

"Please stop acting like a child", said the mother to the teenager.

agree (up)on

Let's try to agree upon a date for the vacation

We agreed to go to the play together.

agree to

We agreed to share the lottery prize.

aid in

The explorers needed aid in finding drinking water.

allow for

Allowing for his youth and lack of experience, I forgave him completely for his oversight.

appeal to

The idea of a vacation to Florida this winter appeals to me a lot.

are in danger of

Correct Usage: These days, fewer people are in danger of dying due to bacteria related diseases.

Incorrect Usage:

- These days, fewer people are in danger to die due to bacteria related diseases.

- These days, fewer people have a danger of dying due to bacteria related diseases

as an adolescent

Correct Usage: As an adolescent, he suffered from acne.

Incorrect Usage: While in adolescence, he suffered from acne.

as good as

She owes me an apology - she as good as called me a liar.

ask for

The child asked for a glass of water

The diners asked the waiter for a type of wine the restaurant didn't have.

associate with

I always associate Water with pizza for some reason

attend to

Please attend to your teacher's instructions

attribute to

We attribute our success to your good advice

base on

I based my opinion upon my own seasoned judgment.

begin to see daylight

I've been working on my thesis for two years, and at last I'm beginning to see daylight.

between x and y

Correct Usage: He had to choose between studying or going to play.

Incorrect Usage: He had to choose between studying with going to play.

burn the candle at both ends

She'd been burning the candle at both ends studying for her exams and made herself ill.

care about

I care very much about my family.

care for

I don't care for sweet desserts

choose for

I chose a funny card for his birthday.

choose as

We will choose her as our representative.

claim to or claim that

He claims that he can run backwards.

Columbus laid claim to America through the cunning use of flags.

come to a dead end

I've come to a dead end. I'm fresh out of ideas.

He compared himself to one of the knights of the round table.

compare with

Let's compare the virtues of savings accounts with investing in bonds.

composed of

The committee is composed of people from every department.

consider (as)

I don't consider you as a possible candidate

I consider myself an excellent athlete.

contend with

I don't want to have to contend for the job with Ed

continue with

Do you mind if I continue with my knitting as we talk?

conform to

Does my casual dress conform to your regulations?

conform with

Does this part conform with the specifications?

consider x y

Correct: Michael Owen is a good football player, but not generally considered an all time great.

Incorrect: Michael Own is a good football player, but not generally considered to be an all time

great.

In Contrast to

In contrast to previous reports, one senior British official suggested an attack was not imminent,

contrast with

The black one contrasts nicely with the white one.

count on

We can count on Bill to get the job done.

to credit with

Correct Usage: Newton is credited with discovering the laws of motion

Incorrect Usage:

- Newton is credited as discovering the laws of motion

- Newton is credited to having discovered the laws of motion

- Newton is credited for discovering the laws of motion

credit for

Mary should get a lot of credit for the team's success.

credit to

We had to credit much of our success to simple good luck.

credit with

We have to credit Jeff with saving us a lot of money.

debate about

The candidates debate about taxes tomorrow

debate on

Are they still debating on the question?

decide on

I decided on the chocolate flavored ice cream.

declared unconstitutional

Correct Usage: The Dictator declared all fundamental rights unconstitutional.

Incorrect Usage: The Dictator declared all fundamental rights as unconstitutional.

define as

We have to define that comment as careless and unthinking.

delighted to

I'm delighted to make your acquaintance,

different from

I am very different from my twin sister.

disclose to

Please disclose the names to me at once.

distinguish between

Psychopaths cannot distinguish between right and wrong.

distinguish from

Psoriatic arthritis can be difficult to distinguish from rheumatoid arthritis

draw a line

Let's draw a line under the whole episode and try to continue

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