Kaplan TOEFL Idioms Quiz Book - dlderakhtejavidan.ir

QUIZ BOOK

350 Idioms Important for Passing the TOEFL Exam

Definitions Plus Sample Sentences in Context

Portable and Easy-to-Use for Learning English

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TOEFL Idioms Quiz Book

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Other Kaplan Books for English Learners

TOEFL iBT with CD-ROM, 2003-2009 Edition

Inside the New TOEIC Exam

Ittside the TOEFL iBT, Second Edition

TOEFL Vocabulary Quiz Rook

Learn English Through Classic Literature Series

The Short Stories and Essays of Mark Twain

American Tales of Horror and the Supernatural


TOEFL® Idioms Quiz Book

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HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

The TOEFL (Te$t of English as a Foreign Language) is a standardized test designedto measure your ability to understand and use English as it is used in a NorthAmerican universitysetting. Recent changes to the TOEFL have shifted the focushum how much you know about English to how well you comprehend, speak, andwrite English.

Whether you are taking TOEFL iBT, TOEFL CBT, or TOEFL Pencil-and-P&per,Kaplans TOEFL Idioms Quiz Book is perfectly designed to help you learn over 35Uidioms frequently used in English.

An idiom is a word or phrase that has a special meaning apart from its literaltranslation— it is usually a metaphor. Only people who are good at speakingEnglish will know what an idiom means. Idioms can be difficult to learn, and theyrequire time aod patience to master well.

With this book, read the idiom an the front of the page to determine whether youknow ih on the reverse side, its definition and a santpie sentence are offered to besure that you understand its correct usage.

Once you have mastered a particular idiom, dip or fold back the corner of theflashcard so that you can skip over it to get to the words you still need to study.

The wards are organized according to their part of speech. In some cases, twoparts of speech are common, and we have noted these cases with JO ore illustrativeexamples,

You will also see some notes in square brackets [ ]. This provides additional Lnfornation about the origins of the idiom that should make it easier to memorize.

in some cases—mainly with verb phrases—some words are interchangeable. Insuch situations, we have provided twoexample sentences, one for each version,The most common version appears on the first page.

Study the idioms in anyorder and start on any page.

Good luck!

right ri

v


to push the envelopeverb

to abide by the rulesverb


verbto do something new and different that goes beyond what waspreviously thought to be possible; to innovateHis new website really pushes the envelope of what the Internetcan be used for.

verbto accept and follow (a law* ruling* etc.); to comply withBoth companies claim the right to sell the product, but they willabide by the judges decision.

2

to carry on doing somethingverb

to test the watersverb


verbto continueThe book tvc?.* so interesting he carried on reading it after theend of study hall.They will carry on with the dance lessons until they master thetango.

verbto check the likelihood of success before proceedingBefore announcing their new initiativet the politicians testedthe waters by conducting polls on the likely public response.

4

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to pan outverb

to account for a discrepancyverb


verbto yield good results; to turn out wellHe has had several job intervieyvs but nothing has panned outyet[from to pan for gold: to attempt to extract gold from a river]

verbto explain; to be or provide an explanation forThe police asked him to account for the missing moneyThe full moon accounts for the exceptionally high tide today.


to give away the endingverb

to follow suitverb


verbto reveal (information that was supposed to be kept secret)The party was supposed to be a surprise, but my little sistergave it away.

verbto do the same; to follow the example set by someone elseHe decided to skip the tournament and the rest of the team fol¬lowed suit.[a reference to card games in which all players must play acard of the same suit as the one led by the first player]

8

righted material

to grow out of somethingverb

to back up dataverb


verbL to become too large for (something); to outgrow; 2. to de¬velop on the basis of (something)She gives her sons clothes to charity when he grows out of them.This book grew out of a series of lectures I gave last year.

verbto make an electronic copy (of a computer file, etc.) as secu¬rity in case the original is damaged or deletedThe power outage wasnt a problem because we had alreadybacked up the files on the computer.

10

rii

to know the ropesverb

to back someone into a cornerverb

i]


verbto understand how things are done in a particular placeTo succeed in a new job, ask someone who really knows theropes to train you.Hence to show someone the ropes means 'to show someonehow things are done![A reference to old-fashioned sailing ships, which had com*plicated ropes and riggings]

verbto put (someone or oneself) into a position where there is noway out and no room to maneuverHis political opponents tried to back him into a corner, so thatany position he took would cause him to lose support.She has painted herself into a corner by setting the standardsso high that no one - including her - can meet them

to have second thoughtsverb

to look after a childverb

13


verbto reconsiderAfter I saw the reading listr 1 had sec ond thoughts about takingthe class.

verbto take care ofShe looks after her little brother after school every day.

14


to look forward to an eventverb

to look into a suspicious incidentverb

15


verbto anticipate (something) with pleasurefm looking forward to the concert next week*

verbto investigate; to seek information aboutWe are looking into buying a camper for our summer trip,

16


to Keep one’s options openverb

to bring the facts home to herverb

17


verbto avoid doing anything that might rule out a future course ofactionHe will probably matriculate to State University, but he*$ keep¬ing hts options open until he has gotten a response from all ofthe schools he applied to.

verbto make (the reality of something) clearThis book finally brought the complexity of the issue home tome.

18


to bring new information to lightverb

to see the lightverb

19


verbto reveal; to uncoverTheir study brought to tight some long-forgotten manuscripts.

verbto finally realize something after serious consideration/ thought he would never agree with me, but eventually he smvthe tight

20


to look upverb

to look something upverb

KAPLAN 21


verbto show signs of improvementShe had more tests done and the doctors say her health is look¬ing up.

verbto seek information about (something) in a reference workI looked up the words l didn't know in a dictionary


to look up to someoneverb

to give someone free reinverb

23


verbto have respect and admiration for (someone)He had always looked up to his unde, who was a teacher.

verbto put tew restrictions on the behavior of (someone)The new teacher gives the students free rein to study whateverthey wantSee to rein someone in.[A rein is the strap used to control a horse while riding.]

24

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to rein someone inverb

to give her story the benefit of the doubtverb

25


verbto control (someoneÿ) behavior closelyWhenever he began to stray from the task our supervisor reinedhim in,

See to give someone free rein,

verbto assume that (a person or statement) is truthful until provenotherwiseHis alibi is suspicious, but lets give him the benefit of thedoubt until we know more.

26


to hold one's ownverb

to hold one’s tongueverb

27


verbto perform reasonably well in a challenging situationThe other runners in the race are much more experienced, buthe is holding his own and will probably finish right in themiddle.

verbto stay silent; to refrain from speakingShe was upset and wanted to say something, but she held hertongue.

friqh1

28 KAPLAN

to bring something to mindverb

to set the record straightverb

29


verbto be reminiscent of (something); to remindThis dish brings to mind a meal 1 once had in Paris<

verbto correct a false story; to provide accurate informationThe media initially reported that the escaped animal was atiger> but zoo officials set the record straight, announcing thatit was a harmless kangaroo.

30


to use up a resourceverb

to size up the competitionverb

3]


verbto consume (something) completely/ couldn't brush my teeth this morning because my brother hadused up the toothpaste.

verbto evaluate or assess7he dogs growled and walked in a circle„ sizing each other up.

32


to have one’s hands tiedverb

to lower the barverb

33


verbto be restricted; to be prevented from doing something/ wish 1could give you more information, but my hands aretied.The government was unable to respond quickly because itshands were tied by regulations♦

verbto reduce standards so that it is easier to succeedWhen no one qualified under the original criteria, the admis¬sions committee lowered the bar.

34


to flare upverb

to ask after someoneverb

35


verbto erupt or break out to recurMy doctor had said the rash on my knee was cured, but itflared up again.

verbto inquire about the well-being of (someone)Me heard your mother was in the hospital and called to askafter her.

36


to hold swayverb

to go through with itverb

37


verbto dominate; to have great influence7he Dutch held sway in New York until 1664, when the Englishtook control

verbto perform (an action) as planned; to carry outWe went through with our plan to have a picnic in spite of therain.

38


to end upverb

to lay claim to propertyverb

39


verbto come eventually to a particular situation or placeH ended up costing much more than we expected.After walking for hours, they ended up in the same place wherethey started.

verbto assert that one has the right to (something); to claim own¬ership ofMy sister always laid claim to the top bunk bed, so 1 was stuckon the bottom.

40

material

to cross one’s mindverb

to hold on to shares in the companyverb

41


verbto occur to oneI'm so accustomed to flying that the possibility of driving homenever crossed my mind.

verbto keep or retainHe considered selling his motorcycle, but he decided to hold onto it.


to hold outverb

to leave no stone unturnedverb

43


verbto resist or endure in a challenging situationHer doctor advised her to give up meat, and she held out for sixmonths before giving in to temptation.

verbto look everywhere; to attempt everythingWe left no stone unturned in our search for the cit/s best hotdog.

44

to cross pathsverb

to run into someoneverb

45


verbto meet by chanceThey crossed paths in Italy when they both happened to bevacationing there.He crossed paths with my sister in college.

verbto meet (someone) by chance/ hadn't seen him in months, but I ran into him at the super¬market last week


to have one’s work cut out forverb

to get one’s act togetherverb

47


verbto have a lot of work to do in order to accomplish somethingIf she wdrcfs to finish this drawing before the art fair she has herwork cut out for her.

verbto prepare oneself to accomplish something; to get organizedWe need to get our act together if we re going to finish this byFriday.

friqh1 ferial

48 KAPLAN

to drop byverb

to drop in on someoneverb

49


verbto make a short, usually unannounced, visitHe dropped by fora few minutes last night.

verbto make a short, usually unannounced, visit to (a person!On the way home we dropped in on my grandmother to seehow she was doing.

50


to have one's hands fullverb

to go wrongverb

51


verbto be very busy; to have a lot to doShe has had her hands full lately, so she probably wont be ableto help you.

verbto cause a failure; to go amissThe experiment failed, but scientists still arent sure what wentwrong.

52


to err on the side of cautionverb

to rest on one’s laurelsverb

53


verbto emphasize (a particular aspect of an issue) so that If a mis¬take is made it will enhance that aspectNo one knows what level of pollutants is safe for fishr so if seemsbest to err on the side of conservation by stopping all pollutionin the river

verbto be satisfied with one's past accomplishments rather thanattempting anything newSince his highly praised first novel came out he has been restingon his laurels and hasn't written anything new.[a reference to the ancient Greek tradition of crowning aperson with a wreath of laurels, or bay leaves, to honor a greataccomplishment]

54

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to take one’s timeverb

to tighten one’s beltverb

55


verbto proceed slowly; to avoid rushingI'm taking my time on this paper, since it isnt due until the endof the semester.

to take extreme measures in order to economize; to cut backOur funding has been cut„ so we are going to have to tightenour belts and reduce the budget.[a reference to losing weight from eating less, which mightcause someone to need a smaller belt]

verb

to touch on a subjectverb

to see eye to eyeverb

57


verbto address (a topic) brieflyThe course will mainly cover the works of Jean-Jacques Rous¬seau, but it will also touch on some of his contemporaries, suchas Voltaire and Diderot.

verbto have similar opinions; to understand each otherThey have almost nothing in common, but when it comes tobaseball they see eye to eye.


to have a sayverb

to cherry-pickverb

59


verbto have a degree of influence or powerH is important for children to have a say in decisions abouttheir activities.In a democracy, citizens have a voice in their government.

verbto take only the most desirable items available from among aselectionShe sells the most cars because she cherry-picks the most prom¬ising customers, leaving the rest of us with the reluctant ones.

60


to do someone goodverb

to narrow down a listverb

61


verbto have a beneficial effect on (someone)He has seemed very stressed out lately; a vacation will do himgood.

verbto reduce the number of options in (a selection)They started with a pool of twenty applicants, hut they nar¬rowed it down to three finalists.


to draw a blankverb

to do one’s bestverb

63


verbto be unable to remember or respond/ studied thoroughly for the test, but when 1 saw the first ques¬tion I just drew a blank.

verbto try as hard as possibleMe didnt get a perfect score, but he did his best> and that iswhat really matters.

64

to throw down the gauntletverb

to throw in the towelverb

65


verbto issue a challengeThe American colonists threw down the gauntlet to England in1776 with the Declaration of Independence.[A gauntlet is a type of armored glove, which would tradition¬ally be thrown down by a medieval knight in a challenge to anopponent To accept the challenge, the opponent would pickup the glove; hence to take up the gauntlet means £to accept achallenge!]

verbto accept defeat; to surrenderAfter struggling for many years with our business, we finallythrew in the towel after realizing we needed to make majorrenovations.

66


to throw someone to the wolvesverb

to fill someone inverb

67


verbto leave (someone) to face criticism or challenges alone; toabandon (someone)He claimed not to know anything about the scandal and threwhis assistant to the wolves.

verbto inform (someone) fully; to give (someone) the detailsLisa missed the meeting where that was discussed: so someonewill have tofitt her in.


to fill in for someoneverb

to take someone's placeverb

69


verbto replace or substitute for/ usually work on Mondays and Fridays, but Fm fiUing in forMark today.

verbto replace or substitute for (someone)The star o f the play got sick, so the understudy took her place.

70 KAPLAN

to come to grips with a challenging conceptverb

to stay out of a disputeverb

71


verbto become capable of dealing with or understandingMany companies still haven't come to grips with the new regu¬lations,It took us a long time to get to grips with this computer pro¬gram.

verbto avoid getting involved inThe United States stayed out of the First World War until Aprilof 1917.

72


to wear thinverb

to speak out on a controversial issueverb

73


verbto become less effective due to overuseYou claim to have forgotten your homework at least once aweek? so that excuse is wearing thin.

verbto express ones opinions openlyft was nice to hear a politician speak out about the problemsfacing farmers today.

74


to think up a new gameverb

to take advantage of someone or somethingverb

75


verbto invent; to make upOur math teacher is always thinking up new ways to make surewe do our homework.

verb1 . to exploit (someone); 2, to utilize or avail oneself of (some¬thing)They were only taking advantage of him, and had no interest inreally being his friends;She is trying to take advantage of the many cultural experi¬ences the city has to offer*

76


to carry out ordersverb

to meet someone halfwayverb

77


verbto obey; to put into actionHe carried out your instructions perfectly; everything is theway you wanted it.

verbto compromise with (someone)We made several good offers, but he stubbornly stuck to hisoriginal price and ref used to meet us halfway.


to meet one’s matchverb

to keep a low profileverb

79


verbto find one’s equalHe is a great chess player> hut in you he finally met his match.

verbto avoid getting attention or publicityLike many celebrities, she started keeping a profile after shehad children.

SO

to get a message acrossverb

to get away with a crimeverb


verbto express7he presidents latest speech really got across his concern aboutthe need far more educational funding.

verbto manage Lo escape the consequences of (an action)I canJt believe begot away with cheating on that quiz,


to think on one’s feetverb

to wash one’s hands of the whole affairverb

S3


verbto react quickly and effectively without prior preparationShe had to think on her feet when she was unexpectedly askedto lead the discussion.

verbto claim to no longer be responsible for or involved with(something)- to dissociate oneself fromHe has washed his hands of the group since it participated in acontroversialprotest tost year.

84

rii

to settle for a lower priceverb

to cast doubt on somethingverb

85


verbto accept less than desired or expectedHe had dreamed of becoming president, but he settled for beingmayor of a small town.

verbto make (something) appear doubtful or dubiousThe photos from the party cast doubt on his version of events.

86


to make a point of doing somethingverb

to make doverb

87


verbto make a deliberate effort to do somethingI make a point of calling my grandmother once a week.

verbto manage without something important; to get byDuring the Second World War cooks often made do withoutrationed ingredients tike chocolate and sugar.

88


to make sureverb

to make senseverb

$9


verbto be certain; to confirmBefore leaving the house he made sure he had his keys*

verbto be reasonable or logicalHer theory makes sense,

90


to keep an eye on somethingverb

to get over a setbackverb

91


verbto watch; to monitorCould you please keep an eye on the cake in the oven and makesure it doesn't burn?

verbto recover from; to bounce back fromShe is finally getting over her cold.The team needs to get over todays loss and start preparing forthe next game.

rii

to take someone’s word for itverb

to take a breakverb

93


verbto believe someone without additional evidenceHe says that he didn't take the money, and Vm taking his wordfor it.

verbto take a rest; to stop an activity temporarilyShe painted for hoars at a time without taking d break,

94


to draw the lineverb

to think better of a decisionverb

95


verbto set a limit about how far one is willing to goShe is an adventurous eater, but she draws the line at insects.ril help you out one more times but that is where I draw theline.

verbto decide against (doing something) after thinking about itmore; to reconsiderHe had planned to take part in the prank > but he thought bet¬ter of it and stayed home.

96

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to think something oververb

to think twiceverb

97


verbto consider (something) carefully/ probably wont accept the job offer; but I am still thinking itover,

verbto consider carefully before making a decisionIf l were you* 1 would think twice about buying a used car overthe Internet,When he was invited to give a speech at his old high school, hedidnt think twice before agreeing.

98

'right tcrial

to get rid of somethingverb

to get the best of someoneverb

99


verbto discard or eliminateWe got rid of all the food in the refrigerator that wdj past itsdue date.

verbto defeat or outwitHe tried to stay awake for the fireworks at midnight, hat hisfatigue got the best of him and he fell asleep before 11:00.

100


to get to the bottom of a mysteryverb

to get underwayverb

101


verbto uncover the truth aboutWe reported the strange sounds coming from the house nextdoor and the police promised to get to the bottom of it.

verbto begin- to start7he annual Autumn Festival gets underway next week,


to mince wordsverb

to jump on the bandwagonverb

103


verbto avoid directly saying something which might upset or of¬fend; to euphemizeTell me what you really thought of my performance and don'tmince words.

to take up an activity or idea that is suddenly very popularThe price of the stock rose quickly as investors jumped on thebandwagon and bought shares.She has listened to their music for years, but now everyone isgetting on the bandwagon.

verb


to make good on a promiseverb

to make off with the moneyverb

105


verbto follow through on7he company made good on its pledge to donate new comput¬ers to the school.

verbto take or steal (something); to abscond withMe was caught after the party trying to make off with two silvervases.


to stand forverb

to stand up for someoneverb

107


verbL to support or advocate {a belief or principle); 2. to be anabbreviation of7he memorial should express the ideals he stood for all his life;freedom and equality.FBI stands for Federal Bureau of Investigation.

verbto defend; to advocate forShe always stood up for her little brother when other childrenteased him.


to stand outverb

to wind downverb

109


verbto be conspicuous; to attract attention7he white flowers stand out against the dark background of thepainting.

verb1 . to slow down* to draw to a dose; 2. to relax (said of a per¬son)The wedding season hits its peak in June and starts to winddown in September.After three days of tough hiking we spent a day winding downat the beach.


to wind up somewhereverb

to keep at a taskverb


verbto find oneself in a place or situation; to arrive or end up/ was as surprised as anyone when I wound up in the televisionindustry.

verbto continue to do; to persist or persevere withShe had trouble at first, bat she kept at it arid is now one of thebest gymnasts in the state.


to keep information from someoneverb

to keep from doing somethingverb

113


verbto hide (something) from someone; to keep (something)secret from someoneRomeo and Juliet kept their marriage from their families.

verbto stop oneself from doing something; to refrain from oravoidWhen she saw his new haircut she could hardly keep fromlaughing.

rii

to keep up with someone or somethingverb

to lend a handverb

115


verbL to travel at the same speed as; to stay abreast of; 2, to stayinformed aboutHe couldn’t keep up with the other cyclists on the hilly part ofthe course.I try to keep up with the latest advances in computer science.

verbto helpLocal charities lent a hand to the effort to rebuild after theearthquake,

Could you please give me a hand with this heavy box?

'right

to jump to conclusionsverb

to sit aroundverb

117


verbto form an opinion about something quickly without examin¬ing all of the factsAgood doctor looks at all of a patients symptoms carefully beforemaking a diagnosis rather than just jumping to conclusions.

verbto lounge or be idle; to hang aroundMe used to exercise a lot but now he just sits around playingvideo games.


to sit through a long ceremonyverb

to sit tightverb

119


verbto stay to the end of (an event or performance)/ wanted to leave the play at intermission hut my parents mademe sit through all three hours of it.

verbto wait patientlyCould you just sit tight for a little bit longer? I'm almost readyto leave.


to get on with an activityverb

to take a piece of information into accountverb

12]


verbto continueWe need to stop wasting time and get on with studying for theexam.

verbto consider; to give attention toThe theory was flawed because it didnt take into account theimportance of environmental factors.


to show upverb

to show someone upverb

123


verbto arriveShe didn't show up at work until after 11:00 am.

verbto embarrass or outperform (someone)He showed up the team captain by making the most goals inlast nights game.


to split hairsverb

to go without sayingverb

125


verbto make small, unimportant distinctionsThey still haven't agreed on the final wording of the contractbut they are just splitting hairs now; all of the important issueshave been decided.

verbto be obvious or self-evidentft goes without saying that you should wear respectful clothesto a job interview.


to take something in strideverb

to wipe something outverb

127


verbto deal with (something difficult) in a calm way, so that itdoes not cause disruptionsThe players took the insults of the opposing team in stride andfocused on winning thegame*

verbto destroy (something) completelyThree years of drought wiped out the region's agriculture,


to save one's breathverb

to save faceverb

129


verbto refrain from saying something that is useless or unnecessaryShe wont stop smoking no matter what you say; save yourbreath.

verbto preserve one's dignity or honor; to avoid embarrassmentHe saved face by resigning from his job before he could be fired.


to fill out a formverb

to bide one's timeverb

131


verbto complete (a form)He has fitted out all of his college applications,

verbto wait patientlyShe's living with her parents for a while, biding her time untilshe finds the right apartment.

friqhl

132 KAPLAN

to keep her on her toesverb

to keep Irack ofverb

133


verbto force (someone) to stay alertOur teacher keeps us on our toes by asking questions through¬out his lectures.

verbto keep a record of; to stay informed aboutShe kept track of her expenses so that she could be reimbursed.

friqh1 terial

134 KAPLAN

to slip someone’s mindverb

to pave the wayverb

135


verbto be forgotten by someoneI wios supposed to buy milk on the way home but it completelyslipped my mind.

verbto make future accomplishments possible; to prepare the wayThe achievements of pioneering female scientists like Marie Curiepaved the way for later generations of women in science.[Way is an old-fashioned word for road; paving a road makesit easier and faster to travel on.]


to take it easyverb

That name is starting to ring a bell.verb

137


verbto relax; to be idleLast summer I worked 40 hours a week, but this year I am tak¬ing it easy.

verbto bring back a memory; to sound familiarI don’t recognize her face, but her voice rings a belt.


to put the rumors to restverb

to pin down the detailsverb

139


verbto put a stop to; to end; to quellIf you are afraid of flying* the new technology in these planesshould put your fears to rest.

verbto define firmly; to figure outThe wedding is supposed to he this summer but they haven’tpinned down the date yet.

140


to field questionsverb

to count asverb

141


verbto answer questions from a group of peopleAfter his speech f he fielded questions from the audience,

verbto be considered; to qualify asAstronomy 101 counts as a science course for the schools distri¬bution requirement.


to count onverb

to keep a threat at bayverb

143


verbto rely on; to depend onWe need to be home eariy because Mom is counting on us tohelp her with dinner.

verbto make (something) stay away; to ward offVve been keeping the flu at bay by resting and drinking lots oforange juke.The moat around the castle was designed to hold invaders atbay.


to figure outverb

to cut back on long-distance phone callsverb

145


verbto determine or conclude7he mechanic figured out that the problems were being causedby a teak in my cars fuel line.

verbto use or do less of (something)His doctor told him that he should cut back on sugar


to cut offverb

to cut to the chaseverb

KAPLAN 147


verb1. to interrupt; 2. to stop or discontinueShe rudely cut him off in the middle of his story.The storm cut off the city’s supply of electricity.

verbto get directly to the pointMe started describing all of the different features, but we were ina hurry so we asked him to cut to the chase,


to come aroundverb

to come down toverb

149


verbto agree to something eventuallyMy father didn't like the idea of me going to college so far awayfrom home, but Vm sure hell come around.

verbto have as an essential point; to be dependent uponThere are all sorts of fad diets around, but healthy weight losscomes down to fwo factors: eating well and exercising regularly:


to come alongverb

to bear fruitverb

151


verbL to accompany; 2, to progressHe invited a friend to come along.There were a lot of construction problems at firsts hut the newhouse is finally coming along.

verbto produce results; to be successfulAfter twenty years of research, our effort to cure the disease isfinally bearingfrutt


to take its tollverb

to put off a meetingverb

153


verbto have a negative effectThe drought took its toll on the crops, and the harvest wasmuch smaller than usualShe looks exhausted. All of those late nights of studying arefinally taking their toll

verbto postponeOur teacher put the test off until next week.


to pass up an opportunityverb

to put one’s finger on a piece of informationverb

155


verbto dedinei to fail to take advantage ofShe passed up a scholarship at a prestigious university becausethe school didn't have a good soccer team.

verbto identify; to pinpointThere must be something missing hut I can’t put my finger onwhat it is.


to turn a blind eye to a problemverb

to take note of the changesverb

157


verbto ignore; to overlook7he superintendent accused local schools of turning a blind eyeto plagiarism and cheating.

verbto notice; to observeHe didnt immediately take note of her new haircut.


to fall into placeverb

to fall out with someoneverb

159


verbto turn out as hoped forWe were afraid that we would never finish planning our wedding,but everything seems to be falling into place.

verbto have a serious disagreementThey fell out with each other years ago over who would run thefamily business.Also as a noun: fo have a falling-out with someone.

Copyrighted materia

to fall shortverb

to muddle throughverb

161


verbto fail to meet expectationsOur profits for last year felt short

verbto find a way in spite of difficultyor disorganization; to manage/ didn't know anything about how to direct a play but I muddledthrough.

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to bring someone up to dateverb

to put a project on holdverb

163


verbto give (someone) the latest informationSince you have been absent talk to me after class and 1 willbring you up to date,

verbto stop (something) temporarily- to suspendWe are putting the renovation on hold until next summer

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to rule out a possibilityverb

to play down an achievementverb

165


verbto exclude (something) as a possible option or explanationWe haven't decided where to spend our honeymoon yet, hut wehave ruled outgoing on a cruise.The doctor told her that tests had ruled out cancer as the causeof her symptoms.

verbto minimize the importance ofThe other students were impressed by her famous father, but shealways played down her glamorous background.The opposite is to play up £to exaggerate

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to play it safeverb

to play with fireverb

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verbto avoid taking risksThey played it safe and allowed two hours for the drive to theairport.

verbto do something dangerous or riskyWe warned the diplomat that he was playing with fire by get¬ting involved in local politics,

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to keep something in mindverb

to bargain lorverb

169


verbto remember and account for (something)While writing your essay, keep in mind that you will get ahigher grade if it has a dear argument

verbto expect or be prepared forThe vacationers got more rain than they had bargained forwhen monsoon season hit a few weeks early.


to deal with a problemverb

to take over the companyverb

171


verbto handle or controlThey are finding new ways of dealing with the rising cost ofcollege tuition.

verbto take control ofMe is difficult to work because he usually tries to take over themost interesting projects.


to run out of provisionsverb

to take on someone or somethingverb

173


verbto use up {a supply of something)/ couldn't make cookies because I ran out of sugar.

verbL to hire (an employee); 2. to confront; to fight againstThey decided to take him on as a research assistant,The environmental group is taking on a big corporation tt ac¬cuses of polluting the take.


to beat around the bushverb

to put down rootsverb

175


verbto avoid talking directly about somethingThe community meeting was frustrating because the mayorkept beating around the bush instead of addressing the impor¬tant issues facing our community.

verbto settle down; to establish a permanent residenceAfter years of traveling, he is finally putting down roots bybuying a house in his hometown.

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to put up with something unpleasantverb

to take partverb

177


verbto endure or tolerateRather than disciplining students who are late for class, she putsup with their behavior.

verbto participateFifty nations took part in the conference at which the Charterof the United Nations was drafted in 1945.


to take sidesverb

to talk someone into doing somethingverb

179


verbto align oneself with one of the sides in a disputeParents should avoid taking sides when their children argue.

verbto convince (someone) to do somethingHe didnt want to join the team, but they talked him into it


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verbto do things in the wrong orderCritics say that buying furniture for the new library before thearchitect has been chosen is putting the cart before the horse.

verbto decide; to make a decisionMe got into three different colleges, so flow he is trying to makeup his mind about which one to attend


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verbto bear the consequences of a mistake or misdeed7he school principal made the whole class pay the price forgraffiti made by one student.

verbto try; to make an attemptIre never baked a pie before> but Vm taking a stab at it thisweekend,

They asked him to make a stab at creating a webpage.

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to part with a possessionverb

to take something with a grain ol saltverb

185


verbto give (something) upEven when he went to college, he refused to part with his teddybear.

verbto be skeptical about (something)Since he has strong views on this subject, so I took his reportwith a grain of salt.


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adjectivecompetent at one's professionAny coach worth his salt would have taught you how to stretchyour muscles after practice.

adjectiveunpreparedShe did well for most of the interview; but she was caught offguard by the last question,


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blue collaradjective

white collaradjective


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run of the milladjective

on the tip of one's longueadjective

195


adjectiveunexceptional; ordinaryDespite all of the attention he has gotten in the press, I think heis really just a run-of-the-mill portrait painter.

adjectiveon the verge of being recalled/ can't quite remember his name, but it's on the tip of mytongue.


beside the pointadjective

to the pointadjective

197


adjectiveirrelevant; unimportantThe real issue in the renovation is that we need more space; thecolor of the carpet is beside the pointSee to the point.

adjectivedirectly related to the topic at hand; relevantThe testimony of the star witness in the case was concise and tothe pointSee beside the point

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at a loss for wordsadjective

neither here nor thereadjective

199


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down to earthadjective

down and outadjective

201


adjectivereasonable and practical realisticShe seems remarkably down to earth for the daughter of awealthy celebrity.

adjectivevery poor; destituteA decade ago he iwis a down-and-out alcoholic, but today heowns his own business and has been sober for 8 years.


in checkadjective

beside oneselfadjective

203


adjectiveunder controlNow that our rent is higher, we will have to keep our spendingin check.

adjectiveextremely agitated or upset; distraughtMe came home three hours late and his mother was besideherself with worry.

204


full-fledgedadjective

a no-win predicamentadjective

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adjectivecomplete; mature; fully developedHer hobby of baking cookies has become a full-fledged business,with stores all over the city

adjectivehaving no possibility of a positive outcomeIt was a no-win situation: we either had to pay the fine or pay alawyer to fight it,See win-win.

206


a win-win situationadjective

in charge ofadjective

207


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on the right trackadjective

on the wrong trackadjective

209


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red-handedadjective

fFYr is short for ffor your information’.adjective

213


adjectivein the act of committing a crimeThey caught the thief red-handed, with the stolen jewelry in hispockets.

adjectiveused as an abbreviation or shortened form ofDid you know that the word 1 pram* is short for ' perambulator7

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wrapped up in somethingadjective

up in the airadjective

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adjectivescarce; iinsufficiently available; running outWe have plenty offood lefi bat water is in short supply,

adjectiverelaxed; laid-back; restrainedWe are having a party but it wont be anything big, just a tow-key gathering offr iends.

218


feeling up to 11adjective

in the pipelineadjective

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adjectiveready for or able to do somethingIt is a very steep mountain; are you sure you re up to the hike?

adjectiveon the way; being developedShe published two books last year and she already has anotherone in the pipeline.

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on the same pageadjective

in touch with someoneadjective

221


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at a premiumadjective

in the wingsadjective

223


adjectiveparticularly valuable; especially in demandIn today’s job market, computer skills are at a premium.

adjectiveready lo act or be used at any timeNewspaper columnists often keep one idea in the wings in caseof writers blockThere were many people waiting in the wings to take over whenshe retired.[a reference to the wings of a theater, where actors wait to goon stage]


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adjectivebeing planned or producedÿ in processA sequel to that movie is in the works.

adjectivein accordance with; consistent withThe themes of her most recent novel are in line with her previ¬ous work,


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adjectivecompletely under the control of; powerless against; totallydependent uponMedieval peasants were often at the mercy of their local over-

7he small ship was at the mercy of the storm♦

adjectivedoing everything necessary to accomplish (something); incontrol ofI offered her help with the decorations for the dance, hut shesaid she was on top of it.

lord.

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time-honoredadjective

on the tableadjective

229


adjectivetraditional; long-standingServing turkey with cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving is a time-honored custom in the United States.

adjectiveup for discussion; possible as an optionWe haven’t made a final decision yet, so all of the proposals arestill on the table.

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adjectivenot talkative; reticentMy grandmother is a woman of few words> but when she sayssomething it is usually very insightful.

adjectiveimpossible; inconceivable; not worth consideringBecause of the recent snowstorm, driving over the mountainwas out of the question.


worse for wearadjective

thin-skinnedadjective

233


adjectiveshowing signs of age or useThis sofa was beautiful when it was newf but it is getting a bitworse for wear ,

adjectiveextremely sensitive; easily upsetWhen students are too thin-skinned, it can be difficult to givethem feedback on their workThe opposite is thick-skinned.

light years aheadadjective

out of handadjective

235


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a grass-roots effortadjective

line tuningadjective

237


adjectivebased on the efforts of ordinary peopleOur new city coundtwoman didn’t get a Jot of support frompowerful politicians, but she had a strong grass-roots campaign.Also as a noun: support from the grass roots

nounminor adjustments needed to perfect somethingThe car is running now, but we have to do some fine tuning tomake it ready to drive on the road.Also as a verb: We need to fine-tune our performance.

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adjectivevery simpleSince he had studied so hard, he thought the exam was easy aspie.

adjectiveunique; unusualThe company knew they’d found one in a million when theyhired her for the job.

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adjectivenew; untestedHe doesn't know yet how his company's e-mail system works;because hes only been here one day and is still wet behind theears.

adjectiveinexperienced; newHer first interview with the mayor went too longt because shewas still green and didn’t know which questions to ask,


foregone conclusionnoun

odds and endsnoun

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level playing fieldnoun

mixed emotionsnoun

245


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the powers that benoun

the light at the end of the tunnelnoun

247


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nouna possession that is useless or unwanted, and difficult to getrid ofThe painting is valuable, bat no one waflfs a picture of a slaugh¬terhouse, so it's really a white elephant

nouna person who is currently in a position of authority, but whosesuccessor has already been chosenWhen a sitting president loses the election for a second term inNovember, he becomes a lame duck until the new president isinaugurated the following January.Now that our companys CEO is a lame duck; people doubt thatshe will be able to accomplish much before she retires.

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nouna new burst of energy or strength to continue a difficult effortIn the last week before the play opened[ the actors got theirsecond wind and rehearsed long hours to ensure that it W05 asuccess*

[originally used to describe the sudden ability to breathe moreeasily which some people feel after exercising for a long time]

nounthe latest possible timeShe always leaves her homework until the last minuter

Also as an adjective: last-minute Christmas shopping.

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white lienoun

salt of the earthnoun

255


nouna lie considered to be harmless* often told out of politeness/ told her she looked nice, but it was a white lie; her dress wasrealty ugly.

nouna person who is decent honest* kind* and unpretentiousHer parents are very nice people, the salt of the earthr

Often used as an adjective: salt-of-the-earth people.


yellow journalismnoun

the lesser of two evilsnoun

257


nounjournalism that is sensationalist and biasedThat newspaper will print anything to sell papers - it's all gossipand yellow journalism,Also yellow press,

nounan option which is bad, but still better than the alternative/ wasn't impressed with either of the candidates, bat I voted forthe lesser of two evils,

red tapenoun

small talknoun

259


nounexcessive regulations and bureaucracyWe had to deal with a lot of red tape to get the proper visa totravel here.[From the reddish-colored tape or ribbon that was once usedto tie together bundles of legal documents]

nounpolite conversation on unimportant topics; chatHe made smalt talk with all of the guests at the party:


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nouna small but easily recognized part of a much larger problem orissueThe corruption scandals reported in the are only the tip of

[a reference to the fact that the biggest part of an iceberg ishidden underneath the water - only the tip is visible]

nounno extra time, meaning it is necessary to do something rightawayThere is no time to lose\ so lets get to work.

the iceberg,

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double-edged swordnoun

sticking pointnoun

263


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zero tolerancenoun

mint conditionnoun

265


nouna policy of punishing even minor offensesIhe school has instituted policy of zero tolerance for dress codeviolations; last week student got detention for forgetting towear a tie,Also as an adjective: a zero-tolerance approach to law enforce¬ment

nounin excellent condition, as if newThese antique toys are very valuable because they are stilt inmint condition,Also as an adjective: a mint-condition car.[in reference to mint, a place where coins are made]

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the upper handnoun

bad bloodnoun

267


nounthe better position in a situation; the advantageWhen the other teams best player was injured, we gained theupper hand.

nounhostility due to past events; ill will; antagonism; hatredThere has beet} bad blood between them ever since the lawsuitten years ago.


game plannoun

the cutting edgenoun

269


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gray areanoun

face valuenoun

273


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nouna complete reversal; a U-turnAfter ten years of supporting the same party he did an aboutface and started voting for the opposition.

nounthe qualities required to accomplish somethingYour daughter has what it takes to be a professional musician.

276

material

a vicious circlenoun

the eleventh hournoun

277


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nounan unpleasant fact that is difficult to accept7he knee injury that ended his tennis career was a hitter pillbut he became a successful coach.

nouna new or unfamiliar situationAdvances in biotechnology are taking scientists into unchartedwaters requiring new ethical guidelines*

[uncharted means ‘unmapped or unexplored']

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nouna genera] or approximate guidelineWhen cooking rice, a good rule of thumb is to use two partswater to one part rice.

nounnegative feelings of resentment or bitternessThey are no longer in business together, but they are still friendsand there are no hard feelings about the end of their partner¬ship.

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salad daysnoun

a labor of lovenoun

285


nounthe days of ones youth, regarded either as a time of inexperi¬ence or as a peak or heydayWe retailed the rash decisions of our salad days.His performance has declined since his salad days,

[from Shakespeare's Anthony and Cleopatra: my salad days,when I was green in judgment]

nouna project undertaken purely out of pleasure or interestHe paints portraits for money> hut his still-life paintings are alabor of love,


olive branchnoun

seeing the big picturenoun

287


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ill-gotten gainsnoun

quantum leapnoun

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nounprofits or benefits acquired unfairly or illegallyRobin Hood is both a thief and a hero, because he shares his iU-gotten gains with the poor.

nouna sudden and significant improvement or advanceIn the past decade there has been a quantum leap in our scien¬tific understanding of human genetics.[from Physics, where a quantum leap (also quantum jump)is the abrupt shift of an electron within an atom from oneenergy state to another]

290

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ivory lowernoun

a change of pacenoun

295


nouna place that is Insulated from the concerns of the real worldTo really understand social issues, he needs to get away from theivory tower of university life

nouna change from what is usual or ordinaryShe usually drinks coffee every morning but today she's havingtea for a change of pace.

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nounthe most important consideration or conclusion; the mainpointWe talked about a lot of techniques for time managementt butthe bottom line is that we just need to get more done.[from the use of the bottom tine in accounting, where it refersto the final total of a balance sheet]

adverbfor all; in every categoryThe new budget makes cutbacks in government services acrossthe board, jrom highways to education.


at odds with established theoryadverb

speaking off the cuffadverb

299


adverbin contradiction to; in disagreement or conflicting withHis account of events is at odds with the story published in thenewspaper.

adverbwithout any preparationEveryone was impressed when he gave a fantastic speech off thecuff.


now and thenadverb

hand in handadverb

301


adverboccasionallyHe doesn't exercise much, but he does go biking now and then,

adverb1. while holding hands; 2. in dose association; jointlyCouples walked down the street hand in hand .

Low unemployment often goes hand in hand with inflation.


He was left in the darkadverb

down the roadadverb

303


adverbwithout important information; uninformedShe was upset that they had kept her in the dark about theirplan to sell the house.

adverbin the futureThis may seem like a risky investment now, but f am confidentthat it will pay down the road,

prepared ahead of timeadverb

at stakeadverb

305


adverbin advance; beforehandHe practiced an acceptance speech ahead of time just in case hewon the prize.

adverbat risk; in questionThe national championship is at stake in this game.


in the wake ofadverb

through thick and thinadverb

307


adverbas a consequence of; in the aftermath ofIn the wake of the recent earthquake we decided to redesign thebuilding for stability.

adverbthrough good times and bad times; in all circumstancesMarried couples vow to support each other through thick andthin.


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adverbworth mentioningHe doesn't have any savings to speak of he spends all of hismoney on entertainment.

adverbcertainly; absolutely; unquestionablyIt was without a doubt the worst book I have ever read.

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on top of everything elseadverb

out of the blueadverb

311


adverbin addition to; besidesOn top of all of his other accomplishments, he is now captain ofthe hockey team.

adverbwithout any warning; unexpectedly; out of nowhere/ hadn't seen him in months, but he called me owf of the bluelast week and invited me to dinner.


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adverbbased on the information (a person) has; to the best of (aperson’s) knowledgeShe isn't here yet, but as far as I know she is still planning tocome.

adverbin ones thoughts; preoccupying one/ have a lot on my mind right now.That incident has been on his mind lately


behind closed doorsadverb

on behalf of someoneadverb

315


adverbin secret out of public viewThe government eventually signed the treaty, but we may neverknow what bargains were made behind closed doors to make ithappen

adverbas a representative of someone; in the interest of someoneMe wrote a letter on behalf of his mother, asking the companyto give her a refund

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adverbneverthelessSome say that printed books are becoming obsolete; be that as itmay f publishing remains a dynamic and prosperous business.

adverbwithout proper permission or disclosure; illegallyMe was getting paid under the table to avoid taxes-[See above board]

we experienced it at lirst handadverb

on and offadverb

319


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adverbin a short summary; very brieflyThis hook covers the major points of the topic in a nutshell.

adverbin the future; eventuallyThis may seem like a good policy now, but it could cause majorproblems down the line.


to a faultadverb

by word of mouthadverb

323


adverbexcessively; so much that it causes problemsShe is careful to a fault; it takes her forever to finish anything.

adverbthrough informal conversationThey didn't have enough money to advertise in the newspaper,but they got a lot of publicity by word of mouth.Also as an adjective: word-of-mouth advertising.

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behind someone's backadverb

behind the scenesadverb

325


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all of a suddenadverb

beyond the shadow of a doubtadverb

327


adverbwithout any warning; instantlyWe were walking in the park when ail of the sudden the lightswent out.

adverbwithout any doubt at all; for certainWe now know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Vikingsreached North America centuries before Columbus.

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in the balanceadverb

in over one's headadverb

329


adverbat stake; at riskApplying to college is very stressful; sometimes it feds like yourentire future is in the balance.

adverbin a situation for which one is not qualified or preparedMe got in over his head when he agreed to do all of the paper¬work for the project.

by the bookadverb

as far as someone is concernedadverb

331


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in no timeadverb

by virtue ofadverb

333


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for the time beingadverb

by all meansadverb

335


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adverbabsolutely not; not at allShe is a talented singer but by no means the best in the choir;

See by all means.

adverbas ordinarily or habitually happens; like alwaysI planned to study before class today but as usual I overslept


back to square oneadverb

in view ofadverb

339


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in the long runadverb

by the wayadverb

341


adverbafter a long time; in the end; eventuallyft may seem hard to save money for retirement now? hut in thetongrunyou wilt be very glad that you did.

adverbincidentally/ read that book you lent me* By the way> did you know theauthor lives near here?

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adverbin general; mostlyHer grades this year were good for the most part .

adverbup to the present time; as of nowThey will be hiring a new secretary, but yet they have notdone so.


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adverbconsidering; because of; taking into accountShe was given a lighter punishment in light of the fact that thiswas the first time she had broken the rules.

adverbin addition; beyond what is neededThe recipe cal!ed for four cloves of garlic, but I added two morefor good measure.

against all oddsadverb

by handadverb

347


adverbdespite it being very unlikely; incredibly unexpectedlyAgainst all odds, she won her match against the five-time statechampion,

He recovered from the operation and, against the odds, wasable to walk again.

adverbwithout using a machineDelicate fabrics like cashmere should be washed by hand1

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adverbbased on the appearance of something; apparentlyFrom the looks of the orientation assembly, there must be fewerstudents at school this yearThe bake sale is raising a lot of money this year, by the looks of it

adverb1. immediately; 2. in an awkward position where one is forcedto make a difficult decision right awayShe didn't expect to get an answer for several weeks, but the ac¬cepted her application on the spot,He put me on the spot by proposing marriage in front of hiswhole family

with one voiceadverb

warts and alladverb

351


adverbunanimously; in unisonThe company's employees opposed the policy with one voice,

adverbincluding a persons faults as well as his or her positive quali¬tiesParents love their children unconditionally warts and all


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on the looseadverb

under the weatheradverb

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In the affirmativeadverb

In the negativeadverb

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on the spur of the momentadverb

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TEST PREPARATION

From the creators ofthe #2 TOEFL Exam Course

Kaplan's TOEFL Idioms Quiz Book ]san indispensable study toolfor TOEFL test takers and others learning English, Idioms can bedifficult to learn in any language* but they are especiallychallenging in English*

350 idioms to help you pass the TOEFL exam

Definitions plus sample sentences in context

Clarification of especially difficult idioms

Convenient, portable format to take withyou anywhere

World Leader in Test Prep and AdmissionsKaplan Test Prep and Admissions has helped more than 3 million students achievetheir educational and career goals. With 185 centers and over 1*200 classroomlocations throughout the United States and abroad, Kaplan provides a full rangeof services* including test prep courses, admissions consulting, programs forinternational students, professional licensing preparation* and more,

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