Idioms, Phrasal Verbs and Prepositions

Idioms, phrasal verbs and prepositions are about 6 of the 40 English marks, and the Dean's Office model tests all three: "abide ___ their promise" (by), "will ___ his position" (take over), and "a Lion's share".

These are memory items: the preposition after a word, the particle after a verb, the meaning of a fixed phrase. The tables below cover the ones that recur.

(a) Shakespeare: phrases that last

(b) A piece of cake: very easy

(c) Break the ice: start a talk

Time and place. at a clock time or point (at 10 a.m., at the gate); on days and dates (on Sunday, on 5 May); in months, years, longer periods (in July, in 2026). Since a point in time, for a duration. Between two, among more than two.

By a deadline, till/until a continuing action. During a period, within a time limit.

2.4 Eight traps in idioms, phrasal verbs and prepositions

These items depend on exact wording, so one wrong small word changes the answer. Learn the exact forms below.

1. An idiom has one meaning, and the literal meaning is wrong. Spill the beans has nothing to do with food: it means reveal a secret (Fig 2.1). If an option describes the literal picture, it is the trap. Choose the option that matches the figurative meaning.
2. Do not change the words of an idiom. It is hit the nail on the head, not "hit the nail in the head", and let the cat out of the bag, not "let the cat out of the box". Idiom questions often include a version with one word changed. Learn each idiom as a block.
3. Two idioms can mean almost the same. Spill the beans and let the cat out of the bag both mean revealing a secret, but the second suggests it happened by mistake. Read the sentence for words such as "accidentally". Check the small difference before you choose.
4. The particle changes the verb. Take after means resemble, take off means leave the ground, and take over means assume control (Fig 2.2). Never guess from the verb alone. Learn each phrasal verb as one word.
5. A phrasal verb can be split, but not always. You can say put off the meeting or put the meeting off, but with a pronoun you must say put it off. Some, like look after, cannot be split at all. In the sentence-completion questions check whether the order is correct.
6. After look forward to use -ing. "I look forward to meeting you" is correct; "I look forward to meet you" is wrong, because to is a preposition here, not part of an infinitive. The same applies to used to (being used to walking). Look at the word after to.
7. Learn the fixed preposition pairs. Depend on, interested in, good at, proud of, different from, married to and superior to are fixed (Fig 2.3). Do not use than after superior or inferior. Remember that you prefer tea to coffee, not "than coffee".
8. At, on, in go from small to large; since and for are not the same. Use at for a clock time, on for a day or date, and in for a month or year (Fig 2.3). Since names a starting point (since 2020) and for gives a length of time (for six years). Use between for two and among for more than two.

2.4.1 Worked checks

Q. What does "a piece of cake" mean?

Answer. It means something very easy, because eating a piece of cake needs no effort (Fig 2.1). It does not mean something sweet or a small portion.

Q. Choose the correct phrasal verb: "She ____ her mother." (takes after / takes off)

Answer. Takes after means resembles a parent, so the sentence is "She takes after her mother." Takes off would mean removes or leaves the ground (Fig 2.2).

Q. Correct the sentence: "I am looking forward to meet you."

Answer. The word to is a preposition here, so the verb takes -ing: "I am looking forward to meeting you."

Q. Fill in the blank: "I have lived here ____ 2020." (since / for)

Answer. 2020 is a starting point, so use since. With a length of time use for: "I have lived here for six years" (Fig 2.3).

Practice questions

Set A — Recall (20 questions)

1. Sincere people abide ___ their promise.abybofcatdon
2. The new manager will ___ his position on Monday.atake offbtake outctake overdtake after
3. The idiom "a piece of cake" meansaa dessertbsomething very easyca small portionda party
4. "The lion's share" meansano shareba small sharecan equal sharedthe largest part
5. He is fond ___ music.ainbatcofdfor
6. "Once in a blue moon" meansavery rarelybevery monthcat nightdoften
7. She is good ___ mathematics.ainboncofdat
8. "To break the ice" meansato melt icebto ease initial awkwardnesscto break a ruledto cool down
9. I am looking forward ___ meeting you.atobforcatdin
10. The phrasal verb "give up" meansadonatebwincliftdquit
11. He is afraid ___ dogs.afrombatcofdwith
12. "To spill the beans" meansato cookbto reveal a secretcto waste fooddto tell a lie
13. The match was called ___ because of rain.ainboutcoffdup
14. She was born ___ 5 May.aonbatcindby
15. He has lived here ___ 2015.aforbfromcduringdsince
16. The meeting is ___ 10 a.m.ainbatcondby
17. He succeeded ___ passing the exam.ainbatcondof
18. "A blessing in disguise" meansaa hidden giftba prayerca misfortune that turns out wellda costume
19. We must put ___ the meeting till Monday.aonbupcoutdoff
20. She insisted ___ paying the bill.aforbonctodat

Set B — Understanding (12 questions)

1. "Abide by" meansalive withbobeycwait fordstay at
2. He takes ___ his father in looks.aupboncoffdafter
3. "Caught red-handed" meansacaught while committing the actbinjuredcpainted reddchased for a long time
4. He is superior ___ me in rank.athanbfromctodover
5. She is married ___ a doctor.awithbtocbydfrom
6. She is capable ___ solving the problem.atobincfordof
7. "To burn the midnight oil" meansato waste fuelbto light a lampcto work late at nightdto cause a fire
8. We ran ___ of sugar.aoutboffcdowndover
9. He is jealous ___ his friend's success.aatbwithcfordof
10. He shared the sweets ___ the three children.abetweenbamongcwithdin
11. The car broke ___ on the highway.adownboffcindaway
12. The minister will arrive ___ Sunday morning.aatbincondby

Set C — Application (8 questions)

1. "To cost an arm and a leg" meansato cause injurybto be cheapcto be painfuldto be very expensive
2. The teacher told him to ___ with his studies.acarry onbcarry outccarry offdcarry up
3. I came ___ an old friend in the market.aoverboncacrossdat
4. "To turn down an offer" meansato accept itbto reject itcto fold itdto reduce its volume
5. He is accused ___ theft.aforbwithcatdof
6. The book is different ___ the film.afrombthanctodwith
7. "To hit the nail on the head" meansato injurebto be exactly rightcto builddto fail
8. She prefers tea ___ coffee.athanbfromctodover