Most Commonly Occuring Idioms in Standardized Exams Like GRE, TOEFL, and GMAT
What is an Idiom?
An idiom is an expression (i.e. term or phrase) the meaning of which cannot be inferred from the dictionary definitions and the arrangement of its elements, but refers instead to a figurative meaning that is known only through conventional use. This explanation is an adaptation from wikipedia. What I am concerned about is the usage of idioms and a thorough understanding of their occurrence in study abroad qualifying examinations like GRE GMAT TOEFL and SAT. Most students who don’t have English as their native language face difficulties in the aforementioned exams due to the surprise elements like idioms .One obvious reason is that idioms are manners of communication which are natural to the native speakers of a particular language. You may have idioms for your native language and admittedly, in modern times it is in fact difficult to converse without idioms. The knowledge of these elements of speech doesn’t bother you most of the times because you use it in your native language.
When a study abroad aspirant faces idioms in exam preparation it becomes cumbersome because most of the study abroad exams are in English and English has a vast range of idioms currently in use. However, most of the educational and testing services have a basic collection of idioms which they want to test or expect you to know. If you plan to take any exam like the GRE, GMAT, TOEFL you won’t face a lot of complex idiomatic expressions in the text or questions asked. I am providing a short list of idioms which helped me earn decent scores in my exams and still help me understand the content of speech of the people around me. I have realized that without knowing these most common expressions it is undoubtedly difficult to comprehend what others say in a study abroad program. Here is a list of idioms which will enhance your verbal and written communication skills in English, if you learn to accommodate them.
Abide by
Close by
Versed in
Wanting in
Abound in
Confide in
Deficient in
Interfere in
Join in
Lost in
Pride in
Identical with
Interfere with
Trifle with
Reconciled with
Overwhelmed with
Part with
Compete with
Comply with
Conversant with
Bear with
Abounds with
Acquainted with
Agree with
Refrain from
Relief from
Part from
Prohibited from
Estranged from
Differ from
Abstain from
Wedded to
Testify to
Stop to
Submit to
Subscribe to
Reconciled to
Partial to
Limit to
Jump to
Keep to
Indebted to
Fancy to
Due to
Close to
Commend to
Acceptable to
Addicted to
Agree to
Anxious to
Sure of
Remind of
Repent of
Run of
Impatient of
Inform of
Inquire of
Hopeful of
Fond of
Deaf of
Despair of
Dispose of
Complain of
Confident of
Acquitted of
Adapt of
Hit upon
Decide upon
Agree upon
Touch at
Puzzled at
Indignant at
Get at
Grumble at
Call at
Amazed at
Arrive at
Anxious about
Zealous for
Zest for
Thankful for
Reputation for
Qualified for
Partiality for
Match for
Long for
Gift for
Grateful for
Fascination for
Fit for
Eligible for
Call for
Craving for
Cure of for
Bound for
Keep up
Bring up
Murmur against
Prejudice against
Warned against
Come across
Run out of
Get over
Brood over
Smile on
Run on
Keen on
Hard on
Call on
Commend on
Enticed into
Fell under
Inquire after
Hanker after Look up to