Idioms- Gmat

Front 1

Aim (Intending to achieve something)

Back 1

At

"I aim at scoring 100 in my exam..."

Front 2

Aim (tangible)

Back 2

For

"I aim for the gold medal"

Front 3

As high as/ As low as

Back 3

Must always be against a fixed number

Wrong: As high as 3-4

Front 4

As much as X

Back 4

As Because Y

Front 5

As large...

Back 5

As

Remember: As large AS or larger than

Wrong: As large or larger than

Front 6

Either AS X

Back 6

Or AS Y

I'l come dressed either as Santa or as Noah

Front 7

AS either X

Back 7

Or Y

Wrong: As either X or AS Y

Front 8

Recently

Back 8

Adverb.

Avoid.

Preferred: Recent

Front 9

Not by X

Back 9

But by Y

Front 10

Not X

Back 10

But Y

Front 11

Not THE X

Back 11

But THE/IS/ARE Y

Front 12

Not so much X

The cause is not so much that the dogs are X, ______ they are Y...

Back 12

As that Y

The cause is not so much that the dogs are X, as that they are Y...

Front 13

To Try

I will try ____ win

Back 13

To

Wrong: To try and

Eg: I will try to win

Front 14

Consider

I consider you______my friend

Back 14

-

Wrong: any preposition or additional word after consider

Eg: I consider you TO BE my friend. (WRONG!)

Front 15

More for X

Back 15

Than for Y

Remember: More/ Less is ALWAYS paired with THAN

Front 16

Dated

The rock samples are dated _____ 4.6 million years

Back 16

At

Eg: The rock samples are dated at 4.6 million years

Wrong: The rock samples are dated to be (usually wrong)

Front 17

Determined

His age was determined _____ his birth certificate

Back 17

By

His age was determined by his birth certificate

Front 18

Doubt

I had a doubt_____ I would succeed

Back 18

That

I had a doubt that

Wrong: I had a doubt whether

Front 19

Whether

Back 19

-

Wrong: Whether or not (Redundant)

Front 20

Dispute/ Debate

We had a dispute _____ this issue

Back 20

Over

Eg: We had a dispute over this issue

Front 21

Divided

The community remains divided ____ the issue of...

Back 21

Over

The community remains divided over the issue of...

Front 22

So X

The car is SO dirty______ it must be sent for a wash

Back 22

That Y (As to Y- Rare: Only use IFF X- Adjective/ Adverb and you are certain that SoX That Y can not be used)

The car is SO dirty THAT it must be sent for a wash

Front 23

Just as

Just as caffeine can boost arousal, ____ can vigorous walking.

Back 23

So (Too)

Just as caffeine can boost arousal, so too can vigorous walking.

Front 24

Prefer X

I prefer coffee____ to tea

Back 24

To Y

I prefer coffee to tea

Wrong: I prefer coffer over tea

Front 25

X expected

Tax rates are expected ____ increase next year.

Back 25

To Y

Tax rates are expected to increase next year.

Wrong: Tax rates are expected to be increasing next year.

Front 26

Believe X

Astrophysicists believe the recent disturbances in radio transmissions ______ a result of solar flares.

Back 26

To be Y

Astrophysicists believe the recent disturbances in radio transmissions to be a result of solar flares.

Incorrect: Astrophysicists believe that the recent disturbances in radio transmissions to be a result of solar flares.

Front 27

Distinguish

I tried to distinguish John _____his cousin

Back 27

From

I tried to distinguish John from his cousin

Wrong: Between

Front 28

Distinguish

I tried to distinguish______ John and his cousin

Back 28

Between

I tried to distinguish between John and his cousin

Front 29

Prohibit X

The law prohibits you _______ smoking

Back 29

From Y

The law prohibits you from smoking

Wrong: The law prohibits you to smoke

Front 30

Forbid X

The law forbids you _______ smoke.

Back 30

To do Y

The law forbids you TO smoke

Wrong: The law prohibits you from smoking

Front 31

Estimated

The fossils are estimated ______ more than 65 million years old.

Back 31

To be (sometimes "at" is appropriate but ONLY if estimate is followed by noun as "at" is a preposition)

The fossils are estimated to be more than 65 million years old.

Incorrect: The fossils are estimated as more than 65 million years old.

Front 32

Require

The new regulations require______ prospective employees _____ subjected to rigorous screening.

Back 32

That X be Y

The new regulations require that prospective employees be subjected to rigorous screening.

Incorrect: The new regulations require prospective employees to be subjected to rigorous screening.

Front 33

Declared

Jimi Hendrix was declared______ the king of modern guitar

Back 33

-

Jimi Hendrix was declared the king of modern guitar

Wrong: Declared to be/ as

Front 34

Attributed

His victory was attributed _____ the damp conditions

Back 34

To

His victory was attributed to the damp conditions

Front 35

For all X

Back 35

Y

Forall o f the criticism she has received for her actions during the merger, she’sactually a really nice person if you get to know her.

Front 36

In contrast

Back 36

With/ To

Wrong: As contrasted with

Front 37

_____ par _____

She is _____ par ______ him when it comes to ability

Back 37

On par with

She is on par with him when it comes to ability

Front 38

Theory

I have a theory _______ the earth is flat

Back 38

In which

I have a theory in which the earth is flat

Front 39

City planners arestressing ________publictransportation _______ the way forward

Back 39

City planners are stressing (-) public transportation as the way forward

Front 40

Means

I don't have any means ____ pay(ing) you back

Back 40

To

I don't have any means TO pay you back

Front 41

Rather

Back 41

Than (preferred to In

Front 42

Regard

Roger Federer is regarded _____ the greatest tennis player that ever lived

Back 42

As

Roger Federer is regarded as the greatest tennis player that ever lived

Front 43

The same to X

The sea would appear THE SAME TO a sailor_______ a CAPTAIN

Back 43

As to Y

The sea would appear THE SAME TO A SAILOR AS TO A CAPTAIN

Front 44

Surprised

I was surprised _____ his indifference

Back 44

At

I was surprised at his indifference

Front 45

Think of

I think of her _____ my soulmate

Back 45

As

I think of her as my soulmate

Front 46

Mistaken

I was mistaken_____ you

Back 46

About

I was mistaken about you

Front 47

Difficult

I find it difficult ____ say goodbye

Back 47

To

I find it difficult to say goodbye

Front 48

By the use of

Back 48

Wrong!

Front 49

Further vs. Farther

Back 49

Further: Degree

He took his weight training further than I did

Farther: Distance

I ran farther that Jim

Front 50

Placement of Only/ Quickly (other adverbs)

Back 50

Only must come only before the word it modifies

Right: Her performance isexceeded ONLY by theirs. (Modifies by theirs.)

Wrong: Her performance is ONLY exceeded by theirs. (Technicallymodifies exceeded.)

Front 51

She did not eat mango_____other kinds of fruit

Back 51

She did not eat mango but ate other kinds of fruit

Wrong: She DID NOT EAT mangoes BUT other kinds of fruit.

Wrong: SheDID NOT EAT mangoes; RATHER other kinds of fruit.

Front 52

Isolate

Back 52

From

Front 53

Defined

A conflagration, defined _____ a large fire by the dictionary, is a rare occurrence.

Back 53

As

A conflagration, defined as a large fire by the dictionary, is a rare occurrence.

Front 54

Modeled

The new car is modeled ______ its predecessor

Back 54

After

The new car is modeled after its predecessor

Front 55

A Responsibility

I have a responsibility ____ my country

Back 55

To

I have a responsibility to my country

Front 56

Worry

I worry______ you

Back 56

About

I worry about you

Front 57

To contrast X

I tried to contrast art ____ science

Back 57

With Y

I tried to contrast art with science

Front 58

Identical

He is identical _____ his sister

Back 58

To/ With

He is identical to/ with his sister

Front 59

Agreed

We agreed ____ the plan

Back 59

On/ To

We agreed on the plan

Front 60

Agree

I agree_______John

Back 60

With

I agree with John

Front 61

Contend

Joel contends _______you are lying

Back 61

That

Joel contends that you are lying

Front 62

Elect

Mark will be elected _____ Congress

We elected Mark _____ our leader

Back 62

To a post

Mark will be elected to Congress

A person

We elected Mark as our leader

Front 63

Indicate

Studies indicate _____ tennis is best best sport ever

Back 63

That

Studies indicate that tennis is best best sport ever

Front 64

Localized

The pain is localized ____ my left foot

Back 64

In

The pain is localized in my left foot

Front 65

Native

Penguins are native ____ Antarctica

Steve is a native ____ Georgia

Back 65

Native to

Penguins are native to Antarctica

Native Of

Steve is a native of Georgia

Front 66

Prized

Stephen is prized ____ a teacher in India

Stephen is prized ____ his ability to teach

Back 66

As

Stephen is prized as a teacher in India

For

Stephen is prized for his ability to teach

Front 67

Lesser than

Back 67

Wrong!!

Correct: Less Than

Front 68

The reason that X

Back 68

Is Y

Wrong: The reason that X is because Y

Front 69

Percieved

Back 69

As

Front 70

Aim

Aimed

Back 70

Of

At

Not: aimed to

Front 71

Attribute

We attributed the uprising ____ discontent

Back 71

To

Front 72

____ the borders

Back 72

Within

Not: inside

Front 73

Although/Despite

Back 73

No need for "yet"

Front 74

One chance in a thousand____ winning

Back 74

Of

Any other arrangement of phrase is wrong

Front 75

___compared with horses, zebras are vicious

Back 75

As

Not: when

Front 76

He conceives ____ architecture___/a dialogue

Back 76

Of, as

Not: to be

Front 77

The contend ___they can break the loch

Back 77

That

Front 78

We will create a team ____ lead(ing) the discussion

Back 78

To

Front 79

Hugo credits Sally ____ good taste

Back 79

With

Front 80

They dated the artifact____2000 years old

Back 80

At

Not: as being, to be

Front 81

The judge declared the election ____ a fraud

Back 81

(-) or sometimes "to be"

Front 82

The winner was determined ____ by a coin toss

Back 82

By

Not: through/because of/ from/ as a result of

Front 83

My opinion is different____ yours

Back 83

From

Not: than

Front 84

The investor distinguished ____ trends ____ fads

The investor distinguished trends____fads

Back 84

Between, and

From

Front 85

We have no doubt_____she'll come

We doubt______she'll come

Back 85

That ( if there is a no/ not with doubt)

Whether

Front 86

He ensues that the deadlines____ meet

Back 86

Are

Not: must be

Front 87

We expend energy ____ developments

Back 87

On

Not: for

Front 88

He helps _____ rake(ing) the leaves

Back 88

(-)/ to

Not: in

Front 89

I can east ice cream provided _____ my doctor approves

Back 89

That

Not: (-)

Front 90

A report indicates ____ you're right

The report is indicative ____ mosquitoes

Back 90

That (not: (-)

Of

Front 91

The interaction ____ two nuclei releases energy

Back 91

Of

Maybe: between

Front 92

She invested funds ___ research ____ study (ing) cancer

Back 92

In, to

Not: into, for

Front 93

We know her ____ brilliant

We know her ____ Julie

Back 93

To be

As (name)

Front 94

Tomorrow our strength will lie/lay in numbers

Back 94

Lie

Front 95

I've suffered a loss ___ strength

They have suffered a loss___ the euro

Back 95

Of (decline of a quality)

In (decline of an investment)

Front 96

The truck ___ 10 times the mass of a small car

Back 96

Has

Not: is

Front 97

The kangaroo is native ___ Australia

My friend is a native ___ Australia

Back 97

To (plants/animals)

Of (people)

Front 98

A number of dogs ___ barking

The number of dogs ___ large

Back 98

Are

Is

Front 99

The rates___ tickets are low

The rate___ theft had fallen

Back 99

For (prices)

Of (speed)

Front 100

They recognized the entrance fee ___ a bargain

Back 100

To be/ as

Not: as being

Front 101

The term refers to/is in reference to a disease

Back 101

Refers to

Not: in reference to

Front 102

He regards the ring ___costly

Back 102

Add

Not: to be

Front 103

Impose restrictions____

Back 103

On

Front 104

As a result of/ resulting from our work out wealth grew

Back 104

As a result of

Front 105

The result of or wealth was____ our wealth grew

Back 105

That

Not: (-)

Front 106

Revealed

Back 106

That

Front 107

A ____ oil prices is leading to inflation

Back 107

Rise in

Not: raise in, rising of

Front 108

The judge ruled that/ruled the plaintiff to be/was in contempt

Back 108

The judge ruled that the plaintiff was in contempt

Front 109

I drive to the store at the same time you did/as you

Back 109

As you

Front 110

All companies have similar issues

Each company had similar issues

Every company had similar issues

Back 110

All companies have similar issues

(Comparison requires plural)

Front 111

She gave money____ the school could offer scholarships

Back 111

So that

Not: so

Front 112

We substituted x ___ y

Back 112

Not: in place of

Front 113

He uses the hammer ____a weapon

Back 113

As

Not: like

Front 114

Variations

Back 114

In

Front 115

I viewed this process ____ a mistake

Back 115

As

Not: to be/like

Front 116

Worried

Back 116

About

Front 117

I don't know____ I'll go

Back 117

Whether

Not: if. In GMAT 'if' is only used to introduce a conditional

Front 118

We proposed a way ___ reaching the goal

Back 118

Of

Not: for

Front 119

It is expected + should/will

Back 119

Will

It is expected that things will get better

Front 120

Its numbers are now suspected to be much ____ than before

Back 120

Greater

Not: more

Use greater or lesser for comparisons

Front 121

Reporting verbs

Agree, claim contend declare find indicate reveal rule show announce assert believe confess demonstrate

Back 121

Must be followed with 'That'

Exception: Say

The water was so cold that people said polar bears would die

Front 122

No sooner had Lisa hung out the laundry _____ it began to rain

Back 122

Than

Front 123

As a means ___

Back 123

To

Not: for

Front 124

Attribute

Back 124

To

Not: as

Front 125

Conceived of x___ y

Back 125

As

Not: to be

Front 126

It is x that does y

Back 126

Emphatic construction. Should only be used to convey emphasis

Front 127

In its return ____ 1900-10

Back 127

In/ Of

Of is acceptable

Front 128

He is one of the contenders who ____ a chance

Back 128

Have (plural) depends on contenderS

Not: has (singular)

Front 129

one of the birds that/who ____ over my house everyday

One of the birds _____ over my house everyday

The pigeon is the only one of the birds that _____over my house

Back 129

Fly (plural- depends on the birds because of that/ who)

Flies (singular- depends on one)

Flies (singular- only ensures that the verb is singular)

Front 130

One of the Xs who/that ____

One of the Xs ____

Only one of the Xs _____

Only one of the Xs who/that___

The only one of the Xs who that___

Back 130

Plural

Singular

Singular

Plural

Singular

Front 131

Which

Back 131

Should be used as a noun modifier

Should not introduce a set of clauses integral to a sentence.

Eg: companies which establish operations abroad successfully do x, y, z. Wrong.

That

Front 132

The management stated that it plans _____ expand(ing)

Back 132

To expand

Not: on expanding

Front 133

Over the past several years

Back 133

Best tense: present perfect.

Have felt.

Front 134

Despite Beethoven's status as a great composer, he is considered...

Back 134

Wrong. He has no antecedent. He must refer to Beethoven. Not his status.

Front 135

Agatha Christie's travels inspired her to write.

Back 135

Wrong. Her must refer to a person. Agatha Christie. Not her travels.

Right: Agatha Christie's travels served as inspiration for her writings

Front 136

To have/ Having X is termed Y

Back 136

Having

Wrong: to have. Is not parallel with termed. To have will be parallel to to be termed. Having is a gerund used as a noun.

Front 137

The reason x ____ y

Back 137

Is

Not: is because. Redundant

Front 138

Exactly the same

Back 138

Redundant. The same

Front 139

It is essential that john ___ well

Back 139

Do

Not does (subjunctive)

Front 140

Unexpected surprise

Back 140

Redundancy

Front 141

Still remains

Back 141

Redundancy

Front 142

Out of x ____ developed a committee for the preservation of y and z that ____ creating/ crest/ creates w

Back 142

Has, is creating

Front 143

Unlike its modern day status, lobotomy was considered x

Despite its modern day status, lobotomy was considered x

Back 143

Wrong: comparing status with lobotomy

Right: not a comparison!!