Useful Idioms Vocabulary Set in SAT Exam Essential Vocabulary: Full and Detailed List
The 'Useful Idioms' vocabulary set in 'SAT Exam Essential Vocabulary' is carefully selected from standard international textbook sources, helping you master vocabulary in a short time. Comprehensive compilation of definitions, illustrative examples, and standard pronunciation...
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take something/someone for granted
/teɪk ˈsʌmˌθɪŋ ˈsʌmˌwʌn fɔr ˈɡræntɪd/
Example:
Don't take your parents for granted; they won't always be around.
/hoʊld jʊər tʌŋ/
Example:
I had to hold my tongue when my boss made that ridiculous suggestion.
/ˈtɪk.əl ˈsʌm.wʌnz ˈfæn.si/
Example:
Does the idea of a trip to the mountains tickle your fancy?
/skrætʃ ðə ˈsɜːrfɪs/
Example:
We've only begun to scratch the surface of this complex issue.
/bent ɑːn/
Example:
He seems bent on destroying his own career.
/breɪk ˈiː.vən/
Example:
After months of losses, the company finally managed to break even this quarter.
/peɪv ðə weɪ fɔːr/
Example:
The invention of the printing press paved the way for the spread of knowledge.
/bi ɑn ðə ˈlʊkˌaʊt fɔr/
Example:
We need to be on the lookout for any suspicious activity.
/hæv ɪt boʊθ weɪz/
Example:
You can't have it both ways; either you work hard or you relax, but not both at the same time.
/ˈbrɔːdən ˈsʌm.wʌnz həˈraɪ.zənz/
Example:
Traveling to new countries can really broaden your horizons.
/dʒʌmp ðə ɡʌn/
Example:
I think you're jumping the gun by buying a house before you even have a job.
/friː reɪn/
Example:
The manager gave his team free rein on the new project.
/ðə rɛst ɪz ˈhɪs.tər.i/
Example:
They met at a party, fell in love, and the rest is history.
/teɪk ə bæk siːt/
Example:
After the promotion, he decided to take a back seat and let his team lead the project.
/fɔːl ɑːn hɑːrd taɪmz/
Example:
The family fell on hard times after the factory closed down.
/aʊt əv ˈfeɪ.vər/
Example:
The minister fell out of favor with the president after the scandal.
/bi ə fɑr kraɪ frəm/
Example:
The reality of the job was a far cry from what I expected.
/ˌnek əv ðə ˈwʊdz/
Example:
I haven't seen you in this neck of the woods for ages!
/rɪŋ jɔːr hændz/
Example:
She could only stand there and wring her hands in despair.
/hæv jɔːr oʊn weɪ/
Example:
She's very stubborn and always insists on having her own way.
/meɪk ðə moʊst əv/
Example:
We should make the most of this sunny weather and go to the beach.
/ˈkæri ə tuːn/
Example:
I love to sing, but I can't really carry a tune.
/ɡrɪst tuː ðə mɪl/
Example:
Every mistake he made was grist to the mill for his next novel.
/kʌm aʊt əv jʊər ʃɛl/
Example:
After a few weeks at college, she really started to come out of her shell.
/bi ɪn ˈsʌm.wʌnz ʃuːz/
Example:
I wouldn't want to be in his shoes right now, with all the pressure he's under.
/aʊt əv ˈnoʊˌwɛr/
Example:
The car came out of nowhere and almost hit me.
/aʊt əv ðə luːp/
Example:
I've been out of the loop since I started my new project, so I don't know what's happening with the old one.
/noʊ ˈbɛtər/
Example:
You should know better than to talk to strangers.
/briːð ə saɪ əv rɪˈliːf/
Example:
She breathed a sigh of relief when she heard her son was safe.
/bɜrst æt ðə siːmz/
Example:
The restaurant was bursting at the seams on Saturday night.
/fɔrk ɪn ðə roʊd/
Example:
We reached a fork in the road and had to decide which way to go.
/ˈʌndər ðə ˈreɪdɑːr/
Example:
The small, independent film was an under-the-radar hit.
/æt ˈɑːdz/
Example:
The two brothers are always at odds with each other.
/teɪk ədˈvæn.tɪdʒ ʌv/
Example:
You should take advantage of this opportunity.
/ˈfeɪs ˌvæl.juː/
Example:
The bond has a face value of $1,000.
/ˈflɪp ˌsaɪd/
Example:
Every argument has a flip side.
drag someone's name through the mud
/dræɡ ˈsʌm.wʌnz neɪm θruː ðə mʌd/
Example:
His political opponents tried to drag his name through the mud before the election.
/bi aʊt ɑn jʊər ɪr/
Example:
After that mistake, he was out on his ear by the end of the day.
/ɡoʊ θruː ðə ˈmoʊʃənz/
Example:
He was just going through the motions at work after he decided to quit.
/meɪk ˈɪnˌroʊdz ˈɪntuː/
Example:
The new software is beginning to make inroads into the market dominated by older companies.
/dɛd sɛt ɑn/
Example:
She's dead set on becoming a doctor, no matter how hard it is.
/ˈtɜːrnɪŋ pɔɪnt/
Example:
The invention of the internet was a turning point in human history.
/ʃɛd laɪt ɑn/
Example:
The new evidence helped to shed light on the mysterious disappearance.
/lɛnd ɪtˈsɛlf tu/
Example:
The novel's plot doesn't really lend itself to a film adaptation.