Josef Köster

Paul Limper

Exercises in
Collocational English

VERLAG ASCHENDORFF
MÜNSTER
 © 2000 Aschendorffsche Verlagsbuchhandlung GmbH & Co., Münster

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Wort wahrgenommen.

ISBN 3-402-02871-9
 3

CONTENTS

ABBREVIATIONS .......................................................................................................... 9

ADJECTIVE + NOUN .................................................................................................. 11

1 Exercise ................................................................................................................. 11
2 Exercise ................................................................................................................. 18
3 Exercise ................................................................................................................. 19
4 Exercise ................................................................................................................. 28
5 Exercise ................................................................................................................. 30
6 Exercise ................................................................................................................. 33
7 Exercise ................................................................................................................. 34
8 Exercise ................................................................................................................. 35

ADJECTIVE OR ADVERB? ........................................................................................ 36

1 Exercise ................................................................................................................. 36
2 Exercise ................................................................................................................. 43

ADJECTIVES AND NOUNS OF LATIN ORIGIN ........................................................ 45

1 Exercise ................................................................................................................. 45

ADJECTIVES OF LATIN ORIGIN ............................................................................... 49

1 Exercise ................................................................................................................. 49
2 Exercise ................................................................................................................. 56
3 Exercise ................................................................................................................. 58
4 Exercise ................................................................................................................. 60
5 Exercise ................................................................................................................. 67
6 Exercise ................................................................................................................. 68
7 Exercise ................................................................................................................. 71

ADVERBS .................................................................................................................... 74
1 Exercise ................................................................................................................. 74
2 Exercise ................................................................................................................. 75

ADVERB + PARTICIPLE ............................................................................................. 77

1 Exercise ................................................................................................................. 77
2 Exercise ................................................................................................................. 81

COMPOUNDS ............................................................................................................. 84
1 Exercise ................................................................................................................. 84
2 Exercise ................................................................................................................. 85
3 Exercise ................................................................................................................. 86
4 Exercise ................................................................................................................. 88
5 Exercise ................................................................................................................. 89
6 Exercise ................................................................................................................. 91
4 CONTENTS

DERIVATION AND WORD FORMATION ................................................................... 93

1 Exercise ................................................................................................................. 93
2 Exercise ................................................................................................................. 95
3 Exercise ................................................................................................................. 98
4 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 101
5 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 102
6 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 104
7 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 106
8 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 107
9 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 113
10 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 114
11 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 115

FALSE FRIENDS ....................................................................................................... 118

1 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 118
2 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 121
3 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 124
4 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 129
5 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 130
6 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 131
7 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 132

GERUND VERSUS INFINITIVE: ADJECTIVES ....................................................... 133

2 Exercise: Adjectives + Infinitive or (Prep +) -ing ............................................. 133
3 Exercise: Adjectives + Infinitive or (Prep +) -ing ............................................. 139
4 Exercise: Adjectives + Infinitive or (Prep +) -ing ............................................. 141

GERUND VERSUS INFINITIVE: NOUNS ................................................................. 143

2 Exercise: Nouns + Infinitive or (Prep +) -ing .................................................... 143
3 Exercise: Nouns + Infinitive or (Prep +) -ing .................................................... 149
4 Exercise: Nouns + Infinitive or (Prep +) -ing .................................................... 151

GERUND VERSUS INFINITIVE: VERBS .................................................................. 155

2 Exercise: VERBS + INFINITIVE or (PREP +) -ING or THAT-CLAUSE ................ 155
3 Exercise: VERBS + INFINITIVE or (PREP +) -ING or THAT-CLAUSE ................ 159
4 Exercise: VERBS + INFINITIVE or (PREP +) -ING or THAT-CLAUSE ................ 164
5 Exercise: VERBS + INFINITIVE or (PREP +) -ING or THAT-CLAUSE ................ 165
6 Exercise: VERBS + INFINITIVE or (PREP +) -ING or THAT-CLAUSE ................ 167
7 Exercise: VERBS + INFINITIVE or (PREP +) -ING or THAT-CLAUSE ................ 169
8 Exercise: VERBS + INFINITIVE or (PREP +) -ING or THAT-CLAUSE ................ 171
9 Exercise: VERBS + INFINITIVE or (PREP +) -ING or THAT-CLAUSE ................ 173
10 Exercise: VERBS + INFINITIVE or (PREP +) -ING or THAT-CLAUSE .............. 175

-IC AND -ICAL .......................................................................................................... 178

1 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 178
2 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 179
3 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 180
4 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 182
CONTENTS 5

5 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 184

6 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 187
A List ......................................................................................................................... 191

IDIOMS ...................................................................................................................... 196

1 Exercise: Animals ............................................................................................... 196
2 Exercise: Animals ............................................................................................... 201
3 Exercise: Animals ............................................................................................... 206
5 Exercise: Animal Noises .................................................................................... 212
6 Exercise: German null ........................................................................................ 213
7 Exercise: Expressions Associated with Numerals .......................................... 215
8 Exercise: WORDS ASSOCIATED WITH NUMBERS ......................................... 217
9 Exercise: Body .................................................................................................... 220
10 Exercise: Vegetables – Flowers – Fruits – Plants ............................................ 222
11 Exercise: Colours ................................................................................................ 227
12 Exercise: Names ................................................................................................. 233
13 Exercise: Clothes ................................................................................................ 239
14 Exercise: The Game of the Name ..................................................................... 243

INTENSIFIERS .......................................................................................................... 245

1 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 245
2 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 246

REGULAR OR IRREGULAR VERB FORMS? ......................................................... 248

1 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 248
2 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 250
3 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 253
4 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 254
5 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 257
6 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 262
7 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 267
8 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 269
9 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 275

NOUNS DENOTING SHAPE OR QUANTITY .......................................................... 280

1 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 280
2 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 282
3 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 283
4 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 285
5 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 286
6 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 288
7 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 289
8 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 292

PAIRED IDIOMS ....................................................................................................... 293

2 Nouns ................................................................................................................... 293
3 Verbs .................................................................................................................... 297
4 Adjectives and Adverbs ..................................................................................... 299
6

5 Mixed ................................................................................................................... 302

6 Mixed ................................................................................................................... 304
7 Mixed ................................................................................................................... 306

PHRASAL NOUNS .................................................................................................... 308

1 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 308
2 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 310
3 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 312
4 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 314

PHRASAL VERBS ..................................................................................................... 320

1 Exercise: to account, allow, answer, back, be, bear, blow, break ................. 320
2 Exercise: to account, allow, answer, back, be, bear, blow, break ................. 321
3 Exercise: to account, allow, answer, back, be, bear, blow, break ................. 322
4 Exercise: to bring, call, care, carry, come ........................................................ 323
5 Exercise: to bring, call, care, carry, come ........................................................ 324
6 Exercise: to bring, call, care, carry, come ........................................................ 325
7 Exercise: to catch, clear, crop, cut, die, do, draw, dress, fall ........................ 327
8 Exercise: to catch, clear, crop, cut, die, do, draw, dress, fall ........................ 328
9 Exercise: to catch, clear, crop, cut, die, do, draw, dress, fall ........................ 329
10 Exercise: to get, give, go, grow ......................................................................... 330
11 Exercise: to get, give, go, grow ......................................................................... 332
12 Exercise: to get, give, go, grow ......................................................................... 333
13 Exercise: to hang, hold, keep, knock, lay......................................................... 334
14 Exercise: to hang, hold, keep, knock, lay......................................................... 336
15 Exercise: to hang, hold, keep, knock, lay......................................................... 337
16 Exercise: to let, live, look, make, play, pull ...................................................... 338
17 Exercise: to let, live, look, make, play, pull ...................................................... 339
18 Exercise: to let, live, look, make, play, pull ...................................................... 340
19 Exercise: to put, run, see, sell ........................................................................... 341
20 Exercise: to put, run, see, sell ........................................................................... 343
21 Exercise: to put, run, see, sell ........................................................................... 344
22 Exercise: to set, sit, stand, take, turn, wear .................................................... 345
23 Exercise: to set, sit, stand, take, turn, wear .................................................... 346
24 Exercise: to set, sit, stand, take, turn, wear .................................................... 347

PREPOSITIONS ........................................................................................................ 349

1 Exercise: German an/am ................................................................................... 349
2 Exercise: German an/am ................................................................................... 353
3 Exercise: German auf ......................................................................................... 356
4 Exercise: German auf ......................................................................................... 361
5 Exercise: German aus ........................................................................................ 366
6 Exercise: German bei ......................................................................................... 370
7 Exercise: German bei ......................................................................................... 374
8 Exercise: German bis ......................................................................................... 377
9 Exercise: German durch ..................................................................................... 381
10 Exercise: German für .......................................................................................... 384
11 Exercise: German gegenüber ............................................................................ 386
 7

12 Exercise: German über ....................................................................................... 389

13 Exercise: German um ......................................................................................... 393
14 Exercise: German unter ..................................................................................... 396
15 Exercise: German in/im ...................................................................................... 397
16 Exercise: German in/im ...................................................................................... 401
17 Exercise: German mit ......................................................................................... 407
18 Exercise: German nach ...................................................................................... 412
19 Exercise: German nach ...................................................................................... 418
20 Exercise: German von/vom ............................................................................... 425
21 Exercise: German vor ......................................................................................... 431
22 Exercise: German zu/zum/zur ........................................................................... 436
23 Exercise: German zu/zum/zur ........................................................................... 439
24 Exercise: Miscellaneous .................................................................................... 445
25 Exercise: Miscellaneous .................................................................................... 449
26 Exercise: Miscellaneous .................................................................................... 453
27 Exercise: Miscellaneous .................................................................................... 458
28 Exercise: Miscellaneous .................................................................................... 465
29 Exercise: Miscellaneous .................................................................................... 471
30 Exercise: Miscellaneous .................................................................................... 479
31 Exercise: Miscellaneous .................................................................................... 486
32 Exercise: Idiomatic Expressions ....................................................................... 493
33 Exercise: Miscellaneous .................................................................................... 498
34 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 504
35 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 510
36 Exercise: Idiomatic Expressions ....................................................................... 516
37 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 523
38 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 529
39 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 535
40 Exercise: Idiomatic Expressions ....................................................................... 541
41 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 545
42 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 552
43 Exercise: Idiomatic Expressions ....................................................................... 556
44 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 560
45 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 565
46 Exercise: Idiomatic Expressions ....................................................................... 569
47 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 573
48 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 576
49 Exercise: Idiomatic Expressions ....................................................................... 582
50 Exercise: Idiomatic Expressions ....................................................................... 586
51 Exercise: Idiomatic Expressions ....................................................................... 590
52 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 594
53 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 599
54 Exercise: Miscellaneous .................................................................................... 607
55 Exercise: Miscellaneous .................................................................................... 610

PROVERBS ............................................................................................................... 613

1 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 613
2 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 616
3 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 620
8

4 Exercise: Proverbs and Phrases ....................................................................... 624

REDUPLICATIVES .................................................................................................... 631

1 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 631
2 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 635

SIMILES .................................................................................................................... 638

3 Exercise: Like ...................................................................................................... 638
4 Exercise: LIKE OR AS? ....................................................................................... 639
6 Exercise: As ......................................................................................................... 641
7 Exercise: As ......................................................................................................... 644
8 Exercise: As ......................................................................................................... 645
9 Exercise: As ......................................................................................................... 646
10 Exercise: As ......................................................................................................... 648
11 Exercise: German als, zu, für ............................................................................. 649
12 German als, zu, für .............................................................................................. 651

VERB + DIRECT OBJECT ........................................................................................ 660

1 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 660
2 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 664
3 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 670
4 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 678
5 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 680
6 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 688
7 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 689
8 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 693
9 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 695
10 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 700
11 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 702
12 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 708
13 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 710
14 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 714
15 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 720
16 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 724
17 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 726
18 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 727
19 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 729
20 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 730
21 Exercise ............................................................................................................... 731

SOME COMMON ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ........................................ 732

Exercise .................................................................................................................... 732
 9

ABBREVIATIONS

abbr. abbreviation
adj(s) adjective(s)
adv(s) adverb(s)
AE American English
apprec. appreciative(ly)
arch. archaic
attrib. attributive(ly)
BE British English
cap. capitalized
cf. confer, compare
coll. colloquial(ly)
DCE Dictionary of Contemporary English
derog. derogatory
dial. dialect
dt. deutsch
e.g. exempli gratia, for example
esp. especially
et al. et alii, and others
etc et cetera
fig. figurative(ly)
fml. formal
hum. humorous(ly)
i.e. id est, that is / in other words
inf. infinitive
infml. informal
joc. jocular(ly)
lit. literary
n noun
neg. negative
NSOED New Shorter Oxford Dictionary
old-fash. old-fashioned
opp. opposite
os oneself
part(s). participle(s)
pass. passive
pej. pejorative
pl. plural
pred. predicative(ly)
q.v. quod vide, see
rhet. rhetorical
s.v. sub voce, under the word
sb somebody
sgl. singular
slg. slang
sth something
usu. usually
 11

ADJECTIVE + NOUN

1 Exercise

Article Adjective Noun German Equivalent

1. – abysmal ignorance bodenloses, abgrundtiefes Unwissen

abysmal
extremely bad, extreme, utter:
to live in abysmal conditions
His manners are / the food / the weather was abysmal.
the abysmal wages of rural labourers
an abysmal failure
cf. abyss: deep bottomless hole
fig.: an abyss of despair / ignorance / lawlessness

2. academic question theoretische, akademische Frage

academic
1. concerning education, esp. in a college or university:
academic freedom
The academic year runs from October to July.
2. being or based on subjects that are taught to develop the mind rather than to
provide practical skills:
academic studies / subjects
an academic reputation / style / book / qualification
3. not related to practical situations: theoretical:
Where we ought to go for our holidays is a purely academic question because we
can’t afford a holiday at all.
Since the decision has already been made, the discussion is purely academic.
a matter of academic concern / interest

3. – acid rain saurer Regen

remark ätzende Bemerkung
acid
1. having an unpleasantly sour or bitter taste like that of vinegar or unripe fruit:
A lemon is an acid fruit.
an acid bath
2. saying bitter or unkind things, bad-tempered, sarcastic:
an acid remark / wit / tone of voice
to say sth acidly
cf. an acid: substance which forms a chemical salt when combined with an alkali; it
may destroy things it touches:
Vinegar is an acid.
The acid burnt a hole in the carpet.
acidity: to suffer from acidity of the stomach
acid rain:
containing harmful quantities of acid, esp. sulphuric acid and nitric acid, as a result of
industrial pollution
sulphur:
a simple substance that is found in many different forms, esp. a light yellow powder
nitric acid: a powerful acid (HNO3) which eats away other substances and is used in
explosives and other chemical products
12 ADJECTIVE + NOUN

acid test: test that gives conclusive proof of the value or work of sth / sb:
The acid test of a good driver is whether he remains calm in an emergency. (Feuer-
probe, entscheidende Probe)
to put sth to the acid test

4. adhesive tape Klebeband

adhesive
cf. sellotape / AE: Scotch tape
trademarks: sticky, thin clear material in long narrow lengths which is used for sticking
paper, mending light objects
adhesive plaster
the adhesive side of a stamp
adherence to a belief / plan / idea
to adhere closely / doggedly / strictly / stubbornly / tenaciously / rigidly to sb / sth
to be an adherent of sth
adhesion: the state of one thing sticking to another (Klebkraft, Haftvermögen)
cf. adhesive power

5. affirmative answer positive, bejahende Antwort

affirmative
saying or meaning “yes”
The answer to my question was in the affirmative / was affirmative.
The answer was a strong affirmative.
an affirmative gesture / nod / reaction / reply / sentence / vote
cf. positive
cf. (to take) affirmative action: practice or principle, when choosing people for a job, of
favouring people who are often treated unfairly, esp. because of their sex or race; i.e.
positive discrimination: a bias in favour of a particular group or individual precisely
because they are often the object of prejudice and discrimination:
The company is an affirmative action employer.
AE: Programm, das die Diskriminierung von Minderheitsgruppen bekämpft

6. affluent society Wohlstandsgesellschaft

affluent
having plenty of money or other possessions, wealthy:
an affluent society / man / family / life / life style
affluent circumstances
to live in affluence / to live a life of affluence
He quickly rose to affluence (i.e. became wealthy).

7. ancillary science Hilfswissenschaft

ancillary
helping in a subsidiary way, providing help, support or additional services:
ancillary equipment / duties / industries (Zuliefer-) / roads / staff
an ancillary role
ancillary course: Begleitkurs
the ancillary staff of a hospital: the people who do the cleaning work, cooking, etc
to be ancillary to sth
ADJECTIVE + NOUN 13

8. apposite remark passende, zutreffende,

angemessene Bemerkung
answer Antwort
question Frage
apposite
apposite to / for sth: exactly suitable or directly connected with the present moment
or situation:
I found his speech wholly apposite to the current debate.

an apposite answer / comment / comparison / example / illustration / image / phrase

/ quotation / remark / title

9. approved school Erziehungsheim

approved school (dated)
a special school for children who have broken the law, now officially called a
Community Home
cf. borstal (dated): institution for reforming young offenders:
after “Borstal”, a village in Kent, where the first institution was founded (in 1902). An
informal name for an establishment where offenders aged 15-21 may be detained for
corrective training. Since the Criminal Justice Act (1982) officially known as Youth
Custody Centre.
cf. AE: Reformatory: place where young offenders are sent to be trained and reformed

SIMILAR INSTITUTIONS

young offenders’ institution

A special prison for young offenders aged under 21, replacing, from 1988, the former
detention centre and youth custody centre. Boys aged from 14 to 16 can be sent to an
institution for any period from six weeks to a year, with a maximum of four months for
a 14-year-old. Girls are sentenced to custody only from the age of 15, with a maximum
detention period of four months at this age and 16. From 17 to 21 the sentences can
be longer, with a possible life sentence for serious offences. There are currently 39
young offenders’ institutions in England and Wales.
attendance centre
A centre where young offenders (under 17) are required to attend for physical training
and instruction in practical subjects instead of going to prison. Offenders may be
ordered to spend up to a total of 24 hours at an attendance centre, usually on
Saturdays and for a maximum of three hours at a time.
detention centre
Until 1988, a centre where young male offenders were kept for a period ranging form
three weeks to four months with a strict programme of work to do. Such offenders are
now sent to a young offenders’ institution.
youth custody centre
Until 1988, a special prison for young offenders aged 17 to 20. Such offenders now
serve their sentences in a young offenders’ institution.
remand centre
A place of detention to which young offenders are sent awaiting trial in court. At
present there are nine such centres.
community home
A special residential area where a local authority can send a young offender (under 17)
if it feels that he or she is in moral danger or beyond the control of his or her parents.
cf. community centre
A building used by members of a community, such as a town or village, for social
gatherings, sports meetings, etc
From: A. Room, An A to Z of British Life. Dictionary of Britain. Oxford, 1990.
14 ADJECTIVE + NOUN

10. aquatic sport(s) Wassersport(arten)

aquatic
plants / animals / sports / pastimes / organisms

11. aquiline nose Adler-, Hakennase

aquiline
of or like an eagle:
her sharp aquiline profile / features

12. Arabian Nights Tausendundeine Nacht

Arabian
of Arabia, esp. the peninsula containing Saudi-Arabia and several other countries:
the Arabian desert / peninsula / Sea

13. arabic numerals arabische Zahlen, Ziffern

alternative spelling: Arabic
Arabic
1. Semitic language or writing of the Arabs, which is the main language of North
Africa, the Middle East, and Arabia:
She is studying Arabic / a regional type of Arabic.
2. numeral: cf. Roman numeral

14. – artificial respiration künstliche Beatmung

artificial
1. made by humans, esp. as a copy of sth natural:
The drink contains no artificial flavouring or colouring.
artificial fibres / illumination / insemination / intelligence (abbr. AI) / flowers / silk /
sweetener
2. lacking in feeling, insincere:
She welcomed me with an artificial smile.
3. happening as a result of human action, not through natural process:
High import taxes give their home-made goods an artificial advantage in the market.

15. atmospheric pressure atmosphärischer Druck, Luftdruck

atmospheric
1. related with the earth’s atmosphere:
atmospheric conditions
2. beautiful and mysterious:
atmospheric music / poems / songs

16. auricular confession Ohrenbeichte

auricular
of or concerning the ear:
auricular confession: one spoken privately into the ear of a priest
cf. to make a full confession of one’s crimes
The priest will hear confessions in English and French.
He always goes to confession on Fridays.
the confessional: enclosed place in a church where the priest hears confession:
the secrets of the confessional
confessor: priest who hears confessions
confessant: a person who confesses to a priest
to confess (to) leaving the cigarette on the chair / that he had left ...
ADJECTIVE + NOUN 15

cf. oral / visual / aural:

The opera was an aural as well as a visual delight.
visual / aural aids / materials

17. avowed believer erklärter Anhänger

avowed
to avow: to state, openly admit:
The prisoner avowed his guilt / that he was guilty.
Their avowed aim is to overthrow the government.
He avowed himself (to be) a socialist.
avowed aim / commitment / desire / goal / intent / purpose
an avowed traditionalist / feminist / Christian
avowedly: openly, admittedly: avowedly responsible for an error
avowal: to make a(n) open / public / solemn avowal

18. dyed-in-the-wool Tory ein in der Wolle gefärbter Konservativer

dyed-in-the-wool (slightly pejorative)
impossible to change from a stated quality, uncompromising:
a dyed-in-the-wool aristocrat / conservative / Marxist / Republican / traditionalist, etc

19. extenuating circumstances mildernde Umstände

extenuating
to extenuate: to lessen the seriousness of (bad behaviour) by finding excuses for it
also (esp. law): attenuating circumstances
cf. He pleaded ignorance in extenuation of his crime.

20. flimsy excuse fadenscheinige, durchsichtige

Entschuldigung
flimsy
1. (of material) light and thin:
She felt cold in her flimsy dress.
2. (of objects) easily broken or destroyed, lacking strength:
a flimsy old wooden shed / a flimsy house (Billighaus)
3. weak, that does not convince:
What a flimsy excuse!
The evidence against him is rather flimsy.

21. founding father(s) Gründungsvater, -väter

founding father
1. person who begins the development of sth; founder
2. (cap) a person at the formal meeting of 1787 which decided the principles of the
constitution of the US: the Founding Fathers of the US

22. – gracious living Leben im Wohlstand, Luxus

gracious
1. polite, kind and pleasant, esp. in a generous way:
Busy as she was, she was gracious enough to show us round her house.
2. having those qualities which are made possible by wealth, such as comfort, beauty,
and freedom from hard work:
All this gracious living isn’t for me: I prefer the simple life.
16 ADJECTIVE + NOUN

graceful – gracious
graceful means attractive or pleasant, and is used especially to describe bodily
movements or form:
a graceful dancer / way of moving
It can also be used of people’s manners, esp. when they are saying they are sorry for
sth or accepting defeat:
He admitted gracefully that he was wrong.
They handled their divorce as gracefully (i.e. politely) as possible.
The losing candidate accepted the result of the election gracefully.
gracious is usually used of people’s manners and suggests an important person being
polite to a less important one:
The Queen thanked them graciously.
She gave him a gracious smile.
She is gracious to all.
It was gracious of her to invite us.

23. inveterate gambler leidenschaftlicher, unverbesserlicher

Spieler
inveterate
1. firmly settled in a usually bad habit:
an inveterate criminal / drinker / liar / reader of trashy romances / novels / smoker /
talker / womanizer
inveterate enemies
2. bad feelings, habits that have lasted for a long time and seem likely to continue:
(an) inveterate dislike / distrust / drunkenness / fondness / hatred / prejudice
an inveterate criminal – Gewohnheitsverbrecher
inveterate hatred – abgrundtiefer Hass; cf. abysmal
inveterate liar – unverbesserlicher Lügner

24. moot point strittiger Punkt

question strittige Frage
moot
point / question: matter which is debatable, about which there is no certainty
cf. to moot (usually passive): to raise a matter for discussion, propose:
The question was first mooted years ago.
It has been mooted whether ... zur Debatte stellen
a much / long mooted proposal

25. permissive society permissive, enttabuisierte Gesellschaft

permissive
1. often derogatory: allowing great freedom of behaviour, esp. to children or in sexual
matters:
(a) permissive upbringing / parents / school
2. showing this freedom:
(a) permissive attitude / behaviour
the permissive society, i.e. the one resulting from social changes that began in the
1960s, with e.g. greater freedom of sexual behaviour, lessening of censorship, etc
to be permissive to(wards) sth

26. practical joke Streich

practical joke
trick played on sb for amusement, usually involving some physical action:
a practical joker – Witzbold
(a) practical advice / application / mind / person
ADJECTIVE + NOUN 17

27. silent majority schweigende Mehrheit

silent
1. making no or little sound, not accompanied by any sound:
silent footsteps
a silent prayer / curse
the smooth, silent running of the engine
The room was silent.
2. not speaking:
On certain important details the report remains strangely silent.
The law is silent on this difficult point.
to be / become / fall silent on / about sb / sth
3. saying little:
He is the strong, silent type.
4. not pronounced:
The b in debtor is a silent letter (i.e. it is mute).
silent majority: people with moderate views who are unable or unwilling to express
them publicly
(as) silent as the grave: completely silent, perhaps suggesting mystery

28. silly season Sommerloch, Sauregurkenzeit

answer/joke/ alberne, blöde, dumme Frage, etc.
point/question/
remark
silly
1. having or showing lack of good sense and judgement, foolish, not serious or
sensible:
It is silly (of you) to go out in the rain if you don’t have to.
That’s the silliest idea I’ve ever heard!
to make sb look silly
2. unable to feel and think clearly, senseless:
I took a swing at him and knocked him silly.
After-dinner speeches bore me silly (i.e. very much / to death).
silly season: period in the summer when there is not much news, so newspapers print
silly stories about unimportant things

29. vicious circle Teufelskreis, circulus vitiosus

vicious
1. acting or done with evil intentions, spiteful:
(a) vicious attack / blow / campaign / criminal / fight / fighting / kick / killer / look /
remark / rumour / thug
to have a vicious tongue
2. given up to vice, depraved:
a vicious life
vicious practices / habits
3. (of animals) savage and dangerous:
That dog can be vicious. (bösartig)
4. violent or severe:
a vicious headache, (gust of) wind
vicious circle: state of affairs in which a cause produces an effect which itself
produces the original cause, so continuing the whole process:
I need experience to get a job, but without a job I can’t get experience.
18 ADJECTIVE + NOUN

to be caught / trapped in a vicious circle

a vicious spiral: continuous rise in one thing (e.g. prices) caused by a continuous rise
in sth else (e.g. wages) (Schraube ohne Ende)

30. – wishful thinking Wunschdenken

wishful
having or expressing a wish: wishful statements
wishful thinking: belief based on wishes not on facts:
I think her condition is improving but it may just be wishful thinking on my part.
cf. pious wish / hope

2 Exercise

1. When Ministers predict that they are on the verge of a boom they are naturally suspected
of wishful thinking.
2. Can the study of information technology be anything but an ancillary science?
3. The Roman Catholic Church does no longer insist on auricular confession.
4. The silly season is upon us. Journalists at a loss for stories are looking for the tallest
hollyhock, a gargantuan marrow and the greatest gooseberry.
hollyhock: Stockrose
marrow: Kürbis
gooseberry: Stachelbeere
gargantuan: gigantic, of tremendous size or volume: gargantuan appetite / meal /
person
Gargantua: gigantic king in the novel Gargantua by François Rabelais (1494-1533)

5. He is arrogant and assertive; his abysmal ignorance is matched only by his conviction of
his own influence.
6. While the silent majority previously meant the dead, it has now come to mean the great
soft mass of the living who put up with things, who get on with their jobs, pay their fines,
rates and taxes.
7. Acid rain contains chemical substances which damage trees and crops.
8. The Arabian Nights (Entertainment), also known as The Thousand and One Nights, are a
collection of stories whose tales of Aladdin, Ali Baba and Sindbad the Sailor have almost
become part of Western folklore.
9. The question whether woman is more rational than man is purely academic.
10. She glued the teacher’s book to the desk as a practical joke.
11. Some people see him as a dyed-in-the-wool Tory, others think of him as an out-of-date
19th century classical liberal.
12. It was essential to have a complete dossier, with every extenuating circumstances, before
issuing a verdict.
13. When you go to the chemist’s don’t forget to buy a roll of adhesive tape.
14. A penthouse in London is the height of gracious living.
15. An approved school is a place for housing, training and educating juvenile delinquents.
ADJECTIVE + NOUN 19

16. Crime leads to prison, which leads to unemployment, which leads to crime. It’s a vicious
circle.
17. We had not expected an affirmative answer to our request.
18. A moot point is a doubtful or unsettled question, one that is open to debate.
19. Luxury flats with all mod cons, big cars, holidays abroad are the typical outward signs of an
affluent society.
20. Louis Pasteur was one of the founding fathers of modern medicine.
21. An apposite remark is a remark which hits the nail on the head.
22. Oxford footnote to permissive society: Somerville College (for women) has this term
allowed men in for breakfast on Saturdays and Sundays. Apparently the college authorities,
having sensibly decided they cannot possibly stop men staying overnight, are hoping that
this tactical concession will limit such activities to the weekends.
23. He was an inveterate gambler and had soon gone through all the money he had inherited.
24. He is an avowed believer in homeopathy.
25. Atmospheric pressure is usually measured in millibars.
26. Historians believe that arabic numerals originated in India, but they were introduced to the
Western World from Arabia.
also: Arabic numerals

27. Aquatic sports include swimming and rowing.

28. An aquiline nose is one that curves like an eagle’s beak.
29. If applied quickly and properly, artificial respiration can stimulate natural breathing again
when it has failed, e.g. in a person who has almost drowned.
30. She said she didn’t come because she’d lost my address. That’s a flimsy excuse! She
knows a lot people who could have told her.

3 Exercise

1. Whisky is something of an acquired taste. I found it rather disappointing the first time I had it.
to be an acquired taste: sth that one may learn to like after a while
acquisition
She is a valuable acquisition for / to the firm.
This painting is my latest / a recent acquisition.
to make an acquisition
(second) language acquisition
acquisitive: keen on getting and possessing things, esp. material possessions:
Squirrels are very acquisitive creatures.
an acquisitive collector / society

2. I’m sure Helen would like to come with us to the party. But don’t press her too much. She’s
at an awkward age, and rather self-conscious.
20 ADJECTIVE + NOUN

awkward
1. making you feel so embarrassed that you are not sure what to do or say:
The more she tried to get out of the situation, the more awkward it became.
There was an awkward pause.
to feel awkward
an awkward question / situation / corner to get round
2. not convenient:
I’m sorry, have I called at an awkward time?
3. moving or behaving in a way that does not seem relaxed or comfortable, esp.
because you feel nervous or embarrassed:
an awkward age / teenager
4. difficult to use or handle:
The camera has a lot of small buttons, which makes it rather awkward to use.
Note: an awkward customer: difficult to deal with

3. Meddling in other people’s business was his ex-wife’s besetting sin.

besetting: habitually affecting or troubling:
besetting sin / weakness (often humorously)
to beset sb / sth: to surround on all sides, trouble constantly, threaten
The difficulties, pressures, temptations, etc that beset us all.
to be beset by / with dangers / difficulties / doubts / financial problems:
The voyage was beset with dangers.

4. The cat spat and scratched in a blind fury as we worked to free her from the rabbit trap.
blind faith / fury / obedience / allegiance / panic / loyalty / rage / hate
to blind sb (to sth):
to be blinded by smoke
His determination blinded him to all the difficulties.
a blinding light / headache / pain
Note: sth is blindingly obvious
to be as blind as a bat:
I’m as blind as a bat without my glasses.
to be blind with sth:
He was blind with tears and rage.
to be blind to sb’s faults / in one eye:
He seems to be blind to the consequences of his policy.
to turn a blind eye / deaf ear to sth: to pretend not to see / hear, etc
He often turned a blind eye to their drinking sessions.
to shut / close one’s eyes to sth
(a case of) the blind leading the blind: people with little information advising people
with even less
a blind alley / date / spot:
I’ve a blind spot where computers are concerned.
He first met his wife on a blind date (i.e. an arrangement made by one of his friends to
go on date with sb one has never met before).
to be blind drunk
to go blind
to accept sth blindly
ADJECTIVE + NOUN 21

5. If only I had known that my mother-in-law is so touchy! She has just interpreted a casual
remark of mine, that it was nice walking weather, to mean I was wanting her out of my way.
casual
1. happening by chance:
a casual encounter / meeting / visit
2. done / made without much thought or care; off hand:
a casual remark
casual sex
3. showing little concern, irresponsible:
His attitude to his job is rather casual.
4. not methodical or thorough, serious:
a casual inspection / glance at sth
a casual observer / reader / user of drugs
5. (of clothes) for informal occasions; not formal:
casual wear / clothes
to be dressed casually
6. not permanent, part-time:
to earn one’s living by casual labour
casual labourers / workers
to be employed casually
7. slight, superficial:
a casual acquaintance
Note: casualties
to inflict casualties on the enemy
to incur / suffer casualties
heavy / serious / light / civilian / military / traffic / combat casualties
casualties of / from the fighting

6. Mass unemployment is one of the burning questions of our time.

burning
1. intense, extreme:
(a) burning thirst / desire / interest / sensation
2. very important, urgent, crucial
3. on fire:
burning fire
also fig.: burning cheeks

7. A mortal sin causes the loss of God’s grace and leads to damnation unless it is confessed
and forgiven.
mortal
1. All human beings are mortal.
2. causing death, fatal:
a mortal wound / injury
a mortal blow to him and his family
to be mortally wounded
3. lasting until death, marked by great hatred, deadly:
mortal / deadly enemies
4. extreme or intense:
to live in mortal fear / terror / danger
to be mortally offended
22 ADJECTIVE + NOUN

mortal / capital / original / venial sin

the Seven Deadly Sins:
Pride, Lechery / Lust, Envy, Anger / Wrath, Covetousness / Avarice, Gluttony, Sloth

8. His father and his mother were both chronic alcoholics who drank themselves to death.
a chronic alcoholic / gambler
a chronic disease / illness is one that cannot be cured:
He’s been suffering from chronic arthritis / pain for many years now.
a chronic unemployment
a chronic shortage of teachers / housing
cf. acute

9. These houses are classic examples of modern architecture.

classic
1. of the highest quality or class and esp. serving as a model, standard or perfect
representation of a particular type:
a classic horse race
Lewis Carroll’s classic children’s stories
This film is a classic western movie.
2. a very typical and well-known kind:
a classic case / mistake / example / symptom of sth
3. simple in style and likely to remain fashionable for a long time:
a simple classic suit
classical
1. connected with, belonging to, or influenced by the art, life and literature of ancient
Greece and Rome:
classical authors / languages / literature / education
a building in the classical style of architecture
in classical Rome / Greek theatre
in the classical world
2. (of music) written with serious artistic intentions and having an attraction that lasts
over a long period of time:
She prefers pop music to classical music.
the works of several classical composers, including Bach and Mozart
the classical period
3. based on or belonging to an old or established system of principles or methods,
e.g. in art or science, traditional, orthodox:
classical scientific ideas about sth

10. It is pointless trying to keep his extramarital affair secret – it is common knowledge already.
common
1. usual or familiar, happening or found in many places:
a common flower / event / right
Is this word in common use?
Robbery is not common in this area.
the common rabbit: das gemeine Kaninchen
2. common to: shared by, belonging to, done by or affecting two or more people, or
most of a group or society:
common property / ownership
We share a common purpose.
measures taken for the common good
3. without special rank or quality, ordinary:
the common people
He is not an officer but a common soldier.
ADJECTIVE + NOUN 23

4. (derog.) of people, their behaviour and belongings, typical of the lower classes,
showing a lack of taste and refinement, vulgar:
She’s so common, shouting like that so that all the neighbours can hear.
5. mathematics: belonging to two or more qualities:
a common denominator / factor
6. as common as dirt / muck
to be common knowledge
to make common cause with sb
common sense
Don’t do that, use your common sense!
(the) common law

11. He was almost forty and a confirmed bachelor. We all advised Ann against marrying him.
confirmed: firmly settled in a particular way of life or way of thinking
a confirmed bachelor / drunkard / gambler / sports fanatic / whisky drinker / alcoholic
/ vegetarian

12. He won a scholarship to Harvard. It’s a golden opportunity.

golden
1. of gold or like gold in value or colour:
a golden crown / ring
golden hair / sand / light / corn / skin
2. precious, fortunate:
golden days / age / opportunity
golden handshake:
a (large) sum of money given to a senior member of a company, etc when he leaves
golden handcuffs:
payments made to employees, esp. those in a high position as a way of persuading
them not to leave their jobs
cf. gold handcuffs
a golden parachute:
a large payment made to sb who has an important job with a company when they are
forced to leave
to kill the goose that lays the golden egg(s)
the golden mean:
principles of moderation; balance between too much and too little of sth:
to find the golden mean between drunkenness and total abstinence
cf. happy medium
the golden rule
golden wedding anniversary
cf. a gold chain / watch / button / ring / brooch
the golden triangle:
the area of South East Asia covering parts of Burma, Laos and Thailand where opium
is produced, most of which is made into illegal drugs

13. The rapist was sentenced to three years’ hard labour.

hard
hard labour: imprisonment with hard labour, with heavy physical labour as
punishment:
a hard task / book / language
24 ADJECTIVE + NOUN

It’s hard to tell whether it’s true or not.

A hard father treats his children severely.
to be hard on sb: criticize, treat severely
hard and fast rules / regulations:
that cannot be changed to fit special cases
to learn sth the hard way:
use the most difficult or least convenient method to do or achieve sth

14. She is a convinced Christian and would never marry a Muslim.

convinced: firm in one’s beliefs:
a convinced Christian / Muslim / socialist
absolutely / firmly / completely / thoroughly convinced
cf. (un)convincing speaker / victory
They won by a convincing margin.
cf. narrow margin

15. Many reporters of the tabloid press consider the royal family fair game.
fair
by fair means or foul
fair and square:
You must play fair (and square).
I hit him fair (and square) on the nose.
fair game: sb / sth that it is very easy or reasonable to attack, an easy target

16. These political prophets have produced considerable quantities of hot air.
hot
piping hot: very hot
Pepper makes food hot. (cf. mild)
a hot temper: excitable
hot with passion
a hot news item
a story hot off the press
hot on sth: well-informed and very interested in:
hot on jazz
too hot to handle:
if a problem or situation is too hot to handle it is impossible to deal with because it is
causing too much trouble and anger:
The Watergate scandal eventually proved too hot to handle and the president stepped
down.
hot goods: stolen goods
hot air: meaningless talk or ideas

17. The fact-finding commission set up by the government published an authentic report on
the use of chemical weapons in World War I.
authentic
1. known to be true or genuine:
an authentic document / signature / painting
2. trustworthy, reliable:
an authentic statement
ADJECTIVE + NOUN 25

18. My father had the fixed idea that a woman’s place was in the home.
fixed
fastened, not moveable or changeable:
The tables are firmly fixed to the floor.
He has very fixed ideas on this subject.
a fixed idea / star / stare
sb is of no fixed abode / address
idée fixe (pl. idées fixes): an obsession
eine fixe Idee: an idea that dominates the mind
to be fixed for sth
How are you fixed for money? (i.e. how much do you have?)
How are you fixed for Saturday evening? (i.e. what are your plans?)

19. The 17th century was the golden age of Dutch painting.
cf. 12

20. People want to be entertained – they want films with happy endings.
happy ending to a book / film
happy
1. well suited to the situation, pleasing:
That wasn’t a happy choice of words.
cf. felicitous
2. fortunate, lucky:
He’s in the happy position of never having to worry about money.
Are you happy in your work / with your life?
to find / seek / be a happy medium

21. The journalists asked a lot of loaded questions, in the hope that the General would tell
them when the attack would be launched.
to load a truck / gun / camera
to load sth into / onto sth: coal into a ship / furniture onto a lorry
to load sth to full capacity
to load sth with sth: a lorry with coal
to load the dice
the dice / odds are loaded against sb / sth: used to say that sb / sth is not likely to
succeed or win
loaded dice: have weights in them so that they always fall with the same side on top
load (n)
to carry / lessen / lighten / dump / shed / transport a load
to take a load off sb’s mind
a heavy / light load
teaching load / workload

22. We had an animated discussion with Members of Parliament about tax evasion.
animated
1. full of spirit and excitement, lively:
an animated debate / argument / conversation
I had rarely seen him so animated.
2. given the appearance of movement:
animated drawings
an animated cartoon
26 ADJECTIVE + NOUN

a Walt Disney cartoon: a film made by photographing a series of gradually changing

drawings, giving an illusion of movement

23. The alleged murderer looked like a harmless gentleman.

to allege: to state a fact but without proof, give an argument or excuse:
The prisoner alleges that he was at home on the night of the crime.
He alleged illness as the reason for his absence.
We were alleged to have brought goods into the country illegally.
the alleged culprit
The novel was allegedly written by a computer.
allegation
to make / substantiate an allegation
to deny / drop / retract / withdraw / reject / rebut / refute an allegation
a(n) false / serious / slanderous / unproved / (un)substantial / vague / unsupported
allegation
an allegation about / against sb / sth

24. There is an appreciable difference between socialism and communism.

appreciable: enough to be felt, noticed or considered important:
The temperature dropped appreciably last night.
an appreciable drop in temperature
The increase in salary will be appreciable.
He looks appreciably thinner.
an appreciable number
an appreciable drop in the number of unemployed

25. The Conservatives won the election by a very narrow margin.

narrow
1. small from one side to the other, esp. in comparison with length or with what is
usual, not wide:
a narrow road / river / gateway
2. limited in range or effect:
narrow ideas about religion
The decision was taken for narrow economic reasons, without considering its social
effects.
3. almost not enough or only just successful:
to win by a narrow majority (cf. close)
a narrow escape
to lead by the narrowest of margins
4. careful and thorough, painstaking:
a narrow examination of the facts
to narrow sth down to sth:
The choice was narrowed down to a few candidates.

26. The Mayor was given a warm welcome when he arrived.

warm
(of work, exercise) causing a feeling of heat:
Sawing logs is warm work.
It was a warm climb to the summit.
warm: showing enthusiasm, hearty:
(a) warm applause / congratulations / thanks / recommendation / welcome / invitation
/ reception
to warm to(wards) sb / sth: begin to like:
As he warmed to his subject, he infected the audience with his own enthusiasm.
ADJECTIVE + NOUN 27

27. The old doctor has only a nodding acquaintance with modern gynaecology.
a nodding acquaintance with sb / sth: a very slight familiarity with a person or subject
nod (n)
He greeted me with a nod (of the head).
He gave me a slight nod.
an affirmative / approving nod
a nod of approval
to give sb a nod of recognition
on the nod: (approved or accepted) by general agreement and without being talked
about:
The chairman’s proposals were usually passed / approved on the nod.
to nod off: fall asleep
He nodded in agreement.
He nodded his agreement.
cf. to shake one’s head

28. Professional jealousy has led to strained relations between the two professors.
strained
1. unnatural, forced and artificial, not easy or relaxed:
a strained laugh / smile
2. overtired and anxious:
She looked very strained when I last saw her.
to impose / put / place a strain on sb
to feel / stand the strain
to ease / relieve the strain
a(n) considerable / great / terrible / tremendous strain
a(n) mental / emotional / physical / financial strain
a strain on relations between parties
to be under a strain

29. If he doesn’t get down to serious work soon he is likely to have a rude awakening when he
sits the exams.
rude
1. not at all polite, intentionally bad-mannered, offensive:
Don’t be so rude to me.
It was rude of you to say that.
2. (used esp. by or to children) concerned with sex:
She told a rather rude joke and everybody looked embarrassed.
3. sudden and unpleasant:
We had a rude shock when we discovered who he really was.
a rude awakening

30. The PM will meet the advisory committee to discuss the latest development.
advisory: giving advice, having the power or duty to advise:
to be employed in an advisory capacity
on an advisory committee / body
merely / only / strictly advisory
advised
to be well- / ill-advised to do sth
You would be well-advised not to buy it.
28 ADJECTIVE + NOUN

31. He published the libellous accusations under an assumed name.

to assume
1. to accept as true before there is proof:
I’m assuming that the present situation is going to continue.
We must assume him to be innocent until he is proved guilty.
2. to put on or display falsely:
to assume ignorance / indifference / a look of innocence
3. to begin to act in or exercise, undertake, take on:
to assume office / control
He assumes his new responsibilities next week.
The problem is beginning to assume massive proportions.
assumption
to make an assumption
to base an assumption on sth
a mere / pure / erroneous / false / mistaken / reasonable / safe / valid assumption
to proceed on the assumption that ...

32. Her ruling passion is classical music.

ruling: prevalent, dominant:
ruling party / class / faction
ruling (n): decision made by a judge or by some other authority:
When will the committee make / give its ruling?
a ruling on / about sth
a(n) (un)just / (un)fair / court / official ruling
the exception proves the rule
to be an exception to the rule
a rule of thumb: as a rule of thumb you should ...
to rule
She let her heart rule her head.
Charles I ruled (England) for 11 years.
Don’t allow yourself to be ruled by emotion.
Note:
to rule: to give a decision:
The chairman ruled that the question was out of order.
to rule in favour of the plaintiff
to rule the roost
to rule with a rod of iron / with an iron hand
to rule sth out: exclude:
This possibility can’t be ruled out.
He was ruled out as a possible candidate.

4 Exercise

1. The race is on to find the missing link in our evolution.

2. You’d better put on your glad rags for dinner with the boss.
3. The election result was a foregone conclusion.
4. I’m afraid my addled brain couldn’t make any sense of the instructions.
5. He arrived at the restaurant, a portly figure in a tight-fitting jacket and a bow tie.
6. Rates of juvenile delinquency are on the increase.
7. By the time I got there the party was in full swing.
ADJECTIVE + NOUN 29

8. She was found guilty of theft, but because of extenuating circumstances was not sent to
prison.
9. Thieves had broken into the car in broad daylight and stolen the stereo.
10. They admitted to the most heinous crimes.
11. The expression the fair sex is sometimes used to refer to women in general and is
considered offensive by many people.
12. It was this passion for fast cars that led to his untimely death at the age of 34.
13. She was up until the small hours of the morning trying to finish her essay.
14. It’s a moot question whether women or men are better drivers.
15. This sort of thinking just seems to be leading us down a blind alley.
16. They showed the goal in slow motion.
17. You must have paid a pretty penny for that car.
18. Although the groups seem very different the common denominator is their commitment to
using renewable sources of energy.
19. I told him his suit looked wonderful. It was a white lie, but it cheered him up.
20. A shotgun wedding is a wedding that is arranged very quickly and suddenly because the
woman is pregnant.
21. Does he have to come on holiday with us? He’s such a wet blanket.
22. The schoolchildren were told to walk in single file.
23. You didn’t do anything wrong. You should have a clear conscience.
24. The roads were busy as we drove out of town, but after that it was plain sailing.
25. I had a close shave this morning. Some idiot in a car almost knocked me off my bike.
26. I have to thank my lifelong friend Jerry for helping me through the crisis.
27. We live within easy reach of the station.
28. These stars are too small to be seen with the naked eye.
29. After losing my job it was cold comfort to be told that I’d won the office raffle.
also: small
30. How relevant are the fine arts to the modern world?
31. We heard loud laughter in the adjoining room.
32. His parents were bitterly disappointed when they heard about their son’s amorous
adventures.
33. The books should be catalogued in alphabetical order.
30 ADJECTIVE + NOUN

5 Exercise

1. He has been having a clandestine affair with his secretary for three years.
clandestine: done secretly, kept secret:
a clandestine meeting / operation of the CIA / weapons programme

2. The only reaction to his outburst of anger was a pregnant pause.

pregnant
to be / get pregnant
She is pregnant with her third child.
She is six months pregnant.
to get sb pregnant
Tom got his girlfriend pregnant, so they are getting married.
cf. shotgun wedding
a pregnant pause / silence, i.e. full of meaning
pregnancy
a pregnancy test
an unwanted / unplanned pregnancy
an ectopic pregnancy: a pregnancy in which the baby developed outside the womb

3. It was an egregious error for a statesman to show such ignorance.

egregious (used attributively, usually of sth bad): exceptional, outstanding:
egregious incompetence
a most egregious error of judgement

4. It is difficult to discern the motive of this seemingly arbitrary decision.

5. He gave a boring speech full of stale jokes.
stale
1. (of food) no longer fresh and often tasting or smelling unpleasant:
stale bread / cake / smoke
a stale smell of cigars
2. no longer interesting or exciting:
stale news / ideas / jokes
to become / go stale
Their marriage had gone stale.

6. In my last job I did menial work like washing dishes and cleaning floors.
menial (usu. derog.): not requiring much skill and often boring:
a menial task / job
menial chores like sweeping the floor

7. John’s son is an avid reader of comics.

also: voracious / great / keen
cf. bookworm
to be avid (for sth)
He is avid for praise / news of his son.
an avid listener / collector of coins
avidity: the avidity of the press for royal gossip

8. Curiosity is only a venial sin.

cf. mortal / capital / original sin
ADJECTIVE + NOUN 31

9. It’s not my fault; he has only his own bovine stupidity to blame for that.
bovine: of / relating to cattle
bovine diseases
cf. BSE: bovine spongiform encephalopathy; commonly called: mad cow disease
fig.: dull and stupid: a bovine expression / character / mentality / person

10. He put a cover over the engine to hide it from prying eyes.
to pry into sth: inquire with too much curiosity into other people’s private affairs
I don’t want them to pry into my affairs.
to pry sth out of sb
to pry information out of sb
to pry sth off sth
to pry the lid off a can
to pry the can open

11. His latest musical is another howling success.

12. Even the most hardened criminal would have been shocked by the terrorists’ brutalities.
13. Atomic energy still seems to be dominating every other source of power.
14. Their bungalow is full of priceless antique furniture.
15. Mike always found time for browsing in the antiquarian bookshop.
antiquarian books
cf. second-hand bookshop
an antiquary (dated) or antiquarian
antiquated (of things / ideas)
antiquated working conditions / ideas / attitudes / values / laws / machinery /
technology / class system / industries
antique
(an) antique vase / furniture / jewellery / style / shop / china / clock / fair / market /
auction / stall / dealer

16. Words ending in -ate such as illiterate and obstinate are stressed on the antepenultimate
syllable.
ultimate – pen-ultimate – ante-pen-ultimate

17. Ann wanted to know all the details of their divorce. She’s a real nos(e)y parker.
18. The tobacco industry have a vested interest in claiming that smoking isn’t harmful.
vested interest: personal interest in a state of affairs, usu. with an expectation of
gaining sth
to vest sth (in sb / sth) (usu. passive): to give as a firm or legal right:
Copyright is vested in the author.
to vest sb / sth with sth
to vest sb with authority / power
Parliament is vested with the power of making laws.
The country has vested all its hopes in the peace negotiations.

19. The soldiers marched on in the sweltering heat.

to swelter: to be so hot that it is uncomfortable; to suffer from the heat:
to lie sweltering on a beach
The country is sweltering in a heatwave.
a sweltering (hot) day / summer / climate
32 ADJECTIVE + NOUN

20. It’s just another poem on the pain of unrequited love.

unrequited: esp. of love: not returned or rewarded:
unrequited passion
to requite: to give sth in return for sth else; to repay
in requital for sth
to be killed in requital for one’s crimes

21. The doctor suggested she might consider a caesarean section.

alternative spellings: C(a)esarean / Caesarian
She had to have a caesarean section.
The baby was delivered / born by Caesarean section.
a Caesarean birth / delivery

22. They were cycling along at breakneck speed.

also: at a breakneck pace
cf. a breakneck drive

23. She was conscious of her rather dishevelled appearance.

dishevelled (of hair / clothes / appearance): very untidy:
They arrived back tired, dishevelled and bleeding.

24. After only a cursory glance he tore up the note.

25. You blithering idiot! You could have killed me with that knife.
26. They won their first match of the season 5-1, which was an auspicious start.
auspicious: promising
an auspicious date for a wedding
under the auspices of sb: with the help, support of:
to set up a business under the auspices of a government aid scheme
a relief expedition under United Nations’ auspices

27. I saw him cast a furtive glance at the woman at the table to his right.
furtive
1. done secretly and quietly so as not to be noticed:
a furtive movement / phone call
2. (of people or their behaviour) nervous or attracting suspicion; suggesting that one is
guilty of sth or does not want to be noticed

28. Marguerite often recalled the halcyon days of her youth.

halcyon (dated or rhet.): peaceful and happy

29. The people who turned up to the meeting were a motley crew.
motley (derog.): of many different types of people or things:
to wear a motley collection of old clothes
She was surrounded by a motley crew / assortment of musicians, singers, comedians
and drunks.
ADJECTIVE + NOUN 33

30. The little hut was full of the smell of rancid butter and woodsmoke.
rancid: tasting or smelling bad because old:
rancid oil / butter / fat
to go / turn rancid

31. He produced cogent reasons for the change of policy.

cogent (of arguments, reasons): convincing:
cogent evidence
a cogent argument / speech / answer / examination of facts
to argue cogently

6 Exercise

1. He’ll get £50,000 from the company when he retires, which is a tidy sum.
2. In the future the public will be offered a wide(r) choice of television programmes.
3. Mmm, what are you cooking? There’s a delicious smell in here.
4. Looking after the health of 700 children is a heavy responsibility.
5. The amount of money spent on defence is in stark contrast to the amount spent on
housing and health.
6. We had a furious row last night.
7. I don’t think that is a very strong argument.
8. Heavy showers of rain will become more widespread after the next 36 hours.
9. Do you have any particular preference where we sit?
10. The room was filled with the putrid smell of rotting meal.
11. There’s a striking contrast between what he does and what he says he does.
12. Don’t come near me – I’ve got a streaming cold.
13. Thick fog has made driving conditions dangerous.
14. Tall trees lined the roads.
15. I told him I loved him – I’ve made a dreadful fool of myself.
16. The rebels were no match for the government troops with their vastly superior weapons.
17. It was by sheer determination that he succeeded.
18. Although French is her native language, she speaks with an impeccable English accent.
19. The party turned out to be a huge disappointment.
20. He has suffered a mild heart attack – nothing serious.
21. She’s a distant relative of mine, something like my aunt’s husband’s great grandmother.
22. They were caught in a torrential downpour and got soaked to the skin.
23. His mother’s death when he was aged six had a very profound effect on him.
24. We got out in time but it was a narrow escape.
25. He was found guilty of reckless driving, fined £1,000 and disqualified from driving for three
months.
26. It was sheer coincidence that I remembered his phone number.
27. I thought I could detect a slight West Country accent.
28. Getting the essay done on time will be a tall order.
34 ADJECTIVE + NOUN

29. There’s a marked contrast between the standard of living in the north of the country and
the south.
30. Is it possible to remove the musty smell from books that have been in storage for a long
time?
31. Huge sums of money are spent on national defence.

7 Exercise

1. Lotus make luxury cars for a small but significant niche market.
2. There was a lot of gallows humour about job security on the day the job losses were
announced.
3. Only in borderline cases will pupils have an oral exam.
4. If the pilot scheme is successful many more homes will be offered the new television
service.
5. Many people are more interested in job satisfaction than in earning large amounts of
money.
6. The prisoners have gone on a hunger strike to protest about prison conditions.
7. Existentialism was really an umbrella term to lump together the works of several
philosophers and writers.
8. The town lacks leisure facilities such as a swimming pool and squash courts.
9. Party leaders have been accused of ballot rigging in an attempt to increase the power of
the trade unions in the party.
10. I hadn’t made a reservation, so I just took pot luck at the airport and got on the first
available flight.
11. The world première of the opera will be at the Metropolitan House in New York.
12. There’s a design fault in the folding table – it doesn’t open out properly.
13. It helps you move a few rungs up the career ladder before taking time off to have a baby.
14. The association strongly believes that sport must be free of drug abuse.
15. The new project has had a snowball effect in creating a lot of new possibilities for the
country.
16. The Socialist Workers’ Party seemed to split into several splinter groups.
17. The punch line for the joke ‘How do you know an elephant has been in your fridge?’ is ‘You
can see its footprints in the butter.’
18. The country is facing a population explosion.
19. They’re asking 60,000 for their flat, but the market price is near £55,000.
20. Aberdeen became a boom town when oil was discovered in the North Sea.
21. An earthquake under a major city would be a nightmare scenario.
22. She claimed unemployment benefit for six months.
23. The day after the explosion the death toll has risen to 90.
24. The trucks were on a mercy mission taking badly needed aid to the war zone when they
were hit by mortar shells.
ADJECTIVE + NOUN 35

25. Tax evasion and a massive black economy lie at the heart of the country’s economic
problems.

8 Exercise

1. Prof Kitchen had a sharp tongue and his students were afraid of his sarcastic wit.
2. The results of the general election next week now seem (like) a foregone conclusion.
3. Strictly speaking you can wear what you like to work, but there’s an unwritten law / rule
that you must not wear jeans.
4. Stressing the opponent’s weak spot is a typical technique in politics.
5. Those stars are too small to be seen with the naked eye.
6. He’s still something of a dark horse and an unknown quantity.
7. She stuck her boss’ cup and saucer together as a practical joke.
8. Don’t say anything about the football match – it’s a sore point with him because they lost
rather badly.
9. I reckon we got a square deal on that car.
10. My friend Bill is a confirmed bachelor, he’ll never get married.
11. Getting the essay done on time will be a tall order.
12. A hot line links the two heads of state in Moscow and Washington.
13. Mike and I were talking about the sort of house we’d like to buy – it’s just wishful thinking
really, since we can’t even sell this one.
14. We waited for the results with bated breath.
15. Thieves had broken into the car in broad daylight and stolen the stereo.
16. At a rough estimate I’d say it’s about 150 miles.
17. Our request for permission to travel met with / received a flat refusal from the authorities.
18. The management course is being paid for by the company and it’s a golden opportunity to
improve your skills.
19. I had a close shave this morning. Some idiot in a car almost knocked me off my bike.
20. Hilary arrived from work with a splitting headache.
21. Jane is the spitting image of her granny at the same age.
22. If you are only eating a chocolate bar for lunch, you need a square / hot meal in the
evening.
23. It’s a crying shame that he didn’t have a better chance in life.
24. Some people think that studying languages instead of sciences is the soft option.
25. The alleged rapist has not yet been able to prove his innocence.
26. We were really caught in a cleft stick.
27. The farmhouse we stayed in was completely off the beaten track.
28. He’ll get short shrift from me if he starts complaining about money again, now I know how
much he earns.
29. The government is continuing to take a tough / uncompromising stance / line on terrorism.
30. He’s never remembered my birthday in his life, so it’s a safe bet he’ll forget it again this
time!
36

ADJECTIVE OR ADVERB?

1 Exercise

1. They searched the house systematically.

2. She sings quite well, but you will like it better when you hear more of it.
3. The boat was entering the harbour and hurriedly they wolfed down their dinner.
to wolf (down) sth: to eat quickly, swallowing large amounts
a wolf in sheep’s clothing: a person who seems friendly or harmless but is hiding evil
intentions

4. The portrait was painted in a masterly fashion / manner.

5. It is difficult for a low(-)paid worker to make both ends meet.
to make both ends meet: to get just enough money for all one needs
Low is used adverbially after:
to aim, bend, bow, buy, curtsey, play, sell, shoot, sing, speak, talk:
The price of coffee sank lower today due to rumours of a big harvest.
The sun sank low in the sky.
He aimed so low as to hit the man in the leg.
Occasionally lowly is found as an adverb of low:
He spoke lowly instead of the more common in a low voice.
Low occurs in compounds:
low-born, low-bred, low-flying aircraft, low-minded, a low-necked blouse, low-paid,
low-spirited, low-fat diet
Lowly is an (unusual) adjective (meaning “humble”) and the adverbial use, as in lowly
born, is not common:
Henry VIII’s great Chancellor, Cardinal Wolsey, was of lowly (i.e. humble) parentage;
his father was a butcher.
He had left his lowly origins far behind.
Note also:
to be / get / run low on sth (i.e. not have much of)
We are running low on butter, could you buy some more?
to have very low-esteem / a low opinion of sb

6. He is a high- / highly paid senior executive.

7. It was only relatively recently that she began making mistakes.
8. He did it regardless of the consequences.
regardless
1. adjective (in spite of):
He carried on regardless of criticism.
I can work with anybody, regardless of age or colour.
2. adverb (in spite of everything):
They knew it was too expensive, but they went ahead regardless and bought it.
Though the surgeon was worried the patient might suffer a heart attack, he continued
with the operation regardless.
She knew it was dangerous to visit him, but she set out regardless.

9. He should be here directly, if you don’t mind waiting.

Without the suffix the adverb denotes the direction of a movement, meaning
“straight”, “without detours, intermediaries”, and is often used with verbs such as to
go, come, send. Used figuratively, it is seldom used with -ly.
ADJECTIVE OR ADVERB? 37

I shall communicate with you direct.

Send the box to me direct.
This flight doesn’t go direct to Rome, it goes via / by way of Paris.
You can dial the number direct.
Otherwise directly is used both of direction, and in the sense “without an intermediate
link”, and of time:
This is the first time for 100 years that Moors have come directly from Mecca to Spain.
The shell was coming directly towards me.
He looked directly at me.
We live directly opposite the church.
We buy the goods directly from the manufacturers.
She is very upset because she realizes that she is directly responsible for her father’s
death.
We are not directly affected by the changes in taxation.
She’s directly descended from Charles Dickens.
Directly is also used meaning either “at once”, “immediately”, or “after a short time”,
“very soon”
He left directly after breakfast.
I’ll be with you directly.
Some phrases with the adjective direct:
a direct train to London
to take direct control of sth
to have direct experience of sth
a direct link between two things
a direct consequence / result of sth
a direct descendant of sb
to keep sth out of direct sunlight
to be the direct opposite of sb / sth
to admire sb’s direct manner

10. He bowed low and looked as innocent as a new-born baby.

a new-born baby, new-fallen snow, new(ly)-laid eggs, new-mown hay, new-found faith,
the young newly-weds (or: newlyweds), a newly married couple, newly arranged
furniture, a newly built house, a newly qualified teacher, (the) newly industrialized
nations, a newly discovered country

11. It is advisable to fasten your seat-belts before take-off.

12. Don’t speak so loud.
In the literal sense (of the loudness of sound) loud can be used in combination with
certain verbs:
to count out, laugh (out), read, sing, speak, talk loud
Speak as loud as you can.
Who laughed loudest?
He laughed long and loud.
I hear you loud and clear.
But the form with the suffix is also common:
He spoke loud(ly) and clear(ly).
Lightning flashed in the skies, and after a few seconds a rumble of thunder followed
loudly.
The voice on the radio was declaring loudly that ...
With other verbs and when used figuratively or metaphorically loudly is used:
He called loudly for help.
He protested loudly.
It was an outrage, and they said so more and more loudly.
He was loudly dressed.
She complained loudly about having been kept waiting.
He demanded loudly that he should be given what was due to him.
38 ADJECTIVE OR ADVERB?

Note: The difference between speak louder and speak more loudly is not a difference
of meaning, speak louder is more colloquial and idiomatic.

13. He spoke to me in a friendly way / manner.

The form friendlily is unlikely.
-lily
1. For reasons of euphony, adverbs in -lily formed from adjs. in -ly now seldom occur....
As Fowler (1926) remarked, ‘It is always possible to say in a masterly manner, at a
timely moment, and the like, instead of masterlily, timelily.’ (but cf. 24)
2. Presumably for the same reason, a number of adjs. ending in -ly often or usu.
remain unchanged when used as adverbs: gingerly, jolly soon, a kindly thought and
kindly said.
3. A few -ilily adverbs are listed as current English in COD (1995), e.g. holily, jollily, sillily,
wilily, but all of these are formed from words in which -ly is part of the word-stem and
not the usual adjectival ending.
The New Fowler’s Modern English Usage, ed. R. W. Burchfield, Oxford: Clarendon
Press, 31996.
Note the compounds:
ozone-friendly aerosols
user- / reader-friendly

14. She was doing fine and looked beautiful, as usual.

Fine is used as an adverb, meaning “well”, in some conversational expressions, e.g.
to feel fine.
The machine works fine if you oil it.
That suits me fine.
You’re doing fine.
Note: to cut / run it fine:
You are cutting it a bit fine if you want to catch the 5.30 train.
Note: fine-spun silk
Finely is not very common:
a finely tuned engine (i.e. carefully adjusted to run as efficiently as possible)
I think he behaved finely. (i.e. very well, esp. in a moral sense)
fine(ly) cut vegetables / herbs / chopped meat (i.e. cut into very small pieces)
a finely dressed lady
finely formed features
The decision was finely balanced.

15. Few men are wholly bad.

16. He sent the parcel express.
express means “by express delivery”:
to send sth / travel express
expressly means “specifically”, “clearly”:
You were expressly told not to touch my papers.
This dictionary was expressly compiled for foreign students of English.

17. Most papers appear daily.

18. You were expressly forbidden to touch my papers.
19. Bill did badly, John did worse, but Jim played (the) worst.
20. This was a dearly bought victory.
dear is preferably used in the literal sense concerning price after to buy, cost, pay, sell:
If you want to make money, you must buy cheap(ly) and sell dear(ly).
The all-round wage increase has cost the community dear(ly).
ADJECTIVE OR ADVERB? 39

Both forms are used figuratively, the regular form dominating:

They sold their lives dearly.
He would dearly love to see his mother again.
Victory was dearly bought.
He loves his wife dearly.
He paid dear(ly) for the error / his experience.
He will be dearly missed by his friends.
But: This will cost you dear.
He holds his life very dear.

21. I feel rather poorly this morning.

to feel poorly, i.e. bad, ill
poorly in this sense is an adjective and not used before nouns:
She looked poorly after that game of squash.
His condition was described as poorly.
but: poorly is an adverb in:
to be dressed / paid / done poorly
He did poorly in the exam.
to think poorly of sth / sb
a poorly written article
to perform poorly
to be poorly off (for sth)

22. Bulletins about the President’s health are broadcast hourly.

23. These days operators have become redundant. In most cases you can dial direct.
cf. 9

24. He is sillily complacent.

sillily: cf. 13
The above suggested solution “in a silly way” is not possible in cases where the
adverb in -ilily precedes and qualifies a following adjective or adverb.
complacent: (too) pleased or satisfied with oneself

25. When he heard the footfalls behind him he stopped short.

26. She will doubtless cut him off with a shilling.
cf. He cut his son off without a penny (i.e. he disinherited him).
to cut sb off with a shilling: disinherit except for a small amount that shows that the
action is deliberate and that there has been made no mistake

27. Don’t speak so fast, I can’t hear you properly.

28. He was severely punished and justly so.
The adverb just has no connection with the adjective just.
It is used in the senses “very recently”, “exactly”, “barely”, “only”:
He has just arrived.
She looks just like her mother.
I have only just enough money for the trip.
Just come here a moment.
We only just managed to catch the train.
The adverb justly means “with right or justice”:
As you justly observe ...
He was justly pardoned / punished.
to deal with sb justly
also: rightly
40 ADJECTIVE OR ADVERB?

29. The bullet went clean through the door.

Clean is used as an adverb meaning “completely”, “absolutely”, “entirely”,
“thoroughly”:
I clean forgot to ask him about it.
The bullet went clean through his shoulder.
He had been cheating us for years, but got clean away (with it).
He kicked the ball clean over the roof.
The explosion blew the cooker clean through the wall.
I’m afraid I’m clean out of food.
to scrub / sweep / wipe sth clean
Sweep the door clean.
Note:
Why don’t you come clean about your involvement in all this (i.e. admit)?
Clean also occurs in compounds: clean-shaven, clean-cut:
Even when he has just shaved he doesn’t look clean-shaven.
I like the clean-cut shapes of that architecture.
He’s a nice clean-cut young man (i.e. he is tidy in appearance and well-behaved).
The adverb cleanly is rare:
She works cleanly.
This knife cuts very cleanly (i.e. sharply and neatly).
The plate broke cleanly in half.
Opinions were cleanly split between boys and girls.
The campaign was not conducted cleanly.

Note: The adverb should not be confused with the comparatively rare adjective
cleanly (i.e. habitually clean).

30. Surlily he looked first at his wife, then at his dinner, and decided to keep quiet.
surly: bad-tempered and unfriendly, bad-mannered

31. If I am rightly informed, you were not here at the time of the murder.
Right is commonly used adverbially, especially before prepositional phrases:
She turned up right after breakfast.
The snowball hit me right on the nose.
Keep right on to the traffic-lights.
Put the vase right in the middle.
Go right on to the end of this road.
(It) serves you right!
You did right to apologize.
Nothing goes right with me.
Note: The adverb right meaning “to the right” invariably lacks the suffix:
We turned right and left.
Turn right at the next crossing.
In the sense “correctly” both forms are found; in pre-verbal position only rightly is
used:
He rightly guessed that she was fifty.
He thought quite rightly that the Colonel would be furious when he heard the news.
She had been rightly informed.
I cannot rightly recollect whether ...
(Whether) rightly or wrongly, they decided that the boy must be punished.
Both forms are found in:
to guess / answer right(ly)
If I remember right(ly) ...
Rightly predominates when the adverb definitely describes verbal actions:
He acted rightly.
He described her rightly.
ADJECTIVE OR ADVERB? 41

In the sense “justly” only “rightly” is used:

He rightly refused to answer.
He was rightly blamed for the accident.
He is rightly considered one of the best.
He quite rightly complained to the manager.
Note the compounds:
right-handed / -minded

32. I’ve never seen him late before.

The adverb late is the contrary of the adverb early:
to arrive / go to bed / get up / stay up late at night / in the afternoon
She did not marry until late in life.
He telephoned me late in the afternoon.
The robbery took place late at night.
The flight would be cheaper if you went later in the season.
As late as the 1970s they were still using horses on that farm.
lately means more or less the same as recently:
I have not heard from him lately.
I used to go to the cinema a good deal, but I have not been lately.
Note: the formal expression: late(ly) of, i.e. until recently living / working at:
Dr Hicks, lately / late of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, will be joining us next week.
Bill Redgrave, late(ly) of this parish, ...

33. We informed them of our plans and good-humouredly they acquiesced.

to acquiesce: to agree, often unwillingly, but without arguing or complaining

34. “This coffee smells good.” – “Yes, it’s freshly made.”

35. Where have you been? I was worried sick.
cf. to be sick with fear / worry

36. I haven’t seen much of him lately.

37. Seldom have I seen such beautiful flowers.
38. He holds his life very dear.
39. He was coming directly at us.
cf. 9

40. Good night everybody. Sleep tight.

Tight is used adverbially except before a past participle:
Hold / squeeze it tight.
She held him / the baby tight in her arms.
Hold tight to my hand.
Screw the nuts up tight.
The coat was made to fit tight round her waist.
We were packed tight in the bus.
to keep one’s eyes / mouth tight shut
Before past participles:
We were tightly packed in the bus.
The children sat with their hands tightly clasped.
The goods were tightly packed in the crate.
Note the compounds:
tight-fisted / -fitting / -lipped
tight(ly) knit
42 ADJECTIVE OR ADVERB?

41. Wilily he had dodged paying taxes.

wily: clever in using tricks, esp. in order to get what one wants, crafty:
a wily fox / negotiator / politician
cf. 13

42. He was admittedly right.

43. I’m frozen stiff; I need a hot drink.
44. I think I’ll turn in; I’m dead tired.
Dead is used adverbially meaning “completely”, “absolutely”, “extremely”, “exactly”:
to be dead against sth
to be dead beat (i.e. tired out) / certain / drunk / easy / good / slow / straight / sure /
level / right / tired
to be dead on time / target
In order to play this game we must have the table dead level, otherwise the ball will
roll off.
You are dead right.
The exam was dead easy.
It was a dead good film.
The wind was (blowing) dead against us.
The shot was dead on target.
Note:
to go dead:
The telephone went dead in the middle of our conversation.
It’s so cold that my fingers have gone dead.
to be dead set on / against (doing) sth:
He was dead set on having a sports car / against living in the country.
deadly is used as an adverb meaning “like death”, “extremely”:
to be deadly pale
The play / party was dead(ly) dull / boring.
I’m sure Mr Wise knows a great deal about the subject, but his lectures are deadly
dull.
He was dead(ly) serious.
Dead and deadly are both used as intensifying adverbs. Of the two deadly is less
faded, in that it still has a certain association of “that may end in death”. The phrase
deadly tired is thus somewhat stronger than dead tired.
Deadly is an adjective meaning “fatal”, “causing death”, “able to kill”, also fig.:
deadly determination / disease / enemy / hatred / poison / sin / weapon / in deadly
earnest
He is a deadly bore.
The car turned into a deadly weapon.
He fired the gun with deadly accuracy.
They were sitting there in deadly silence.

45. “Would you like to try again?” – “Emphatically. NO!”

46. The workers decided to go slow in protest against low wages.
47. You guessed right; this is a present for you.
48. I wanted to apply for the job, but my wife thought differently.
49. Absent-mindedly he locked the door and dropped the key in the letter-box.
50. I’m too tired to think straight.
Straight is the common form both in literal and figurative usage:
The smoke was rising straight upwards.
They went straight in / to bed.
Tell me straight (out) what you think.
He has come straight from London.
The road runs straight for miles.
ADJECTIVE OR ADVERB? 43

I am too tired to think straight.

I like my vodka straight.
Let’s get straight to the point.
Straightly is rare.

2 Exercise

1. The allegations were all flatly denied.

2. I duly knocked on his door at three o’clock.
3. Business in Nigeria is markedly different from that in Europe.
4. The lamp shone brightly out into the street.
5. The men looked decidedly uncomfortable.
6. Marriage is not something to be undertaken lightly.
7. I was very lucky to get the old gramophone so cheap(ly).
8. His doctor advised him to steer clear of alcohol.
9. She proved a good secretary because she was close-lipped about all matters of a
confidential nature.
also: tight-lipped
10. The soldiers marched three miles due north.
11. He smiled shyly / shily at her.
12. Her suggestion fairly took me by surprise.
13. Our army stood firm in the face of the terrible onslaught.
14. The cupboard my father had fixed was hanging a bit skew.
also: askew
15. He made free with all his girl-friend’s money.
16. I was fully expecting to lose my job, so this promotion has come as a complete surprise.
17. They persisted doggedly in their campaigning against the law.
18. He ran ahead with the others hard on his heels.
19. Clearly, the man didn’t understand the legal document at all.
20. He came very close to winning the race.
21. He went on studying deep into the night.
22. I often win money at cards but never save a penny – “easy come, easy go” is my motto.
23. The business was soon firmly established in the town.
24. He readily agreed to my suggestion.
25. His speed and skill makes other players look flat-footed.
26. The manager and his consultants have worked out clear-cut plans for future expansion.
27. He examined the jewels minutely.
28. It’s easily the best film I’ve ever seen.
29. Children under five usually travel free on trains.
30. A full-scale reorganisation of our department is urgently needed.
31. She said drily / dryly that he looked just as stupid as he behaved.
32. She felt her mother’s death deeply.
33. More closely than ever did she cleave to the side of her friend.
44 ADJECTIVE OR ADVERB?

34. I’m going to say what I think of him openly and publicly.
35. The man didn’t understand the legal document at all clearly.
36. He can cook, and does it jolly well.
37. He’s been practising fanatically.
38. You should go easy on that boy; he is only young.
39. The blame rests fair and square on her shoulders.
40. You go over the bridge and the road turns sharp left.
41. “Don’t talk nonsense,” she said sharply.
42. The meeting starts at 3 o’clock sharp; don’t be late!
43. He got dressed in three minutes flat.
44. Millions of people gave freely in response to the famine appeal.
45. I like fresh-ground coffee.
freshly baked bread / made sandwiches / coffee / planted seeds / picked apples / laid
eggs / washed and ironed shirts / ground pepper / cut flowers / painted signs /
washed hair
46. That year even our well went dry.
47. I was hard put to explain her disappearance.
48. The Christmas card arrived belatedly.
49. He realized that he was talking more freely than he usually did with strangers.
50. He hardly ever goes to bed before midnight.
51. As usual at the weekend, the club was almost empty.
52. Are we going to be saved economically by our natural gas supplies?
53. I purposely didn’t come to the meeting, as I knew she’d be there.
also: intentionally / deliberately
54. One of the principles that reformers settled on early was to abolish taxes.
 45

ADJECTIVES AND NOUNS OF LATIN ORIGIN

1 Exercise

1. Independent experts have been called in to find an amicable solution to the company’s
personnel problems.
2. Water lilies are aquatic plants.
3. Monkeys are arboreal animals.
4. She gave an audible sigh of relief.
5. The belligerent countries are having difficulties funding the war.
6. Computers operate using binary numbers.
7. BSE stands for bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
8. Brevity is the soul of wit.
(Hamlet II,2)
cf. shortness
a) He raised his eyebrows in surprise when he saw the shortness of her skirt.
b) He feels that he is discriminated against because of his shortness.
c) They were constantly aware of the shortness of time they had left to finish the
project.
d) The disease may cause shortness of breath.
but:
brevity of life
short(ly)
I’ve already explained that, he said shortly. (kurz angebunden)
I’m sorry for being a bit short with you on the phone.
shortly: bald
He is expected to arrive shortly.
Shortly after you left, he arrived.
briefly: in a few words (in (aller) Kürze)
in brief
‘You didn’t enjoy it.’ – ‘In brief / briefly no.’
in short:
Our financial situation couldn’t be worse, in short, it’s a disaster.
for short:
Her name is Josephine, or Joe for short.

9. She’s a specialist in canine psychology and behaviour.

10. Lions and tigers are carnivorous / carnvores, while sheep and goats eat grass.
cf. omnivorous – omnivores / herbivorous – herbivores

11. Your left cerebral hemisphere controls the right-hand side of your body.
I couldn’t understand that film, it was all too cerebral for me.
cerebrum: front part of the brain

12. Relations between the two leaders are said to be cordial.

46 ADJECTIVES AND NOUNS OF LATIN ORIGIN

13. Nowadays corporal punishment is banned in many schools.

also: physical

14. He was a credulous fool to believe even half of what they promised.
15. This will be a crucial decision for the education services because it sets the standards for
all future years.
16. My culinary skills are rather limited, I’m afraid.
17. If the disease spreads it will decimate the cattle herds in this country.
18. The Romans used to deify their emperors.
19. The soprano sang divinely throughout the concert.
My only hope is divine intervention. (i.e. help from God)
We had a perfectly divine time in France.
Some people regard footballers as divine beings.

20. The sales representative enumerated the benefits of the insurance scheme.
21. They plan to hold the Olympics’ equestrian events in another part of the city.
equestrian: connected with the riding of horses

22. The portraits showed an aristocratic family with long equine faces.
equine: connected with horses or appearing similar to horses

23. Now that we have the extra resources, the scheme seems financially feasible.
24. In this week’s issue we take a closer look at our feline friends.
She is very feline in the way she walks.
She walks with feline grace.

25. If she’s a sort of feminist, I can understand why she said that.
26. The President’s official visit marks the start of a more fraternal relationship between the
two countries.
27. Fraternisation between the army and the civilian population is not permitted.
28. Pigeons are gregarious birds, but blackbirds tend to be solitary.
She’s very gregarious and outgoing (i .e. likes to be with other people).

29. Prostitution is (il)legal in some countries.

30. The scientists were incredulous when they heard that research funding was to stop.
31. Like so many politicians he has an insatiable hunger for power.
insatiable appetite / desire for sth / curiosity / demand for sth

32. Her handwriting is so bad that it is hardly legible.

but: machine-readable / a highly readable article

33. The first lunar module is now on display at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in
Washington.
module: unit of spacecraft that can function independently of the main body
ADJECTIVES AND NOUNS OF LATIN ORIGIN 47

34. Their marital problems started soon after they had their first child.
also: matrimonial

35. She is very masculine, even in her voice and the way she walks.
36. His boyish nature appealed to her maternal instincts.
37. Gods live forever, but humans are mortal beings and must die.
a mortal blow / wound / injury / enemy / combat / threat
to live in mortal fear / danger / terror
a mortal / venial sin
the Seven Deadly Sins
to be mortally wounded / offended

38. The government was dismissed following revelations about corruption, nepotism and
political incompetence.
to achieve promotion through nepotism
(originally with reference to popes with illegitimate sons who were called nephews)

39. Most bats and owls are nocturnal.

also: night birds

40. Pigs are omnivorous animals.

a(n) avid / omnivorous / voracious / great reader
cf. 10

41. My paternal grandparents were Irish.

42. The committee has come to the conclusion that film and television have a pernicious
influence on our society.
pernicious effects / lies / doctrines
also: ruinous (lat. ruinosus):
ruinous expenditure / effects of sth

43. The owl is a predatory bird which kills its prey with its claws.
cf. bird of prey
predatory instincts / competitors / pricing

44. He can be very puerile when he’s had a couple of drinks.

puerile behaviour / jokes

45. He was known as a radical reformer.

46. She’s been making risible attempts to write a novel.
47. He grew up in a rural backwater.
rural life
The area is still very rural and underdeveloped.
rustic: simple and rough:
They tried to give the pub a rustic appearance.

48. The Church has no temporal power in the modern state.

48 ADJECTIVES AND NOUNS OF LATIN ORIGIN

49. The blockade of the ports has eliminated maritime trade, but some supplies are still
getting through over land.
50. Spain urbanised much of its natural coastline during the tourist boom of the sixties and
seventies.
51. He found it hard to verbalise his feelings towards his son.
52. Easter is a movable feast.
53. You’ve broken your ankle, but you’ll be fully mobile within a couple of months.
 49

ADJECTIVES OF LATIN ORIGIN

1 Exercise

1. boy: a puerile idea

boy:
a puerile question
puerile behaviour
puerile concerns
puerile objections
puerile tasks
puerile jokes
a puerile campaign against sb / sth
a puerile sense of humour
cf. puerperal fever (i.e. caused by childbirth)
boyish: often appreciatively:
his boyish charm
her boyish figure (jungenhaft)
boyish ambitions / hopes / enthusiasm

2. brother: fraternal greetings

brother:
fraternal love
a fraternal society
fraternal twins (zweieiig)
cf. identical twins
brotherly: typical of a (loving) brother:
brotherly advice / love / affection / feelings

3. child: filial duties

infantile diseases (or: children’s)
child:
filial affection
filial respect
sense of filial obligation
infantile behaviour
infantile paralysis
(old-fash. for: polio(mylitis)
infantile pastimes
infantile humour
daughterly: having the qualities of a good daughter:
daughterly concern for her parents
childish
a) of / for a child:
the little girl’s childish voice
b) unsuitable for an adult, immature:
(a) childish remark / behaviour / laughter / fear
childlike (apprec.): typical of a child

4. death: a fatal accident

a mortal sin (but: the Seven Deadly Sins)
a lethal dose
death:
a fatal delay
a fatal blow
50 ADJECTIVES OF LATIN ORIGIN

fatal injuries
a fatal illness
a fatal mistake
a fatal day / hour
mortal sin
cf. venial
cf. Seven Deadly Sins: Pride, Lechery, Envy, Anger,
Covetousness, Gluttony, Sloth
a mortal wound / injury / agony
a mortal blow
a mortal combat
a mortal enemy
mortal boredom
a mortal threat
to live in mortal danger / fear / terror
the mortal remains of sb
a lethal weapon
a lethal blow
a lethal chamber
a lethal carrier of bacteria
a lethal dose
a lethal combination of drugs
a lethal injection

5. father: a paternal grandfather

father:
paternal care
paternal authority
paternal affection / love
a paternal duty
a paternal attitude
a paternal concern for sb
a paternal grandmother / -father / uncle
a patriarchal society
a patriarchal system
a patriarchal family

6. flesh: carnal pleasures

flesh:
carnal desire(s) / lust(s)
to have carnal knowledge of sb
fleshy: having much flesh:
fleshy cheeks / arms / body / peaches
fleshly: sexual:
fleshly desires / lust

7. foot: a pedestrian crossing

foot:
cf. a pelican crossing / zebra crossing
pelican (acronym: PEdestrian LIght-CONtrolled, assimilated to pelican) (Bedarfs-
ampel): place where sb who wants to cross the road can stop the traffic by pushing a
button that makes traffic lights change
a pedestrian precinct
a pedestrian walkway
a pedestrian entrance / bridge / tunnel / underpass
pedestrian traffic
a pedestrian performance (lacking in imagination, dull)
a pedestrian student
a pedestrian style
cf. a pedal brake / switch / bin (Treteimer)
ADJECTIVES OF LATIN ORIGIN 51

8. God: Divine Service

God:
to rule by divine right
to be created in the Divine Image
under divine inspiration
cf. godly: deeply religious, pious, devout
goodly
a) handsome, pleasant to look at:
a goodly man, sight
b) large in amount:
a goodly sum of money / number of people

9. hand: manual labour

hand:
manual dexterity
manual work(er)
a manual gesture
manual control
manual skill
a manual gear-box (change)

10. head: capital punishment

head:
cf. the death penalty
a capital offence

11. heart: a cordial reception

heart:
coronary thrombosis
a coronary vessel
coronary arteries
coronary failure
a coronary attack
cf. cardiac insufficiency / muscle / symptoms
a cordial handshake

12. house: a domestic animal

house:
domestic help
domestic bliss / harmony / duty / life
domestic unrest / problems / upheaval
domestic trade / imports / affairs
domestic policies
domestic production
domestic flights (inland / internal flights)

13. ice: the glacial era

ice:
the glacial epoch
a glacial wind
glacial temperatures
the glacial waters of the Arctic
a glacial smile / look
a glacial manner / politeness / silence
cf. frosty
glacial indifference
52 ADJECTIVES OF LATIN ORIGIN

icy
an icy wind
icy cold water
an icy stare / comment / look / road
to glare at sb icily

14. island: an insular climate

island:
an insular (way of) life
an insular attitude / outlook
insular habits and prejudices

15. king: regal splendour (i.e. very impressive)

the Royal Family
king:
regal dignity / power
a regal entrance
regal manners
regal tiger
the Royal Family / household
royal blood
royal power
a royal visit
a royal palace
a royal welcome
the royal prerogative
royal assent, to receive the
royal blue, i.e. a medium bright blue

16. life: vital statistics

life:
vital organs
vital force
vital importance / interests / element / component / ingredient / role / part / signs
vital statistics:
a) measurement of a woman’s body round the chest-waist-hips
b) certain facts, officially collected and arranged about people’s
lives, esp. births, marriages, deaths, length of life

17. love: amorous adventures

love:
amorous advances / letters / exploits
amorous poetry
amorous affairs
amorous triumphs
amorous experience

18. man: a male (voice) choir

masculine gender
man:
a male nurse / model / student
(a) male chauvinist pig / chauvinism
male population
the male readership
male hormones
male attitudes
ADJECTIVES OF LATIN ORIGIN 53

male unemployment
male roles
a male plug: piece of equipment having a part which sticks out and can be fitted into
a hollow part (female plug) in another piece of equipment
male bonding: the forming of close friendship between men a male-dominated
industry
masculine gender
a masculine rhyme
a masculine voice
masculine pride
masculine language
a masculine word / a masculine (pro)noun

19. Middle Ages: a medi(a)eval romance

Middle Ages:
medi(a)eval literature
medi(a)eval Europe

20. mind: a mental home

mind:
a mental patient
mental arithmetic
mental age
mental illness / health / breakdown / blackout
a mental process
a mental reservation
mental deficiency
a mental defect
mental suffering / cruelty
mental development
a mental picture
a mental block
mental treatment
a mental effort
to make a mental note of sth

21. money: a financial adviser

a monetary system
a pecuniary reward
money:
pecuniary emoluments (Vergütung, Honorar)
pecuniary gain
pecuniary motives / affairs
pecuniary advantage
pecuniary aid
pecuniary difficulties / problems
a pecuniary reward
pecuniary self-interest
in financial straits
in financial difficulties
financial aid
a financial adviser
a financial centre / crisis
financial success
financial news / page / situation
a monetary policy / system / unit
monetary reform / talks / institutions / reserves / considerations
International Monetary Fund, (the IMF)
54 ADJECTIVES OF LATIN ORIGIN

22. moon: a lunar eclipse (Finsternis)

a lunatic asylum (mental home)
the lunatic fringe (extremistische Randgruppe)
moon:
lunar orbit
a lunar spacecraft
a lunar (excursion) module
a lunar month
a lunatic atmosphere
lunatic behaviour
a lunatic proposal

23. mother: maternal instincts

mother:
maternal affection / feelings / love / care
maternal duties
maternal grandmother / -father
matriarchal society
cf. maternity ward / maternity dress
motherly: like / typical of a good mother:
a motherly old teacher / kiss
motherly affection / care

24. mouth: an oral examination

mouth:
oral tradition, passed on by
oral agreement
oral hygiene
oral contraceptives
cf. a viva (voce)

25. night: a nocturnal bird (night bird)

night:
nocturnal creatures / animals / flowers
nocturnal habits
a nocturnal sightseeing tour
a nocturnal visit

26. reason: a rational explanation

reason:
rational thought / conduct
a rational argument / decision
a rational person / solution
cf. a very reasonable price

27. ship: a naval base

ship:
a naval battle / parade / warfare / power
a naval officer / uniform / architect
the naval forces
a naval detachment
ADJECTIVES OF LATIN ORIGIN 55

28. sun: the solar system

sun:
solar energy / heating / heat / time
solar eclipse
solar year
a solar panel
a solar cell / battery
cf. sun dial

29. time: a temporary job

a temporary bridge
a temporal conjunction
time:
a temporary road / surface / building
a temporary inconvenience / setback
temporary unemployment
a temporary resident
a temporary arrangement
a temporary solution
temporary housing / staff
the Lords spiritual and temporal
temporal power and wealth
a temporal conjunction / clause
the temporal power of the Pope

30. tooth: a dental surgeon

tooth:
dental decay
a dental operation
dental care / treatment / hygiene / health
a dental sound
a dental floss (Zahnseide)
a dental hygienist / practitioner / nurse
a dental plate
cf. denture / a set of dentures

31. woman: feminine gender

female suffrage
woman:
a feminine rhyme
feminine curiosity
a very feminine voice
a feminine occupation
feminine clothes
a feminine (pro)noun
a feminine figure / appearance
female workers
a female choir / vocalist
female areas of work
female equality
the female mentality
cf. a woman / lady doctor – a male doctor
56 ADJECTIVES OF LATIN ORIGIN

32. year: an annual income

year:
a biannual art show
AGM: Annual General Meeting
an annual event / meeting / show
the annual production
the annual rainfall
an annual subscription
the annual course of the sun

2 Exercise

1. She was tired of answering these puerile / infantile questions. (infantil)

2. The party sent its fraternal greetings to the trade union meeting. (brüderlich)
3. Two out of five fatal accidents are caused by people who have been drinking alcohol.
(tödlich)
4. Military research leads to the development of new lethal weapons. (tödlich)
also: deadly

5. The terrorists regard the police as their mortal enemies. (Tod-)

also: deadly

6. Here lie the mortal remains of George Chapman. (sterblich)

7. My father’s paternal grandfather was a Turk. (väterlicherseits)
8. Parliament Square might even become a pedestrian precinct. (Fußgänger-)
9. We must remember to buy a new pedal bin for the kitchen. (Tret-)
10. These men had all been operating under divine inspiration. (göttlich)
11. Some women are still engaged in heavy manual labour. (körperlich)
12. Do people really see capital punishment as a useful deterrent? (Todes-)
also: the death penalty

13. The young professor received a cordial welcome on his first visit to Harvard. (herzlich)
14. The wild goats had once been domestic animals, but escaped into the wild. (Haus-)
15. Domestic flights within Russia remain extremely cheap, but international flights are
prohibitively expensive. (Inlands-)
also: inland / internal flights

16. Apparently he’s had a lot of domestic trouble lately, and he couldn’t concentrate on his
work. (häuslich)
17. He gave me a glacial smile. (eisig)
also: icy / frosty
ADJECTIVES OF LATIN ORIGIN 57

18. He wasn’t at all insular, he was well-travelled and could speak several languages.
(engstirnig)
also: narrow-minded

19. There are no members of the Royal Family staying at Buckingham Palace at present.
(königlich)
20. Jean’s vital statistics are 38-24-38. (Maße)
21. He was lucky that the bullet hadn’t entered a vital organ. (lebenswichtig)
22. She refused his amorous advances. (Annäherungsversuche)
23. This magazine has a predominantly male readership. (männlich)
24. She’s very masculine, even in her voice and the way she walks. (männlich)
25. Drake is the masculine word for duck. (männlich)
26. Women like Navratilova prove that physical strength is no longer a purely masculine
attribute. (männlich)
27. Police officers are to go on a course designed to combat male chauvinism in the forces.
(männlich)
28. He was giving us lectures on mediaeval German literature. (mittelalterlich)
29. I find his mediaeval opinions on women’s rights hard to accept. (mittelalterlich)
30. It’s no use trying to explain your computer to me – I’ve a mental block about computers.
(geistig)
31. When she mentioned her birthday casually, he made a mental note of it. (sich merken)
32. The City of London is a great financial centre. (Finanz-)
33. The monetary unit of Japan is the Yen. (Währungs-)
34. The monetary system of some countries used to be based on gold. (Währungs-)
35. The film was popular with the critics, but was not a financial success. (finanziell)
36. What is worst of all is the effect which these financial / pecuniary embarrassments and
domestic feuds have had on the poor man himself. (Geld-, häuslich)
37. Animal rights campaigners blame the latest set of bomb attacks on the lunatic fringe within
the movement. (extreme)
38. Lack of maternal love can have profound effects on psychological development. (Mutter-)
39. The German test consists of a written and an oral part. (mündlich)
40. You are now free to resume your nocturnal sightseeing tour of our city. (nächtlich)
41. No rational person would go to work in his pyjamas. (vernünftig)
also: reasonable / sensible

42. He recovered from his injuries in the naval hospital. (Marine-)

43. They have a solar panel on their roof that powers their central heating. (Sonnen-)
44. When and while are temporal conjunctions. (zeitlich)
45. The Church has no temporal power in the modern state. (weltlich)
46. We apologize for the temporary inconvenience caused by these road buildings.
(vorübergehend)
47. Temporary shelters were hastily constructed as the waves of refugees started to pour in.
(provisorisch)
48. He had undergone a rather serious dental operation. (Zahn-)
58 ADJECTIVES OF LATIN ORIGIN

49. You would look much prettier if you bought some more feminine clothes and grew your
hair longer. (fraulich)
50. Some employers run classes in self-defence for their female employees. (weiblich)
51. There has been a sharp fall in the annual rate of inflation. (jährlich)

3 Exercise

1. amorous adventures
advances
affairs
2. annual income
general meeting (AGM)
subscription
3. capital punishment
cf. the death penalty
offence
4. carnal pleasures
desires
5. cordial reception
handshake
6. divine Service
image (be created in the ...)
7. domestic animal
problems
upheaval (Aufruhr)
flights
cf. internal / inland flights
accident
8. fatal accident
injuries
9. female suffrage
worker
10. feminine gender
rhyme
curiosity
11. filial duty
sense of obligation
12. financial adviser
aid
year (AE fiscal year)
13. fraternal greetings
love
ADJECTIVES OF LATIN ORIGIN 59

twins
14. glacial era
smile
silence
15. infantile diseases
paralysis
16. insular climate
outlook
17. lethal dose
weapon
18. lunar eclipse
spacecraft
19. lunatic asylum
fringe
20. male (voice) choir
chauvinist / pig
21. manual labour
worker
skill
22. masculine gender
rhyme
23. maternal instincts
love
duty
grandfather / -mother
24. mediaeval romance
literature
25. mental home
arithmetic
age
note
26. monetary system
unit
27. mortal sin
enemy
remains
28. naval base
officer
29. nocturnal bird
visit
30. oral examination
tradition
31. paternal grandfather / -mother
32. pecuniary reward
60 ADJECTIVES OF LATIN ORIGIN

33. pedestrian crossing

precinct
traffic
34. puerile idea
question
behaviour
35. rational explanation
argument
36. regal splendour
37. royal family (usu. cap)
household (usu. cap)
38. solar system
energy
cell
39. temporal conjunction
clause
power of the Pope
40. temporary job
bridge
unemployment
arrangement
41. vital statistics

4 Exercise

1. air an aerial railway

an aerial battle
air:
an aerial drill
an aerial cableway Schwebe-, Seilbahn
an aerial bombardment / bombing
an aerial photograph / camera Luftaufnahme, -kamera
an aerial spraying of fungicide
aerial reconnaissance / map / survey /
photography Luftaufklärung
aerial warfare

2. body corporal punishment

corporeal needs
body:
corporeal pleasures
the corporeal world
corporeal existence / presence
ADJECTIVES OF LATIN ORIGIN 61

3. citizen civic duties

citizen:
civic functions / responsibilities Bürger-
a civic event
civic pride
a civic centre / leader

4. country rustic simplicity

a rural district
rural bus services
country:
rustic manners / style / appearance bäurisch (pej.)
rustic physique rustikal
rustic charm
rustic peace
rustic furniture
to lead a rustic existence
a rustic accent
Mary Webb’s rustic novels
a rural area / district / community ländlich
a rural scenery / setting
rural population Landbevölkerung
rural depopulation Landflucht
rural life
rural deprivation Strukturschwäche in ländl. Gebieten
rural crime
rural France / Britain
a rural accent
a rural MP
rural pastimes

5. court (of Law) forensic medicine

a forensic expert
court (of Law):
forensic linguistics
forensic skill
a forensic laboratory Polizeilabor
forensic science / evidence / examination

6. ear an auricular confession

an aural surgeon
ear:
auricular flutter
aural skills
cf. ENT specialist (ear-nose-throat)
aural comprehension (test) / examination

7. enemy a hostile army

a hostile attitude
actions inimical to friendly relations
actions hostile to friendly relations
enemy:
hostile environments
a hostile aircraft
62 ADJECTIVES OF LATIN ORIGIN

hostile air / naval forces

a hostile crowd
a hostile mood / attitude
a hostile glance / look
a hostile review
a hostile reception / response /
take-over bid
hostile territory
a hostile society / crowd
a hostile reaction
hostile weather
conditions inimical / hostile to
economic development

8. eye an ocular proof

an ocular defect
eye:
ocular muscles
an ocular witness (rare)
cf. eye witness
an ocular demonstration
cf. optic nerve / optical delusion / illusion
cf. visual nerve / field

9. flower a floral design

floral arrangements
flower:
floral tributes Blüten-, geblümt
floral decorations
a floral wallpaper / dress / curtain
a floral pattern / fabric
cf. flowery language

10. gardening a horticultural exhibition

garden(ing):
a horticultural show
a horticultural society
a horticultural expert

11. hearing auditory effects

the auditory nerve
hearing:
auditory information
auditory difficulties
auditory nerve / areas of the brain

12. hell an infernal noise

hell:
an infernal racket verteufelt, teuflisch
an infernal nuisance / impudence
infernal weather gräßlich
infernal cruelty
ADJECTIVES OF LATIN ORIGIN 63

13. law a judicial system

judicial proceedings
law:
to take / bring judicial proceedings
against sb
judicial procedures Gerichtsverfahren
the judicial process
a judicial inquiry / court / review / system
a judicial murder
judicial separation Gerichtsbeschluß zur Aufhebung der
ehelichen Gemeinschaft
judicial power richterliche Gewalt
a judicial function Richteramt

14. letter an epistolary novel

letter:
an epistolary style

15. light a luminous dial

luminous safety clothing
lucid moments
a lucid explanation
light:
luminous road signs
luminous paint
luminous hand(s of a watch)
lucid intervals
a lucid style anschaulich, klar,
a lucid account of sth licht, einleuchtend
a lucid biography of sb
cf. a light-year

16. marriage marital status

marital / matrimonial vows
marital / matrimonial problems
the conjugal bed
nuptial rites
of nubile age
marriage:
marital difficulties / disharmony / Ehe-, ehelich
break-down / aid
marital bliss
marital problems / disagreements
a matrimonial dispute / trouble /
bliss / infidelity
matrimonial difficulties
conjugal rights / duties
conjugal life
conjugal bliss / happiness /
affection / love Gattenliebe
also: married / wedded bliss; married love
conjugal relationships
64 ADJECTIVES OF LATIN ORIGIN

a nuptial hymn
a nuptial ceremony / celebration /
vow / promise
nuptial bliss
the nuptial day / bed
the nuptial mass
a nubile Hollywood actress
a nubile young woman

17. Pope the papal infallibility

a pontifical mass
Pope:
the papal election
papal authority
a papal legate / messenger / announcement
the papal cross
papal supremacy
cf. apostolic blessing
the Popish Plot (an imaginary conspiracy
against the crown of Great Britain on
the part of English Roman Catholics in 1678)
Note: papistical and popish are disparaging adjectives
pontifical mass / authority
(referring to pontiff, bishop or prelate)
pontifical manner / gravity / robes / duties /
office / pronouncements
a pontifical letter

18. rider an equestrian statue

rider:
an equestrian event
an equestrian act Reit-, Pferdenummer
equestrian skill / prowess
equestrian gloves
an equestrian journalist
an equestrian tournament

19. sea a maritime climate

a maritime power
marine life
sea:
maritime regions See-, Küsten-
the maritime law
the maritime provinces of Canada
a maritime nation / power
the National Maritime Museum
marine life
a marine creature / plant /
mammal / organism Meeresfauna, -flora
a marine painter / painting
cf. seascape painter
a marine biologist / pollution
the marine law / insurance
ADJECTIVES OF LATIN ORIGIN 65

20. shepherd pastoral poetry

a pastoral letter
shepherd:
pastoral verse
pastoral duties / care
a pastoral scene / painting
pastoral life
pastoral economy
pastoral nomads
pastoral responsibilities
Beethoven’s “Pastoral Symphony”

21. town an urban district

an urban guerrilla
the municipal council
town:
an urban area
urban unemployment
urban life / development
urban renewal
the urban population / jungle
the municipal administration
a municipal housing scheme
the municipal gardens
municipal affairs
municipal buildings
municipal elections
the municipal transport system
the municipal rubbish dump
an urbane person weltmännisch,
urbane wit gewandt
an urbane smile / style / manner
an urbane conversation / words

22. vision visual images

visual aids
vision:
visual effects (in poetry)
visual impression
visual arts
visual nerve
visual field
a visual examination
visual humour
a visual memory
VDU: visual display unit Sichtgerät

23. voice vocal critic

vocal music
vociferous protest
voice:
vocal power
vocal group lautstark
the vocal range (of a singer)
vocal support
66 ADJECTIVES OF LATIN ORIGIN

a vocal score
a vocal organ
vocal c(h)ords / lips Stimmbänder
a vociferous group of pickets /
demonstrators
vociferous demands
vociferous complaints / objections
a vociferous opponent

24. war martial law

a martial art
belligerent powers
war:
martial law, to declare / impose
/ put under /
proclaim / lift
court martial; pl. courts martial
martial music
martial behaviour
the belligerent countries
a belligerent attitude / manner
a belligerent look
a belligerent person / speech

25. water an aquatic sport

water:
aqueous vapour
an aqueous solution
aquatic animals / plants / life
an aquatic pastime

26. word verbal skill

a verbal noun
a verbal agreement
a verbose speaker
word:
(non-)verbal communication
verbal abuse
a verbal attack / confession
a verbal explanation / distinction
a verbal reminder
a verbal error
a verbal memory
a verbal warning
a verbal translation
a verbal group
a verbose speech / sermon
a verbose explanation
a verbose person / speaker
a verbose style
ADJECTIVES OF LATIN ORIGIN 67

27. youth juvenile delinquency

a juvenile court
youth:
a juvenile crime
a juvenile delinquent / offender
juvenile books / jokes / behaviour
a juvenile sense of humour
to play the juvenile lead

5 Exercise

a(n)/the/-
1. aerial map 14. infernal noise
photograph racket
battle 15. judicial murder
2. aquatic sport(s) system
life proceedings
animal(s) 16. juvenile delinquency
3. belligerent powers delinquent
countries court
attitude lead
4. civic pride 17. lucid intervals
duties moments
5. conjugal bed explanation
6. corporal punishment 18. luminous dial
7. corporeal needs paint
8. epistolary novel hand
9. equestrian statue safety clothing
event road sign
10. floral wallpaper 19. marine plant
pattern biologist
design life
arrangements 20. marital status
11. forensic science bliss
laboratory vows
expert problems
medicine 21. maritime climate
12. horticultural society power
exhibition law
13. hostile crowd nation
reception 22. martial act
attitude law
army
68 ADJECTIVES OF LATIN ORIGIN

23. matrimonial bliss 32. rustic charm

vows 33. urban area
problems (de)population
24. municipal housing scheme guerilla
council district
transport system 34. verbose speaker
25. nubile age style
26. nuptial rites 35. verbal skill
27. ocular demonstration noun
proof attack
defect agreement
28. papal authority translation
supremacy 36. visual memory
infallability display unit
29. pastoral poetry aids
verse image
life 37. vocal critic
letter chords
30. pontifical mass music
31. rural France 38. vociferous protest
(de)population complaints

6 Exercise

1. autumn autumnal gales

the autumnal equinox
autumn:
autumnal weather / mists

2. beggar a mendicant friar

3. birth a congenital defect

a nascent suspicion
birth:
a congenital deficiency
a congenital brain damage / disease /
abnormality
congenital blindness
a congenital liar / idiot
a congenital dislike of sb / sth
a nascent doubt / hope / industry /
pride / culture / world / state / talent /
problem / emotion / political party
a nascent ability in music
cf. Nativity Play / (the) Nativity
ADJECTIVES OF LATIN ORIGIN 69

4. blood a sanguinary battle

a sanguinary ruler
a sanguinary language
a sanguine disposition
to be sanguine of one’s chances of success
blood:
sanguinary violence
a sanguinary war
to take a sanguinary view of the future

5. burden an onerous task

burden:
(an) onerous duty / responsibility /
rules / regulations

6. cat feline grace

cat:
feline suppleness / eyes
a feline friend (i. e pet cat)

7. day the diurnal course of the sun

day:
the diurnal movements of the planets
the diurnal rotation of the Earth
diurnal habits
diurnal temperature fluctuation(s)

8. donkey an asinine remark

9. eagle an aquiline nose

eagle:
an aquiline profile
aquiline features

10. herd the gregarious instinct

herd:
a gregarious person / animal / bird
opp. solitary

11. horse an equine face

12. lie a mendacious newspaper report

lie:
a mendacious remark / statement / story

13. maid ancillary industries

ancillary roads
an ancillary course
the ancillary staff (of a hospital)
70 ADJECTIVES OF LATIN ORIGIN

maid:
ancillary duties / service

14. morning matutinal prayers (rare)

15. navel the umbilical cord

16. ox bovine stupidity

a bovine mentality
bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)
ox:
bovine apathy
a bovine expression / appearance
a bovine character

17. river fluvial vegetation

river:
fluvial deposits of mud

18. slave servile obedience

slave:
a servile revolt
servile flattery
a servile manner
made to do servile tasks
to speak in a servile tone

19. spring vernal flowers

the vernal equinox
spring:
also: spring flowers
vernal breezes

20. star the stellar system

star:
stellar light / constellation
a stellar map
a stellar performance / player / team
(of people) of an extremely high standard

astral body
astral beams
astral spirits

21. tailor sartorial elegance

tailor:
sartorial style
his unusual sartorial preferences
ADJECTIVES OF LATIN ORIGIN 71

22. twilight crepuscular light

twilight:
crepuscular shadows / gloom
crepuscular creatures

23. uncle avuncular benevolence

avuncular tone of voice
uncle:
an avuncular manner / fashion

24. wall a mural painting

wall:
a mural painting
also: a mural
mural art / decoration

25. winter hibernal gales

26. wood a sylvan goddess

wood:
a sylvan glade / shade
a sylvan setting / surroundings
a sylvan charm
also spelt: silvan

a ligneous substance
(i.e. of the nature of wood)

27. world a mundane life

world:
mundane affairs / matters
mundane poetry
a mundane existence
a mundane book / film / job / description of sth

7 Exercise

1. Meanwhile the aerial bombing of military and strategic targets continued unabated. (Luft-)
2. He forced her to submit to his carnal desires. (sinnlich, fleischlich)
also: fleshly
cf. fleshy peaches / cheeks
3. Do people really see capital punishment as a useful deterrent? (Todes-)
cf. the death penalty
4. Surely everyone has an inviolable right to protection by a fair legal system. (unantastbar,
unverletzlich)
5. We’d have made a decision by now if Jean hadn’t been so obstructive. (hemmend,
blockierend)
72 ADJECTIVES OF LATIN ORIGIN

6. Ms Brown has launched a venomous attack against the newspaper for printing allegations
about her private life. (giftig, gehässig)
7. In recent years, there has been a noticeable decline in such venerable British institutions
as afternoon tea and Sunday roast. (ehrwürdig)
8. He was renowned in the business world for being a venal character. (bestechlich, käuflich)
9. The right hemisphere of the brain is specialized for the perception of complex patterns,
both visual and tactile. (tastbar, greifbar)
10. The meal was hardly palatable – in fact I thought it was disgusting. (schmackhaft)
also fig.: We must find a compromise that is more palatable to the voters.
11. Mundane matters such as eating and drinking do not interest her. (weltlich)
12. This was the first big municipal housing scheme to get under way after the war.
(kommunal)
13. We intend to remove the onerous rules and regulations that are discouraging foreign
investments in our country. (lästig)
14. Language teachers often use aural material, such as tapes, to help their students learn to
understand the language when it is spoken. (Hör-)
15. The Archbishop of New York probably has more AIDS victims under his pastoral care than
any bishop in the world. (seelsorglich)
16. He took the usual postprandial stroll around the grounds of his house. (nach Tisch)
17. People in rural areas often depend on public transportation. (ländlich)
18. He’s sanguine about getting the work finished on time. (optimistisch)
19. He was renowned for his sartorial elegance. (Eleganz der Kleidung)
20. The landlord had tried to give the pub a rustic appearance by putting horse shoes and old
guns on the walls. (rustikal)
21. The recipients of aid should not become servile but maintain their dignity. (unterwürfig)
22. The placenta is connected by the umbilical cord to the foetus. (Nabel-)
23. Airport officials received a stream of verbal abuse from angry passengers whose flights
had been delayed. (Wort-)
24. Her father-in-law was renowned for being a verbose and rather tedious after-dinner
speaker. (weitschweifig)
25. In the western hemisphere, the vernal equinox occurs on about March 21 – in the southern
hemisphere it is about September 23. (Frühlings-)
26. The basic principles of martial arts are discipline, respect, confidence and self-defence.
(Kampfsport-)
27. You should always wear luminous clothing when riding a bicycle at night. (leuchtend)
28. The merger proved to be very lucrative for both companies. (einträglich)
29. In one of his lucid moments, he appeared to recognize his wife. (licht)
30. Dickens’ book Bleak House is about the failings of the English judicial system in Victorian
times. (Rechts-)
31. Newspaper editors regard any restrictions on them as being inimical to free speech.
(feindlich)
also: hostile to
32. Forensic examination revealed a large quantity of poison in the dead man’s stomach.
(gerichtsmedizinisch)
ADJECTIVES OF LATIN ORIGIN 73

33. She chose a nice material with a floral pattern for the curtains. (Blumen-)
34. The epistolary novel is a narrative in the form of letters. (Brief-)
35. Men cannot use conjugal rights as an excuse for raping their wives. (ehelich)
36. She felt it was her civic duty to give the police the names of the youths who had vandalized
the bus shelter. (staatsbürgerlich)
37. The sun and the moon are celestial bodies. (Himmels-)
38. The monetary unit of the US, Australia and Canada is the dollar. (Währungs-)
74

ADVERBS

1 Exercise

1. He is an enlightened, well-informed scholar, widely / well read in the classics.

well-adjusted / advised / appointed / balanced / bred / chosen / connected / defined
/ disposed / done / earned / favoured / found / founded / groomed / grounded / heeled
/ hung / informed / intentioned / known / lined / oiled / preserved / proportioned / read
/ rounded / set / spoken / thought-of / timed / tried / turned

2. The rain gave us a ready-made excuse for not going out.

ready-to-wear clothes / suits
to buy one’s clothes off the peg: off-the-peg clothes: not made-to-measure
ready-made opinions / answers / solutions: vorgekaut, schablonisiert, gebrauchsfertig

3. Although the flagship Mary Rose was a strongly-built ship, she sank with all her crew
before she even set sail.
also: solidly / sturdily

4. The old teacher was much loved and highly esteemed.

also: dearly loved / much / greatly esteemed
to hold sb in great / high / low esteem
The teacher was much loved and esteemed.

5. For over a hundred years Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable has been one of the
best-known and best-loved works of reference in the English language.
cf. well-known / much-loved

6. Lady Chatterley’s Lover, once severely criticized because it too frankly glorified physical
love, is still one of D. H. Lawrence’s most widely-read novels. Scholars are agreed,
however, that its literary importance has been grossly overrated.
also: adversely / bitterly / harshly / scathingly / sharply / sweepingly / vehemently /
widely criticized
also: much / vastly / seriously / extremely overrated
widely believed / discussed / known / scattered / travelled

7. In a carefully-planned campaign the management convinced the shareholders that the

highly inefficient company urgently needed reform.
also: thoroughly / ingeniously planned
also: notoriously inefficient
also: badly needed

8. Sarah Bernhardt, the much / greatly admired French actress, was celebrated for her voice
and her gift for emotional acting.
also: universally admired
ADVERBS 75

9. Despite the relief that was flown into Ethiopia last year, tens of thousands of people are still
ill-housed, ill-clad and ill-nourished.
also: poorly clad
cf. well-nourished, ill-fed
undernourished: unterernährt (cf. malnutrition): having eaten too little food, or food of
low quality, and suffering lack of growth and development
cf. ill-advised / assorted / bred / fated / favoured / gotten / mannered / natured /
omened / starred / tempered / timed / treated

10. Whether the long-awaited change in the government’s economic policy will eventually lead
to discernible improvement is still a hotly-disputed question among experts.
long-drawn-out / haired / held (opinions) / lived / serving (employee) / sighted /
standing / winded
hot-blooded / headed / tempered
hotly debated / denied / contested / pursued (by the police)

11. As Mary’s flat was conveniently(-)situated in the vicinity of the office her colleagues found
her excuse for being late barely credible.
also: hardly credible
awkwardly / well / badly situated

12. Although the dimly-lit room is unsuitable for students to work in, the authorities flatly
refuse to install modern lighting.
also: poorly / ill- / badly lit

13. The emotionally charged atmosphere of the conference made it impossible for the two
countries to settle their conflicts. Diplomatic observers believe that the political beliefs of
the conflicting parties are mutually exclusive anyway.

2 Exercise

1. The fog was so thick that it was virtually impossible to see your hand in front of your face.
virtually: in every important aspect, almost:
to be virtually certain / impossible / agreed
He virtually promised me the job (i.e. but didn’t actually do so).

2. They built up a team of highly motivated sales people.

also: strongly motivated

3. He flatly denied having stolen the money.

to deny sth angrily / categorically / emphatically / fervently / strongly / vehemently

4. To think he’s ninety! He’s incredibly fit for his age!

5. Make sure you’re fully insured before you go.
6. He openly admitted that he was only in it for the money. I was surprised at his candour.
to admit sth freely / readily
76 ADVERBS

7. She was greatly / widely / universally / much / unreservedly admired for her innovative
ideas.
8. She made it perfectly clear that she wasn’t satisfied.
abundantly / fairly / painfully / crystal clear

9. He apologised unreservedly / profusely for the trouble he had caused.

to apologise humbly

10. They gazed longingly at the sports car in the show room.
to gaze intently at sb / sth

11. Despite her misgivings she reluctantly agreed to come.

to agree completely / fully / entirely / totally / wholeheartedly / readily

12. It’s entirely my fault. I take full responsibility.

13. The general said that they had to surrender unconditionally – there was nothing to
negotiate.
14. I’m sorely tempted to take another of those cakes.
15. He’s loved her passionately ever since they first met.
16. There’s nothing wrong with my hearing! I distinctly heard them say they would be here at
6 o’clock.
17. He thought of all the opportunities he had missed and sighed deeply.
to sigh (in)audibly / profoundly

18. Your views on education are already widely / well known.

19. A new playground for our children is badly / urgently / much needed.
20. Mr Wilson is highly / widely / universally / well respected in our community.
21. It was bitterly / extremely / freezing cold last night.
I’m / it’s freezing cold.

22. I greatly / deeply / keenly / sincerely / very much / really appreciate what you have done for
me.
23. I was deeply hurt by her answer.
also: very hurt: i.e. insulted
In the sense of injured appropriate adverbs are: badly / seriously / slightly

24. We were all painfully / deeply / extremely / very embarrassed.

25. Your success had been richly / fully deserved.
26. The importance of this invention has been grossly / much / seriously / extremely overrated.
27. The chairman of the committee thanked Mr. Smith profusely / sincerely for what he had
done.
 77

ADVERB + PARTICIPLE

1 Exercise

1. a widely-read newspaper
much read: not incorrect, but unusual
cf. a widely-read scholar / author: a well-read author
the book is (un)readable – the handwriting is (il)legible
a machine-readable text
Write more legibly, please!
a widely spoken language
a widely accepted / believed theory
to have widely differing aims
Note: widespread malnutrition / rioting / support / speculation

2. a highly / greatly-esteemed statesman

also: highly-regarded / respected
to be greatly / internationally / universally / well- / widely respected
to be greatly regarded
to hold sb in high esteem / regard
to have a high regard for sb
to think highly of sb

3. a carefully-planned campaign
meticulously / thoroughly / ingeniously planned
to launch / start a campaign for / against sth

4. a well / highly-organized society

a well-organized firm
badly / efficiently / poorly / superbly organized

5. a brightly / badly-lit room

dimly / poorly / festively lit
feebly (not: faintly) / softly lit
cf. a brightly illuminated town
stage lighting: Bühnenbeleuchtung
cf. in broad daylight

6. a severely / widely / strongly-criticized report

also: adversely / bitterly / harshly / sharply / scathingly / sweepingly / vehemently /
violently criticized

7. a well / ready-made suit

a ready-made answer / (frozen) meal / family / greenhouse
off-the-peg – made-to-measure
to buy a suit off the peg: an off-the-peg suit
78 ADVERBS + PARTICIPLE

8. a badly-needed reform
also: urgently / desperately / vitally needed
not: sorely
but: we sorely need reform
Note: to be sorely missed / tempted

9. a richly / brightly-coloured poster

also: beautifully / vividly coloured
Note: highly coloured (i.e. exaggerated):
She gave a highly-coloured account of her travels.
cf. Don’t allow personal loyalty to colour your judgement.

10. a long-awaited change

also: long-expected
also: eagerly-awaited

11. a neatly / brightly-painted house

also: beautifully / freshly / gaily / garishly painted
Her clothes hung neatly in a row.
He always drinks his whisky neat.

12. a carefully / well-kept house

13. a highly-developed industry

a highly-developed civilisation / system of (agriculture)
She is well developed for her age.
the (under)developed countries

14. a well / widely-known author

i.e. an author of note
to be internationally / little known: a little known holiday resort
not: He is known in Bonn.
but: He is known (i.e. notorious) for his cruelty.
There is no known cure for a cold.
He was a known criminal.

15. grossly / much / vastly / badly-overrated importance

also: seriously / extremely overrated
also: overestimated
dangerously / ludicrously overrated / underrated

16. a greatly / much-admired actress

also: universally admired

17. deeply / badly-shocked viewers

also: dreadfully / profoundly / terribly shocked
also: affected
concerned is just acceptable
ADVERBS + PARTICIPLE 79

18. a much-maligned public figure

to malign an innocent person: to run him / her down
malice: with malice aforethought: vorsätzlich
She bears you no malice.
malicious: desire to harm
malicious gossip / act / comment / telephone calls
malign (of things): intending to cause harm or evil:
malign intention / influence
Malign spirits and demons persuade the characters to betray each other.
malignant
a) (medical): (of a disease or condition) serious enough to cause death if not
prevented:
malignant cancer cells / a malignant growth
Is the tumour malignant or benign?
b) full of hate and a strong wish to hurt:
malignant slander / attack / nature / look
I wouldn’t trust her – she’s a malignant little bastard.

19. a firmly-convinced follower

also: completely / absolutely / thoroughly convinced
a firmly-convinced disciple of Marx : but: a convinced Christian
also: a devout Buddhist / Christian / Muslim / Moslem / churchgoer

20. a deeply-furrowed brow

newly furrowed fields
a forehead furrowed by old age
to plough a lonely furrow: work without help or support

21. a highly-praised book

also: much-praised
also: a widely acclaimed book
to praise sb / sth to the skies

22. a widely / much / well-travelled businessman

a well-travelled road / a heavily trafficked road
a little- / much- / well-travelled route
a well- / widely travelled couple
to travel on business / for pleasure
Travel broadens the mind.
drug trafficking : trafficking in drugs / pornography

23. a strongly / well-built ship

also: sturdily / solidly-built

24. a high(ly)-strung manager

Note: German Nervosität is nervousness
He put his failure down to nervousness.
a restless / fidgety / jittery person
He’s getting on my nerves.
80 ADVERBS + PARTICIPLE

25. a frequently-recurring incident

not: frequently recurrent
but: recurrent dream / incident / theme / symptoms
The symptoms tend to recur.
Our first meeting often recurs to my mind / to me.

26. a fast-rising tide

also: swiftly
cf. sharply rising inflation
at high / low tide
the rise and fall of the tide
The tide comes in fast.
the tide of public opinion
to swim with / against the tide

27. a hard-working student

28. fast-rising costs

also: rapidly / ever rising
to buy sth at great cost
at the cost of one’s health / marriage / job
cf. at sb’s expense / at the expense of sth:
He tried to be clever at my expense.
He is travelling at the company’s expense.
He finished the job at the expense of his health.

29. fast-moving traffic

also: fast-flowing
also: slow-moving

30. a highly-charged political question

emotionally charged
cf. explosive: capable of arousing strong emotion
an explosive situation / issue / subject / temper
Politics can be an explosive subject.

31. a thinly-veiled threat

a thinly-veiled hint / insult / reference
not: hardly
to draw a / the veil / curtain over sth
She took the veil (i.e. became a nun).
under a veil of secrecy / innocence
to veil sth
He could hardly veil his contempt at my ignorance.

32. a well / richly / much-deserved reward

not: highly
much / richly / truly / well deserved punishment / praise
She was deservedly praised.
One good turn deserves another.
ADVERBS + PARTICIPLE 81

33. a highly / well-educated person

poorly educated
highly / well / poorly cultivated / cultured

34. a dear(ly)-bought victory

bought at a high price
It cost him dear.

35. a closely / well / carefully-guarded secret

also: well-kept
jealously-guarded
I make no secret of the fact that ...
to be surrounded / wrapped up / shrouded in mystery
cf. an open secret

36. a vastly / greatly / grossly-overblown compliment

also: enormously / horrendously

2 Exercise

1. The Daily Telegraph, a widely-read quality paper, is politically right of centre and usually
reflects the views of the Conservative Party.
2. He was a highly / greatly-esteemed statesman, who exercised political leadership
without narrow partisanship.
also: regarded
partisanship: Parteilichkeit

3. The government has launched a carefully / thoroughly-planned campaign against world

hunger.
cf. ingeniously

4. Japan’s highly / well-organized industry is making increasingly use of robots.

5. The stage was brightly-lit by several powerful spotlights.
cf. stage lighting; a brightly illuminated town

6. Their severely-criticized system works in fact better than many highly-praised ones
elsewhere.
cf. harshly / adversely / bitterly / violently / vehemently / sweepingly criticized

7. Ready-made suits are usually far less expensive than suits made-to-measure.
also: off the peg suits

8. A reform of the divorce laws is badly / urgently / desperately needed.

82 ADVERBS + PARTICIPLE

9. The cage was full of brightly / richly-coloured birds.

cf. vividly / beautifully

10. His long / eagerly-awaited / long-expected opportunity to return to power had come at
last.
11. The village with its neatly-painted houses has a certain rustic charm.
12. They live in an old, curious looking but well-kept mansion in the north of England.
cf. carefully-kept

13. The country’s economy is largely based on a highly-developed system of agriculture.

14. This politician is well-known for his outspoken remarks.
15. Her brother was immensely companionable, active, intelligent and well-read.
16. The importance of maths as a school subject has been grossly / vastly / much / seriously
/ extremely overrated.
17. Though Sarah Bernhardt, a greatly / universally / much-admired French actress, had a
leg amputated, she did not abandon the stage and continued playing until her death.
18. A deeply / badly / profoundly / terribly-shocked parliament was told that an airliner had
been shot down.
also: affected

19. This much-maligned novel is in fact remarkable in many ways.

20. He is a firmly / completely / absolutely / thoroughly-convinced follower of Chinese
communism.
21. I could see from her deeply-furrowed brow that she was very disturbed by the news.
22. I have known him as a widely / much / well-travelled, highly-educated man.
23. For their expedition through the Arctic Ocean they will need a strongly / solidly / sturdily-
built ship, which can cut a passage through the floating ice.
24. The high(ly)-strung Arsenal manager refused to comment after the match.
25. He suffers from frequently-recurring attacks of asthma.
26. What can we do about the fast-rising tide of terrorist activity in Europe?
27. She is a conscientious hard-working student, who will certainly do well in the future.
28. Everything is going up these days: coal, groceries, busfares, rents. Why doesn’t the
Government do something about the rapidly / ever / fast-rising cost of living?
29. There was a noisy flow of fast-moving / flowing traffic.
30. Whether changes should be made in the voting system is a highly-charged political
question.
31. The miners used a thinly-veiled threat of strike action to enforce their demands.
not: hardly

32. The judge said the man had richly-deserved a sentence of incarceration.
33. Hundreds of soldiers died in the battle, but it was the first step to a dear(ly)-bought final
victory.
34. The results of these experiments are still a closely / well-guarded secret.
also: well-kept
ADVERBS + PARTICIPLE 83

35. She hated his ingratiating manner and his vastly / greatly / grossly / enormously /
horrendously-overblown compliments.
36. Your views on education are already widely / well-known.
37. The fast / swiftly-rising tide made swimming very dangerous.
84

COMPOUNDS

1 Exercise

1. advertising campaign Werbeaktion, -kampagne, -feldzug

to launch / run / set up an
advertising campaign
advertising industry
2. bar code Strichkode, -kodierung
3. blanket term Oberbegriff
blanket ban / bombing / mailing /
rule / statement
4. boom years (Jahre der) Hochkonjunktur,
Jahre des Booms
a boom town
5. borderline case Grenzfall
6. breakneck speed halsbrecherische Geschwindigkeit
also: a breakneck pace
7. burglar alarm Alarmanlage
8. carrier bag Tragetasche, -tüte
AE shopping bag
9. career prospects Berufs-, Karriereaussichten
10. caretaker administration geschäftsführende Regierung
caretaker government
11. chain store Ladenkette
also: multiple store
12. child benefit / abuse Kindergeld / Kindesmisshandlung
13. clearance sale (Räumungs)Ausverkauf
14. common denominator gemeinsamer Nenner
the lowest common denominator
15. cot death Krippentod, plötzlicher Kindstod
cf. sudden infant death syndrome
(AE crib death)
16. domino effect Dominoeffekt
17. drawing pin Reißzwecke
18. drug abuse Drogenmissbrauch
drug addict / dealer / traffic(king)
19. dust jacket (Schutz)Umschlag
20. endurance test Belastungsprobe, Durchhaltetest
21. estate agent Grundstücks-, Immobilienmakler
22. fancy dress (Masken)Kostüm
23. four-letter word Vulgärausdruck
swear word
COMPOUNDS 85

24. gambling den Spielhölle

gambling debts
25. generation gap Generationsproblem, -konflikt
to bridge / cross the generation gap
26. grass roots (Fuß)Volk, Basis (esp. in a political party)
grassroots activity / activist /
ideas / opinions / politics
27. household name ein (fester, geläufiger) Begriff
28. language barrier Sprachbarriere
29. mercy killing Euthanasie, Sterbehilfe, Töten aus Mitleid
cf. euthanasia
mercy flight / mission
30. spin doctor Imageberater, PR-Berater,
“Strippenzieher”
cf. image-maker: person employed
to create a public image for a
politician, product, etc
31. umbrella group / term Dachorganisation, Oberbegriff
umbrella organisation / word

2 Exercise

1. General Motors are running an aggressive advertising campaign to publicize their new
models.
2. She’s a young politician who manages to bridge / cross the generation gap.
3. His father made a lot of money during the post-war boom years of the 1950s.
4. It’s important to find a job that offers good career prospects.
5. I inadvertently threw my invitation to the fancy dress party into the wastepaper basket.
6. They are calling for a caretaker administration to oversee the elections.
7. Jenny stepped onto her skis and sped off at breakneck speed down the glistening, white
mountain.
8. Jane’s party was more of an endurance test than anything else.
9. The wires of the burglar alarm had been cut.
10. Those black stripes on the back cover of this book are its bar code.
11. The chain stores are driving the small family-run shops out of business.
12. The feeling among the grass roots of the Party is that the leaders are not radical enough.
13. Employers fear a domino effect if the strike is successful.
14. Although the groups seem very different the common denominator is their commitment to
using renewable sources of energy.
15. If you want to buy a house go to an estate agent / real estate agent, but to book a holiday
go to a travel agent(‘s) / agency.
16. They put her photograph on the dust-jacket of her latest novel.
86 COMPOUNDS

17. Family allowance is the old name for child benefit.

18. A drawing pin is used for attaching papers to a board or wall.
19. Experts on drug abuse stress that we should think of it as an illness and not as a crime.
20. Four-letter words are marked taboo in some dictionaries.
21. Dementia is a blanket term for various different types of psychiatric disorder.
22. We bought our new bedroom carpet at a clearance sale.
23. A carrier bag is a bag made from paper or plastic that is used especially for carrying
shopping in.
24. Only in borderline cases will pupils have an oral exam.
25. The police regularly raid these gambling dens.
26. The White House spin doctors are hard at work explaining the President’s about-face on
taxes.
27. Only about one baby in four thousand succumbs to cot death, now officially called:
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
28. Coca-Cola is a household name all over the world.
29. Nowhere does the foreign language barrier exist so markedly as in the offices of the EEC.
30. The boy’s parents had to reconcile themselves with the idea of mercy killing and turn off
his life support system.
31. They founded an umbrella group of right-wing political parties.

3 Exercise

1. current account laufendes Konto, Girokonto

to have / open / close an account with a bank
to charge / debit / credit sb’s account
to draw money form one’s account
to put sth on / charge sth to one’s /sb’s account
2. disaster area Katastrophengebiet
3. heart attack Herzanfall
4. blanket ban generelles Verbot
a blanket ban on smoking
5. fringe benefit (Gehalts-, Lohn)Nebenleistungen
to get / provide fringe benefits
a fringe organization / group
6. inverted commas Anführungsstriche
7. mint condition tadelloser Zustand, wie neu
mint stamps: postfrisch, ungestempelt
a mint copy / mint coins
8. leisure facilitie Freizeiteinrichtungen, -anlagen
leisure clothes / garments / wear / centre
to provide facilities for sth
ample / excellent / modern / outmoded / poor /
COMPOUNDS 87

run-down / public / transportation / dining /

eating / hotel / recreational / educational /
medical / public health / research /
airport facilities
9. endurance feat (brillante) Ausdauerleistung
also: feat of endurance
to accomplish / perform a feat
a(n) brave / heroic / brilliant / noble / noteworthy /
outstanding / remarkable feat
to test sb’s endurance
physical endurance
10. hay fever Heuschnupfen
11. key figure Schlüsselfigur
key factor / industry / issue / player /
point / position / question
12. junk food ungesundes Essen, Nahrung mit
geringem Nährwert
(containing a lot of sugar and fat
or carbohydrate)
opp. health food
junk mail / shop
13. household name ein (fester, geläufiger) Begriff
14. mail order (Waren)Bestellung per Post
mail order catalogue
15. carrier pigeon Brieftaube
16. child/infant prodigy Wunderkind
17. divorce rate Scheidungsrate
divorce case / proceedings / settlement
18. daylight robbery Halsabschneiderei, Nepp
cf. to fleece sb / overcharge sb by sth
19. jumble sale Flohmarkt, Wohltätigkeitsbasar
AE rummage sale
20. job satisfaction Zufriedenheit am Arbeitsplatz
21. common sense gesunder Menschenverstand
22. department store Kauf-, Warenhaus
23. hunger strike Hungerstreik
hunger striker
hunger pangs: sudden feelings of being hungry
24. income tax Einkommenssteuer
25. domino theory Dominotheorie
26. mother tongue Muttersprache
mother country / figure
fatherland
27. boom town “Goldgräberstadt”, Stadt mit kometenhaftem
88 COMPOUNDS

Aufschwung
(town in which lots of people have
become rich)
28. majority view mehrheitliche Meinung, Meinung der Mehrheit
majority rule: government by majority rule
majority decision

4 Exercise

1. A carrier pigeon is used to send small written messages which are attached to its body.
2. After the tremendous success of her third novel, she became a household name.
3. Don’t touch that light switch with wet hands! Use your common sense.
4. Forster once drove from Montreal to Calgary – twenty-seven hours without a break, quite
an endurance feat.
5. Generous minority rights have included access to newspapers, information, and
educational facilities in the mother tongue.
6. Hay fever is an allergy to pollen and grass which makes some people sneeze a lot.
7. I almost had a heart attack when I found out how much the book cost.
8. He took a job as a sales assistant in a big department store.
9. I didn’t have enough money in my current account to cover a cheque, so I used my credit
card.
10. If you buy something from a mail order catalogue, there’s a delivery charge to be added on.
11. Is there a link between the rising divorce rate and the rising suicide rate?
12. More than 300 prisoners went on hunger strike in February in protest against the living
conditions.
13. She will always be remembered as one of the key figures in the anti-apartheid movement.
14. Sick prisoners in the camp were “cared for”, in inverted commas, by guards, not nurses.
15. Stay away from junk food and get some exercise.
16. The basic rate of income tax is 25p in a pound.
17. The book is 200 years old, but it’s still in mint condition.
18. The domino theory (a term first used by President Eisenhower in 1954) reflects the view
that, as neighbouring states are so interdependent, the collapse of one will spread to the
others.
19. The leisure facilities at the hotel were excellent – tennis courts, swimming pool, several
bars and a good restaurant.
20. The majority view was that we should start immediately.
21. The management has imposed a blanket ban on smoking throughout the building.
22. The salary is not very good, but there is a lot of job satisfaction.
23. This used to be a boom town until they closed down all the car factories.
24. You can pick up some good bargains at a jumble sale or a clearance sale.
cf. at a department / discount store
discount store: a shop which sells its goods at low prices
COMPOUNDS 89

a discount warehouse: a large shop, usually not in the centre of a town, which sells
goods at low prices, esp. large goods or large quantities

25. A 13-year-old child prodigy has been awarded a mathematical degree at Cambridge
University.
26. I’m not paying £5 for an ice-cream – that’s daylight robbery.
27. San Francisco was officially declared a disaster area after the earthquake in 1988.
28. The salary isn’t very high but fringe benefits include free health insurance and a company
car.

5 Exercise

1. riot act to read sb the riot act: die Leviten lesen

riot gear: police in riot gear
riot police / shield
a riot of colours, i.e. extremely bright
and colourful
2. parking bay Parkbucht
a lay-by
parking fine / meter / offence / permit /
place / space / ticket / violation
3. shadow cabinet Schattenkabinett
the Shadow Home Secretary /
a Shadow Minister
4. traveller’s cheque Reise-, Travellerscheck
5. paper clip Büroklammer
paper knife / money / tiger
6. snowball effect Schneeballeffekt
7. tax evasion Steuerhinterziehung, -flucht
tax assessment / bill / dodger / dodging /
evader / exile / relief / return / shelter
8. population explosion Bevölkerungsexplosion
9. photo finish Fotofinish
10. splinter group Splittergruppe
11. gallows humour Galgenhumor
to send sb to the gallows
12. service industry Dienstleistungsindustrie, -unternehmen,
-gewerbe
also: the service sector
service road / station
13. traffic jam Verkehrsstau
also: tailback
90 COMPOUNDS

traffic calming / cone / island / lights /

police / warden
14. punch line Pointe
15. shopping mall Shopping-Center
16. niche market Marktnische
17. strongarm method brutale Methode, Gewalt-
strongarm tactics
18. pocket money Taschengeld
also: spending money
pocket money also means “not much money”:
I really work hard at this job and all I get paid
is pocket money.
pocket book / knife
19. surrogate mother Leihmutter, Ersatz-
surrogate children / motherhood
20. ten-pound note 10-Pfundnote, -schein
21. yellow pages Gelbe Seiten
22. stool pigeon Spitzel
also: informer
23. opinion poll Meinungsumfrage
24. pedestrian precinct Fußgängerzone
25. world premiere Weltpremiere
26. pilot project Pilotprojekt
pilot scheme, AE program
27. hire purchase Raten-, Teilzahlungskauf
abbr. HP
to buy sth on HP / the never-never
28. nightmare scenario Alptraum, Schreckensvision
29. police state Polizeistaat
30. stainless steel rostfreier Stahl
31. price tag Preisschild
also: price ticket
32. package / world tour Pauschalreise, Weltreise
package deal / holiday
33. spare tyre Ersatzreifen
also fig.: unwanted fat around sb’s waist
spare minute / moment / parts (i.e. spares) /
room
spare-part surgery, AE organ transplant surgery
34. market value Marktwert
market forces / leader / price / research
35. road works Straßenbauarbeiten
road accident / hog / map / rage / safety /
sense / test / toll
COMPOUNDS 91

6 Exercise

1.
Lotus make luxury cars for a small but significant niche market.
2.
They offer the car at £1,000 below (its) market value.
3.
Citizens living near the proposed waste site fear the nightmare scenario of a radiation leak.
4.
A recent opinion poll revealed that many people prefer houses with gardens, however
small.
5. We went on a cheap package tour to Spain and stayed in a big hotel by the sea.
6. A paper clip is a small piece of bent wire for holding pieces of paper together.
7. Please do not park your car outside the parking bays.
8. There was a lot of gallows humour about job security on the day the job losses were
announced.
9. Parliament Square might become a pedestrian precinct.
10. He won the 400 metres on a photo finish.
11. The results of the pilot project have been encouraging.
12. Our hotel and food are included in the cost of our holiday, so all we need to take with us is
pocket money.
13. He described the government’s action as “police state tactics”.
14. We live in the century of population explosion, with the world’s population doubling at
least every 25 years.
15. The suits have designer names and a price tag to match.
16. A traveller’s cheque is safer than ordinary money because it needs your signature before
it can be used.
17. Deregulation and privatization of companies have ended the exclusive franchises of state-
owned monopolies. Together these forces bring competition into a service industry that
hardly knew it.
18. How could he ever live with himself after being a stool pigeon?
19. Look in your Yellow Pages for your nearest frozen food supplier.
20. More and more credit companies are using strongarm methods for collecting debts which
are owed to them.
21. Music-lovers gathered in Boston for the world premiere of Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess.
22. People in shopping malls (shopping centres) often spend more time window shopping /
bargain hunting than actually buying things.
23. She has agreed to act as a surrogate mother for her sister.
24. Something bought on hire purchase is usually more expensive because an interest charge
is added to the original price.
25. Stainless steel is commonly used to make kitchen equipment such as cutlery and
saucepans.
26. The authorities are becoming stricter about tax evasion.
also: tax dodging
27. The Shadow Cabinet is the team of ministers in the Opposition who would probably form
the Cabinet if their party won the next general election.
28. The splinter group rapidly gained support from discontented members.
92 COMPOUNDS

29. The stoppage caused huge traffic jams as commuters drove to work.
30. There are delays on the M4 because of roadworks.
31. This new project has had a snowball effect in creating a lot of new possibilities for the
company.
32. Two women and a man have been convicted of counterfeiting ten-pound notes.
33. When he came home drunk again, she read him the riot act.
34. You should go on a diet – look at that spare tyre.
35. It’s a long story, but you can see the punch line coming a mile off.
 93

DERIVATION AND WORD FORMATION

1 Exercise

1. The accuracy of his description of the robbers surprised the police.

to be accurate in (doing) sth: in one’s use of language / in prophesying sth
historical / pinpoint / reasonable / scientific / strict / total accuracy

2. The fact-finding commission’s report contains a lot of arguable points.

also: makes some arguable points

3. These books are too babyish for a ten-year-old.

4. The mercenary troops are reported to have committed atrocities in the most bestial
fashion against innocent and unarmed civilians.
to bring out the beast in sb

5. She suggested packing the crystal vases either in cotton wool or soft paper to avoid
breakage(s).
6. Betting on horses is always a chancy business.
also: risky

7. His speech was full of clichéd phrases such as “The chain is only as strong as its weakest
link”.
cliché-ridden: containing a lot of clichés
a well-worn cliché
to speak in clichés
a hackneyed / trite cliché / phrase

8. I don’t really like playing squash with Mark, he’s so competitive.

fiercely / highly / keenly / very competitive
to come up against / face competition
to offer / provide competition
bitter / fierce / formidable / heavy / intense / keen / stiff / strong / tough / cut-throat /
unfair / unscrupulous competition

9. Avarice is much more contemptible than wastefulness.

to demonstrate / display / show / have contempt for sb / sth
bitter / deep / profound / total / unmitigated / utter contempt
to be beneath contempt
contemptible:
It was contemptible of him to behave like that.
His behaviour was contemptible (i.e. deserved contempt).
contemptuous:
He was contemptuous of all authority.
a contemptuous laugh / manner / remark (i.e. expresses contempt)

10. The discovery of penicillin has saved countless lives throughout the world.
also: innumerable lives
94 DERIVATION AND WORD FORMATION

11. It was the flagrant deceit by which he kept her from knowing about the affair that made his
wife so angry.
flagrant: done in a way that is easily noticed and shows no respect for law and truth:
a flagrant disregard of human rights / breach of trust
a flagrant abuse / violation / misuse of sth
in flagranti ertappt werden: to be caught in the very act of (doing) sth, red-handed,
in flagrante delicto

12. The use of computers in the classroom is a departure from traditional views on education.
13. He said it was a difficult project, but still thought it was doable.
also: feasible

14. Computers operate using data (en)coded in binary form.

cf. binary / decimal numbers

15. Many happy memories of his childhood are enshrined in this family photograph album.
to enshrine: to contain (as if) in a holy place; to contain or protect, esp. a political or
social right

16. Sheila has an enviable slimness despite having borne four children.
to lead an enviable life
an enviable salary / position

17. Even a short exposure to nuclear radiation is highly dangerous.

exposure
also: the medical condition caused when sb has been exposed to severe weather
conditions: to die of exposure

18. Fresh food certainly has a better taste than frozen food.
19. The boy gathered a handful of stones.
20. John’s fear that he will fail his exam is purely imaginary.
imaginary:
Let’s consider our real options not the imaginary ones.

21. It was an appealing plan in theory, but it turned out to be quite impracticable.
22. Wind, water and the sun are inexhaustible sources of energy.
23. He harshly criticized the techniques of modern advertising, but at the same time admired
its inventiveness.
24. On Sunday mornings she has a good lie-in and then takes a leisurely breakfast with her
husband.
a leisurely picnic
to walk at a leisurely pace

25. The TV showed saddening pictures of thousands of malnourished / undernourished

refugees.
26. These fanatics will continue their mission until victory or martyrdom.
DERIVATION AND WORD FORMATION 95

27. The new leader addressed the party faithful with messianic fervour.
(a) messianic cult / fervour / leader / movement / sect / speech / style / zeal

28. The MP claimed that he had been misquoted in the press and said that his position
remained the same.
29. He put his failure down to his nervousness.
30. My doctor advised me to play tennis or squash as an outlet for stress.
31. The risks of this treatment are vastly outweighed by the potential benefits.
32. A single drop of this poison will lead to paralysis of the central nervous system.
33. His father is a well-known nuclear physicist.
cf. physician: a doctor, esp. one who has general skill and is not a surgeon

34. Sheila’s now applying for a professorial post at a university in France.

2 Exercise

1. John sent me an apologetic letter explaining why he had not kept his promise.
to smile apologetically
to be / feel (deeply) apologetic for /about (doing) sth: sorry

2. It is the lack of authorial voice in his novels that makes them so difficult to understand.
authorial: of an author
authoritative: given with or showing authority, requiring obedience, reliable:
(an) authoritative book / account / document / source / manner / tone of voice /
instructions / orders
authoritarian: strictly forcing people to obey certain rules or laws that are often
wrong or unfair:
an authoritarian doctrine / father / government / manner / regime / ruler / teacher

3. I understand what you’re saying, there is no need to (be)labour the point.

4. Fred was utterly bewitched by her radiant beauty.
5. The pace of change in the states of the CIS has been breathtaking.
CIS: Commonwealth of Independent States: GUS
breathtakingly beautiful
(a) breathtaking audacity / (natural) beauty / performance of sth / stupidity / view

6. A number of curious bystanders were fatally injured in the explosion.

7. The children’s unceasing / incessant / ceaseless quarrelling annoyed everybody.
8. Medicines should be kept in bottles with childproof lids.
9. The Leader of the Opposition was in a combative mood and launched several verbal
attacks on the PM.
to have no experience of combat
to die in combat
to combat crime / a desire / a disease / drug abuse / terrorism
to be engaged / locked in armed / close / deadly / fierce / hand-in-hand / mortal
combat
96 DERIVATION AND WORD FORMATION

10. Crash-helmets are not compulsory for cyclists.

compulsory: mandatory, obligatory, sth that must be done:
a compulsory drug test
compulsive: difficult to stop or control:
compulsive buying / drinking / eating / gambling
a compulsive drinker / eater / gambler / liar
A book or programme that is compulsive is so interesting that one cannot stop
reading or watching it:
This novel is compulsive reading / a compulsive read.

11. The interrogator fired questions at the contestants for the title “Mastermind of the UK”.
a contestant for sth
to contest a statement / point / will
bitterly / closely / hotly / vigorously contested
to have / hold / organize / stage a contest
to win / lose a bitter / hard-fought / close / one-sided contest

12. Shop assistants must always be courteous even when customers are not.
courtesy
He had the courtesy to say sorry.
She did me the courtesy to remain silent.
Note: (by) courtesy of: by the permission, kindness, favour of sb:
These photos have been reproduced by courtesy of the British Museum.
A basked full of fruit was delivered to our door courtesy of the management.

13. The article gives only a skeletal account of the debate.

skeletal diseases / deformities / injuries / bodies of starving people
a skeletal plan for sth

14. After the results of the dope test officials no longer believe the athlete’s denial that he had
taken drugs.
to issue a denial
a(n) categorical / emphatic / firm / flat / official / outright / strenuous / strong /
vehement denial

15. They are very concerned about the destructive effects alcoholism may have on human
relationships.
destructive powers / forces / urges / emotions

16. Make sure that the hair-dryer is disconnected before you start mending the switch.
17. She’s an economical housewife and only buys what she really needs.
economic
1. (of economies or an economy): wirtschaftlich, konjunkturell, ökonomisch
the government’s economic policy / economic development / growth / progress /
recovery /
sanctions / theory
2. connected with trade and industry: economic geography
3. designed to give a profit, adequate to repay expenditure with some profit:
an economic rent: one that brings the owner at least as much money as he has spent
on the house:
It is not always economic for buses to run on Sundays.
kostendeckend und gewinnbringend
DERIVATION AND WORD FORMATION 97

economical: sparsam, kostengünstig, kraftsparend, ökonomisch, wirtschaftlich

careful in the spending of money, time, etc and in the use of resources; not wasteful:
an economical car to run: one with low petrol consumption
She is economical in / with her use of salt when cooking.
an economical style of writing: one that does not waste words

18. There can be no doubt whatsoever that smoking during pregnancy endangers the unborn
baby’s health.
(an) endangered species

19. For centuries people have been enslaved by poverty – and by religion.
to be a slave to / of sth: habit / fashion

20. During his illness he suffered from recurrent / recurring attacks of rheumatism.
recurrent / recurring: illnesses / themes / motifs / dreams / nightmares / attacks / fits
/ headaches

21. For no explicable reason he handed in his notice and disappeared.

22. I prefer fresh and fleshy fruit to tinned fruit.
23. Big is a gradable adjective, but medical is not.
24. Her view that a split would be good for the party was considered heretical by most
members.
to be guilty of / commit / preach heresy
a heretic

25. It’s high time the government made an attempt to redress the great imbalance between
imports and exports.
to correct / redress an imbalance

26. Every state has the inalienable right to self-determination.

27. The leader demanded unquestioning loyalty from his followers.
unquestioning belief in sth / acceptance of sth / obedience
unquestionable: sth that cannot be disputed:
unquestionable authority / honesty / integrity

28. These paintings are not simply valuable, they are invaluable.
invaluable advice / experience / information / help
Invaluable is often used in the sense of useful. To express that something is so
precious that its money value cannot be calculated priceless is the more common
word.

29. Experts diagnosed a leakage in the hydraulic system.

30. It maddens me to see how Mark wastes his time and money.
31. He is very sensitive and vulnerable to maltreatment / mistreatment / ill-treatment.
32. The tyrant’s two sons struggled to obtain mastery of the country.
to demonstrate / display / show mastery
to achieve / acquire / attain mastery of one’s emotions / of the violin / of a subject /
over people
98 DERIVATION AND WORD FORMATION

(a) complete / thorough mastery

33. Do you remember when British currency went metric?

metric system
a poem written in metrical form

34. The unification of Germany and the revolution taking place in Eastern Europe must be
counted among the most momentous events of the century.
momentous: important:
(a) momentous change / decision / discovery / news / occasion
momentary: lasting a moment:
a momentary hesitation / interruption / lapse of memory / pause / regret / relief

35. The damage done to his car was negligible.

3 Exercise

1. The opposition claimed that the election had been rigged and asked for an annulment
to annul a legal agreement
to declare sth null and void

2. The penalty provided for murder in the Penal Code is beheading.

3. They say travel broadens the mind.
travel: the act or activity of travelling
Snow has interrupted travel in many parts of the country.
This noun (in the singular) is always uncountable. No article – neither a nor the – can
ever be used with the singular form travel.
Air travel is becoming increasingly popular.
Travelling at night can become / be very tiring.
He’s very fond of travelling.
Moreover, it can never be used for a particular journey or voyage or particular journeys
or voyages.
It can, of course, be used in the plural form:
Gulliver’s Travels
She told us all about her travels (i.e. wanderings).
Travel often occurs in compounds such as
(-)agent, (-)agency, (-)book, (-)bureau, (-)sickness, -sick, -soiled, -stained, -worn
Note
to make a journey / voyage
to take a trip
to go on a journey / voyage / trip

4. His wife is very choos(e)y about what she eats.

We can’t pick and choose, we must take what they give us.

5. The new safety measures in cars turned out to be counterproductive as they encouraged
people to drive faster.
to be counterproductive: to achieve the opposite result to the one you want
DERIVATION AND WORD FORMATION 99

6. His students often accused him of cynicism in his attitude towards politics.
7. The passenger train was derailed by a tree lying across the line.
also fig.: New difficulties threatened to derail the peace talks.

8. The miners followed the dictates of common sense and refused to go on strike.
Funds dictate what we can do.
to take (a) dictation
dictator(ship)
dictatorial attitude
to speak at dictation speed

9. Will the disarmament talks on chemical weapons be successful?

10. Many people would like the doings of the royal family to be more public.
11. Without his teacher’s encouragement he would have given up long ago.
12. The enormities of the Hitler regime shocked the world.
enormity
1. great size or importance:
the enormity of the task / of your mistake
Don’t be put off by the enormity of the task.
2. an extremely evil act:
the enormities of war
the enormity of his crime

13. I will not promise to undertake the task until I know what it entails.
sth entails (doing) sth

14. Dickens’s last novel was entitled The Mystery of Edwin Drood.
15. Despite all her suffering the old lady has always had a fervent belief in God.
also: fervid
fervent: very strong:
a fervent admirer / believer / supporter
fervour
great / evangelical / messianic / patriotic / religious fervour
to speak with great fervour

16. Anyone making fraudulent insurance claims will be prosecuted.

17. The PM’s aides feared that he had been too hawkish in his speech.
cf. dovish
doves and hawks (Falken und Tauben)
Hawks believe in using military force.
to watch / have eyes like a hawk

18. Sean’s suggestions turned out to be more of a hindrance than a help.

19. He plays the part of the imperturbable English butler who never gets angry or upset.
20. Some doctors think of themselves as absolutely infallible.
I’m only human, I’m not infallible.
This is an infallible cure for a hangover.
He has an infallible memory.
100 DERIVATION AND WORD FORMATION

21. She had inherited all her mother’s mannerisms which became more pronounced as she
grew older.
22. The merger of the two big companies will lead to the loss of hundreds of jobs.
Note: German Fusion

23. She has known me for more than a year, but she still mispronounces my name.
24. The new policy of containment of public expenditure will necessitate further cuts in public
service.
containment: act of keeping sth under control
a policy of containment
hospital cost containment bill (Kostendämpfungsgesetz)

25. Our troops managed to put a numerically superior enemy to flight.

26. The inexperienced and opinionated newcomer always wants to have the last word.
opinionated: expressing very strong opinions about things (dogmatisch, schulmeister-
lich, starr)

27. He outlived his eldest son by more than 15 years. (live)

28. Microsoft is the most important producer of computer software, outselling all its major
competitors.
29. Blue helmets have been sent in to try and pacify the areas affected by the civil war.
blue helmets / berets / UN peacekeepers

30. John was heavily penalized for drink driving. He was banned from driving for 12 months.
also: drunken driving / AE drunk driving

31. Many people’s attitude to sex and abortion changed in the permissive society of the
1960’s.
32. My friend Peter is over-protective and occasionally possessive towards his daughters.
33. After a few prefatory remarks she began her lecture.
34. The prices of domestic flights are still high, but no longer prohibitive.
to be prohibitively expensive

35. Nobody would have thought he was capable of such villany / villanies.
DERIVATION AND WORD FORMATION 101

4 Exercise

1. Robert possesses great strength of mind.

to build up / develop (one’s) strength
to find / gather / gain (the) strength
to conserve / husband / save one’s strength
to recoup / regain one’s strength
to overtop / sap / top sb’s strength
brute / great / inner / physical / tensile strength
on the strength of sth

2. Churchill showed amazing clarity of vision.

3. This society is devoted to the furtherance of science.
also: to furthering science

4. This old Chinese vase is very breakable. Don’t touch it.

5. The judge awarded him a large sum in compensatory damages.
6. He is full of boyish ambitions.
7. His (dis)honesty landed the trader in prison.
8. The impurity of the water was caused by aluminium and lead in the pipes.
9. She claims to be a direct descendant of the last Russian Tsar.
10. The play has been widely condemned as blasphemous.
11. Quite a few customers said that the shop assistants were unhelpful and discourteous.
12. Nowadays only the government has the right of coinage.
13. There have been cases of racial harassment recently.
to be subject to racial / sexual / police harassment

14. That family has always been immeasurably wealthy.

15. They were following an easterly course across the Atlantic Ocean.
16. The doctor pronounced the driver clinically dead.
17. After all these empty promises, people have become disenchanted with the government’s
policy.
18. The meeting was disappointing. Only a handful of the old faithfuls had turned up.
19. He unveiled the monument with a ceremonious gesture.
ceremonious: behaving or performed in a formal or elaborate way:
a ceremonious manner
ceremonial: involving a ceremony:
a ceremonial occasion
ceremonial duties / processions
The president’s role is largely ceremonial.

20. The German Chancellor received an honorary doctorate from a Japanese university.
21. The manager announced the closure of the shipyard.
22. Despite all the discouragement Miriam refused to give up.
23. In hospitals they sometimes use morphine to deaden the pain of serious injuries.
to deaden the noise / vibrations of the engine
to deaden a blow / sb’s enthusiasm
to deaden sb to the suffering of others
102 DERIVATION AND WORD FORMATION

24. I love autumn, ‘the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness’.

25. Snails are regarded as a delicacy in France.
26. How I hate such self-appointed guardians of public morality!
27. When teething, babies tend to be fractious.
fractious: bad-tempered, easily irritated

28. This exemplary punishment is intended to dissuade others from committing the same
crime.
29. My cousin bears only a slight facial resemblance to his mother.
30. The failure of their marriage has received a lot of exposure in the media.
31. The places and characters in her latest novel are entirely fictitious.
fictitious: imagined or invented:
a fictitious address
fictitious characters (AE fictive) (erfundene Figuren)
fictional: from a book or story:
fictional characters (Romanfiguren)

32. Familiarity breeds contempt. (familiar)

33. He has devised an ingenious method of making money.
34. Thank you very much for your gracious invitation.
35. Modern cars only take unleaded / leadfree petrol.

5 Exercise

1. The council offers training programmes for the jobless.

2. Mr Smith refused to reveal his son’s whereabouts.
3. Journalese is a style of language typical of newspapers.
-ese: the suffix is used to form (frequently derog.) nouns from personal names or other
nouns with the sense ‘the language or style of’ like:
Carlylese / computerese / Johnsonese / officialese / tabloidese

4. Dr Watson kept a voluminous correspondence with his colleagues.

5. To avoid the worst of the rush-hour traffic he took a roundabout route.
6. This monk is a zealous preacher. (zeal)
7. These days it is very difficult to give young people vocational guidance.
to have a vocation
to have missed one’s vocation
a genuine / real vocation
Nursing is a vocation as well as a profession.
vocational training / courses / education / guidance
Parents should be able to opt for either an academic or a vocationally oriented
education for their children.

8. They were overjoyed to hear that their son was getting married.
9. My friend is very knowledgeable about Italian wines.
DERIVATION AND WORD FORMATION 103

10. There are lots of regional spelling variants in American English.

11. The grandfather clock is a valuable family heirloom. (heir)
12. Hiring a secretary will lighten the head’s workload considerably.
13. She is incapable of giving utterance to her feelings.
14. Molly stroked the cat lovingly. (love)
15. Political upheavals in South American countries are nothing unusual.
a big / great / dramatic / violent / political / social upheaval

16. Mary waxed lyrical about the new dress.

17. The scientists used relatively new and untried methods in their experiment.
18. Traffic delays are maddening experiences.
19. Unspeakable atrocities have been committed against innocent people in Bosnia.
20. Mr St. John is head of a school for maladjusted children.
21. He made a resolution to give up smoking, but I think it was just a New Year’s resolution.
22. The work is more manageable, since it was divided into smaller sections.
23. The weather in Scotland is very unpredictable.
24. He is an ill-bred youngster, criticizing everybody.
25. There’s only a marginal decrease in the unemployment figures.
26. The doctor advised him to ride a stationary exercise bike.
27. Do you share the wide-spread misconception that old people are less efficient than
young?
less likely: conception
a common / general / popular misconception

28. I find it very tiresome to fill out all these forms.

tiresome: annoying
tiring: making one feel tired

29. The monetary unit of Great Britain is the pound.

30. The old philosopher preferred long, solitary walks across the Yorkshire moors.
31. Mutinous officers took control of the Caine.
an open mutiny / mutineer / to mutiny
cf. rebellious

32. Copernicus was the first to propose the revolution of the earth round the sun.
33. With four goals behind the team knew the match was past redemption.
also: beyond redemption

34. Young Bill was treated as something of an oddity by his classmates.

35. I think we’d better take the bus. Our old car is too unreliable.
104 DERIVATION AND WORD FORMATION

6 Exercise

1. The colonel was awarded the MC for gallantry in combat.

gallant
1. showing no fear, brave:
gallant deeds
2. (of a man) polite and kind towards women:
He was always charming and gallant towards women.
MC: Military Cross

2. Thanks to your generosity we have now raised the funds we need for the repairs to the
church.
3. As we went further south, we noticed a gradual rise in temperature.
4. The new professor’s remark on the department was very guarded although slightly
negative.
to be guardedly optimistic that ...

5. They have eventually succeeded in making highly effective anti-viral drugs.

6. In the play the hero is portrayed as a spoilt weakling.
7. The government spokesman’s reply was as wordy as usual, and didn’t answer the
question.
cf. verbose
spokesman / -woman / -person: a person chosen by a group to speak officially for
them
speaker
1. person who gives a speech in public
2. the person who controls the way in which business is done in an organisation such
as a parliament:
the Speaker of the House of Commons / Representatives

8. My mother swears by the curative power of these herbs.

cf. the palliative effects of sth

9. Peter had never seen his wife so shaken out of her customary calm.
10. We’ll go for a picnic tomorrow even if the weather forecast is unfavourable.
11. His son has unfortunately failed his driving test again.
12. It is debatable whether these homeopathic treatments actually work.
13. His appearance was deceptive – he was younger than he looked.
14. “It’s high time things were altered”, the headmaster said decidedly.
15. We’ll not hesitate to accept the committee’s decision.
16. My uncle was widowed at the age of 38.
cf. a fishing / football / golf widow
a grass widow / widower

17. The area was just over a thousand metres in width.

18. The famous actor was known as an insatiable womanizer.
DERIVATION AND WORD FORMATION 105

19. He’s a very competitive squash player who makes up for his lack of strength by his crafty
way of playing.
crafty: clever, using indirect or deceitful methods, cunning:
a crafty politician / old fox
the craft of boat building / glass blowing
rural / ancient / traditional crafts
a craftsman /-woman

20. I really felt ashamed when I realized that I had made him lose his job.
21. When she heard of her boyfriend’s death Jane broke down, pale and trembling, her face
ashen.
22. Country life holds few attractions for me.
a(n) irresistible / strong / physical / sexual attraction to sb

23. Beggars can’t be choosers. (beg)

24. In the Second World War Leningrad was besieged by German troops.
also fig.: to besiege sb with questions
cf. to lay siege to sb / sth
to be under siege

25. Lucy admitted that she had started having affairs out of sheer boredom.
26. The novel gives a marvellous picture of a troubled boyhood.
27. They tried to browbeat me into accepting their suggestions.
cf. to intimidate sb into doing sth

28. It’s not difficult to prove a causative link between unemployment and crime.
29. She loves him now, but at her age feelings are as changeable as the weather.
30. When he had read the essay he took a charitable view and said: “A brave effort!”
31. I don’t think I can put up with her childish behaviour much longer.
cf. infantile

32. She still retains her childlike trust in other people’s promises, though she has been let
down ever so often.
less likely: childish
childish: of, behaving like, suitable for, typical of, a child, immature:
a childish voice
childish games / arguments / manners
childlike: like a child in appearance, character or behaviour, innocent, simple:
a young woman with a childlike figure
She looked at me with her big childlike eyes.

33. This firm caters for a predominantly upper-class clientele.

34. Some scientists now believe that the colonization of the planets will eventually be
possible.
35. A few hours after the operation she became comatose and died without ever regaining
consciousness.
to fall / go / lapse / slip into a (deep) coma
to be in / come out of a coma
an irreversible coma
106 DERIVATION AND WORD FORMATION

7 Exercise

1. The group is known chiefly for their commitment to the principles of democracy and free
speech.
to be deeply / firmly / totally / wholeheartedly committed to sb / sth
Note: They are committed to help us / (more commonly) helping us.

2. He was stony broke a few years ago, but now he is comparatively well-off.
3. He felt nervous but managed to keep his composure.
to keep / retain / recover / regain / lose one’s composure

4. You can’t believe a word John says – he’s a compulsive liar.

5. Mark sent me a belated birthday card.
6. I don’t want to belittle Mary’s achievement, but you must admit that she got a lot of
support from her friends.
7. Like most grown-ups I have no conceptual understanding of computers.
8. They now have conclusive evidence of her innocence.
9. He is a hard-working, conscientious student who will certainly do well in the future.
10. He buys old motorcycles and cannibalizes them for spare parts.
11. My father has always been contemptuous of party politics.
12. Our holiday in Italy proved very costly.
costly (i.e. expensive) delays / set-backs / mistakes / failures

13. He’s very competitive and covetous of power.

to cast covetous eyes on sth

14. The immigration issue was not a decisive factor in the election.
15. It is my unshak(e)able conviction that honesty is not always the best policy.
to have unshakeable faith in sb / sth

16. The Leader of the Opposition criticized the Chancellor of the Exchequer for his stringent
budgetary policy.
17. In his novel Le Feu (1916) Henri Barbusse describes the horror and bestiality of war.
18. Such a despicable act of terrorism must not be allowed to happen again.
(a) despicable attitude / behaviour / human being / liar / action / crime

19. The hurricane caused heavy casualties and widespread destruction all over the country.
20. I’m afraid there is going to be another devaluation of the dollar.
21. She married an incurable drunkard, who drank himself to death.
22. This long-distance runner from Ethiopia seems to win his races quite effortlessly.
23. The candidate’s youthful image made him an extremely eligible candidate.
i.e. desirable as a marriage partner, because he was rich and attractive

24. Several hundred employees of British Rail have gone on strike.

DERIVATION AND WORD FORMATION 107

25. Thank you for a most enjoyable weekend.

26. Against his will he became deeply enmeshed in a political power struggle.
deeply enmeshed in a world of crime
a wire mesh
a sieve with a fine mesh
to be caught in the mesh of emotions

27. They accused him of embezzlement of public funds and of enriching himself at the
people’s expense.
28. He wanted to lodge a formal complaint, but soon gave up the idea, ensnared in the
complexities of the legal system.
29. The accused was (en)trapped into admitting some important details.
30. We cannot entrust such a task to a person we do not know.
31. Some people have the erroneous idea that the more things cost the better they must be.
32. The reporter’s questions met with vague, evasive answers, as usual.
33. The plane was two hours late and we eventually got home after midnight.
34. His latest painting is evocative of all the bright colours of Italy.
35. For beginners the capitalization of all nouns in German can be rather confusing.

8 Exercise

1. The baby is feeling feverish – I hope it’s not the start of flu.
fig.: marked by intense agitation, emotion, or activity
to work at a feverish pace
feverish activity / anxiety / haste / preparations

2. This confirmed bachelor has never found it difficult to curb his fleshly desires.
fleshy
1a. relating to, consisting of, or resembling flesh
b. having abundant flesh; plump
2. having a juicy or pulpy texture:
ripe, fleshy peaches
the fleshy part of your hand
a plant with dark green fleshy leaves
fleshly
physical, esp. sexual
flesh
the pleasures of the flesh
The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
to go the way of all flesh
to make one’s flesh creep / crawl
more than flesh and blood can bear / stand
cf. carnal
1. relating to the physical and especially sexual appetites:
carnal desires
2. worldly or earthly; temporal:
the carnal world
108 DERIVATION AND WORD FORMATION

3. of or relating to the body or flesh; bodily:

carnal remains

3. She sat with a small furry kitten curled up in her lap.

fur
Moles have short silky fur.
a lean, muscular cat with sleek fur
a fur coat / cap / hat: a coat / cap / hat made of fur / fox fur
a coat trimmed / edged with fur
a parka with nylon fur round the hood
the fur trade
elegant ladies in fur
Is that real fur on your collar? – No, I only wear fake / artificial fur.
to breed animals for their fur
a fur-lined jacket / fur-lined boots
fur and feather: game mammals and birds
fur is also
1. layer that forms on a person’s tongue during illness
2. a hard grey layer that forms on the inside of water-pipes and containers caused by
water that contains lime (Kalk), i.e. hard water (Kesselstein)
to fur sth (up)
1. coat / clog / become coated / clogged with fur
the stuff that furs (up) coronary arteries
a furred kettle / tongue / voice
You know why your tongue is furred – it’s because you smoke too much.
Over the years, the pipes in our house have slowly furred (up).
2. line / trim / cover / adorn with fur
a furred coat
more commonly: a coat trimmed / edged with fur
furry:
covered with fur, or looking or feeling as if covered with fur, having a soft surface like
fur:
animals with furry coats
a furry animal
the furry tail of an animal
a layer of furry soot
cushions of furry moss
a furry little water-rat
to speak with a furry voice
a spider, brown and furry, crouched on a tree trunk
a large furry towel
The moss was soft and furry to the touch.
Children like playing with furry animals.
furry – furred animals: furry suggests sweetness, coziness, while furred is neutral

4. A judge must be incorruptible.

incorruptible:
1. incapable of being morally corrupted
2. not subject to corruption or decay:
Gold is precious because it is incorruptible.

5. It’s always advisable to have a detailed and accurate costing before putting in your car for
repairs.
cost
to require a specified payment, expenditure, effort; have as a price, to cause to lose,
suffer, or sacrifice:
DERIVATION AND WORD FORMATION 109

It costs more to live in the city.

cost – cost – cost
to cost sb their life / job / marriage
Participating in the strike cost me my job.
The trip has cost her a fortune.
to cost an arm and a leg / a pretty penny
to cost sb dear(ly): make sb suffer a lot:
The delay in sending our report cost us dearly because it meant we lost the contract.
cost – costed – costed
to estimate or determine the cost of sth:
The accountants costed out our expenses.
We’ll get the plan costed before presenting it to the board.

6. I wish Jane wouldn’t always put on so much of that heady perfume.

heady
1. a heady drink / smell is pleasantly strong and seems to affect your senses:
a heady aroma / combination of wine and brandy
2. very exciting way that makes you feel as if you can do anything you want to do:
the heady atmosphere of the early sixties
Das Blut stieg ihm zu Kopfe.
He got / went red in the face / the blood went to his head.
Der Wein stieg ihm zu Kopfe.
The wine went to his head.
Die Schamröte stieg ihm in den Kopf.
He blushed with shame.
Der Erfolg stieg ihm zu Kopfe.
(The) success turned his head / went to his head.

7. He denied that he had made slanderous remarks about the chairman.

slander
legal offence: oral communication of false statements injurious to a person’s
reputation; a false and malicious statement or report about sb
libel
legal offence: a false publication in writing, printing, or typewriting or in signs or
pictures that maliciously damages a person’s reputation, the act or an instance of
presenting such a statement to the public
libellous
a libellous statement

8. Is Robin Hood a legendary or a historical figure?

Was King Arthur a real historical figure (or merely a legendary figure)?
Historic and historical are differentiated in usage, though their senses overlap. Historic
refers to what is important in history: the historic first voyage to outer space. It is also
used of what is famous or interesting because of its association with persons or
events in history: a historic house. Historical refers to whatever existed in the past,
whether regarded as important or not: a historical character. Historical refers also to
anything concerned with history or the study of the past: a historical novel; historical
discoveries.
Historic times are the periods of time whose history has been recorded.

9. He unexpectedly came up with an imaginative solution to our problem.

imaginative
1. having a lively imagination, especially a creative imagination:
an imaginative child / new approach / policy
110 DERIVATION AND WORD FORMATION

2. created by, indicative of, or characterized by imagination or creativity:

imaginative writing
imaginary
having existence only in the imagination, unreal:
All the characters in this book are imaginary.
He pulled out an imaginary gun.
Let’s consider our real options, not imaginary ones.
imaginary fears

10. These changes have come upon us almost imperceptibly / unperceivably.

imperceptible
impossible or difficult to perceive by the mind or senses:
an imperceptible drop in temperature / an imperceptible nod
As we grow old, the changes come upon us so slowly that they’re almost
imperceptible.

11. Imperfect products are sold off cheaply.

12. I cannot imagine the boss will put up with his impoliteness much longer.
13. Democracy is perhaps a more corruptible system of government than others.
14. Bill is looking forward to the time when he will be independent of his parents.
dependent on sb / sth
All life is dependent on the sun.
It’s easy to become dependent on sleeping pills.
independent of sb / sth
They all made the same comment, quite independent of each other.
We are completely independent of the government.

15. Conditions in the refugee camps are almost indescribable.

sth defies / is beyond / past description
Her beauty defies / is beyond / past description.
The state of his room defies description.

16. He considered their action indicative of their cowardice.

indicative
serving to indicate:
symptoms indicative of anaemia
an insignia indicative of high rank
Her behaviour is indicative of her whole attitude.
indicative n.: grammar
the indicative mood
a verb in the indicative mood

17. I have come to know him as a serious and industrious student.

industrious: tending to work hard
(adj.) marked by or exhibiting diligence in work or study
cf. assiduous / diligent / hardworking / striving / disciplined / concentrated / thorough

18. These hooligans seemed proud of their town’s reputation as the capital of infamous
behaviour.
infamous
1. having an exceedingly bad reputation, notorious:
an infamous traitor
DERIVATION AND WORD FORMATION 111

2. causing or deserving infamy, heinous, evil:

infamous behaviour
an infamous deed

19. What infuriates me is the way she is always running down her neighbours.
to make sb extremely angry, enrage sb

20. When I mentioned her ex-husband’s name she became inquisitive.

inquisitive: unduly curious and inquiring; inclined to investigate; eager for knowledge

21. She dislikes her father-in-law and once described him as an “insufferable bore”.
extremely annoying or unpleasant
insufferable heat

22. Illustrative examples in this dictionary are italicized.

to be printed in italics

23. They greeted the newcomer with great joviality.

jovial: (person) friendly; (situation) enjoyable because friendly
a jovial chap / fellow / person / chat / evening / time

24. He bored the audience to death with his leaden clichés from the party phrase book.
leaden
1. made of or containing lead
2. lacking liveliness or sparkle; dull:
a leaden conversation / performance / attempt to do sth
3. downcast; depressed:
leaden spirits
4. dull, dark gray in colour:
drizzle from a leaden sky

25. She is now applying for a lectureship in economics at London University.

26. Politicians keep telling us these days that the days of limitless / unlimited spending are
over.
27. Most idioms cannot be translated literally.
literal interpretation / meaning / sense / translation
The literal meaning of ‘television’ is ‘seeing from a distance’.
This translation is too literal.
I can’t accept literal interpretations of Bible stories like Adam and Eve.
to mean / take sth literally
You shouldn’t take everything she says literally.
The adverb is also used to emphasize sth you say that is already expressed strongly:
He was literally blazing with anger.
cf. an epistolary novel

28. We are firmly convinced of her loyalty to the cause.

divided loyalties (two strong feelings of loyalty that you must choose between)
the agony of divided loyalties for the children in a divorce
112 DERIVATION AND WORD FORMATION

to command / inspire loyalty

to demonstrate / show / pledge / swear loyalty
blind / deep-rooted / steadfast / strong / unquestioning / unshak(e)able / unswerving
loyalty

29. They could no longer afford the maintenance of a large house with a garden.
maintain: keep up
maintenance: upkeep

30. Our firm will deal with any computer malfunction(s) immediately.
Shortly before the crash the pilot had reported a malfunction of the aircraft’s
navigation system.

31. These children obviously show the first signs of malnutrition / undernourishment.
malnutrition: physical weakness and bad health caused by a lack of food or by a lack
of the types of food necessary for good health
malnourished
undernourished – undernourishment

32. The lawyer advised her to sue her doctor for malpractice.
33. Manx survived as an everyday language until the 19th century.
cf. Manxman
Look up: Aberdonian, Brum(mie), Cantabrigian, Etonian, Geordie, Glaswegian,
Harrovian, Liverpudlian, Mancunian, Oxonian, Salopian, Scouse

34. Fred went to party after party hoping to meet someone marriageable.
suitable for marriage
a young woman of marriageable age

35. His decision must have something to do with his masculine pride.
masculine
1. belonging to men, done by men, or considered to be typical of men:
a masculine approach to the problem
traditionally masculine subjects such as physics
a dark, masculine face
2. if a woman’s appearance or voice is masculine, it is like a man’s
3. belonging to a class of words for males:
Gander is the masculine word for goose.
male
1. belonging to the sex that cannot have babies:
a male lion / women teachers and their male colleagues
2. typical of or connected with this sex:
male aggression
traditional male values
differences between male and female longevity
male bonding: the forming of strong friendships between men
male chauvinist (pig)
DERIVATION AND WORD FORMATION 113

9 Exercise

1. The matchless beauty of St. Paul’s Cathedral attracts tens of thousands of tourists every
year.
also: unmatched
2. Society should be more mindful of the poor and unemployed.
3. The young man was awarded a prize for meritorious conduct.
4. I want to buy direct from the factory and cut out the middleman.
5. My car has an annual mileage of around 24,000.
6. I felt a bit of a misfit among the businessmen at the party.
cf. a social misfit
7. He said that her confidence in his abilities was misplaced.
8. It annoys me that my surname is often misspelt / misspelled.
9. The secretary was accused of misusing public funds.
10. My cousin lives in a rather affluent neighbourhood.
11. All the beer he drank had no noticeable effect on his conduct.
12. When the police arrived, a crowd of onlookers / lookers-on had gathered at the scene of
the bank raid.
13. Ellen has been working for a charitable organisation for years.
14. Lisa was orphaned in the war and brought up in an orphanage.
15. In this profession women vastly outnumber men.
16. The VW diesel engine has consistently outperformed its rivals.
17. In the decade to 1990 Britain’s manufacturing output increased by 8%.
18. What an outrageous thing to say!
19. The roast lamb was overdone and very dry.
cf. underdone / well-done / rare
Would you like your steak rare, medium, or well-done?
20. Everyone else was wearing jeans, so he felt rather overdressed in his Sunday best.
21. The importance of these findings in the struggle against AIDS cannot be overestimated /
underestimated.
22. The Court of Appeal overruled the earlier verdict.
23. I had to pay an excess charge because my luggage was overweight by 20 kilos.
24. The price of the refrigerator is payable in monthly instalments.
25. People should be heavily penalized for drunken driving.
26. The number of people who have a permissive attitude towards smoking is rapidly
decreasing.
27. Navy personnel are not allowed to leave the base.
28. They used some very persuasive arguments for more funding for the project.
29. Strawberries are plentiful in May and June.
30. It would be pointless to discuss the matter with her. She’s too big-headed.
31. Sue has two bad characteristics: jealousy and possessiveness towards her sons.
32. The professor began his lecture with a few prefatory remarks.
33. The team manager’s priceless asset is his ability to motivate players.
34. British Airways is one of the most profitable airlines in the world.
35. He has very pronounced views about heavy metal.
114 DERIVATION AND WORD FORMATION

10 Exercise

1. There are two different pronunciations of the word controversy.

2. Although I was positive that the girl had stolen my bag, I had no conclusive proof.
to have / furnish / give / offer / present / produce / provide / show proof
ample / clear / concrete / convincing / definite / incontestable / indisputable /
irrefutable / living / positive / tangible / undeniable / unquestionable proof

3. Despite his protestations of innocence I was unable to believe him.

4. She felt publicly humiliated. (public)
5. The two men are charged with murder, punishable by death.
a punishable offence

6. The government has plans to take punitive action against terrorists.

punitive taxation / price increases / sanctions / import duties / measures

7. In his novel The Naked and the Dead Norman Mailer describes his experience of combat in
the Pacific Ocean as sheer purgatory.
8. Split infinitives, like “to easily win”, are commonly used though purists object to them.
9. When I’m in London, I purposely avoid making train journeys during the rush hour.
cf. on purpose / deliberately

10. The thieves fled the scene of the crime, with no fewer than five police cars in pursuit after
them.
to pursue sb / sth aggressively / doggedly / patiently / relentlessly
in pursuit of sth
to travel round the country in pursuit of work
outdoor / leisure / artistic / scientific pursuits (i.e. activities)

11. A pushy salesman tried to persuade my wife to buy a new vacuum cleaner.
12. The centre forward expressed puzzlement at being excluded from the team.
to look at sb in great puzzlement

13. Juliet got the job because she had excellent academic qualifications.
14. Visitors to the country are asked to complete this detailed questionnaire.
15. This blue stamp is expensive because it’s a rarity.
16. The shop assistant made out a receipt for the sum paid for the TV set.
17. There’s a reception at the Russian Embassy.
18. Among the recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize are Willy Brandt, Nelson Mandela and
Israel’s late Prime Minister Rabin.
19. The Americans put another reconnaissance satellite into orbit last month.
to carry out / conduct reconnaissance
aerial reconnaissance
a reconnaissance plane
to reconnoitre
They tried to reconnoitre the territory before launching the attack.
DERIVATION AND WORD FORMATION 115

20. The Government is going to hold a referendum on closing nuclear power-stations.

21. Crude oil needs refinement before it can be used as petrol for cars.
22. I’m reliably informed that the government has plans to build a new airport here.
23. Unauthorized reproduction of compact discs is strictly forbidden.
24. The retardation of the growth of crops was often caused by cold weather.
to be mentally / emotionally retarded

25. The new Prime Minister demanded a reversal of the usual trends in education.
26. She bought a reversible coat because it could be worn with either side out.
27. My wife was full of righteous indignation because I hadn’t asked her first.
righteous: that can be morally justified
righteous anger

28. We tried to return the wallet to the rightful owner, but to no avail.
rightful: just, proper or legal
the rightful owner / king

29. Even these days many a country is paralysed by civil war and political rivalry / rivalries.
30. Romanticism came as a reaction against 18th-century ‘Augustan’ neo-classicism.
31. She was paid an advance against future royalties for her TV play.
royalties on CD sales
a royalty cheque
to pay royalties on a book / dictionary / publication

32. Court cases can be ruinously expensive.

33. The Pope will take the first step in conferring sainthood on the Franciscan monk soon.
34. John could not give a satisfactory explanation for his misbehaviour.
less frequently: satisfying

35. The scarcity of fresh vegetables will force prices up.

a severe scarcity (i.e. shortage)

11 Exercise

1. She refused to say anything because she had been sworn to secrecy.
to throw a veil of secrecy over sth
a veil of secrecy surrounds sth
to be shrouded in secrecy

2. He hates all this secretiveness – he wants to be kept fully informed.

3. At airports only strict security measures help reduce the risk of terrorism and hijacking.
(a) security precautions / forces / alert / police / clearance / blanket / risk / guard
116 DERIVATION AND WORD FORMATION

4. Many buyers too easily fall for the seductive power of advertising.
a nude woman in a seductive pose
a seductive voice / smile / woman / look

5. What’s the difference between egoism and selfishness?

6. She liked the sensuous feeling of silk on her skin.
sensual
sensual pleasure
the sensual curves of her body
sensuous
a sensuous woman / gesture
sb’s full sensuous lips
sensuous and sensual are very similar and refer to giving or causing physical, often
sexual pleasure
a sensual person / caress / mouth
sensuous also describes the physical pleasure produced by art, music, etc
sensuous sounds / images / writing

7. As a waiter you want to tend to people’s needs without adopting a servile attitude.
8. Did you really have to behave with such severity to the little boy?
9. She grinned sheepishly and apologized.
10. I have to be careful what I say to my sister – she’s very shockable.
shockable: easily offended

11. Despite the large number of unemployed people high-tech firms often complain about a
shortage of skilled workers.
12. Everything should be done to avoid a show-down between the two party leaders.
13. The warmth of the fire has made me sleepy, I’m going to bed.
14. He’s a man not particularly noted for sobriety.
15. The sonic boom is the loud noise made by an aircraft when it begins to go faster than the
speed of sound. (sound)
sonic wave: sound wave
cf. sound barrier

16. Mrs Thatcher refused to hold talks about who should have sovereignty over the Falklands.
17. The children listened to the story spellbound.
to hold sb spellbound
The tennis final was a real spellbinder.
As an actress, she is a complete spellbinder.
a spellbinding tale / memoirs / match

18. The script has a refreshing spontaneity.

19. The lecturer showed his nervousness by constantly straightening his tie.
20. The outer walls needed strengthening. That’s why metal supports were added.
21. The professor was impressed by the subtlety of the students’ questions.
22. The thief had no suspicion that he was being watched by the police.
23. The children sat in silence, looking at the food suspiciously.
sth looks / sounds suspiciously like sth
This pen looks suspiciously like the one I lost last week.
DERIVATION AND WORD FORMATION 117

24. Pat’s a lively, talkative young woman. (talk)

25. His speech was full of highly tendentious party propaganda.
26. The doctor had been negligent in not giving the child a full examination.
27. Our daughter is too young and inexperienced to travel through Kenya on her own.
28. The number of thefts at the supermarket has increased so much that the police have been
called in.
29. He works for an international company with bureaus throughout the world.
30. I need a new assistant. I want someone who is honest and absolutely trustworthy.
31. I’m sure we can believe him. He’s usually very truthful.
32. Politicians should work for a better understanding between the nations of the world.
33. Nobody wanted to live in the industrial part of the town.
34. The number of long-term unemployed has increased dramatically in the last few years.
35. This material is susceptible to shrinkage. You ought to buy a bigger size.
118

FALSE FRIENDS

1 Exercise

eventuell refers to possibility, which is why it can be translated by may / might; eventual(ly) (cf. in the
event) refers to the passing of time, specifically to a longer period of time than would normally be
expected.
1. “Are there any possible side-effects with this drug?” the patient asked the doctor.
2. Could you possibly meet me at the airport tonight?
3. The fire in the office block was eventually brought under control, but not without a
struggle.
4. The Labour Party accepts the goal of an eventual monetary union of Europe.
5. He continued to serve as the president’s economic adviser until his eventual retirement in
1960.
aktuell refers to time, whereas actual refers to truth or fact.
6. At the moment environmental pollution is a topical subject.
7. The current political situation should be a warning to all shareholders.
also: present
8. The actual circumstances of the murder were quite different.
9. The manager presented the company’s up-to-date report.
10. It has been maintained that the so-called homeless are actually tramps who do not want
a home.
11. My husband left me. I actually don’t know what to do now.
12. Epstein’s sculpture Social Consciousness was shown for the first time in its actual size in
Philadelphia in 1954.
13. Present interest rates have dropped by one per cent.
14. Light colours are fashionable again.
konsequent and the English translations strict and consistent imply “sticking to the same frame of
reference or rules”. Accordingly can only be used when a frame of reference has already been implied
(cf. dt. entsprechend): He wanted to be treated like any other star entertainer and be paid accordingly.
consequently refers to the results of an action or given circumstance.
15. Most of my colleagues in the party are consistent supporters of the government’s
economic policy. possible: committed; but not: engaged)
16. My friend had a serious accident on the motorway and consequently had to spend a
fortnight in hospital.
17. The dismissal of the Chancellor of the Exchequer was consequent on the recent scandal.
18. Her ability and unremitting training won Steffi Graf the Grand Slam in 1988.
also: hard / relentless, but not: unflagging
19. Continuous government pressure on the management of the Underground to reduce costs,
and the consequent reduction of manpower have affected safety standards.
20. She is one of the most consistent players on the tennis circuit, never having a bad
tournament. (beständig)
21. Judges must be firm, fair and consistent in their application of the law.
FALSE FRIENDS 119

Chef: Küchenchef
head chef Küchenchef, Chefkoch (in better restaurants only)
master chef Meisterkoch
Leibkoch personal chef
Personalchef personnel manager
human resources manager
22. I can’t simply stay away from work for a few hours. My boss would sack me at once.
23. “I’m sorry, our chef is busy preparing the meal with the other cooks”, the waiter remarked
to the new guest.
24. The Gatwick Wena Hotel is looking for a breakfast chef and a banqueting chef, the
advertisement ran.
recipe consists of a list of ingredients and instructions for combining them – both for the cook and the
pharmacist. Prescription refers to a different function of the doctor’s “text”, namely the order given to
the patient.
recipe: likely to result in:
a recipe for success, chaos, disorder
remedy: (also: cure):
a drastic remedy for lawlessness and disorder
25. “Your cake is so tasty. Could you give me your recipe?” asked her neighbour.
26. “I can give you the medicine only on prescription”, repeated the chemist politely.
27. Could you issue a receipt for this sum, please? I need it for the tax return.
28. The new prescription charges place extra hardship on patients with low income.
29. I’ve a good remedy for pushy commercial travellers: I don’t open the door.
pushy
1. showing forceful determination to get things done and make people accept one’s
wishes
2. assertive:
He’s not really pushy enough to succeed in business. (nicht selbstbewusst genug
sein, nicht genug Durchsetzungsvermögen haben)
30. Any item bought at B & C can be exchanged or refunded – just keep your receipt.
(Kassenbon)
31. The president warned that he did not have a recipe for instant success. (Rezept)
sensibel, empfindlich: sensitive (to sth): skin sensitive to sunlight
sensible: vernünftig
32. Maud is a sensitive person, so leave her alone, please.
33. In this unfortunate position the decision of our relatives to emigrate to New Zealand was
sensible.
34. A computer virus, called Whale, has been created to destabilize sensitive computer
systems in Britain.
35. The airport authorities have stepped up security in particularly sensitive areas.
36. You’ve touched on a sensitive area of foreign policy with your remark.
37. “It would have been far more sensible to send a British citizen to Iraq rather than someone
born in Iran”, the editor commented.
cf. British subject: a subject of the United Kingdom

committed: innerlich überzeugt

involved: aktiv beteiligt
engaged: verlobt, angestellt, Theater: verpflichtet
38. He was a committed communist. (engagiert)
cf. a dyed-in-the-wool Conservative, Socialist, Marxist, etc
120 FALSE FRIENDS

39. Fred and his wife were engaged for fifteen years before they got married.
40. He was thoroughly committed to achieving equal rights for women workers.
41. The bank has engaged (or: taken on) a new director general in order to increase profits.
42. She was engaged (or: taken on) to play a major role in Shakespeare’s As You Like It.
43. Mother Teresa was committed for many years to helping the sick and dying in Calcutta.
44. “I’m surprised how involved you have become in politics. I hope it works out,” a well-
meaning friend warned him.
also: engaged, active (engagiert)
engaged would mean: how much work you have taken on
Note: to devote a lot of energy to sth (e.g. a club)
to put a lot of work into a project: engagiert arbeiten an
joke: It’s always the same, George. First you engage a new secretary, and then you
find yourself engaged to her.

genial
(ideas, etc): ingenious, brilliant
(people): (full) of genius, inspired, brilliant
ein genialer Einfall: an inspired guess / suggestion
genial begabt sein: to be a natural genius, be gifted with genius
45. The final talks between the delegates took place in a genial atmosphere.
46. A scanner is an ingenious device which enables us to feed pictures, photos or documents
into a computer system.
47. The professor was a most genial man and our stay was a very pleasant one.
48. Then, quite unexpectedly, Dan came up with an inspired (or: ingenious) plan to get the
money back.
49. Although Polish by birth, Joseph Conrad became one of the most inspired novelists in
English literature.
50. They came up with an ingenious method of forecasting economic trends.
fraction: Bruch(teil)
faction: Fraktion, (Splitter)gruppe
51. For a fraction of a second he didn’t pay attention, so his opponent knocked him out.
52. In 1972, Captain “Willie” Orr made a reckless bid to re-unite and lead the splintering
factions of Unionism.
53. Since the early 1970s, the Red Army Faction continues to carry on urban guerrilla warfare.
54. Those gathered were only a fraction of the hundreds of thousands of Britons affected.
55. The whole of the country has been taken over and destroyed by warring religious factions.
uninterested: desinteressiert, nicht interessiert
disiniterested: uneigennützig, neutral (impartial)
Disinterested is occasionally used to mean not interested, but this use is considered to be incorrect.
‘A valuable differentiation is (...) in need of rescue, if it is not too late.’
Fowler, Modern English Usage, Oxford 21965
‘My personal use and recommendation is to restrict disinterested to its sense of impartial, at any rate
for the present.’
Fowler’s Modern English Usage, ed. R.W. Burchfield, Oxford 31996
56. Some of our Hollywood producers are not uninterested in her return to the screen.
57. His disinterested willingness to help was recognized by Dr Barnardos Homes, a charitable
organisation.
FALSE FRIENDS 121

58. A marriage guidance counsellor is supposed to be a disinterested outsider who helps

couples to sort out their difficulties.
59. His motives in the affair may not be as disinterested as he suggests.
60. As a disinterested observer, who do you think is right?

2 Exercise

aktuell refers to time, whereas actual refers to truth or fact.

1. I like this year’s fashion(s) better than last year’s.
I like current fashions / the current fashion better than last year’s.
2. You are talking about a very topical / burning / important issue.
You are bringing up / raising / broaching an important subject
3. Who was actually responsible / to blame for the accident?
4. The current / present situation in the disaster area is uncertain.
5. I know it sounds as if I am / were a bit jealous but actually he is far too nice to be married
with / to her.
Ich brauche aktuelle Zahlen! Diese sind von gestern!
I need up-to-date figures! These are yesterday’s!
Ob wir dieses Jahr wieder nach England fahren, ist momentan nicht aktuell.
Whether we’ll go to England again this year is of no interest at the moment.
Die Gleichberechtigung für die Frau ist immer noch ein aktuelles Thema.
Equal rights for women is / are still an important issue.
ein brandaktuelles Thema: a burning issue
eine brandaktuelle Neuheit: the very latest thing
Der eigentliche / tatsächliche Grund seines Besuchs war der, Ann zu sehen.
The actual reason for his visit was to see Ann.
Ich weiß zwar das genaue Datum ihrer Hochzeit nicht, aber ich glaube, es ist
irgendwann im Mai.
I don’t know the actual day of their wedding, but I think it is some time in May.
Er ist noch kein richtiger Professor, aber er ist dabei, einer zu werden.
He is not an actual professor yet, but he is on his way to becoming one.

eventuell refers to possibility, which is why it can be translated by may / might;

eventual(ly) (cf. in the event) refers to the passing of time, specifically to a longer period of time than
would normally be expected.
6. We might be able to meet next Wednesday.
We could possibly meet ...
7. He may ring up.
Possibly he will ring.
8. He eventually came / returned home.
9. Eventually we will be able to afford a new bedroom suite.
10. This might lead to improved relations with some Eastern countries.
11. The possible failure of the negotiations must now be taken into account / consideration.
12. Any possible questions will be answered at the end.
Wir könnten eventuell in München übernachten.
We could possibly / perhaps spend the night in Munich.
122 FALSE FRIENDS

Eventuell auftretende Trübungen haben keinen Einfluss auf die Wirksamkeit dieses
Präparates.
The efficacy of this product is not affected by any slight cloudiness which may occur.
Eventuell hart gewordene Farbe kann durch Zusatz von Wasser wieder streichfähig
gemacht werden.
(Any) paint that has become hard can be made usable again by adding water.
Das Endergebnis ihrer Bemühungen war ein Hut, der aussah wie ein Vogelnest.
The eventual result of her efforts was a hat that looked like a bird’s nest.
Schließlich erreichten wir den Gipfel.
Eventually we reached the summit.
Eines Tages werden wir ein eigenes Haus haben.
Eventually we’ll have a house of our own.

konsequent and the English translations strict and consistent imply “sticking to the same frame of
reference or rules”. Accordingly can only be used when a frame of reference has already been implied
(cf. dt. entsprechend). Consequence, consequently refer to the results of an action or given
circumstance.
13. The rules must be followed strictly / ... must be strictly observed / complied with.
14. Since I warned the students about the consequences of cheating (during the examination),
I must now act accordingly.
15. The last train had left. Consequently / as a result I had to walk home.
16. It doesn’t matter if you are wrong provided / as / so long as you are consistent (about it).
17. His arrogance and consistent opposition to any kind of reform made him very unpopular
with the electorate / voters.
18. He consistently refused to make a(ny) statement.
19. His arguments lack consistency.
His line of arguing / argument / reasoning is inconsistent.
20. His arrogance and his consequent unpopularity in the country / with the people led to his
being passed over for a Cabinet post.
21. His unpopularity was consequent (up)on his arrogance.
22. The butler was in the kitchen at the time of the crime, consequently he cannot be the
murderer.
Beim Schach muss man konsequent planen.
In chess you have to plan logically.

The meaning of the German word Chef is very much wider than the English equivalent chef which is
restricted to the person in charge of a restaurant kitchen.
23. The chef in this hotel is brilliant.
24. He has been promoted to Chief of the General Staff.
25. How do you like your new boss?
26. If your hotel room is not clean you must / should complain to the manager.
Wenn ich eine Minute zu spät zur Arbeit komme, meckert der Chef sofort.
If I’m a minute late to work, the boss complains at once.

Personalchef personnel manager, human resources manager

Leibkoch personal chef
Chefarzt senior consultant
Polizeichef chief constable

Recipe consists of a list of ingredients and instructions for combining them – both for the cook and the
pharmacist. Prescription refers to a different function of the doctor’s “text”, namely the order given to
the patient.
FALSE FRIENDS 123

remedy / cure: Rezept, Heilmittel

recipe: (fig.) sth leading to sth: a happy marriage, chaos
27. The tablets can be obtained / are available / obtainable on prescription only.
28. Do you know a good recipe for pancakes?
29. Medicines containing antibiotics are only available on prescription.
30. Don’t forget to get a receipt every time you buy petrol.
31. This is a price tag, but not a receipt, answered the shop assistant.
32. There’s always been a remedy for laziness.
Umtausch nur gegen Quittung!
Goods can only be exchanged on production of a receipt!

sensitive to sth: e.g. heat / blame / criticism / sunlight

sensitive about sth: e.g. one’s accent / weight
33. Be careful how you behave towards / treat / handle her; she is very sensitive.
34. If you are sensible, you will take the job.
35. Lisa is a very sensitive child; the slightest injustice to others hurts her deeply.
36. Billy’s old enough to go away on holiday on his own / alone – he’s a sensible boy and won’t
do anything silly / stupid.
37. Mr Walker is the most sensible man I’ve ever met.
cf. level-headed
Jetzt sei nicht so schrecklich sensibel! Du kannst doch nicht bei jeder kleinsten Kritik
gleich heulen!
Don’t be so touchy! You can’t burst into tears at the slightest little criticism/the
moment anyone says anything against you!
38. She has always been a committed Christian.
cf. a devout Christian
39. He’s got engaged to a Swedish girl, but his parents are not at all happy about it.
40. Prof. Dodd cannot come to the meeting, as he is otherwise engaged.
41. The computer is one of the most ingenious / brilliant inventions of the 20th century.
42. The genial climate of this Mediterranean region helped (to) restore her health.
43. Einstein was a brilliant thinker / a thinker of genius.
44. In 1861, P. Reis had a brilliant idea. He invented the telephone transmitter, a forerunner of
the modern telephone.
45. In retrospect, P. was an artist (full) of genius.
cf. with the benefit / wisdom of hindsight
46. The parliamentary group of the “Greens” left the plenary session under protest.
47. ‘In sentences such as “she won two-thirds of the money” a hyphen is used with fractions
in English’, she said.
48. M. T. received more than half of the votes from her parliamentary party, but stepped down
/ resigned in disappointment as Prime Minister.
49. Only a fraction of the money actually reached the people it was meant to help.
50. Our business partner is uninterested in any further cooperation.
51. ‘Don’t look so uninterested, Bill,’ his wife whispered during the psychologist’s talk. ‘The
topic is not as boring as you seem to think.’
52. ‘Let’s ask a disinterested / impartial solicitor what we should do in this case’, suggested my
aunt.
124 FALSE FRIENDS

3 Exercise

to transpire: become known

to perspire: give out sweat
1. Most of the ladies were not prepared for the sudden heat wave and began to perspire;
fans were in great demand.
2. When the Spanish delegation left London, it transpired that no agreement had been
reached on the Gibraltar problem.
3. The manager fired two employees last month when it transpired that they had broken the
bank’s rules on trading.
4. It now transpires he was collecting money under false pretences.
5. She felt hot and awkward and began to perspire.
6. James, who was perspiring profusely, took out a silk handkerchief and mopped his brow.
graceful means attractive or pleasant and is used specially to describe bodily movements or form: a
graceful dancer, a deer running gracefully through the forest. Graceful can also be used of people’s
manners, especially when they are saying they are sorry for sth or accepting defeat:
He admitted gracefully that he was wrong.
The losing candidate accepted the result of the election gracefully.
Gracious is usually used of people’s manners and suggests an important person being polite to sb less
important.
7. The prima ballerina made a graceful curts(e)y to the Queen.
8. Steffi Graf has the most graceful legs in women’s tennis, commented the French paper
Libération.
9. After his defeat he prepared to make a graceful exit.
10. Queen Elizabeth waved graciously to the crowd on the way to the opening of Parliament.
11. Busy as she was, she was gracious enough to show us round her home.
12. It was gracious of the Queen to speak to the elderly patients.
self-confident: having confidence in os
self-conscious
1. nervous or awkward because one is shy, embarrassed
2. strongly aware of what or who one is
13. A spokesman of the British Olympic team told a TV reporter in a self-confident manner
that they expected several gold medals.
14. Gradually the merchants in the mediaeval cities developed into a powerful and self-
confident elite.
15. Young adolescents tend to feel very self-conscious about their appearance.
16. You couldn’t help admiring the self-confident way she stood up to speak to the big crowd.
17. The young girl felt very self-conscious about the large spot on her chin.
human
characteristic of people
humane
1. having or showing sympathy, kindness and understanding
2. causing as little pain as possible
18. Our society has become more humane towards criminals.
19. Chimpanzees are closely related to human beings.
20. The producers admitted that the contamination of their mineral water was due to human
failure.
FALSE FRIENDS 125

21. The regime had a long record of human rights violations.

22. Is there a more humane way of killing cows?
23. Skin colour is irrelevant – we’re all members of the human race.
24. Imprisonment is not a humane form of punishment.
25. These idealists are fighting for a more humane society.
solvent: not in debt
liquid: clear and clean like water, not a gas or solid
26. They have low reserves and need money to stay solvent.
27. It does the same job as a washing powder: it is liquid for convenience.
28. Nowadays most public restrooms provide liquid soap and electric hand-dryers.
29. The space shuttle’s main engines burn liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen.
vital
1. essential to the existence, success or operation of sth
2. (attributively only) connected with or essential to life
3. full of energy, exciting and attractive
30. The police perform a vital function in our society.
31. He was wounded in a vital part of his body.
32. Saudi Arabia is keen about protecting its territory and its vital interests.
33. For a man of 70 he is still in surprisingly good shape.
34. We’re still searching for one vital piece of evidence – the murder weapon.
35. The ability to think coolly when you’re under pressure is a vital part of the job.
moral: a practical lesson that a story, etc teaches
morals: principles of right and wrong; standards of behaviour
morale: confidence, enthusiasm, determination
36. The moral behind the fairy tale should be obvious to everyone.
37. Letters from home are not always good for the morale of kids away on camp.
38. Involvement in decision making boosts the morale of any workforce tremendously.
39. Because of pay and funding cuts, morale among teachers is now very low.
40. Letters from home are essential in keeping up hostages’ morale.
41. He only knew the morals, customs, and beliefs of his mountain village.
42. Films like this are a danger to public morals.
43. “How can you cheat your own family like that? Haven’t you got any morals at all?”
44. Simply telling him how valuable his work was boosted his morale a lot.
to float: stay on or close to the surface of a liquid and not sink
to swim: move the body through water
45. After the tanker disaster thousands of dead fish and birds were left floating in the oil slick.
46. The burnt-out ferry “Scandinavian Star” with a death toll of 160 was called a floating tomb.
47. In the afternoon we swam to the little island in the middle of the lake. We looked into the
hut, and then swam back in ten minutes because we felt cold.
48. The Amazon Indians watched the white woman who was trying to swim the crocodile-
infested river.
to infest: (sth dangerous or unwanted): to be present in large numbers, or to a great
degree:
Mice infested the house.
shark-infested waters
126 FALSE FRIENDS

49. Her supper had been a few broad beans swimming in oil, with stale bread.
Note: If food is swimming in a liquid, there is a lot of liquid on it where there should be
only a little or none at all.
50. The meat was swimming in gravy.
51. Her eyes were swimming with tears as she watched the plane leave.
52. Try and float on your back.
to borrow (sth from sb): take and use sth that belongs to sb else
to lend (sth to sb): give sth to sb on the understanding that it will be returned
53. “Fortunately we have had people who have offered to lend us money with no interest,” she
told me.
54. You will have to borrow the book from the University library.
55. Would you mind lending me your riding boots?
56. The bank wouldn’t lend her the money to buy a car because she had a bad credit record.
57. Maxwell had borrowed heavily to finance his business projects.
A shadow can be cast by people, animals, etc or any bright object, such as a candle, a fire, a spotlight.
A shadow usually has a clear shape.
shade refers to the light of the sun and protects from strong light or heat; it has no particular shape.
Shade is any place sheltered from the sun.
58. Our dog saw his shadow in front of him, but whenever he wanted to catch his own
shadow it was gone.
59. France’s First Lady, Danielle Mitterand, emerged from her husband’s shadow to demand
greater recognition.
60. Her performance at the world figure-skating championships put everyone else in the
shade.
61. This word has many shades of meanings.
62. “I’d like a jumper in a lighter shade of brown”, she said to her daughter.
63. Coca-Cola’s prize-winning advertizing campaign has put all others in the shade.
64. I thought I was quite a good artist, but your paintings put mine in the shade.
65. He’s guilty, there’s not a / the shadow of a doubt about it.
prospectus: a printed document giving details of and advertising sth
prospect: the chance or hope that sth will happen
66. In the prospectus investors were offered 60 p.c. of the gross profits.
67. He was 55 now. He knew he had no prospect of finding a new job.
68. The prospect of putting weapons in space is frightening for many people.
69. I had read a great deal about Professor Chomsky and I felt very excited at the prospect of
meeting him.
70. The 1989 prospectus is a glossy 128 pages full of colour photographs.
71. It’s interesting to compare the two university prospectuses.
policy
1. a plan of action, a strategy
2. the terms of a contract of insurance
politics: political affairs and life
72. “The point is I want to pursue an active environmental policy,” the politician stated,
emphasizing his attitude.
73. This service is free to policy holders.
FALSE FRIENDS 127

74. Politics is a game for pragmatists.

75. Thomson has always been involved in local politics.
76. Most large companies these days operate an equal opportunities policy.
77. What is your policy on employing women?
78. Her politics could be described as radical.
to insulate sth: protect sth by covering it
to isolate os / sb / sth from sb / sth: separate, put or keep apart from sb / sth
79. The electric cable of your lawn-mower was badly insulated in one place, and that’s why it
sometimes didn’t work properly.
80. Many houses need to be better insulated, as much of the heat escapes through the
windows, walls and roof.
81. The patient had to be isolated from the others because he had jaundice.
82. The weather in England will be bright at first with isolated showers later which will be
mainly in the west.
83. The royal family is insulated from many of the difficulties faced by ordinary people.
84. The radical group in the ruling party is becoming increasingly isolated.
85. Talking to a psychiatrist, a doctor, or even a friend, can help you to feel less isolated.
86. Try to avoid using isolated bus-stops at night.
87. They moved to a better insulated accommodation.
continuous means without interruption; it implies an unbroken action
continual means with occasional interruptions; it implies an action that is regularly repeated; it often
refers to unpleasant actions.
88. The new heating system gives you more than continuous warmth; it gives you controllable
warmth.
89. “I can’t stand these continual interruptions at my work any longer. Don’t put any phone
calls through to me,” the boss told his secretary.
90. As a teacher you must continually look for ideas to hold the interest of your students.
91. Joan had become tired of his continual nagging over the years. “I’m going to leave him if
he starts nagging once again,” she said.
92. The traffic was awful, a continuous line of vehicles extended as far as the eye could see.
93. A continuous sheet of paper was speeding through the newspaper printing machine.
94. Although we nearly always need extra drivers, we cannot guarantee continuous
employment.
95. The plane landed after flying continuously for 16 hours.
masterly suggests in the manner of a master. It is synonymous with skilful, accomplished, expert.
masterful suggests acting like a master. It is synonymous with bossy, commanding, domineering.
masterful and masterly sometimes overlap in the sense of meisterhaft.
96. The choir from Cambridge gave a masterly performance of G.F. Handel’s This is the Day.
97. “He is too masterful for me,” Philippa thought and decided not to marry him.
98. Jane, a shy person, was attracted to her new boss, but she didn’t like his masterful ways.
99. This is a masterly, logical analysis.
128 FALSE FRIENDS

profitable: bringing profit or advantage

rentable: available or suitable for renting
100. Mr Tate ran a highly profitable grocery store.
101. It’s only in the last year that our business has become profitable. Before we were just
managing to cover our costs.
102. The farm is a highly profitable business.
103. “I’m sorry, there’s a severe shortage of rentable accommodation in this area,” he
explained.
passionate: caused by or showing strong feelings
impassioned: showing strong deep feeling
pathetic
1. causing one to feel sadness or pity
2. useless, worthless
104. The workers answered with scornful laughter to the union leader’s passionate appeal to
cooperate in this situation.
105. “On the photo you can see the pathetic remnants of our town”, her son wrote in a pathetic
letter from Namibia.
106. “Our team’s performance today was pathetic,” Everton’s manager commented. “The
forwards didn’t work together and the defence was non-existent.”
107. He spoke in a passionate / impassioned tone.
108. You are such a pathetic liar no one’s going to believe you.
109. I’m fed up with her pathetic excuses for being late.
110. In a final passionate appeal today he insisted that the court had made a big mistake.
to check: examine sth in order to make sure that it is correct, etc
to control: have power or authority over sb / sth
to monitor: watch sth over a period of time
111. Their bags were checked by security guards as they entered the building.
112. “Check sell-dates on all foods!” advised the TV announcer.
113. Scientists have developed a new test to check food quicker for salmonella poisoning.
114. We will be monitoring the patient’s progress during the night to see if there’s any
improvement in his condition.
115. This instrument monitors the patient’s heartbeats.
116. Her teacher asked Sheila to control herself, but she went on giggling.
117. Government controlled newspapers say thousands of volunteers have already come
forward.
118. Oloco is a huge company, controlling over half the world’s oil trade.
119. She’s a good driver and controls the car very well.
120. He had a nervous twitch in his cheek that he couldn’t control.
FALSE FRIENDS 129

4 Exercise

1. It finally / eventually transpired / came out / turned out / was finally revealed that he worked
/ was working for the CIA.
2. It later (on) transpired / later on it transpired that he had not been telling the truth / had not
told the truth.
3. He had been playing squash for an hour and perspired profusely.
4. All the brave knight got from his queen was a gracious smile.
5. All this gracious living isn’t for me; I prefer the simple life.
6. The actor accepted his prize with a graceful bow.
7. The young girl didn’t reply when spoken to in front of the film camera; she seemed
extremely self-conscious.
8. ‘Singing to such a big audience always makes me a bit self-conscious,’ the new rock star
admitted.
9. She is remarkably self-confident for her age.
10. Skin colour is irrelevant – we’re all members of the human race.
11. Amnesty International demands the humane treatment of all political prisoners.
12. ‘Human life can be destroyed by human error,’ said the professor at the end of his talk.
13. He accused the government of ignoring international agreements on the humane treatment
of prisoners.
14. After the operation he could take food only in liquid form.
15. When I get the cheque I’ll be solvent again.
16. He spends all his money on stamps and old coins and is never solvent.
17. Agriculture plays a vital role in the economic life of the country.
18. My uncle is over 70, but he is still in good shape / hale and hearty / full of life / very active /
very lively.
19. ‘Six defeats in a row / successive defeats have undermined the morale of our team,’ the
coach admitted.
20. Public morals have declined since the last war.
21. The moral is clear: you / one must never marry for money.
22. ‘How can you cheat your own family like that? Haven’t you got any morals at all?’
23. The moral of this story is that crime doesn’t pay.
24. Simply telling him how valuable his work was boosted his morale.
25. Thousands of dead fish floated / were floating on the river which had been contaminated.
26. At this time of year, the salmon swim upstream.
27. The bathroom floor was swimming with water.
28. She always serves the meat swimming in its own juice.
29. Can you lend me your bicycle?
30. Can I borrow your lorry for a day?
31. Can I borrow five pounds off you till next week?
32. I wish Steve bought / would buy himself a bike. He’s always borrowing mine.
33. After three years in prison the ex-president was only a shadow of his former self.
34. I can’t work when it’s more than 40 degrees in the shade.
130 FALSE FRIENDS

35. The threat of war cast a shadow on / over the summer of (the year) 1939.
36. This dog is his master’s shadow.
37. She used to be a great player, but now she is only a shadow of her former self.
38. He is such a timid chap, he is afraid of his own shadow.
39. The shadows under her eyes were caused by lack of sleep.
40. He had no job and no prospect of getting one.
41. My son is studying politics and later on wants to go into politics.
42. I totally disagree with the government’s policy on immigration.
I utterly disapprove of ...
43. European governments haven’t yet agreed on their policy towards the former Yugoslavia.
44. The government will not abandon its policy of non-intervention in the economy.
45. As they say, honesty is the best policy.
Honesty is said to be the best policy.
46. The couple had felt too isolated in the anonymous city, so they decided to move to a small
town.
47. Many houses could be warmer if they were better insulated against heat loss.
48. Apart from a few isolated cases we have managed to avoid delays.
49. He spent most of his childhood on an isolated farm in South Australia.
50. Try to avoid using isolated bus-stops at night.
51. The human brain needs a continuous supply of blood.
52. The traffic was awful, a continuous line of vehicles extended as far as the eye could see.
53. The government is under continuous / continual pressure to reform the parliamentary
system.
54. This printer uses continuous paper.
55. The orchestra gave a masterly performance of Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata.
56. His voice had become more masterful.
57. Many delegates may not have agreed with his passionate defence of liberal values – but at
least they admired his speech.
58. I think I remembered to switch the oven off, but you’d better check (up) that I did.
59. Sensitive computers monitor the patients’ condition during heart operations.
60. He can’t control the kids he teaches.
61. The rebels have controlled the area since the revolution in 1986.

5 Exercise

1. Man’s natural desire to possess beautiful things is turned into hard cash by cunning
advertising managers.
2. That’s a great idea!
3. Use your imagination and write a short story.
4. The pretentious Wilhelminian facade of the bank was rebuilt in a simpler style after the
Second World War.
5. He earns 12% commission on everything he sells.
FALSE FRIENDS 131

6. It is the task of the secretary to keep the minutes at all meetings of the society.
7. We paid £200 in four monthly instalments of £50.
8. When buying a second-hand car you have to keep your wits about you, because later
complaints stand little chance of success.
9. Protocol requires that the Duke of Edinburgh shall walk one step behind the Queen at
official functions.
10. My uncle headed the finance department of his home town for four years.
11. The appeal was rejected.
12. Medicines containing antibiotics are available on prescription only.
13. The eccentric British still insist on keeping to their feet and inches.
14. What is your recipe for success?
15. This table is (of) solid oak.
16. The metamorphosis of a butterfly takes place in four stages.
17. This book is not intended for complete beginners.
18. The vicar launched a campaign against going to discotheques on Sundays.
19. It was so stuffy in the classroom that I couldn’t concentrate.
20. Today’s harassed housewives take refuge all too easily in drink.
21. As a sign of affection she stuck a rose under the windscreen-wiper of his car.
22. He was so engrossed in his novel that he completely missed hearing the bus driver calling
out his stop.
23. On Saturday night 18 cars were damaged by vandals in Cologne.
24. The unobtrusive border of blue ribbon gives the hat its special elegance.
25. The company’s success this year would not have been possible without the commitment
and dedication of the staff.
26. The government gave way in the face of massive criticism in the Press.

6 Exercise

1. The advertising campaign was a complete disaster.

2. My dog is a cross between an Alsatian and a spaniel.
3. No whisky for me, thank you, I never touch any alcohol.
4. An avenue is a road between two rows of trees.
5. I bought the clock in an antique shop in London.
6. The explorers built the huts for protection.
7. Before you buy a car, you should compare the technical data of various models.
8. The amount of a politician’s allowance depends on his function.
9. It says ‘Bernkastler Riesling’ on the label.
10. A good job guarantees a secure living.
11. One of the symptoms of influenza is a high temperature.
12. Would you please fill in this application form?
13. He’s an absolute genius at languages.
14. At the end of the year all our employees receive a Christmas bonus.
132 FALSE FRIENDS

15. We have asked the caretaker to look after our flat.

16. Good insulation in your house will help to save energy.
17. We cut a notch in the bark of the tree as a sign for those following.
18. The advertisement described it as a luxury flat.
19. The centre forward was in good shape / condition and played well.
20. Which denomination do you belong to?
21. He has already finished the draft of his next book.
22. This year’s doctors’ convention will take place in Brighton.
23. Jam can be made from various kinds of berries.
cf. marmalade: type of jam made from citrus fruit, esp. oranges
24. The enemy tried to destroy the morale of the troops.
25. I hope I get a good mark for my English essay.

7 Exercise

1. Do you think the government will agree to give every student a grant?
2. There were fantastic developments in space research and technology in the sixties.
3. She is an extremely smart woman.
4. Very many foreign firms have a branch office in London.
5. The rumour was denied by a palace spokesman.
6. The business proved to be most profitable.
7. The owner of the firm is known to be a completely unscrupulous character.
8. A respectable businessman would never get involved in such dealings.
9. How can a sound company like that go bankrupt?
10. The violinist gave us a masterly performance.
11. In the past the plague was the cause of death for millions of people.
12. It is the policy of our company to provide the best possible working conditions.
13. The tread on your tyres looks rather worn.
14. I want to spend the evening studying holiday brochures.
cf. a university prospectus
15. You can endorse a cheque by signing your name on the back.
16. There is nothing like success to boost your self-confidence.
17. Many well-known aphorisms originate from the Bible.
18. In big cities there are a lot of clubs for single people.
19. Miller’s shoe-shop has a real leather Italian slip-on shoe on offer.
20. ‘Black tie’ on an invitation means the gentleman should wear a dinner jacket.
21. The manufacture of these tiny parts is very difficult.
22. All our business in Canada is handled by our American (trading) agent.
23. I can’t stand the new presenter.
24. He went to the Post Office to draw his pension.
25. The firm’s crazy-golf course is open to all staff, not only to the personnel manager.
26. She photographed him in profile.
 133

GERUND VERSUS INFINITIVE: ADJECTIVES

2 Exercise: Adjectives + Infinitive or (Prep +) -ing

1. I shall be happy to accept your kind invitation.

2. He is one of my best pupils and very apt at picking up a new subject.
here: he’s quick-witted / quick on the uptake
to be apt to do sth: have a natural or habitual tendency to do, likely to:
Babies who are small at birth are apt to grow faster.
to be apt at (doing) sth: quick to learn and understand, clever:
He is apt at making toys for children.
cf. 16

3. Mother is very long (in) coming home today.

You have been long fetching the car.
I won’t be long unpacking.
He was not long in discovering her guilt.

4. The train was due to arrive at 10 o’clock.

5. He was occupied (in) translating a French novel.
to be occupied with sth
to be occupied with the translation of sth
I am fully occupied with my daily work.
to be occupied in / with doing sth:
When we arrived he was occupied in mowing the lawn.
The crew of the ship were occupied with / in unloading the cargo.
workmen occupied (in / with) building new roads
to be occupied doing sth:
She was occupied sorting out the best fruits.
The policeman was occupied watching the passers-by.

6. I shall be delighted to come to your birthday party.

I was delighted at the news / to hear the news.

7. They are unlikely to pass this difficult exam.

8. They were not conscious of being watched.
9. He was absorbed in reading an interesting book
cf. to be engrossed in (doing) sth
to be engrossed by / in a book
deeply / completely engrossed
They were so engrossed with what they were doing that they didn’t notice me.
an engrossing book

10. He was not worthy of having / to have a place in the team.

11. I’m not used to drinking mineral water.
to get used / accustomed to (doing) sth:
I never got used to going to bed so late.
134 GERUND VERSUS INFINITIVE: ADJECTIVES

12. I am not opposed to letting my son join the Boy Scouts.

13. I am not disposed to consider such proposals.
disposed
to be disposed to sth: have a tendency:
She is disposed to sudden bouts of depression.
to be disposed to do sth: be willing:
After the way she treated me, I didn’t feel disposed to help her.

14. He is well qualified to do the job.

15. This shows how close they came to finding out the truth.
to be / come close to (doing) sth:
They were close to coming to blows.
He came close to losing his temper.
She was close to tears.
They live close by / sat close together / live close to the church.
Close on / to 90 people came (i.e. almost).
It happened close on 50 years ago.
She is close on 60.
close inspection / look / observation
on closer examination
to be close with one’s money (i.e. stingy)
to be close / near to home: near the truth, usually unpleasant:
Everyone felt uncomfortable because his remarks were a bit too close to home.
Pronounced /z/ in verb and noun:
She closed the door on him.
At the close of the 19th century Britain was a wealthy country.
to bring / come / draw to a close

16. He is a clever boy, but apt to get into trouble.

cf. 2
i.e. likely to, having a tendency to do sth:
This kind of shoe is apt to slip on wet ground.
The two terms are apt to be confused.
He’s apt to exaggerate.

17. This is tantamount to acknowledging defeat.

i.e. equal in effect to (usually sth bad)

18. He is not equal to doing it without your help.

19. You are entitled to claim compensation.
This ticket does not entitle you to travel first class.

20. Some students can never get accustomed to using the gerund after “get used to”.
cf. 46
I am not accustomed to getting up so early / to being interrupted.
Generally speaking, it may be said that “accustomed to do” tends to indicate
“custom” or “habit”, while “accustomed to doing” tends to indicate “familiarity”.
If, however, “accustomed” clearly has verbal force, only the -ing form can follow.
GERUND VERSUS INFINITIVE: ADJECTIVES 135

Lamprecht § 943:
Bei dem (eher schriftsprachlichen) “to be accustomed” liegt nur eine geringe
Bedeutungsunterscheidung vor, je nachdem ob to als Präposition oder als
Funktionswort des Infinitivs dient:
cf. He was accustomed to working hard, i.e. he was used to working hard.
(war daran gewohnt)
He was accustomed to work hard, i e. he used to work hard. (er pflegte (damals)
Always: to get accustomed to doing sth

21. Their rights were restricted to nominating candidates.

I restrict myself to smoking 2 cigarettes a day.

22. The prisoner pleaded guilty to having acted as a receiver.

cf. 39
Mr Woods pleaded guilty to causing damage at his parents’ home.
The jury found him guilty of murder.
He was found guilty of passing on secret papers to a foreign power.
I feel guilty about forgetting to post your letter.

23. She was engaged in writing a novel.

Tom is engaged in planning his next book.
She was busily engaged (in) writing letters.
cf. to be busy doing sth

24. Please feel free to make suggestions.

You are free to do what you like.

25. One is prone to make mistakes when one is tired.

He is prone to treat us as inferiors.
to be prone to sth
He is prone to indigestion.
prone to accident / error / anger / idleness / superstition (usually undesirable things)
an accident / injury-prone person
to lie prone (in a prone position): auf dem Bauch
cf. supine: auf dem Rücken
also fig.: inactive and ineffective, and perhaps too ready to allow others to take control:
a supine acceptance of their decision

26. He is inclined to making hasty judgements.

i.e. general disposition
cf. 30
I would be inclined to grant him a credit / to trust him.
The car is inclined to stall when it is cold.
On the whole, I am inclined to think that I like people who retain their own customs.

27. She did not know how committed he was to fighting drug abuse.
She is very committed to people who are homeless.
Note the false friend (German engagiert)

28. He was ashamed to ask for help.

i.e. etw. nicht tun wollen, weil man sich schämt
136 GERUND VERSUS INFINITIVE: ADJECTIVES

cf. 38
ashamed to do sth: unwilling to do sth because it might bring shame
ashamed of doing sth: feeling foolish or uncomfortable because of sth
Lamprecht § 941:
to be / feel ashamed of doing sth: etwas getan zu haben
to be / feel ashamed to do sth: etwas zu tun
He was ashamed of asking / having asked such a simple question.
He was ashamed to ask such a simple question.
I am ashamed of having behaved like a fool.
I would be ashamed to be seen there.
I am ashamed to say that I haven’t been to the dentist for 3 years.
I am ashamed to let you see my paintings.
Her disgraceful behaviour made us ashamed to be British.
I was ashamed to tell her that I had failed.

29. He was destined to perish in the ordeal.

They were destined (by fate) never to see each other again.
ordeal: difficult or painful experience:
They went through a terrible ordeal when their child was kidnapped.

30. I am inclined to believe that he is innocent.

i.e. specific
cf. 26

31. The children are very keen to go / on going back to school again.
Her solicitor was much keener to talk to her than she was to talk to him.

32. He is so drunk that he is liable to fall and break a leg.

The houses are made of wood, mud, and straw, and liable to collapse in a heavy
storm.
Be careful, the car is liable to overheat.

33. A teacher is frequently reduced to trying to explain the inexplicable.

Poverty reduced him to begging,
We were reduced to selling the car to pay the phone bill.

34. This book is well worth reading.

What is worth doing is worth doing well.
It is an idea that is worth considering.
cf. a readable book – sb’s illegible handwriting

35. I’m sick and tired of walking.

36. An impatient man is not suited to be a teacher.
but: to be suited for / to teaching
to be suited to / for such a hard life
cf. to be cut out for sth / to do sth

37. I am so interested in seeing / to see him.

to see: Treffen steht unmittelbar bevor, man ist gespannt
in seeing: Begegnung ist generell erwünscht
I’d be interested to hear your opinion about it.
GERUND VERSUS INFINITIVE: ADJECTIVES 137

I’m interested to see what will happen.

My sister is interested in becoming a nurse.
I am not interested in doing business with that firm.

38. He had never really loved her and was ashamed of having asked her to marry him.
cf. 28
here: weil man etwas getan hat

39. He was found guilty of stealing the car.

40. I am content to remain where I am.
also: with remaining
He is content to stay in his present job.
Not content with having overthrown the government, the military dictator imprisoned
all his opponents.
He was content to eat / with eating dry bread.

41. He is capable of striking you off the list.

42. He is always anxious to please.
She was very anxious to succeed.
to be anxious about sth:
She was terribly anxious about her children when they didn’t come home from school.
to be anxious for sth:
She was anxious for their safety.
to be anxious for sb to do sth:
She was anxious for her child to succeed.
anxious to do sth / that (... should): having a strong wish mixed with anxiety; eager:
We are anxious that everyone should know the truth.

43. I am not averse to / from drinking champagne in the morning.

He is averse to / from taking his meals in a restaurant.

44. They are addicted to smoking pot.

pot: slang for marijuana / marihuana

45. He is unable to walk.

We feel unable to agree to this.

46. He was not accustomed to be / to being ordered about.

cf. 20
When accustomed to means used to, it is followed by either a noun or a gerund:
As we had been brought up in the country, we were accustomed / used to walking
long distances.
I realized that I was totally accustomed to being alone.
When accustomed to expresses the idea / notion of sth being customary with a
person, or of its being generally done, it is followed by the infinitive:
In those days I was accustomed to take a short walk before breakfast (i.e. I used to).
to accustom os / sb to doing sth
We have got to accustom ourselves to running a deficit budget.
His years of training as a mathematician had accustomed him to solving problems.
Wood, English Prepositional Idioms
138 GERUND VERSUS INFINITIVE: ADJECTIVES

47. The atmosphere was scarcely conducive to spending a peaceful afternoon in the country.
Your letter is not conducive to settling our dispute.
cf. detrimental to

48. His argument came near to convincing me.

49. He rolled up his sleeves preparatory to joining the punch-up.
punch-up: fight (phrasal noun)

50. He was afraid of hurting his feelings.

cf. 51
I am afraid of waking him up can mean
a) “I don’t have the courage to wake him up” or b) “I’m afraid that I might wake him
up”. If meaning a) is intended, of waking can be replaced by to wake; if, however,
meaning b) is intended, to wake cannot be substituted for of waking.. . .
Students would do well to use the -ing form after afraid whenever they are in doubt
about which form to use.
Hoffmann / Schmidt, English Grammar Exercise, München, 1971 (Key, p.10)
Further examples:
a) This morning papers said that as a result of the recent murders quite a lot of women
were afraid to go out alone.
He is not in the least afraid to say things openly.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
b) Their cars simply whizzed through the streets at top speed, as though they were
afraid of being attacked.
(not: to be attacked...) i.e. they were afraid that they might be attacked.
I was afraid of being shot at.
I did not tell her because I was afraid of upsetting her.
to whizz
to move very fast, often making a noisy sound as if rushing through the air:
Cars were whizzing past.
The days seemed to whizz by.
a whizz: sb who is clever:
He is a whizz at cards.
a whiz(z) kid: person who is successful at an early age, esp. in business, usually
because of great natural skill and cleverness

51. He is afraid to jump into the water.

52. She is very clever at sewing handkerchiefs.
He is clever at solving problems / making excuses.
Note: You were clever to settle the dispute quickly.
GERUND VERSUS INFINITIVE: ADJECTIVES 139

3 Exercise: Adjectives + Infinitive or (Prep +) -ing

1. Sean is proud to have played a part in what has been, in a very real sense, a team effort.
also: Sean is proud of having played ...
Sean is proud that he played ...

2. How nice of you to come and see me!

3. I’m pleased that you rang, Albert, it’s been nice talking to you.
also: it’s been nice to talk to you.

4. Military officials don’t seem to believe an air blockade is necessary for sanctions to
succeed.
5. It’s hard to say which of them is telling the truth.
6. It was hard for the old man to climb the hill.
7. It is often helpful during an illness to talk to other sufferers.
8. My map of France was not helpful in planning my route because it was so old.
9. It’s really kind of you to let us use your car.
also: You are really kind to let ....

10. Our house is easy to find.

11. It isn’t easy being a student these days.
also: It isn’t easy to be ...

12. It’s never easy for a man to admit that he is wrong.

13. All instructions are in large print to make them easier to read.
14. They were disappointed to hear that the Michael Jackson tour had been cancelled.
15. Was she disappointed at / about not being chosen?
16. In that town it used to be highly dangerous for women to walk alone at night.
17. You must be crazy to agree to buy it without seeing it.
18. The boss was concerned to hear that two of his best workers were leaving.
19. Some politicians seem to be more concerned with being re-elected than with passing
legislation.
20. I will be glad to be of any assistance.
21. Fred seems to be incapable of walking past a music shop without going in and buying
another CD.
22. Andrew is determined not to let his parents stop him from doing what he wants to.
23. There’s not much you can do if people are really intent on destroying themselves with
drugs.
24. Far from being a spendthrift, he is most frugal where money is concerned.
25. We worked until we were fit to drop.
26. We were foolish to buy such an expensive car.
also: It was foolish of us to buy...
It was foolish that we bought ...
140 GERUND VERSUS INFINITIVE: ADJECTIVES

27. I was embarrassed at being asked to propose a vote of thanks to a person for whom I had
no very high regard.
28. The children were shocked to see their father drunk.
29. This government will not be shy of taking hard decisions.
30. I was sad to hear of his death. He was a wonderful man.
31. He said he felt sad about retiring.
32. Almost all the votes have now been counted, so I think it’s safe to say we’ve won.
33. Do you think we were right in telling her about her husband?
also: Do you think we were right to tell ...
Do you think it was right of us to tell...

34. The more familiar you are with this computer, the more confident you will be about using
it.
35. The team is quite confident of being able to win the final.
also: confident that they are ...

36. Because of the way she had been behaving, Bill felt justified in leaving her.
37. I was surprised to hear from her after such a long period.
also: I was surprised at hearing ...
I was surprised that I heard ...

38. We were sorry to see Mike go, he was so good at his job.
39. I’m sorry for being late.
also: (that) I am late.

40. If they want to change the rules, they are welcome to try.
41. I’m alarmed to hear this news.
42. I felt awful about not being able to help.
43. Sorry, I’ve forgotten your name – I’m really bad at remembering names.
44. I feel bad about not being able to come to your party last night.
45. After a while Mike got bored (with / of) lying on the beach, so he went to explore the town.
46. Be careful to look both ways when you cross the road.
47. Be careful (in / about) carrying those heavy bags.
48. It’s great to see you after all this time.
also: seeing you

49. Doctors are, after all, legally obliged to take certain precautions.
GERUND VERSUS INFINITIVE: ADJECTIVES 141

4 Exercise: Adjectives + Infinitive or (Prep +) -ing

1. Her son is bent on getting married as soon as possible.

2. I feel that anti-smoking campaign is bound to be a success, but you don’t look very
convinced.
3. I am thankful to know that they are safe.
also: I am thankful that I know ...

4. Men are generally more likely to die from heart attacks than women.
also: It is more likely that men ...

5. I’m dying to hear the news.

6. You were wrong to take the car without his permission.
also: You were wrong in taking ...
It was wrong of / for you to take ...
It was wrong that you took ...

7. This novel is – as book reviewers are wont to say these days – definitely a good read.
8. We’re unwilling to accept extra responsibilities unless we get more pay.
9. When the boss is in one his moods it’s useless trying to discuss anything with him.
also: useless to try to discuss ....

10. I realized that it was useless to protest.

also: It was useless protesting.

11. Those old dusters will come in useful for polishing the car.
12. Bill’s experience in the building trade proved useful in renovating the old cottage.
13. Bill was angry about letting the others see his true feelings.
also: Bill was angry with himself for ....
Bill was angry that he had let ...

14. Bob has always been good at finding jobs for others.
15. After the accident, it was a long time before she was able to walk again.
16. Unfortunately the government has been very slow to react to the problem of
unemployment.
also: ... in reacting

17. The child was scared of crossing the road with all the traffic about.
also: ... to cross ...
When used participially, scared is followed by by (“The birds were scared by the
sudden barking of a dog”). But in colloquial use scared is often used in the sense of
afraid, and it then takes of (“The child was scared of the fierce-looking dog”, “I am
scared of crossing the road with all the traffic about”). An infinitive may be used
instead of the of-construction if it denotes that which fear inhibits one from doing
(“She was scared to cross the road”), but not if it denotes a consequence which one
fears: e.g. “She was scared of slipping on the ice, and breaking a limb”). (Not “She
was scared to slip on the ice, etc”)
Wood, English Prepositional Idioms
142 GERUND VERSUS INFINITIVE: ADJECTIVES

18. We were astonished to hear what had happened.

19. The workmen have been busy clearing away the evidence of yesterday’s bomb explosion.
20. The population explosion is certain to cause widespread famine.
21. He used to get really upset when she wouldn’t see him, but now he is past caring.
22. We were amazed to hear that Chris has won the first prize.
23. Peter was quick to point out that it wasn’t his fault.
also: ... at pointing out ...
Quick may also be followed by an infinitive (e.g. quick to grasp a point, quick to notice
a mistake). The difference between this construction and that with at followed by the
gerund is that the latter usually refers to a general characteristic, while the former
refers to a specific occasion. Contrast He is quick at noticing mistakes (i.e. generally)
and He was quick to notice the mistake (on a particular occasion). It is true, we may
say “He is quick to notice a mistake” when we are referring to a general characteristic,
but then we are thinking of each occasion separately.
Wood, English Prepositional Idioms

24. I was so tired that I was ready to drop.

25. Is he really competent to teach advanced pupils?
26. I was reluctant to agree to their conditions but I didn’t really have much choice.
27. I’d be only too pleased to look after the children for you.
28. He is very ambitious to make a real success of his business.
29. You are very fortunate to have a pleasant house like this.
also: in having ...

30. She was overjoyed to get a letter from her son.

31. I’m getting tired of listening to the same old tunes every day.
32. I suppose I have to sell my stamp collection, but I’m loath to part with it.
33. The lorry missed us by inches – we’re lucky to be alive.
also: in being ...
... that we are alive.

34. Germany must win this game to be sure of qualifying for next year’s World Cup.
35. Have you asked Ted? He is sure to know.
36. I was very eager to get my hands on these rare recordings.
37. He’s always been desirous of being famous.
38. He was so curious to know what was in the letter that he opened it, even though it was
addressed to his father.
 143

GERUND VERSUS INFINITIVE: NOUNS

2 Exercise: Nouns + Infinitive or (Prep +) -ing

1. They went to Paris with the intention of learning French.

cf. 19/28
He has no intention of returning / to return to Europe / changing / to change his mind.
My intention was to stay.
It is not my intention to return.

2. She had the (great) good fortune to find a nice little flat in the middle of town.
I had the great good fortune to be chosen for a trip abroad.
fortune-teller
I had my fortune told last week.
She tells / reads your fortune by looking at the lines of your hand.
fortune-hunter: sb who tries to marry a person who has a lot of money
soldier of fortune: fights for any country / person who will pay him or her, a mercenary:
Söldner
Glücksritter: adventurer
Fortune has always smiled on him.
They made their fortune in / from computers.
You can make a fortune out of junk if you call it “antiques”.
He dreamt of making a / his fortune.
He made a considerable fortune selling waste materials.
This dress cost a fortune / a small / an absolute fortune.

3. In his will he expressed his wish to be buried quietly.

You have deliberately gone against my wish.
He had no wish to intrude on their privacy.
She had expressed a wish to see the gardens.
to get one’s wish:
She wanted a new fur coat, and she got her wish.
Her wishes came true.
Your wish is my command.
will: freedom of the will:
Do you believe in free will / the freedom of the will?
an iron will:
You must have an iron will / a will of iron to have given up smoking after all these
years.
to be strong-/ weak-willed
to bear sb (no) ill will for (doing) sth:
She bears him no ill will for speaking out against her proposals.

4. At the Trades Union Congress they voiced their objection to / (against) working overtime.
to have / make / put forward / raise / voice an objection
to brush aside / deal with / meet an objection
to overrule / sustain / withdraw an objection
a serious / strenuous / strong / violent / vociferous objection
I have no objection to leaving tomorrow.
to voice: to express forcefully:
to voice one’s opinion
144 GERUND VERSUS INFINITIVE: NOUNS

to raise one’s voice against sth

to raise / lower one’s voice

5. Have you the means to support a wife and three small children?
cf. 24
to live beyond / within one’s means
He lacks the means to support a large family.
He was described as a man of (ample) means.

6. Congress showed little inclination to waste time on the Civil Rights Bill.
I have little / not the slightest inclination to listen to him all evening.
The car has an inclination to stall on cold mornings.
I have no inclination to change my job.
Inclination takes to or towards when it expresses the idea of leaning, either physical or
mental, but for when it means “desire”, “liking” or “aptitude”:
In the present circumstances I have no inclination for merriment.
It is the kind of work at which a person will never make good, unless he has an
inclination for it.
F.T. Wood, English Prepositional Idioms
to follow one’s own inclinations
With a slight inclination of the head she showed her approval.

7. He seems to have trouble getting the car started.

I never have any trouble getting the car started / getting to sleep.
I haven’t had much trouble with the car recently.
to ask for trouble:
If you play with dangerous chemicals like that you’re just asking for trouble.
Giving him such a powerful car when he’s only just learnt to drive is asking for trouble.
to put sb to trouble:
I hope I haven’t put you to any trouble (i.e. caused inconvenience).
to take the trouble to do sth:
She took the trouble to cook us a meal.
Decent journalists should take the trouble to check their facts.

8. What’s the use of worrying about your son’s amorous adventures?

cf. 30
What use is worrying?
What’s the use of worrying?
AE: What’s the use worrying?
What’s the use of sitting and waiting for success to come?
It’s no use arguing with him.
What possible use is there in keeping my brain alive?
There is no use in crying.
to use /z/:
We used the money to buy a new car.
I could use (i.e. would like / could do with) a cup of coffee.
He is using you for his own ends.
a used car – second-hand car
the use /s/:
the increasing use of computers in education
Is this book of any use?
to be in / out of use
to fall out of / come into use
GERUND VERSUS INFINITIVE: NOUNS 145

to be used /s/ to – accustomed to:

I am not used to the noise / to working hard.
She was not used to people disagreeing with her.
used to /s/:
I used to smoke.
I usedn’t / usen’t / didn’t use to smoke.
Note:
What’s the use / point / sense of doing sth?
There’s no / little use / point / sense in doing sth.
By analogy with it’s no use the following are gaining ground:
There’s no use (in) -ing
There’s not much point (in) -ing
There’s no sense (in) -ing
Note also: It’s no use you / your doing that, i.e. it’s no use for you to do that.

9. He is on the way to becoming a celebrity.

cf. 17
The new hospital is well on the way to being finished.
She is well on her way to being one of the best directors we’ve ever had.
He’s well on the way to recovery.
under way:
Plans are under way for a new link road.
by way of:
We went by way of / via London.
We had some sandwiches by way of a meal (i.e. as a sort of / instead of; cf. German
als).
I can only say by way of excuse / in excuse that I was ill at the time.

10. I don’t doubt your ability to write a novel.

He was possessed of the necessary ability to carve a career for himself.
The ability to speak is natural to all human creatures.
cf. I did it to the best of my ability.
to demonstrate / display / exhibit / show ability
to appreciate / recognize ability
creative / exceptional / great / outstanding / remarkable / genuine / innate / natural /
latent ability

11. He made no attempt at escaping / to escape.

Could you at least make an attempt to smile?
She made a few half-hearted attempts to join in their conversation.
My early attempts at learning to drive were unsuccessful.
They failed in all their attempts to climb the mountain.
in an attempt to do sth:
The government announced big tax cuts in an attempt to regain its lost popularity.
to make an attempt on sb’s life
to make an attempt
to foil / thwart an attempt
a(n) all-out / concerted / last-ditch / brave / valiant / deliberate / successful attempt
a botched / clumsy / crude / feeble / half-hearted / weak / premature attempt
a bold / brazen / daring attempt
a(n) abortive / fruitless / futile / vain / ill-fated / unsuccessful attempt
146 GERUND VERSUS INFINITIVE: NOUNS

12. He was in danger of losing his life.

to constitute / pose / represent / create (a) danger
to expose sb / sth to danger
to confront / court / face / sense (a) danger
to flirt with danger
to avert (a) danger
a(n) acute / deadly / extreme / grave / mortal / immediate / imminent / impending / real
danger

13. Have you any difficulty (in) understanding spoken English?

He had no difficulty explaining it to them.
I had the greatest difficulty (in) persuading her.

14. He had numerous excuses for being late.

to find / have / make / make up an excuse
to accept / reject an excuse
a(n) acceptable / good / satisfactory / valid / convincing / perfect / plausible / feeble /
flimsy / lame / poor / unacceptable / unsatisfactory / weak / convenient / glib / ready-
made excuse

15. He has a habit of biting his lips when he is angry.

She has the bad habit of talking too much / the irritating habit of smoking during
meals.
to make a habit of doing sth
to be in the habit of doing sth
to act from force of habit
Habit is second nature.
I smoke only out of / from habit.
to acquire / develop / form / pick up / have a habit
to fall / get into a habit
to break / shake / get out of a habit
to kick the habit
a(n) annoying / bad / deplorable / strange / entrenched / fixed / engrained / incurable
/ nasty / repulsive habit

16. Going to the pictures is not exactly my idea of spending a Sunday afternoon.
She went shopping with the idea of buying some shoes, but bought some books
instead.
to come up with / conceive / hit upon / develop / have an idea
to consider / explore / entertain / toy with an idea
to communicate / disseminate ideas
to endorse / espouse / favour an idea
to dismiss / drop / reject an idea
a(n) bright / brilliant / clever / good / great / ingenious idea
a(n) fresh / novel / new / clear / fixed / daring / grandiose / rough / vague /
approximate idea
not have the faintest / slightest idea of sth
a(n) old / outmoded / stale / absurd / bad / crackpot / crazy / fantastic / far-fetched /
foolish / desperate / silly / stupid / strange idea

17. Show me the way to go home; I’m tired and want to go to bed.
cf. 25
That’s no way to speak to your father.
To my way of thinking, it ought to be banned.
What’s the right way to say this in English?
This is the best way to do it.
GERUND VERSUS INFINITIVE: NOUNS 147

18. He has a strong aversion to getting up early.

She has an aversion to (doing the) housework.
Housework is her pet aversion.
to feel / have / take an aversion to (doing) sth
a deep / deep-rooted / distinct / marked / natural aversion

19. He had not the least intention of moving / to move.

cf. 1
it’s sb’s intention to do sth
to have the / no / not the least intention to do / of doing sth
with the intention of doing sth

20. Haven’t you got sense enough to come in out of the rain?
He had the (good) sense to go by train rather than drive after hearing the forecast of
icy conditions.
She had the (good) sense to realize that the plan would never work.
to come / bring sb to his senses
to take leave of one’s senses
to talk sense into sb
to sharpen / dull the senses
to make sb see sense

21. I took the liberty of borrowing your bicycle.

I have taken the liberty of using your name as a reference.
to take liberties with sth:
The film-makers took too many liberties with the original novel.

22. You have no occasion to be angry.

an occasion (for sb) to do sth:
There was no occasion (for you) to be so rude.
There is no occasion to get so excited.
to have no occasion to do sth:
I had no occasion to alter a word.
to be the occasion of sth: direct cause / reason:
His remark was the occasion of a bitter quarrel.
to rise to the occasion
if the occasion arises:
I am ready to defend our policies if the occasion arises.
She used the meeting as an occasion for announcing the wedding.

23. I am not at liberty to tell you.

You are at liberty to say whatever you like.
I am not at liberty to say who it was.

24. There seems to be no means of getting there.

cf. 5
Scientists are working to devise a means of storing this type of power.
There are no means of finding out the truth.
He used illegal means to get a passport.
We have the means to kill people on a massive scale.
148 GERUND VERSUS INFINITIVE: NOUNS

25. A young owl has a way of looking at people, which makes your flesh creep.
We couldn’t contact you – we had no way of knowing where you were.
He has a pleasant way of speaking.
She has a proud way of holding her head.
but:
What is the best way to clean this?
She showed me the way to do it.
There are several ways of doing it.
There seems to be a tendency that when it is implicit that there is only one possible
way to do something it must be way + infinitive: This is the way to do it;
but that if several ways are implied, of which one may well be considered the best,
then infinitive and of + ing are interchangeable.
There are means and ways of getting drugs in prison.

26. There is no need to go yet; it’s still early.

I feel a need to talk to you about it.
There is no need to be so rude.
There is no need (for you) to come if you don’t want to.

27. I’m glad he had the opportunity of talking / to talk to him.

I had no opportunity to discuss it with her.
It will give you an opportunity to meet all kinds of people.
I’ve been offered the opportunity of working in India for a year.
When he was given the opportunity of going to college he grabbed / seized it with
both hands.
an opportunity comes up / arises
to lose / miss / pass up an opportunity
a fleeting / lost / missed / golden / once-in-a-lifetime / great opportunity

28. It was not my intention to hurt you.

cf. 1
It was quite without my intention.

29. He seems to take great pleasure in teasing his little sister.

It’s been a pleasure to talk / talking to you.
It always gives me pleasure to do so.
I had the pleasure of meeting her.
Compare:
It’s a pleasure to teach these children.
It’s a pleasure teaching these children.
These children are a pleasure to teach.
It’s a pleasure for me to teach these children.

30. It’s no use complaining; they won’t do anything about it.

31. We were faced with the necessity of buying / to buy a new refrigerator.
She felt the necessity to talk about the problem.
There is no necessity to buy tickets in advance.
There is no necessity to wait / for waiting any longer.
Is there any necessity for me to be in the office tomorrow?
Most people are under the necessity of earning a living.
I walked home by / of necessity, because there was no bus.
Food and clothing are the bare necessities of life.
Necessity is the mother of invention.
to make a virtue of necessity
GERUND VERSUS INFINITIVE: NOUNS 149

With a personal fortune of six million pounds she certainly doesn’t work out of
necessity.

32. There is reason to believe that he is innocent.

There is / we have (good) reason to believe that he is lying.
They have every reason to be displeased.
But: Give me your reason for doing it.

33. He went to London with a view to brushing up his English.

I was supposed to be studying literature with a view to becoming a teacher.
He advertised in the paper with a view to finding a job.

34. You have no right to publish this letter.

What right have you to do that?
You have every right to be angry with them.
What gives you the right to do this?
People in positions of influence have a right to comment on political issues.
compare:
You have no right to publish this letter.
You have not the right of publishing this letter.
Note: By rights Jenkins should have had a promotion by now.

35. There’s no sense (in) trying to argue with him.

There is no sense (in) getting angry about it.
Where is the sense in going by boat when the plane costs no more and is quicker?
cf. 8

3 Exercise: Nouns + Infinitive or (Prep +) -ing

1. He has great aptitude for getting the best out of the people who work for him.
to demonstrate / display / show (an) aptitude
(a/an) great / outstanding / inborn / innate / natural / special aptitude

2. Our bonus payments for improved productivity provide an incentive to work harder.
to give / offer / provide an incentive
a powerful / strong incentive

3. Arrangements were made to move the prisoners to another jail.

4. The incapacity of the police to limit the rise in crime cannot be attributed solely to a
shortage of funds.
a period of incapacity for work

5. I can’t believe Milly had the audacity to ask me for the money.
6. You’d have a better chance of passing your exams if you worked a bit harder.
What are her chances of getting the job?
150 GERUND VERSUS INFINITIVE: NOUNS

chance:
A chance is the extent to which something is possible or likely to happen, especially
that is pleasant or desirable:
I think we’ve a good chance of winning.
A chance to do something is an opportunity to do it:
She put the phone down before I had a chance to reply.
(Collins Cobuild English Language Dictionary, London: Collins, 1987, p.225)
chance of -ing: We say: “someone has a (good) chance of doing something (passing
an examination, winning a match, etc) ...
Chance to do something: We use “chance to do something” when chance = time or
opportunity to do something. (‘Chance of doing’ is less usual with this meaning.) ...
(Raymond Murphy. English Grammar in Use, Cambridge University Press, 1985, p.
136)

7. It’s quite common for little boys to take pleasure in torturing insects and small animals.
8. Tom had set his mind on selling the house and emigrating to South Africa.
9. Does your son have a motive for lying about where he was?
to establish / find a motive
to doubt / question / suspect sb’s motives
altruistic / noble / the highest motives
base / dishonourable / selfish motives
an underlying motive
a motive behind / for sth

10. There will be considerable opposition to increasing the budget.

11. If you don’t take pride in doing the job well, you’re probably in the wrong position.
12. As a young actress, she managed to resist the temptation to become a film star.
13. Prof. Pickering’s book has the merit of being both very readable and beautifully produced.
14. Our plans to hire a car when we arrived in America and to travel about did not materialize.
15. I don’t think there is any necessity to draw up a written agreement at this stage.
16. The report stresses the necessity of eating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.
17. In an attempt to diffuse the tension I suggested that we break off for lunch.
18. The sheer boredom of working in an office speeded up my decision to open up a small
business.
complete / sheer / utter / deadly / outright / plain boredom
He started drinking out of sheer boredom.

19. Ruth made it her business to get to know her customers.

20. He was very drunk and had no business driving / to drive.
21. This government is not in the business of increasing public spending.
22. A willingness and a capability to change are necessary to meet the market’s needs.
23. It is not within my competence to make such judgements.
to acquire / gain competence
to lie with / outside / beyond sb’s competence

24. Good training will give a beginner the confidence to enjoy skiing.
25. The old French custom of serving the vegetables separate from the meat is not to
everyone’s taste.
26. In his eagerness to secure peace Roosevelt was duped, it was said, by Stalin.
GERUND VERSUS INFINITIVE: NOUNS 151

27. We went to a lot of expense to provide the safety equipment, so please take care of it.
to incur / run up expenses
to spare no expense
to put sb to great expense
to curb / entail / cut down (on) / reduce expenses
to cover / defray expenses
to share expenses

28. The police questioned his fitness to drive.

29. Women have gained the freedom to decide whether or not to marry.
30. It seems to be beyond the boy’s capacity to follow the teacher’s instructions.
to be within sb’s capacity

31. None of our attempts at contacting our friends in Scotland were successful.
32. Mary makes no claim to be a brilliant pianist, but she can certainly play a few tunes.
33. Try the product out in the comfort of your home with absolutely no commitment to buy.
34. You should have the courage, my son, to stand up for your beliefs.
to have the courage to do sth
to demonstrate / display / show / have (the) courage
to gather (up) / get up / muster / pluck up / summon up / work up (the) courage
to draw / take courage from sth
dauntless / great / immense / indomitable / sheer / moral / physical courage

35. The team’s decision not to take part in the tournament baffled everybody.
36. My daughter takes delight in teasing her younger brother.

4 Exercise: Nouns + Infinitive or (Prep +) -ing

1. Mrs Smith had a burning desire to go back to Ireland.

2. I’m a bit of a failure at making cakes.
to feel (such) a failure
to be doomed to failure
to end in failure
to arouse / create / whet a desire
to have / evince / express / voice / feel a desire
to satisfy / repress / suppress / stifle a desire
a(n) ardent / blind / deep / earnest / fervent / insatiable / intense / keen / overwhelming
/ passionate / strong / sincere / unfulfilled desire
an animal / a sexual desire

3. She has the gift of making friends easily.

She has a gift for making everyone feel at home.
She has a gift for languages / music / comedy.
a gift from the Gods

4. My colleague has just begun to discover the delights of being retired.

152 GERUND VERSUS INFINITIVE: NOUNS

5. Susan has a great determination to succeed.

to show one’s determination
dogged / fierce / firm / great / grim / iron / sheer / unflinching / unyielding
determination

6. It’s no good my / me talking to her.

7. My daughter has set her heart on having a pony.
8. I have great hopes of getting financial support for the project.
9. My son seems to have an instinct for knowing which products will sell.
instinct for survival
instinct to do sth: in the narrower sense of the word
Most animals have an instinct to protect their young.
Lions have an instinct to hunt.
instinct for (doing) sth: Gespür:
Some people seem to have an instinct for knowing where a good bargain is to be
found.
He has an instinct for doing the right thing.

10. Some people go to great lengths to make their homes attractive.

11. We didn’t have any problems getting here.
12. She felt it was her duty to tell her husband the truth.
to assume / take on / carry out / do / perform one’s duty
to relieve sb of / suspend sb from his duties
to shirk one’s duties
a(n) ethical / civic / moral / legal / professional / painful / (un)pleasant / patriotic duty

13. The recent increase in burglaries has had the effect of pushing up house insurance
premiums.
14. My wife has a fear of going out in the dark.
to arouse / kindle / instil a fear
to express / feel / show a fear / fears
to confirm one’s worst fears
to calm / allay / dispel / overcome a fear / fears
(a/an) grave / mortal / strong / groundless / idle / inarticulate / lingering / morbid /
sudden fear
She felt fear for their safety.
She lied for fear of being punished.
He is in fear of his life.
He did it out of fear.

15. Doesn’t he find it a bit of a handicap trying to organize his social life without a phone?
16. I have no hesitation in recommending Ms Brown for the job.
17. Jerry had the idea of starting his own business.
18. It would be a fatal mistake to ignore my advice.
to make / correct / rectify a mistake
to admit / excuse / forgive a mistake
a bad / big / costly / dreadful / ghastly / glaring / serious / terrible / tragic / fatal /
foolish / minor / slight mistake

19. She took the precaution of locking her jewels in the safe.
GERUND VERSUS INFINITIVE: NOUNS 153

20. I make no pretence to being an expert on the subject.

He made no pretence of being objective.

21. As a young man I wanted to travel, but since I had no money I had no option but to work.
22. There is now no possibility of new funds being made available.
possibility
“I have the possibility to go to London.”
“I have the possibility of going to London.”
Our questions are:
1. Is one of the two sentences / versions wrong?
And if not
2. What’s the difference of meaning?
...
The problem you raise is one which I have thought about a good deal over the years.
The first thing to say is that neither of the two sentences is actually wrong, and that
there is no practical difference in menaing. However – and this is a big however – this
is by no means the end of the story. Before you mark either versions right I think the
following points should be considered:
– The collocation I have + possibility is very unusual in native English, which means
that both your sentences sound very foreign, the to version being worse than the of
version, perhaps because the listener suspects that possible to ... was intended.
– The word possibility certainly occurs more frequently in the English of German native
speakers than of English native speakers, by ananlogy with Möglichkeit. As the word
sounds rather stiff and clumsy, we avoid it if possible, exept in a few contexts. These
examples from recent tests in spoken English both sound unnatural to me:
There are possibilities of playing summer and winter.
(Better: You can play ...)
He has only the possibility to refer to that one child.
(Better: He can only relate /sic!/...)
– Typical native uses tend to be with an impersonal subject, with the verb to be, in
questions and negative sentences, and with of + -ing, that-clause or no continuation
of the sentence after possibility, e.g.
Is there any possibility that he may change his mind?
What are the possibilities?
I don’t see any possibilty of extending the deadline.
The rules of usage are obviously complicated. All my examples come from a fairly
elaborate kind of English in any case. As I have already implied, the word would sound
strange in casual conversation. You will note as well that not all examples meet all the
suggested criteria. I would therefore tell my pupils to avoid possibility in spoken and
written English, if I were you, and suggest more idiomatic alternatives. ...
Speight, Praxis, 4/1984, p.438 f
[Speights] Stellungnahme erscheint mir ergänzungsbedürftig, erstens weil er nicht auf
to have the / a chance bzw. opportunity to do / of doing something als Entsprechung
für das deutsche die / eine Möglichkeit haben, etwas zu tun verweist und zweitens
nicht klarmacht, daß have + possibility zwar im Englischen vorkommt, aber nicht
üblich ist, wenn diese Kollokation durch Infinitive oder ing-Form postmodifiziert wird.
...
“Bei possibility kommt zur unrichtigen Verwendung des Infinitivs (a / the possibilty to
explore the cave statt ... of exploring the cave) noch eine weiterer häufiger Fehler,
nämlich die Verwendung der Kollokation to have a / the possibility to do something als
Entsprechung für eine / die Möglichkeit haben, etwas zu tun. Das kann man aber nur
durch to have a / the chance / opportunity to do / of doing something ausdrücken, da
possibility nicht mit have verbunden werden kann, wenn es durch ein Gerund post-
modifiziert wird. Possibility ließe sich allenfalls mit existential there verwendenden,
z.B. There was a possibility for me of talking to him. Ohne Postmodifikation ist have
bei possibility durchaus möglich. Z.B kann man in einer bestimmten Lebenslage oder
etwa beim Schachspielen sagen: Now you have two possibilities.”
Zotter, Praxis, 4/1985, p. 436
154 GERUND VERSUS INFINITIVE: NOUNS

23. She is in the fortunate position of having a large wage and no dependants to support.
24. There isn’t much point in complaining; they never take any notice.
25. The sole purpose of conducting a business is to make money.
26. Did people ever stop to question the wisdom of going to war?
Will they have the wisdom to make the correct choice?

27. He was full of shame at / about having deceived his best friend.
28. Robin Hood had no scruples about robbing the rich to give to the poor.
29. She would be in a much better position to get a job if she had greater experience.
30. As we were on the point of giving up hope, a letter arrived.
31. My wife makes a point of checking that all the windows are shut whenever she goes out.
32. His primary purpose in suing the tabloids for libel was to clear his name.
33. I have no recollection of meeting him before.
a dim / hazy / vague / painful / vivid recollection

34. I am well on the way to completing my report.

35. She obtained great satisfaction from / out of watching her children gradually become
independent.
 155

GERUND VERSUS INFINITIVE: VERBS

2 Exercise: VERBS + INFINITIVE or (PREP +) -ING or THAT-CLAUSE

1. I am looking forward to seeing you again.

2. Misfortune had taught him to be thankful for small favours.
We’ve not always been taught to think for ourselves.

3. His wife intends to go / going back to work after she has had her baby.
What do you intend to do / doing today?
We don’t intend that they should know at this stage.
It was meant to be a surprise, I didn’t intend you to see it so soon.
passive
It was intended to be cooked slowly.
Everything they do and say is intended to promote sales.
That remark was intended as a joke.
That book is intended for young adults in their first year of learning English.
They are not yet intended for use.

4. I won’t allow smoking in my drawing room.

cf. 13
He wouldn’t allow walking on his lawn.
Their teacher doesn’t allow smoking during the lessons.

5. Do you really think he may revert to taking drugs again?

to revert to (doing) sth: to go back to a usually undesirable condition or habit:
After her divorce she reverted to using her maiden name.
note: to revert to type:
Once a socialist, he has now reverted to type and votes Tory like his parents. (“der alte
Adam ist bei ihm wieder durchgebrochen”)

6. When his wife left him he resorted to drinking.

He resorted to drink. (possible because drink is a noun)
She resorted to stealing when she had no more money.
note: as a last resort:
As a last resort he tried the Lost Property Office.
in the last resort:
We must have prisons in the last resort to contain people who break the law
frequently.

7. We arranged to meet them there.

Will the shop you’re buying the machine from arrange to have it installed?
Please arrange for a taxi to collect us after the performance.

8. I dislike seeing you work / working so late every night.

I dislike having to get up early.
Check the use of infinitive / -ing-form after verbs of perception:
I saw the tears come to her eyes.
I saw her enter/ing the building.
156 -ING VERSUS INFINITIVE: VERBS

But passive:
She was seen to enter the building about the time the crime was committed.
Compare:
I heard her singing in the bathroom.
I heard her sing the part of Leonora.

9. The defendant confessed (to) committing / having committed manslaughter.

... that he had stolen ...
... confessed that he had stolen ...
He confessed (to) having forged his wife’s signature / that he had forged ...
manslaughter: killing but not wilfully

10. She decided to disguise herself by dressing up as a man.

What was it that finally decided you to give up your job?
Lamprecht § 937:
We decided to share the profits – we decided on sharing the profits:
ohne Bedeutungsunterschied

11. He was wearing dark glasses to avoid being recognized.

Thomas turned his head to avoid breathing in the vapour.

12. Would you mind lending me some money? I want to buy a paper.
Would you mind lending me your dictionary? I want to look up some words.

13. I don’t allow my children to smoke at all.

He didn’t allow himself to be upset by the news.
cf. 4

14. Some asylum seekers yearn to return to their native land.

His family yearned to go back to the south.

15. My watch keeps stopping; I must have it repaired.

How in God’s name do you expect me to finish my story if you keep interrupting me all
the time?

16. These rude words won’t bear repeating.

I couldn’t bear to go back (rarely: going) back to that place again.
I can’t bear being kept waiting.
I can’t bear having cats in the house.
How can you bear to eat such stuff?
I couldn’t bear to listen any longer, so I left the room.
Lamprecht § 928:
Nach can’t / cannot bear : Infinitiv oder Gerundium:
She can’t bear being / to be laughed at.
Nach will / won’t bear bzw. would / wouldn’t bear ist dagegen – mit passivischem Sinn
– gewöhnlich nur die substantivische ing-Form üblich: His language won’t bear
repeating. – Your joke will bear repeating.
-ING VERSUS INFINITIVE: VERBS 157

17. He will never condescend to treat them as equals.

She did not condescend to have dinner with him.
I’m surprised at you, condescending to such tricks!
He is always so condescending.
(a) condescending person / behaviour / smile

18. At first I enjoyed listening to him, but after a while I got tired of hearing the same story over
and over again.
19. Do you object to my / me smoking before dinner?
20. What do you intend to do / doing?- Nothing! I feel like going for a walk.
21. I have been directed to answer your inquiry.
cf. 23

22. He postponed making a decision.

23. Their efforts were directed to(wards) improving their English.
His efforts were directed to(wards) keeping his rivals down.
My remarks were not directed to all of you.
The remark was directed at confusing my argument.
Can you direct me to the post office?
I thought her words were directed against me.
The officer directed his men to advance slowly.
The general directed an advance to be made / that an advance should be made.

24. He detested being alone.

25. I fancied myself to be a child once more.
cf. 33
I fancied my / me being a child once more.
I fancied that I was ...

26. I wish the speaker would confine himself to dealing with the subject under discussion.
cf. to restrict os
cf. 37

27. Have you finished repairing the central heating?

28. At first he denied having seen / seeing him, but later admitted (to) having talked / talking
to him.
At first he denied being / having been in the car, but later he admitted it.
Green denied doing / having done anything illegal.

29. I chanced to meet Hugh in Connecticut last summer.

i.e. happened to meet / met by accident;
cf. a chance meeting – zufälliges Treffen
cf. 40

30. The report suggested phasing out nuclear energy by 2000.

.... that nuclear energy (should) be phased out / was phased out
also: .... that nuclear energy (should) be phased out / was phased out
to phase out: withdraw, one stage at a time, stop gradually
158 -ING VERSUS INFINITIVE: VERBS

31. She has devoted her life to helping handicapped children.

32. He keeps asking me the time and I keep telling him to buy himself a watch.
33. Fancy meeting you here!
cf. 25
I don’t fancy going back to that dreary house alone.
Fancy never having seen the sea.
dreary
a) sad, cheerless, gloomy:
a dreary November day
b) dull, uninteresting:
dreary work

34. His research materially contributed to making their computers a success.

Each prisoner was expected to contribute half an hour a day to sweeping the park.

35. He didn’t dare (to) leave the house because he loathed walking in the scorching June sun.
I wonder that he dared (to) do it.
to loathe: to dislike:
He is loathed by most of his staff because of his unfairness and ruthlessness.

36. You are not entitled to claim compensation.

37. He restricted himself to smoking five cigarettes a day.
38. I must settle down to finishing the book; it’s now urgent.
to settle down to (doing) sth
1. start giving all one’s attention to a job, activity (s. widmen, machen an):
After several phone calls, Jack settled down to his main job of the morning – lesson
preparation.
It was two o’clock before I finally settled down to writing the first chapter.
Before you settle down to work, may I ask you a question?
They settled down to a serious discussion of the offer / to a quiet discussion of English
slang.
2. establish os in a permanent job (sich etablieren):
Before you settle down to being an honest electrician, consider this offer.
cf. 41

39. He pretended to be asleep.

40. I think we can chance entering the premises without permission.
i.e. to risk, dare
cf. 29
premises: house with any surrounding land

41. It was Saturday night and he settled down in his armchair to read a good book.
i.e. He settled down in his armchair //- (in order) to read a good book. (non-finite
clause of purpose)
to settle down (+ adverbial / complement / in order to do sth)
1. sit down, seat os comfortably usually for some quiet, prolonged activity:
(s. (häuslich) niederlassen, es sich gemütlich machen, sich setzen, sich zusammen-
setzen)
Settle down on the sofa, and I’ll bring you a cup of tea.
I’d just settled down to watch the film when the telephone rang.
-ING VERSUS INFINITIVE: VERBS 159

He had settled down to watch a sports programme. (i.e. he had settled down and was
watching / had begun to watch ...)
2. start living in a place with the intention of staying there, especially after you have
travelled a lot;
to live in a regular way, as in marriage or work; behave in a responsible manner; get
used to; make a home; begin living a stable and orderly life
sesshaft / häuslich werden, sich einleben / eingewöhnen / einrichten, ein geregeltes
Leben anfangen, Hausstand gründen, zur Ruhe kommen
He settled down as a farmer with a family.
You’ve lived a gay bachelor’s life long enough. It’s time you settled down.
I hate all this travel; I want to get married and settle down.
His one and only aim is to settle down in a quiet / steady job. (sich eine ruhige feste
Stelle suchen)
How long did it take you to settle down in this country?
3. stop talking or behaving in an excited way, or make sb do this; become calm
sich beruhigen, sich legen
Everybody settle down so we can hear the story.
Sheila seems to have settled down more since school started.
The marriage began in a stormy fashion, but soon settled down.
We’re very busy this week, but things should settle down a bit after the weekend.
The teacher told the children to settle down and get on with their work.
Note:
to settle os down to do sth / for sth:
Sally sighed and settled herself down to listen.
He settled himself down on the sofa for a nap.
cf. 38

42. He never fails to write to his mother every week.

43. I wish you’d quit worrying about her health.
44. The country strives to become self-sufficient.
45. I am glad they have agreed to let / to letting their children spend their holidays with us.
I agreed to pay(ing) half the sum.

46. We agreed to leave at once.

47. The two sides agreed on settling out of court.
48. My father agreed to her marrying John.
to agree to do sth: einwilligen
to agree on doing sth: sich mit jem. einigen, etwas zu tun, übereinkommen
We agreed to leave at once: gegenüber einem Dritten
We agreed on leaving: untereinander
Lamprecht § 938:
We agreed on starting early: kamen überein
We agreed to start early.

3 Exercise: VERBS + INFINITIVE or (PREP +) -ING or THAT-CLAUSE

1. How do you think to settle the affair?

cf. 17
We are thinking of going to France for our holidays, but we haven’t decided for or
against it.
Who would have thought to see you here?
Note: He never thinks of getting out of your way; he expects you to walk round him.
I wouldn’t think of letting you walk home on a night like this.
160 -ING VERSUS INFINITIVE: VERBS

2. The boys like playing games, but they hate doing lessons.
I like cycling to work. It’s more fun than sitting in a bus.
I like to read in bed when I am tired.
general versus specific: conditional followed by infinitive
3. I don’t believe there to be any grounds for an apology and for my part I do not propose to
offer one.
i.e. to intend: So you really propose to go back to your parish work?

4. I can’t understand her behaving like that.

I just can’t understand his / him taking the money.
cf. 24

5. Would you like me to give you a lift? – Thank you, I prefer to walk.
general versus specific:
I would prefer to spend the weekend at home rather than drive / driving all the way to
your mother’s.
I prefer driving to being driven / to drive rather than be driven.

6. He loves playing the piano after a hectic day in the city.

7. Do you remember me / my asking you to lend me a dictionary?
I vaguely remember him / his saying something like this.
He remembered to pass on most of the information, but omitted to mention /
mentioning one or two of the most important facts.
She remembers seeing / having seen him go out of the house.

8. Whatever he was doing, he always stopped to listen to his grandchildren.

Now please stop saying wild things you don’t mean.
I didn’t stop to talk to her, which disappointed her.
He stopped to eat / eating. (note the difference of meaning!)
We all stopped talking and there was an ugly silence.
How do I stop a tap to drip?
She got annoyed because her husband stopped to look in every shop window.
On the way to the station I stopped to buy a paper.

9. I shall never forget meeting / having met her at that party.

cf. 38
The infinitive refers to a future action, or to future actions as seen from the past:
I’m afraid I forgot to post your letter.
Don’t forget to leave a space.
Have you forgotten meeting / having met her?
She never forgot seeing the Himalayas for the first time.

10. Peter stopped talking about his financial difficulties and went on to tell us about all his
other problems.
i.e. He went on and said ...
go on + infinitive: usually of verbs such as tell, talk, explain, say when the speaker
continues talking about the same topic but introduces a new aspect of it:
He began by showing us where the island was and went on to tell us about its climate.
She stopped talking about her illnesses and went on to tell us about all her other
problems.
She got a degree in Physics and went on to take a course in Applied Maths.
He later went on to form a computer company.
-ING VERSUS INFINITIVE: VERBS 161

She went on complaining all evening.

After approving the agenda, we went on to discuss finances.
What proportion of people who are HIV-positive go on to develop AIDS?

11. I hate to think that tomorrow we’ll be back in good old Blighty.
I hate to trouble / disturb you.
I hate to say it / tell you.
I hate you to be troubled.
I hate having to say it.
He hates getting letters nowadays. (inf. would be less likely)
She hates anyone listening when she is telephoning.
I used to hate going to lectures.
I would hate to move to another house.
Blighty: soldiers’ name for England or the homeland widely current in World War I

12. The new orders for our manufacturers will mean working overtime.
He’s late, unfortunately this means waiting.
He is determined to get a seat for the ballet even if it means standing in a queue all
night.
I mean to get to the top by sunrise.

13. She began to feel dizzy and would have loved to lie down.
The actors began to rehearse a few scenes.
When did you begin learning English? (deliberate action)
Don’t begin to cry. (involuntary action)
begin
The infinitive is preferred:
1. when a state of mind or a mental activity is denoted:
I’m beginning to understand.
She began to feel afraid.
2. when the grammatical subject is lifeless, is not a person:
The plaster was beginning to fall from the walls.
The barometer began to fall.
The water is beginning to boil.
Infinitive or gerund:
when the subject is a person and the predicate indicates an activity or process, not a
state, and with such impersonal verbs as to rain
Infinitive:
after imperatives and when begin is used in one of the progressive tenses

14. I couldn’t help regarding her remarks as a compliment.

I couldn’t help his getting into trouble.
I cannot help my wife having poor relatives.
These tablets will help you to sleep.
Writing out a poem will help you to learn it.

15. I regret having called / calling him a thief, but I even more regret his stealing my watch.
I regret(ted) leaving the firm after 20 years.
Note: I regret(ted) having left: this would refer to the past only.
I regret going there (i.e. I am sorry I went).
You’ll never regret doing a kind action.
Afterwards he regretted having spoken to them about it.
I regret not having worked harder (refers to past).
I regret not being able to work harder (refers to present).
He regretted staying in the same job for so long.
162 -ING VERSUS INFINITIVE: VERBS

The results are disappointing, I regret to say.

We regret to inform you that your account is overdrawn.
I regret to have to tell you that you’re a liar.
I regret to tell you that there’s been an accident.
compare:
We regret to say / saying that the lecture was dull and not worth listening to.
I regret to say I feel ill.
I regret saying what I said.

16. Did you remember to give him the key to the safe?
cf. 7/34

17. I was thinking of visiting him, but I changed my mind.

cf. 1
Is he still thinking of going away to Italy for a month?
I never thought to meet you here.
They had thought of going to France, but could not because of the children.

18. I dread having to visit the dentist.

He dreaded to die.
I dreaded to think what he might do.
I dread to see him fail.

19. I should like to watch these farmworkers cutting the corn for a few minutes before going
any farther.
cf. 2/35
I like being / to be alone.
She doesn’t like saying certain things in front of you. (inf. less likely)
How would you like to go away with us? (gerund less likely)
I always like meeting people who are interested in ballet. (inf. less likely)

20. I propose waiting till the police get here.

i.e. that we wait
I propose to make an early start tomorrow (i.e. I intend).
I propose making (i.e. I suggest)

21. We are considering going to Harlem for a holiday.

I am considering moving to a smaller house.
We are considering going to Canada.
Have you considered getting a job abroad?
Harlem: district of New York
Haarlem: in Holland

22. I prefer walking in the rain – it’s so much more refreshing.

23. There is no knowing what might happen if we start working / to work on plans that won’t
bear looking into.
24. When he said 3 o’clock, I understood him to mean in the afternoon.
I understand him to be a man of about 50.
The ex-president is understood to have secretly left the country.
Senior ministers are understood to have opposed the plan.
to give sb to understand
to make os understood
-ING VERSUS INFINITIVE: VERBS 163

25. I must remember to remind her to give me his address.

26. We meant to be home early, but then it started raining / to rain.
27. Stop making a fool of yourself by keeping on asking the same question.
28. He tried to open the bathroom door, but it was locked.
29. If you go on letting your dog chase cars, he’ll end up being run over.
30. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.
31. I dread to think of what might have happened.
32. I consider him to be one of the most outstanding novelists of our day.
33. Now cease complaining / to complain and start doing your homework.
34. I clearly remember allowing the children to play in my garden without first asking my
permission.
35. He likes reading crime stories, but I can’t understand his being unable to resist looking
at the end of the book first.
She can’t resist teasing him.

36. He tried skiing but never liked it.

If you can’t stop coughing, why don’t you try drinking some water?
Try holding your breath for more than a minute!
I’ve got a terrible headache; I tried taking an aspirin but it didn’t help.
Try to understand!

37. He hates answering the phone and very often just lets it ring.
38. Don’t forget to lock the door before going to bed.
39. Can you please help me (to) find these papers?
40. I regret to inform you that your application has been turned down.
41. I didn’t stop to thank her, which was very impolite.
42. When did you begin learning / to learn English?
43. I shall now go on to deal with the next item on the agenda.
44. I love to hear you sing.
45. The young painters have now ceased to look / looking upon Matisse as a prophet.
46. You can’t go out now; it’s starting to rain.
47. She loves having / to have a lot of young men around her.
48. Try to forget it; it isn’t worth worrying about.
49. I couldn’t help overhearing what you said.
50. Did you forget to remind Geoffrey to ask his friend to pay back the money he owes us?
164 -ING VERSUS INFINITIVE: VERBS

4 Exercise: VERBS + INFINITIVE or (PREP +) -ING or THAT-CLAUSE

1. He abhors being on the losing side.

2. She adores going to the cinema.
3. Conan Doyle volunteered to serve in the Boer War.
boer: member of the white people of South Africa who came there from Holland
Boer War: either of two conflicts between Britain and South African Boers. The first
(1880-81) when the Boers sought to regain the independence given up for British aid
against the Zulus; the second (1899-1902) when the Orange Free State and Transvaal
declared war on Britain.
cf. Africaans: the language of South Africa, similar to Dutch

4. He affected to have forgotten the poem Ravelton was speaking of.

5. You can’t afford to be careless in that job.
6. Rodney, don’t bother saying / to say good-bye.
7. He didn’t hesitate to place the responsibility on the young doctor.
8. The stranger burst out laughing.
9. The Russians chose to boycott the conference.
10. He let his oars sink into the water and commenced pulling with long strokes.
to pull: rare

11. Would you consent working / to work for us?

12. For a moment he contemplated dashing downstairs and attempting to make a bolt for it.
to bolt
a) to run away quickly; esp. of a horse: run off out of control:
The burglar bolted through the back door.
b) to swallow food quickly:
We bolted a few mouthfuls of food and hurried on.
to make a bolt for it: run off quickly, usu. to escape from sth

13. In due course the police contrived to extract from him the rest of his political history.
14. Prices continued rising / to rise.
15. Once or twice, Joyce had debated starting a small dress business.
16. The President declined to characterize his moves as “escalation”.
gerund: less likely

17. I disdained to ask too many questions about George’s affairs.

disdain
a) to regard sth with disdain:
They disdained our offer of help.
b) to refuse to do sth because of pride:
She disdained to answer his rude remarks. (hielt es für unter ihrer Würde

18. I never learnt (how) to use a typewriter.

19. One could live continuously in a city of a quarter million and miss seeing certain people for
years.
20. His wife endeavoured to inject a more friendly note into the proceedings.
-ING VERSUS INFINITIVE: VERBS 165

21. The contractor omitted signing / to sign the paper.

22. She didn’t plan to tell / on telling (AE) us whatever she had done.
23. He had to practise drawing others into the conversation.
24. I didn’t relish being awakened in the middle of the night.
25. I can’t keep on telling him – it goes in (at) one ear and out (at) the other.
26. I am disappointed that any student of mine would stoop to cheating.
27. Don’t neglect paying / to pay him a visit.
28. Do you resent having to pay taxes?
29. They did not want to risk being blamed for the heavy casualties.
30. Washington set about totting up the results of the summit conference.
to tot up: add up

31. She didn’t anticipate having to do all the cooking herself.

32. Does the church approve of doctors using human embryos for research?
33. The guerrillas vowed to avenge their leader’s death.
34. Many commuters begrudge having to spend so much money on train fares.
35. This morning I spotted your boyfriend Tom standing by his car at the petrol station.
36. They sought to reassure broadcasters the new rules would not mean certain
programmes disappearing from TV schedules.
37. The chairman stopped to take a sip of water and then resumed speaking.
38. Fred was sorely tempted to hand in his notice after his boss was so rude to him.
39. Graphologists reckon to be able to tell a person’s character from their handwriting.
40. I don’t recollect seeing / having seen his former fiancée at the party.
41. She repented shouting at her husband and promised never to do it again.
42. The editors undertook not to publish the names of the people involved.
43. Nobody has ventured to suggest a change in the rules.
44. The police suspect the terrorists of carrying out at least five bomb attacks.
45. The kidnappers threatened to kill him unless he did as they asked.
46. The Foreign Minister formally requested the USA to use its influence to ensure the release
of a German journalist.
47. My father spent most of his life working for one and the same company.
48. He scorned to ask his neighbours for help.
49. Your parents will not tolerate you(r) behaving like this.
50. Should anyone refuse to pay their bill, send for the manager.

5 Exercise: VERBS + INFINITIVE or (PREP +) -ING or THAT-CLAUSE

1. Every time I’ve attempted to convince her, I’ve failed completely.

2. Junior politicians are supposed to abstain from criticizing the government.
3. The alleged terrorist was condemned to spend the best years of his life in prison for a
crime he hadn’t even committed.
to be condemned to hard labour / death (for sth)
166 -ING VERSUS INFINITIVE: VERBS

4. The papers have been advised to defer publishing the article, pending possible criminal
proceedings.
5. The latest forecast envisages inflation falling by about two per cent.
She had not envisaged marrying him.
We could not envisage them co-operating.
I hadn’t envisaged his staying away so long.

6. As usual, Jane hesitated to acknowledge being / having been at fault.

7. She is usually acknowledged to be one of our best actresses.
8. We have authorised our son to act for us while we are away.
9. The government has just appointed a commission to investigate allegations of
corruption.
10. The minister didn’t trust the secret service to keep from tapping his phone.
11. He omitted to say whether the robbers were armed.
12. The new boss does not permit smoking in the office.
13. This job will permit me to spend more time with my children.
14. These plans would necessitate starting from scratch.
15. Her father insisted on paying for the meal.
16. Why do you oppose giving young people of the age of 16 the right to vote?
17. If you persist in ignoring the boss’s instructions, the company may be forced to dismiss
you.
18. If you have trouble with your tennis elbow, I recommend switching to a lighter racket.
19. Though he was defeated in the last election he passionately desires to continue his career
in politics.
20. Bob has despaired of completing his thesis.
21. You can’t force him to make a decision – he’s got to do it on his own.
22. The Chancellor was forced to resign / into resigning.
23. The bank guarantees to hold interest rates down until next year.
24. The border has been sealed off to prevent refugees (from) re-entering the country.
not: refugees’

25. We nailed a piece of plywood over the broken window pane to prevent the rain (from)
coming in.
not: the rain’s

26. Our firm stands to lose a lot of money if the deal is unsuccessful.
27. The government is planning to prohibit shopkeepers from selling alcohol to children.
28. He always shirks taking over responsibility.
29. We can smell lunch cooking up from here.
30. May I trouble you to give me a lift to the airport?
31. He told me to beware of doing anything to arouse suspicion.
32. The police caught three dangerous criminals trying to cross the frontier at night.
33. The students celebrated passing the exam with a party.
34. The police were asked to assist in keeping the hotel under surveillance.
-ING VERSUS INFINITIVE: VERBS 167

35. Go to the teacher and complain about / of needing more time to do the work.
also: complain that you need ...

36. More and more details of the scandal appeared in the press, thus finally compelling the
Foreign Minister to resign.
37. Do my responsibilities include running errands for the boss?
38. Nothing would ever induce my brother to vote for the Liberals.
39. I heard her plead with her husband to control himself.
40. What disappointed me is that he didn’t even offer to help.
41. Sometimes I find it extremely difficult to refrain from interrupting someone with whom I
disagree.
42. He saw the danger of provoking his father into losing / to lose his temper.
43. One always feels tempted to put off doing an unpleasant task as long as one can.
44. It’s high time we united to fight against racism.
in uniting: slightly different meaning, here less likely

45. Some psychologists maintain that left-handed people tend to be more creative and
inventive.
46. From the way she talks I presume her to be unmarried.
also: presume that she is ...

47. After a terrible row with her father, she left home and swore never to go back.
48. Mary protested (that) she never had / had never had any kind of affair with her boss.
49. All the local farmers protested against the new airport being built on rich farmland.
also: protested that the new airport was built ...

50. Do you think anyone profits from / by remaining unmarried?

51. Sean recalled seeing / having seen the poster on the wall of the manager’s office.
52. This job will entail being on call twenty-four hours a day.

6 Exercise: VERBS + INFINITIVE or (PREP +) -ING or THAT-CLAUSE

1. Who incited the rebels to rise against the government?

2. I occasionally indulge in smoking a big fat cigar.
3. His journey to China inspired him to write a novel.
4. The officers instructed the soldiers to protect civilians and avoid unnecessary
destruction.
5. When invited to do so, the Chancellor declined to give his opinion regarding the
immigration problems.
6. Certain drugs that create an unpleasant taste in the mouth are used to deter alcoholics
from drinking.
7. To my surprise he determined to learn Greek.
168 -ING VERSUS INFINITIVE: VERBS

8. What can we say or do to discourage her from living with her boyfriend?
9. I discovered her to be my nephew’s wife.
10. She accepted a lift in my car and then proceeded to lecture me on the environmental
pollution caused by cars.
11. Letters to the editor pressed the journalists not to intrude into the grief of the abducted
children’s families.
12. Nothing in his life had prepared him to cope with such an ordeal.
13. He says he aims to be / at being a millionaire by the time he is 40.
14. He apologised profusely for having to leave so early.
15. I appreciate you(r) making the effort to come to my party.
16. I think you can safely assume income tax to go up next year.
also: assume that income tax will go ...

17. I can’t stand people smoking when I’m eating.

also: I can’t stand people to smoke ...

18. Can you ever forgive me for forgetting your birthday?

also: Can you ever forgive my forgetting ...?

19. He seemed so ungrateful for anything we did that we have given up trying to help him.
20. I left the engine running.
21. I’ll leave you to attend to the matter.
also: I’ll leave it to you to attend ...

22. If only she would leave off biting her fingernails.

23. She lets herself easily be persuaded into buying things she doesn’t need.
24. If he had persevered in looking for a job, he would have found something suitable in the
end.
25. We begged them to stay, but they wouldn’t.
26. Sheila believes in eating carefully to control her weight.
27. I had always believed Andrew to be completely trustworthy in money matters.
28. They sent letters to their daughter bidding her (to) improve her mind with good books.
29. Mike used to boast of taking a different girl home every night.
30. Why did you break off discussing the matter the moment Jane entered the room?
31. His new job involves travelling abroad for a couple of weeks every year.
32. Even though Jane joked about going into hospital she was secretly very worried.
33. The fact that he annoyed you does not justify you / your treating him in that way.
34. I often heard him say so.
35. He hastened to tell her that her son was not badly hurt, although it was a serious accident.
36. His biography shows him to have been / be an extremely insecure person.
37. What I try to do is to stimulate students to do some thinking of their own.
38. My father could not stand us making a noise when he was having his afternoon nap.
39. The President favours changing the immigration laws.
40. He refused to say anything to the journalists because he feared being / to be misreported.
-ING VERSUS INFINITIVE: VERBS 169

41. He looked at her and could feel himself blushing.

42. His latest play was such a success that even his critics could scarcely forbear from
congratulating him.
also: forbear to congratulate ...

43. I forbid you to tell her this story.

44. Though an excellent swimmer, he only narrowly escaped being drowned.
45. I estimate the sum to be well over £5,000.
46. He can’t evade paying his debts any longer.
47. He has never excelled at / in diving, although he has always been a good swimmer.
48. Please excuse me for being late / my being late – the train was delayed.
49. I don’t think I would have succeeded in winning the gold medal if my parents and friends
hadn’t encouraged me to keep on trying.
50. Nothing will ever entice him to break / into breaking the law.

7 Exercise: VERBS + INFINITIVE or (PREP +) -ING or THAT-CLAUSE

1. He could never endure being / to be treated impolitely.

2. The parents spend every meal time entreating the child to eat his vegetables.
3. I hold him to be a fool.
4. He imagines himself to be seriously ill. But we all know him to have / that he has a certain
hypochondriac tendency.
ambiguity: him to be

5. Hunger impelled the troops to surrender.

6. He implored his captors to have mercy.
7. We discussed giving up our town flat and moving to some quiet place in the country.
8. They fined him £50 for using threatening behaviour.
9. He grudges having to spend so much of his income on his new house.
10. He guessed the library to contain about 2,500 books.
also: He guessed that the library contained ....

11. We’re not related – we just happen to have the same name.
12. I won’t have you smoking in my office.
13. He didn’t notice the police car following him until he reached the motorway.
14. These laws oblige parents to send their children to school.
15. Police observed a man entering the building.
16. The boss ordered him to leave the office.
also: ordered that he (should) leave ...

17. I hope you will pardon me for disagreeing with you.

also: pardon my disagreeing with you
170 -ING VERSUS INFINITIVE: VERBS

18. She paused to get her breath back and then ran on.
19. When he came nearer I perceived him to be a disabled soldier.
also: I perceived that he was ...

20. She was longing for us to leave so that she could think in peace about what had
happened.
21. She maintains him to be an impostor.
also: She maintains that he is ...

22. If he won’t hear, he’ll be made to feel.

23. What she said made me wonder if they had split up.
24. My wife mentioned seeing you at the airport the other day.
also: mentioned that she saw ...

25. I’m exhausted – I need to rest for a few hours.

26. The flowers need watering / to be watered – the leaves are starting to go brown.
27. The government will delay making any announcements until after next week’s conference.
28. These children seem to delight in being nasty.
29. The policeman demanded to see my driving licence.
30. I couldn’t dissuade her from carrying out her threat.
31. The shock of losing his purse will cure him of being so careless.
32. After more than twenty-five years’ membership his party declared him (to be) a traitor.
also: declared that he was ... (semantically slightly different)

33. This is my theory, I defy you to prove the contrary.

34. If she deigns to accept our invitation, I’ll be extremely surprised.
35. I hope this will convince you to change your mind.
36. I don’t know how she copes with looking after husband and five children and doing a full-
time job.
37. The shops were closed so I didn’t manage to get any beer.
38. I would counsel you not to marry too young.
39. Parents must count on spending time helping their children with homework.
40. Jane is always telling him not to smoke so much, but he never listens to her.
41. For years she has been trying to train her husband to do the occasional bit of housework.
42. In vain did he pray to be forgiven.
43. We rely on the new computer system to give us the most up-to-date information.
44. The article accuses the minister of hiding important facts and misleading the public.
45. He made a very long speech charging the delegates with being ineffective and wasteful.
46. He refused to admit (to) breaking the window.
also: admit that he had broken ...

47. The spokesman of the Green Party advocated limiting the use of cars to avoid congestion
in city centres.
also: advocated that the use of cars (should) be limited .....
-ING VERSUS INFINITIVE: VERBS 171

48. She aided the old lady to dress / in dressing.

49. She bribed him to give her the document.
also: She bribed him into giving ...

50. Andrew was bursting to tell everyone the news of his success.

8 Exercise: VERBS + INFINITIVE or (PREP +) -ING or THAT-CLAUSE

1. To pass the time he busied himself (by / with) mowing the lawn.
2. Don’t calculate on going to France this summer, we may not be able to afford it.
3. Would you care to join us for lunch?
4. Some loyal workers still carried on building the house, in spite of the threatening attitude
of the strikers.
5. The sudden power cut caused the whole computer system to collapse.
6. This evidence led them to make further inquiries.
7. The opposition challenged the minister to produce evidence.
8. A friend of mine claims to have met Elton John, but I don’t believe him.
also: A friend of mine claims that he met ...

9. Did I not warn you against / off putting all your money into that foolish project?
also: Did I not warn you not to put ...?

10. He warned me not to drive / against / off driving so fast.

11. I think you’d better tell the police in case they think it was your fault.
12. I’d rather leave now and try to get home before it gets dark.
13. Passengers wishing to take the train to Charing Cross should go to platform 8.
14. What remains to be seen is whether it is too late to save the rainforests.
15. The bank robbers are reported to have left England.
16. They reported the enemy to be only a few miles away.
also: They reported that the enemy was/were ...

17. The statutes of the club require all members to be present at tonight’s meeting.
also: The statutes of the club require that all members (should) be ...

18. After her divorce she resolved never to marry again.

19. The CIA revealed him to be a spy.
also: The CIA revealed that he was ...

20. You may depend on my colleague(’s) arriving on time.

also: You may depend on my colleague to arrive ...
172 -ING VERSUS INFINITIVE: VERBS

21. We should not deplore things becoming worse and worse, but rather endeavour to
counteract any such development.
22. I never thought this student would descend to cheating.
23. He described seeing her neighbour threatening the children with a whip.
24. This cliché deserves to be forgotten.
also: This cliché deserves forgetting.

25. This man is a brutal killer – he deserves to die.

26. The President urged them not to lose heart.
also: The President urged that they (shouldn’t) lose ...

27. No one has ever succeeded in finding a cure for the common cold.
28. The plot of his latest novel suffers from being too intricate.
29. They have summoned the former minister to appear before a special tribunal on charges
of abusing power.
30. We all supposed him to be German, but in fact he was from Austria.
also: We all supposed that he was ....

31. My parents are very generous, but I wouldn’t dream of actually asking them for money.
32. Sheer necessity drove them to sell some of the family plate.
33. Some civil servants will elect to take early retirement instead of moving to Berlin.
34. He was a very affable and popular man and it was no surprise that he was elected (to be)
chairman.
35. The United Nations charter would empower the organisation to use military power.
36. The money he inherited enabled him to go for a much-needed holiday.
37. You can always rely on her, if she promises to do anything, she does it.
38. His insatiable curiosity prompted him to ask interminable questions.
39. Your computing experience should prove (to be) useful in your new job.
40. The dog must be punished for biting the postman.
41. Professor Wooderson is recognised to be an authority on phonetics.
42. The doctor commanded me to lie down and relax.
also: The doctor commanded that I (should) lie ...

43. He was commissioned to paint the Chancellor’s portrait.

44. I congratulated him on winning / having won the tournament.
45. For my wife, happiness consists in watching TV and reading magazines.
46. After the many years they have been deadly enemies it’s difficult to visualise them / their
being friends again.
47. He woke up in the middle of the night to find water dripping through the ceiling.
48. Walking to the bus station saves me (from) spending money on bus fares.
49. She fell to wondering again who her enemy might be.
50. It falls to me to thank you for all you’ve done for the association.
51. They found the lost child hiding in the cave.
Cf. I found her to be much younger than I expected.
I didn’t find her (to be) an easy woman to work with.
-ING VERSUS INFINITIVE: VERBS 173

9 Exercise: VERBS + INFINITIVE or (PREP +) -ING or THAT-CLAUSE

1. Everybody knew (that) the President was a man of absolute / the highest integrity.
Everybody knew the President to be ....
Note: There is no adjective for German “integer”.

2. Although / Though / Even though he was still young / still a young man, the police believed
/ thought that their informant was reliable / dependable / trustworthy.
..., the police believed their informant (to be) reliable / ...
In spite of the fact / despite the fact that ...
informant
sb who gives secret information about sb else, esp. to the police:
police informant
The journalist refused to reveal the identity of his informant.
The language must be learnt from the lips of a native informant.
informer
sb who is involved in an organization, esp. a criminal organization, but who secretly
tells the police, the enemy etc about its activities, usu. in return for payment
(“Denunziant”)

3. Detectives investigating the case / who investigated the case discovered that diamonds to
the value of $400,000 were missing / had disappeared.
... that $400,000 worth of diamonds
... that diamonds worth $400,000 ...
Detectives ... discovered $400,000 of diamonds to be missing.
also: found out / ascertained that ...

4. The foreign correspondent of The Times reports that the situation is now under control.
... reports the situation now to be under control.

5. Researchers have now proved / shown that earlier / previous theories on the age of stars
have been / were wrong / incorrect / false.
Researchers have now proved earlier theories on the age of stars to be / to have
been ...
Note: The first version is preferable because of the length of the direct object in the
second.

6. My eldest son acknowledged that he had been at fault / (in the) wrong / mistaken.
... acknowledged having been at fault /...
... admitted / confessed (to) having been at fault /... that he had been at fault

7. Nine classmates have confirmed in writing that they will attend / will be attending our
meeting, but ten haven’t replied / answered yet / so far.
... have confirmed their attending the meeting.
Not: them attending (a verbal noun is needed, not a non-finite clause)

8. Everyone present assumed / supposed (that) what he said was based on fact.
... what he said to be based on fact.
174 -ING VERSUS INFINITIVE: VERBS

9. The public clearly / strongly suspects that the government hides / is hiding the full truth
about what happened.
... suspects the government to hide / be hiding the full truth about what happened.
... suspects the government of hiding ...

10. Juliet demanded that Peter (should) return the books (which / that) he had borrowed from
her immediately.
Juliet wanted Peter to return ...
word order: ... that Peter should immediately return ...
... wanted Peter to immediately return ... (split infinitive)

11. I suggest breaking (off) / knocking off for lunch now.

I suggest (that) we (should) break (off) / knock off for lunch now.

12. The Meteorological Office stated that it was unusual for Britain to experience such a long /
prolonged spell of warm and dry weather.
... stated it to be unusual for Britain to experience ...
Not: declared
to declare: announce formally:
They declared him (to be) the winner.
to declare war on an enemy
to declare an amnesty / armistice / cease-fire / election

13. When the shareholders demanded / pressed to be informed more exactly / thoroughly /
accurately / precisely, the chairman confessed / admitted that it would be likely that profits
would show a further fall / that profits would be likely to show ...
When the shareholders demanded / pressed that they (should) be informed ...
When the shareholders demanded / pressed for further information, the chairman
admitted / confessed it to be likely that profits would show a further fall.
... profits would keep dropping / falling / going down

14. The climbers reckoned / guessed / estimated that the ascent took almost / nearly 12 hours.
The climbers reckoned / guessed / estimated the ascent to have taken almost / nearly
12 hours.

15. Evidence very soon showed that the woman’s alibi had been a complete / pure fabrication
/ invention, and she had to admit / confess that she had perjured her evidence / that her
evidence had been perjured.
Evidence very soon showed the woman’s alibi to have been a complete / pure
fabrication / invention, and she had to admit / confess (to) having perjured her
evidence.
(to) having given false / perjured evidence / made a false statement
to perjure os
to tell a lie, esp. in a law court, after one has sworn to tell the truth:
Several witnesses perjured themselves in order to protect the accused.
perjury
He was found guilty of committing perjury.
to give perjured evidence:
The attorney accused the police of giving perjured evidence / testimony against her
client.
-ING VERSUS INFINITIVE: VERBS 175

16. I’m sorry, I had forgotten / I was forgetting (that) newspapers are not delivered today.
no newspapers are ...
17. Those responsible fear (that) only few passengers have survived the plane crash.
18. Environmentalists forecast (that) man will destroy his planet if he doesn’t stop polluting it.
also: ... predict / prophesy that ...

19. It is generally expected (that) the minister in charge will issue / make a statement about the
attempted assassination / the assassination attempt tomorrow morning.
The minister in charge is expected to issue ...

20. Geoffrey insists (that) he did nothing wrong.

... insists on not having done anything wrong. (clumsy)
... persists in claiming / maintaining that ...
cf. insist on doing sth – persist / persevere in doing sth

21. She indicated to me (that) she didn’t want me to say a word.

also: She gave me to understand ...

22. I informed my boss (that) I was going to be away / absent the following week.
23. Only a higher petrol tax can convince / persuade car drivers (that) exhaust-free cars are
needed to protect our environment.
24. We later learnt that the message we had sent (to) our son had never reached him / arrived.
25. These figures mean / show that more than 11% of the population is / are unemployed.
... show more than 11% ... to be unemployed.

10 Exercise: VERBS + INFINITIVE or (PREP +) -ING or THAT-CLAUSE

1. In all these films one observes that directors are taking an interest again in German and
European history.
In / from all these films one sees ...
All these films show that ...
All these films show directors taking ....

2. He noticed / realized that the young woman was staring at him all the time.
3. The committee / council regretted (that) the money to subsidize / support the youth club
was no longer available.
4. I pray to God (that) you’re right because we’ll be in serious trouble / great difficulty / in a
cleft stick / in a fix / in a tight (spot / corner) if you’re not.
5. The doctor recommended / advised my sister to stop smoking immediately.
The doctor recommended / advised that my sister (should) stop smoking immediately.
... advised my sister(‘s) stopping ...

6. It’s high time we stopped / for us to stop to think about our next moves / steps.
176 -ING VERSUS INFINITIVE: VERBS

7. The lawyer suggested / proposed deleting the last sentence in the contract because it
could / might prevent the firm / company from merging / the firm(‘s) / company(‘s) merging
with any other firm in the future.
The lawyer suggested / proposed that we (should) delete the last sentence ...

8. When my wife watched the TV film, she suddenly realized (that) she had seen it before.
9. I presume / assume / suppose (that) our friends from Birmingham are not coming since
they haven’t replied to our invitation.
10. I should like you to know that it is no use blaming us for your delay. It’s not my fault that you
were not allowed to fly to Scotland without first finishing (writing) your doctor’s thesis.
11. I find it very embarrassing that I forgot to return the money to you / to give you the money
back. I’d prefer not to be reminded of it.
... I’d rather not be reminded of it.

12. I remember / recollect you / your screaming for hours when you were a baby.
13. I propose / suggest waiting until the budget has been approved / adopted before we
commit ourselves to (any) expenses / expenditure.
I propose / suggest that we (should) wait ...
I suggest our / (us) waiting ...

14. Those present requested of the chairman that the next meeting (should) be held on a
Friday.
... requested that the chairman (should) hold / convene the next meeting ...

15. It’s no use blaming me. I didn’t smell the potatoes burning / that the potatoes were burning.
There is no use / sense / point (in) blaming me ...

16. Teachers have found / discovered that the overhead projector is invaluable as a teaching
aid.
Teachers have found / discovered the overhead projector to be invaluable as a
teaching aid.

17. Computer manufacturers now acknowledge / admit / confess that their market predictions
were somewhat too optimistic / over-optimistic.
Computer manufacturers now acknowledge / admit / confess their market predictions
to have been / having been somewhat too optimistic / over-optimistic.
... admit / confess to their market predictions having been ...

18. Our correspondent thinks / believes / understands that it is too dangerous for tourists at
present / at the moment to travel the east of Turkey.
Our correspondent thinks / believes / understands it to be ...
“Our correspondent thinks it to be ...” is unlikely.
The object + to be complementation after to think is rare. To be is usually left ouut:
I think him an intelligent man / I think him intelligent.
It is, however, commonly used in passive constructions:
He is thought to be an intelligent man / to be intelligent.
Cf. also note in the book under “believe” (p .107)
-ING VERSUS INFINITIVE: VERBS 177

19. He remembered that he had given his wife all the information (that / which was) needed for
the letter to the headmaster.
He remembered giving / having given his wife all the information ...
Note:
Das ist eine nützliche Information.
That is a useful bit / piece of information / this is useful information.
Alle Informationen sind streng vertraulich.
All information is strictly confidential.

20. My friend urged / advised me to read the letter from the bank very carefully.
My friend urged / advised that I (should) read ...
... advised me / my reading ...

21. The old father swore that he would take bloody revenge for the murder of his son.
The old father swore to take ...

22. The Italian astronomer and physicist Galileo Galilei taught that the earth moved / moves /
revolved / revolves round the sun.
Don’t confuse physicist and physician!

23. The Chancellor warned the unions that higher wages would mean higher prices.
24. The commander-in-chief ordered his troops to lay down their arms.
The commander-in-chief ordered that his troops (should) lay down their arms.

25. A group / faction of MPs has / have advocated that the Government should set up a
commission of inquiry / fact-finding commission / committee.
A group / faction of MPs has / have advocated the Government(‘s) setting up a
commission of inquiry / fact-finding commission / committee.
Don’t confuse fraction and faction!
178

-IC AND -ICAL

1 Exercise

I.
allegorical figure metric system
alphabetical order nautical mile
aquatic sport optical delusion
cf. illusion
atmospheric pressure
atomic fission parabolic mirror
cf. atomic energy photographic memory
atomic / atom bomb
phrenetic applause
authentic report physical exercises
automatic rifle Platonic love
basic English romantic notion / love / music /
biographical dictionary irony
botanical gardens Socratic irony
characteristic features spastic child
chemical reactions statistical tables
chronic disease supersonic speed
clerical work technical term
clinical thermometer tragic event
concentric circles symphonic music
cubic foot
dialectical materialism II.
domestic animal apology apologetic
drastic measures country rustic
elastic braces devil diabolic
epileptic fit gospel evangelic(al)
geological formation navel umbilical
grammatical rules clerk clerical
heretical beliefs demon demonic
lyric poetry demoniacal
magic wand giant gigantic
cf. Magic Flute
memory mnemonic
magnetic needle
melancholic look
-IC AND -ICAL 179

2 Exercise

Note that you want well-established collocations.

I. peripatetic preacher
arctic circle plastic surgery
preferably Arctic Circle
pneumatic drill
ballistic missile psychological warfare
bubonic plague quizzical look
bucolic verse rhetorical question
choleric temperament specific gravity
chromatic scale (spezifisches Gewicht)
civic duties static electricity
diacritical marks syllabic division
draconic measures cf. syllabification
electronic microscope sympathetic strike / look
elliptic(al) construction synthetic fibre
endemic disease telescopic sight
cf. lens, view, aerial
ethnic minority
forensic medicine tropical climate
frantic struggle umbilical cord
genealogical tree vertical take-off
cf. also: table volcanic eruption
generic term
graphic description II.
cf. The Society of Graphical and
house domestic
Allied Trades (SOGAT)
the National Graphical Association pathos pathetic
but: a graphic artist / design(er) peace pacific
heroic couplet pacifistic
hydraulic brakes rheumatism rheumatic
hypodermic needle scurvy scorbutic
identical twins Slav Slavonic
kinetic energy sleep soporific
metallic sheen spasm spastic
meteorological office spasmodic
nitric acid psychiatry psychiatric
optic nerve therapy therapeutic(al)
organic chemistry water aquatic
periodic style
180 -IC AND -ICAL

3 Exercise

1. Even today a classical education is a good grounding.

i.e. one based on the study of Latin and Greek
classical – classic (1-19)
classical
1. of, relating to or influenced by art and literature of ancient Greece or Rome:
classical studies
a classical scholar: an expert in Latin and Greek
classical Greek tragedy
classical languages: tote Sprachen
classical architecture
cf. neoclassical
2a) (of music) serious and traditional in style: ernst
the classical music of India (cf. pop)
b) (of music) (characteristic) of the music of the period 1750-1800:
classical composers such as Mozart and Haydn
the classical symphony
3. simple, restrained and harmonious in style: (cf. classic 3a):
classical elegance or: classic elegance (cf. classic 3b)
Note: a classical dress: would rather suggest a toga: long flowing outer garment worn
by the citizens of Rome
classic
1. having a high quality that is recognized and unquestioned; of lasting value and
importance:
großartig, zeitlos
a classic novel
a classic work of scholarship
a classic game of football
2. very typical, archetypal:
a classic example
classic symptoms of pneumonia
a classic case of malnutrition
classic rock
3a) simple, harmonious and restrained (cf. classical 3)
b) (of clothes, designs, etc) having a simple, traditional style that is not affected by
changes in fashion, elegant and expensive:
a classic dress
classic elegance
4. famous through being long established:
one of the classic events of the sporting calendar
compare: she’s a classic beauty: exceptionally good-looking / the classical beauty of
Greek sculpture

2. His behaviour is an almost classic example for the majority of the population.
3. The final statement is a classic illustration of the philosophy of the age.
4. Classical ballet has also been called romantic ballet: The Nutcracker is a typical example
of it.
5. I prefer classical music to any kind of modern music.
6. The Tour de France is a classic cycling race.
7. Sir Laurence Olivier gave a classic performance in Shakespeare’s history play Richard III.
8. “This was a classic case of mistaken identity,” the judge noted in his summing-up.
-IC AND -ICAL 181

9. Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar is classic as to its literary status and classical as to its
subject matter.
10. Sandra’s 6,000-strong classical record collection was mysteriously replaced with hard
rock albums.
11. I don’t know any Greek. I can’t even read the classical Greek alphabet.
12. The youth’s behaviour was a classic example of soccer hooliganism.
13. “Our daughter has been taking a close interest in classical music,” her mother told me
afterwards.
14. The Rolling Stones produced a string of classic singles in the mid 60s including
“Satisfaction” and “Time is on my Side”.
15. War and Peace is a classic novel (i.e. it has lasted for a long time and people still enjoy
reading it).
16. The Coca-Cola bottle is one of the classic designs of our century.
17. She made the classic mistake of driving away without releasing the hand brake.
18. The misunderstanding was nobody’s fault and was a classic example of bad
communication.
19. The invention of the x-ray was a classic case of discovering something by accident.
20. There was always something comical about Charlie Chaplin, especially in his walk.
comic – comical (20-29)
The broad distinction, sometimes obscured by being neglected, is that that is comic
of which the aim or origin is comedy, and that that is comical of which the effect,
whether intended or not, is comedy.
A comic actor is merely one who acts comedy.
A comical actor is one who makes the audience laugh.
Comic hesitation is that in which the hesitator is playing the comedian.
Comical hesitation is that in which observers find comedy, whether the hesitator
meant them to or was unconscious of them.
comical always has a humorous result, it is something that makes you laugh whether
it was intended or not intended. It describes.
comic is intended to make you laugh, because it has the characteristics of comedy. It
classifies.
Accordingly, comic is the normal epithet (though comical may be used, in a different
sense) with:
actor relief singer
opera song paper
scene
comical is normal (subject to the converse reservation) with:
face deformity terror
effect earnestness hesitation
expression attempt fiasco
Behaviour or situations that are comical are funny in an odd or unexpected way,
although they are not usually intended to be.
There is some tendency (the attempt was comic in the extreme; the disaster had its
comic side) to use comic where comical is the right word. This may possibly be a sign
that comical is on the way to become archaic and obsolete, a process likely to be
helped by the colloquial use of comic as a noun. This would be regrettable; for the
difference of meaning is fairly definite and of real use: But some of the publications
called Comics are neither comic nor comical.
(cf. Fowler)
182 -IC AND -ICAL

21. Gilbert wrote many comic songs for the Savoy Operas; several became comic
masterpieces.
22. The function of the porter scene in Shakespeare’s Macbeth is to create comic relief.
23. A comic figure (e.g. a clown) is intended to make the spectator laugh.
24. Everyone laughed at the comical way in which Katy, our four-year-old, tried to feed herself.
25. The situation at my grandmother’s house had become almost comical with everyone
falling over each other to help move the furniture.
26. Carlo looked so comical, striding along in a coat which nearly touched the ground.
27. Max entertained us with his jokes and comic songs.
28. Whilst she has written several volumes of serious poetry, she’s possibly better known for
her comic verse.
29. Most critics find his acting talents better suited to comic roles.

4 Exercise

1. Your plan for the alterations is more economical.

economic – economical (1-16)
economic
1. (of economies or an economy): wirtschaftlich, konjunkturell, ökonomisch:
the government’s economic policy
economic development
economic growth
economic progress
economic recovery
economic sanctions
economic theory
2. connected with trade and industry:
economic geography
3. designed to give a profit, adequate to repay expenditure with some profit:
an economic rent: one that brings the owner at least as much money as he has spent
on the house
It is not always economic for buses to run on Sundays. (kostendeckend und gewinn-
bringend)
economical: sparsam, kostengünstig, kraftsparend, ökonomisch, wirtschaftlich
careful in the spending of money, time, etc and in the use of resources; not wasteful:
an economical car to run: one with low petrol consumption
She is economical in / with her use of salt when cooking.
an economical style of writing: one that does not waste words
She’s rather economical with the truth.

2. Just think of the loss of energy in the old house. We need an economical heating system
in the new house. It’ll save us a lot of money.
3. At the meeting the economic development of the former East Germany was on the
agenda.
4. The economic policy of the present government does not consider the economic
arguments of the last report.
-IC AND -ICAL 183

5. At the end of the negotiations a new economic agreement was signed between the two
countries.
6. The late Chancellor Erhard has often been described as the Father of the German
economic miracle in the Fifties.
7. My new car is very economical; it does fifty miles to the gallon.
8. Look at the marathon runners. Most of them have an economical style of running.
9. England’s economic situation has considerably improved in the last six months.
10. During the whole period there was only a slight economic decline. Generally the German
economic cycle indicates a bright economic outlook.
11. This car is economical to run, comfortable, and even after ten years has no sign of rust.
12. “Tory economic policy is leading us all to ruin,” one of the men shouted.
13. Many people believe that inflation leads to economic decline.
14. In South Africa all political and economic power was in the hands of the white minority.
15. He is a very economical person and always shops around before buying anything.
16. The house has a very economical heating system so bills are not a big problem.
17. An ampère is an electrical unit.
electric – electrical (17-28)
electric
1. (of machines) producing electricity:
an electric generator
2. produced by electricity:
electric power
electric energy
an electric shock – Elektroschock
electric current
3. worked by electricity: elektrisch betrieben
an electric blanket
an electric clock
an electric fan
an electric fire
electric light
an electric motor
an electric razor
an electric torch
electric windows – elektrische Fensterheber
4. being electricity:
an electric spark
5. very exciting:
His speech had an electric effect upon all the listeners.
Note: anything either worked by or producing electricity is electric. Otherwise, the
word is electrical. It expresses the idea of a less close connection with electricity,
and is used
a) of people and their work:
an electrical engineer
b) in other expressions where the connection is more general:
electrical apparatus
electrical fault in the system
electrical:
mainly used before “general” terms, often in combinations corresponding to the
German Elektro-
1. concerned with electricity:
an electrical engineer
electrical engineering – Elektrotechnik
184 -IC AND -ICAL

2. using electricity in some way:

an electrical fault in the system
electrical industry – Elektroindustrie
electrical store – Elektrogeschäft
electrical fitters – Elektroinstallateure
electrical unit – elektrische Einheit
electrical equipment – Elektrogeräte (also: electric)
electrical machine – Elektromaschine (also: electric)

18. Our department has been working towards a better use of electrical energy for years.
19. The invention of the telephone by A.G. Bell created a great need for electrical engineers.
20. Electric current is needed to work any kind of electric clock or electric blanket.
21. In this heat I can’t manage without an electric fan.
22. An electric razor has an electric motor.
23. Trembling from the electric shock received from the wires, the Tube train driver averted
another disaster at King’s Cross.
24. In an electric atmosphere at Flushing Meadows, Edberg again beat Lendl over five sets.
25. The Prime Minister’s speech had an electric effect on the delegates at the party
conference.
26. As I was walking through the department store I bumped into Helen in the electrical
department. What a surprise!
27. “In electrical engineering these problems do not exist,” the expert told me.
28. “I prefer steam trains to electric trains. They remind me of great inventions,” answered the
train enthusiast.

5 Exercise

1. Like most other festivals, Bonfire Night has been shifted from its historical date to the
nearest weekend.
historic – historical (1-12)
The differentiation between the two forms has reached the stage where it may be fairly
said that the use of one in the sense now generally expressed by the other as a
definite backsliding. The ordinary adjective of history is historical.
Historic means memorable, or assured of a place in history, now in common use as
an epithet for buildings worthy of preservation for their beauty or interest; historical
should not be substituted for it in that sense.
The only other functions retained by historic is in the grammarians’ technical terms
historic tenses, mood, sequence, present, etc, in which it preserves the notion
appropriate to narration of the past, especially in the expression historic present (also
historical present), a device for imparting vividness to a narrative which is not now so
popular with story-tellers as it once was. (Fowler)
historic: important or memorable in history (or having a long history):
historic +
battlefield event place
building happening speech
date monument spot
deed occasion
-IC AND -ICAL 185

historical: concerned with or found in past events or based on history: geschichtlich

bezeugt, überliefert; geschichtswissenschaftlich
historical +
characters figures plays
documents novels practice
dramas paintings research
events persons studies

2. The Good Castle Guide lists 2,000 castles and gives five star ratings for historical interest.
3. Prince Charles surpassed himself by making an excellent speech on this historic occasion.
4. This coin commemorates a historic event, the tercentenary of the Bill of Rights.
5. The Battle of Hastings was a historic event which was to change England’s course of
development.
Historic here means it was decisive and memorable or a turning point in the course of
English history.

6. The site of the historical battle of Hastings is in fact a place called Battle.
Historical in this case refers simply to the course or sequence of events.

7. “You’ll never learn to think in historical terms,” his history teacher criticized him.
8. It is little known that A.C. Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes, also wrote a historical
novel, Sir Nigel.
9. The Loch Ness Centre includes all the historical evidence of Nessie’s existence.
10. This decision was a historic breakthrough; the first step towards the treaty on arms
control.
11. Our reporters were there at the historic moment when the hostages were released from
prison.
12. In his book, Churchill recalls that historic first meeting with Roosevelt.
13. Many Vietnamese asked for political asylum this week.
politic – political (13-22)
politic: diplomatisch, (taktisch) klug; ratsam
(of behaviour or actions) well-judged and likely to bring advantage; prudent:
body politic: the people of a nation forming a state under the control of a single
government
also: Body Politic
political
1. of public affairs and / or the government of a country and its relations with other
countries:
the loss of political freedom(s)
a country’s political institutions
attempts at finding a political solution
2. of (party) politics:
a political party
She has strong political opinions.
the newspaper’s political editor
3. charged with or being an act harmful to a government:
a political prisoner
a political offence
4. very interested or active in politics:
The students in this university are very political.
186 -IC AND -ICAL

5. (usu. derog.) connected with, influenced by, or done for reasons of personal, group
or governmental advantage rather than for the reasons officially given:
a political decision
The tax cuts were made for purely political reasons.

14. In Hungary, future political autonomy depends on economic development.

15. It wouldn’t be politic at this stage to change our strategy.
16. Had he been more politic than outspoken he would be a wealthier man today.
17. John had won the case against his landlord. But he didn’t think it would be politic to ask
for a new contract at present.
18. Political activity tends to be discouraged in most work places.
19. Revelations of an affair brought his political career to an end in 1983.
20. Political power remained in the hands of the white minority.
21. It was not in the interests of the body politic at the present moment.
22. When the fight began, he thought it politic to leave.
Note the adverbs: political – politically; politic – politicly
cf. policy – politics
Honesty is not always the best policy.
Politics is the art of the possible.

23. Her encounter with the Queen was a magical experience.

magic – magical (23-41)
magic: magisch, die Magie betreffend, Zauberei, Magie
magical: zauberhaft, märchenhaft, erstaunlich
magic tends to lose those adjective uses that cannot be viewed as mere attributive
uses of the noun.
First, it is very seldom used predicatively:
The effect was magical (never: magic).
The ring must be magical (not: magic, though must be a magic one is better than a
magical one).
Secondly, the chief non-predicative use is in assigning a thing to the domain of magic:
a magic ring
a magic carpet – der Fliegende Teppich
a magic spell
a magic crystal
the magic art
or in distinguishing it from others and so helping its identification:
magic lantern
magic eye – magisches Auge, Lichtschranke
magic square – Zahlen-, magisches Quadrat
rather than in giving its characteristics descriptively:
with magical speed
what a magical transformation
magical: mysterious and wonderful, as if caused by magic

24. “I really can’t believe the new Jaguar is really mine,” the prize winner confessed to the
compère. “This is a magical day for me!”
25. He had devoted himself to magic art, because he felt he had received magic powers.
26. Do you know why seven is one of the magic numbers?
27. His audience was surprised. While he was saying his magic formula, he first showed his
magic ring, then touched each top hat with his magic wand – and out came three white
rabbits.
-IC AND -ICAL 187

28. While he was reading T. Mann’s The Magic Mountain, Mozart’s The Magic Flute was
playing in the background.
29. A magician’s performance may be magic as to its supernatural origin, but magical as to its
fascinating quality.
30. Animals have a magical attraction for many children.
31. “That medicine had a magical effect on our patient,” the doctor told his wife at home.
32. You and your partner can stay in the same hotel on the magical Greek island of Mykonos.
33. “This man has magic powers,” the presenter announced. “All he needs is a magic ring and
a magic formula,” he added.
34. We had a magical view over the calm waters of the bay.
35. The government can’t just wave a magic wand and make the problem go away.
36. The lift was opened and closed by a magic eye.
37. “How many points do I need to win?” – “The magic figure is 65.”
38. In the story she had a magic hat which made her invisible.
39. Isis had great magical powers and was greatly feared.
40. There is a magical quality about her singing that I can’t really describe or explain.
41. Every spring we watch the magical arrival of migratory birds from Africa.

6 Exercise

1. He was given a classical education.

2. The Derby is a classic event.
Derby: the most famous English horse-race for 3-year-olds, founded in 1780, held on
the course at Epsom Downs (Surrey)

3. This is a classic example of love at first sight.

4. The conference took place on classic ground.
5. Bach and Beethoven wrote classical music.
6. He is a classical scholar and pursues classical studies.
7. A sombre neoclassical building loomed up in front of us.
sombre
a) sadly serious, grave, gloomy
b) (of colours, sights) like or full of shadows, dark:
Black is a sombre colour.
His expression was sombre as he listened to the report of the accident.
He was in a sombre mood.
to loom up: to appear indistinctly often threateningly:
(fig.) The date of the exam is looming (up).
The shape of a huge ship loomed (up) through the fog.

8. A comic book is a children’s magazine containing comic strips.

9. That’s a comical old hat you’re wearing.
10. Gilbert and Sullivan are remembered for their comic operas.
Gilbert, Sir William Schwenck (1836-1911)
188 -IC AND -ICAL

Sullivan, Sir Arthur Seymour (1842-1900): The Pirates of Penzance, The Gondoliers,
The Grand Duke
Gilbert is the librettist of light satiric operas for which Sullivan composed the music,
called the Savoy Operas, because originally produced for the Savoy Theatre, London.

11. A song intended to amuse is called a comic song.

12. Shakespeare’s tragedies are full of comic relief.
13. Aristophanes was a famous comic writer who is remembered for his caricatures of the
leading personages of his time.
Aristophanes: the greatest representative of ancient Greek comedy:
The Knights, The Clouds, The Wasps, Lysistrata, The Frogs, etc

14. He is doing economic geography.

15. She is a very economical housewife.
16. The government’s economic policy is a complete shambles.
shambles
a confused mess, sth in a state of disorder:
The room was in shambles / the meeting was a complete shambles.
We’ve just moved into our new house, so we’re in a bit of shambles at the moment.

17. He has let his house at an economic rent which enables him to pay for the repairs and
even make a small profit.
18. Sometimes a government has to resort to economic sanctions such as high tariffs.
tariff
1. list of fixed charges, esp. for meals, rooms etc at a hotel; price-list
2. list of taxes on goods imported or (less often) exported; tax on a particular class of
imported goods
to raise tariff walls against foreign goods
to impose / levy a tariff:
A stiff tariff was imposed / levied on tobacco products.
a protective tariff

19. You should be more economical of your time and energy.

20. Their old car is terribly uneconomical; they spend a fortune on petrol.
21. In some US states a condemned murderer can still be electrocuted, i.e. he can be put to
death by means of an electric chair.
22. It takes an electrical engineer to find the electrical fault in the system.
23. The room was heated by means of an electric fire.
24. In the second half of the 20th century the electric guitar has become a popular instrument
with rock musicians.
25. There can be little doubt that Robin Hood, the legendary outlaw, was a historical
character.
26. The signing of the Magna Charta in 1215 was an historic event.
Magna Charta:
Great Charter of the liberties of England, granted by King John under pressure from
his barons, at Runnymede in 1215. Among its chief provisions was that no freeman
should be imprisoned or banished, or in any way destroyed except by the law of the
land.
-IC AND -ICAL 189

27. Scott’s historical novels are novels of adventure rather than of character.
Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832): Waverly, The Heart of Mid-Lothian, Ivanhoe, Kenilworth,
etc

28. The historic(al) present is a simple present tense used to make descriptions of past events
more vivid.
preferably: historic
e.g. in newspaper headlines: Dog Bites Man

29. The Royal Historical Society, which was founded in 1868, aimed at dealing with
biographical and chronological aspects of historical subjects.
30. The Battle of Hastings was a momentous event which happened within historic times.
31. Is that prehistoric car of yours still working?
32. Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument on Salisbury Plain which dates from ca. 1500-1400
B.C.
33. In 1798 Wordsworth, in collaboration with Coleridge, published his Lyrical Ballads, a
collection of poems which, although unfavourably received, marked a revival in English
poetry.
William Wordsworth (1770-1850): The Preface to the Lyrical Ballads states the gospel
of the new poetry (Romantic Movement / Romanticism)
Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834): Biographia Literaria (literary essays), Lectures
on Shakespeare

34. In 1850 Alfred Lord Tennyson, one of the great lyric poets of English literature, succeeded
Wordsworth as poet laureate.
Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809-1892): (Victorian Romanticism): In Memoriam, Idylls of the
King (romantic tales in blank verse), The Lady of Shalott, The Lotos Eaters
poet laureate: the title of the poet appointed for life as an officer of the Royal
Household. He usually produces verse for formal or state occasions such as a
coronation or state funeral, but is not obliged to do so.
The first poet laureate was Ben Jonson, though not formally appointed, the essentials
of the position were conferred on him in 1616, when a pension was granted to him by
James I. John Dryden was the first to receive the official title.
The last poet laureate was Ted Hughes (died in 1998). The new poet laureate is
Andrew Motion.

35. Percy Bysshe Shelley’s Prometheus Unbound is a splendid lyrical drama inspired by
Aeschylus’ Prometheus Bound.
Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822): Queen Mab, Hymn to Intellectual Beauty

36. She waxed lyrical over the new dress she had seen at the fashion-show.
to wax
1. (of the moon) appear to grow in size as more of it becomes visible
cf. wane
2. (of sth’s / sb’s importance, power): increase:
As his power waxed, the Queen’s authority waned.

37. A metric system is a decimal system of measures which is based on the metre as the unit
of length, the kilogram as the unit of weight and the litre as the unit of liquid capacity.
190 -IC AND -ICAL

38. Amongst other things Alexander Pope wrote a metrical translation of Homer’s Iliad.
Alexander Pope (1688-1744)
Essay on Criticism, Essay on Man:
Know then thyself, presume not God to scan,
The proper study of mankind is man.
Homer: Greek epic poet: Iliad and Odyssey. There is doubt as to both his birthplace
and his date, the latter being variously placed between 1050 and 850 B.C.

39. A metric ton weighs exactly 1,000 kilos, while the British long ton weighs 1,016 kilos.
metric
concerning the system of measurement based on the metre and kilogram:
When did Britain go metric?
metrical
(of poetry): arranged in regular beats

40. A mirage is an optical illusion usually produced by atmospheric conditions.

mirage
1. a strange effect of hot air conditions in a desert, in which objects appear which are
not really there
2. a dream, hope, or wish that cannot come true:
pursuing the mirage of world peace

41. The eye and the brain are linked by means of the optic nerve.
optic: of or belonging to the eye
optical: of or about the sense of sight; visual
optical instrument / art

42. Gainsborough did not have Constable’s deep poetic curiosity about the facts of
landscape; still less did he rise to Turner’s heights of sublimity or audacity of colour.
Thomas Gainsborough (1727-1788): famous esp. for portraits
John Constable (1776-1837): landscape painter
J(oseph) M(allord) W(illiam) Turner (1775-1851): landscape painter

43. The 18th-century critic John Dennis defended the idea of poetic justice by stating that
literature which did not function as “a very solemn lecture” was an empty amusement.
John Dennis (1657-1734): critic and dramatist

44. The liberty taken by a poet in matters of word order, rhyme, use of archaisms and figures
of speech is called poetic licence.
45. The debate on poetic diction – the type of language suitable to verse – has continued since
Aristotle’s time.
Aristotle (384-322 B.C): Greek philosopher, pupil of Plato of Athens: Ethics; Politics;
Poetics

46. Surely you would not expect a student to read the complete poetical works of William
Wordsworth.
-IC AND -ICAL 191

47. They defected to Russia where they were granted political asylum.
to defect: to desert a political party, group or country, esp. in order to join an opposing
one
political defectors
several defections from the Labour Party

48. The state as an organized group of citizens is sometimes called the body politic.
49. Can you tell the difference between a political detainee and a political prisoner?
detainee: person who is detained (esp. by authorities, as one who is suspected of
wrong-doing, political agitation, etc)
to detain: keep waiting, keep back, prevent from leaving

50. He had read political economy and political science at Oxford.

51. When it came to the crunch they decided to follow a politic course.
when it comes to the crunch: when the moment of crisis or decision is reached
to crunch
1. crush noisily with the teeth:
The dog was crunching a bone.
2. crush noisily under one’s feet:
The snow crunched under the wheels of our car.

52. The severance of diplomatic relations was an impolitic move.

53. The classical economics of Adam Smith were challenged in the 1980s by Keynes.
54. He had all the classic symptoms of the disease, including high temperature and loss of
appetite.
55. More money is needed for the preservation of historic buildings and monuments.

A List

-ic
(a)esthetic anorectic/anorexic (n) archaistic
academic antagonistic arctic (n)/Arctic (n)
acoustic anti-Semitic aristocratic
acrylic antibiotic (n) artistic
aerobatic antiseptic ascetic (n)
aerobic apathetic asthmatic (n)
agnostic (n)1 aphoristic atavistic
allergic apocalyptic athletic
altruistic apologetic atmospheric
an(a)emic apoplectic atomic
an(a)esthetic (n) apostolic authentic
anachronistic aquatic autistic
analgesic (n) Arabic (n) autocratic
angelic archaic automatic
192 -IC AND -ICAL

ballistic dogmatic hermetic

barbaric (n) domestic heroic
basic dramatic heuristic
bombastic drastic hieratic
bubonic dynamic hieroglyphic
bucolic eccentric (n) Hippocratic
bulimic (n) eclectic (n) histrionic
bureaucratic ecstatic Homeric
calligraphic elastic (n) hydraulic
carcinogenic electronic hygienic
catalytic emphatic hypnotic
catastrophic encyclop(a)edic hypodermic (n)
cathartic endemic idiomatic
catholic/Catholic (n) energetic idiosyncratic
caustic (n) enthusiastic idiotic
Celtic2 epic (n) idyllic
chaotic epidemic (n) imperialistic4
characteristic (n) epigrammatic impressionistic4
charismatic epileptic (n) individualistic
chauvinistic erotic (n) intrinsic
choleric erratic italic (cf. italics (n pl))
chromatic esoteric jingoistic
chronic ethnic (n) journalistic
civic euphemistic kinetic
climactic euphoric laconic
climatic expressionistic4 legalistic
concentric fantastic linguistic
Coptic fatalistic lunatic (n)
cosmetic (n) forensic macrobiotic
cosmic frantic magnetic
cryptic frenetic majestic
cubic Gaelic (n) manic
cybernetic Gallic masochistic
Cyrillic galvanoplastic materialistic
democratic generic mechanistic
demonic3 genetic melancholic (n)
demotic geriatric melodic
despotic Germanic melodramatic
diabetic (n) gigantic messianic
diachronic Gothic metabolic
diagnostic graphic metallic
didactic harmonic meteoric
diplomatic hectic microscopic
diuretic (n) hedonistic militaristic
-IC AND -ICAL 193

mimetic phonetic simplistic

misanthropic photogenic Slavic
mnemonic photographic Slavonic
modernistic plastic (n) socialistic4
monolithic platonic Socratic
moralistic pluralistic sonic
moronic plutocratic soporific
mosaic pneumatic spasmodic
myopic pragmatic spastic (n)
narcissistic prehistoric specific
narcotic (n) prolific sporadic
neuralgic prophylactic (n) static (n)
neurotic (n) prosaic stereophonic
nitric prussic stylistic
nomadic psychedelic supersonic
numismatic psychiatric sybaritic
onomatopoetic/onomatopoeic psychopathic syllabic
operatic psychosomatic syllogistic
optimistic public (n) symbiotic
organic quixotic sympathetic
pacific/Pacific (n) realistic symphonic
pandemic rhapsodic symptomatic
panoramic rheumatic (n) synchronic
parabolic romantic (n) syntactic
paradigmatic rustic (n) synthetic
paralytic (n) sadistic systematic
paraplegic sado-masochistic telegenic
pathetic sarcastic telephonic
patriotic sardonic telescopic
pedantic satanic terrific
peripatetic scenic Teutonic
periphrastic schematic therapeutic
pessimistic schizophrenic tonic (n)
phallic scholastic toxic
pharisaic sciatic tragic
philanthropic scientific tragicomic
philatelic semantic traumatic
phlegmatic Semitic volcanics.
phonemic septic xenophobic

1 (n) means that the adjective also occurs as noun.

2 /k/ seems to have won, but Celtic Glasgow still has /s/
3 There is an adjective demonic, but the form demoniacal seems to be more common.
4 The forms in -ist seem to be more common.
194 -IC AND -ICAL

-ical
allegorical heretical physical
anatomical hierarchical physiological
arch(a)eological hypocritical practical
biblical hypothetical psychological
bibliographical hysterical puritanical (but: Puritan)
biographical identical quizzical
biological ideological radical
canonical logical rhetorical
categorical mathematical scatological
chemical mechanical sceptical/skeptical
chronological medical sociological
clerical metaphorical spherical
clinical metaphysical statistical
critical meteorological stoical
cynical methodical surgical
diacritical methodological tactical
dialectical mineralogical technical
diametrical musical technological
ecclesiastical mythological theatrical
ecological nautical theological
ecumenical nonsensical theoretical
empirical numerical topical
ethical oratorical topographical
etymological paradoxical tropical
evangelical pathological typical
fanatical phantamosgorical typological
farcical pharmaceutical tyrannical (also: tyrannous)
genealogical philological umbilical
geological philosophical verticals.
grammatical phonological zoological

-ic or -ical
algebraic/-ical elliptic/-ical polemic/-ical
analytic/-ical ethnographic/-ical problematic/-ical
antithetic/-ical ethnologic/-ical psychic/-ical
arithmetic/-ical geographic/-ical psychoanalytic/-ical
asymmetric/-ical ironic/-ical rhythmic/-ical
atheistic/-ical logistic/-ical satiric/-ical
botanic/-ical mystic/-ical strategic/-ical
cyclic/-ical mythic/-ical symbolic/-ical
diabolic/-ical parasitic/-ical symmetric/-ical
egoistic/-ical p(a)edagogic/-ical typographic/-ical
egotistic/-ical periodic/-ical
-IC AND -ICAL 195

-ic differs semantically from -ical

classic/-ical electric/-ical optic/-ical
comic/-ical historic/-ical poetic/-ical
conic/-ical lyric/-ical politic/-ical
economic/-ical metric/-ical
196

IDIOMS

1 Exercise: Animals

1. My sister lives just outside London. When I visited my brother in London, I decided to kill
two birds with one stone and go to see her as well.
to fulfil two purposes with one action
zwei Fliegen mit einer Klappe schlagen
Fliegenklatsche: fly-swat
Swat that fly before it lands on the butter.
a fly in the ointment, i.e. the only thing that spoils sth (Haar in der Suppe)
to die / fall / drop (off) like flies, i.e. die / collapse in very large numbers
(to like / love) to be a fly on the wall, i.e. be able to watch what happens without other
people knowing that you are there (Mäuschen spielen)
She would not hurt / harm a fly, i.e. she is not likely to hurt anyone.

2. “I can’t understand why Liz wants to spend most of her evenings in that disco.” – “Well,
birds of a feather flock together, as you know – I’ve always said that your picture of her as
basically a home-loving, cocoa-drinking wife and mother is wildly wrong.”
(often derog.) people who have the same interests, ideas, etc are attracted to each
other and stay close together
gleich und gleich gesellt sich gern

3. The police were accused of using the anti-terrorist legislation to play their own cat-and-
mouse game with the Irish population of Britain.
to play cat and mouse with sb: to confuse sb intentionally, deceive sb, esp. by
keeping them from realizing what is actually happening to them
Katz und Maus spielen

4. Gone are the days when the photographer’s “Smile, please” kept us transfixed, grinning
like a Cheshire cat, while he was fiddling with his camera.
(rare) a very wide smile
cf. to grin broadly, cheekily, mischievously
From Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865) by Lewis Carroll.
breit grinsen

5. For the time being there was no fear of public alarm, and for this reason the Prime Minister
resolved to let sleeping dogs lie.
do not provoke, disturb or interfere with sb / sth that is giving no trouble though he /
she / it might, or could, do so
schlafende Hunde soll man nicht wecken

6. He’s good at playing tennis in private, but playing in public is a different kettle of fish.
eine andere Sache
Note: a fine / pretty kettle of fish: a troublesome situation, a vexing problem. It usually
occurs in the expression:
This is a fine kettle of fish. (das ist eine schöne Bescherung)
This is a fine kettle of fish. My husband is not come to meet me at the train station,
and there is no phone for me to call him.
IDIOMS 197

7. They got into the palace in broad daylight, and made monkeys out of the security men.
to cause to appear to be silly or foolish
verhohnepipeln

8. I had butterflies in my stomach when I went to see my boss this morning.

to feel nervous, anxious, etc, esp. when waiting for sb / sth
ganz flau im Magen sein, ganz mulmig zumute sein

9. She would not believe what the neighbours said her husband had done. She wanted to
hear it straight from the horse’s mouth.
also: right from ...
from the person most closely connected with the subject being discussed
aus erster Hand / Quelle
cf. I only heard the news at second hand.
I got the news second hand.

10. It really gets my goat I feel I’m still a little girl at home, with my parents telling me what time
to go to bed.
to annoy greatly
auf die Palme bringen

11. His wife never has time to get bored. She’s as busy as a bee from morning to night.
very busy
bienenfleißig

12. The policeman smelt a rat when the man said he hadn’t been out all night – but there was
fresh mud on his boots.
to suspect that sth is wrong, that sb is trying to deceive one, etc
Verdacht schöpfen, Lunte riechen

13. Stop chasing red herrings and get back to the point.
a red herring: a suggestion, piece of information, etc, introduced into a situation in
order to draw sb’s attention away from the truth or more important part of the situation
cf. to draw a red herring across sb’s path: falsche Spur legen, Ablenkungsmanöver
starten

14. He wants to see which way the cat jumps before he makes a decision.
(slightly old-fashioned) to see what other people are doing or taking, esp. before one
acts or makes known one’s plans
sehen, wie der Hase läuft
cf. to see which way the wind is blowing

15. When I say I don’t understand I suppose I might as well go the whole hog and confess that
sometimes I don’t even grasp the simplest economic proposition.
to do sth as completely and thoroughly as possible
aufs Ganze gehen, ganze Arbeit leisten
hog: pig bred for meat, esp. a male castrated pig
cf. sow – boar – piglets
cf. roadhog
198 IDIOMS

16. She was like a cat on hot bricks before her examination.
very nervous or worried
auf glühenden Kohlen sitzen

17. In my patched jeans and my torn leather-jacket I felt like a fish out of water among all those
elegantly dressed people.
awkward because in a situation one is not accustomed to
wie ein Fisch auf dem Trockenen

18. It’s quite possible that you will get the contract, but don’t count your chickens before they
are hatched.
do not believe or expect that success, victory, etc is certain until it really happens
das Fell des Bären nicht verkaufen, ehe man ihn hat; den Tag nicht vor dem Abend
loben

19. Jim Wooderson stirred up a real hornet’s / hornets’ nest when he questioned the salaries
paid to the council officials.
a hornets’ nest: a great deal of trouble
in ein Wespennest stechen

20. I don’t advise you to start a conversation with that fellow in the corner – he could talk the
hind leg off a donkey.
to talk too much or for a very long time
reden wie ein Buch

21. They had brought all their furniture before they had a house: that’s really putting the cart
before the horse.
to do things in the wrong order
das Pferd beim Schwanz aufzäumen

22. What the government needed was a new leader who would separate the sheep from the
goats and show the public that dishonesty would no longer be tolerated.
also: to tell / sort out the sheep from ..
to make clear which people in a particular group are of higher ability than the others
die Schafe von den Böcken trennen
cf. to separate the wheat from the chaff
cf. “And he shall separate them from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from
the goats.” (Matthew 25:32)

23. He tried to explain the beauty of the music to his pupils but it was just casting pearls before
swine.
to offer sth valuable to sb who cannot understand its value
Perlen vor die Säue werfen
From the Bible: “Give not that which is holy unto dogs, neither cast ye pearls before
swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.”
(Matthew, 7:6)
IDIOMS 199

24. You may disapprove of the way your father obtained his money, but if he offers to pay for
your education it would be silly to look a gift horse in the mouth.
to look for faults or other things to complain about in sth that is freely offered
einem geschenkten Gaul schaut man nicht ins Maul
Refers to the fact that one can find out how old a horse is by looking at its teeth.
gift: cf. German “Mitgift”: dowry

25. We cannot afford to stop trading with certain countries just because we disagree with their
politics – that would be killing the goose that lays the golden egg(s).
to destroy the chief cause of one’s profit or success
das Huhn schlachten, das die goldenen Eier legt

26. He doesn’t stand a dog’s chance of buying the house this year because the bank refuses
to lend him money.
dog’s chance: very small or slight chance of success or victory
also: a cat in hell’s chance / a snowball’s chance in hell
nicht die geringste Chance

27. John really got on his high horse some days ago and complained that Bill was trying to tell
him how to do his job.
also: mounted his high horse
to be on / get on / ride one’s high horse: to be(come) offended, usu. in an angry or
proud manner
sich aufs hohe Ross setzen
cf. to come / get (down) off one’s high horse

28. If you can arrive late, then so can I: what’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.
what is acceptable or pleasing to one person is acceptable or pleasing to another or
others
was dem einen recht ist, ist dem anderen billig

29. The 70s will surely be the decade in which the worm turned. Through a whole network of
agencies the “little man” turned on those who oppressed and abused him, and answered
back.
the worm turns: a person or group of people that is usually obedient and does not
cause any trouble becomes forceful when in a difficult situation
often as: even a worm will turn (etwa: Es geschehen noch Zeichen und Wunder)
auch der Wurm krümmt sich, wenn er getreten wird

30. “According to Jones, his class-room is full of budding geniuses.” – “Oh, all his geese are
swans. It’s the same story year after year.”
he believes things to be better than they really are (used to refer to a person who
thinks that his actions are more important than they really are, that he has a greater
chance of success than is actually true, etc)
bei ihm ist immer alles besser als bei den anderen
cf. the grass is (always) greener on the other side (of the fence)

31. Most night owls who have to work or simply can’t get to sleep enjoy listening to the radio.
sb who enjoys staying awake all night
Nachtschwärmer, Nachtmensch
200 IDIOMS

32. He gave me some cock-and-bull story about having to be at his cousin’s engagement
party.
a story that is so foolish or stupid that it is unlikely to be believed
Ammenmärchen, Lügengeschichte

33. My brother is a lawyer and my sister is a doctor. They say I am the black sheep of the
family because I decided to be an actor.
a person who is bad or in some way not up to the standard of the others in a group
schwarzes Schaf

34. He was as proud as a peacock when he passed his driving test at the first attempt.
very proud, pleased with what one thinks one is or has done
stolz wie ein Pfau / wie Oskar

35. I have always found it difficult to talk to my boss, but tomorrow I will have to beard the lion
in his den when I go to ask for a better job.
to face sb frightening or powerful, e.g. one’s employer or an opponent, boldly in his
own surroundings, esp. in order to discuss an important subject or sth about which
there is disagreement
sich in die Höhle des Löwen wagen

36. When I tell my parents that Paul and I have decided to call off the wedding they’re going to
have kittens.
to be in a very excited state, esp. because one is worried or afraid
Zustände / Junge kriegen

37. Harold has really gone to the dogs since his wife died. Looking at him now, it’s hard to
believe he was once a successful barrister.
to be no longer of a good quality, character, etc to be near ruin
vor die Hunde gehen

38. The young boy was scolded by his parents and teachers but it was water off a duck’s
back. He continued to behave as badly as he had done before.
sth that fails to have any effect on a person, esp. criticism that is not taken notice of
abprallen an jemandem

39. You’re upset now. But you’ll soon forget her – after all, there are plenty more fish in the sea.
i.e. there are plenty of other people for you to meet and things for you to do (often said
to comfort a person who has lost a boyfriend or girlfriend)
es gibt noch mehr (davon) auf der Welt, auch andere Mütter / Väter haben schöne
Töchter / Söhne

40. Psychiatry has become rather a sacred cow and appears to have taken over the role once
held by the parish priest.
sth that one is not allowed to find fault with but must regard with a great deal of
respect
heilige Kuh
IDIOMS 201

2 Exercise: Animals

1. I can’t come today, I’ve got other fish to fry.

Wichtigeres zu tun haben

2. The only fly in the ointment is that we haven’t got enough money.
sth or sb that spoils plans, causes trouble, or lowers the value of sth
Haar in der Suppe

3. He is a silly ass. He believes everything he is told.

Esel, Dummkopf

4. It was obvious that the comedian was a ham; so he soon got the bird.
cf. to give sb the bird
to express strong disapproval of a person (esp. an actor or singer, a performance)
often by whistling or calling out so that he leaves the stage
auspfeifen
ham: actor whose acting is unnatural, esp. with improbable movements or expression

5. As he spoke he made a beeline for the door.

to move directly and hurriedly towards sth
schnurgerade losgehen auf

6. We followed up the clue, but it proved to be a mare’s nest.

(rather old-fashioned)
Windei; Ente; Reinfall

7. He took to learning English like a duck to water.

i.e. learnt it very easily
sich sofort in seinem Element fühlen

8. Now you have gone and done it! This is the last straw that breaks the camel’s back.
the small problem that, when added to a lot of other previous problems, breaks sb’s
endurance
der Tropfen, der das Fass zum Überlaufen bringt

9. I wouldn’t trust him, he’s a snake in the grass.

a person with harmful intentions who is not easily recognisable, a hidden enemy
falsche Schlange, verborgene Gefahr

10. I don’t intend to buy a pig in a poke.

to buy sth before examining it beforehand
Katze im Sack kaufen

11. The judge sentenced the cat burglar to ten strokes of the cat-(-o’-nine tails).
cat burglar: a burglar who enters houses by climbing up walls, etc
(Fassadenkletterer)
202 IDIOMS

cat-(-o’-nine-tails): a whip with nine cords, formerly used for punishing prisoners
neunschwänzige Katze, Peitsche

12. You can wait till the cows come home.

endlessly, for an immeasurable period
da kannst du warten, bis du schwarz wirst

13. It is twenty miles from here as the crow flies.

(of a distance) measured in a straight line, esp. not following the roads
Luftlinie

14. When I was working under him he was leading a dog’s life.
a life or existence full of worries, trouble, or unhappiness
ein Hundeleben führen

15. We went to Cornwall for a holiday and had a whale of a time.

a very good or enjoyable time
sich prima amüsieren

16. We are not exactly well off, but we manage to keep the wolf from the door.
to have enough money to avoid hunger and need
sich über Wasser halten

17. The hen-pecked husband didn’t dare to go to his friend’s stag-party.

henpecked (usu. of a man): dominated by woman, usu. his wife, and always doing
what she tells him to do
stag-party (also: stag-night): a party for men only, esp. one for a man just before he
gets married
Saufabend des Bräutigams mit seinen Kumpeln (am Vorabend der Hochzeit), (feucht-
fröhlicher) Herrenabend
cf. hen-party: Damenkränzchen, Kaffeeklatsch, reine Weibergesellschaft, für die Braut
vor der Hochzeit arrangierte Damengesellschaft

18. He behaved like a bull in a china shop.

in a rough and awkward manner, like sb knocking into and breaking things
Elefant im Porzellanladen

19. You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. (proverb)
nothing good can be made from material that is bad or of poor quality
aus einem Kieselstein einen Diamanten schleifen; aus einem Ackergaul kann man kein
Rennpferd machen

20. This man and his wife lead a cat-and-dog life.

cf. to fight like cat and dog: to quarrel or argue fiercely, esp. very often
ein Leben wie Katz und Hund

21. A present or possession which is or becomes burdensome in expense or trouble is

generally called a white elephant.
a costly possession that is worthless to its owner and only a cause of trouble
lästiger / kostspieliger Besitz, Klotz am Bein
IDIOMS 203

22. Without my glasses I’m as blind as a bat.

also (less commonly): as a mole
unable to see clearly or easily
stockblind, blind wie ein Maulwurf

23. He is the willing horse that does all the work.

a willing horse: a keen worker
Arbeitstier

24. You can’t hunt with the hounds and run with the hare.
to support both sides of a dispute
es mit beiden Seiten halten
cf. to sit on the fence

25. The thing was no use to him, but he wouldn’t let me have it. He is a real dog in the manger.
a person who stops others from doing or enjoying sth that he does not want or does
not use himself
Neidhammel, nicht gönnen können

26. When he did that he cooked his goose as far as promotion was concerned.
to ruin the chances of success
untendurch sein, die Suppe versalzen, Chance verspielen

27. He’s clever but lazy and always employs someone to do the donkey work for him.
the hard, often physical or tiring part of a job, piece of work, etc
Dreck(s)arbeit

28. She’s afraid to say “boo” to a goose.

to be very or too shy or gentle
Hasenfuß

29. He is not to be trusted. He is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

a person who appears friendly or harmless but is really an enemy
ein Wolf im Schafspelz

30. I sent him off with a flea in his ear. He knows exactly what I think of him.
a sharp scolding that makes a person go away feeling very foolish, esp. when he has
made a suggestion or tried to do sth
wie einen begossenen Pudel abziehen lassen

31. I’ll get my own back one day. The elephant never forgets.
der Elefant vergisst nicht

32. He scored eight bull’s (eyes) in ten shots, i.e. eight times out of ten he hit the bull’s eye.
also fig.: to do or say exactly the right thing; succeed completely in what one is doing
Schuss ins Schwarze, genau treffen
204 IDIOMS

33. She’s really got a bee in her bonnet about this new scheme.
to think or talk about sth constantly, to be obsessed with sth
einen Fimmel / Tick haben

34. He decided to take the bull by the horns and see the boss about his problem.
also: seize the bull
to face a difficulty or danger directly and with courage
den Stier bei den Hörnern packen

35. Don’t let the cat out of the bag. This is supposed to be a secret.
to tell a secret, to let sth slip out that you are not supposed to reveal
die Katze aus dem Sack lassen

36. No wonder he feels sick! He really made a pig of himself last night.
to eat or drink too much
sich den Bauch vollschlagen, kräftig zulangen

37. He’s such an early bird that he usually arrives before anyone else.
a person who gets out of bed early in the morning / an early riser
Frühaufsteher

38. I smelt a rat when he couldn’t produce any means of identification.

to suspect that sth is wrong, that sb is trying to deceive you
Lunte / den Braten riechen, etwas spitzkriegen, Verdacht schöpfen

39. He won’t change. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.
one cannot successfully make old people change their ideas, methods of work, etc
der Mensch ist ein Gewohnheitstier

40. That speech of hers certainly set the cat among the pigeons.
also: put the cat
to cause trouble, esp. by doing or saying sth that is unexpected or causes confusion
für helle Aufregung sorgen

41. You’re flogging a dead horse trying to get Harry change his mind.
also: beating
to keep trying to get satisfaction from sth that cannot or can no longer give it; to insist
on talking about sth that no one is interested in, or has already been thoroughly
discussed
offene Türen einrennen, sich unnötig mühen, Zeit verschwenden

42. It’s not that I mind giving her a lift home every Tuesday, but what gets my goat is the fact
that she’s never once offered to pay for the petrol.
auf die Palme bringen

43. Don’t be fooled! She’s not a bit sad; they’re just crocodile’s tears.
the insincere expression of sorrow
Krokodilstränen
IDIOMS 205

44. When their grandfather died, Robert and his sister got the lion’s share of his money.
the largest or best part of sth when it is divided
Löwenanteil

45. After years of commuting from Brighton to London, he decided to get out of the rat race
and buy a small farm in Wales.
(often derog.) the struggle or competition for success in business, one’s job, etc, esp.
in a larger town or city
(ständiger) Konkurrenzkampf, Hetzjagd

46. We’re off to a stag party tonight. David’s getting married on Saturday.
cf. 17

47. Nagging Susan because she smokes too much has no effect on her whatsoever – it’s like
water off a duck’s back.
sth that fails to have any effect on a person, esp. criticism that is not taken notice of
an jemandem abprallen, jemanden kaltlassen

48. Inside this bar, a new shift takes over: fresh-faced girls, wearing micro-skirts and black
tights that fail to conceal puppy fat.
AE: baby fat
fat which a child sometimes has and which disappears as the child grows older
Babyspeck
cf. puppy love:
It’s only puppy love; he’ll grow out of it.

49. The old man must have bats in the belfry – he wears such peculiar clothes.
silly and foolish
einen Vogel haben, eine Meise unterm Pony haben

50. He thinks that he is (the) cock of the walk just because he was captain of the village
football team.
a man who is too confident and thinks himself better than everyone else
sich als etwas Besonderes vorkommen

51. Don’t expect any useful advice from him – he’s been living in a cloud cuckoo land for
years.
not be realistic and think that things which are completely impossible might happen
Wolkenkuckucksheim

52. A leopard can’t change its spots and a playboy can’t stop womanising.
a person’s character, especially if it’s bad, never really changes, even if that person
might pretend it has
die Katze lässt das Mausen nicht
cf. “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Then may ye also do
good, that are accustomed to do evil.” (Jeremiah, 13:23)
206 IDIOMS

53. It was brass monkeys out there – I thought I was going to die of exposure.
also: brass monkey weather
cf. It was cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey.
Affenkälte

54. I’m catching a train at 6 o’clock in the morning, so I’ll have to be up with the lark.
to rise / be up with the lark
mit den Hühnern aufstehen

3 Exercise: Animals

a)
ass, a (silly)
person who does or says stupid things
Don’t be such an ass! Of course you will pass your English exam.
Simon always makes an ass of himself when he’s had too much to drink.
“Esel”, “Dummkopf”, “Idiot”, “sich blamieren”

beaver, an eager
sb who is too keen and works harder than they should
“ein ganz Eifriger”

bird, a
a) a young woman
Let’s go down to the pub and see if we can pick up / pull a couple of birds.
“Puppe”
b) He’s an odd / rare / strange bird.
c) old bird: an older woman
The old bird was lecturing the shop assistant about the way she had been spoken to.

bitch, a
insulting word for a woman that you dislike or think is unpleasant
She can be a real bitch sometimes.
You bitch – you knew I wanted to keep it secret!
“Hexe”

cat, a
an insulting word for a woman who you think is unkind or unpleasant
“Katze”, “falsches Frauenzimmer”
catty: sb who is catty is unpleasant and often says nasty things about other people
She’s a liar. Does that sound catty, too?
catty remarks

cow, a silly (old)

woman or girl who is considered to be unpleasant in appearance or behaviour
You stupid cow! You’ve just burnt a hole in my dress with your cigarette.
Linda’s a silly cow – just ignore her.
“Trampel”, “blöde Ziege / Kuh”

dog, a real
a man who is unpleasant or not to be trusted, or an unattractive woman
He tried to steal my money, the dirty dog.
“gemeiner Hund / Schuft”
IDIOMS 207

She’s a real dog (i.e. very ugly).

“Schreckschraube”

duck, a dead
a subject or plan which is no longer worth considering
The plan for installing the new machine is a dead duck. We are no longer making that
product.
“ist passé / gestorben”

duck, a lame
a) sb / sth that is not effective at what they do
His recovery strategy does not mean old-style intervention which just throws money
at lame ducks.
The government refused to invest any more money in a company which never made a
profit and which it regarded as a lame duck.
“Versager / Niete”
b) AE: a person who has had an elected position and is not elected again, a president
etc whose period in office will soon end
We hope our governor will be a lame duck after election day.

duck, a sitting
an easy target (to shoot at or criticise)
If he makes stupid statements like this during the debate, he’ll be a sitting duck for the
opposing side.
“eine leichte Beute”

duckling, an ugly
sb who is not very attractive or popular as a very young person but who is likely to
become so as he or she grows older
“hässliches Entlein”

elephant, a white
sth that has cost a lot of money but has no useful purpose
That office building is a real white elephant – it’s been empty ever since it was built.
“lästiger / kostspieliger (und überflüssiger) Besitz, Klotz am Bein”

fish, a queer (odd / strange)

a person who behaves strangely
“komischer Kauz / Vogel”
cf. fish, a cold
unfriendly person who seems to have no strong feelings

fox, an old (cunning / wily / sly)

a) Foxes are traditionally thought to be clever and good at deceiving people, so
humans are sometimes compared to them
The President is crafty, just like a fox.
Are you sure you can trust him – he’s such a cunning/sly/wily old fox.
b) AE: a sexually attractive woman
John’s girlfriend is quite a fox, isn’t she?
to fox sb (into doing sth)
She foxed him into giving her all his money.
This puzzle has well and truly foxed me.

goose, a (silly) (dated)

a silly person
How could you be such a goose as to climb on those sharp rocks with no shoes on?
“Dummkopf”
208 IDIOMS

guinea pig, a
person used in a scientific test, usually to discover the effect of a drug on humans
They’re asking for students to be guinea pigs in their research into the common cold.
He was used as a guinea pig to test a new cure for AIDS.
“Versuchskaninchen”

hog, a
sb who takes much more than a fair share of sth, esp. by eating too much
You’ve eaten it all, (you) hog!
“Fresssack, Geizhals, Vielfraß”
to hog
He’s always hogging the newspapers (i.e. keep them so close that no one else can
read them).
to hog it all: “alles für sich wollen, sich alles grapschen, alles in Beschlag nehmen”

horse, a dark
a) a person who keeps his/her interests and ideas secret, esp. sb who has a surprising
skill or ability
Anna’s such a dark horse – I didn’t know she’d published a novel.
“stilles Wasser, unbekannte Größe, unbeschriebenes Blatt”
b) AE: a horse or politician who is a surprise winner in a competition
“Außenseiter”

lark, a
activity, esp. done for amusement, which is slightly bad but not intended to cause
serious harm or damage
They hid her passport for a lark.
We had a few larks at school, didn’t we?
“Then we let all the air out of her tyres.” – “Oh, what a lark.”
“Jux”
to lark about / around

pig, a
a) a person who eats too much
You greedy pig! You’re not having another chocolate biscuit!
They made (real) pigs of themselves at dinner.
“Fresssack”
b) a person who is unpleasant or difficult to deal with
What a pig! He refused to help, though he could see we were in trouble.
He was a real pig to her.
male chauvinist pig
c) a police officer
d) sb who is untidy or dirty
How can you live in such a mess. You’re such a pig!
cf. pigsty
to pig os on sth:
She’s always pigging herself on chocolate.
We pigged out on the delicious cakes and pastries.

rat, a
an unpleasant person who deceives or is not loyal
You cheated me, you dirty rat!
“Schwein, Verräter, Spitzel, Überläufer”
to rat on sb / sth: be not loyal by giving away secret information, or fail to do sth one
promised to do
He’s ratted on us.
They ratted on their deal / promise.
IDIOMS 209

snake in the grass, a

someone who pretends to be your friend but does something to harm you

swine, a
a person whom you consider to be extremely unpleasant and unkind
Leave her alone, you filthy swine!
Her ex-husband sounds like an absolute swine.
“moral. Schweinehund”

wolf, a (dated)
a man who tries to have sex with many women
He had the reputation of being a bit of a wolf.
cf. womanizer
“Schürzenjäger”, “Weiberheld”

b)
bird of passage, a
a bird that migrates, i.e. moves from one area to another when the season changes; a
person that does not stay long in one place, job etc
At present the organization has to rely on young, inexperienced graduates who are
usually birds of passage.
“Zugvogel”

bird’s eye view, have a

a) to look at sth from very high up so that you can see a large area below
Climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower if you want a bird’s eye view of Paris.
From the plane we had an amazing bird’s eye view of the town.
“(Blick aus der) Vogelperspektive”
b) a general report or account of sth, without many details

cat-o’-nine-tails, a
a whip made of nine strings with knots on the end, used in the past for punishing
people
“neunschwänzige Katze, Peitsche”

cat-burglar, a
a thief who gets into a building by climbing up walls, pipes, etc
“Fassadenkletterer”

catcall, a
a loud shout or whistle expressing disapproval, esp. made by young people in a crowd
jeers and catcalls from the audience
“Buh(ruf), Pfiff”

cat suit, a
a tight piece of women’s garment that covers all the body and legs in one piece
“einteiliger engsitzender Hosenanzug”

cat-walk, a
a narrow path built above the ground
The catwalk along the sides of printing presses was greasy and slippery.
As a model, when I walk along the catwalk at a fashion show, I’m expected to look
confident and make the clothes I’m wearing look good.
“Laufsteg”
210 IDIOMS

cat’s eyes
small pieces of glass or plastic that are put along the middle and sometimes the sides
of a road to reflect the lights of a car in order to show the driver where to drive, esp.
when it is dark.
“Katzenauge, Rückstrahler”

cat’s whiskers (dated)

sth that one particularly admires or would like to have (often a machine or a device)
He thinks his new pocket television set is the cat’s whiskers and is always talking
about it.
Look at him strutting around like he’s the cat’s whiskers.
etwa: “das Nonplusultra, der Größte”

cock(-)of(-)the(-)walk, the (old-fash.)

a man who is too confident and thinks himself better than everyone else
“der Größte”

cock-and-bull story, a
a story which is obviously not true, esp. one given as an excuse
He gave me a cock-and-bull story about having to be at his cousin’s engagement
party.
“Ammenmärchen, Lügengeschichte”

crowbar, a
a heavy iron bar with a bent end that is used to lift heavy objects off the ground or to
force things open
The thieves forced one of the shop windows open with a crowbar and then stole
£10,000 worth of jewellery.
“Brecheisen, -stange”

crow’s-feet
the little lines around the outside corners of a person’s eyes
This moisturizing cream will help to smooth away crow’s feet.
“Krähenfüße, Fältchen”

crow’s nest, a
a small enclosed space near the top of a ship’s mast from which a person can see in
all directions
“Mastkorb”

scarecrow, a
a model of a person dressed in old clothes and put in a field of growing crops to
frighten birds away
“Vogelscheuche”

dog in the manger, a

sb who will not let other people use or have sth, even though they do not need it
themselves
“eine missgünstige Einstellung haben, nicht gönnen können, Neidhammel”

dog collar, a
a strap worn around a dog’s neck or the stiff white circular piece of material worn
around the neck by priests and other religious officials
“Hundehalsband, Kragen (eines Geistlichen)”

dog-fight, a
a) fight between two military aircraft in which they fly very fast and very close to each
other
“Luftkampf”
IDIOMS 211

b) a fight between dogs, usually organized for illegal entertainment

“Hundekampf”

doghouse, a
you are in the doghouse if sb is annoyed with you and shows their disapproval
I’m in the doghouse because I forget Sam’s birthday.
I’ve broken the wife’s favourite vase, and now I’m really in the doghouse.
“in Ungnade (gefallen) sein, der Haussegen hängt schief”

dog’s-body, a
person who has to do all the boring or unpleasant jobs that other people don’t want to
do
I’m sick of being the general dogsbody around here!
“Mädchen für alles sein; Kuli; jemand, der die Drecksarbeit machen muss”

sea-dog, a
sb with a lot of experience of ships and sailing
“(alter) Seebär”

wild-goose chase, a
a useless search, a chase with no chance of success
It was a wild goose chase looking for spare parts for my car. There aren’t any available
just now.
“vergebliche Mühe, fruchtloses Unterfangen”

road-hog, a
sb who drives too fast without thinking about other people’s safety
“Verkehrsrowdy”

pig-iron
a type of iron which is not pure, obtained directly from a blast furnace
“Roheisen”

pigsty, a
AE also: pigpen
the building and enclosed area where pigs are kept
fig. a dirty or untidy place
Your bedroom’s a pigsty!
Clean up your room. It’s a pigsty.
“Schweinestall”

pigtails
a length of hair which is tied at the back or the neck or at each side of the head in a
plait
A little girl in pigtails presented the bouquet.
Jenny wore her hair in pigtails.
“Zöpfe”

piggy bank, a
a small container, sometimes in the shape of a pig, which is used by children for
saving money.
“Sparschwein(chen)”

pigeonhole, a
one of a set of small boxes, open at the front, in which letters and messages are left
for different people, esp. in an office or a hotel
Leave the report in my pigeonhole when you’ve read it.
Joe wants me to check his pigeonhole in the department on my way home.
You shouldn’t try to put me in a neat pigeonhole – see me as an individual.
212 IDIOMS

French manufacturers used to put their cars into tight social pigeonholes – Renaults,
for example, were working-class cars.
“(Ablege-) Fach, Schublade, Postfach”

pigswill
waste food on which pigs are fed, fig, bad or unpleasant food
I can’t eat this pigswill. Take it away!
“Schweinefraß”

rat race, a
unpleasant situation in business, politics in which people are continuously competing
against each other for success
Paul went off to a Greek island to escape from the rat race.
He decided to get out of the rat race and went to work on a farm.
“Hetzjagd (des Lebens), harter (Konkurrenz-) Kampf”

Shank’s pony / mare

walking as a means of travelling:
As there’s no public transport, I’ll suppose we’ll have to use Shank’s pony.
“auf Schusters Rappen”

5 Exercise: Animal Noises

a bear growls brummen

snarls wütend knurren
a bee buzzes summen
drones / hums
a bird twitters zwitschern
chirps zirpen; piepsen
a bull snorts schnauben
bellows / roars brüllen
a cat mews miauen
miaows
purrs schnurren
spits fauchen
a cow moos muhen
lows
a cricket chirps zirpen
a dog barks bellen
howls heulen, jaulen
growls knurren
snarls (zähnefletschend) knurren
yelps jaulen
yaps kläffen
whimpers winseln
a donkey brays schreien
a duck quacks schnattern, quaken
IDIOMS 213

an elephant trumpets trompeten

a frog croaks quaken
a hen clucks gackern
cackles / squawks
a horse neighs wiehern
whinnies
snorts schnauben
a lion roars brüllen
snarls wütend knurren
an owl hoots schreien
screams / screeches
a pig grunts grunzen
squeals quieksen
a pigeon coos gurren
a sheep bleats blöken
a snake hisses zischen
a wolf howls heulen

6 Exercise: German null

1. Nought multiplied by five is nought.

The figure 0 has several different names in British English. Compare zero, nought, O
and nil.
Zero is used especially in scientific, medical and economic contexts, and to talk
about temperature:
The temperature rarely falls below zero here.
The government wants to achieve zero inflation.
Nought is often used in British English to talk about the figure O as part of a
number:
A million is 1 followed by six noughts (1 000 000).
We sell clothes for children aged nought to six (0-6).
When saying or reading a telephone or bank account number, etc in British and
American English we say the figure 0 as a letter ‘O’:
My account number is 0204381 (O-two-o-four-three-eight-one).
The code is 47005 (for-seven-double o-five).
Nil is used when talking about the score in a team game, for example in football:
The final score was 3-0 (three nil).
It is also sometimes used to mean ‘nothing at all’: The prospects of getting work were
nil.
In American English zero is commonly used in all these cases.
Cf. Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, 51995, s.v.”nought”
In football 5-0 becomes five nil or five (to) nothing; and in tennis the spoken equivalent
of 40-0 is forty love.
The result was 0-0 (no score / a goalless draw).
naught (arch) (in certain phrases): nothing
His efforts came to naught (i.e. were unsuccessful).
He cared naught for public opinion.
All their work was for naught.
His promises counted for naught.
214 IDIOMS

Note also
zilch (infml.): nothing
How many points did you score? – Zilch.
How much money is left? – Zilch.

2. The fuel gauges in all tanks were nearing zero.

3. At that moment, all our hopes fell to zero / nothing.
cf. our hopes were dashed

4. Last night the temperature was ten degrees below zero.

5. The thermometer fell to zero last night.
6. My phone number is Bristol five, two, double O (5200)
also: five, two, zero, zero

7. “What’s your phone number?” – “It’s 6 O 33. And yours?” – “It’s 11 double O double O.”
(110000)
8. Point O / nought one. (.01)
9. The Government wants to achieve zero inflation.
10. Division – except by nought, is always possible.
AE: zero

11. All his highfalutin schemes have come to nought / nothing.

highfalutin
trying to appear too proud or serious; pretentious:
highfalutin ideas / language / behaviour

12. The result of the soccer game was three nil / nothing.
AE: zero

13. The result of the game was Tottenham 3 Reading nil / nothing.
AE: zero

14. Becker led 40 – love and still lost his service.

15. Tuition fees are nil or nominal.
nominal: (of a sum of money) very small compared to an expected price or value:
nominal sum / charge / admission fee

16. Our boss is a mere cipher; he is completely helpless whenever the slightest difficulties
arise.
also: nonentity / nothing / failure

17. If you add a nought / zero to 10, you’ll have 100.

18. There are three noughts in 1,000.
19. Our hopes of getting a new car sank to nil / nought / zero.
20. Mary had every answer wrong in the big arithmetic test; so her mark was zero / nought.
21. Bob’s suggestion was all for nought / nothing, for Jack did not follow it.
IDIOMS 215

22. The court rules that the contract was null and void.
23. Our population has reached zero growth.
24. D-day was scheduled for Thursday and zero hour was fixed for 3 a.m.
25. Using binary notation is in fact just manipulating ones and noughts / zero(e)s.
26. You can reduce the danger to almost nothing /nil / zero.
27. We drove on in zero visibility.
28. Politics have zero interest for me.
29. Prospects of success in the talks were put at zero / nil.
30. The result of my investigations was nil.

7 Exercise: Expressions Associated with Numerals

1. Owing to the disorder in my room I can’t find my papers; everything is at sixes and sevens.
2. Two is company, three is a crowd.
3. Congress simply had no right to ask them what, nauseatingly, came to be known as the
sixty-four-thousand-dollar question: Are you or have you been a member of the
Communist Party?
4. He had one over the eight and fell down the steps as he was leaving the party.
5. The whole family were dressed up to the nines when they left for the wedding.
6. He’s gone upstairs to have forty winks after all his exertions.
7. The new electric cars may turn out to be a nine days’ wonder; nobody seems interested in
buying them any longer.
8. Anyone with brains enough to know that two and two make four could have guessed the
outcome of that situation.
9. The saying “A cat has nine lives” refers to the popular belief that a cat, because of its
natural qualities of speed, cleverness, etc, is very difficult to kill and stays alive in situations
that would have caused death to most other animals.
10. If he puts two and two together he’ll realize that you stole the money.
11. He believes in looking after number one, and only helps others when it’s to his own
advantage.
12. You know Jack. He can’t help chatting up any pretty girl he meets. It doesn’t mean a thing,
but if you don’t like it why not show him it’s a game that two can play at?
13. They say that two is company, but after years of observing my parents together I have
strong doubts on that matter.
14. At the eleventh hour they managed to get together enough money to preserve the firm
from going bankrupt.
15. The teacher could not decide who started the fight. It seemed to be six of one and half a
dozen of the other.
16. Eggs are usually sold by the dozen.
17. She always talks nineteen to the dozen. You never have a chance to get a word in
edgeways.
216 IDIOMS

18. “Mike and Sheila are getting on really well, aren’t they?” – “Yes, they’re two of a kind, aren’t
they?”
19. I have a great respect for your father and if any part of this agreement is made without his
knowledge and consent I shall consider it null and void.
20. Margaret has a new man in her life. Marriage again, third time lucky?
21. William is completely insignificant compared with his brother-in-law. He’s a mere cipher in
the company.
22. There had been dozens of attempts at reforms.
23. It was fourteen degrees below zero last night.
24. I bet you ten to one we won’t get an invitation to the wedding.
25. For the nth / umpteenth time, I tell you I don’t know.
26. The spacecraft will be launched on Tuesday, zero hour has been fixed for midnight.
27. I once met a woman with second sight who told me I was about to lose my job, and I did
the very next morning.
28. The English side didn’t score a single goal, so Wales beat them three nil.
29. The increased number of divorces and children born outside marriages have led to the rise
in one-parent families.
30. Teacher thought that he deserved six of the best for his rude behaviour.
31. Are first offenders treated more leniently than criminals with previous convictions?
32. I am not prepared to play second fiddle to Bill any longer – I’m looking for a new job!
33. He doesn’t know the first thing about engines. So we have to take the car to a garage
every time something goes wrong.
34. As I entered the room, a sixth sense seemed to warn me that there was someone hiding
behind the door.
35. The children were in (the) seventh heaven with their new toys.
36. We were in two minds about employing him as a cashier, but when we heard that he had
been to prison for embezzlement we offered the job to the other applicant.
37. On second thoughts I am inclined to agree with you.
38. If his cold is still bad tell him to try this medicine – it is second to none.
39. After we spent two years working on plans for these buildings, it’s been decided we must
use cheaper materials. So we’re back to square one.
40. He’s been a teacher so long that telling anybody else what to do has become second
nature.
41. At first sight the house seemed empty.
42. Your experience as a sales assistant puts you one up on the other candidates,
43. He was on cloud nine after winning the competition.
44. It is a sad facet of human nature that to be called naive is more wounding than to be
accused of all seven deadly sins.
also: capital sins: pride – wrath / anger – envy – lust / lechery – gluttony – avarice /
covetousness – sloth
45. I used to have fights with my elder brother but usually came off second-best.
46. There is no point in worrying about it – we’ll both be six feet under when oil runs out.
47. Driving conditions are dangerous because heavy rain has reduced visibility almost to zero.
IDIOMS 217

48. This is a Catch-22 situation. I can’t get a visa unless I have an air-ticket, and I can’t get an
air-ticket unless I have a visa.
cf. vicious circle

8 Exercise: WORDS ASSOCIATED WITH NUMBERS

1. a two-wheeled vehicle which you ride by pushing its pedals B I C Y C L E

2. in this mathematical system 101 = 5 BINARY

binary: of or involving a pair or pairs
a binary digit: either the digit 1 or the digit 0 as
used in binary notation
binary notation system: system of numbers,
common in computing, using only the digits 1
and 0
cf. decimal system, to go decimal, decimal
currency

3. a three-wheeled cycle TRICYCLE

also “trike”
vehicle like a bicycle but with one wheel at the
front and two at the back
Note: His car is a three-wheeler.

4. a period of 100 years CENTURY

He was born at the turn of the century.

5. one person performing solo SOLOIST

There’s a fine solo passage for piano here.
This passage is to be played solo by the piano.

6. a man who has two wives BIGAMIST

cf. bigamy, monogamy, polygamy

7. two people singing together DUET

or: duo: piece of music for two performers

8. a five-sided figure PENTAGON

flat shape with 5 esp. equal sides and five angles
the Pentagon: In Arlington, Virginia, suburb of
Washington, central offices of the US military
forces and the Defense Department. It is
composed of 5-storey, concentric, pentagonal
buildings.

9. a period of 10 years DECADE

218 IDIOMS

10. an athletic contest in which each competitor takes part in PENTATHLON

five events
running, swimming, riding, fencing, shooting

11. an aeroplane with two sets of wings BIPLANE

cf. monoplane

12. a period of two weeks FORTNIGHT

Note: a fortnight today / tomorrow / on Tuesday:
two weeks after the day specified
this day fortnight: a fortnight from today

13. a period of 1,000 years MILLENNIUM

14. a line of verse with five metrical feet PENTAMETER

“The lyf so short, the craft so long to learn”
(Chaucer)
iambic pentameter
cf. blank verse
heroic couplet: iambic pentameter rhymed in pairs

15. a combat between two people DUEL

to challenge sb to a duel
to engage in a duel of words

16. a dramatic performance or speech for a single actor MONOLOGUE

17. an athletic contest in which each participant must take

part in all of ten events DECATHLON
100 metres – long jump – shot(put) – high jump –
400 metres – 110 metres hurdles – discus – pole
vault – javelin – 1500 metres

18. a person who can use both hands equally well A M B I D E X T R OU S

He would give his right arm to be ambidextrous.

19. two babies born at the same time TWINS

20. an insect which is said to have 100 feet CENTIPEDE

21. an instrument with two lenses which helps to bring

distant objects closer BINOCULARS
also: (field) glasses

22. a mythological animal with a horn in the middle of its head UNICORN
a fabulous creature, a horse with a single horn on
its forehead. In medieval legend it could be
captured only by a virgin putting its head in her lap.
IDIOMS 219

23. four musicians playing together QUARTET

24. government by two or more parties COALITION

(to form) a (left-wing) coalition government

25. three babies born at the same time TRIPLETS

26. a plane figure with four sides QUADRANGLE

esp. a square or rectangle

27. the 100th anniversary CENTENARY

28. four children born at the same time QUADRUPLETS

29. a shape with six sides HEXAGON

30. a person from 80 to 89 years old OCTOGENARIAN

31. a multi-event track and field competition, usually contested

by women. It consists of seven event. HEPTATHLON

32. a person who is 100 years old or more CENTENARIAN

33. a line of verse with six metrical feet HEXAMETER

34. a person between the ages of 70 and 79 SEPTUAGENARIAN

35. a mollusc with eight arms OCTOPUS

mollusc: any of the class of animals, including
oysters, mussels, snails and slugs, that have a
soft body, no backbone, and usually a hard shell
octopus: sea animal with a soft body and eight
long arms with suckers on them

36. a person of any age from 60 to 69 SEXAGENARIAN

37. a union of two vowel sounds / letters DIPHTHONG

38. a sports competition in which competitors run, swim,

and cycle long distances TRIATHLON

39. a sporting event in which the competitors ski and shoot BIATHLON
220 IDIOMS

9 Exercise: Body

1. He’s very careless in his business, and now his company is in trouble – he’s never been
able to see beyond the end of his nose.
2. He would have given his right arm for such a chance.
3. The party began quietly but after a few drinks the guests began to let their hair down.
i.e. to enjoy themselves, start to relax

4. I’m happy that our daughter’s education is in such good hands.

5. I’ve tried to explain to him several times but he can’t understand – he’s dead from the neck
up.
6. He used to wish me good morning but now he gives me a cold shoulder.
7. She decided to make a clean breast of everything and confess that she was the one who
had taken the money.
8. There’s something wrong somewhere. I can’t put my finger on what it is exactly, but
something just doesn’t feel right.
9. A business depression followed hard on the heels of the election.
10. That can’t be true! You’re pulling my leg.
11. You look down in the mouth today. What’s wrong?
i.e. look unhappy

12. The senior negotiator abruptly left the meeting. He openly had no stomach for the toil of
fundamental negotiation.
i.e. have no desire to do sth because you do not like doing it

13. I hope I’m not treading on any teacher’s toes by complaining about our educational
system.
14. He can’t have been serious! Are you sure he didn’t have his tongue in his cheek when he
said it?
i.e. he was speaking ironically

15. He has no backbone; when things get difficult he gives in.

16. My father shouted at me for coming in late, but I bit my lips because I didn’t want to worry
my mother by having a big argument.
17. The brothers were once competitors, but then they decided to set up a joint company;
blood is thicker than water.
18. None of the students liked Mr Baker. In fact, everyone was glad to see the back of him
when he left to teach in Italy.
19. She’s only a secretary, but she has a good deal of power because she has the ear of the
company’s chairman.
20. I put my foot in it when I asked how his fiancée was – I didn’t know they had separated.
i.e. to say sth that upsets, offends, or embarrasses
IDIOMS 221

21. I think there’s going to be trouble at the meeting tonight; I can feel it in my bones.
22. This is a difficult book: you will need to keep a dictionary at your elbow when you read it.
23. You know what a sweet tooth he’s got, so don’t leave that box of chocolates lying around.
24. You’d better be careful what you say to Ann. You know how sensitive she is to criticism –
she takes everything to heart.
25. The leaders of that political party will soon be forced to admit that they have been nursing
vipers in their bosom – that man’s ideas could lose them a lot of public support.
(Schlange am Busen nähren)
viper
a) a small poisonous snake
b) sb who behaves in a nasty way and harms other people

26. I’ve got an essay to write on the history of computing. Unfortunately, I don’t know anything
about it, so would you mind if I pick your brain?
i.e. to ask sb a lot of questions about sth that they know about

27. The brothers are always quarrelling; they can never see eye to eye on anything.
28. Getting a problem off your chest is the first stage to being able to solve it.
29. She looked so ridiculous that it was hard to keep a straight face.
30. When the policeman turned round the corner the thief took to his heels.
31. I have seen him on TV many times, but never in the flesh.
32. He may be young, but his management of the firm shows he has a good head on his
shoulders.
33. He used to love mountain-climbing, but when a friend of his was killed in the Himalayas he
lost his nerve and never went climbing again.
34. He looked down his nose at people who earned a lower salary than he did.
35. Since he lost his job he’s been looking rather out at elbows.
36. We had to pay through the nose to get a hotel room as we had arrived at a busy time.
i.e. to pay far too much money for sth

37. He does everything his wife says: she really leads him by the nose.
i.e. to make sb do everything one wishes, control completely

38. He had an honest nature and a thick skin and never cared about what other people said
about him.
39. Don’t let us pay lip-service to the policy and then leave it to the other fellows to carry it out.
40. She got cold feet when she realized how difficult it would be to get out of doing it.
41. He didn’t want to lose face by admitting he had made a mistake.
222 IDIOMS

10 Exercise: Vegetables – Flowers – Fruits – Plants

1. The Government got wind of the conspiracy and were able to nip it in the bud.
im Keim ersticken
to come into bud
All the plants are in bud.
a budding genius / singer / actor / writer

2. A woman whose husband is away for a prolonged period is often called a grass widow.
Strohwitwe

3. Even though he had been travelling all night, he looked as fresh as a daisy.
taufrisch

4. My remark must have nettled him, because he left in a huff.

muss ihn getroffen / geärgert haben, denn er zog beleidigt / verärgert ab

5. It is better to sow your wild oats before you reach a middle age and settle down for good.
sich die Hörner abstoßen, austoben

6. She carried off the palm in everything she attempted.

Sieg davontragen / in allem die Beste / erfolgreich sein

7. A drowning man will clutch at a straw to save himself.

sich an einen Strohhalm klammern, greifen nach

8. A rolling stone gathers no moss. (proverb)

A person who frequently changes his occupation does not become rich.
An einem rollenden Stein sammelt sich kein Moos / wer unstet ist, bringt es zu nichts.
This is not the equivalent of the German Wer rastet, der rostet, for which there seems
to be no equivalent. Perhaps: One has to keep in action / in practice.

9. He does not let the grass grow under his feet.

verliert keine Zeit / geht frisch ans Werk

10. Don’t halloo until you are out of the wood.

Do not rejoice for having escaped danger till the danger has passed away.
Freu’ dich nicht zu früh / man soll den Tag nicht vor dem Abend loben
cf. also: There’s many a slip ‘twixt the cup and the lip.
Don’t count your chickens before they are hatched.

11. We shall have to act under the rose and keep silent about it.
to act in secrecy: im Geheimen / unter dem Siegel der Verschwiegenheit

12. You can’t rely on him, he is a broken reed.

an unreliable person: ein schwankendes Rohr
IDIOMS 223

13. Now you have gone and done it; it’s the last straw that breaks the camel’s back.
das bringt das Fass zum Überlaufen / nun ist das Maß voll / jetzt hast du’s geschafft

14. I’m not satisfied with the explanation you gave me, and I’m determined to get to the root
of the matter.
der Sache auf den Grund gehen

15. This boy has been a thorn in the teacher’s flesh ever since he came to this school.
also: in the teacher’s side
ein Pfahl im Fleisch / Dorn im Auge
i.e. a person or thing that continually annoys sb or prevents them doing sth

16. To the underprivileged life is not always a bed of roses.

kein reines Vergnügen / Honigschlecken / nicht immer auf Rosen gebettet

17. There is such a mass of detail that one can’t see the wood for the trees.
den Wald vor lauter Bäumen nicht sehen (AE: forest)

18. If you think that I am responsible for this mess you are barking up the wrong tree.
an der falschen Adresse / auf dem Holzweg / schief gewickelt sein

19. He adores his daughter; she is the apple of his eye.

Liebling / Ein und Alles / liebt abgöttisch
etwas wie seinen Augapfel hüten:
to be sb’s most treasured possession
to cherish sth like life itself

20. She made her presence felt and soon everything in the house was in apple-pie order.
in bester Ordung / tipptopp / pikobello

21. I dislike nothing so much as playing gooseberry to an engaged couple.

Anstandswauwau spielen

22. At every wedding the parson tried to make the guests laugh by telling them his old
chestnuts which nobody thought funny.
story or joke that is too old or well-known to be amusing: olle Kamelle / Witz mit ‘nem
Bart

23. I say! Look at that girl! Isn’t she a peach!

a very attractive girl: Klasse / Spitze
It was a peach of an evening / car / girl / film / dress.
cf. a peaches and cream complexion: skin with an attractive pink colour
eine Haut wie ein Pfirsich

24. It is true that we have overcome most of our difficulties, but we are not yet out of the wood.
noch nicht über den Berg / aus dem Schlimmsten / Gröbsten heraus
224 IDIOMS

25. When I was young, I was a very active man, but now I am in the sere and yellow leaf and
have to go much more quietly.
im Herbst des Lebens stehen / in die Jahre kommen
I have lived long enough: my way of life
Is fall’n into the sere, the yellow leaf;
(Macbeth, V,iii,23)
sere (also: sear) (a literary word) (esp. of a plant, etc): withered, dried up
cf. to sear
1. burn sth with a sudden powerful heat:
The body was seared and blackened.
2. cook the outside of a piece of meat quickly at a high temperature, in order to keep
its juices in
3. have a very strong sudden and unpleasant effect on sb:
The scene will be for ever seared into / onto my memory.
(a) searing pain / heat / tale of love and hate

26. At the moment the market for computers is extremely good, so make hay while the sun
shines.
nutze die Gelegenheit
cf. Strike the iron while it is hot: das Eisen schmieden, solange es heiß ist.

27. It may look simple but I warn you, it’s a hard nut to crack.
eine harte Nuss / schwierige Aufgabe

28. Do you really think it so important to sow the seed of virtue in young children?
zur Tugend erziehen

29. One can’t trust him; he’s a snake in the grass.

a hidden or hypocritical enemy: ein falscher Fuffziger / linke Bazille / linker Vogel /
falsch wie die Nacht

30. To put it in a nutshell, I woke up and found myself in hospital.

um es kurz zu sagen
cf. in a word / in short / to be brief
to keep it short
briefly
to cut a long story short
NOT: shortly

31. The judge advised the witness not to beat about the bush.
to delay coming to the point: herumreden / wie die Katze um den heißen Brei
herumgehen

32. He should try to prevent the question of church school becoming once again an apple of
discord between the two parties.
Zankapfel
cf. bone of contention
IDIOMS 225

33. We are up a tree over this matter and I was wondering whether you could help us.
in a difficulty / puzzled: wir sitzen in der Klemme / sind ratlos / wissen nicht mehr
weiter
cf. be caught in a cleft stick / be in a tight (corner) / tight situation / spot / in a spot
or: up a gum tree

34. A house will soon run to seed if left untenanted.

verkommen, verfallen
also: go to seed
to sow / plant / spread (the) seeds of doubt / destruction / rebellion / discontent /
criminal behaviour

35. Money doesn’t grow on trees.

wächst nicht auf Bäumen / fällt nicht vom Himmel

36. We’ll go through the list of the auction-sale and separate the wheat / (grain) from the
chaff.
die Spreu vom Weizen trennen
cf. to separate the sheep from the goats

37. Do whatever you like to do; I don’t care two straws.

also: a straw
ist mir egal / Wurst / gleichgültig
also: not care / give a damn / a fig / a fuck / a hoot / two hoots
I couldn’t care less.

38. Ever since Nigel has found a new job we have been living in clover and can afford
everything we want.
sehr gut gehen / im Überfluss / üppig leben

39. The two sisters are as like as two peas (in a pod); even their own mother has great
difficulty in knowing them apart.
wie ein Ei dem anderen
cf. identical twin(s)
sb’s twin brother / sister
nonidentical / fraternal twins
Siamese twins

40. I’ve never seen the like of it and I don’t mind telling you that this is not exactly my cup of
tea.
nicht ganz mein Fall / Geschmack

41. I had the impression that he wanted to stay in the background and expected me to pull the
chestnuts out of the fire for him.
Kastanien aus dem Feuer holen
sweet chestnuts (also Spanish chestnuts) (edible): roast chestnuts
horse chestnuts (not edible)
chestnut hair
a chestnut horse, i.e. chestnut brown
226 IDIOMS

42. I shall take a leaf out of your book and do my homework earlier.
sich ein Beispiel nehmen an / nacheifern
to shake / tremble like a leaf

43. I can’t believe it! He must have been off his nut.
total verrückt
to go nuts
to drive sb nuts
to be nuts about / on / over sb

44. Now you have come safely through that illness, you’d better turn over a new leaf and stop
gadding about so much.
neues Leben anfangen / neuen Anfang machen
to gad about: sich herumtreiben

45. He won’t answer any questions any more, Constable, he’s pushing up the daisies.
die Radieschen von unten besehen

46. You can’t expect every match to come up roses.

to have a happy or successful result

47. She was an attractive girl before she got married, but then her husband tried to gild the lily
by making her wear expensive clothes and now she looks just like all the other rich wives
around her.
des Guten zuviel tun

48. I think we’ve got to grasp the nettle and find a solution.
in den sauren Apfel beißen, den Stier bei den Hörner fassen
i.e. deal with an unpleasant situation firmly and without delay
You’ve been putting off making that phone call for days – I think it’s high time you
grasped the nettle.

49. “They do things differently in France. The independent artist is respected over here.” – “Oh,
sure, the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.”
bei den anderen ist immer alles besser
cf. All his geese are swans.

50. This is a bad law and the government should abolish it root and branch.
ersatzlos streichen / Kontext: mit Stumpf und Stiel ausrotten

51. You don’t want to win the prize, eh! I think it’s a case of sour grapes. You say you don’t
want to because you know you can’t.
die Trauben sind sauer / hängen zu hoch

52. This new job that she’s got is a real plum.

Bombenjob
The deal was such a plum!
IDIOMS 227

a plum job / part for an actor

the plummest site in the city
a plum (-coloured) shirt / dress

53. Peter did not always spill the beans at once; he would bide his time and adopt a sphinx-
like air.
Geheimnis preisgeben
cf. to let the cat out of the bag

11 Exercise: Colours

1. The thief was caught red-handed whilst rifling the drawers of the manager’s desk.
2. The news came as a shock to him and he looked rather green about the gills.
also: pale
The NSOED has:
green (or yellow, white, blue) about the gills: miserable- or sickly-looking; rosy about
the gills: healthy-looking
Longman Dictionary of English Idioms:
green about the gills: looking as though one is about to vomit
white about / in the gills: showing signs of terror
White in/about the gills can sometimes have the same meaning as green about the
gills.
Another variation of this idiom is rosy / red about the gills, which refers to the redness
of a person’s face after he has drunk too much alcohol.
gill: one of the organs on the side of a fish through which it breathes

3. In the 1950s people’s fear and hatred of communism was expressed in phrases such as
“Better dead than red”.
4. The lorry skidded on a patch of black ice.
black ice: an area of ice that is very difficult to see

5. It would be extremely foolish of you to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.
6. When Hughes started telling tales out of school his wife gave him a black look.
also: a dirty look: a look that expresses anger, dislike, hate, etc

7. He cannot talk himself out of this; I got everything he said in black and white.
8. Look at his black eye; he must have had a row with his better half.
to give sb a black eye
to be black-eyed (schwarzäugig)

9. The soldiers laid down their weapons and walked towards the enemy camp, waving a
white flag.
to wave / show the white flag: accept / admit defeat

10. He had been beaten up and was black and blue all over.
German: grün und blau
228 IDIOMS

11. The news that the firm was closing down came like a bolt from the blue to the staff.
also: a bolt out of the blue
German: wie ein Blitz aus heiterem Himmel

12. He is the son of a well-to-do banker and was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.
Note: He was born the son of wealthy parents.

13. Take the white of an egg, eight ounces of flour and two ounces of sugar.
cf. the yolk of an egg

14. He stands to lose everything he’s got; things are looking black for him.
15. She did not like her friend’s new hat but under the circumstances she thought it permissible
to tell a white lie.
a white lie: a lie being told in order to avoid hurting other people’s feelings

16. Poor Tom is the black sheep that brought this disgrace upon the family.
17. Do you prefer colour or black-and-white photographs?
18. The Black Death, carried by rats off ships returning from the Middle East, wiped out large
sections of the English population in the 14th century.
also (occasionally): black death: the form of bubonic plague that was epidemic in
Europe and Asia in the 14th century
German: der Schwarze Tod, die Pest

19. The golden handshake may compensate for loss of income but it does not compensate for
having to quit a job which was virtually one’s life.
golden handshake: large amount of money given to an employee when he / she leaves
a company, esp. at retirement

20. That huge office building is a real white elephant – it’s empty since it was built.
21. His action towards me showed black ingratitude.
also: ungratefulness
base / rank ingratitude / ungratefulness

22. You look in the pink; I’m so glad you are better.
23. Once in a blue moon Marc will offer to help with the dishes, but usually he doesn’t do any
housework at all.
German: alle Jubeljahre einmal

24. He always sees things in black and white – he can never accept that there are grey areas
to most of these questions.
25. When Sheila saw her sister’s new dress she was green with envy.
Smith: I understand Brown’s wife has a very colourful personality.
Jones: Yes, she’s either white with anger, black with despair, green with envy, or rosy
with happiness.
IDIOMS 229

26. The grandmother lived out in the wood, half a league from the village and just as Little Red
Riding Hood entered the wood, the wolf met her.
27. He never had any money and was everywhere in the red.
28. Every cloud has a silver lining.
German: auch das Unglück hat sein Gutes; auf Regen folgt Sonnenschein

29. What a wonderful surprise! This is a red-letter day and we must celebrate the occasion.
30. We have given up trying to build a house; there is too much red tape involved.
German: Bürokratismus, Papierkrieg, Behördenkram, Amtsschimmel

31. You can tell Ann to tidy her room until you are blue in the face, but she won’t listen to you.
German: bis du schwarz wirst, bis zum Gehtnichtmehr

32. The police took the bank robber off to jail in the Black Maria.
German: Grünne Minna
also: black Maria: an enclosed motor vehicle used by the police to carry prisoners

33. You should have seen her face when despite her presence they continued telling blue
stories.
German: anzüglich, zweideutig, schlüpfrig, pornographisch
blue: concerned with sex in a way that might offend some people
a blue joke / film

34. He was sitting motionless in his chair, deep in a brown study.

cf. lost / deep in thought

35. You can’t expect him to do anything that requires courage. He has a yellow streak in him.
German: hat etwas von einem Feigling an sich, ist nicht der Mutigste
cf. yellow-bellied / yellow-belly: not brave, cowardly; coward

36. A usurer is somebody who lends money at a usurious rate of interest thus trying to bleed
his victims white.
also: dry
cf. to bleed sb for £30,000

37. Some of the jokes were a bit risqué and the producer had to blue-pencil them.
German: streichen

38. Every time I see a man ill-treating his dog I see red.
39. He is an optimist and always sees things through rose-coloured glasses.
or: rose-tinted / rosy spectacles

40. This new car is seen as the great white hope of the British motor industry.
A person who / thing that is expected to bring fame, glory, victory, etc, to a team or
group of which he / she / it is a representative. The phrase was originally used to refer
230 IDIOMS

to a white fighter in boxing who was attempting to beat a black fighter. Black boxers
often held the first place in the sport.

41. For the Minister to bring forth this argument is merely to drag a red herring across the trail
in order to divert attention from the main issue.
German: Finte, Ablenkungsmanöver
cf. to draw a red herring across sb’s path

42. My little son yells blue murder every time he’s put in the bath.
also: screams

43. When I asked him to raise my salary he went purple with rage.
also: turned purple
also: (bright) red with anger / fury / excitement / embarrassment
to go purple in the face

44. Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes.
45. He’s a true-blue Tory and would never dream of voting Labour, but his sister is a red-hot
socialist.
also: a dyed-in-the-wool Tory
red-hot enthusiasm / news
a convinced socialist

46. When I saw him he was in a blue funk because he thought that he had failed in his exam.
German: Heidenangst, mächtigen Bammel haben

47. Announcing that you are a Marxist is like a red rag to a bull to him.
48. He almost had an accident when he drove through an amber that was just about to change
to red.
49. On boat-race night the students painted the town red.
German: die Stadt auf den Kopf stellen, unsicher machen

50. He gave me a glare as black as thunder and asked what I wanted.

German: einen bitterbösen Blick zuwerfen

51. He was born to the purple and later succeeded his father to the throne.
also: in the purple

52. They said bad things of him, but he is not so black as he is painted.
German: er ist nicht so schlecht, wie man ihn macht / wie sein Ruf

53. I cooked your dad his favourite meal and used our new dinner service. He was tickled pink
with it all.
German: freute sich wie ein Schneekönig
IDIOMS 231

54. In an advanced state of delirium tremens it is not unusual for a dipsomaniac to see pink
elephants.
also: DT(s)
to have (an attack of) the DTs

55. Mark chose to go to a red-brick university because he didn’t like the elitism of Oxford and
Cambridge.
redbrick: a term much favoured by journalists and often used in scholastic circles; it is
loosely applied to all English universities other than Oxford and Cambridge
Cf. Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase & Fable
cf. concrete universities

56. The government gave the green light to the minister’s plans for reducing unemployment.
cf. the go-ahead

57. That is the sort of story that the yellow press would like.
German: die Boulevard-, Sensationspresse
cf. the gutter / tabloid press
broadsheet: a newspaper printed on large sheets of paper, esp. a serious paper that
people respect

58. I put the book in a box and wrapped it up in brown paper before I posted it.
59. White-collar workers are usually thought to be better paid than manual workers.
cf. 74

60. She has green fingers, so it is not surprising that they have a beautiful garden.
cf. AE: to have a green thumb

61. Nobody likes him since he’s become the boss’s blue-eyed boy.
62. We shall have to roll out the red carpet when such an important person comes to visit us.
cf. to give sb the red carpet treatment

63. We have a new shop assistant in our department, but she’s rather green, a bit naive and
inexperienced.
64. There is a common prejudice that girls who are very beautiful must automatically be lacking
in grey matter – so-called “dumb blondes”.
65. The disco had a black list of people who were to be refused entry.
66. Thank you, no milk, please, I’d like my coffee black.
67. He knew that the golden rule of merchandising is to create an appetite for something that
you didn’t even know you wanted.
68. Polytechnics present golden opportunities to a bright young lecturer. Starting salaries are
higher than in universities, and there are unparalleled chances to experiment with new
syllabuses.
232 IDIOMS

69. Sophie placed the grill over the red-hot charcoal.

red-hot
a) heated until red
b) fig. extremely exciting, very passionate, full of energy, enthusiastic, sensational:
(a) red-hot anger / enthusiasm / Labour man / lover / metal / news / news story /
passion / patriotism / rumour / socialist
c) (of a favourite in a competition) strongly expected to win: the red-hot favourite for
the Grand National
cf. red head
white-hot
cf. white heat:
1. the temperature at which metal emits white light
2. a state of intense passion or activity

70. Feeling blue? Don’t know who to talk to? Phone Depression Hotline, 24 hours a day.
71. I can’t wait to see his face when you tell him – he’ll go as red as a beetroot.
72. The Nicholsons will be giving me a black mark, I suppose, for not turning up at their party.
73. The job had been offered to her out of the blue.
74. Until recently secretarial work and nursing were very much pink-collar professions.
white- / blue- / pink-collar
all three are used attributively only, preceding nouns such as job / union / worker /
industry: white-collar refers to working in an office rather than eg to operating
machines in a factory, it suggests work that needs mental, non-manual rather than
physical, manual effort
“Büro-” / “Schreibtisch-”
blue-collar
refers to people doing practical (often dirty) work or work requiring physical strength:
“Fabrik-”
pink-collar
is chiefly AE and rare in BE; it refers to (often low-paid) jobs traditionally done by
women

75. It was freezing outside, and her hands were blue with cold.
76. She came back from her holiday as brown as a berry.
cf. bronzed

77. D. H. Lawrence’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover is full of purple prose.

cf. purple passage / patch: refers to a style of writing / speaking that is unnecessarily
complicated and contains too much detail

78. The Green Party is campaigning against the dumping of nuclear waste at sea.
IDIOMS 233

12 Exercise: Names

name
1. name
the word by which an individual person, Benennung, Name
animal, place, or thing is spoken of or to
Words like ‘man’, ‘country’ and ‘sea’ are general
names / nouns; ‘England’ or ‘London’ are particular /
proper names / nouns.
A person of the name of Smith wants to see you. namens
a professor by the name of Woodson
Tom by name genannt / namens Tom
I know the man by name. dem Namen nach
to call sb names jn beschimpfen
What’s your name?
Please, tell / give me your name.
He gave the name of John Miller.
to call sb by his name
to know sb (only) by name
to sign sth with one’s name
in name only nur dem Namen nach
He’s leader in name only.
“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by
another name would smell as sweet.”
(Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, II,2)

2. reputation, fame (guter) Name, Ruf

He soon made / won a name for himself.
This firm has a name for good workmanship. bekannt sein für
to have a good / bad name (for sth) (k)einen guten Ruf haben
He will lose his good name.
They have a name for honesty.
a man of great name
a big / famous / household name allgemein bekannt,
ein Begriff

3. namesake Namensvetter,
person / thing having the same name as another: den gleichen
She’s my namesake but we’re not related. Namen haben

to name
to give a name to: den Namen –
They named the child John. geben, nennen
The child was named after (US: for) his father.
to call (a person or thing) by its right name:
Can you name all the flowers in this garden? benennen
to name / set / fix the day den Hochzeitstag
festsetzen
to name one’s conditions / price / terms nennen
to name names: Namen nennen
The police are looking for somebody who’s
willing to name names.
to name but a few:
Lots of friends are coming, Bob, Sheila, Bill, Andrew,
Ann, to name but a few.
to choose or mention for a post be-, ernennen
Mr Miller has been named for the directorship.
to name sb to an office
to name one’s successor
He has been named / nominated (as) the new Liberal
candidate.
234 IDIOMS

byname
a supplementary name, added to sb’s personal name
as an aid to identification: Eric the Bold

Christian name, first name Vorname

given name, forename (formal)
to be on first name terms

surname, family name, AE last name Nachname

In American names there is usually also a middle name:
Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

nickname Spitzname
a name given to a person or place instead, or in addition
to, the real name; abbreviation or familiar form of Christian
name:
Fatty for a very fat person
Ginger for a red-headed person
Bob for Robert

to nickname einen Spitznamen geben

to give a nickname to sb
Some people are never nicknamed.

full name

married name
the husband’s family name
Is Robertson your married name?

maiden name Mädchennamen

née geborene
Mrs Wooderson, née Miller

pen name / pseudonym / nom-de-plume

He writes under the pen name of Smith / pseudonym Smith.

pet name Kosename

a name given or used to show kindness or familiarity:
Little dear / my dearest love / honey / darling
short forms Gwen for Gwendolyn, Fred / Freddy / Freddie
for Frederick, Geoff / Jeff for Geoffrey

so(u)briquet, a nickname

for short
Her name is Gwendolyn, Gwen for short.

1. Just tell them you’re a friend of mine and, Bob’s your uncle, you’ll get the job.
... und fertig ist der Lack / die Laube

2. Jock is a name used by English people for Scotsmen and is considered offensive by some
people.
Jock is the Scottish form of Jack.

3. The boys were so tactfully anxious not to intrude on his emotional privacy, not to insult him
with the display of their own high spirits, that after having made a few constrained and
IDIOMS 235

unnatural demonstrations of friendliness, they left him alone. It was almost, Anthony
thought, like being sent to Coventry.
jemanden schneiden, ignorieren, gesellschaftlich ächten

4. I’ve got a presentiment that something is rotten in the state of Denmark.

Es ist etwas faul im Staate Dänemark.
cf. Shakespeare, Hamlet, I,iv: Marcellus: Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.

5. George Links now realized that Bone had been drinking. Gaining Dutch courage for the
encounter, evidently. If it was so, it was useless to try to discuss the matter calmly.
sich Mut antrinken

6. I talked to her like a Dutch uncle. I put the fear of God into her. I told her she’d get ten
years.
jemandem eine Standpauke halten

7. She tried to explain her theories about modern poetry but it was all Greek to me.
Das waren böhmische Dörfer für mich.
cf. Shakespare, Julius Caesar, I,ii

8. He vanished before you could say Jack Robinson.

im Nu, im Handumdrehen

9. My neighbours have bought a house in the country. I suppose they’re trying to keep up with
the Joneses / Jones’s.
den Nachbarn nicht nachstehen wollen

10. I know, and Connie knows, that Emsworth’s as mad as a March hare, but naturally we
don’t want the world to know it.
total übergeschnappt / ein komischer Vogel / Kauz sein

11. Exporting pine to Scandinavia seems a bit like carrying coals to Newcastle.
Eulen nach Athen tragen

12. When taxation is utilized to secure healthy conditions of existence to the mass of the
people it is clear that this is no case of robbing Peter to pay Paul.
ein Loch mit dem anderen stopfen, dem einen geben, was man dem anderen nimmt

13. Since his divorce he’s been living the life of Riley.
wie Gott in Frankreich leben

14. Facts must be faced, and ideals should be grounded in reality; for it is no use blinking the
general nature, or thinking that Rome can be built in a day.
Rom wurde nicht an einem Tage erbaut.
236 IDIOMS

15. Jim’s a nice boy, but he’ll never set the Thames on fire.
Er hat das Pulver auch nicht erfunden.

16. The British champion met his Waterloo when he boxed for the world title.
sein Waterloo erleben, Schiffbruch erleiden.

17. She is suing a peeping Tom photographer over photographs he took of her swimming in
the nude.
Spanner, Voyeur

18. A mother has to be a Jack-of-all-trades – cook, nurse, teacher, sports coach and lots
more!
Alleskönner

19. Tomato juice with vodka is called “Bloody Mary”.

20. I wouldn’t go back to that job for all the tea in China.
nicht um alles Gold der Welt

21. What other subject would the BBC be prepared to have discussed in front of millions of
viewers by someone who, on his own admission, knows sweet Fanny Adams about it.
keine Ahnung haben

22. He’s a Jack-of -all-trades, master of none.

vorgeben, alles zu können / sich an alles heranmachen, aber keine richtige Ahnung /
wirklichen Kenntnisse haben

23. She’s really a doubting Thomas – I’m sure she won’t believe you’re back till she sees you.
ein ungläubiger Thomas

24. The company has appointed a new managing director to cut the Gordian knot of its
financial difficulties.
den gordischen Knoten durchschlagen

25. I hadn’t intended to buy a chocolate cake but it was all a case of Hobson’s choice.
keine andere Wahl haben

26. “Will you let me take you out to dinner tonight?” – “As long as we go Dutch”.
getrennte Kasse machen
to share the cost of sth with sb
cf. to do Dutch

27. He said he didn’t want to go on a coach-tour with a lot of fuddy-duddies as old as

Methuselah.
alt wie Methusalem
IDIOMS 237

28. If he’s going to hold the party together in this time of crisis, it will require a Herculean effort.
eine herkulische Anstrengung, eine Riesenanstrengung, eine übermenschliche
Anstrengung

29. A misbehaving minister is regarded as a government’s Achilles(’) heel and is expected to

resign.
Achillesferse, Schwachpunkt
Achilles’ tendon: the tendon attaching the calf muscles to the heel: Achillessehne

30. In very gradual, complex ways, Britain may prove to be, not the Trojan horse of American
influence which France has always feared, but, on the contrary, a counterpoise to the
American tide.
ein trojanisches Pferd
also: the Wooden Horse of Troy

31. Government threats to cut the budget by 50% are hanging over the Opera House like a
sword of Damocles.
wie ein Damoklesschwert

32. So it looks as if the politicians have won. My only point is that it has been a Pyrrhic victory.
In no other country in the world are politicians held in greater or more open derision than
they are here.
ein Pyrrhussieg

33. In other words, the starting point is quite irrelevant; as all roads lead to Rome so a person’s
thoughts and associations tend to lead towards his personal troubles, desires and wishes
of the present moment.
Alle Wege führen nach Rom.

34. “Isn’t that your old girl-friend Barbara over there?” – “ Don’t know her from Adam.”
Ich habe keine Ahnung, wer sie ist.

35. This stereo system is the most expensive in the range and is not the sort of thing that Joe
Bloggs would buy.
Otto Normalverbraucher
NSOED: Joe Bloggs: a nickname for a hypothetical average man
cf. the man in the street
the man on the Clapham omnibus: sb who is supposed to represent the attitudes of
ordinary people

36. Is Pat really ill, or is she just taking French leave?

sich heimlich aus dem Staube machen, sich auf französisch empfehlen

37. My parents won’t mind the isolation of the cottage one bit. They’re a real Darby and Joan
– there’s no company they enjoy better than each other’s.
ein glückliches älteres Ehepaar
238 IDIOMS

38. My uncle left a fortune of well over a million pounds. He worked like a Trojan from the time
he was 16.
wie ein Pferd arbeiten
cf. He is a regular Trojan

39. “What do you mean ‘the lights still won’t work’?” the foreman said peering at the
dashboard. “You’re a proper Charlie / Charley, aren’t you? How the hell could the lights
work if you don’t switch on the ignition?”
Heini, Blödmann
to feel / look like a proper Charlie

40. In some divorce cases you read about nowadays, one would need to be as wise as
Solomon to know which party was the more at fault.
klug, weise wie Salomon

41. Russian roulette is a game in which you risk killing yourself (by shooting at your head with
a gun that has a bullet in only one of six chambers
russisches Roulette

42. Put your John Hancock at the bottom of the page.

seinen Friedrich Wilhelm unter etwas setzen

43. Scotland Yard is the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police.

now officially called New Scotland Yard

44. In the United States, Scotch tape is a transparent sticky tape that you use for sticking
together things such as paper and cardboard.
45. He tells the same boring stories every night – you’ll need the patience of Job if you’re going
on holiday with him.
eine Engelsgeduld haben
cf. a Job’s comforter: sb who tries to make you feel more cheerful, but actually makes
you feel worse

46. The first hours and days after the Oklahoma City bombing convinced many that justice
would be swiftly done. The real life rhythms took over. Nearly three weeks after the blast,
John Doe No. 2 was still at large, and the immensity of the task facing the Feds has sunk
in.
fiktiver männlicher Name für eine Partei in einem Rechtstreit, deren Namen geheim
bleiben soll, für einen unbekannten Täter
Fed: (infml) an agent of the FBI
John Doe (chiefly AE):
a) name used in a law court for a person whose real name is kept secret
b) John Doe is also an average or typical man, and Jane Doe is an average or typical
woman (Otto Normalverbraucher)
IDIOMS 239

13 Exercise: Clothes

1. I wrote to them and telephoned as well – belt and braces, I admit.

doppelt genäht hält besser
2. It was clever of you to guess my size correctly – the new coat that you bought me fits like
a glove.
wie angegossen
3. He is a man with a lot of experience under his belt.
hinter sich, auf dem Buckel
4. You’re talking through your hat. You don’t know anything about politics.
faseln, dummes Zeug reden
5. The minister has decided that he is too old to do his job properly, but there are several
younger and equally skilful politicians waiting to step into his shoes.
Nachfolge antreten, Platz einnehmen
6. It’s about time you pulled your socks up! You’ve done less work this morning than I’ve
done in ten minutes.
sich am Riemen reißen
7. The country’s crisis, he added, was so grave that even the theatre and the ballet company
would have to tighten their belt.
den Gürtel enger schnallen
8. My boyfriend was more interested in watching football than in going out so I gave him the
boot.
den Laufpass geben
9. The cloth or flat cap has become the symbol of the working-class man.
Schlägermütze
10. The remarks she made about her husband’s failures were a bit below the belt.
unter der Gürtellinie
11. Soon after I went to work for another company, my old boss came to me begging for a job.
Now I am his boss, and the boot is on the other foot.
die Sache verhält sich genau umgekehrt
12. The thugs hit him, knocked him down and proceeded to put the boot in until he lost
consciousness.
zutreten, zulangen
13. He expects his workers to lick his boots.
kriechen
14. She says she’s my friend but she’d have the shirt off my back if she had the chance.
ruinieren
15. If she wins both races, it will be a real feather in her cap.
Auszeichnung
16. The police were acting hand in glove with the army to keep order in the country.
Hand in Hand arbeiten
17. “Bluestocking” is a disparaging name for a scholarly woman.
Blaustrumpf
240 IDIOMS

18. The military aircraft were sent out to attack the weapons factories of the enemy and
succeeded in catching them with their pants / trousers down.
völlig unvorbereitet, überraschend
19. He became very hot under the collar when he realized that his secretary had caught him in
a lie.
in Rage geraten, verlegen werden
20. Jenny keep a secret! She’ll have told a dozen people by now, or I’ll eat my hat.
einen Besen fressen
21. It was a great joy to hear an after-dinner speech delivered off the cuff with such brilliance.
aus dem Stegreif
22. She came in her Sunday best but found everyone else in jeans and T-shirts.
Sonntagsstaat, -kleider
23. So Ann actually manages to juggle two small children and a full-time job. Well, I take off my
hat to her.
den Hut ziehen vor
24. The NUT threatened to take off the gloves if the Secretary of State for Education and
Science did not give in to their wage demands.
ernst machen, massiv werden
NUT: National Union of Teachers
25. He has no time for the school of contemporary musicians who, as far as he can see, think
that everything done last week is old hat.
ein alter Hut
26. All pensioners should be at or above subsistence level. Retired workers should not have to
go cap in hand to ask for supplementary allowances.
mit dem Hut herumgehen, betteln müssen
27. John’s getting too big for his boots and wants people to think he is more important than he
really is.
überschnappen, größenwahnsinnig werden
28. When my brother got married, his friends passed the cap round at work and bought him a
present.
sammeln
29. She’s had ants in her pants all week – waiting for the exam results.
aufgeregt sein, das große Flattern haben
30. My mother is such a good cook she knocks anyone else into a cocked hat.
an die Wand spielen, ausstechen
31. For Christ’s sake, shut up and stop boring the pants off the rest of us.
zu Tode langweilen
32. He was shaking in his shoes as a large dog moved towards him.
vor Angst zittern
33. He came to the door in his shirt-sleeves and asked me to wait while he was getting ready
to come out with me.
in Hemdsärmeln
34. I’m surprised he gave in to your demands. I wonder if he has something up his sleeve.
etwas im Ärmel, in petto haben
IDIOMS 241

35. It would be quite false to call Tom a henpecked husband; nevertheless one does gather the
impression that she wears the trousers / pants / breeches.
die Hosen anhaben, das Sagen haben
36. This union is for clerks, secretaries and other white-collar workers.
Kopf-, Geistes-, Büroarbeiter
37. He looked gently and quiet but had an iron fist in a velvet glove.
knallhart hinter sanfter Fassade
38. When the politician’s party lost power he turned his coat and joined the opposing party.
cf. turn-coat: Wendehals
39. The government has been urged to lift the veil of secrecy surrounding the minister’s
unexpected resignation.
Schleier lüften
40. His whole family were ashamed when he sold the story of his crimes to the newspapers. It
was bad enough that he had been sent to prison but it was much worse when he started
washing his dirty linen in public.
schmutzige Wäsche waschen
41. When they realized that David, whom they disliked, would probably win a place on the
committee, they tried to persuade their friend Bill to throw his hat into the ring.
den Hut in den Ring werfen
42. I had to pick up the gauntlet he had thrown down and prove that I could do the job as well
as he could.
Fehdehandschuh aufnehmen
43. I found them sitting around and drinking tea. I told them if they didn’t roll up their sleeves
and get on with the job they wouldn’t be paid.
Ärmel aufkrempeln
44. Jane and I have decided to get married, but keep it under your hat for the moment, won’t
you?
für sich behalten
45. They have had another baby; they will have very little money and will have to cut their coat
according to their cloth.
sich nach der Decke strecken
46. The potatoes should be baked in their jackets.
in der Schale
47. The director listened to my complaints with a straight face, but I felt all the time he was
laughing up his sleeve.
sich ins Fäustchen lachen
48. I didn’t say that you were a fool, but if the cap / shoe fits, wear it.
Wem der Schuh passt, der zieht ihn an.
49. She is easily distressed, you’ll have to handle her with kid gloves.
mit Samt-, Glacéhandschuhen anfassen
50. I’ve been living on a shoestring since my father stopped sending me money.
mit ein paar Groschen / ganz wenig Geld auskommen
242 IDIOMS

51. I think I’ve quite a good chance of getting the job, but I wouldn’t put my shirt on it.
wetten / Wette eingehen
to risk all one’s money on sth
52. Shortly after taking the veil, Sister Mathilda went to India to set up a school for orphans.
den Schleier nehmen
53. He thinks that just because he’s rich he’s cleverer than anyone else. He’s nothing but a
stuffed shirt.
(aufgeblasener) Wichtigtuer
54. They put the author’s photograph on the jacket of his first novel.
Schutzumschlag
55. Try putting yourself into my shoes – the situation, as you’ll soon find out, isn’t nearly as
simple as you think.
in jemandes Lage versetzen
to be in sb’s shoes (in jemd. Haut stecken)
56. He scared the pants off his sister by talking about death all night.
zu Tode erschrecken
57. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are
ravening wolves.
Schafspelz
58. She expected me to find the books for her at the drop of a hat.
auf der Stelle, ohne weiteres
59. “I heard a good joke yesterday.” – “Oh, put a sock in it! I’m tired of your old chestnuts.”
Hör’ auf!
60. I thought I had been given a private bathroom, so I was more than disconcerted when
somebody walked in and found me in my birthday suit.
Adamskostüm
61. In all his performances he never wears his heart on his sleeve; you sense his reserve, his
secrecy, his self-control.
das Herz auf der Zunge tragen
62. Her parents had told me never to speak to their daughter again, so I knew I would be
running the gauntlet if I arranged to meet her at home.
Spießrutenlaufen
63. Keep your shirt / hair on! Your car isn’t badly damaged!
Reg’ dich nicht auf!
IDIOMS 243

14 Exercise: The Game of the Name

Aberdonian George III was a Hanoverian king.

Berliner Harrovian
the Old Harrovians
Bernese
Hebridean (-ian)
Brum(mie), -y (sometimes derogatory)
Dutchman
Breton Dutchwoman
Dutch
Cantabrigian
abbreviation: Cantab, Irishman
used especially after title of a degree of Irishwoman
Cambridge University: Jane Smith, Irish
MA Cantab
cf. Oxford Lancastrian

Channel Islander Liverpudlian

Scouse(r)
Cestrian Scouse (the language)

Coventrian Londoner

Cypriot Maltese

Dane Manxman
Danish the Celtish language spoken there: Manx

Devonian Mancunian

Etonian Muscovite
the Old Etonians
Neopolitan
Glaswegian
I’m a Glaswegian born and bred. New Yorker

Brit(on) Northumbrian
British Geordie
AE: Britisher
Orkadian
Hanoverian
244 IDIOMS

Oxonian
Oxon: David Jones, BA Oxon

Parisian

Pole
Polish

Roman

Sheffielder

Salopian

Spaniard
Spanish

Sri Lankan
formerly: Ceylon – Ceylonese
also: Sin(g)halese

Swede
Swedish

Turk
Turkish

Welshman
Welshwoman
Welsh

Wykehamist
Wykeham, founder of New College, Oxford, and
Winchester College

Yorkshireman
Yorkshirewoman

Note: Few adjectives have been formed from the

names of towns, and those few are rarely used.
Usually the noun is used attibutively. You can speak
of a Glaswegian accent / characteristic, but not of
the Glaswegian streets (the Glasgow streets / the
streets of Glasgow)
 245

INTENSIFIERS

1 Exercise

Intensifier Adjective German Equivalent

1. blind drunk sinnlos betrunken
to be drunk: to have had one too many,
one over the eight, to be smashed,
loaded, bombed, paralytic, legless
2. boiling hot kochend-, siedendheiß
3. bolt upright kerzengerade
cf. as stiff / straight as a ramrod
4. bone (-)dry knochentrocken
5. brand -new brand-, nagelneu
6. crystal (-)clear glasklar
7. dead drunk sinnlos betrunken
level genau auf gleicher Höhe
beat todmüde
8. dirt (-)cheap spottbillig
9. fast asleep tief, fest schlafen
10. filthy rich stein-, stinkreich
dirty völlig verdreckt
11. flaming red flammend rot, feuerrot
12. flat broke total pleite
13. freezing cold eiskalt
14. hopping mad fuchsteufelswild
15. jet (-)black pechschwarz
16. pitch -black pechschwarz
-dark stockdunkel
17. razor -sharp messerscharf
18. rock -hard steinhart
19. soaking wet triefend nass, klitschnass
cf. to be soaked to the skin / drenched
20. squeaky (-)clean blitzsauber, -blank
cf. spick and span
spotlessly / immaculately clean
as bright as a new pin
21. stark naked splitternackt
cf. as naked as the day he was born
in one’s birthday suit
in the nude / the altogether
stark mad total verrückt
246 INTENSIFIERS

22. stone broke völlig abgebrannt, pleite, blank

or: stony
stone deaf stocktaub
cf. as deaf a doornail / (door)post
23. stone-cold sober stocknüchtern
24. wafer -thin hauchdünn
25. wide awake hellwach

2 Exercise

1. He may be a nice enough fellow when he is sober. But on the two occasions I’ve seen him
he was dead / blind / roaring drunk and a perfect nuisance.
also: stinking drunk

2. She was running boiling / scalding hot water into the tub.
red hot: used to describe an object or surface that is very hot
white hot: used to describe hot metal
boiling / broiling / scorching / baking / roasting hot: used to describe weather
boiling / scalding hot: used to describe liquid that is extremely hot
piping hot: used to describe food or water that is nice and hot
burning hot: used to describe the sun or a surface
stifling / sweltering hot: used to describe weather or place that is uncomfortably hot
to be as hot as hell: used to describe a place

3. The explosive sound caused him to sit bolt upright in his chair.
4. A tumbler gets things bone dry.
5. There is no reason why it shouldn’t start. It’s a brand-new machine.
6. I’d like to make it crystal (-) clear that I do not agree with your proposals.
7. In order to play this game we must have the table dead level, otherwise the ball will roll off.
8. The house may need a lot of work, but it was dirt cheap.
9. The baby was lying fast / sound asleep on the sofa.
10. They say he is filthy / stinking rich.
11. Her hair was flaming / fiery red, and her skin snow-white.
12. The little girl was filthy dirty from falling into the mud.
13. Could you lend me £50, I’m flat / stone / stony broke.
14. I’ll be hopping mad if I’ve gone to all the trouble to make a meal, and they phone to say
they are not coming.
15. No wonder you didn’t recognize her, she’s had her jet(-) black hair dyed flaming / fiery red.
pitch black: not used of hair

16. We started off through the pitch-dark woods.

17. He was afraid of his wife’s irony and her razor-sharp repartees.
a brilliant / witty repartee
to be quick at (the art of) repartee
INTENSIFIERS 247

18. The wheels of the car made absolutely no impression on the rock-hard earth.
19. Her clothes were soaking wet, and her hair was in a terrible mess.
20. The president had a squeaky clean image and people were very disappointed when his
sharp practices became known.
also: spotlessly / immaculately clean

21. The stark naked body of the aged tenant was found on the rocks near Beaconsfield.
22. I had an infection of the ears that made me stone(-) deaf for some time.
23. I haven’t had a single drink – I’m stone-cold sober.
24. They had a wafer-thin majority over the other party at the last election.
25. A remarkably wide awake Secretary of State came to the Commons after 26 hours of
gruelling talks in Brussels.
26. It was stifling / boiling hot and he was dead / blind / roaring drunk after too good a lunch.
He was also flat / stone / stony broke. So he sat down to contemplate life – one minute he
was wide awake looking at the bone dry land around him, the next he was fast / sound
asleep, dreaming of gold in the crystal clear streams of Nevada.
27. I’m sorry I can’t go any further, I’m dead beat.
248

REGULAR OR IRREGULAR VERB FORMS?

1 Exercise

1. Add the beaten eggs to the mixture and stir well.

Beat three egg whites until stiff.
cf. yolk (and look up: yoke)

2. The beaten finalists were given silver medals.

3. Fear and guilt and fury blended in a thrust of excruciating pain.
excruciating: acute, intense, extreme
to describe sth in excruciating detail
excruciating misery
thrust (n)
1. forceful forward movement or push, attack:
The company is planning a big new thrust in the Japanese market.
He was killed by a bayonet thrust.
2. the thrust: the main meaning or most important part of what sb says or does:
the main thrust of the president’s social reforms
3. the force pushing an object, esp. a plane, forward
the cut and thrust of sth: the lively argument or activity involved in sth

4. They have bred a new variety of rose with larger flowers.

cf. He’s an Englishman born and bred.
a well-bred child
a person of god breeding
Familiarity breeds contempt.

5. I won’t be browbeaten into accepting their proposals.

to browbeat: to frighten with stern looks and strong words, bully, intimidate

6. The aircraft crashed and burst into flames.

to burst into / out of a room
to burst into tears / with pride

7. He cast a glance of surprise at the untidy room.

to cast an eye / one’s eyes over sb / sth
to cast a furtive glance / look at sb / sth
to cast doubts on sb /sth
to cast a shadow / a spell on / over sth
to cast one’s pearls before swine

8. He chided / chid him for his laziness.

9. He chose his words carefully, hoping to avoid a quarrel.
10. “Freda phoned Jim last night” is a simple sentence. If you want to emphasize Freda you
may change it into a cleft sentence: “It was Freda who phoned Jim last night”, i.e. the
simple sentence is split up into two clauses.
in a cleft stick
IRREGULAR VERBS 249

a cleft palate
a split infinitive / personality / second
They split (up) into several factions.
He split the class (up) into three groups.
She split up with her boyfriend.

11. The dog crept under the car to hide.

to creep on all fours

12. All complaints will be dealt with by the manager.

to deal in furs / with complaints / with customers

13. Who’d have dreamt / dreamed it? They are going to be married.
dreams come true / are realized / are achieved

14. A man driven by jealousy is capable of anything.

to drive sb to (do) sth:
The arguments drove him to leave the house.
Love can drive people to strange extremes.
Her infidelity drove him to suicide / drink.
to drive sb mad / insane / crazy

15. Her father forbade their marriage.

to forbid sth categorically / expressly / outright
forbidden territory / ground / fruit

16. Some warm weather has been forecast.

17. The cold has frozen the lock on the car door.
18. Have you input / inputted the new data yet?
19. Your destiny is interwoven with mine.
20. The analysis led him to a somewhat pessimistic view of Africa’s future.
21. He was badly miscast as Julius Caesar.
The film was hopelessly miscast.
He was a miscast in the role of Hamlet.
fig. She is a miscast as the health minister.

22. He misled me into thinking he was rich.

23. He misread “last train” as “fast train”.
fig. We misread him as a socialist.

24. They overrode my protest and continued with the meeting.

to override: to disregard, set aside
to override opinions / views / decisions / wishes

25. The aircraft overshot the runway.

26. She recast her lecture as a radio talk.
250 IRREGULAR VERBS

27. The documents were shredded before anybody could see them.
to shred: to cut / rip / tear into shreds
shred: strip, piece torn, cut or scraped from sth:
Her clothing was in shreds.

28. Dave spat tobacco juice into the tin can on the floor.
to spit in sb’s face
to spit sth out (of one’s mouth)
to spit at sb

29. The strike has already spread to other factories.

30. The hail stung our faces.
to sting sb into (doing) sth:
The blame stung him into action.
a stinging rebuke
stinging irony / sarcasm
to sting sb for sth
1. charge too much:
The hotel stung him for £50.
2. borrow:
Can I sting you for £10?

31. He is confident that the things which he has striven / strived for will happen.
32. As a child he had weak kidneys and wet the bed every night.
wet is preferred when not a deliberate act:
The heavy rain wet us through.
That shower has scarcely wet the soil.
wetted is preferred when a deliberate act:
She wetted the stamp before trying to remove it from the envelope.

33. His wife has stuck to him in good times and bad.

2 Exercise

1. When the police arrived they found that the murderer had slit his victim’s throat from ear to
ear.
2. He has broadcast frequently on the Overseas Service of the BBC.
less frequently: broadcasted

3. You have chosen rather a difficult subject for your essay.

4. The whole congregation knelt (AE: kneeled) down to pray.
5. The news of the uprising spread quickly in all directions.
6. He has borne all his misfortunes with great courage.
7. When the doctor arrived the wounded man had already bled to death.
8. The fish were all strung out to dry in the sun.
IRREGULAR VERBS 251

9. The judge dealt harshly with the guilty man.

10. When my friend fainted, I immediately loosened his collar.
11. The tidal wave swept over the small boat, washing the crew over board.
12. Your money has lain idle long enough; it’s time you put it to some use.
13. By the time the soldiers reached the village, most of the inhabitants had fled.
Note:
to flee the country / city
to flee (from) a building / room
to flee from the city / the country
cf. flee to safety

14. I’m afraid our new house has cost much more to build than we expected.
15. The blacksmith shod my horse while his wife gave me a meal.
AE also: shoed

16. I hope you behaved yourself properly while you were at your friend’s house.
a well-behaved child
to be on one’s best behaviour

17. He has always dreaded waking up to find himself alone in the house.
18. She was driven to stealing in order to feed her children.
19. When the President stepped out of his plane he was greeted with a cheer by the waiting
crowd.
20. All the petrol has leaked out of the car.
21. The flames from the burning building lit up the whole square.
less likely: lighted

22. When the farmer saw the child in the water, he dived in and rescued him.
AE: dove

23. The recently-discovered manuscripts have shed a great deal of light on the author’s
character.
to shed
1. produce blood / tears / light
2. get rid of sth not needed or wanted:
The shrink told him to shed some of his insecurity / inhibition.
trees shed their leaves
animals shed their winter coat
snakes shed their skins
They ran to the beach, shedding clothes as they went.

24. The motorist was fined for obstructing the traffic.

25. By the time he was fifty he had got control of all the cinemas in the town.
26. He hit his thumb with a hammer and swore loudly.
27. He loaded his gun and dashed out of the house.
28. He bet me a pound that I could not lift the sack unaided.
29. They betted and drank until they hadn’t a penny left.
252 IRREGULAR VERBS

30. Excuse me, but I’m afraid I have forgotten your name.
AE: forgot

31. He flung himself at the burglar and quickly overpowered him.

32. I have at last rid myself of the habit of smoking.
arch.: ridded
to be / get rid of sth

33. A bee stung me while I was riding my bicycle this morning.

34. We framed the pictures and hung them on the wall.
35. The farmer is sending his corn to the mill to be ground.
36. The clock had just struck two when I heard footsteps on the path outside my bedroom.
37. What did you do when you were bitten by the snake?
38. He has been forbidden by his mother to swim in the canal.
cf. channel
the English Channel
the Suez Canal
channels of information

39. The group of teachers were welcomed by the mayor of the town.
40. Certain difficulties have arisen in connection with the Centenary celebrations.
41. She has striven (strived) for many years to prove that vegetarians enjoy better health than
meat-eaters.
42. He strode boldly into the room and demanded an apology from the Chairman of the
Committee.
43. My uncle has flown round the world twice.
44. Every time the child made a mistake his father beat him.
45. “Why is Johnny limping?” – “I think someone must have trod(den) on his sore foot.”
46. I shook the bottle and poured out a spoonful of the medicine.
47. When you have mown / mowed the lawn I would like to cut the hedge.
48. Several thousand sheep were shorn / sheared each day in the shearing season.
49. This cloth was woven by hand in Scotland.
50. The weather-men have forecast a hot weekend.
51. His decisions are always being overridden by the director.
overriding: most important:
the overriding aim / concern / obligation / problem
a question of overriding importance / interest
Note also:
to override: travel on public transport further than your ticket allows you:
There’s a £20 penalty for passengers who override / for overriding.
to override sb’s views / wishes

52. If we had let the basement a year ago we should not be in such a financial difficulty now.
53. He had the book bound in leather.
54. When he had screwed the lid down, he buried the box in the garden.
55. He awoke to find that his clothes had been stolen in the night.
IRREGULAR VERBS 253

56. During his travels he underwent some terrible experiences.

57. For years he has bored everyone with his endless complaints about his health.
58. No one likes living in a police-ridden state.
-ridden: full of sth unpleasant or bad:
a superstition-ridden community
a cliché-ridden style
(a) guilt-ridden conscience / dreams
a scandal-ridden financial market
mosquito-ridden swamps
a flee-ridden bed

59. It was so cold during the night that the water froze in the bucket.
60. The new laws have swept away many of the causes of discontent.

3 Exercise

to lay – laid – laid

transitive, always followed by an object (German: etwas legen)
to lie – lay – lain
intransitive, the equivalent of
a) (German intransitive: liegen)
b) (German reflexive: sich legen)
to lie – lied – lied: regularly inflected verb (German: lügen)

1. He laid the papers out on the table.

2. Don’t lie in bed all day. Get up and do some work.
3. They laid the injured woman (down) on the grass.
4. He lay down on his bed.
5. You lied to me when you said you loved me.
6. Instead of lying in bed all day, he went out into the garden and lay on the grass enjoying
the sunshine.
7. He laid his coat over a chair.
8. I’m afraid you must lie on the bed you have made.
9. We’re having a new carpet laid in the bedroom.
10. When I entered the room the dictionary lay / was lying on the floor.
11. I have been lying (down) after dinner all my life, why should I give it up now?
12. I should like to lay stress on the following points.
13. By working hard and being thrifty he has laid the foundation of his future success.
14. Remember this my son: Let sleeping dogs lie.
15. The worst thing was that the rain had laid the crops.
16. The earthquake had laid the city flat.
17. Completely exhausted he lay down on the couch.
18. This matter lies / is lying / lay heavily on my conscience.
Note also:
to lie heavy on sb / sth
The responsibility lay heavy on him.
The meal lay heavy on my stomach.
254 IRREGULAR VERBS

19. The Easter eggs lay / have lain hidden in the garden for at least three weeks.re
20. Believe it or not, he lays / is laying / laid claim to his father’s possessions.
21. He lay back in his armchair and dozed off easily.
22. The blame lies / is lying / lay entirely on his side.
23. How many eggs does this hen lay each week?
24. “New-laid eggs, 10p each”.
25. If the decision had lain with me, I would have accepted the offer.
26. He wanted to lie down near the water.
27. He saw that she had laid the finished ironing on the bed.
28. A new submarine cable was laid between France and England.
29. He laid the bottle on its side instead of standing it upright.
30. You ought to lie still.
31. Newspapermen laid siege to the house where the murdered girl’s mother was staying.
32. Brandt signed the treaty with Poland and went to lay a wreath at the Warsaw ghetto.
33. He was a wholehearted “European”, convinced that Germany’s future lay with the
European Community.
34. He added that three men had laid down their lives in service of their country.

4 Exercise

1. In the good old days most farmers sheared their sheep and spun their own wool.
The irregular past shore is archaic.
When used as an adj. the past part. is shorn: God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb.
The past span is now archaic.

2. When she heard of the misfortune that had befallen her son, she wrung her hands in
sorrow.
I’ll wring his neck if he says that again.
to wring sth from / out of sb
The police fínally succeeded in wringing a confession from the prisoner.

3. He said that he had stayed behind to see whether she had paid the bill.
Note: Have you paid for the book?
He paid me to watch his house.

4. Instead of lying in bed all morning, he went into the garden and lay on the grass enjoying
the sunshine.
5. The programme can only be relayed after the cables have been relaid.
Both past and past participle are spelt relaid when the meaning is to lay sth anew (a
carpet, cable, etc). They are spelt relayed when the verb is used in the sense of to
pass on a programme or message one has received from another station.
IRREGULAR VERBS 255

6. When she realized that the accident had bereaved her of her best friend, tears flowed and
wrought havoc with her make-up.
also: wreaked
Note also:
to play / wreak havoc
The recent storms have wreaked havoc on crops.
The oil spill wreaked havoc with wild life and the fishing industry.
Experts say that the ecological damage wreaked by pollution is increasing rapidly.
to wreak vengeance / revenge on one’s enemy
bereave: when the meaning is dispossessed of sth immaterial the irregular forms are
used:
(to be) bereft of hope / words / one’s senses
The regular forms are used when the tragic loss of a relation is meant:
a bereaved husband; the bereaved
to fly / flow: do not confuse the past part. of to fly and the regularly inflected forms of
to flow:
Blood / tears had flowed.
Note also the figurative use of the verb: I must fly now (i.e. leave in a hurry).

7. When they heard the news of his success, they wept for joy and flung their hats up in the
air.
8. Mary Magdalene shed / wept tears of fear and joy when she heard that Christ had risen
from the dead.
9. He had shined his boots, washed his face and combed his hair and his eyes shone with
delight.
When used as a transitive verb in the sense of to polish sth the verb is regularly
inflected.

10. He lay dying on the ground and his blood was dyeing the snow red.
11. An explosion rent the night when the car he had rented hit the lorry.
AE also: rended

12. He was sunk in thought, trying to visualize what Atlantis, the sunken island, must have
looked like.
sunken is only used as an adjective: sunken cheeks / eyes. As a verb form the past
part. is sunk:
The ship had sunk off Plymouth.
Note the difference between a sunken (gesunkenes) and a sunk (versenktes) ship.
Atlantis: According to ancient myth, an extensive island in the Atlantic Ocean,
mentioned by Plato in the Timaeus and Critias. It was said to have been a powerful
kingdom before it was overwhelmed by the sea. The story was brought from Egypt by
Solon. In the 16th century it was suggested that America was Atlantis, and there have
been a number of other implausible explanations. More recently, and more likely, the
work of archaeologists and scientists has placed it in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The New Atlantis: an allegorical romance by Francis Bacon (1624) in which he
describes an imaginary island where was established a philosophical commonwealth
bent on the cultivation of the natural sciences.
256 IRREGULAR VERBS

13. When he heard that his name had been struck off the register, he was thunder-struck.
strike: In BE the infinitive of the verb when used in the sense of to stop work (in protest
against sth) is quite common and can be found side by side with the periphrastic to
come / go out on strike. In BE this circumlocutory phrase is the only possibility of
forming the past or past part. of the verb, whereas in AE the past and past part. struck
are standard usage: They struck for better working conditions.

Note that the past part. struck is used in the sense of:
a) be impressed by:
to be struck by the beauty of sth
b) have a strong effect on:
to be thunderstruck
c) be inadvertently harmed:
to be struck dumb / blind
However, in the sense of to be inflicted with, overcome by, the past part. is stricken,
both attributively in compound adjectives and predicatively:
a) conscience-/ fever-/ grief-/ panic-/ poverty-stricken
b) to be stricken with disease / fear / the plague
The adj. terror-stricken, -struck is a borderline case.

14. He had fed the cat and stroked it until the animal purred with delight.
15. He had been bled white by usurious money lenders, and now that he was poor even his
best friends forsook him.
16. He chose words at random, strung them together and called that poetry.
He was so drunk that he could hardly string two words / sentences together.
string: A musical instrument with strings is a stringed instrument, but a tennis racket
must be restrung.
Note also high(ly)-strung (i.e. very nervous or tense) and overstrung (i.e. too sensitive,
intensely strained)

17. Had he not forsworn violence, blood would have flowed.

18. Although our hens are laying well, only three eggs lay in the nest this morning.
19. The hermit had woven branches together to form a sort of roof and had laid the floor of his
hut with straw mats.
weave: in its literal sense of to make threads into cloth, to twist or wind the verb is
always irregularly inflected. The regularly inflected forms are increasingly used in the
sense of to move along, turning and changing direction all the time:
He weaved his way through the crowd.

20. The building contractor costed the job at about £200, but eventually the repairs cost us
twice as much.
The meaning of the verb when regularly inflected is to calculate the price to be
charged for a job.

21. He was full of disdain for his rival and crowed over this misfortune of the poor chap who
slunk away into the night.
crow: when used in a literal sense, either form of the past can be met with:
The cock crew / crowed.
When used figuratively, the verb is always regularly inflected:
The baby crowed with delight.
IRREGULAR VERBS 257

22. He rose to the occasion and clothed his thoughts in conciliatory words.
clothe: In the sense of to cover or provide clothes for the verb is regularly inflected
She was fed and clothed at my expense.
In poetic or formal style as also in technical parlance the past and the past part. is
clad:
poorly / lightly clad
hills clad in verdure
clad in shining armour
iron-/ snow-/ steel-clad.

23. The path that wound up the hillside was so steep that we were quite winded when we
arrived at the top.
wind: do not confuse the irregularly inflected verb to wind with the regularly inflected
verb to wind which means to detect the presence of sth by scent:
The deer winded the stalkers.
Note that a long-winded story is a long and tedious story for the telling of which the
narrator needs a lot of wind.

24. I had read the report and was led to believe that everything was legal and aboveboard.
25. He woke (up) with a start and realized that he had overslept.
26. The sun had already risen and raised the temperature to 32°F.
27. He was struck by the beauty of these poverty-stricken areas.
cf. 13

28. If he had not hanged himself he would have been flung into prison.
cf. to string sb up
They should be strung up for what they did to the prisoners.

5 Exercise

1. Grammar be blowed / hanged!

The past part. blowed is a slang synonym of damned; it expresses anger or surprise
Well, I’ll be blowed. (dated)
I’m blowed / Well, blow me! I never thought I’d see you again.
Note also: overblown, used with reference to flowers or women, means too fully open,
past their prime; but it is also used in the sense of excessively inflated or pretentious:
overblown nationalism
overblown news stories
a rather overblown film version of the book
The verb to hang is regularly inflected when used in the sense of to suspend or be
suspended by the neck as capital punishment or to kill oneself thus:
He was hanged for murder.
I’ll be hanged if I understand a word of it / if I know what to do.

2. It is our bounden duty to help them.

The past part. bounden occurs in the old-fashioned phrase one’s bounden duty (i.e.
what conscience tells one to do, dictated by one’s conscience)
258 IRREGULAR VERBS

3. He is too phlegmatic to be roused to action.

to arouse sb (from sth)
1. wake sb up (from sleep):
He was aroused from his nap by the telephone.
2. provoke a feeling, an attitude:
Her strange behaviour aroused our suspicions.
He succeeded in arousing the nation’s sympathy.
to arouse (sb’s) comment / criticism / dislike / fear(s) / interest / opposition / public
concern / resentment
3. cause sb to become active, stimulate (sexually):
to arouse sb from / out of inactivity / apathy
cf. to rouse
to rouse sb means, primarily, “to wake sb from sleep”. From this literal sense it is
applied figuratively to awakening any power, quality, attribute, etc that is thought of as
being dormant. It is almost always preferred in the literal sense with a person or
animal as object.
to arouse is chiefly used with the senses “to give rise to”, “to bring / call into exis-
tence”, “to cause to arise” and is often used with an abstract word as an object.

4. The Society of Friends is a close(ly)-knit community.

The regularly inflected forms are used in a literal sense:
She knitted a pair of socks.
The irregular forms are more common in a figurative sense:
She knit(ted) her brows.
They were knit together by common interests.
They lived in a close(ly)-knit society.
well-knit / tight(ly)-knit / loosely-knit
Note: a knit wear shop

5. A viola is a stringed instrument.

A musical instrument with strings is a stringed instrument, but tennis rackets must be
restrung.
Note also: high(ly)-strung (i.e. very nervous or tense) and overstrung (i.e. too sensitive,
intensely strained)
brass and woodwind: clarinet, trumpet, tuba, bugle, trombone, saxophone, French /
English horn
strings: harp, violin, guitar, viola, double bass
percussion: piano, grand piano, drum, xylophone

6. On the horizon he descried an iron-clad man-of-war.

man-of-war: (esp. historically) an armed ship
In the sense to cover or provide clothes for the verb is regularly inflected, no matter
whether it is used literally or figuratively:
She was fed and clothed at my expense.
He clothed his thoughts in words.
In poetic or formal style as also in technical parlance the past and past part. is clad:
poorly / lightly / warmly / scantily / partially / fully / smartly clad
hills clad in verdure
clad in shining armour
iron- / snow- / ivy- / steel-clad
to descry (lit.): to notice sth, esp. when it is a long way away
IRREGULAR VERBS 259

7. They bled him for every penny he had.

cf. to bleed sb white

8. We are much beholden to you for your help.

When used as a synonym of to see the past part. is beheld. The past part. beholden
means to be under an obligation: to be greatly / deeply indebted to sb for sth:
I want to be independent and beholden to nobody.
cf. lo and behold

9. They were shorn of all real power by the new laws.

The irregular past is archaic. When used as an adj. the past part. is shorn:
God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb.
to be deprived of, stripped of sth:
The room looked bare shorn of its furniture.

10. When he heard of their exploits he raised his hat to them.

11. He had been laid up with flu for over a week.
12. The way they reacted somebody must have trod(den) on their corns.
Explorers going where no man had trod (i.e. been) before.
She trod lightly so as not to wake the baby.
Tread out the fire in the grass.

13. He has always borne up well against adversity.

The past. part. born means having come into existence by birth and is invariably
passive:
to be born in England / a poet
a born artist
English-born
first-born
Note also: inborn, reborn, unborn, stillborn, newborn
But note that in the sense of give birth to it is borne:
His wife bore / has borne (him) six fine children.
In the sense of to carry the past part. is also borne:
The canoe was borne along by the current.
air- / water-borne
adversity: unfavourable conditions, trouble:
to face adversity with courage
She overcame many adversities.

14. I wonder how he speeds / sped.

The verb is irregularly inflected when used as an archaic synonym of to succeed:
How have you sped?
In the sense of to drive at high speed both the regular and the irregular forms can be
met with:
The car sped / speeded along the motorway.
He sped down the road.
They sped / speeded him to the nearest hospital.
In the sense of to increase the speed of sth only the regularly inflected forms should
be used:
They (have) speeded up production.
260 IRREGULAR VERBS

Note: to be fined (£20) for speeding

to be caught speeding
to get a speeding ticket
speeding car drivers
to exceed a speed limit
to enforce / establish / impose / set / observe a speed limit

15. On bended knee(s) she implored the king to spare her son’s life.
The regularly inflected past part. bended occurs only in the phrase on bended knees.
The branch bent but did not break.
The road bent to the right after a few yards.
to be bent on (doing sth):
He is bent on winning at all costs.

16. When they left Egypt, the Israelites spoiled the Egyptians.
The irregular forms seem to be more common. The attrib. adj. is always spoilt:
a spoilt child.

In the old sense of to plunder the verb is always regularly inflected.

Note:
Too many cooks spoil the broth.
Spare the rod and spoil the child.
to be spoiling for: to be eager for sth:
He is spoiling for trouble / a fight.
cf. spoils
1. things taken by an army from a defeated enemy, or things taken by thieves:
The thieves divided up the spoils.
2. profits gained through political power:
the spoils of war / victory

17. The scene of the play is laid in Athens.

18. They had finished the job and time lay / hung heavy on their hands.
cf. to have time on one’s hands
to have time to kill
cf. His conscience lay heavy on him, so he went to the police and admitted his part in
the crime.

19. Her heart had sunk at the thought of having to go to prison.

The past part. sunken is only used as an adj.:
sunken cheeks / eyes
As a verb form the past part. is sunk:
He was sunk in thoughts.
The ship had sunk off Plymouth.
Note the difference between a sunken (gesunken) and a sunk (versenkt) ship.

20. He left the family business and struck out on his own way.
In BE the infinitive of the verb when used in the sense of to stop work (in protest
against sth) is quite common and can be found side by side with the periphrastic to go
/ come out on strike. In BE this circumlocutory phrase is the only possibility of forming
the past or past part. of the verb, whereas in AE the past and past part. struck is
standard usage: They struck for better working conditions.
IRREGULAR VERBS 261

Note that the past part. struck is used in the sense of:
a) to be impressed by:
to be struck by the beauty of sth
b) to have a strong effect on:
to be thunderstruck
c) to be inadvertently harmed:
to be struck blind / dumb
However, in the sense of to be afflicted with, overcome by the past part. is stricken,
both attributively in compound adjs. as also predicatively:
a) conscience-/ fever-/ grief-/ panic-/ poverty-stricken
b) to be stricken with disease / fear / the plague.
The adj. terror-stricken / -struck is a borderline-case.
to strike sb off a list / register:
The doctor was struck off for incompetence.
also: to strike sb from a list:
He was struck from the official list of doctors for immoral behaviour.
We shall have to strike three more names from the guest list.

21. We should have the whole deal sewn (AE: sewed) up by the end of the week.
When used as a verb form the two past part. are interchangeable. The adjectival form,
however, is sewn: handsewn.
to sew sth up: to arrange, settle:
By the end of the meeting everything should be nicely sewn up.
to sew up a deal

22. The Foreign Secretary has forgone the possibility of having the hostages released.
This verb means to abstain from, to go without, to decline to take or use and is often
used humorously:
I shall be happy to forgo the pleasure of his company.

23. It was a for(e)gone conclusion that he would reject our offer.

The meaning of this verb is to precede in place or time.
Note also that since infinitive and past are rare, this verb is sometimes (cf. OALD) –
although erroneously – regarded as a variant of to forgo (cf. forgo).

24. If you keep telling him how clever he is, he’ll get a swelled / swollen head.
The past part. of the verb when used transitively in the sense of to increase the size or
amount of sth is swelled:
The wind has swelled the sails.
They had unnecessarily swelled expenses.
When used intransitively the past part. of the verb is swollen:
The river was swollen with melted snow.
The adj. is usually swollen:
a swollen face / river.
But one suffers from a swollen or swelled head (i.e. one is conceited).
He’s become very swollen-headed since his promotion.
cf. to be big-headed:
sb is big-headed / has a big head

25. “Couldn’t you lend him the money?” – “I’ll be blowed / hanged if I do!”
26. On the first occasion he sprang the news of his marriage on his friends.
The past sprung is not uncommon in AE.
262 IRREGULAR VERBS

27. As ordained by the Bible, he left his parents and cleaved / clove / clave unto his wife.
Note also:
cleft palate (Spaltgaumen, Wolfsrachen)
a cleft lip
the cloven foot / hoof (Pferdefuß des Teufels)
to be (caught) in a cleft stick (i.e. in an awkward situation)

28. Although he had only met her once he was smitten with her (charms).
better: he was quite smitten with her
also: to be smitten with remorse / a desire to do sth

29. No sooner had we signed the contract than he began to show the cloven hoof.
Cows have cloven hoofs / hooves.
The devil is often represented with horns and cloven hoofs / hooves.

30. We were just about to leave the party when my old friend Nigel hove into view.
The irregular forms are restricted to nautical parlance and fig. use: to heave to
(beidrehen), to heave in(to) sight / view (aufkreuzen, in Sicht kommen).
We heaved him to his feet.
Her chest heaved as she breathed deeply after the race.
We all heaved a deep sigh of relief / a groan.

31. When the guest speaker failed to arrive, the chairman rose to the occasion and made a
very witty speech himself.
He rose to the challenge / task.

6 Exercise

1. Whatever happened, they abided by their promises.

In its archaic use abide means to dwell, remain: to abide with sb / at a place.
When regularly inflected the verb means to stick to sth:
to abide by a(n) agreement / verdict / ruling / the referee’s decision.
Esp. with can / could in negative sentences or questions: to tolerate, endure, bear:
I can’t abide that man / laziness / seeing people enjoying themselves.
How could you abide such conditions?
Note:
abiding: permanent:
(an) abiding friendship / hatred / mistrust
abode: no fixed abode / address:
Lovejoy, of no fixed abode, was charged with murder.

2. A strong wind arose and blew the boat onto the rocks.
to arise: to become evident, appear, originate, come up:
A new difficulty has arisen.
Use the money when the need arises.
to arise from / out of: to follow as a result of:
Problems arising out of the lack of communication.
IRREGULAR VERBS 263

Are there other matters arising from the minutes of the last meeting?
to arise from a deep slumber

3. What aroused his suspicion was the boy’s inability to account for the money in his pocket.
to arouse sb from sth
1. wake sb up (from sleep):
He was aroused from his nap by the telephone.
2. provoke a feeling, an attitude:
Her strange behaviour aroused our suspicions.
He succeeded in arousing the nation’s sympathy.
to arouse (sb’s) comment / criticism / dislike / fear(s) / interest / opposition / public
concern / resentment

3. cause sb to become active, stimulate (sexually):

to arouse sb from / out of inactivity / apathy
cf. to rouse
to rouse sb means, primarily, “to wake sb from sleep”. From this literal sense it is
applied figuratively to awakening any power, quality, attribute, etc that is thought of as
being dormant. It is almost always preferred in the literal sense with a person or
animal as object.
to arouse is chiefly used with the senses “to give rise to”, “to bring / call into exis-
tence”, “to cause to arise” and is often used with an abstract word as an object.

4. During the meeting many interesting questions had arisen.

5. The tree has borne no fruit for several years.
6. His wife had borne him three fine sons.
born: having come into existence by birth (always passive)
to be born in England
to be born a poet
a born artist / leader / athlete / loser
English-born
first-born / inborn / reborn / newborn / unborn / stillborn
You can’t fool me, I wasn’t born yesterday.
His beliefs were born of a hatred of injustice.
He was born of / to wealthy parents / with a silver spoon in his mouth.
borne: in the sense of to give birth to
She has borne 5 children.

7. Despite strong pressure he had not bent to the hijackers’ demands.

The regularly inflected form occurs only in: on bended knee(s).
Note:
It is hard to bend an iron bar.
Touch your toes without bending your knees.
He bent forward to listen to the child.
to bend the rules: to change / interpret them in a way that suits os or the
circumstances

to bend sb’s will

to be bent on (doing) sth: determined on:
He is bent on winning at all costs.
to follow one’s bent
to have a natural bent for music, etc
264 IRREGULAR VERBS

8. How could you do such a thing? You must have been bereft of your senses!
bereft: dispossessed of sth immaterial:
bereft of words, speech
bereaved: implies tragic loss of a relation:
a bereaved husband
The accident bereaved him of his wife and child.
The bereaved is / are still in mourning.
cf. bereavement
We all sympathize with you in your bereavement.
She was absent because of a recent bereavement.

9. He used to swear like a trooper and drink like a fish, but he never gambled or betted.
cf. 10: irregular when the stake is stated

10. I bet him a fiver that England would get pipped again.
fiver: a five-pound note
to pip: to beat narrowly in a race / competition:
I nearly got the job, but I was pipped at the post by the other candidate.
(i.e. right at the end of the choosing process)
a pip
1. a small fruit seed, esp. of an apple, orange:
He spat out the pips.
2. short high-sounding note, esp. given on the radio to show the exact time or as used
in the operation of a telephone:
After the third pip the time will be 6.45 exactly.
Wait until you hear the pips and then put in more money.
3. a feeling of annoyance or lack of cheerfulness:
to give sb / have / get the pip
This rainy weather / she really gives me the pip.

11. He opened the door and bade him come in.

obsolescent synonym of command, tell, invite:
He bade them (to) leave at once.
Guests bidden to (attend) the feast.
Cf. 13

12. He had bid £200 for the old banger.

banger
1. sausage
2. firework, made to explode with a loud noise
3. a noisy old car

13. Do as you are bidden / bid.

14. This mishap prevented him from landing the job and my heart bled for him.
15. She burned to know what had become of him.
In BE burned should only be used intransitively:
a) in a literal sense:
The fire burned brightly.
b) figuratively:
The desire for freedom burned in her heart.
His face burned with shame / anger / embarrassment.
IRREGULAR VERBS 265

Otherwise: burnt: I have burnt the dinner.

to be burning to do sth:
He was burning to tell the news.

16. A longitudinal fissure in the roof of the mouth, known as cleft palate, is usually a congenital
defect.
cleave – cleaved / clove / cleft – cleaved / cloven / cleft
to cleave: to cut in two, split:
This wood cleaves easily.
to cleave one’s way through the crowd
the cloven hoof / foot: Pferdefuß
cleft sentence
to be (caught) in a cleft stick
congenital
1. (of diseases): present from or before birth:
congenital defects / blindness
a congenital abnormality / disease / condition
2. (of people): born with a certain illness:
a congenital idiot
a congenital liar: sb who is always lying
cf. also: a(n) compulsive / incorrigible / inveterate / outright / pathological liar

17. He cleaved / cleft / clove the beast in twain with his sword.
18. Through the mist we could make out the snow-clad mountains in the distance.
In the sense to cover / provide clothes for the verb is regularly inflected, no matter
whether it is used literally or figuratively:
He clothed his thoughts in words.
She was clothed from head to foot in white.
A landscape clothed in mist
In poetic or formal style as also in technical parlance the past and past part. are clad:
poorly / lightly clad
hills clad in verdure
iron-/ steel-/ snow-/ ivy-clad
a motorcyclist clad in leather
a leather-clad motorist

19. The knight was clad in shining armour.

20. She was fed and clothed at my expense.
21. The baby crowed with delight when his father picked him up.
When used in a literal sense, either form of the past can be met with:
The cock crowed / crew.
When used figuratively it is regularly inflected.
Note: to crow with / about sth

22. Peter had denied Jesus three times before the cock crew / crowed.
23. Never would he have dreamed / dreamt that this was going to happen.
The regularly inflected forms seem to be preferred in AE.
Note the pronunciation of dreamed and dreamt.
266 IRREGULAR VERBS

24. The police charged him with being drunk and disorderly.
predicatively: drunk
attributively: drunken:
a drunken boss / husband / argument / voice / fury / sleep / stupor
to be blind / dead drunk
to get (sb) drunk on brandy / cider
to be drunk with power / success / joy
as drunk as a Lord
Note: drunk(en) driving or (preferably) drink driving

25. In a drunken stammer he enthused about the beauty of Nepal.

26. This was a point you dwelt / dwelled on for too long.
The regularly inflected forms seem to be preferred in AE.

27. After the coup thousands of people fled the country.

coup: i.e. coup d’état

28. You should have forborne (from) berating him so severely.

forbear (from) doing / to do sth: refrain (from) doing sth:
He could not forbear from expressing his disagreement.
He forbore to mention / mentioning the matter again.

29. I shall only be too happy to forgo the pleasure of his company.
to forgo: to abstain from, go without, decline to take or use, often used humorously:
The workers agreed to forgo a pay increase for the sake of greater job security.

30. The mountaineers got lost in a snowstorm and nearly froze to death.
31. If you want fresh coffee, the beans have to be ground first.
The corn grinds easily.
It won’t grind down any finer than this.
fig.: people ground down by poverty / tyranny / taxation
to grind one’s teeth (together) in frustration

32. As the weather was fine, she hung the washing out in the garden.
33. The last criminal to be hanged at Tyburn was John Austin.
Tyburn: a famous tributary of the Thames rising at Hampstead, which gave its name to
the village that was later called Marylebone and to a place of execution.
But: Borough of St. Mary-le-Bone
Hence: Tyburn tree: the gallows (at Tyburn)
to take a ride to Tyburn: to go to one’s hanging
the Lord of the Manor of Tyburn: the common hangman
IRREGULAR VERBS 267

7 Exercise

1. He was very ill and his life hung by a thread.

to hang by a single thread / by a hair

2. Hares, pheasants and grouse need to be well hung.

grouse: /s/ small dark bird of northern hilly areas, shot for sport and food: grouse
shooting on the moors of Scotland and northern England (schott. Moorhuhn )
to grouse (about): to grumble, complain:
He’s always grousing about the work-load.
also noun: If you have any grouses ...

3. When she realized what she had done, she hung her head and left the room.
4. She heaved a deep sigh of relief.
5. The crew heaved the anchor overboard.
Note: to raise the anchor overboard
but: to cast / drop / raise / weigh anchor
to ride / lie at anchor

6. After a warning shot across the bows the ship hove to.
The irregular forms are restricted to nautical parlance: to heave to
and figurative use: to heave into view / in sight

7. He had hewed / hewn his way through dense undergrowth.

attributively: hewn timber

8. On hearing her strident voice he knit his brows.

also: knitted
cf. to frown
strident: loud and harsh, shrill: strident protests, strident in their demands
(scharf, durchdringend, schrill, schneidend)

9. The two clans were knit together by common interests.

10. She had knitted two pairs of socks.
11. The trees in the orchard were laden with fruit.
He came home laden with presents.
lade – laded – laden: now replaced by the regularly inflected load
laden:
a heavily laden table
bushes laden with fruit
shoppers with their baskets fully laden
Note: to be laden with grief / guilt / remorse: troubled or burdened
loaded:
a loaded gun / question
a loaded question: question intended to trap sb into saying sth which he does not
want to say or which could harm him
to load the dice against sb: to put sb at a disadvantage:
Having lost both his parents when he was a child he always felt that the dice were
loaded against him.
268 IRREGULAR VERBS

12. They looked at the heavily laden table and their mouths began to water.
13. They had loaded the furniture onto the lorry.
14. Everybody knew that he was innocent, but the burden of proof lay with him.
also: rested

15. The whole city was laid in ruins.

cf. lies in ruins

16. Who has laid the table today?

Waiter, the eggs are bad. – Well, I only laid the table.

17. It had been laid down that applicants should sit a written exam.
18. The responsibility for the food shortages had clearly lain with the authorities.
19. When they heard the news, the children leapt / leaped for joy.
also: jumped
Note: to leap / jump to conclusions
to jump the queue / traffic lights
Look before you leap.
to jump (up and down) for joy / with excitement
to leap / jump at an opportunity / offer / chance
to leap / jump to sb’s defence / assistance
I couldn’t follow because he kept jumping (about) from one topic to another.
to jump several steps in an argument, i.e. omit

20. A tiny snowflake had just lighted / lit on her raven hair.
In a literal sense both the regular and irregular forms can be met with:
He had lit / lighted a cigarette.
In a figurative use the verb is, as a rule, irregularly inflected:
A smile (had) lit up her face.
As an attribute in a literal sense the regular past participle seems to be more common:
All he could see was a lighted cigarette.
Note the irregular past of compound adjectives:
star- / moon- / flood-lit
When used in the sense of to settle, both the regularly and the irregularly inflected
forms are met with:
The snowflake had lit / lighted (up)on her nose.

21. The burning oil tanks lit / lighted up the whole district.
22. He lighted / lit a candle the better to see in the dark.
23. His face lit up when he saw her walking towards him.
24. Carelessly he dropped the lighted cigarette on the floor.
25. They poured the molten lead into moulds.
molten only used as attributive adjective with reference to substances liquefied by
extreme heat:
molten glass / metal / lava

26. It was not long before the hot March sun had melted the ice.
27. I can’t find the key; I must have mislaid it.
IRREGULAR VERBS 269

28. They had mowed / mown the grass with a scythe.

mown is preferred attributively
scythe: cf. sickle

29. They had been outbid by somebody who was prepared to pay more for the etching.
etching: to etch: to use a needle and acid to make (a picture) on a metal plate from
which copies may be printed
etched print: Kupferstich
fig.: The incident remained etched on her memory for years.

30. After weeks of torrential rain the rivers had overflowed their banks.
31. The treasurer rose to tell the assembly that the club was unable to raise the money.
32. He raised his voice so that even the backbenchers could hear him.
33. He had discovered an old tennis racket and decided to have it restrung.
34. Ulster is now a country riven by war and sectarian violence.
sectarian: of a sect
sectarian violence between members of different religious sects
sectarian views / politics: showing a lack of tolerance (cf. Sektierer, sektiererisch)
Konfession – denomination
to rive: to split / tear apart; the verb is rare, but: riven by:
a family riven by ancient feuds

35. The rain had rotted the rafters and window frames and the floors were covered with a thick
layer of rotten leaves.
rafter: any of the parallel sloping beams supporting the tiles, slates, etc of a roof
(Sparren/Balken):
hams hanging from the rafters (e.g. in an old inn)

8 Exercise

1. One of the raiders was toting a sawn-off shotgun.

to tote: (AE infml.) to carry:
I’ve been toting this bag round all day.
The attributive adj. is sawn:
sawn wood
Otherwise either form can be met with:
He had sawed / sawn the firewood.
rifle: bullet (Gewehr)
shotgun: a gun containing (lead) shot, i.e. a large number of tiny balls or pellets of lead
packed inside cartridges used to kill birds, rabbits, etc
cf. trigger, butt (Kolben), barrel, telescopic sight
shotgun wedding: wedding of two people who are or feel forced to marry, usu.
because the woman is pregnant

a raid on sb / sth
1. sudden surprise attack and withdrawal by troops, ships or aircraft:
to make / launch a bombing raid on enemy bases
2. sudden surprise attack in order to steal or do harm:
an armed raid
270 IRREGULAR VERBS

a security guard was killed in the bank raid

3. sudden surprise visit by the police, e.g. to arrest people or seize illicit goods:
a police drugs raid
to carry out / conduct a raid
to raid sth:
Customs raided the house.
The boys raided the orchard.

2. She had sewn / sewed all the missing buttons back on.
The adjectival form is sewn: a handsewn shirt
Note:
to sew sth up
1. a hole in a sock
2. esp. passive: to settle, arrange:
to sew up a deal / project
By the end of the meeting everything should be nicely sewn up.

3. A mis-shapen dwarf was the great attraction at the fair.

misshapen, but: ill-shaped
in compounds: ill-shaped, a kidney-shaped swimming-pool / oval-shaped / L-shaped:
His body looks somewhat pear-shaped.
Rugby is played with an egg-shaped ball.
These events helped to shape her future career.
His attitudes were shaped partly by early experiences.
She has a perfectly shaped figure.
They sell all shapes and sizes of teddy bear.
Children / cars come in all shapes and sizes.
I’m opposed to war in any shape or form.

4. Although he had showered and shaved in the morning, he looked haggard now and
unshaven.
in compounds: shaven:
clean-shaven, unshaven
as an adjective: shaved / shaven:
All the girls in the band had shaven heads.
The pilgrims were surrounded by Buddhist priests with shaved heads.
The nurse shaved the patient.
She shaved her head bald.
Why don’t you shave your beard off?
He shaved his beard (off).
A sharp razor gives a close shave.
haggard: looking tired and unhappy from worry, lack of sleep:
a haggard face
He looks haggard. (abgespannt, verhärmt)

5. God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb.

as an adjective: shorn
to be shorn of sth: be stripped, deprived of sth:
The room looked bare, shorn of its rich furnishings.
a deposed king shorn of his former power
to temper
1. bring metal to the required degree of hardness and elasticity by heating and then
cooling
tempered steel: tempern, härten
IRREGULAR VERBS 271

2. temper sth with sth: to moderate, soften, mitigate the effects of sth:
to temper justice with mercy: to be merciful when punishing justly

6. She shrank from the thought of having to have her dog put down.
The past shrunk is archaic, shrunken is used adjectivally.
Will this shirt shrink in the wash?
Car sales have been shrinking. (i.e. fewer have been sold)
to shrink (away / back) from sb / sth:
As he moved threateningly forward, she shrank away / back.
to shrink from doing sth: be reluctant:
He shrinks from hurting animals.
a shrinking violet, i.e. a very shy or modest person who does not want to attract
attention (scheues Wesen)
cf. wallflower (Mauerblümchen):
Take pity on the poor wallflower and ask her to dance.

7. After hitting a reef the boat had sunk with all hands on board.
reef: ridge of rock, shingle, sand, etc at or near the surface of the sea:
The ship was wrecked on a coral reef.
sunken only used as adjective:
sunken cheeks / eyes
a sunken ship / treasure
As a verb the past part. is sunk:
He was sunk in thought / depression.
The ship had sunk off Plymouth.
a sunken ship (gesunken)
a sunk ship (versenkt)
a carrier sunk by a torpedo
fig.: to sink one’s voice to a whisper
to sink in the estimation of one’s friends
to sink like a stone

8. His sunken eyes and cheeks betrayed his ill health.

9. She was an important witness since she had sat across from him and was the only person
most likely to identify him.
across from: chiefly AE: opposite:
Just across from our house there is a school.
Their house is just across from ours.

10. The stripling David slew Goliath with a stone from his sling.
stripling: male person between boyhood and manhood, youth or lad: a young man,
hardly more than stripling (Bürschchen, Grünschnabel)
to slay (lit.): the regularly inflected forms are used figuratively:
This absolutely slayed him.
In the sense of to arouse chiefly AE:
That guy really slays me.
but: soldiers slain in battle
272 IRREGULAR VERBS

11. He slung his duffel bag over his shoulder and slid out of the building by the back door.
duffle bag: long tube-shaped canvas bag, closed by a draw-string (Matchbeutel)
to sling
1. throw with great force:
to sling stones at birds
She slung her coat angrily into the car.
He was slung out (of the club) for fighting.
2. lift or support so that it can hang loosely:
with her bag slung over her shoulder
cf. to sling / fling / throw mud at sb: try to damage sb’s reputation by libel (written) or
slander
to slide
I was sliding (about) helplessly (on the ice).
Can the car seat be slid forward a little?
She slid a coin into his hand.
He lifted the mat and slid the key under (it).
to let sth slide: allow to become neglected, less organized:
She got depressed and began to let things slide.
to slide into sth: gradually pass into (a certain, usu. bad condition):
to slide into bad habits / debt
We mustn’t slide into complacency.
to slide over: avoid dealing with sth in detail:
She discussed sales, but slid over the problem of how to increase production.

12. He was smitten with remorse.

to smite sb / sth
1. hit hard, strike:
He smote the ball into the grandstand.
2. have a great effect on:
His conscience smote him.

13. After his return the repairs to the house were speeded up.
Irregularly inflected as an archaic synonym of to succeed: How have you sped?
In the sense of to drive at high speed both forms can be met with:
The car sped / speeded along the motorway.
In the sense of to increase the speed of only the regularly inflected forms should be
used:
They (have) speeded up production.

14. Ambulances speeded / sped the casualties to the nearest hospital.

15. Look, the waiter has spilt / spilled soup all over my new dress!
16. It’s no use crying over spilt milk.
17. It is not always easy to humour a spoilt child.
The irregularly inflected forms seem to be more common.
Attributively always: spoilt
In the old sense of to plunder it is always regularly inflected.

18. This mattress is extremely well sprung.

to spring
He sprang to his feet.
fig.: She sprang to the president’s defence when his policies were criticized.
A wind suddenly sprang up.
Towns had sprung up in what had once been a dry desert.
IRREGULAR VERBS 273

Tears sprang to her eyes.

to spring sth on sb: to make happen or make known suddenly and unexpectedly:
We sprang a surprise party on them.
He sprang the news of his marriage on his parents.
to spring from sth:
Hatred often springs from fear.

19. Before he could even touch the knocker the door sprang (AE sprung) open.
20. They had strewed / strewn the aisle with wild flowers.
21. It was his first visit to Austria and he was struck by the beauty of the Alps.
strike: in AE used for to come out / go on strike:
They struck for better working conditions.
to be struck
1. be impressed by
2. have a great effect on:
thunderstruck
3. be inadvertently harmed:
to be struck blind / dumb
However, in the sense of to be afflicted with / overcome by the past part. is stricken
both attributively in compound adjectives as also predicatively:
1. conscience- / fever- / grief- / panic- / poverty-stricken
2. to be stricken with disease / fear / the plague
Note the borderline-case: terror-stricken / -struck

22. It occurred to him that they might have been stricken by panic , which would account for
their precipitate departure.
to precipitate: to cause to happen suddenly or soon(er), hasten:
These events precipitated his ruin.
One small error precipitated the disaster.
to precipitate sb / sth into (doing) sth: fig. to throw into a state / condition:
The assassination of the ambassador precipitated the country into war.
precipitate
1. violently hurried:
a precipitate dash
2. (action) done without care or thought, rash:
his precipitate action in selling the property
3. (person) acting without care or thought, impulsive

23. Last month the automobile workers of Detroit struck for better working conditions and
higher pay.
24. The leader of the insurgents was strung up as a warning to the others.
a stringed instrument
a restrung tennis racket
Note: high(ly)-strung: nervous, tense
overstrung: too sensitive, intensely strained
to string sb / sth up: to hang or tie sb / sth in place with a string / rope:
Lanterns were strung in the trees around the pool.
Flags had been strung up across the street.
brass and woodwind (Holz-/Blechbläser): clarinet, bugle, recorder, flute
strings: harp, violin, guitar
percussion: xylophone, (grand) piano, drums
274 IRREGULAR VERBS

25. They have unduly swelled expenses.

The past part. of swell when used transitively in the sense of to increase the size /
amount of is swelled:
The wind has swelled the sails.
When used intransitively the past part. is swollen:
The river was swollen with melted snow.
Attributively usually swollen: a swollen face
But: to suffer from a swollen / swelled head: to be conceited

26. The boy’s eyes were swollen with tears.

27. The rivers were swollen with melted snow.
28. He had swum the Channel several times.
29. They swung themselves down from the roof onto the wall surrounding the premises.
30. She trod on some glass and cut her foot.
Note: to tread on sb’s corns / toes: to offend:
I don’t want to tread on anybody’s corns so I won’t say what I think.

31. The cyclist wound his way through the rush-hour traffic in Threadneedle Street.
also: to weave (one’s way) through a crowd
The road weaves through the range of hills.
in this sense: weave – weaved – weaved
Do not confuse the irregularly inflected verb wind with to wind which means to detect
the presence of sb / sth by scent.

cf. a long-winded story: one for the telling of which the narrator needs a lot of wind
to wind up (sth): to finish:
Before I wind up, here are two more things to be said.
If we all agree, let’s wind up the discussion.
to wind (sb) up: to (cause to) reach a high level of excitement:
He gets so wound up when he is arguing.
Are you deliberately winding me up?

32. She had slung a scarf round her neck lest she should catch a cold.
33. Tallyho! The hounds have winded the fox.
34. We wound up the meeting with a vote of thanks to the chairman.
35. These machines are worked by electricity.
36. The hurricane wrought irreparable damage.
The irregularly inflected forms are only used in the sense of to cause:
The storm (had) wrought great damage.
Besides, the irregular past part. is used adjectivally in:
wrought-iron (cf. cast iron)
a wrought-iron table / gate
wrought-up
overwrought (i.e. overexcited, extremely agitated)
elaborately wrought carvings
wrought of stone
carefully-wrought works of literature
wrought by hand
cf. cart- / playwright
IRREGULAR VERBS 275

9 Exercise

1. His drunken behaviour upset everyone who saw it.

When used predicatively the adj. is drunk:
He was blind drunk / drunk with joy / power.
The past part. drunken is generally used as an attributive adj.:
a drunken frolic / sleep / party
cf. drunk(en) driving, drink driving / drink-driver / drunk driver

2. They poured the molten metal into the specially-made receptacles.

The irregular past part. molten is only used as an attr. adj. with reference to hard, solid
substances liquefied by extreme heat:
molten glass / metal / lava / lead
but: melted snow

3. I saw a drunken man lying in the street.

4. Hundreds of fear-stricken people rushed into the streets when they felt the earthquake.
In BE the infinitive of the verb when used in the sense of to stop work (in protest
against sth) is quite common and can be found side by side with the periphrastic to go
/ come out on strike. In BE this circumlocutory phrase is the only possibility of forming
the preterite or past part. of the verb, whereas in AE the past and past part. struck is
standard usage
They struck for better working conditions.
Note that the past part. struck is used in the sense of:
a) to be impressed by:
to be struck by the beauty of sth
b) to have a strong effect on:
to be thunderstruck
c) to be inadvertently harmed:
to be struck blind / dumb
However, in the sense of to be afflicted with, overcome by the past part. is stricken,
both attributively in compound adjs. and predicatively:
a) conscience- / fever- / grief- / horror- / panic- / poverty-stricken
b) to be stricken with disease / malaria / cancer / polio / fear / the plague / arthritis /
blindness / fever / guilt
to be stricken by doubts / fear / poverty / the dreadful news
The adj. terror-stricken/-struck is a borderline-case.
Stricken may also be used attributively:
Rescue teams raced to the stricken ship.
Supplies of food and medicine were rushed to the stricken city.
a stricken area / industry
Note: to strike sb off / from a list

5. You have drunk more than is good for you.

6. On bended knee he begged his father to forgive him.
The regularly inflected past part. bended occurs only in the phrase on bended knee(s).

7. I’ve bent my key and now it won’t go into the key-hole.

276 IRREGULAR VERBS

8. She has proved that she is quite capable of looking after herself.
The irregular past part. is frequently used as an attr. adj.:
proven methods
a man of proven abilities

9. In Scotland, a jury has the choice of three verdicts: innocent, guilty and not proven.
i.e. the evidence is not sufficient to establish the guilt of the defendant

10. When the old lady had lit / lighted the oil lamp, she sat down and began to write a letter.
In a literal sense both the regular and the irregular forms can be met with:
He (had) lit / lighted a cigarette.
In a figurative sense the verb is, as a rule, irregularly inflected:
A smile (had) lit up her face.
As an attr. adj. in a literal sense the regular past part. is more common:
All he could see was a lighted cigarette.
But when an adverb precedes, both lighted and lit are found. Lit is probably the more
frequent, but sometimes the deciding factors are rhythm or euphony.
Thus we should probably speak of a badly lit street or a brightly lit room, but brilliantly
lighted shop window.
Note the irregular past part. in compound adjs.: flood- / moon- / star-lit.
When used in the sense of to settle, both the regularly and irregularly inflected forms
are met with:
The snowflake lit / lighted on her nose.
When the meaning is to come upon unexpectedly, the past and past part. are usually
lighted:
I lighted upon just the thing I wanted.
I have just lighted upon the very house to suit you.

11. It is dangerous to inspect a gas-pipe with a lighted candle.

12. In some countries people are hanged for murder.
The verb is regularly inflected when used in the sense of to suspend or be suspended
by the neck as capital punishment or to kill oneself thus:
He was hanged for murder.
He hanged himself in a fit of remorse.
I’ll be hanged if I understand a word of it.
Grammar be hanged!

13. He gets drunk on only two pints of beer.

pint: 1/8 gallon = 0.568 litre

14. This year we have sowed / sown several fields with a new kind of wheat.
When used as verb forms, the past parts. are interchangeable. The adjectival form is
invariably sown:
newly sown corn.

15. I twisted my foot a few minutes ago and now I’ve got a swollen ankle.
less good: swelled
IRREGULAR VERBS 277

16. John is suffering from a swollen / swelled head just because he knows a little more
English than his friends.
The past part. of the verb when used transitively in the sense of to increase the size or
amount of sth is swelled:
The wind has swelled the sails.
They had unnecessarily swelled expenses.
When used intransitively the past part. of the verb is swollen:
The river was swollen with melted snow.
The adj. is usually swollen: a swollen ankle / face / river
But one suffers from a swollen or swelled head (i.e. one is conceited).

17. His white skin and his sunken cheeks revealed how ill he had been.
The past part. sunken is only used as an adj.:
sunken cheeks / eyes / treasures
As a verb form the past part. is sunk:
He was sunk in thoughts.
The ship had sunk off Plymouth.
Note the difference between a sunken (gesunken) and a sunk (versenkt) ship.

18. Your father is obviously sunk in thought. You’d better leave him alone!
19. My wife had no sooner hung out the washing than it began to rain.
20. Everybody was grief-stricken when the young man died.
21. Follow the procedure laid down in your booklet.
22. If the decision had lain with me, I would have accepted their plan.
23. The Society of Friends is a close(ly)-knit community.
also: tight(ly) (festgefügt)
The regularly inflected forms are used in a literal sense:
She knitted a pair of socks.
The irregular forms are more common in a figurative sense:
She knit(ted) her brows.
They were knit together by common interests.

24. He bet me £50 that he could beat me in every and each competition.
The verb is irregular when the stake is stated.
But: He never betted.

25. It is not always easy to humour a spoilt child.

The irregular forms seem to be more common. The attr. adj. is always spoilt:
a spoilt child
In the old sense of to plunder the verb is always regularly inflected.

26. The building contractor had costed the job at about £20,000, but eventually the repair cost
us twice as much.
The meaning of the verb when regularly inflected is to calculate the price to be
charged for a job:
The job was costed by the builder at about £150.
278 IRREGULAR VERBS

27. When the money was stolen, he quickly realized that it was no use crying over spilt milk.
The regularly inflected forms seem to be preferred in AE, but note:
It’s no use crying over spilt milk.

28. When she realized that the accident had bereaved her of her best friend, tears flowed and
wrought havoc with her make-up.
When the meaning is dispossessed of sth immaterial the irregular forms are used:
bereft of hope / words / speech / reason / ideas / one’s senses
The regular forms are used when tragic loss of a relation is meant:
a bereaved husband
the bereaved

29. The sound of the music was borne on the wind.

The past. part. born means having come into existence by birth and is invariably
passive:
to be born in England
to be born a poet
a born artist
English-born
first-born
But note that in the sense of give birth to it is borne:
His wife bore / has borne (him) six fine children.
Note also: inborn / reborn / unborn / stillborn / newborn
Note:
to bear up under / against sth (to remain strong, cope with):
She bore up well under the news of her husband’s death.
How do they bear up against stress and shock?

30. On hearing her strident voice he knit his brows.

31. He used to swear like a trooper and drink like a fish, but he never gambled or betted.
32. Look, the waiter has spilled soup all over my new dress!
33. He did the job with the speed and the expertise born of a lifetime of practice.
34. The clock had just struck two when I heard footsteps on the path outside my bedroom.
35. The new road has completely spoiled the character of the village.
36. She learnt / learned a lot about life from her mother.
Note the pronunciation in:
my learned friend and colleague

37. A storm arose during the night and several trees were blown down in the park.
The past part. blowed is a slang synonym of damned:
Well, I’ll be blowed.
Note also: overblown, used with reference to flowers or women, means too fully open,
past their prime; but it is also used in the sense of excessively inflated or pretentious
overblown nationalism

38. The terrorists had laid mines near the pipelines.

39. Indignation had bereft him of speech.
40. He has always borne up well against adversity.
41. The whole city was laid in ruins.
42. Knitting had become a mania with us. The use of the things we knitted no longer mattered.
IRREGULAR VERBS 279

43. He was struck by the poverty-stricken areas.

44. Couldn’t you lend him the money? – I’ll be blowed if I do.
45. This tree has borne no fruit for several years.
46. I’m afraid our new house has cost much more to build than we expected.
47. Our professor is a very learned but rather absent-minded man.
48. He was laid up with pneumonia for weeks and has now forsworn smoking.
49. She didn’t mean to offend you, she was overwrought / overworked.
(depends on meaning)
50. The responsibility for the food shortage had clearly lain with the authorities.
51. He is a skilled worker laid off from his job in a Belfast shipyard.
52. It was not long before the hot March sun had melted the ice.
53. Crisis has become one of the most overworked words of modern British politics.
54. He used to wear a beard, his face is now clean-shaven.
The irregular past part. occurs mainly in compound adjs.: clean-shaven, unshaven
55. The sun had come up brightly at dawn and shone all day.
When used as a transitive verb in the sense of to polish sth the verb is regularly
inflected:
Have you shined your shoes?
Look up the pronunciation of shone!
56. The rain had rotted the rafters and window frames and the floors were covered with a thick
layer of rotten leaves.
The verb is always regularly inflected:
He (had) rotted in prison for five years.
When used adjectivally, the past part. is rotten:
a rotten apple / egg / fruit / branch
also fig.:
rotten weather
a rotten driver
to feel rotten about sth

57. The number of violent crimes in Britain is on the increase; clearly, something is rotten in the
state of Denmark.
58. Although he had showered and shaved in the morning, he looked haggard now and
unshaven.
haggard: having lines on the face and hollow places around the eyes and in the
cheeks (as if) through tiredness, lack of sleep, or anxiety:
The haggard faces of the rescued miners showed what they had suffered.
(ausgezehrt, abgehärmt)

59. He had shined the brass buttons of his uniform with loving care.
60. Before the law was changed a British doctor might be struck off the register for procuring
an abortion.
61. It was a luxurious bathroom with an enormous sunken bath.
62. He hung his head and said bitterly, “I meant nothing to you.”
to hang one’s head, i.e. to look ashamed and embarrassed:
She hung her head in shame.
den Kopf hängen lassen: to be downcast / cast down / dispirited / despondent
cf. to keep one’s chin up / not lose heart
280

NOUNS DENOTING SHAPE OR QUANTITY

1 Exercise

an attack of malaria (Anfall)

attack of, an asthma – illness – gout – hysteria – hiccup – indigestion – nerves – shyness
a(n) acute / fatal / light / slight / recurrent / sudden attack

a bale of hay (Ballen)

bale of, a cotton – paper – tobacco – cloth

a bar of soap (Stück)

bar of, a chocolate – gold – iron – metal

a barrage of questions (Hagel)

barrage of, a complaints – criticism – machine-gun fire – phone calls – queries – shells – words

a block of flats (Wohnblock)

block of, a ice – metal – offices – shares – stone – (theatre) seats – wood
cf. a(n) office / tower block

a box of chocolates (Schachtel)

box of, a (coloured) chalks – cigars – crackers – matches – tissues

a chain of events (Kette)

chain of, a circumstances – department / discount stores – ideas – fast-food restaurants – hotels
– mountains – newspapers – shops – supermarkets – thought

a chest of drawers (Kommode)

chest of, a tea
cf. a tea / medicine / tool chest

a clap of thunder (Donnerschlag)

a clove of garlic (Zehe)

a clump of trees (Gruppe)

clump of, a bushes – earth – flowers – grass – plants – primroses – reeds – shrubs – thistles

a cluster of consonants / trees (Häufung/Bündel)

cluster of, a admirers – bananas – bees – berries – buildings – curls – diamonds – fans – flowers –
galaxies – gems – grapes – hair – houses – islands – mushrooms – people – spectators
– stars – vowels
NOUNS DENOTING SHAPE OR QUANTITY 281

a coil of rope (Rolle)

coil of, a cable – flex – smoke – (barbed) wire

a column of figures (Kolonne)

column of, a mercury – names – people – smoke – soldiers – tanks – vehicles – water

a flash of lightning (Blitz)

flash of, a colour – guilt – inspiration – intuition – hope – wit

a flight of stairs (Treppe)

flight of, a ambition – arrows – fancy – imagination – planes – steps

a flurry of excitement (hektische Aufregung)

flurry of, a activity – blows – objections – rain – snow – sparks – speculation – wings

a glimmer of hope (Funken/Schimmer)

glimmer of, a interest – intelligence – light – understanding
a faint / pale / slight / weak glimmer

a gust of wind (Stoß)

gust of, a (icy) air – anger – emotion – fire – flames – happiness – laughter – noise – rain –
smoke – temper

a hail of bullets (Hagel)

hail of, a abuse – blows – bottles – criticism – curses – insults – missiles – questions – rocks –
stones

a jar of jam (Glas)

jar of, a marmalade – peanut butter

a length of material (Stück)

length of, a chain – fabric – hair – pipe – string – time – wire

a loaf of bread (Laib)

a lump of sugar (Stück)

lump of, a butter – clay – coal – earth – iron – lead – meat – mud – rock

a mote of dust (Korn)

a pack of hounds (Meute)

pack of, a cards – cigarettes (AE) – fools – hyenas – jackals – kids – lies – thieves
282 NOUNS DENOTING SHAPE OR QUANTITY

a patch of mist (Schwaden/Fetzen)

patch of, a dirt – damp – fog – grease – shade – ice – land – oil – snow – sunlight – blue sky –
sweat

a pinch of salt (Prise)

pinch of, a chilli powder – cinnamon – dried herbs – snuff – tea

a rain of bullets (Hagel)

rain of, a arrows – blows

a tube of toothpaste (Tube)

tube of, a glue – mayonnaise – paint

2 Exercise

1. He suffers from recurrent attacks of malaria.

2. I need three bales of hay every week to feed my horses.
3. There was a tube of toothpaste and a bar of green soap on the washbasin in the
bathroom.
4. The minister’s new tax proposals provoked a barrage of questions.
also: a hail of questions
5. Several coils of rope were still lying on the dock.
6. I was personally involved in the brief chain of events that led to her death.
7. A clap of thunder reverberated through the house.
8. Add a crushed clove of garlic and a pinch of salt.
9. I’ve been adding up columns of figures all day.
10. The sky was very black and a sudden flash of lightning made them all jump. They jumped
even more when it was followed by a loud clap of thunder.
11. There was no lift and we had to climb six flights of stairs.
12. A flurry of excitement went round the hall as the party leader came in.
13. There is still a glimmer of hope left for the lost climbers.
also: ray
14. The story sounded most improbable, but there may be a grain of truth in it.
15. I was working at my desk when a sudden gust of wind blew all my papers on the floor.
16. The terrorist was killed in a hail / rain of bullets.
17. He bought a jar of English strawberry jam.
18. She dropped several lumps of sugar into her tea.
19. The pack of hounds was baying loudly.
20. Patches of mist can be expected at dawn.
21. A row of back-to-back houses is being pulled down to make room for a new block of flats.
22. She says she’s on a diet – but last night she ate a whole box of chocolates.
23. She cut a whole loaf of bread into slices.
NOUNS DENOTING SHAPE OR QUANTITY 283

24. The old lady hid her savings in a chest of drawers.

25. In English no word begins with a cluster of more than three consonants.
26. She bought a length of material long enough to make two pairs of trousers.
27. At the back of the park there was a small cluster / clump of oak trees.
28. He had a mote of dust in his eye.
cf. grain of salt / sugar / sand (i.e. a small hard piece)

3 Exercise

a burst of applause (Beifallssturm)

burst of, a anger – energy – enthusiasm – generosity – gunfire – laughter – (ultraviolet) radiation
– rage – speed – thunder – eloquence

a dab of rouge (Tupfer/etwas)

dab of, a blue – butter – ointment – paint – polish – powder

a pint of bitter (Glas)

pint of, a beer – milk – shrimps – wallop (slg.)

a plot of land (Parzelle)

plot of, a lettuces
cf. a vegetable / building plot

a range of mountains (Kette)

range of, a colours – dresses – foods – goods – hills – hobbies – interests – options –
possibilities – subjects – tools

a rasher of bacon (Streifen, Schnitte)

a ray of hope (Schimmer; Strahl)

ray of, a comfort – light – originality – solace – sunshine

a round of ammunition / applause (Schuss/Applaus)

round of, a applause – butter – cards – drinks – golf – hearings – meetings – parties –
sandwiches – talks – toast – visits

a row of houses (Reihe)

row of, a books / cups on a shelf – desks – seats – cabbages

a scrap of evidence (Spur, Fünkchen)

scrap of, a cloth – comfort – conversation – difference – food – help – information – material –
news – paper – silk – truth – work
note: a scrap of a girl (very small and thin)
284 NOUNS DENOTING SHAPE OR QUANTITY

a shaft of malice (boshafte Spitze)

shaft of, a (sun- / moon-)light – lightning – criticism – scorn – wit – wisdom

a shard of pottery (Scherbe)

shard of, a earthenware – glass – porcelain – shrapnel
also spelt: sherd

a sheaf of notes (Bündel)

a shot of rye (Schuss, Glas)

shot of, a morphine – oxygen – penicillin – rum – tetanus – vodka – whisky

a show of hands (Handzeichen)

a skein of wool (Strang, Docke)

skein of, a evidence – thread – yarn

a slice of bread (Scheibe)

slice of, a beef – cake – cheese – chicken pie – life – meat – territory – toast

snatches of conversation (Bruchstücke)

snatches of music

a spell of sunny weather (Periode)

spell of, a good / bad weather – sunshine – unemployment – sickness

a stack of dishes (Stapel, Stoß)

stack of, a bills – coins – (plastic) cups – hay – newspapers – paper – plates – records –
rifles – work – wood

a stick of chalk (Stück)

stick of, a celery – charcoal – (chewing) gum – dynamite – furniture – liquorice – rhubarb –
(sealing-)wax – shaving soap – toffee

a string of pearls (Kette)

string of, a abuse – beads – cars – complaints – crimes – curses – disaster – films – garlic –
islands – small lakes – lies – onions – shops – successes – wins – (four-letter) words

a stroke of genius (genialer Einfall)

stroke of, a fate – good fortune – lightning – luck – misfortune – work

a suit of armour (Rüstung)

suit of, a cards (spades – hearts – clubs – diamonds) – clothes
NOUNS DENOTING SHAPE OR QUANTITY 285

a term of office (Periode, Zeit)

term of, a imprisonment

a tin of baked beans (Dose)

tin of, a biscuits – cakes – (condensed) milk – paint – peaches – peas – sardines

a tuft of hair (Büschel)

tuft of, a feathers – grass

a volley of insults (Flut, Hagel)

volley of, a applause – arrows – blows – (plastic) bullets – curses – darts – facts and figures –
four-letter words – oaths – questions – shots – snowballs – stones

a wad of banknotes (Bündel)

wad of, a cloth – cotton (wool) – forms – leaflets – newspaper – paper – tobacco

a whiff of garlic (Duftwolke; Hauch)

whiff of, a air – gas – perfume – smoke – scandal – tear gas
fig.: a whiff of revolution / corruption

4 Exercise

1. After several shots of rye he left the pub with a wry smile on his face.
2. The police seized several rifles and 100 rounds of ammunition.
3. The archaeologists unearthed bones of animals and shards of pottery.
4. You can’t do all this work on a slice of bread and a cup of tea in the morning.
5. I overheard snatches of their conversation though the door was closed.
6. He ordered another pint of bitter and a shot of rye.
7. There is a 3-acre plot of land for sale next to my house.
8. He had a fried egg and a couple of rashers of bacon for breakfast.
9. You see that row of houses over there? Well, I was born in the end one – number 11.
10. There was not a scrap of direct evidence against him.
11. The speaker came into the hall carrying a wad of notes.
12. Who is in favour of the proposal? Can I have a show of hands, please?
13. We’ve been having a marvellous spell of sunny weather lately.
14. The kitchen sink was cluttered with stacks of dirty dishes.
15. He gave her a string of pearls for their 25th wedding anniversary.
16. It was a stroke of genius to suggest that short cut.
17. The champion was greeted with a burst / (round) of applause.
18. She returned wearing a dab of rouge on each cheekbone.
19. A high, dark range of mountains loomed directly ahead.
286 NOUNS DENOTING SHAPE OR QUANTITY

20. There is a ray of hope in the possibility that the government will provide emergency
assistance.
21. No one is safe from his shafts of malice.
22. She jabbed her knitting needles into the skein of wool lying on the table.
23. There should be a stick of chalk in your first-aid kit.
24. In the Middle Ages soldiers used to wear suits of armour for protection in battle.
25. The President is elected for a four-year term of office.
26. For this recipe you need a tin of baked beans.
27. While he was ill whole tufts of his hair came out.
28. He let out a volley of insults.
29. He pulled a wad of £20 notes out of his pocket.
30. The neighbours must be eating garlic again. I just got a whiff of it as I passed their door.

5 Exercise

an army of workmen (Armee, Heer)

army of, an (frogs – herrings) – ants – helpers – locusts – officials – volunteers

a board of directors (Vorstand, Aufsichtsrat, Gremium)

board of, a advisers – examiners – governors – trustees

a breath of fresh air (frische Luft)

breath of, a summer – scandal

a bundle of nerves (Bündel)

bundle of, a banknotes – clothes – fun – hay – joy – laughs – letters – mischief

a cartload of monkeys (Wagenladung, Horde)

a cloud of suspicion (Hauch, Schatten, nebulöser Verdacht)

cloud of, a birds – confusion – controversy – dust – (toxic) gas – gloom – insects – locusts –
mosquitoes – smoke – war

a dose of radiation (Dosis)

dose of, a bad weather – conversation – cough mixture – flattery – flu – laughter – medicine –
nationalism – punishment – (hard) work

a flight of fancy (Idee, Marotte, geistiger Höhenflug)

flight of, a ambition – arrows – imagination – stairs – planes – steps

a flush of anger (Anfall)

flush of, a enthusiasm – excitement – insects – joy – success – triumph – victory
NOUNS DENOTING SHAPE OR QUANTITY 287

a galaxy of film stars (Schar, Heer)

galaxy of, a actors/actresses – stars – beautiful women

a hail of abuse (Hagel)

hail of, a blows – bullets – curses – missiles – questions – rocks – stones

a length of wire (Stück)

length of, a chain – fabric – hair – material – pipe – string – tome

a pack of lies (Sack voller Lügen)

pack of, a cards – cigarettes (AE) – fools – hyenas – jackals – kids – thieves – hounds

a pinch of salt (Prise, mit Vorsicht)

pinch of, a chilli powder – cinnamon – dried herbs – snuff – tea

a pride of lions (Rudel)

a quiver of expectancy (zitternde Erwartung)

quiver of, a arrows – excitement

a range of colours (Skala)

range of, a dresses – foods – goods – hills – hobbies – interests – mountains – options –
possibilities – subjects – tools

a round of talks (Runde)

round of, a ammunition – applause – butter – cards – drinks – golf – hearings – meetings –
parties – sandwiches – toast – visits

a row of desks (Reihe)

row of, a houses – books / cups on a shelf – seats – cabbages

a salvo of boos (Salve, Sturm)

salvo of, a applause – cheering – gunfire – laughter – questions

a scrap of paper (Fetzen)

scrap of, a cloth – comfort – conversation – difference – evidence – food – help – material –
news – silk – truth – work

a shot of morphine (Spritze)

shot of, a oxygen – penicillin – rum – rye – tetanus – vodka – whisky

a sip of whisky (Schlückchen)

sip of, a brandy – tea
288 NOUNS DENOTING SHAPE OR QUANTITY

a sliver of glass (Splitter)

sliver of, a cheese – metal – soap – stone – wood

a speck of dust (Körnchen)

speck of, a butter – confidence – dirt – gold – information – soot – sugar – truth

a stick of furniture (Möbelstück)

stick of, a celery – charcoal – chalk – (chewing) gum – dynamite – liquorice – rhubarb – (sealing-)
wax – shaving soap – toffee

a stream of public opinion (Strom)

stream of, a abuse – blood – complaints – insults – invective(s) – products – questions – refugees
– shoppers – smoke – traffic – visitors – four-letter words

a stretch of water (Fläche)

stretch of, a beach – coastline – motorway – road – woods – river – countryside – time

a stroke of misfortune (Schicksalsschlag)

stroke of, a fate – genius – good fortune – lightning – luck – work

a troupe of actors (Truppe)

troupe of, a acrobats – dancers – singers – monkeys

a wad of cotton (Pfopfen, Bausch)

wad of, a cloth – banknotes – forms – leaflets – newspaper – paper – tobacco

a wisp of smoke (Fahne, Wölkchen)

wisp of, a cloud – fog – grass – hair – hay – steam – straw
a girl – a smile – a creature

6 Exercise

1. An army of workmen was brought in to build the stadium.

2. Mary is the only woman on the board of directors.
3. It’s so stuffy in here. I really must go outside for a quick breath of fresh air.
4. The poor chap was a bundle of nerves at the interview.
5. The children had to stay indoors because of rain. They were more trouble to their mother
than a cartload of monkeys.
6. The cloud of suspicion hanging over him suddenly dispersed.
7. In the accident, the workers received a heavy dose of radiation.
8. Her latest flight of fancy is to go camping in the Sahara desert.
9. He felt a flush of anger at the insult.
10. A galaxy of film stars attended the première.
NOUNS DENOTING SHAPE OR QUANTITY 289

11. I didn’t think the statue deserved the hail of abuse that greeted it.
12. I need a length of wire or string to tie it with.
13. He told me a pack of lies.
14. I know he sounds very convincing, but if I were you I would take everything he says with a
pinch of salt.
15. A pride of lions killed the entire herd of goats.
16. A quiver of expectancy ran through the audience.
17. The new model comes in an exciting range of colours.
18. Turkey is eager for another round of talks with Greece.
19. The exam took place in a large hall filled with rows of desks.
20. A salvo of boos greeted the announcement.
21. I wrote his telephone number down on a scrap of paper I found in my jacket pocket.
22. The doctor gave him a shot of morphine to kill the pain.
23. I’ve never tried whisky before, so do you think I could have a sip of yours, Doren, just to
see if I like it or not?
24. He picked slivers of glass out of his hand.
25. As he was walking past the building site he got a speck of dust in his eye.
26. After the terrible fire we were left with hardly a stick of furniture.
27. He hasn’t the courage to go against the stream of public opinion.
28. It was widely assumed that after the tunnel opened in 1993 passenger ferries plying the
stretch of water the French call La Manche (the sleeve) would be phased out.
29. Various strokes of misfortune led to his ruin.
30. We watched a troupe of travelling actors.
31. She stuffed a wad of cotton in her ear to keep out the noise.
32. In the distance we could see the cottage. We knew she was in because a tiny wisp of
smoke was coming from her chimney.

7 Exercise

a barrage of complaints / questions

barrage of, a criticism – machine-gun fire – phone calls – queries – shells – words

a board of examiners
board of, a advisers – directors – governors – trustees

a bunch of keys
bunch of, a asparagus – bananas – (spoiled) children – cyclists – flowers – girls – grapes –
hooligans – poppies – radishes – (tired old) men – stores

a clap of thunder

a clove of garlic
290 NOUNS DENOTING SHAPE OR QUANTITY

a cluster of consonants
cluster of, a admirers – bananas – bees – berries – buildings – curls – diamonds – flowers – gems
– grapes – hair – houses – islands – mushrooms – people – spectators – stars – vowels

a column of figures
column of, a mercury – names – people – smoke – soldiers – vehicles – water

a crew of sailors

a flock of sheep
flock of, a barges – birds – camels – geese – goats – lions – memories – parrots – pigeons –
sea gulls – tourists

a gang of skinheads

a glimmer of hope
glimmer of, a interest – intelligence – light – understanding
also: crumb / gleam / grain / flicker

a gust of wind
gust of, a (icy) air – anger – emotion – fire – flames – happiness – laughter – noise – rain –
smoke – temper

a hail of bullets / questions

hail of, a abuse – blows – curses – missiles – rocks – stones

a herd of cattle
herd of, a antelopes – asses – bucks – buffaloes – cows – cranes – chamois – deer – elephants
– giraffes – goats – horses – oxen – seals – swans – swine – wolves

a jar of jam
jar of, a marmalade

a length of material
length of, a chain – fabric – hair – pipe – string – time – wire

a loaf of bread

a mote of dust
the mote that is in thy brother’s eye (Matthew, 7,3)
Pass no judgment, and you will not be judged ... Why do you look at the speck of
sawdust in your brother’s eye, with never a thought for the great plank in your own?
And why beholdest thou that mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considrest not the
beam that is in thine own eye?

a pack of hounds
pack of, a cards – cigarettes (AE) – fools – hyenas – jackals – kids – lies – thieves
NOUNS DENOTING SHAPE OR QUANTITY 291

a pinch of salt
pinch of, a chilli powder – cinnamon – dried herbs – snuff – tea

a pint of bitter
pint of, a beer – milk – shrimps – wallop (slg.)

a plot of land
plot of, a lettuces

a scrap of evidence
also: shred
scrap of, a a very small piece of something such as paper, cloth or food that is no longer useful
or needed
cloth – comfort – conversation – difference – food – help – material – news – paper –
silk – truth – work

a show of hands

a sip of brandy
sip of, a tea – whisky

a spell of sunny weather

spell of, a good / bad weather – sunshine

a stroke of luck
stroke of, a fate – genius – good fortune – lightning – misfortune – work

a swarm of insects
swarm of, a ants – bees – children – flies – locusts – mosquitoes – photographers – starlings –
tourists

a troupe of actors
troupe of, a acrobats – dancers – singers – monkeys

a wad of banknotes
wad of, a cloth – cotton (wool) – forms – leaflets – newspaper – paper – tobacco

a wink of sleep
292 NOUNS DENOTING SHAPE OR QUANTITY

8 Exercise

1. The tourists were attacked by a gang of skinheads.

also: bunch of skinheads
2. The children watched a troupe of travelling actors.
3. A board of examiners will discuss the candidates for the post of headmaster in this tough
area of the city.
4. They owned two goats and a flock of sheep.
5. The captain of the ferry ordered the crew to get ready for action.
6. The pack of hounds was baying loudly.
7. The farmer wanted his herd delivered to the cattle market in prime condition.
8. The showers brought swarms of flying insects to torment the boys in the tent.
9. The caretaker had a big bunch of keys in his hands.
10. I’m so tired. I didn’t get a wink of sleep last night.
11. It was really a stroke of luck – nothing could have been more suited to our needs.
12. As he was walking past the building-site he got a tiny mote / speck of dust in his eye.
13. We’ve been having a marvellous spell of sunny weather lately.
14. There is a 3-acre plot of land for sale next to my home.
15. I was working at my desk when a sudden gust of wind blew all my papers on the floor.
16. The terrorist was killed in a hail / (rain) of bullets.
17. She cut the whole loaf of bread into thin slices.
18. The minister’s tax proposals provoked a barrage / hail of questions.
19. For this recipe you need a whole jar of jam.
20. Add a crushed clove of garlic and a pinch of salt.
21. A clap of thunder reverberated through the house.
22. Sheila bought a length of material to make two pairs of trousers.
23. Who is in favour of the proposal? May I have a show of hands, please?
24. I’ve never tried brandy before, so do you think I could just have a sip of yours, Doreen, just
to see if I like it or not?
25. He pulled a wad of £20 banknotes out of his pocket.
26. He ordered another pint of bitter.
27. He’s been adding up columns of figures all day.
28. There is still a glimmer / (crumb / grain / gleam / flicker) of hope for the lost climbers.
29. There was not a scrap of evidence against him.
30. I know he sounds very convincing, but if I were you I’d take everything he says with a pinch
of salt.
 293

PAIRED IDIOMS

2 Nouns

1. You can’t throw him out, surely? Not your brother; not your own flesh and blood.
mein eigen(es) Fleisch und Blut
I’ll have to go to my aunt’s funeral – she was my own flesh and blood after all.

2. She was an outstanding student whose work was / stood head and shoulders above the
others in her class.
haushoch überlegen sein
“Life” was / stood more than head and shoulders above the other news magazines.
It was a legend.

3. Don’t ask James to do anything practical; he is all (fingers and) thumbs.

zwei linke Hände haben
I’m sorry I seem all (fingers and) thumbs this morning. I don’t seem able to type one
short letter correctly. I think I’ve got a bout of flu coming on.

4. Pauline was so funny on Saturday. She really was the life (and soul) of the party.
Leben in eine Party bringen, im Mittelpunkt einer Party stehen
He seems a quiet fellow at work, but after he’s had a few drinks he’s the life (and soul)
of the party.

5. Think of a better excuse next time. You don’t expect us to believe a cock-and-bull story
like that, do you?
Lügengeschichte, (Ammen)Märchen
He gave me some cock-and-bull story about his brother being a film star.

6. The insurance policy does not cover damage caused by normal wear and tear.
Verschleiß, Abnutzung
The furniture suffers a lot of wear and tear when the children are at home.

7. There has to be a lot of give-and-take in any successful marriage.

Entgegenkommen, Geben und Nehmen
Marriage is a give-and-take affair.

8. They are always fighting tooth and nail. I’m surprised they don’t get divorced.
bis aufs Blut, mit allen Mitteln, verbissen, erbittert, bis aufs Messer kämpfen
We fought tooth and nail to get our plans accepted.
less common: tooth and claw
Note: to fight sth – to fight for sth
294 PAIRED IDIOMS

9. The managing director outlined / weighed the pros and cons of the proposed merger.
das Für und Wider, Pro und Kontra
The pros and cons of strike action were discussed.

10. They promised to stand by each other through thick and thin.
durch dick und dünn
She stuck by her husband through thick and thin.

11. Why on earth don’t they get divorced? They live like cat and dog.
wie Hund und Katze
In the early days of their marriage they had led a cat-and-dog life / existence.

12. Why don’t you work systematically? It’s no good doing everything by fits and starts.
sporadisch, stoßweise, dann und wann, in mehreren Anläufen
The work on building my brother’s house has been going on by fits and starts recently
because some of the workers have been ill.

13. I don’t like my job very much; but after all it’s my bread and butter.
Broterwerb, Lebensunterhalt verdienen
I don’t write just for fun – it’s my bread and butter.
cf. a bread-and-butter letter

14. I’ve got everything packed by now except for a few bits and pieces / bobs.
Siebensachen, Bruchstücke, Verschiedenes
My car itself did not cost much, but I had to pay a lot more for all the bits and pieces.

15. I should have thought they’d got everything straightened out by now, but they are still at
sixes and sevens.
wie Kraut und Rüben, völlig durcheinander sein
Everything is at sixes and sevens in our house after last night’s party.
to straighten out: to settle or resolve, remove difficulties:
Let’s try to straighten out this confusion.
to straighten out one’s affairs / a misunderstanding

16. We’ve got plenty of ups and downs in the past and we’ve always come out all right.
Höhen und Tiefen, Auf und Ab
Life is full of ups and downs.

17. He never stops working, work is meat and drink to him.

sein (ganzer) Lebensinhalt
The weekly letters from his son are meat and drink to the old man.
cf. a workaholic
cf. one man’s meat is another man’s poison: des einen Freud ...
PAIRED IDIOMS 295

18. The criminals are now safely under lock and key.
hinter Schloß und Riegel, unter Verschluß
There will be no safety for anyone until the murderer is under lock and key.
Salt was so valuable in those times that it was often kept under lock and key.

19. My father has retired to all intents and purposes. He seldom goes to the firm now.
im Grunde, eigentlich, praktisch, sozusagen, fast völlig
i.e. virtually, in every practical or important respect; in all important respects
Although there was still a faint heartbeat, he was to all intents and purposes dead.
He was, to all intents and purposes, a good husband, but his wife still had many
complaints about him.

20. What he says is stuff and nonsense. He doesn’t know what he is talking about.
dummes Zeug, Unsinn
Stuff and nonsense! She doesn’t know what she’s talking about.

21. He offered me the house, lock, stock and barrel.

mit allem Drum und Dran
I got it for £5,000, lock, stock and barrel, a sixty-five-acre Suffolk farm.
It’s difficult to transport somebody else’s experience, lock, stock and barrel onto the
stage.

22. His mother spoils him; she serves him hand and foot.
von vorne und hinten bedienen
Don’t expect me to wait on you hand and foot; make your own breakfast.

23. The king has always had servants at his beck and call.
zur ständigen Verfügung haben, ganz über jemanden verfügen können, nach seiner Pfeife
tanzen (lassen)
His mother spoils him. – Yes, she is always at his beck and call.
cf. to beckon: to make a gesture with the arm, hand or head, usually to make sb come
nearer, follow:
She beckoned (to) me to follow.
They beckoned me in(to the room).
The policeman beckoned us over.

24. You need some food. You’re nothing but skin and bone(s) after your illness.
Haut und Knochen
The poor little dog was all skin and bone.

25. Ambulances have complete priority on the roads when it’s a matter of life and death.
es geht um Leben und Tod, ist eine lebenswichtige Angelegenheit
Of course, this must have priority – it’s a matter of life and death.
296 PAIRED IDIOMS

26. These addicts seem to have ways and means of getting the drugs they need.
Mittel und Wege
In this case you’ll have to find ways and means to stop him.
Don’t think you can keep any secrets from us. We have ways and means of getting the
information we need.

27. A terrific hue and cry was raised against the new tax proposals.
großes Geschrei, Gezeter erheben, Proteststurm entfachen, lautstark protestieren
When she found the money had vanished, she raised a real hue and cry about it.

28. All right, I was wrong in this matter. I’m in sackcloth and ashes.
in Sack und Asche gehen, Buße tun
He thought that he’d posted the letter, but a week later he came to me in sackcloth
and ashes to say that he’d found it still in his pocket.

29. The country is going to rack and ruin, we need a change of government.
verfallen, dem Ruin entgegentreiben
The house has gone to rack and ruin since his wife left him.

30. Fire fighters risk life and limb every day in their work.
Leib und Leben, Kopf und Kragen
I risked life and limb to get here on time.
cf. sound in wind and limb
to risk one’s neck

31. Working irregular hours is part and parcel of being a journalist.

gehören (einfach) zu, einen wesentlichen Bestandteil bilden
Keeping the accounts is part and parcel of my job.

32. It was regrettable that such great issues had to be the cut-and-thrust of a general election.
Wortgefecht, Hin und Her, Widerstreit, Hauen und Stechen
You both seem to lack the lusty cut and thrust and the humour a good marriage
needs.
the cut-and-thrust of politics / modern publishing: Spannungsfeld
the cut-and-thrust of the debate: Hitze des Gefechts

33. I’m only flesh and blood. I can’t do things that a machine can do.
nur aus Fleisch und Blut, nur ein Mensch
This is more than flesh and blood can bear.
The fortifications were too strong and solid concrete pill-boxes lined the whole top of
the hill, and we were only flesh and blood.

34. Julia entered the interview room in fear and trembling.

in großer Angst, mit schlotternden Knien
They went to the teacher in fear and trembling to tell her that they had broken a
window.
PAIRED IDIOMS 297

35. This document will enable you to travel freely without let or hindrance.
völlig unbehindert
Will increasing production be a hindrance to maintaining quality?

3 Verbs

1. The children spent the afternoon playing hide and seek.

Verstecken spielen
2. His eldest son was killed in a hit-and-run accident three years ago.
Unfall mit Fahrerflucht
Note: a hit-and-run driver: unfallflüchtiger Fahrer
3. It was touch-and-go whether the doctor would get there in time.
auf des Messers Schneide stehen
4. For a change you will have to do what you are told to. You always want to pick and
choose.
wählerisch sein / aussuchen
5. Don’t eat all the chocolate cake. You’ve got to share and share alike.
brüderlich teilen
6. I still don’t know the results. I’ll just have to wait and see.
abwarten
7. I hate having my wife’s parents to stay, but I suppose I’ll just have to grin and bear it.
gute Miene zu bösem Spiel machen
8. I hope and pray that they weren’t seriously injured in the car crash.
hoffen und beten
9. He was accused of aiding and abetting the terrorists.
Beihilfe leisten / begünstigen, unterstützen
10. The park was full of lovers billing and cooing under the trees.
turteln, (schnäbeln und gurren)
11. I wish you wouldn’t chop and change (your plans) like this, make up your mind!
ständig die Meinung ändern
12. Our hosts dined and wined us very well.
(großzügig und in großem Stil) bewirten / zum Essen einladen
13. We hummed (ummed) and hawed (aahed) for ages before deciding to buy the house.
herumdrucksen
14. Well, I’m not going to stop them. Live and let live, that’s my motto.
leben und leben lassen
15. There have again been several smash-and-grab raids at jewellers’ shops.
Schaufenstereinbruch
i.e. a theft from a shop carried out by smashing a window and grabbing goods
16. He has refused to give us any more help, and has left us to sink or swim by our own efforts.
jemanden sich selbst überlassen
298 PAIRED IDIOMS

17. Long-term planning is always rather a hit-or-miss affair.

unsicher / unzuverlässig
18. The tough new measures on drug abuse are likely to be a case of kill or cure.
i.e. a forceful or violent action that will either help to solve a problem, difficulty, etc, or
completely ruin everything
cf. a kill-or-cure remedy: Rosskur
19. When I got to the top I was huffing and puffing.
schnaufen und keuchen
20. Robb’s have been supplying animal feeding-stuff to the whole country for three
generations, but since even the small farmers have their own transport now they run their
business on a cash-and-carry basis.
Cash-and-carry
21. Divide and rule is a way of acting which a person in a position of power uses to keep
himself or herself in power by causing disagreement among other people so they are
unable to question his or her power.
teile und herrsche / divide et impera / stifte Unfrieden unter denen, die du beherrschen
willst
22. All the team went forward to score the vital goal. It was do or die in the last five minutes.
es geht ums Ganze / alles auf eine Karte setzen / volles Risiko eingehen
23. As if to illustrate the right as opposed to the wrong way of employing IRA punishment
methods, a young man at the weekend in Londonderry was tarred and feathered for
looting. Another had his long hair cut off for theft.
geteert und gefedert
24. The tycoons naturally tend to survive the men they hire and fire.
tycoon: wealthy and powerful person in business or industry:
property / publishing tycoon
25. The women’s tongues ruled the neighbourhood. They could make or break a character.
aus jemandem etwas machen oder ihn erledigen
26. When we were first married we had to pinch and scrape (or: save) to get by.
knausern / sich nichts gönnen / die Pfennige zusammenkratzen
also: to pinch pennies
pinch
He pinched the child’s cheek playfully.
I was so amazed I had to pinch myself in case it was all a dream.
These new shoes pinch me.
I pinched my hand in the front door.
to pinch sth from sb / sth:
He’s been pinching money from the cashbox.
Who has pinched my dictionary?
at a pinch: if it’s absolutely necessary:
We can get 6 people round this table, at a pinch.
to take it with a pinch of salt: to believe sth only partly:
You have to take everything he says with a pinch of salt, he tends to exaggerate.
scrape
to move a sharp or hard implement across a surface, in order to clean it or to remove
sth from it:
to scrape out a dirty saucepan
to scrape the rust off / scrape the paint from a door
PAIRED IDIOMS 299

scraping: a small bit produced by scraping: scrapings from the bottom of the pan:
the scrape of a pen on paper
the scrape of sb’s fingernail on a blackboard
Note also: a scrape: awkward situation caused by foolish behaviour or not thinking
about the consequences:
She’s always getting into scrapes.
27. If you stopped smoking you wouldn’t puff and blow so much.
cf. 19: huff and puff:
schnaufen und keuchen
28. Rise and shine, we’re leaving in ten minutes.
aus den Federn!

4 Adjectives and Adverbs

1. The golden rule for after-dinner speeches is to keep them short and sweet.
kurz und schmerzlos
The lecture was just the way the students liked it – short and sweet.
i.e. short and pleasing

2. Sometimes my job is boring, but by and large I quite enjoy it.

im großen und ganzen
Although it has its faults, by and large Britain is a pretty good country to live in.

3. The blame rests fair and square on my shoulders.

eindeutig, klipp und klar
England were beaten fair(ly) and square(ly) by the West Indies in the Third Test at
Lords.

4. He is not feeling well at the moment, but he should be up and about again in a few days.
(wieder) auf den Beinen sein
My father is out of hospital and up and about again at last.

5. The contract was declared null and void as one of the partners had forgotten to sign it.
für null und nichtig erklären
Their marriage was declared null and void.
Their marriage was annulled.
Marriage annulments are obtained / granted only in exceptional cases.

6. Oh, thank heavens, you are both safe and sound! I was so worried about you.
gesund und munter, wohlauf, unbeschädigt
The fragile china has survived the bumpy journey safe and sound.
His three sons returned safe and sound from the war.
300 PAIRED IDIOMS

7. His flat was so spick and span that it looked more like a well-kept museum than a home.
blitzsauber, tipptopp (in Ordnung)
They always keep the kitchen spick and span.

8. I’m afraid you’ll have to wear a tie, sir, it’s a hard-and-fast rule of the club.
verbindlich, bindend, unumstößlich, strikt
There isn’t any hard(-)and(-)fast rule about the use of hyphens in English.

9. I don’t know about you, David, but I’m sick and tired of hearing about his “fantastic”
children.
die Nase (gestrichen) voll haben, etw. satt haben
I am sick and tired of (listening to) your complaints; be quiet!

10. Offers of help are coming in thick and fast.

niederprasseln, eine Flut von ... kam
Job offers / complaints came in thick and fast.
cf. an avalanche of letters / paper work (Lawine)
a barrage of questions / complaints / phone calls / criticisms (Hagel)

11. He may look stupid but when all’s said and done he’s made a fortune.
letzten Endes
I suppose we could ask the bank to lend us some money to help us pay our debts –
but when all’s said and done, we’re still in a difficult situation.

12. I’ve looked high and low for my cheque-book and can’t find it.
überall
We searched high and low for their keys, but we couldn’t find them anywhere.

13. The University praised the students who had worked to help those who were down and
out in London.
Penner, heruntergekommen, fertig, erledigt sein
When I last saw him he was down and out, but now he runs a Jag.
cf. the down-and-outs in the city of Liverpool, i.e. impoverished, destitute

14. His manners are a bit rough and ready, but he has a heart of gold.
rauh(beinig)
skizzenhaft, provisorisch, ungefähr, behelfsmäßig
She has a rough and ready method for calculating how long it takes for meat to cook.
Note: a rough-and-ready rule: Faustregel

15. My relationship with that woman is over and done with, and I never want to see her again.
erledigt sein für jem., hinter einem liegen
Thank goodness the exams are over and done with.
cf. They had an affair once, but that’s ancient / past history now.
PAIRED IDIOMS 301

16. He’s a Yorkshireman born and bred, but takes good care not to live there.
(wasch)echt, geboren und aufgewachsen sein
He is a countryman born and bred, so he doesn’t like big cities.

17. She looks meek and mild, as if butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth, but you should hear what
she says about her friends.
sich alles gefallen lassen, lammfromm, nachgiebig sein
She won’t object – she’s so meek and mild.
meek: gentle and quiet, and likely to do what other people say, humble and obedient,
submissive:
She looked meek, but she had the heart of a lion.
She is as meek as a lamb.
She meekly did everything she was told to.

18. His wife doesn’t need to be so high and mighty. She once was a barmaid in a pub.
erhaben tun, arrogant, anmaßend, überheblich
He’s become very high and mighty since he got that new job.
There is no need to be / get so high and mighty with me.

19. His behaviour is a bit too free and easy for me. I like a bit of dignity in a Headmaster.
ungezwungen, locker
The atmosphere in the office is quite free and easy.

20. There is no cut-and-dried formula with which you can answer these questions.
festgelegte, -gefahrene Meinung, etwas vom Tisch haben wollen, erledigt sein für jem.
As far as he is concerned the whole issue is now cut and dried.
He wants everything cut-and-dried by tomorrow.

21. Over and above his teaching duties, he’s the chairman of two committees.
über ... hinaus, neben
The waiters get good tips over and above their wages.

22. He was well and truly drunk.

wirklich, vollkommen
I think this school of theology is well and truly dead.

23. First and foremost you must think of your family and then of your comfort.
zu allererst, vor allem, zunächst einmal, in erster Linie
Rugby is first and foremost a team game.

24. I’ve left my job for good and all. I was fed up to the teeth with it.
definitiv, endgültig
I had already worked for a short time in the United States before I decided to go and
live there and leave Britain for good and all.
302 PAIRED IDIOMS

25. I do a bit of piano practice (every) now and again (or: now and then), but not very often.
ab und zu, gelegentlich, von Zeit zu Zeit
I like to visit art galleries now and again.
Every now and again she went upstairs to see if he was still asleep.

26. I didn’t hesitate for a minute. I bought the house there and then.
auf der Stelle
She offered him the job and he accepted it there and then.

27. We reject that solution emphatically, decisively and once and for all.
ein für allemal
Once and for all, I shan’t do it. Can’t you ever understand?

28. We are losing money right and left.

überall
She owes money right and left.
also: left, right and centre

29. He left her high and dry in a strange city without any money.
(auf dem Trockenen) sitzen lassen
He left her high and dry in a strange city without any support.

30. It’s right and proper for an office boy to call his boss “Sir”.
recht und billig, angemessen
One can question whether it is right and proper to waste such talents on such high-
class trash.

5 Mixed

1. She’s kind-hearted enough once you get behind all her airs and graces.
2. The salmon was alive and kicking when dragged out of the river.
3. He did not like his private life being made known to all and sundry in the newspapers.
4. He’s a bit stand-offish, I admit, but do you blame him for refusing to meet any and every
reporter who wants to interview him?
5. There’s one really good arts and crafts shop in the town where everything is authentic and
beautifully designed; all the others are full of factory-made junk to catch the eye of the
tourists.
6. I’ve been feeling pretty fed up recently. Married life is not all beer and skittles.
7. We can’t decide whether to go to France or Austria for our holidays this year. We’re still a
bit betwixt and between.
8. So we all set off in our best bib and tucker, as instructed, to visit our prospective “in-laws”
and make a good impression of ourselves as a family.
PAIRED IDIOMS 303

9. Whatever its disadvantage, sex education in schools is an advance upon the process by
which children used to find out about the birds and the bees from their embarrassed
parents.
10. Robert Louis Stevenson’s book Treasure Island contains much blood and thunder.
11. He fought body and soul for his country.
12. Promotion never meant so much to me that I was willing to bow and scrape for it.
13. The courts call what he does “breaking and entering”; in reality it usually means pushing
in a poorly-bolted back door and taking a few pounds set aside for the milkman.
14. Why didn’t the train drivers have the confidence or, to be blunt, the courage to call a strike,
like the miners? Instead they play a tiresome and irresponsible cat-and-mouse game
which both harasses their travelling fellow workers and drives more and more commuters
on to the already chaotic roads.
15. Why are you surprised at the result? It’s simply cause and effect.
16. You must give me chapter and verse for your charge that he has been stealing. What
exactly has he taken and when did it happen?
17. He writes historical romances of the cloak-and-dagger sort. I don’t care for that sort of
stuff myself, but I believe they are very popular.
18. He would never have played fast and loose with her if he had realized how bitter she would
become in her search for revenge.
19. There are too many at very low levels of pay and it is not right in this day and age that a
significant number will still be earning less than £30 a week.
20. You’re forty years old, I hope to be dead and buried before I reach that age.
21. Axel Springer owned far and away the most influential newspaper empire in Central
Europe.
22. I was taken to court to pay my husband’s debts, which I was told I had to pay or else go to
prison, so I was between the devil and the (deep) blue sea.
23. One day, in dim and distant times, many English travellers assembled at a traditional
English inn to go on an outing to the Cathedral of Canterbury.
24. Here’s a list of do’s and don’ts for wine-making.
25. The last speaker has given a more or less accurate statement of the facts, though I hope
he will not mind if I dot his i’s and cross his t’s for him.
26. She had concocted the whole story from dribs and drabs of gossip picked up at back
doors and in the shops.
27. Before we make detailed plans, we need more facts and figures.
28. I knew by experience that he suffered this mysterious ebb and flow of mood, but I felt
slightly reassured if I could link it with some external event.
29. How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with
hunger. (Luke, XV,17)
304 PAIRED IDIOMS

6 Mixed

1. He dresses pretty well for a man who is always moaning and groaning about how little he
earns.
klagen und stöhnen
2. The astonishing thing was that each and every one of the patients thus treated made a
better and quicker recovery than any patient in the control group.
jeder einzelne
3. One used to be able to pick up good furniture quite cheaply at rural auctions, but now
dealers come from far and near and force the prices up.
nah und fern
4. He expects his daughter to fetch and carry for him all day.
Mädchen für alles sein, bedienen
5. The sunny intervals we were promised have been few and far between.
dünn gesät
6. “You can drive here in 20 minutes in your car”, he said. Which would have been fine and
dandy if I’d happened to have one.
schön und gut
7. He pushed and pulled with might and main but the door remained firmly closed.
mit aller Kraft
8. It was the poorest and foulest quarter of the city and here the flotsam and jetsam of three
continents struggled precariously to survive.
Strandgut der Gesellschaft
9. Then he gets beaten up, and his apartment smashed to pieces. He must either forgive and
forget, or remember and pursue – see the case through the court.
vergeben und vergessen
10. I don’t think I’m too dedicated, or that I miss out on anything. I did all the socializing bit
when I was younger and footloose and fancy free.
frei und ungebunden
11. We found later we shared many tastes, not least that for getting up around six and then
playing Mozart piano concertos very loudly and thus making life a hell for our nearest and
dearest.
unsere Familie, unsere Lieben
12. It’s amazing, the amount of goods and chattels my husband finds it necessary to take with
him on a fortnight’s holiday.
Hab und Gut
13. Being still hale and hearty in spite of his 70 years, his father was able to add to his pension
by selling vegetables from his garden.
gesund und munter
cf. as fit as a fiddle
14. As soon as he walked in his wife started going at him hammer and tongs.
sich streiten, dass die Fetzen fliegen
cf. the fur starts / begins to fly
to make the fur fly
to set the fur flying
PAIRED IDIOMS 305

15. Tom likes to keep friendly with both the workers and their boss but he must realize that he
can’t run with the hare and hunt with the hounds.
es sich mit niemandem verderben wollen
16. He’s a man whose heart and soul were clearly in the venture from the start.
mit Leib und Seele
17. The boy’s parents would move heaven and earth to get him everything he wants.
Himmel und Erde in Bewegung setzen
18. Broken cups lay here, there, and everywhere, over the floor.
überall
19. I felt I had travelled every highway and byway in Wales.
alle Straßen und Wege
20. Their attitudes and my father’s eventually made me critical too at about 15. Up to then I had
swallowed Nazi teaching, hook, line, and sinker.
auf den Leim gehen, mit Stumpf und Stiel schlucken, mit Haut und Haaren verfallen
21. As soon as he heard there was to be an evening party for the impresario, he determined
that by hook or by crook he would be present too and get himself introduced.
auf Biegen und Brechen
impresario: person who arranges for performances in theatres, concert halls, etc:
Theater-, Konzertagent
22. He gets very hot and bothered when politics are discussed.
sich aufregen
23. My girlfriend blew hot and cold about going to the cinema. One minute she was keen to
go, the next she wanted to stay at home.
unentschlossen sein
24. The railway station was a scene of hustle and bustle.
geschäftiges Treiben, Gewühl
25. He told us he knew the ins and outs of the business, but he’s a dead loss, really.
Einzelheiten
26. She had no kith and kin, so she left all her money to an orphanage.
weder Kind noch Kegel, keine Verwandtschaft
27. Since my son has started in the language lab, he’s come on by leaps and bounds.
rapide Fortschritte machen
28. Throughout the length and (the) breadth of the land, people were shivering in ill-heated
houses as they read the morning papers, ate their breakfast, and grumbled about the
weather.
kreuz und quer; landauf, landab
29. He had been brought up to think that in business matters, and in most other matters, his
likes and dislikes didn’t count – just as he had been taught to eat what food was put
before him.
was er mag und was nicht
30. So I went to the door and, lo and behold, there he was on the doorstep.
sieh mal an
31. All right, if you want to know, the long and the short of it is, I’ve lost my job.
der langen Rede kurzer Sinn, kurz gesagt
306 PAIRED IDIOMS

7 Mixed

1. They used to call it a draw, when two horses finished neck and neck. But with the
sophisticated cameras and timing devices they have now they can almost always declare
a winner.
Kopf an Kopf
2. She says he’s got a very good reputation as one of the up and coming young doctors.
tüchtig, kommend, aufstrebend
3. Every nook and cranny of their peaceful 18th-century house held tangible memories of
Marceau.
jeder Winkel
4. He’s a Party Man. The unloved and unthanked amateur politician who keeps the nuts and
bolts of the political machine well-oiled between elections.
Betrieb; Grundgefüge, Maschinerie
5. And Woodgate (or Hopalong as he was known to one and all) shut the door carefully like a
man whose doors were always slammed by other people.
alle, jedermann
6. Trial and error calculations of this kind are particularly suited to an electronic computer,
which can work out the amount of earthshifting necessary for three miles of road in an hour
– a tremendous saving in time and effort.
Trial-and-error-Methode, empirische Methode
7. Nobody produces one and a half pages of critical text word for word from “unconscious
memory”. It’s an open and shut case of deliberate plagiarism.
ganz einfacher, sonnenklarer, glasklarer Fall
8. He is evil out and out.
durch und durch
9. Stop making so much noise! Let’s have a bit of peace and quiet round here.
Ruhe und Frieden
10. He was on pins and needles while he was answering my questions – he was clearly
worried that I would find out something that he didn’t want me to know.
wie auf (heißen) Kohlen sitzen
11. He told us a lie, pure and simple, and he ought to be punished.
schlicht und einfach
12. I don’t like having to push and shove in order to get on a bus.
drängeln und schieben
13. He knew where his heart lay, but where did his duty lie? And so did he toss and turn, and
get up for a drink of water, and knock over a pile of books.
hin und her wälzen
14. If we were to listen to the half-baked ideas of every Tom, Dick and Harry you know what
we’d have? Anarchy!
Hinz und Kunz, Krethi und Plethi
PAIRED IDIOMS 307

15. He was ranting and raving about something or other, I forget exactly what, but it was
clearly a load of rubbish.
herumschimpfen
16. Was it really so reprehensible to oppose their policies root and branch?
mit Stumpf und Stiel
17. I began to learn the facts of life for myself in the rough-and-tumble of school life.
Balgerei, Keilerei
18. Tropical orchids are found in all shapes and sizes and have a wide range of colours.
in allen Arten, Variationen
19. Wheeling and dealing was taking place on a level which made the English attempts at
trading look like a church charity sale.
Machenschaften, Geschäftemacherei, Gemauschel
20. The letter was short and to the point, and my spirits rose incredibly: she praised my book.
kurz und bündig, sachlich
21. The world and his wife came to John’s parties.
Gott und die Welt, alles, was Beine hat
22. Some of our competitors make quite a song and dance about the outside of their
machines.
Haupt- und Staatsaktion, Theater, Getue
23. The chairs are rather dirty just now, but with a bit of spit and polish they’ll look as good as
new.
wienern
24. Deep in the English character there is an instinct for a U and non-U of pronunciation as
strong as it ever was. Meanwhile, for anyone needing help along the straight and narrow,
Jones and Gimson will go with thee and be thy invaluable guide.
der Pfad der Tugend
25. He confesses that sometimes he isn’t up to coping with the stresses and strains of a large
family.
Belastungen, Stress
26. He loves singing. He’s a Welshman through and through.
durch und durch
308

PHRASAL NOUNS

1 Exercise

1. The set-up of the firm is such that high-power whizz kids are soon promoted to executive
positions.
Organisation
whiz(z) kid: a person who is very successful at an early age, esp. in business, usually
because of great natural skill and cleverness
to whizz: to move very fast, often making a noisy sound as if rushing through the air:
Cars were whizzing past.
The days seemed to whizz by.
a whizz
a) a whizzing sound
b) sb who is very fast, clever, or skilled in the stated activity:
He’s a whizz at cards.

2. After the rugby match the two teams got together in a pub and had a booze-up until
closing time.
Besäufnis
3. The comedian’s take-off / takeoff of famous people went down well with the audience.
Nachahmung, Imitation
to do a take-off of sb

4. Most people thought that the football match would be a walkover for the champion, but
they lost 1-0.
leichter Sieg, Spaziergang
5. The dynamic new chairman increased the firm’s turnover from £20,000,000 to
£50,000,000.
Umsatz
6. There was a punch-up at the match between groups of rival supporters.
Schlägerei
7. There have been no major set-backs / setbacks in the housing development programme
and the project is bang on schedule.
Rückschläge
8. Owing to internal disputes in the club, the annual dinner was badly attended and turned out
to be a dreadful let-down / letdown for the committee.
Enttäuschung
9. He pulled into a layby on the motorway to listen to the football results.
Parkbucht, Rast-, Parkplatz
10. He emerged from the accident unscathed, but his car was a complete write-off.
Verlust, als Totalschaden abzuschreiben
to escape unscathed
PHRASAL NOUNS 309

11. The police attributed the pile-up / pileup on the motorway involving 30 vehicles to fog and
black ice.
Massenkarambolage, -zusammenstoß
black ice: hard slippery ice that does not appear different from the surface of the road
it covers (Glatteis)

12. There was no let-up / letup for the shop assistants during the sales. The cash registers
didn’t stop tinkling for a moment.
Pause, Nachlassen
13. The play was given an enthusiastic write-up by the critics.
Kritik, Presse(bericht)
to get good / favourable reviews
a review copy: sent to a magazine for review (purposes) (Besprechungs-, Rezensions-
exemplar)
She did some reviewing for The Times.
The play was well reviewed.

14. When she came home and told her father that she’d dented the door of his new car there
was a real set-to about it.
Streit, Wortgefecht
15. One of the drawbacks of saving money is the depreciation because of inflation.
Nachteil
16. The first liver transplant was a spectacular breakthrough in the field of surgery.
Durchbruch
to achieve / effect / make a breakthrough
a dramatic / major / significant breakthrough

17. The company imposed a rigid security clampdown on details of its new product, and no
information about it leaked out before it was launched on the market.
Durchgreifen, Vorgehen
clampdown: use one’s authority against, or to suppress or prevent sth, deal firmly
with, to control esp. to limit (sth bad), sudden, usually official limitation or prevention
of doing or saying sth:
The government has decided that a clampdown on the sale of foreign cars is to the
country’s advantage.
also: crackdown: an action taken to stop an unlawful or disapproved activity:
a crackdown on drunken driving
to launch a crackdown on drunk drivers
to crack down on drug dealers
to clamp down on pickpockets / illegal parking / tax evasion

18. The Chancellor is preparing for a showdown with his advisers over his plans to reform the
economy.
entscheidende Kraftprobe, endgültige Auseinandersetzung
19. Being sent off to a provincial hotel in the company’s chain after being a top chef in the
capital was quite a comedown for him.
sozialer Abstieg, ganz schön tief sinken
310 PHRASAL NOUNS

20. The number of dropouts / drop-outs from the universities was something in the region of
13 per cent, which caused considerable concern.
Aussteiger
21. Saying he was wrong was a difficult climb-down for Mark.
Rückzieher, Kleinbeigeben
22. The bad image some people have of the youth of today is caused by a small percentage of
lay-abouts / layabouts who avoid work as much as possible.
Arbeitsscheuer, Faulenzer, Nichtstuer
23. The flyover which had been built over two main roads, considerably eased the flow of
traffic at what used to be a notorious bottleneck.
Überführung
cf. underpass
24. He has a lie-in every Saturday morning and doesn’t get up until 10.
ausschlafen
25. The layout of the new air base was planned by a consortium of architects.
Aufbau, Anlage, Gestaltung
26. Despite much advertizing and publicity the show was a washout.
Pleite, Reinfall, Misserfolg
27. The teacher gave the class a hand-out / handout on Christmas traditions.
Handzettel, Handout, Informationsmaterial
28. We’re having a small get-together this weekend at the Grand Hotel.
Treffen
29. There was a fifteen-minute hold-up / holdup on the motorway this morning while police
tried to catch a dog that was running loose in the fast lane.
Stau
cf. tailback
30. The check-in at the airport took longer than we had expected.
Abfertigung, Einchecken

2 Exercise

1. I always keep a supply of saccharin in the house. It’s a useful stand-by in case we run out
of sugar.
Ersatz
saccharin tablets
cf. saccharine (adj.): very, unpleasantly sweat; too friendly, kind
(a) saccharine love story / smile / music
2. Poor old Jim was completely outplayed in the final. He didn’t get a look-in.
konnte nichts ausrichten, war hoffnungslos unterlegen
3. A shilling for a wash and a brush(-)up! That’s expensive, isn’t it?
Erfrischung
PHRASAL NOUNS 311

4. The negligent officer was given a thorough dressing-down by the Court of Enquiry.
eins auf den Deckel / das Dach kriegen
5. Attention all passengers, please! The take-off of Flight 234 to Beirut has been postponed
for another hour.
Start, Abflug
6. A huge crowd gave the Princess a great send-off as she left on her tour to Canada.
Abschied bereiten
7. The President said that he could no longer ignore the build-up of forces that was taking
place on the other side of the frontier.
Truppenmassierung
8. There wasn’t a single ticket left. It was a complete sell-out.
Ausverkauf
9. The messenger was the victim of a hold-up (or: stick-up) as he was carrying the week’s
takings to the bank.
Überfall
10. He was on the look(-)out for a new job.
auf der Suche
11. That little boy has never had anything to wear. He has always had to wear his elder
brother’s cast(-)offs.
abgelegte alte Sachen, Klamotten
12. The judge ruled that the accused man was not one of the principal offenders; he was just
a go-between.
Mittelsmann
13. The poor man was reduced to eating other people’s left(-)overs.
(Über)reste
14. If I do the cooking, will you do the washing-up?
Abwasch
15. The dropping-off of sales this month is rather worrying.
Rückgang, Flaute
16. How exciting all this is! I’ve never seen the blast-off of a rocket before – except, of course,
on TV.
Start, Abschuss
17. They have interrupted the count(-)down again. There seems to be some trouble with the
rocket’s fuel supply.
Countdown
18. We missed the train because our bus had a break(-)down on the way to the station.
Panne
19. No, she uses very little make-up, really. But she doesn’t need to. She has such a perfect
complexion.
Make-up
20. After the robbery, the thieves made their get-away in a stolen car.
Flucht
312 PHRASAL NOUNS

21. Everyone was surprised at the break-up of their marriage. They had seemed so happy
together.
Ende, Auseinanderbrechen, Scheitern
22. There have been some strange goings-on in the house on the corner – ever since that new
family moved in.
Vorgang, Ereignis
23. If you fly from London to New Zealand, it usually means a stopover at Singapore.
Zwischenstopp, -landung
24. The headmaster had a crack-down on slovenly appearance in his school and many boys
and some staff were told to get their hair cut.
Standpauke, hartes Durchgreifen
25. £4 for a cup of tea? What a rip-off!
Nepp
26. You seem to have made a bad slip-up in your report.
Schnitzer
27. The investigation has been mismanaged from the start. I’ve never seen such a foul-up.
Durcheinander, Schlamassel
28. Here’s a run-down of the activities of our ten biggest competitors.
Übersicht, Zusamenfassung
to give a run-down on sth
29. This production team have had one successful TV series and they say they’re planning to
do a follow-up next year.
Fortsetzung
30. The Government’s sudden turn-about / turnabout on taxation surprised political
commentators.
Kehrtwendung
to do / make a turnabout

3 Exercise

1. We won’t be able to do it unless we have a lot of technical back-up.

Unterstützung, Hilfe
2. Our newspaper story on the sex trial was a great success; we must get someone to write
a follow-up.
Fortsetzung
3. He claimed that vodka did not give you a hang-over.
Kater
4. Let’s have a whip-round for a Christmas present for the office cleaners.
Sammlung, den Hut herumgehenlassen
5. She had thought she would be given a principal part in the play, and was very disappointed
when she only had a walk-on part.
Statistenrolle
PHRASAL NOUNS 313

6. Could you please do a blow-up of this corner of the negative?

Vergrößerung
7. The claim made for the shelters is that they will protect people from radioactive fall-out.
Niederschlag, Fall-out
8. Stop at the next garage for a fill-up.
Tanken
9. “Did you enjoy the party?” – “No, I thought it fell flat, it was a bit of a wash-out.”
Pleite
10. He was in a sort of Mafia get-up with a pin-striped suit and a wide tie.
Aufzug, Aufmachung
11. We’re ready to start the new building as soon as we are given the go-ahead from the
council.
grünes Licht
cf. the green light
12. I think Mark has a bit of a hang-up about his lack of education.
Komplex
13. It’s a toss-up which of the two yachtsmen will cross the finishing-line first.
es ist völlig offen
14. I want a complete run-down on everything that happened while I was away.
Bericht, Zusammenfassung
15. During the run-up to the elections the polls showed the Conservatives in the lead.
Zeit vor der Wahl
16. A break-away faction within the movement has formed a new terrorist group.
Splittergruppe
17. His crack-up was due to overwork.
Zusammenbruch
cf. breakdown
18. The search for knowledge frequently has beneficial spin-offs for mankind.
Nebenprodukt
19. In some minor scenes of the film, her part is played by a stand-in.
Double, zweite Besetzung
20. There is always the risk of civilians being caught in the crossfire when there is a shoot-out
between terrorists and soldiers.
Schießerei
21. The Medical Board gave the applicants a thorough look-over.
Musterung, Untersuchung
22. He got a big pay-off / payoff for agreeing to lose the game deliberately.
Bestechungsgeld
23. Police are investigating a break-in at the bank.
Einbruch
24. I wanted to speak to her, but she gave me the brush-off.
jem. abblitzen lassen
314 PHRASAL NOUNS

25. The derelict station served as a hang-out for vagrants and delinquents.
Treffpunkt
vagrant (fml.): sb who has no home or work, esp. sb who begs
26. This procedure is a hang-over from the old system.
Überbleibsel
27. The closure of the car factory had a knock-on effect on the tyre manufacturers.
Folgewirkung
cf. spin-off effect
28. There has been a government shake-up, with three ministers losing their jobs.
Umbesetzung, Revirement
cf. cabinet reshuffle
29. The threat of another shut-down in the steel industry has not been averted.
Schließung, Stilllegung
30. Leaving his name off the list was a bad slip-up.
Schnitzer
31. The conductor gave the boys a telling-off for throwing litter on the floor of the bus.
Standpauke halten, ausschimpfen
cf. dressing-down

4 Exercise

1. He’s made a complete botch-up of repairing the car.

Murks, Pfusch
to botch up: to spoil, mar, through inattention, carelessness, etc
to botch up sth – to make a botch-up of sth
cf. to bungle a job

2. In their most recent satirical sketch they do a send-up of fashionable young women who
work for charitable causes.
Parodie, Verulkung
to send up
1. cause to rise:
An increase in production costs is bound to send up prices.
2. destroy, esp. by fire:
A convoy of petrol lorries was sent up in flames.
3. to ridicule by means of a mock-imitation, satirize
Note: to send sb up the wall: infuriate, annoy unbearably, to drive sb round the bend /
up the wall / to distraction

3. You won’t get him to change his behaviour at his age, it’s in his make-up.
Veranlagung, Charakter
to make up: to form as a whole:
Different qualities make up a person’s character.
The board of directors is made up of men and women.
The tea is made up from a mixture of several different types.
PHRASAL NOUNS 315

4. The walk-out was caused by a disagreement over pay and working conditions.
Streik, Ausstand
to walk out
1. leave one’s place of work to protest, to obtain sth, to come out, take industrial
action:
Building workers walked out / staged a walk-out during the morning in protest against
the sacking of a bricklayer.
2. leave a meeting, organisation etc as an expression of disapproval, protest etc:
The Minister of Employment is attempting to call a fresh meeting following yesterday’s
walk-out by union delegates.
At various times, both teams of negotiators had walked out of the peace talks.

5. During last year’s freeze-up, traffic was brought to a halt along the full length of the
motorway.
(Dauer-)Frost
a freeze-up: a period of extreme cold with ice and snow

6. It’s a very go-ahead company: they were among the first to introduce profit-sharing.
fortschrittlich
We can’t do anything about your proposal until we get the go-ahead from the local
Council.
cf. to get the green light
Once our policy is formulated we intend to go ahead full steam / go full steam ahead.

7. Let’s have a knock-up before we start playing squash.

einschlagen, einspielen
cf. warm-up
to knock up
1. awaken by knocking on a door etc:
Would you mind knocking me up at 7 o’clock tomorrow, as I must catch an early train
to London?
2. prepare, make, quickly and without much planning, knock together:
My mother was a marvel at knocking up a meal for an unexpected guest. There
always seemed to be something in the larder.
3. make tired, exhausted or ill:
Tom was completely knocked up as a result of his prolonged effort to qualify for the
Olympic team.
Don’t try to dig the whole garden in one day: you’ll knock yourself up.

8. A film completes this evening’s TV line-up.

Programm
to line up
1. form a queue, to get transport, buy food etc; to queue (up) for sth:
Fans began lining up early in the morning to buy their cup-tie tickets.
2. assemble, bring together, organize, arrange:
They’ve lined up some excellent entertainers for our show.
There was a good line-up of musical and comedy acts on television tonight.

9. The new road will ensure a speed-up in the movement of traffic to the docks.
Beschleunigung, größeres Tempo
316 PHRASAL NOUNS

10. Most of us could see the bust-up of their marriage coming.

Scheitern
cf. break-up / split-up / breakdown of a marriage
to bust up: break up:
They bust up after only two years.
to bust sth up:
Everything was fine between John and me until that woman stepped in and bust up
our marriage.

11. When Britain adopted the decimal system for its money, the change-over was relatively
smooth.
Übergang
cf. to go decimal
to change over to sth:
He used to drink tea at breakfast, but he changed over to coffee.

12. Admit that you are wrong now and you will avoid a humiliating climb-down later.
Zurückstecken, Nachgeben
It was quite a climb-down for the boss to admit that he was wrong.

13. The cut-back in investment over the country as a whole is bound to increase
unemployment.
Kürzung
to cut back: horticulture: to prune (back):
Some gardeners believe in cutting rose-bushes back very hard indeed – almost to the
ground.
fig.: to cut back production

14. The surveyor gave the house a thorough going-over and advised us not to buy.
Prüfung
cf. 28
to go over
1. survey, inspect, with a view to renting or buying, look over:
The prospective tenants went over the accommodation, but made no comment
except to thank the old lady for her trouble.
2. clean, inspect and repair:
The girl went over the room quickly with a duster.
Would you mind giving the engine of my car a good going-over? It’s producing a very
strange noise.
3. ponder, consider, examine or re-examine:
We went over every detail of his story in an effort to discover whether it was true or
not.
going-over: the questioning of sb, (sometimes) a physical attack on sb:
The police gave the suspect murderer a long going-over, but could get no admission
from him.
When the old man was found unconscious in the street, it was obvious that he had
been given a savage going-over by several people.
PHRASAL NOUNS 317

15. He couldn’t sell the sports car even at the knock-down price of £10,000.
Schleuderpreis
to knock down
1. cause to reduce, beat down:
She is never happy unless she succeeds in knocking the bill down by a few pence.
I managed to knock the landlord down a pound, so I got the bedsitter for four pounds
a week, he boasted.
2. dismantle for ease of transport:
In many Asian countries there are assembly plants for the construction of cars which
are imported in knocked-down form from Europe, America and Japan.
3. demolish:
When the slum property has been evacuated, it will be knocked down and replaced by
modern blocks of flats.
4. hit with a vehicle and cause to fall, often inflicting injuries or causing death:
The child was knocked down by a lorry as he ran across the road.

16. If he can’t be bothered to write, and misses his opportunities, that’s his own look-out.
Problem, Sache
to be sb’s look-out: be sb’s (own) concern or responsibility:
It’s your own look-out whether you succeed or fail.

17. One of the immediate pay-offs of the invention was an increase in production.
Gewinn
to pay off
1. pay in full and discharge from service:
The crew of the merchant ship were paid off at the end of the trip and a fresh one
engaged.
2. settle, clear, by matching what one owes with the same amount:
You’ll have to pay off your old loan before being allowed a new one.
All his outstanding debts have been paid off.
3. give money to prevent sb from carrying out a threat:
Publicans are known to have paid off one gang of terrorists to stop their pubs being
blown up by another.
4. succeed to work:
Occasionally the checking pays off and there is the excitement of a chase or an arrest.

18. Get me a print-out of the statistics.

Ausdruck
19. Charles is a push-over for girls with blue eyes.
schwach werden, leichtes Opfer
to push over sb / sth: make fall to the ground:
They pushed over one or two tables in the scramble.
a push(-)over: an easy triumph or victory for sb:
Saturday’s match should be a pushover for Leeds.
cf. walk-over
to walk over: to defeat thoroughly, punish severely (as in a contest):
Liverpool walked all over them.
Imagine trying to stand up to the woman. It’d be like doing battle with a tank, she’d
walk all over you.
318 PHRASAL NOUNS

20. The gang could get rid of the booty through a crooked dealer in London, but, of course, he
would expect a fat rake-off for his trouble.
Gewinnanteil, Prozente
to rake off: share of profit, fee, commission, esp. in an illegal deal

21. Let’s get a take-away – I can’t be bothered to cook.

etwas (zu essen) holen oder mitnehmen
22. We can look forward to a much closer tie-up between the educational systems of Western
Europe.
Verbindung, Beziehung
to tie up
1. keep busy or occupied:
As far as I can tell, this editing will tie me up for the next fortnight.
2. have money etc invested in sth, so that it is hard to draw upon for other purposes:
It’s unwise to tie up all your capital in one enterprise.
3. (pass.) be connected, related to:
A good deal of British car manufacture is closely tied up with the Continental industry.
There is a loose tie-up between the one and the other.

23. We saw a terrible smash-up on the M1 on our way home.

Unfall, Karambolage
to smash up: damage badly:
The place was badly smashed up in the air-raids.

24. The people round here think that every kid on a motorbike is a tear-away, but only one or
two youngsters are ever in trouble with the police.
noisy and violent young person: Rabauke

25. There will be a clean-up campaign against industrial pollution.

Säuberung
to clean up: remove dirt etc, make a place clean:
Now that the party’s over, shall we clean up / have a clean-up?

26. You’d better go to the doctor for a check-up; that cough sounds serious to me.
(Vorsorge-)Untersuchung, Check-up
27. For arranging the contract he got a kick-back of £5,000.
Provision, Schmiergeld
kickback: money paid, usually secretly or dishonestly, to sb in return for doing sth

28. If he refuses to pay, I’ll get the boys to give him a real going-over.
Abreibung, Standpauke
cf. 14
PHRASAL NOUNS 319

29. Acting on a tip-off, the police arrested the drug traffickers.

Tip, Wink
to tip off:
He denied that the Post Office had been tipped off that a raid on the train was
planned.

30. Did you get a good trade-in (price) on your sewing machine?
einen guten Preis erzielen (für eine in Zahlung gegebene Sache)
to trade in: to hand to the dealer a used article in part payment for a new one:
He keeps a car for two years, then he trades it in / does a trade-in.
31. Give the machine a try-out before you buy.
Probezeit
to try sth out on sb / sth:
The new product has been tried out on a small sample of London housewives.

32. Despite hopes of a larger turn-out the organizers were well pleased with the rally.
Beteiligung, Besucherzahl
to turn out: to appear, be present, attend:
A large crowd turned out / there was a large turn-out to welcome the royal visitors.
The weather prevented people from turning out in large numbers to watch the
athletics meeting.
320

PHRASAL VERBS

1 Exercise: to account, allow, answer, back, be, bear, blow, break

1. Sheila has been after a new job for more than six months.
2. It looks as if we might be in for another frosty spell.
3. Othello is on at at the Playhouse.
4. I’m not up to going out tonight, I’ve such a splitting headache.
5. The mother reprimanded her daughter child for answering back.
6. After being confronted with our evidence, the other side had to back down.
7. I think they’ll back out when they find out how much it costs.
8. You must bear up, even if you feel depressed.
9. These were vital discussions that bore on Europe’s economic future.
also: touched on (with a slight difference in meaning)
10. What with ill health, financial worries, anxiety about her five children and the strain of
running a business, the poor woman broke down.
what with: used for introducing the cause of something bad:
What with all his work and so little sleep at night, I don’t think he can go on much
longer.
11. Drug addicts break down into / can be broken down into different groups.
12. Several prisoners have broken out of Dartmoor and are now at large.
13. The police didn’t have to break up the demonstrators, they broke up peacefully of their
own accord.
14. By the way, did you hear about Peter and Pauline? They’ve broken up.
also: split up / bust(ed) up
15. He has been down with rheumatism for the last few weeks.
also: has been laid up with / has been laid low with
to come down with malaria / typhoid fever
to go down with flue / measles
16. He is in with all the local bigwigs.
17. The meat you’ve given me is slightly off.
18. I’m afraid tomorrow’s party is off.
19. He was through with trying to pretend he loved her.
20. He has been asked to account for his rude behaviour.
There’s no accounting for tastes.
How do you account for the accident?
21. Though a crack shot, he missed the target because the wind had not been allowed for.
22. When he took the spider out of his pocket everyone backed away / off and stood
watching it from a safe distance.
23. He was not backed up by his family to the extent that he had hoped to be.
24. The belief that there was a Roman settlement there in ancient times was borne out by the
discovery of a number of Roman coins.
25. The news of his engagement to another girl was a shock to her, but she bore up bravely
under / against it and went on as if nothing had happened.
PHRASAL VERBS 321

26. The director blew up when his assistant told him about his mistake.
27. He was in the middle of one of his funny stories when he broke off to answer the
telephone.
28. Just when we had an important piece of work in hand, the machine broke down.
29. World War II broke out in September 1939.
30. When do you break / does your school break up?
31. The headmaster was down on Bob this morning for being late again.
also: came down on
cf. tell sb off / dress sb down / pull sb up / tick sb off (for sth)

2 Exercise: to account, allow, answer, back, be, bear, blow, break

1.
Mary was down with cold last week, so she didn’t come to work.
2.
On the whole we had a good holiday, but the weather in Spain wasn’t up to much.
3.
Nobody backed her up when she protested against the unanimous decision.
4.
Recent events have fully borne out what my father has always said.
5.
Hundreds were injured when an ammunition dump blew up yesterday.
6.
We are sorry to arrive late, but our brand-new car broke down.
7.
I’m not surprised that Peter and Pauline have broken up. They were never really suited,
were they?
8. Don’t marry her, she’s only after your money.
9. I don’t want to see you again, I’m through with you.
10. I have made the curtain rather longer than the measurements you gave me, to allow for
shrinkage when it is washed.
11. In the face of the American President’s firmness, the Russians were eventually forced to
back down.
12. I should like to break out of this dull way of life.
13. When do the children break up for the summer holidays?
14. To keep the enemy from crossing the river, the colonel ordered his men to blow up the
bridge.
15. The chemist has broken the mixture down into its components.
16. The frightened boy backed away from the fierce-looking dog.
17. This young woman is to be married next week, so her father is in for a lot of expense.
18. When your father scolds you, you shouldn’t answer (him) back.
19. I could get a better price on that, I’m in with their chief buyer.
20. Fred has to account to his parents for the money they give him for school expenses.
21. China threatened to break off diplomatic relations with Germany.
cf. to sever sth (from sth)
severance of communications / family ties / diplomatic relations
22. I must be off now, it’s past my bedtime.
23. The plague broke out in London and hundreds died.
24. Several friends of ours who had promised to help us afterwards backed out.
322 PHRASAL VERBS

25. The party broke up when the police arrived.

26. Is that soccer match still going to be on after all that snow?
27. When the teacher discovered Bill’s mistake, he was down on him like a ton of bricks.
28. When the defendant heard his sentence, he broke down.
29. The milk is off, you didn’t put it in the fridge.
30. She is bearing up as well as one can expect after her husband’s death.
31. He stands a fairly good chance of getting the job, as he is well in with all the influential
members of the committee.
32. I’m free now, the meeting is off / over.
33. Nothing she says bears even remotely (up)on the problem under discussion.

3 Exercise: to account, allow, answer, back, be, bear, blow, break

1. I have been after this book for years.

2. He’s been down with tonsillitis for three days.
He has been laid up / laid low with / has been confined to bed with ...
He has come / gone down with ...
3. If the economic situation does not improve soon, we’re in for bad times.
4. He’s in with the right people and I expect that he will be promoted soon.
5. What’s on at the cinema this week?
6. He’s again gone back on his promise. I’m through with him now.
He has broken / not kept his promise.
7. He simply isn’t up to his job.
8. In judging the quality of his work we must allow for his youth.
9. As / when the men reached for their guns, the onlookers / lookers-on backed off / away /
out.
10. He proposed to her, but at the last minute he backed out.
11. Nobody knows how the discovery will bear on the development of chemistry.
12. The news of his friend’s death was a great shock to him, but he bore up well under / against
it.
13. You say that 1,000 people use this library. Could you break that down into age groups /
brackets?
Note: income / tax / age bracket
His new job puts him into the highest tax bracket.
14. Ann has broken off her engagement to Tom.
15. The angry crowd waited outside the football ground and didn’t break up until midnight.
16. It was money trouble / financial / pecuniary difficulties that broke their marriage up.
17. When he published his latest play the critics were down on him.
18. If you had put the cheese into the fridge, it wouldn’t be off now.
19. It is high time I was off.
It’s high time for me to be off.
20. His wife is ill, the party is off.
PHRASAL VERBS 323

21. His latest novel isn’t up to much.

22. She had to account to her husband for every penny she spent.
23. Allowing for the train being late, we should be back by 10 p.m.
24. If only he would stop answering back his mother.
25. The employers expect the Trade Union to back down.
26. He said he quite agreed with what his friend said, and was willing / prepared to back him
up.
27. The ammunition dump blew up.
28. The car broke down on the way to the airport and I had to get / take a taxi.
29. When the war broke out, rationing of petrol was introduced.
30. We / our school breaks up earlier this year.
31. I don’t know what he is up to, but it looks suspicious.
32. His statements bear out the rumour we heard.
33. As they retreated the enemy / the retreating enemy blew up all the bridges behind them.
34. She’ll soon break down if she goes on working so hard.
35. A fire broke out in the basement and soon the whole building was in flames.

4 Exercise: to bring, call, care, carry, come

1.
What has brought about this misunderstanding?
2.
Demand has been brought down by an increase in imports.
3.
He brought out the weak points of the theory.
4.
This morning not a single member of the committee would agree with me. But now, I think,
I’ve brought most of them round to (accept) my point of view.
5. Before the meeting adjourns, I’d like to bring up the question of electing a new chairman.
6. Would you mind my calling on you tomorrow?
7. Because of the lead singer’s illness the open-air pop concert had to be called off.
8. Every man in Britain used to be called up at the age of eighteen.
9. The words of the nostalgic song called up the old days when we were all full of
enthusiasm.
10. Isabel was carried away by the thought that for the first time she was having a serious
conversation with her husband about films.
11. The boy was very brilliant indeed and carried off the class prize for nearly every subject.
12. If you don’t carry out the instructions, how can you expect the cake to be a success?
13. I came across / (up)on some old photos of my friend’s wedding when I was tidying up the
attic.
14. Genuine antique furniture is hard to come by these days.
15. They were once a well-off family, but they have now come down (in the world).
16. The Government’s financial policy has come in for a storm of criticism from the media.
17. The Post Office workers have come out for higher wages.
18. This question did not come up at the committee meeting.
19. Your essay does not come up to the expected standards.
324 PHRASAL VERBS

20. If we had worked more closely together, between us we could have brought off a real
coup.
21. The defection of a large number of back-benchers brought down the last government.
22. These new tablets will soon bring her round / to.
23. An old friend of mine is bringing out a new edition of Midsummer Night’s Dream.
24. Marriage calls for much mutual understanding.
25. We called on him to speak at the wedding.
26. I’m going out with Mike tonight. He’s calling for me at eight. So I must be ready by then.
27. The nurse’s life was devoted to caring for the sick and needy.
28. Now we’ve got the engine repaired we can carry on with our work.
29. He’s carrying on with the baker’s wife.
30. Should I ever come into a fortune, I shall retire and live in the south of France.
31. Their attempt to rob the bank didn’t come off.
32. His two children are always coming out with the most extraordinary ideas.
also: up with
to come up with sh: to produce, often unexpectedly:
to come up with a suggestion / solution / the right answer / a convincing explanation
to come out with sth: to say sth, perhaps after some hesitation:
to come out with he truth / facts / some strange remark / an astonishing statement
33. Does the match come off?
34. It is difficult to see what the motive of this heinous crime could have been, but it will
probably come out at the trial.
35. For three days and nights her parents watched by Rachel’s bed, waiting for her to come
round / to.
36. His repeated attempts to persuade the club members to elect him president didn’t come
off.

5 Exercise: to bring, call, care, carry, come

1. The war brought about many changes in everyday life.

not: along
2. It was a tall order, but he brought it off by skill and cunning.
3. The Socialists were finally brought down by a series of scandals.
4. The logic of his argument brought me round to his way of thinking.
5. We haven’t time to discuss this question now, but it can be brought up at the next meeting.
6. The final had to be called off because of rain.
7. What time shall I call for you tonight? Can you be ready by 7.30?
8. The Government have declared they will not call up men engaged in vital industries.
9. He was so carried away with joy that he began to weep.
10. Provided he carries on working so hard, he should pass the exam this summer.
11. You will get your money as soon as the work has been carried out.
12. While searching among some papers in an old chest of drawers, she came across / (up)on
a diary which had been kept by her grandmother.
PHRASAL VERBS 325

13. His latest novel has come in for considerable criticism.

14. The new government intends to come down heavily on tax dodgers.
15. When the motorist came round / to after the accident, he found himself in a bed in a
strange room.
16. The miners have come out for more pay.
17. The launching of the European rocket Ariane did not come off.
18. I don’t think the film came up to what critics said about it.
19. I shall attend the funeral unless something important comes up.
20. The good harvest brought down the price of grain.
21. The context clearly brings out the meaning of the word.
22. A drop of brandy soon brought her round / to.
23. To cope with such a difficult situation sterner measures than these are called for.
24. For the whole season Bob stood as reserve for his team, but was never called on to play.
25. The photo calls up memories of a holiday in the Lake District when I was a child.
26. The nurse will care for my uncle from now on.
27. Long-distance runners from Africa carried off most of the medals.
28. How do you come by this wound in your shoulder?
29. He won’t come into his share of his father’s legacy until he is eighteen.
30. If all his plans had come off, he would be a millionaire.
31. When it came out that a bank official had been involved in laundering the money there was
a demand for an inquiry.
32. There was an awkward silence for a few moments, then someone came out with / up with
a most useful suggestion.
33. The company intends to bring out a new series of bilingual dictionaries.
34. It’s shocking! There’s a rumour that Mary’s husband is carrying on with that woman next
door.
35. The Inland Revenue authorities have come down on me for £350 income tax which I
allegedly owe them.
36. I’m afraid my brother’s family have come down in the world lately.

6 Exercise: to bring, call, care, carry, come

1. This accident has been brought about by your reckless / careless driving.
not: along
Note: drink driving / drunk driving / drunken driving (AE)
2. For years the government have been promising to bring down the cost of living.
3. He’s a very successful manager and has just brought off a £20 m deal / transaction with
Saudi Arabia.
4. A leading firm of publishers / publishing house is shortly to bring out a history of the
Second World War / of World War II.
5. Children who are brought up in the country are not necessarily healthier than those brought
up in town.
326 PHRASAL VERBS

6. The situation calls for immediate action by the government.

7. During the war all young men were called up to serve in the army, navy or the air force.
8. His sister cared for him while he was ill.
9. To our surprise she carried off / away the first prize in the beauty contest.
10. The director has been carrying on with his secretary for two years.
11. It has never been cleared up / come out how the accident actually / really came about.
12. The teacher came down on Nigel for talking in class.
13. He is very shy / timid / self-conscious and always comes off badly in interviews.
14. Their marriage / wedding didn’t come off after all.
15. Will the workers really come out for higher wages?
16. She came out / up with a very odd story the other day.
17. His work hardly comes up to the required standards.
18. The Foreign Minister’s affair with his secretary brought down the government.
19. Many a good / profitable business deal has been brought off over a bottle of wine.
20. The real reasons for his failure are fully / clearly brought out in his autobiography.
21. Your suggestion / proposal will be brought up at the next meeting.
22. We must bring the rest of the committee round to our point of view.
23. She fainted when she heard the news, but a little brandy soon brought her round / to.
24. The cup final was called off because the pitch / field / ground / lawn was too wet.
25. He was so carried away with / by his enthusiasm that he forgot what he was doing.
26. Before testing this method on patients, the (research) scientists carried out tests on 200
dogs.
27. He came down on me for immediate (re)payment of the £200, (al)though he had promised
to lend them (to) me for a whole year.
28. Your name did not come up in our conversation.
29. Could you call for my dress at the cleaner’s?
30. He called on him, as his friend, to help him.
31. We may carry on (with) the conversation tomorrow.
32. The young artist’s paintings came in for a great deal of praise.
33. How long was he unconscious before he came round / to?
34. When will the election results come out?
35. She’ll come into all her father’s money when he dies.
36. These photos call up memories of my youth.
PHRASAL VERBS 327

7 Exercise: to catch, clear, crop, cut, die, do, draw, dress, fall

1. Things have cropped up that make Jeremy’s position in the firm rather difficult.
2. We were driving peacefully along the road when this sports car suddenly cut in (on us),
forcing us to slow down.
3. Cut out cracking jokes! Let’s be serious now!
4. The young pianist was very cut up about / at his poor performance in the concert.
5. Only those species sufficiently adaptable to cope with changing conditions survived. The
others died out.
6. Slavery was finally done away with in Britain in 1807.
7. Our car could do with a good polish.
8. A moving van drew up in front of the house.
also: pulled up

9. If Bill behaves so rudely again, send him to me, and I’ll dress him down.
also: to tell / tick sb off for (doing) sth
to pull sb up for (doing) sth / on sth:
I felt I had to pull her up on her lateness / for being late.

10. Doctors sometimes fall back on old cures when modern medicine does not help.
Note: curative / palliative medicine / methods

11. Alan was the kind of young man who would fall for the first girl he met.
12. The attendance at rugby matches has been falling off for the past two years.
also: dropping off

13. I’m afraid my career plans have fallen through.

14. Say that again, I didn’t quite catch on.
15. If the idea catches on, we should be able to make a lot of money out of it.
16. Clear off / out before I call your parents.
17. If you’ve got any sense, you’ll clear out / off before my father comes home from the office.
He’ll fly into a rage if he sees you here.
18. The weather should clear up tomorrow and I’ll at last be able to do some gardening.
19. I’m saving for a journey round the world, so I’ve decided to cut down on cigarettes,
records, and clothes.
20. Our electricity supply has been cut off again.
21. Teaching is the kind of job you need to be cut out for, otherwise you’re likely to find it very
nerve-racking.
He is cut out for teaching / to be a teacher.

22. Even after the storm had died down, we were still unable to see the extent of the damage.
23. You’d better go ahead; I’m completely done in and can’t go any further.
also: done for / up
328 PHRASAL VERBS

24. If the worst comes to the worst, we can do without these luxuries.
25. He had his will drawn up.
26. Our two daughters like games in which they dress up.
27. They threatened to take the customer to court because he had fallen behind with the
instalments.
28. He’s so indifferent, he always falls in with what other people say.
29. These books fall under the general heading of philosophy.
30. She started last in the race but soon caught up with the others / caught the others up.
31. Could you please clear off / away these tools?
32. This murder case has never been cleared up.
33. She has drawn back from all of us and we can only guess why.
34. There’s an official reception at the Lord Mayor’s next week. It will mean dressing up.

8 Exercise: to catch, clear, crop, cut, die, do, draw, dress, fall

1. Something has cropped up and I won’t be home in time for the party.
2. You must cut down on the amount of sweets and chocolates if you want to lose weight.
3. The Jaguar overtook me on a corner and then cut in, thus causing me to swerve violently.
to swerve
1. turn suddenly to one side (when moving along)
2. (usu. negative) to change from an idea or purpose:
I’ll never swerve from my declared policy on that matter.
4. I’m sure Vivian would make a good journalist; she seems to be cut out for the job.
5. The protests of the miners are beginning to die down.
6. Be on your guard against that woman; she’ll tell lies about you and do you down if she gets
the chance.
to do sb down: run down, speak ill of
cf. to do sb in: kill, ruin
7. I can’t do with visitors this week as we’ve got the decorators in the house.
8. The young girl was sitting on a bench looking across the road, when all of a sudden a car
drew up, and as it drew up two men jumped out and pushed her into the back seat.
9. Our maths teacher dressed us down in front of the whole class for our carelessness.
10. As a boy he used to dress up in his father’s uniform, and pretend to be a soldier.
11. The landlord threatened to clear her out, if she fell behind with the rent.
12. I never take my wife to the market; she falls for all that sales talk much too easily.
13. Support for the new plan, never very great, quickly fell off.
14. It’s a pity the whole scheme fell through after so many people had worked so hard on it.
15. The new student followed the discussion rather blankly for a while, then his expression
changed. He was catching on.
16. We can’t hope to catch up with the sports car in front of us; it’s a very high-powered one.
17. The workers began clearing off / away the rubble.
18. Clear off / out before I call the police.
19. So far no water has been detected, but drillings should clear the matter up.
PHRASAL VERBS 329

20. Iraq and Iran threatened to cut off all supplies of petrol unless their terms were met.
21. There’s no need to be so cut up at being dismissed: it’s only a matter of time before you
shall land on your feet.
22. The French government undertook to do away with conscription as soon as conditions
permitted.
23. I’m worn out, I’m absolutely done in. But a good night’s sleep is all I need.
also: done for / up
24. The Prime Minister promised to reform the National Health Service, but he drew back at
the last minute.
25. The young solicitor drew up a contract for her to sign.
26. If my daughter spends all our holiday money in Florida, she can fall back on traveller’s
cheques.
27. A man who is on the way up is continually raising the standards of the woman he can fall
for.
28. If we break the idea to Michael gently, he’ll most likely fall in with our plans without much
opposition.
29. I never expected Peter and Pauline to fall out with each other. They always seemed so
friendly.
30. These new books fall under non-fiction.
31. The bikini didn’t take long to catch on.
32. You’d better look for another tenant, I’m clearing out.
33. There was dense fog early this morning, but the weather cleared up before 10 o’clock.
34. I’m afraid it’s time for me to cut out my weekly game of tennis – I’m not as young as I was.
35. The fire is dying down, put some more coal on it.
36. Karl Marx believed that religion was based on superstition, and that it would ultimately die
out.
37. If there’s no milk, we’ll have to do without.
38. At 3 o’clock she wasn’t even up, let alone dressed up.

9 Exercise: to catch, clear, crop, cut, die, do, draw, dress, fall

1. We were talking on the phone and suddenly were / got cut off.
2. I think she is really cut out for a nurse / to be a nurse.
3. This custom died out in the middle of the 19th century.
4. I can’t walk another step, I’m completely done in / for / up.
5. After his divorce he drew back from his friends.
6. She had dressed up the children for the ceremony.
7. He fell behind with the rent and had to leave the house.
cf. to be in / fall into arrears with the rent
to be paid a month in arrears
8. He has decided to fall in with our policy.
9. The plan to build / for building a new public library has fallen through.
330 PHRASAL VERBS

10. He’s a bit slow to catch on.

cf. to be slow on the the uptake
11. We tried to catch him up / up with him but our car wasn’t fast enough.
12. He cleared everyone out of the office.
13. If the weather clears up, we’ll go for a walk.
14. The same problems keep cropping up all the time.
15. The doctor advised father to cut down (on) smoking.
16. She was very cut up when she heard that her husband had been fired / sacked / given the
sack / the axe / laid off / made redundant.
17. The coat could do with a clean.
18. The car drew up in front of my door.
also: pulled up
19. His youngest daughter likes dressing up in her mother’s clothes.
20. His enthusiasm quickly fell off.
21. This book falls under / into the category ‘reference books’.
22. I don’t think this strange fashion will catch on.
23. Mother cleared the dirty dishes away / off when we had finished eating.
24. If I cut out smoking I could afford a new car.
25. At last the excitement died down and the speaker could / was able to make / get himself
understood.
26. He will do / is always doing down everything (that comes) from abroad.
27. I can do without the car today if you need it.
28. We drew up a list of (the) things we needed / required.
29. It’s good to have a bit of money in the bank to fall back on in case of difficulties.
30. Everybody seems to fall for his charming manner.
31. I really / honestly don’t know why Pat and Robin have got engaged, they’re permanently
falling out.
32. “Clear off!” shouted the angry farmer to the boys in his orchard.
33. Have you been able to clear up the misunderstanding?
34. The boss dressed him down for being late so often.
also: told / ticked / pulled him off
35. I had to brake when suddenly a lorry cut in (on me / in front of me).

10 Exercise: to get, give, go, grow

1. John often has good ideas, but he can’t get them across (to his audience) very well, he’s
not a fascinating speaker.
also: put them across / get them over (to his audience)

2. My father doesn’t earn much money, but we can just get by.
also: along
PHRASAL VERBS 331

3. The business partnership flourished despite the fact that they didn’t get on (very well).
also: along

4. He said he could see no way of getting round the problem.

5. The bank manager spoke so forcefully that most of the shareholders gave in.
6. He just couldn’t do the crossword, he had to give it up.
7. Mary gave up eating chocolate, which made her lose weight.
8. The Home Secretary’s speech went down well at last night’s meeting.
9. Do you ever go in for any of the newspaper competitions?
also: put in for

10. When the bomb went off the whole building was destroyed.
11. I can understand that she’s feeling rather bitter about life after all she’s gone through.
also: been through

12. There are new shopping centres going up on the outskirts of the town.
13. You often find that things you think you would never get used to tend to grow on you if you
live with them long enough.
14. That student never completes his test papers on time; I don’t know how he gets away
with it.
also: off with

15. The streets were so packed with people that it was difficult to get by.
16. Fortunately, my sister soon got over her illness.
17. I don’t think I’ll be able to get through all this work today.
18. It was given out that there would be a pay rise for policemen.
19. You should never go back on your promise to your children.
20. I’ve gone off the Italian riviera since it became so crowded.
21. Don’t worry about Rachel’s shyness with strangers, she’ll grow out of it.
22. What with all the telephone calls it was 11 o’clock before I could get down to my work.
what with: used to introduce causes of sth, esp. sth bad:
What with all this work and so litlle sleep at nights, I don’t think I can go on much
longer.

23. He got through the written exam, but failed (in) the oral.
24. The men crossing the Sahara found to their horror that supplies would give out before they
reached the oasis.
also: run out

25. If she wants to marry her Muslim friend, she will have to give up her religion.
26. He couldn’t go by his watch for catching the bus, because it had stopped.
27. Do you go in for numismatics?
28. The index of car production went up by 5 p.c. last month.
332 PHRASAL VERBS

29. It was getting on for midnight when we arrived home.

also: going on for
age: to go on for / to be pushing 60
30. The escaped prisoner had grown a beard, but the scar on his cheek gave him away.
31. Bob went for his opponent and knocked him down.
32. As it’s essential for us that nothing should go wrong, let’s go through / over the details of
the plan again.
33. Stephen will try to get round you to lend him your car, but don’t! He’s a rotten driver.
also: around
34. The young playboy quickly went through the fortune he had inherited from his father.
also: got through

11 Exercise: to get, give, go, grow

1. What can I say to get across to you that this is a vital issue?
also: over to
2. A fat and ugly looking boy blocked the gangway between the two rows of seats, so that no
one could get by.
also: get through
3. I really must get down to / on with my studies, I’ve been wasting my time too long.
4. Although she had been with the firm for over twenty years, she left her employment as she
couldn’t get on / with the manager.
also: along with
5. We could get round the lack of players by shortening the concert programme drastically.
6. For several months the criminal managed to live under an assumed name, but in the end
one of his accomplices gave him away.
7. With only a few miles to go, the petrol gave out.
8. I’ve promised to help you and I’m not going back on that.
9. As a boy our youngest son never went in for sports very much.
10. I’ve gone off coffee, give me some tea.
11. Before the days of anaesthetics patients had to go through dreadful pains when they were
operated on.
12. Prices keep going up although the government tries to curb inflation.
13. George will eventually grow out of sucking his thumb.
14. He’s constantly late for work, and nobody ever complains; I don’t know how he gets away
with it.
15. She can’t get by on so little money.
also: along on
16. My old aunt continued to look after herself in her little house in Heatherly Road although
she was getting on for ninety.
17. They say it takes smokers longer to get over a cold than non-smokers.
18. I still have quite a bit of work to do, but I think I can get through by six.
PHRASAL VERBS 333

19. If Susan pleads with you to let her stay at home from school, you must not give in to her.
20. The young minister gave out the wrong number of the hymn.
minister
1. politician
2. in non-conformist churches: priest
21. The proposals have been approved of by the committee, but they are not likely to go down
well with the majority of the members.
22. He went in for too many events and so won none.
23. The young girl was badly injured when the firework went off in her face.
24. Gordon goes through several cans of beer while watching football on TV every Saturday
afternoon.
25. I didn’t like the music at first, but it has grown on me.
26. The lecturer advised the students to get on with their work.
also: down to
27. She could talk so forcefully that she could get round everyone.
28. I’ve been trying to ring William all evening, there must be something wrong with the line, I
can’t seem to get through.
29. If I give up smoking, life won’t be worth living.
30. The Press went for the Prime Minister over the government’s tax proposals.
31. The teacher went over / through the last two lessons for revision purposes.
32. Everywhere you look you can see glass and concrete monstrosities go up.
33. You make a mistake if you go by appearances.
to judge from / by appearances

12 Exercise: to get, give, go, grow

1. Did his speech get across / over / come across to the audience?
2. You can’t get away / off with being late every morning.
3. You’ll spoil the game if you give away the answers to the questions.
4. He’s gone back on his promises so often that nobody trusts him any longer.
5. She gets by / along on a remarkably small income.
6. I’ve gone off Dickens and his contemporaries.
7. We’ve been making general conversation / small talk long enough, now let’s get down to
business / brass tacks.
8. The alarm clock went off at 7 and woke us all up.
9. The population of the city is getting / going on for 50,000.
10. We’ll go over this lesson again tomorrow.
11. I can’t get on with my work if you keep talking.
12. Have you already gone through all the money I gave you?
13. How are you getting on / along with your new neighbour?
14. Since her husband’s death she’s gone / been through a lot.
15. He never really got over the shock of his son’s death.
334 PHRASAL VERBS

16. The price of strawberries went up towards the end of the season.
17. His daughter knows how to get round him.
18. If you’re clever you can sometimes get round the tax laws.
19. New universities went up everywhere in the 1960s.
20. I can’t get through all this work today, that’s for sure.
21. Do you think John will ever get through his driving test?
22. It’s no use buying / there’s no use / sense / point in buying expensive clothes for children
as they grow out of them too quickly.
23. This henpecked husband always gives in to his wife’s wishes.
24. Going by / judging by / from the position of the sun, I should say it’s going on for 6.
also: it’s about / it’s getting on for 6
25. Our supply of sugar has given / run out.
26. Tom’s new book has gone down better with the critics than his last one.
27. It was given out that the government and the union had come to / reached an agreement.
28. She went for the burglar with the kitchen knife.
29. The doctor has given him up.

13 Exercise: to hang, hold, keep, knock, lay

1. We invited him to join us on our journey to London but he hung back.

2. Do you think he is holding back important information?
also: keping back

3. His indifference kept him back.

also: held him back

4. She was laid up with influenza.

Note: He must lie up (i.e. stay in bed) for at least four weeks until his leg mends.
Father was so ill after his operation that he had to lie up for a month.

5. We must not hold back when other countries are advancing.

also: hang back

6. The rain held on steadily all morning.

7. My father never held with going to the cinema on Sundays.
also: approved of

8. A notice on the building site warned people to keep off.

not: away

9. “You’ve done very well, Bernie”, said the teacher, “try to keep up this standard!”
PHRASAL VERBS 335

10. The trustees have clearly laid down certain conditions on which a grant from the fund may
be made.
11. The new owners employed a firm of landscape gardeners to lay out the grounds of the
mansion.
12. The solicitor advised us to hang on to the cottage and sell it later when prices were higher.
13. A devout Christian, the novice held to his belief in spite of cruel treatment.
also: adhere / keep / stick to / hold on to

14. She thought it would pay to keep in with the director, as his influence might get her a
leading part in his new film.
15. The headmaster advised me to keep to the truth.
also: stick to

16. She’s always hard up because she doesn’t lay out her money very wisely.
17. When he received his weekly wage he saw that £20 had been knocked off for expenses
incurred.
18. I won’t hold it against you if you don’t help me.
19. Thick fog held up the express train to Glasgow.
20. He hastily knocked back two glasses of gin.
21. She felt he was keeping back the truth / not keeping to the truth for some reason.
also: holding back

22. Fortunately, the rain held off until after the race.
23. We laid in a good supply of oil in the summer when prices were low.
also: laid up

24. Mounted police kept back the crowd.

25. The operator asked the caller to hold on while she connected him with the manager’s
office.
26. I’m afraid we can’t afford to keep up our family’s mansion in the country.
27. Five masked men held up the stage coach.
28. I’m fed up with hearing about your quarrel with your neighbours and wish you’d lay off.
29. The penthouse must have knocked her back a few pounds!
30. The firm has laid off workers because of the drop in sales.
31. I knocked off at 6 o’clock after I had been working for almost ten hours.
32. A runner can’t keep up with a cyclist.
336 PHRASAL VERBS

14 Exercise: to hang, hold, keep, knock, lay

1. While most of the boys dashed wildly across the road, three hung back.
also: held back

2. They must have laid out a fortune on advertisements.

the outlay
When they built the fatory the outlay on machinery was heavy.
Note the difference between the phrasal nouns outlay and lay-out:
the lay-out of a house / page

3. Because of the country’s uncertain economic situation investors are holding back.
also: hanging back

4. It can be very expensive to try to keep up with the Joneses.

5. How much did your wife’s new fur coat knock you back?
also: set you back

6. She told him to lay off following her or he’d be sorry.

7. A bad attack of influenza can lay you up for several weeks.
8. Keep back / off! This dog is dangerous.
9. The monsoon held off for several weeks, but then the rain fell in torrents.
10. This historic building is now kept up by the National Trust.
Note the phrasal noun: the upkeep of a building

11. At the height of the economic crisis all they could do was to hold on to their shares and
hope that conditions would look up.
12. The dress is priced at £101, but I’ll knock off the odd pound.
13. For the rest of the party John’s new acquaintance hung on to him.
not: onto

14. I didn’t lay out the front garden with my own hands, but it was laid out to my specification.
15. The police were convinced the suspect was holding something back (from them).
also: keeping back

16. The Act lays it down that no pension can be paid to anyone under the age of 60 unless he
is disabled.
17. Do let’s keep to the subject; we’re trying to reach an agreement, not have a conversation.
18. I explained to him that he was wrong, but he still held to his original opinion.
19. Can’t you keep your dog off the road?
20. At the beginning of the winter supplies were laid in in case heavy falls of snow should
prevent us from obtaining them when they were needed.
also: laid up
PHRASAL VERBS 337

21. Mother sent me a letter saying she didn’t hold it against me that I had failed (in) the exam,
but she couldn’t support me any longer.
22. We were held up for half an hour in a traffic jam.
23. Owing to slackening of orders the factory had to lay off part of the workforce.
24. We start work at 9 o’clock and knock off at one for lunch.
25. Meriam knew she would have to keep in with the landlady in case she couldn’t pay the
rent.
26. How can Gordon knock back eight pints of beer every Saturday while watching the football
game on TV?
27. The only way you’ll get rich quickly is by winning on the pools or by holding up a bank.
28. My mother kept up a lively correspondence with her friend in Australia for several years.
29. Most people don’t hold with heavy drinking and wild parties.
30. I hope you are going to be frank now. I must hear the whole story, don’t keep anything
back from us.
also: hold anything back

31. You two go ahead, I’ll hold on here until the others come.
also: hang on

15 Exercise: to hang, hold, keep, knock, lay

1. Don’t hang back, ask her.

2. He laid out all the money he had inherited from his father and died a poor man.
3. He’s been laid up with a bad bronchitis for more than a week.
4. Let’s knock off for lunch now!
5. Five masked men held up the mail train.
6. They bought the car just / only to keep up with their neighbours.
7. He had his garden laid out in a most effective way.
8. You should hang on to this painting, one day it may be worth a lot of money.
9. (The) work on the bridge was held up by bad weather.
10. It is advisable to keep in with the boss.
11. This watch knocked me back £150.
12. She (has) laid in / up a good supply of sugar, thinking it might be(come) scarce.
13. I think he knows more and is holding something back.
14. After considering various alternatives, we decided to hold on to our original plan.
15. His employer laid him off last week.
16. This weather will keep off the masses.
17. I don’t hold his foolish / silly remarks against him.
18. You’d better lay off smoking for a while.
It would be better if you laid off ...
19. I hope the rain will hold off.
20. I don’t hold with all this revolutionary talk.
338 PHRASAL VERBS

21. If you keep to the instructions, there will be no trouble / difficulty.

22. He knocked back two whiskies and left the pub.
23. Yes, Mr Pitt is in, if you (will) hold on a minute I’ll put you through.
24. The police are still keeping back the names of the victims.
25. How do you keep up this large house?
26. The rule book lays down the correct procedure in such a case.
27. They held out in the fortress till their allies came to their aid.
28. He knocked £15 off the price.
29. I try to keep up my Latin.
30. I don’t want to keep you back.
31. He shows promise as a musician, but lack of practice is keeping him back.

16 Exercise: to let, live, look, make, play, pull

1. Clive let down his friend very badly when he refused to lend him £500.
also: let his friend down

2. Prof. Wooderson is looked (up)on as the authority on phonetics.

3. The traffic warden looked the drunken man up and down before answering his question.
4. Private Smith was pulled up for wearing an untidy uniform.
also: dressed down / told / ticked off

5. I didn’t know what I was letting myself in for when I agreed to look after their children.
6. If you don’t look out you’ll slip and fall.
also: watch / mind out

7. He is not as unselfish as he makes out / makes himself out (to be).

8. Laura was too ill to go to the children’s party, so her parents bought her a toy to make up
for it.
9. They’ve decided to pull down that row of Georgian houses to make room for an office
block.
10. Look through these photos and try to pick out the woman you saw.
not: over

11. This deal should bring considerable advantage to our company if we can pull it off.
also: bring it off

12. I thought that the magistrate was going to fine me, but he let me off.
13. A teacher should be one whom pupils can look up to.
14. It was a public scandal. I don’t think the minister will ever live it down.
15. Johnson, always a clever diplomat, played off one potential enemy of his party against
another, and so kept them divided.
PHRASAL VERBS 339

16. Do you always live up to the high principles your parents taught you?
17. They went to look over the house, but it wasn’t suitable.
18. Though he is seriously ill, I have every confidence that his will-power will pull him through.
also: bring him through

19. The Chancellor wants the media to play down the financial crisis.
20. I don’t mind leaving our children with our next-door neighbour, because I know they’ll be
properly looked after.
21. Don’t just stand there looking on. Grab a shovel and give us a hand.
22. While I was bathing, someone made off with all my clothes.
also: away

23. Clever salesmen tend to play (up)on people’s greed to make them buy more than they
need.
24. Society is made up of people with widely differing abilities.
25. In that icily superior way of hers she deliberately looked through me.
26. Robert is a nice chap, but he always tends to look down on people without an academic
background.
27. We all hope the weather will start looking up for the weekend.
28. They were whispering and I couldn’t make out what they were saying.
29. It was quite obvious that he was making up to one or two of the wealthier people who
were present.
30. If you can’t remember his phone number, you’ll have to look it up in the directory.
31. Hugh was looking forward to the date with his new girl-friend.
32. Have you seen Evelyn anywhere? I’ve been looking (out) for her all afternoon.
to look out for sb /sth: Ausschau halten nach
to look for sb / sth: suchen

33. I’m looking for a suitable hotel; can you suggest one?
34. They made up an unbelievable story about their holiday in India.

17 Exercise: to let, live, look, make, play, pull

1. This is not the first time I’ve been let down by that person; I shall never trust him again.
2. You don’t know what you’re letting yourself in for if you marry this girl.
3. You should pull these boys up about their bad manners.
4. The kind of person that is needed as a youth club leader is one who can be looked up to.
5. When the police arrived the counterfeiters made off as fast as their legs would carry them.
also: away

6. The media are asking questions about our new invention, but we are playing it down until
we’re sure it will work.
340 PHRASAL VERBS

7. The magistrate told the hooligans he would let them off this time but that they would be
severely punished if they appeared before him again.
8. After her promotion Erica’s become insufferably conceited and looks down on all her
former friends.
9. Most people look on a TV set as an essential piece of furniture.
10. Some so-called news items in the yellow press are just made up by the journalists.
11. The firm has lost a good deal of money during the past few years, but under the new
management it should pull through.
12. You shouldn’t have to spend the rest of your life living down one silly mistake in your youth.
13. He’s always blowing his own trumpet and making himself out to be a very clever fellow.
14. He managed to play one rival off against another.
15. He did not live up to the confidence we had set in him.
16. I’m looking forward to meeting your wife.
17. Shall we have a game of tennis? – We need someone to make up a four if we’re going to
play doubles.
18. An electric razor should last for years if it is properly looked after.
19. More than a dozen people looked on while the old man was being attacked.
20. Look through your old clothes and see if you’ve anything to give away.
21. I know he suffers from gastritis, but I’m afraid he’s playing on it in order to get a few days
off when he feels he wants a holiday.
22. A row of old terraced houses is being pulled down to make room for new flats.
23. I looked (out) for you at the airport, but I couldn’t find you in the crowd.
24. The lecturer asked the students to look up the word epitome in their dictionaries.
epitome: the best possible example of sth:
He is the very epitome of selfishness.

25. To make up for his previous offensive behaviour, he was all sweetness and charm that day.
26. Look out! There’s a tram coming.
27. I can’t make out the signature, it’s illegible.
28. Trade is looking up and I am confident that we’ll increase our turn-over.
29. Cathy and NigeI are going to look over a new house that they’re thinking of buying.
30. David looked Lucy up and down, admiring her long black hair and shapely legs.
31. Despite numerous injuries, Manchester United managed to pull off the FA Cup this year.
32. Since our dreadful row my neighbour looks straight through me whenever we meet.
33. Have you noticed how the young actress is making up to the producer – it makes me sick!
34. The police are out in the woods, looking for the missing girl.

18 Exercise: to let, live, look, make, play, pull

1. You can rely / depend on him; he’ll never let you down.
2. If I had known what you were letting me in for I wouldn’t have come.
3. They usually let first offenders off with a warning.
PHRASAL VERBS 341

4. He’ll never live that down.

5. You ought to / should / ‘d better live up to your father’s principles.
to live up to sth: leben nach und gerecht werden
to live by sth: leben nach

6. You must look after yourself in this cold weather.

7. You’ve no reason to look down on my efforts, you can’t do any better yourself.
8. She spent hours looking for the ring (that / which) she had lost on the lawn.
9. The children always look forward to Christmas.
10. I’ve always looked (up)on him as my best friend.
11. Several passers-by stopped and looked on while the two men were arguing.
12. If you don’t look out you’ll hurt yourself / do yourself a mischief.
13. I’ve been looking (out) for a first edition of this play for years.
14. I must stay in tomorrow. Some people are coming to look over our house.
15. Have you looked through the translation papers yet?
16. Ever since we had that quarrel three years ago, he’s been looking through me.
17. If you don’t know what the word means you’d better look it up in the dictionary.
18. The first months were difficult, but things are looking up now.
19. All the boys in the school looked up to the headmaster.
20. In this play Jesus is made out to be a communist.
21. His handwriting is impossible to make out.
It is impossible to make out his ...

22. Children love to make / making up games and stories of their own.
23. It’s no use / good (your) making up to my brother, he won’t help you.
24. I don’t think I can make up (for) the time I lost in hospital.
25. He tried to play down the fact that he had failed the exam.
26. Children quickly learn (how) to play their parents off against each other.
27. By playing on the old lady’s fears, the criminals were able to persuade her to give them the
money.
28. The old slums have now been pulled down.
29. After a lot of negotiating / bargaining he pulled off a large export order for his firm.
30. He is very ill, but he will pull through.
31. The traffic warden pulled him up for parking on the wrong side of the road.

19 Exercise: to put, run, see, sell

1. My father advised me to put by / away a little money every month for old age.
also: put / lay / set aside

2. They have sold out and moved to another part of the country.
342 PHRASAL VERBS

3. The police put the uprising down with great brutality.

also: put down the uprising

4. They’re selling off the old stock at reduced prices.

5. Elaine wasn’t at her best in the interview, but the boss put it down to her nervousness.
6. See to it that this never happens again.
7. We put forward this plan to the committee.
8. Does he think that we can’t see through his scheme?
9. I’ve put in for the job though I know I won’t get it.
10. Bob asked for some help with the tax return – could you see about it?
11. Brian has made up his mind to go to Canada for a year and it’s no use trying to put him off
doing so.
12. That’s really a crazy scheme and I’m sure it will run up against strong opposition.
13. I’ve got to get this translation finished by midday, so please stop putting me off.
14. Mark ran up huge debts that he expected his parents to pay.
15. Ask the conductor to put you down at the church.
off would be ambiguous

16. We’d rather have a bungalow but it’s too expensive, our income wouldn’t run to it.
17. If you’d like to stay with us on your next visit to Birmingham, we’d be very happy to put you
up for a weekend.
18. The eldest son was quite irresponsible and had run through half his father’s fortune before
he came to his senses.
19. The authorities are planning to put up a big multi-storey car park on the edge of the town.
20. While he was walking along the street in Salisbury, Geoffrey was run down / over by two
masked men on a motorbike.
21. Just look what Sarah’s done! What a mess! Who put her up to polishing her shoes in the
kitchen?
22. Will you run over / through this essay for me and tell me what you think of it?
23. Geoffrey was much put out by my comments about his daughter’s divorce.
24. We are looking for a new house as the lease of this one runs out at Christmas.
25. Our neighbours are always having noisy parties. I can’t put up with it much longer.
26. We shall have to drink unsweetened coffee, we’ve run out of sugar.
27. His tongue tends to run away with him.
28. I ran into Mr Kitchen in the street the other day.
also: ran / came across

29. Not only is heavy smoking bad for your health, it also runs away with your money.
30. This is a new car and I still have to run it in, that’s why I can’t do more than 40 miles an
hour as yet.
31. How could the audience run away with the idea that economic recovery was at hand?
32. It’s bad manners to run down a friend behind his back.
PHRASAL VERBS 343

20 Exercise: to put, run, see, sell

1. The boys put by £30 a week for a holiday in the States.

also: away / aside

2. All the tickets for the first night have sold out fast.
3. The troops were called out to put down the rebellion.
4. We’re selling off last year’s models at half price to make room for the new collection.
5. Prof. Knox doesn’t think much of contemporary playwrights; he’s always running down
their work.
6. At first the outbreak of the infection was put down to contaminated food.
7. You should use your new car as much as possible for the next week or so to run it in more
quickly.
8. The theory that the earth was spherical, and not flat, was laughed at when it was first put
forward.
spherical: having the shape of a sphere, ball-shaped:
The earth is not a perfect sphere.
He tried to extend his sphere of influence.

9. I must have my eyes seen to. I find it increasingly difficult to read small print.
10. The employees who lost their jobs have put in for compensation.
11. I’ll let you off with a warning this time, but don’t run away with the idea that you can always
do this kind of thing with impunity.
12. His wife immediately saw through the flimsy excuse he had made up.
13. I ran into / across my old friend Peter in town the other day. I hadn’t seen him for ages.
14. The fact that you disapprove will not put me off doing what I think is right.
15. We must see about getting the bedrooms redecorated.
16. Will it put you off if I have the television on while you’re reading the paper?
17. There was such a demand for fresh vegetables that before midday supplies had run out.
18. Please put me off / down at the station serving the airport.
19. If you try to start a business here without first getting a permit, you’ll run up against the
law.
20. Brian was put out when he heard that the committee had changed their plans without
consulting him.
21. Her eldest daughter’s education ran away with most of his money.
also: used up

22. It didn’t take him long to run up unrepayable debts.

23. We’d be glad to put you up for a week or two until you find somewhere to stay.
24. I could lend you £5,000, but my savings won’t run to more than that.
25. That block of flats was put up only five years ago.
26. The policeman told the driver that his licence had run out.
27. In a few years he had run through the considerable fortune his parents had left him.
28. He couldn’t have thought of that trick by himself, a friend of his must have put him up to it.
344 PHRASAL VERBS

29. At the trial the motorist had to admit (to) having run over / down a child on a pedestrian
crossing.
30. I’ll just run over / through the main points of our plan again.
31. His ambition tends to run away with him.
32. If you can’t get any relief from the pain, you’ll have to put up with it.

21 Exercise: to put, run, see, sell

1. I bet / wouldn’t mind betting he’s got a few thousand pounds put by / aside / away / laid /
set aside.
2. Sorry, we’re sold out.
3. The government put down the rebellion with great brutality.
4. We must sell off these TV sets to make / have room for the new models.
5. What do you put the failure of the government down to?
6. See to it that you don’t forget it.
7. Scientists have recently put forward the theory that eating too much fat is bad for the heart.
8. He pretended he had fallen for her, but she saw through him and realized that it was only
her money he was after.
9. The workers will put in for another pay rise.
10. I’ll have to see about getting / having the roof mended.
11. Your criticism has completely put me off seeing that film.
12. He’s now running up debts all over the town.
13. I’d like to watch you if that doesn’t put you off.
14. This firm is now running up against great competition.
15. Would you please put me off / down at the station?
16. Will the coffee run to two cups for each person?
17. She looks rather put out.
18. He ran through the family fortune in one year.
19. If you can’t find a room in a hotel I can put you up.
20. Our dog was nearly run over by a car.
21. These days / nowadays houses can be put up very quickly.
22. I’ll run over / through your part with you.
23. I think I know who put him up to cheating.
24. My patience is running out.
25. His enthusiasm tends to run away with him.
26. I’m sorry we’ve run out of blue towels, but we’ve some very nice red ones.
27. Why do you put up with such working conditions?
28. I ran into an old school-friend of mine in the Tube / Underground.
29. Holidays abroad run away with a lot of money.
30. Why didn’t you tell him to his face. It is unfair to run him down behind his back.
31. Don’t run away with the idea that Scotsmen / the Scotch are mean / close-fisted, they just
don’t like running through their money.
PHRASAL VERBS 345

22 Exercise: to set, sit, stand, take, turn, wear

1. We’d like to get the greenhouse finished before the frost sets in and kills the young plants.
2. Don’t mention the war, Bill; you’ll only set Dad off on one of his interminable stories.
3. Mike set up as a pediatrician in that district.
4. The government set up a fact-finding committee to inquire into the question of
unemployment in the ship-building industry.
5. She set about planning her holiday.
6. This is no time for sitting back, we must finish this job by Friday.
7. They had not paid much attention to what the Chancellor was saying, but then he came out
with some new ideas that made them sit up.
8. Despite his family’s strong opposition, Neil stood by his promise to marry her.
9. Six fire-engines from the next town were standing by / stood by in case of a further
outbreak of fire.
10. What does the abbreviation HRH stand for?
11. You’re being treated like dirt! I wonder why you stand for it.
12. As the leading actress had fallen ill, the understudy had to stand in for Lady Macbeth.
13. We should always unreservedly stand up for the oppressed against the oppressor.
14. The engine soon went wrong: it was never intended to stand up to the rough treatment it
was given.
15. He stood out from the crowd because of his height and flaming red hair.
16. That girl really takes after her mother in many ways.
17. He was forced to take back what he had said about his former colleague.
18. I was thinking of something else during the lecture and didn’t really take in what she was
saying.
19. Only when he got the camping equipment home and began to examine it did he realize that
he had been taken in.
20. The plane to Paris takes off from runway three.
21. The shopkeeper agreed to take £2 off the advertised price of the goods.
22. Sean’s good at taking off people. You should see him take off some of his teachers.
23. I don’t mind playing against a beginner like myself, but I’m not going to take on someone
who has been playing tennis as a pro.
24. He took on so much work that he couldn’t really do it efficiently.
25. When my boss goes into retirement, his son will take over the firm.
26. That teacher really has a way with children, they seem to take to her immediately.
27. A friend of mine advised me to take up learning French.
28. He has a very small room and most of the space is taken up by a grand piano.
29. I don’t need your car now, but I’ll take you up on your offer another time.
30. Hundreds of people had to be turned away at the theatre.
31. Do you know why the manager turned down her request for a day off?
32. It’s going on for midnight; it’s time we turned in.
33. Fred turned off that subject when he got a new teacher.
also: That subject turned Fred off ...
346 PHRASAL VERBS

34. Some psychedelic drugs turn you on very quickly.

35. Your promotion turns on the result of the interview.
36. Our visit turned out (to be) a waste of time because fog reduced visibility.
37. How many of these motorcycles do you turn out in a day?
38. This shop turns over £5,000 a week.
39. He waited half an hour for his girl-friend, but she didn’t turn up.
40. If these backpains don’t wear off soon, I shall go mad.
41. Our work was so exacting that by the end of the day we were all worn out.

23 Exercise: to set, sit, stand, take, turn, wear

1. We must have the roof repaired before the rainy weather sets in.
2. The least excuse sets Father off on his favourite topic.
3. Eventually he set up as a freelance journalist.
4. How does one set about opening a bank account?
5. The President set up a special committee to review government spending.
6. He’s the kind of person who never helps, just sits back and lets others work.
7. No matter what happens I’ll stand by you, so don’t be afraid.
8. Not even a child would be taken in by his mealy-mouthed excuses.
9. I’ll take you up on your promise some other time, if I may.
10. The new boss is really making all the office staff sit up. He won’t stand for any nonsense
and insists on quick, accurate work.
11. I wish you’d sell that twin bed, it takes up too much space here.
12. The theatre filled up very early and people who hadn’t reserved seats were turned away.
13. Mark’s having difficulties in getting a place at university. He’s been turned down at three
interviews already.
14. In mathematics the symbol x usually stands for an unknown quantity.
15. She took up tennis because she wanted to lose weight.
16. If you’re as unpunctual when you go out to work as you are in coming to school, you won’t
keep a job for very long: employers won’t stand for it.
17. Well, come on to bed! We’d better turn in early if we want to be up at five tomorrow.
18. Though Bob’s wife didn’t feel ready for motherhood, she eventually took to it like a duck to
water.
19. You’ll learn from experience that the cheapest method often turns out to be the dearest in
the long run.
20. On his retirement his eldest son will take over the business.
21. Bill is standing in for the chairman, who is unable to be at the meeting.
22. I used to really enjoy a cigarette after lunch, but the TV programme on lung cancer turned
me off smoking altogether.
23. You should never take on more than you can do.
24. The office staff used to be really nasty to me, but Cathy always stood up for me when
everyone else was against me.
PHRASAL VERBS 347

25. I’m afraid pop music doesn’t turn me on at all! My taste is for classical music.
26. This theory will not stand up to detailed criticism.
27. The success of our plan turns on our ability to raise the necessary funds.
28. Even as a schoolboy he stood out from the rest of the rugby team.
29. I took Tom on at squash and beat him.
30. How many washing machines does the factory turn out per day?
31. John takes after his father, he has blue eyes and fair hair, too, he really is a chip off the old
block.
32. Money needs to be turned over if it is to produce profits.
33. I’m sorry I called you a hypocrite, I take it back.
34. We’ve been waiting for Geoffrey for over an hour, but he hasn’t turned up.
35. I couldn’t take the lecture in at all. It was beyond me.
36. You’ve had four teeth extracted. The funny feeling of the local anaesthetic will wear off in
an hour or so, then you’ll feel a bit of soreness.
37. We had to spend the night at the airport, our plane couldn’t take off because of fog.
38. Everybody feels worn out on a Friday – except civil servants.
39. I’m not allowed to give any discount, madam. But have a word with Mr Warren, he might
take off a pound or two.
40. You ought to see him take off the Chancellor: he’s hilariously funny.

24 Exercise: to set, sit, stand, take, turn, wear

1. I must try and get my garden tidied up before the bad weather sets in.
2. My friend’s enthusiasm set me off collecting stamps.
3. He set up as a psychiatrist in a little seaside town.
4. A committee of inquiry will be set up today.
5. How do I set about getting a loan?
6. I’ve done my share of the work and now I’ll sit back.
7. Everybody sat up when they heard that James was going to be promoted.
8. In 1914 Britain / England stood by her guarantee to defend the neutrality of Belgium.
9. The initials GBS stand for George Bernard Shaw.
10. I won’t stand for / put up with any more insults.
11. He said he would stand in for me any time if necessary.
12. One should always stand up for the weak and (the) oppressed.
13. The man stood up to all attempts at bribery.
14. Among the authors of detective novels / mystery writers Raymond Chandler stands out as
a real master.
15. Gordon develops a strong interest for technical things. It looks as if he’s going to take after
his father.
16. He took back all he had said about his neighbour’s dishonesty.
17. The teacher could see / tell that most of the boys had taken in his explanation.
18. You won’t be able to take him in with that.
348 PHRASAL VERBS

19. The plane took off at Gatwick at 10.30.

20. This shop is taking / will take / takes 10% off all shoes this week.
21. The actor set everybody laughing by taking off the members of the Royal Family.
22. I’ll take you on at tennis.
23. At the moment I can’t take on any more work.
24. The shop has been taken over by new people.
25. I could never take to such a hobby.
26. At the age of 60 he took up the study of Russian / studying Russian.
27. All the time of the meeting was taken up by the discussion of one item on the agenda; the
decision had to be deferred.
28. I can’t go out with you tonight, but I’ll take you up on your offer another time.
29. The theatre was so overcrowded that many people had to be turned away when the
famous singer appeared.
30. The publisher / publishing house turned his manuscript down.
31. I’m tired, I think I’ll turn in.
32. His surly behaviour really turns me off.
33. This music doesn’t turn me on.
34. I don’t think this candidate will turn on the voters / turn the voters on.
35. He turned out (to be) a criminal despite all appearances.
36. This factory turns out bicycles as well as wireless sets.
37. This shop turns over more than £30,000 a month.
38. You can’t turn up in that old suit – they won’t let you in.
39. When he had looked after his grandchildren for three hours he felt worn out.
40. The smell of the new paint will wear off in a week or so.
 349

PREPOSITIONS

1 Exercise: German an/am

1. The American embassy is in Grosvenor Square.

in a square; in the market square

2. The town is an important trading centre and lies on a river.

the house stands right on the river
cf. Stratford on Avon, Stoke on Trent, Newcastle on Tyne, London on the Thames

3. She died of fever, and nobody could save her.

cf. 9
compare: they died of hunger : from a lack of food
Though of and from seem to be used interchangeably in some cases, it seems
preferable to use
to die of an illness or feeling, while to die from often is to die following something,
except illness or feeling:
die of / from hunger / cancer / a heart attack / one’s injuries / starvation
I almost, nearly died / could have died of curiosity / embarrassment / grief / laughter /
boredom.
He died from his wounds.
The child died from a fall out of a high window.
to die for one’s belief(s) / principles
to be dying for a cup of tea / something to eat
to be dying to do sth:
She is dying to know where you have been.
to be dying of: to feel sth very strongly:
The children are dying of boredom / of curiosity to see what is in the parcel.
Note: to die a poor man / a hero / a martyr
How to die:
to be gone / to pass away / on /
to be deceased verscheiden, hinscheiden
to drop dead
to lose one’s life
to perish
to die in a battle auf dem Schlachtfeld sterben
to die a natural / violent death eines natürlichen / gewaltsamen Todes sterben
to die of cancer / a fever / hunger
/ grief / illness an etwas sterben
to die through neglect
to die with grief vor Kummer sterben
to die for one’s country den Heldentod sterben
to give / lay down / sacrifice
one’s life for sb / sth sein Leben opfern, hingeben
to commit suicide / kill os Selbstmord begehen
to die by one’s own hand
to be murdered ermordet werden
to die by violence,
i.e. a violent death
to die (peacefully) in one’s sleep
to die from a wound / lack of food
350 PREPOSITIONS

to be killed in an accident
/ in a plane crash bei einem Unfall ums Leben kommen
to be murdered / assassinated
criminals / murderers
to die on the scaffold / at the auf dem Schafott, Scheiterhaufen,
stake / in the electric chair elektrischen Stuhl sterben
to be hanged / electrocuted / executed
to be condemned to execution by hanging
to be sentenced to be hanged
to execute sb by hanging / gassing / shooting /
by the sword / by electrocution / lethal injection
to be on / be sent to death row (chiefly AE)
death row Todestrakt
Execution is still the penalty in some states for murder.
The execution will be carried out by a firing squad.
Countries employ a variety of procedures in carrying out executions, including lethal
injection, electrocution, hanging, gassing, and shooting.
to be killed in action (soldier)
to fall (in battle) (soldier)
to be shot dead
to be shot three times in the head
Troops had been given orders to shoot to kill.
mercy killing
euthanasia: the act of painless killing sb who is seriously ill or old, esp. to reduce their
suffering:
Although some people campaign for the right to euthanasia, it is still illegal in most
countries.
Note
to dye
She dyed her hair red.
a die / dice
The die is cast.
a pair of dice
to roll / shake / throw the dice

4. He seems to be the right man in the right place.

cf. 13
I can’t be in two places at the same time.
If I were in your place / shoes ...
to put sb in his place
to know one’s place
Let’s meet at your place.
There was somebody sitting in my place.

5. Poor old Doug’s on the bottle again.

on drugs / the bottle / needle / pill
He’s hit the bottle again.
He’s taken to the bottle.
Let’s discuss it over a bottle of wine.

6. They decided to spend their holidays at / by / beside the seaside.

song: I do like to be beside the seaside.
PREPOSITIONS 351

7. His garden backs onto / on to / on the other gardens of the square.

to back onto / on to / on sth (usu of a house or building): hinten grenzen an

8. True, the accident shows a growing need for stricter safety regulations, but most drivers
are just badly in need of more practice.
to create / feel / have / meet / obviate / satisfy a need
a(n) acute / basic / fundamental / unfulfilled / urgent / compulsive / crying / desperate
/ pressing need
a biological / emotional / spiritual / psychological / physical need
a need arises

9. She died from a severe wound.

cf. 3

10. They were fifty in number.

a(n) considerable / goodly / large / great / enormous / small / growing number
few in number

11. A balanced budget requires sacrifices on the home front.

also: on the domestic front
on the work front / employment front / design front
The government has taken decisive action on the cocaine front.
He lost his life at / on the front (preferably: on).
The war correspondents spent two days on / at the front.
There has been no activity on this front.

12. He is always finding fault with me.

The fault is / lies with the managers / in the management.
to be at fault
to a fault: extremely:
generous / fastidious to a fault

13. In your place I would have apologized.

cf. 4
to be in sb’s shoes

14. The Foreign Secretary was concerned about the damage to relations with other countries.
to cause / do damage to sb / sth
to do grave damage to sb’s reputation
to inflict damage on sb / sth
to suffer / sustain damage
to assess the damages
great / grave / extensive / heavy / irreparable / serious / severe / lasting / slight / light
damage(s)

15. Her exceptional intelligence was wasted on the company she kept.
Don’t waste your money / time / energy on silly things; save it.
352 PREPOSITIONS

16. His life hung by a thread.

17. I have very strong doubts about / on that matter.
preferably: on
to plant / raise a doubt / doubts
to cast doubts on sb / sth
to have / feel / entertain / harbour / express / voice / a doubt / doubts about sb / sth
to dispel / clear up / resolve a doubt / doubts
(a) serious / strong / deep / reasonable / slight / gnawing / lingering doubt(s)
a doubt / doubts arise(s) / appear(s)
to give sb the benefit of the doubt
There is not a shadow of a doubt that ...

18. Going down coal mines with lamps in our hats was a strange experience.
19. Take an example from what happened to him.
cf. take a leaf out of sb’s book
to give / cite / provide an example
to set an example to sb
to make an example of sb
to follow sb’s example
a(n) classic / typical / concrete / extreme / glaring / striking / illustrative / inspiring /
perfect / textbook example:
That was a textbook example of how to sell a product.

20. The Lord will visit the sins of the fathers (up)on the children.
i.e. etw. an jemandem heimsuchen

21. He was regarded by many as a traitor to the cause.

to be branded as traitor to a cause / communism

22. Organic food is particularly rich in roughage.

roughage: (string-like vegetable material) contained in food, that does not actually
feed the eater but helps the bowels to work (Ballaststoffe)

23. He had a little cut in his index finger.

cf. 27
perhaps: wound in his thumb / in one’s leg / arm
in suggests depth: a wound in sb’s chest
a(n) open / gaping wound

24. It’s too late now to enter the competition.

25. In the beginning he had one small shop; now he owns a chain of outlets.
in the beginning // at the beginning (of sth)
outlet: shops, companies through which products are sold:
retail outlets (Verkaufsstellen)

26. The two duellists were standing back to back.

27. He was bleeding from a wound in his head.
cf. 23
PREPOSITIONS 353

28. They refused to carry out the repairs to his damaged car.
29. The two parties are neck and neck in the opinion polls.

2 Exercise: German an/am

1. There was nothing special about him.

He had nothing special about him.

2. The passage was marked with vertical lines in the margin.

Leave a two-centimetre margin on the left-hand side of the page and a one-centi-
metre margin on the right.
to set / adjust a margin
a close / narrow / slender / slim / small margin
a comfortable / decisive / handsome / large / wide / safe margin
Our team won by a slim margin.
The winner beat them by a wide margin / by a margin of 20 seconds.
people (living) on the margin(s) of our society
to make notes in the margin
This year’s performance was only marginally better than last year’s (i.e. slightly).

3. His latest play lacks unity.

cf. 14
sb / sth lacks sth:
He lacks confidence / energy.
His voice lacked conviction.
We lack the capital to launch the new product.
sth is lacking:
Financial support / money for the project is lacking.
sb is lacking sb:
We’re lacking three members of staff due to illness.
sb / sth is lacking in sth:
She’s totally lacking in charm of any sort.
to be lacking in politeness / in musical ability
to be badly / completely / sadly / totally / utterly lacking in sth
to lack for nothing / something:
His parents made sure that he lacked for nothing.
You shall never lack for money while I am alive.

4. You had better have the repairs to the house done while the weather is still dry.
to be under repair
to be in need of repair
to be in good / poor / bad repair
to be in a(n) excellent / terrible state of repair
to do / make repairs
extensive / major / minor / necessary repairs
cf. reparation for sth
a) compensating for damage; making amends for loss:
to make reparation (to God) for one’s sins
354 PREPOSITIONS

b) pl. compensation for war damage, demanded from a defeated enemy:

to exact heavy reparations (Reparation, Wiedergutmachung)

5. Should smoking in / at the workplace be banned?

or: at work, in the office
facilities / safety standards in a workplace

6. We were invited to partake of their simple fare.

to partake is a formal word
a) partake in an activity:
Are you partaking in the music competition / in the festivities?
b) eat or drink:
Will you partake of our food and drink / of a glass of wine?
c) sth partakes of sth, i.e. has a certain amount of a particular quality, often
unfavourable:
Her so-called honesty partakes of rudeness.

7. Close on / to 200 people attended the rally.

preferably: on
His body temperature was close to 40 degrees, so they called a doctor.
A crowd close on a thousand people gathered at the concert.
It was close on 7 o’clock by the time Bill got home.
to be close to tears
to be close with one’s money
to be close about one’s past

8. They made her sign away her share in the property.

The company sold its share in the Alaskan pipeline at a profit of 2.8 million.
He did his share of the work.

9. Some days he worked for ten hours at a stretch.

10. He seemed to choke on his sandwich when he heard of his son’s engagement.
to choke (sb) to death:
He grabbed her around the neck and choked her to death.
The old man choked to death (on a bone).
to be choked with emotion
fig. The roads were choked with traffic.

11. Russia is rich in minerals and natural resources.

12. I can see by your letter that you can’t spell.
i.e. the whole of your letter shows me ...
cf. I see from your letter that you haven’t been well lately.

13. His proposal borders on the absurd.

also: verges on
When we arrived the situation was verging / bordering on chaos.
to be on the verge of tears / collapse / success / death / disaster / civil war / a break-
down / despair
PREPOSITIONS 355

14. He seems to be lacking in self-confidence.

cf. 3

15. Someone has been interfering with these documents.

to interfere in other people’s relationships
to interfere between two people / husband and wife
Having children would have interfered with her career.
to interfere with often means to molest sexually (esp. children)

16. There is nothing in this rumour.

to spread / circulate / confirm / trace / track down rumours / a rumour
to deny / dispel rumours / a rumour
(a) persistent / malicious / vicious / widespread / wild / baseless / unfounded / idle /
vague rumour(s)
Rumour has it / rumours are strife that he’ll be soon divorced.
A rumour is spreading / going (a)round / circulating that ...
It is(widely) rumoured that ...

17. Today prices fell sharply on the Stock Exchange.

18. Do as you would be done by!
cf. 29
to do well / badly by sb: to treat sb well / badly

19. There is a growing number of tourists who haunt the holiday resorts on the Baltic Sea.
cf. She lives in a little cottage by the sea (i.e. on the coast).

20. She was trembling in every limb.

cf. to tremble with fear / excitement / anger / rage / cold
to tremble at the thought of / prospect of sth
to tremble to think that ...

21. Dangerous dogs have to be kept on the lead.

more formal and AE: leash
Dogs must be kept on a leash.
fig.:
Let off the leash of government restrictions, the council increased its spending rapidly.
She has her husband on a tight leash.

22. She had to undergo an operation to / on her left knee.

cf. to have emergency surgery / an operation on the heart
to have / undergo an operation for a hernia (disease)
to have / undergo an operation on the wrist (part of body)
She was operated on for appendicitis.

23. The bullet had hit him in the shoulder.

cf. an apple fell from the tree and hit him on the head
356 PREPOSITIONS

24. He was walking down Sauchiehall Street with a young lady on his arm.
Sauchiehall Street: Glasgow’s most popular thoroughfare for shopping and prom-
enading
to have a woman on one’s arm (old-fash.)
He took her in her arms and kissed her.
They walked down the road arm in arm.
to take sb by the arm
to put / fling / throw one’s arms around sb
to keep sb at arm’s distance / length: to keep a safe distance away from, avoid being
friendly with

25. They had met regularly for seven years; in the end they got married.
also: eventually

26. They fought side by side and shoulder to shoulder.

27. He had stuck a flower in his hat and was sporting a new tie.
to sport: to wear or show publicly and sometimes proudly, show off:
She came in today, sporting a new fur coat.
The murderer stuck a knife into his victim’s back.

28. We are bound hand and foot by regulations.

29. He did not deal fairly by her.
30. It was a fine, sunny morning. Not a cloud in the sky!

3 Exercise: German auf

1. There are no easy answers to the problem of unemployment.

cf. solution to sth
to be the answer to sb’s problems / difficulties / worries
to give / have / come up with / provide an answer (to a question / problem)
a(n) clear / definite / straight / straightforward / definitive / direct / unequivocal / civil /
diplomatic / wise / immediate / ready / simple / equivocal / evasive / vague / blunt /
curt / affirmative / positive / negative answer
in answer to sb’s letter / question
cf. 14

2. Don’t you think it is unwise to swim on a full stomach?

If you drink on an empty stomach you are bound to get drunk very quickly.
to have a weak / strong / delicate stomach
sb’s stomach starts growling / rumbling
sth turns / churns sb’s stomach

3. There were sheep grazing in the meadows and labourers working in the fields.
to graze on sth: to feed on sth:
There were hundreds of cows grazing on lush meadows.
(lush: saftig, üppig, grün)
PREPOSITIONS 357

There is good grassland here for your cattle and horses to graze on.
Note: You can graze your sheep on the fields on the other side of the stream.
Doctors working in the field of cancer research have announced an important break-
through in the fight against the disease.
That’s not my field / outside my field.

4. He is an authority on 18th-century literature.

to be under sb’s authority:
These employees are under my authority.
by sb’s authority:
By whose authority were the funds spent?
on sb’s authority:
She did all this on her own authority.
to have sth on sb’s authority / on the authority of sb / on good / the highest authority:
I have it on good / the highest authority that the meeting has been cancelled.
in authority:
I want a decision from / I need the support of someone in authority.
the / a(n) greatest living / outstanding / leading / respected / competent / indisputable
authority on sth
to have / exert / exercise / wield authority over sb
to overstep / abuse one’s authority
to challenge / defy / deny / reject / rebel against / undermine sb’s authority
absolute / complete / full / supreme / unquestioned authority

5. He will have to attend the party conference at his own expense.

at great expense:
We had the roof repaired at great expense.
At great expense, they sent their four children to university.
at sb’s expense:
I bought it at my own expense.
She was very successful, but at her children’s expense.
He is always making jokes at the expense of other people.

6. He swears by organic vegetables.

organic: (of food, farming methods): produced or practised without artificial fertilizers
or pesticides: organic horticulture

7. The President escaped an attempt on his life by the skin of his teeth.
an attempt at (doing) sth:
Look, this is my first attempt at baking a chocolate cake.
He’ll soon make another attempt at the world record.

8. He realized that he had no real hope of promotion.

to pin / place / put one’s hopes on sb / (doing) sth:
She’s pinning all her hopes on getting the job.
to arouse / inspire / stir up hope
to build up / raise sb’s hopes
to express / voice / cherish / entertain / nurse / cling to a hope
to crush / shatter sb’s hopes
to lose / abandon / give up hope
hopes crumble / fade
beyond / past (all) hope:
Some of these patients are ill beyond hope.
358 PREPOSITIONS

(a / an) ardent / fervent / sincere / (un)reasonable / dim / faint / slender / slight / false /
idle / illusory / vain hope
He has no hope of finishing in time.
There is every hope of her recovery.
to have high hopes for one’s children
a glimmer / ray / flicker of hope

9. The poor boy was blind in one eye and deaf in one ear.
of would be old-fashioned
cf. the visually handicapped
They seem to be blind to the consequences of this policy.

10. Further information will be supplied on request.

at sb’s request:
They did it at my request.
on request: when you ask for it:
Further information will be supplied on request.
by request: because sb has especially asked for it:
There were no flowers at the funeral, by request.
in request: being asked for:
His novels are still much in request.
to make a request for sth
to file a request with the authorities
to submit a request to sb
to grant / honour a request
to deny / refuse / reject / turn down a request
a(n) moderate / modest / (un)reasonable / desperate / urgent / written / oral / informal
/ official request
cf. 36

11. In the picture you can see a row of cream houses running away into the west like a pale
Victorian water-colour.
12. We did it at the instance of Mr Smith.
(fml.) auf Betreiben, Veranlassung
at the suggestion of sb

13. The car is still under warranty.

to give a warranty
a warranty expires / runs out
a two-year warranty on sth
an anti-corrosion warranty
to buy sth without a warranty

14. I’ve come in answer to your advertisement in yesterday’s paper.

cf. 1

15. We want this statement of yours in black and white.

16. The windows of our drawing-room give on / on to / onto / upon the garden.
PREPOSITIONS 359

17. They arrived at five o’clock to the minute, on the dot so to speak.
cf. (bang / right / dead) on time
up-to-the-minute news / fashions

18. There was a traffic jam in Trafalgar Square.

cf. in Piccadilly Circus

19. The damage was estimated at more than £10,000.

also: costed at

20. I clearly remember that debate; I was in the public gallery.

to play to the gallery

21. It is impossible for us to compete with them in the export market.

cf. Their house is on the market again, I wonder why they can’t sell it.
to take sth off the market: recall a product, withdraw a product from sale
to be in the market for sth:
Are you in the market for a used washing machine? (i.e. do you want to buy)
We are in the market for a new house.
to put a new product / one’s house on the market
There’s a market for large cars.
to come onto / out on the market

22. The prisoner was set at liberty.

cf. to set sb free / to be at large / to be on the loose
cf. The murderer is still on the run.
to be at liberty to do sth: free:
You are at liberty to leave / to say what you like.
to take liberties with sb / sth: to behave in a presumptuous disrespectful way:
She told him to stop taking liberties (i.e. treat her with too much familiarity).
This film takes considerable liberties with the novel it is based on.
to take the liberty of doing sth: to do without permission:
I took the liberty of borrowing your lawn-mower while you were away.

23. He seems to have a tremendous hold on / over his younger brother.

24. By order of the commander-in-chief the troops had to evacuate the area.
cf. to act on sb’s orders / instructions

25. Two years to the day after his election he was forced to step down.
cf. It’s exactly five years to the day that we first met.

26. The “ethnic cleansing” in the Balkans was nothing but a settling of old scores.
27. The greater part of the year he lives at his country seat.
cf. in the country(side)
360 PREPOSITIONS

28. Officers of the Board of Inland Revenue accidentally stumbled onto / upon / on / across
the bank’s money laundering.
i.e. zufällig stoßen auf

29. Are you sure that this is the only road by which one can get there?
Did you go there by road or by rail?
After two days on the road they reached their destination.
He’s on the road to recovery / success.

30. He’s been released from prison on probation.

cf. on bail
to put / place sb on probation
be out on probation for a year
to let sb out on probation
to violate (the terms of one’s) probation
to grant sb bail
to be out / released / remanded on bail (of £5,000)
to jump / forfeit bail

31. There is no denying the fact that morale is at a nadir.

nadir: the lowest point
cf. zenith: to reach / attain / be at one’s zenith
moral (adj / n) – morale – morality
moral (adj)
the moral lesson of a fable / story
(a) moral code / courage / dilemma / duty / judgement / law / maxim / obligation /
principle / problem / question / responsibility / support / victory
a fall in / decline of moral standards
moral (n)
a) in the first sense practically always used in the plural: morals:
the principles / values based on what a person / society believes are the right and
proper ways of behaviour:
You can’t doubt the excellency of their morals.
Business morals have never been so low before.
to protect / safeguard (public) morals
the corruption of public morals
to corrupt sb’s morals
the customs and morals of the 19th century
lax / loose / strict morals
b) a practical lesson that a story or event teaches:
The moral of the story is that you shouldn’t count your chickens before they’re
hatched.
to draw a moral from sth
the moral of a fable / story
There is a moral to the story.
morale
the mental and emotional condition of an individual or a group (with regard to the
tasks at hand); spirits, confidence:
The morale of the team is excellent; they are well trained and full of confidence.
the refugees’ morale
to affect / boost / destroy / improve / keep up / lower / maintain / raise / undermine
(sb’s) morale
morale is high / low
morality
a) a system or sphere of moral conduct, principles and values concerning people’s
behaviour:
PREPOSITIONS 361

Christian / Hindu / Muslim morality

public / sexual morality
b) (degree of conformity to standards of) right conduct or moral correctness:
the morality of abortion
to question / discuss the morality of sb’s actions
declining standards of morality

32. At such times you have to trust to your instinct.

If you trust to sb / sth, you rely on them to make decisions for you or look after you:
However much you plan an expedition like this, you still have to trust to luck to a
certain degree.
to trust to chance / luck / fate / fortune
to trust sb / sth completely / blindly / implicitly
to trust sb with sth:
Would you trust him with your savings?
You trust to your memory too much.

33. You should always trust in your own judgement.

also: trust your own judgement / own instincts / sb’s advice / a person

34. Trust in God and keep your powder dry.

i.e. have confidence in, believe that he will act for the best
Words written on American coins: In God we trust!
keep one’s powder dry: remain calm and prepared for immediate action (becoming
rare)

35. The office has been inundated with calls from people answering the job advertisements.
cf. 1

36. The name of the murder victim was not published in the newspaper, at the request of the
judge.
cf. 10

4 Exercise: German auf

1. He makes no pretensions to originality.

to have / make no pretensions to (doing) sth:
He has / makes no pretensions to being an expert.
a man of modest pretensions

2. The two teams could not agree on a venue.

venue: the venue for an event or activity is the place where it will happen
agree with sth:
We agree with a suggestion / demand / practice / proposal / statement etc, when we
view it with favour and when it meets with our approval.
I agree with all you say.
I don’t agree with buying children expensive presents.
362 PREPOSITIONS

to agree to: to give one’s consent to:

It is doubtful whether the trade union representatives will agree to the proposals put
forward by the employers.
compare:
We agree with the scheme in principle, but we think it needs modification in detail.
We agree with the scheme, but we can’t agree to it at the moment.
to agree on: is used to indicate the matter concerning which agreement exists or is
reached:
The representatives of the two sides have now agreed on the proposals to be put
before their members.
sth agrees with sb / sth: (of food / climate etc) (usually neg.): to suit one’s health:
I never eat pork, it does not agree with me.
This damp weather does not agree with my rheumatism.

3. Please, don’t write in the margin!

4. On his doctor’s advice he decided to leave off smoking.
Arzt doctor
AE formal: physician
note: physicist
Augenarzt eye doctor / specialist
ophtalmologist
Chirug surgeon
Frauenarzt gyn(a)ecologist
Geriater geriatrician
Facharzt für Alterskrankheiten
Hals-Nasen-Ohrenarzt ENT (ear, nose and throat) specialist
otolaryngologist
Hautarzt dermatologist
Internist specialist in internal diseases / in internal medicine
Kinderarzt p(a)ediatrician
Orthopäde orthop(a)edist
Nervenarzt neurologist
praktischer Arzt general practitioner, GP
Röntgenologe radiologist
Urologe urologist
Zahnarzt dentist
dental surgeon
If in difficulty, the way out is:
a specialist for ear / heart / nervous / women’s / skin and veneral diseases, etc

5. You shouldn’t be here at this party tonight.

to arrange / give / have / throw a party

6. Most of my friends use word processors, but I still swear by my old typewriter.
to swear
a) to swear at / about sb / sth: to curse, use rude or blasphemous words:
The drunken fellow started swearing at the policeman.
I overheard one of the dissatisfied spectators swearing about the referee.
Stop swearing in front of the children!
Mind your language! Don’t swear at me, please!
Why did you swear at missing the bus? There will be another soon.
PREPOSITIONS 363

b) to swear by sth:
1) name as a guarantee of what one is promising:
to swear by Almighty God / the name of God / one’s honour / all that is sacred / holy /
dear / all the gods / all saints / all one holds sacred / holy / dear
2) to have unbounded faith / confidence in:
Mother swears by Brown’s silver polish, she has used it for years with excellent
results.
to swear on sth: to make a solemn promise on sth that is supposed to have a binding
power on one:
The witness is asked to swear on the Bible that he will tell the truth, the whole truth
and nothing but the truth.
on one’s honour / father’s grave / the head of my son / on oath
to swear to sth: to affirm the truth of; outside legal phraseology: to be certain beyond
all doubt:
He swore to having paid for the goods.
I think I have met the man somewhere, but I couldn’t swear to it.
to swear off (doing) sth: to declare that one will stop:
I have decided to swear off smoking / drugs.
He swore off smoking when doctors told him it caused cancer.

7. He swung the trunk onto his shoulders and walked away.

trunk: a large heavy case or box in which clothes or belongings are stored or packed
for travel (Schrankkoffer)
AE for: boot of the car

8. The room offers a fine view of / over Hyde Park.

a slight difference of meaning, of is more likely
but: a fine view of the cathedral
on view: being shown to the public
in sb’s view: in sb’s opinion
to hold / take the view that ...
to echo / endorse / share sb’s view
in view of sth: in consideration of
with a view to doing sth: to redecorate one’s house with a view to selling it
to have sth in view: have a clear idea / plan in one’s mind

9. The PM eventually renounced his privileges.

10. There were no hospitals and only one doctor to a thousand inhabitants.
cf. ratio:
a high pupil / teacher ratio
the pupil-teacher ratio
The ratio of patients to doctors at the hospital is roughly 15 to 1.

11. Our firm is oriented towards the export side of the business.
also: orientated towards sb / towards (doing) sth

12. In medieval paintings the snake is symbolic of evil.

cf. a wall covered in old oilpaintings and watercolours

13. I know Father will get mad at me for using his car without asking him.
364 PREPOSITIONS

14. We came (up)on / across the manuscript quite by accident.

cf. come by sth: an etwas kommen

15. The Festival of Britain was to demonstrate Britain’s pride in the past.
to take pride in (doing) sth
to be sb’s joy and pride
sb’s pride in sth:
Her pride in her achievements is justified.
to be the pride of sb:
The new car was the pride of the family.
to be puffed up with pride
to hurt sb’s pride
to be a blow to sb’s pride
to do sth out of a false sense of pride
to pocket one’s pride: to suppress / hide one’s feeling of pride
to take pride in sth / sb:
She takes pride in her children’s success.
He takes no pride in his work.
You should take more pride in your appearance.
to pride os on (doing) sth:
She prided herself on her skill as a gardener / remaining calm in an emergency.
cf. 36

16. We’ll go there by the nearest way.

less likely: via the nearest way

17. I asked him to charge the bill to my account.

18. The dog was lame in the left hind leg.
19. He’s getting on for fifty now.
or: going on for

20. These days car thefts are committed by individuals who steal to order.
We supply handmade shoes to order.
to make sth to order
cf. ready-made
The equipment has been on order for some weeks. (bestellt)

21. A comedian can smile on cue, whatever his inner feelings.

22. The emperor was sitting astride a white horse.
23. Would you have suspenders in stock?
cf. out of stock
to take stock of sth:
Let’s take stock of the situation.
Buy now while stock lasts!
to put little / great / no / not much store by / on sth
to have sth in store for sb
PREPOSITIONS 365

to have / here is sth in store for sb:

We have a few surprises in store.
There is a great shock in store for him.
a library with a store (large amount) of rare books
stored with:
a gallery stored with fine paintings
a mind well stored with facts
suspender (BE); garter (AE): a fastener hanging down from an undergarment (suspen-
der belt) to hold a woman’s stockings up
suspenders (AE); braces (BE): a pair of elastic cloth bands worn over the shoulders by
men to hold up trousers

24. Cook is at the market today.

25. The defendant was released on bail.
26. He sets great store by good manners.
also: on

27. Let’s drink to your success.

28. Ignore this warning at your (own) peril.
also: risk
to do sth at one’s peril
to do sth at one’s own risk
to be in peril of one’s life
Our lives were in peril.
to face / avert a peril
cf. 39

29. You can’t just go to the opera festival in Glyndebourne on spec.

i.e. auf gut Glück
Glyndebourne: estate near Lewes in Sussex, where an opera festival is held each
summer

30. We stopped at Salisbury en route from London to Cornwall.

31. You can’t possibly read this book at / in one sitting.
32. The average man in the British Isles is quite easy-going as long as the conventions are
observed.
The preposition on is used for small islands, whereas in seems to be preferred for
bigger ones. People living there would probably say: I live in the Isle of Wight / Man.
But: on the Aran Islands
cf. 38

33. He emptied his glass at / in a draught.

at / in a / one single draught:
He gulped down the brandy in a / one (single) draught.
The pub has several good beers on draught.

34. At the request of the veterinary surgeon the animals had to be destroyed.
35. The band are playing this march by request of Her Royal Highness.
36. We’re proud of our country and we don’t like people insulting it.
366 PREPOSITIONS

37. You never know what the next few months have got in store.
38. Cowes is a town on the Isle of Wight where international yachting races are held each year
during Cowes Week.
cf. to live in the Isle of Wight

39. If you’re determined to swim in the river, I can’t stop you, but it’s entirely at your own risk.
cf. to swim a river / the English Channel

40. Full details will be sent on request.

5 Exercise: German aus

1. I’ve eaten so much, I’m bursting at the seams.

aus allen Nähten
to fall / come apart at the seams: to be in a very bad condition:
Their marriage is falling apart / coming apart at the seams.
to bulge / burst at the seams: to be full

2. Did you put salt in my tea by mistake!

aus Versehen
to make the mistake of doing sth
It was a mistake to do that.
to make a mistake in doing sth
mistakes occur / happen
a bad / big / costly / dreadful / ghastly / glaring / serious / terrible / tragic / fatal /
foolish / minor / slight mistake

3. Do you know for what reason he jilted her?

to jilt sb: unexpectedly refuse to marry after having promised to do so; suddenly
refuse to see (a lover) any more
the reasons for sb’s actions
the real reasons behind sb’s actions / decisions
to have a good reason for (not) doing sth
to have every reason / no reason to do sth
there’s sufficient reason to do sth
by reason of:
He was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
for personal / health / no apparent reason(s)
sth stands to reason
within reason:
We’ll do anything for you, within reason.
to go / be beyond all reason:
Their demands go beyond all reason.
with reason:
She was very angry, and with reason.
PREPOSITIONS 367

4. Wine is made from grapes.

cf. 8
from: when the material is no longer recognizable
of: when the original material is still recognizable
of
a) material still exists in its original form:
a dress made of velvet
a box made of wood
a house made of brick
Are these shoes made of leather?
The children like making houses of sticks and clay. I would rather make a house of
stone.
Note: I’m not made of money.
b) the constituents that make up a mixture or combination:
a drink made of orange juice, sugar and water
a salad made of lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumber
from
refers to the source material, from which sth different is produced:
a flute made from bone
Cider is made from apples, bread is made from flour, flour from wheat.
You can make petroleum from (out of) coal.
That night we made a shelter from branches and leaves.
Mother can make a wonderful meal from bits of food left over from the day before.
out of
a) is often a colloquial equivalent of from and of:
a box made out of wood
a table cloth made out of nylon
b) more strictly it refers to the conversion of one article into another:
a dressing gown made out of a blanket
I’m going to make a shirt out of this material.
also: from / of
Note: You can’t make silk purses out of sows’ ears. (etwa: aus einem Kieselstein kann
man keinen Diamanten schleifen, aus einem Ackergaul kann man kein Rennpferd
machen)

5. I can’t give you any exact figures off the top of my head.
aus dem Stand, Stegreif
Do you expect me to go in there and teach a lesson off the top of my head?
off the cuff
to make a remark off the cuff
an off-the-cuff joke / comment / speech
an impromptu speech
an ad lib speech

6. We learnt of his misfortune at first hand.

cf. 17
cf. straight from the horse’s mouth: from the actual person concerned, not told
indirectly

7. He does not drink on principle.

cf. in principle, but in detail
It’s against all my principles.
Note the differences between:
He tried to live according to / by / up to Christian principles.
368 PREPOSITIONS

8. This table is made of marble.

cf. 4

9. We attended the ceremony out of respect for the bereaved.

to hold sb / sth in (high) respect
to do sth out of respect for sth / sb
with all (due) respect:
With all due respect, these figures do not support your theory.
to lose / gain / get / win / earn sb’s respect
to have respect for sth / sb:
These people don’t seem to have any respect for the law.
to show / pay respect to sb / sth
to command sb’s respect:
This physicist commands the respect of all who know him.
deep / great / the greatest / profound / sincere / mutual / grudging respect
with respect to sth:
This is true with respect to France but not to Germany.
in respect of sth:
money received in respect of overtime worked
to be highly / widely / universally respected

10. He will learn by trial and error and eventually by experience.

cf. 20
to learn by experience: suggests method, i.e. by doing, seeing, feeling things
to learn form experience: refers to the source, i.e. from the things that have happened
to sb

11. I understand she has two sons by a previous marriage.

also: from

12. I’m sure he acted from disinterested motives.

out of would be acceptable
cf. to do sth out of curiosity / desperation / jealousy / kindness / necessity / pity /
spite, etc
Just out of curiosity, why did you reject the offer?
Jealousy was the motive for the murder / the murder motive.
What do you think his motives were in helping us?
to find / establish a motive
to question / doubt / suspect sb’s motives
to have nothing but the highest motives
The underlying motive is ...
a(n) altruistic / (dis)honourable / noble / base / selfish motive
motive (adj): the motive power / force (e.g. electricity to operate machines)
motivated by greed / fear / love / a politically motivated murder
motif:
a) decorative design / pattern: an eagle motif on the curtains
b) theme or idea that is repeated and developed in a work of music or literature
disinterested: impartial, unbiased, (without fear or favour):
The argument should be settled by sb who is disinterested.
PREPOSITIONS 369

My advice is quite disinterested.

a disinterested act of kindness
uninterested: I am completely uninterested in football.

13. The letter was sent to you in error.

I did it in error, by mistake.

14. They signed the contract of their own free will.

15. We need someone who can handle tasks on his own initiative.
16. He was invalided out of the army.
als Invalide entlassen

17. I only heard about it at second hand.

better: no preposition
I was abroad at the time, so I got the news second-hand.
cf. to buy sth second-hand

18. On the strength of your report we have decided to buy some new machines.
19. She tiptoed through the room for fear of waking the baby.
20. I know from experience how difficult it is to teach a foreign language.
cf. 10

21. Our son’s fiancée is a girl of good family.

She comes from a good family.
Most of the people here come from poor families.
Note: He left Iraq 40 years ago, but still has family in Baghdad.

22. His name was struck off the register for professional misconduct.
23. On impulse he asked her to marry him.
also: on an impulse
to act on (an) impulse
to feel / curb / resist / repress / stifle an impulse
a sudden / irresistible impulse

24. You shouldn’t tell tales out of school.

i.e. aus der Schule plaudern (old-fash.)

25. He was shot several times at close range.

i.e. aus nächster Nähe

26. She did it from fear.

also: out of

27. The hostages were released on humanitarian grounds.

on the grounds of sth:
On what grounds are you claiming damages?
370 PREPOSITIONS

to have grounds for (doing) sth:

He had strong grounds for going there again.
on moral / legal / humanitarian / medical grounds
on grounds of:
The divorce was granted on grounds of adultery.
on the ground of / on the grounds that ...:
He retired on the grounds of ill health.

28. He came in from out of the rain.

29. She is a duchess in her own right.
i.e. selbst, aus eigenem Recht

30. The little souvenir shop was bursting at the seams, and people struggled to get in and out.
31. You’d think she’d learn from her mistakes. That’s the second time she’s been dumped by
a married man.
to dump sb / sth
1. drop or unload sth, esp. heavily or carelessly, in a rough pile:
Don’t dump that sand in the middle of the path!
They dumped their bags on my floor and left.
fig.: Some people I used to know turned up and dumped themselves on me for the
weekend. (i.e. stayed without being invited)
2. get rid of sb / sth irresponsibly, abandon:
He dumped his old car at the side of the road.
fig.: He has just dumped his latest girlfriend.
That school is just a dumping ground for problem children. (loswerden, abschieben,
fallen lassen)
3. sell goods in a foreign country more cheaply than at home, esp. below the cost of
production

6 Exercise: German bei

1. Amid(st) all the rush and confusion she forgot to show him the letter.
to do sth in a rush
to be in a rush:
I can’t talk now – I’m in a kind of rush.
a rush on / for sth:
There was a rush on swimsuits in the hot weather.
a rush to do sth:
There was a rush to get tickets for the final.
a rush of excitement / enthusiasm / panic
to rush (sb) into (doing) sth:
She rushed into marriage.
They rushed her into signing the document.
a rush job: done as quickly as possible, and therefore not very good:
Her latest book is a bit of a rush job.

2. I usually keep a dictionary by / beside me when I’m doing crosswords.

PREPOSITIONS 371

3. She was as cheerful as a cricket, always singing over her household chores.
during is possible but less likely
to sing sb to sleep
to sing to sb / for sb
to sing to piano accompaniment
to sing in / out of tune
to sing sb’s praise(s)
A kettle was singing on the stove.
A bullet sang past his ear.
to do one’s (daily / domestic / routine) chores

4. The two parties are neck and neck in the opinion polls.
Our horse won by a neck.
to be up to one’s neck in sth / debts / work
to stick one’s neck out: to say or do sth that may be risky for os:
I don’t want to stick my neck out by saying who will win.
to risk / save one’s neck
to break one’s neck (trying to do sth)

5. She takes French lessons with Mr Durant.

to take / have lessons in the local language
We can draw / learn important lessons from this disaster / experience.
She decided to teach the boy a lesson. (i.e. punish him)
Let that be a lesson to you.
lessons in / on eight different subjects every week

6. The bottle hit the floor and broke on impact.

Developments in microelectronics have had a major impact on industrial processes.
to have / make an impact on sb / sth
to lessen / soften the impact of sth
a considerable / strong / great / lasting / profound / dramatic / favourable impact on
sb / sth

7. Did he really fail his driving test?

I passed (i.e. bestehen) my written paper but failed my oral (exam).
Examen machen:
to pass an exam
to sit / take / do an exam / go in for an exam
to fail in one’s duties / responsibilities
How could you fail in such an easy test? (i.e. versagen)
to fail to do sth
never fail to do sth
Words fail me.
a failed writer / actor

8. At night all cats are grey.

cf. last thing at night:
I always brush my teeth last thing at night.
at night – by night:
The difference is that the former shows time:
We work during the day and sleep at night.
372 PREPOSITIONS

The latter suggests method, or the conditions under which something is done or takes
place:
Burglars and poachers work by night.
In order to avoid the heavy traffic on the roads, some people prefer to travel by night.
“Night after night” expresses the idea of a succession of nights, one following the
other without a break:
Night after night she sat by the bed of the sick child.
“Night by night”, on the other hand, means each day, one following on another:
Night by night the policeman paces the streets.
cf. F.T. Wood, English Prepositional Idioms

9. Would you like to join me in a glass of wine, or would you rather discuss the project over
lunch?
to join up (with sb / sth)
a) meet and unite to form one group:
The firm joined up with a small delivery company to reduce costs.
The M62 joins up with the M1 south of Leeds.
or: The M62 and the M1 join up south of Leeds.
b) become a member of the armed forces:
We both joined up in 1939.
to join a club / union / choir / the army / the navy / the police / a procession / a queue
/ a demonstration
to join sb in / for sth:
Will you join me for a drink? (i.e. come and sit with me and have a drink)
Will you join me in a drink? (i.e. have a drink with me)
over lunch / a bottle of beer / glass of wine:
Many a business has been concluded over a bottle of wine.
We can discuss that over dinner.

10. We’ve decided to ignore your rude behaviour on that occasion.

cf. to rise to the occasion
to have / take an occasion to do sth
an occasion for sth:
There’s no occasion for alarm.
an occasion arises
to celebrate / mark / observe an occasion
a(n) festive / happy / joyful / joyous / auspicious / special / memorable / momentous /
unforgettable occasion
on occasion: occasionally

11. In / (for) their experiments they used guinea pigs.

He was condemned for his experiments on rabbits.
to carry out / conduct / do / run / perform an experiment on sb / sth
an experiment succeeds / fails
to prove a theory by experiment
an experiment in communal living

12. Her husband is a sub-editor on The Times.

also: on the staff of / with The Times

13. She failed in her attempt to swim the Channel.

PREPOSITIONS 373

14. I think he works with / for an insurance company.

to work with sb:
She gets on very well with the people she works with.
He gave up his post as he found it impossible to work with his immediate superior.
Flattery may work with some people, but it will not work with me.
to work for sb:
Nigel works for a publishing company – he might be able to get you the book you want
cheap.
to work as a(n) teacher / nurse / accountant / journalist
to work on sth:
He’s working on a new book.
to work at (doing) sth:
You’ll have to work at being friendlier with customers.

15. We’ll accept a deposit if you don’t have enough money on / about / with you.
16. Did you complain about me to the manager?
17. They discovered several cases of tax evasion during a routine investigation.
also: in
tax dodging
to be under investigation:
The matter is under investigation.
to carry out / launch / conduct / make an investigation
to launch an investigation of sth / into sth
a(n) cursory / close / perfunctory / full / painstaking / thorough / impartial / pending
investigation
on closer investigation

18. Let’s drink to your success in your new job.

to drink out of / from sth
to drink to sb / sth:
Let’s drink to good health.

to drink a toast to sb / sth

to drink os to death
to drink sb under the table
to drink sb’s health

19. He was obviously trying to curry favour with his superiors.

i.e. s. bei jemdm lieb Kind machen

20. Some politicians seem to forget that all the power resides in the people.
21. The final decision rests with the chairman.
also: lies with
to rest on sb / sth:
Her eyes travelled round the room and eventually rested on me.
His claim rests on a false assumption.
The success of the team rests on the performance of best players.

22. She loves a constitutional and goes out in all weathers.

23. Ian was apprenticed to a printer.
374 PREPOSITIONS

24. I understand he’s living with his parents.

also: at his parents’ (home)

25. On / after reflection he realized that he was in serious trouble.

26. Can you help me with the translation of this text?
27. You may inquire your way of the next passer-by.
to inquire may take a direct object: to enquire the time / way / a person’s name / the
price of sth;
to enquire about is rather more vague.
to enquire after: usually means ask after sb’s health:
Did you enquire after his mother’s health when you last saw him?
to enquire of sb: to ask:
I must enquire of you where you obtained this money, sir.
to enquire for sb / sth:
a) to enquire the whereabouts of some place one wishes to find:
This young lady is enquiring for the furnishing department.
b) to ask by name for sb one wishes to see or speak to:
When you ring up, enquire for Mrs Mason.
to enquire into: to investigate, usually: inquire (more common in this case than
enquire):
The court ordered the council to inquire into the conduct of the 2 officers.

28. For / with all his learning he is an affable man.

also: in spite of / despite

29. They were arrested on their arrival in Haarlem.

Do not confuse Haarlem (capital of North Holland) and Harlem (a district in New York
City)

7 Exercise: German bei

1. He is very popular with his subordinates.

also: among his subordinates
He was very popular as a night-club singer.

2. Fishing in this river is forbidden under penalty of £5.

on / under pain / penalty of death:
They were forbidden to approach the fence under pain of death.
Mass meetings were forbidden on pain of death.
to impose a penalty
to pay a penalty
to rescind a penalty
a heavy / stiff / severe / strict / light / mild / the maximum / minimum penalty

3. He promised on his honour that he was innocent.

to make / fulfil / keep / break / go back on / renege on / repudiate a promise
to hold sb to her / his promise
PREPOSITIONS 375

to take sb up on her / his promise

to show great promise (as sb):
He showed great promise as a tennis player.
His work shows great promise.
a(n) broken / empty / false / hollow / rash / vague promise

4. It all comes out in the wash.

cf. All my shirts are in the wash.

5. Buses stop here on request.

a request stop: Bedarfshaltestelle
at sb’s request:
They did it at my request.
on request: when you ask for it:
Further information will be supplied on request.
by request: because sb has especially asked for it:
There were no flowers at the funeral, by request.
in request: being asked for:
His novels are still much in request.
to make a request for sth
to file a request with the authorities
to submit a request to sb
to grant / honour a request
to deny / refuse / reject / turn down a request
a(n) moderate / modest / (un)reasonable / desperate / urgent / written / oral / informal
/ official request

6. On / under pain of death, don’t disobey his orders.

capital punishment – the death penalty / sentence
cf. 1

7. We caught him in a lie.

to catch sb (in the very act of) doing sth
to catch sb red-handed
to catch sb by the arm / throat

8. When the lights went out she was standing next to me.
9. They had hoped to have an audience of / with the king.
to grant / give sb an audience
to have / request / seek / be granted an audience with sb
In formal BE it is “to have an audience of sb”, in AE and ordinary English the
preposition with is more common.

10. There were no such customs among the ancient Romans.

to establish / cherish / observe / practise / preserve a custom
to defy a custom
a(n) ancient / old / local / national / pagan / religious / social / strange / quaint / time-
honoured / traditional / tribal custom
a custom dies out
it is the custom (for people) to do sth
376 PREPOSITIONS

11. With God all things are possible.

12. Do you prefer travelling by day or by night?
13. He had sustained severe injuries in the accident.
to cause / have / meet with / prevent / survive an accident
a car / road / traffic / hit-and-run / railway / train / nuclear accident
an accident happens / occurs

14. We’ve insured our furniture with a fire-insurance company.

to insure
to insure sb / sth against sth:
I lost my camera and wasn’t insured for it.
You’d better insure your house against fire.
to insure sth for sth:
He insured his life for £200,000.
an insurance premium / policy / salesman / company
to ensure
This contract cannot ensure you a job.
We must ensure that the law is obeyed.
This victory has ensured our team a place in the final.
I cannot ensure her being on time.
In AE insure may be used as a synonym of ensure.

15. We’ll start shouting for help on the / a count of three.

not: at three: um drei Uhr

16. They were confined on bread and water.

This is the shortened version of:
They were confined (to prison where they had to live) on bread and water.
to confine os / sth to (doing) sth:
Please confine yourself / your remarks to the subject under discussion.
to be confined to sb / sth / (doing) sth:
a disease confined to adults / an attitude confined to teachers
to be confined to a small apartment / a wheelchair / to bed
The fighting was confined to the capital.
A soldier who deserts his post will be confined to the barracks.
The former editor is now confined to organising the advertisements.
to confine sb / sth in a place:
to confine a bird in a cage
I hate being confined in my office all day.

17. The onus of proof lay with him.

Beweislast
the onus is on sb to do sth
the onus lies / rests with sb
to put the onus on sb

18. They had the edge on us in the negotiations for the contract.
have the edge on / over sb: be slightly better than or have a slight advantage over sb

19. Did you set your hair yourself, or have you been to the hairdresser’s?
PREPOSITIONS 377

20. During my stay in England I boarded with a Welsh family.

21. On closer examination we discovered a number of mistakes.
also: after
also: on / after closer inspection

22. In the U.S. psychoanalysis is very popular. Over here, we don’t bother quite so much.
23. They urged the locals to aid in the hunt for the killer.
24. My brother served with the Gordon Highlanders.
but: serve in the Army / Navy / Air Force

25. He didn’t expect you to take him at his word.

cf. to take sb up on his word

26. He was appointed secretary to the Prince of Ruritania.

Ruritania
an imaginary kingdom in Central Europe in novels by Anthony Hope (1863-1933). The
name connotes make-believe romance, chivalry and intrigue at a royal court in a
modern European setting.

27. He’s writing a book and hopes to publish it with OUP.

28. He ascended the throne on the death of his father.
cf. on arrival, on his retirement, on receipt of the news

29. Such good health is rare in old people.

30. She blew her top, which is rare for / with her.
i.e. sth is rarely done by sb
to blow one’s top / stack: to explode with anger, lose one’s temper

8 Exercise: German bis

1. Do you think you’ll have finished by four o’clock?

i.e. not later then
by: is used for German nicht später als. It is used for an action which happens at or
before a certain time.
compare:
I have to keep writing until the end of next year.
My book will be finished by the end of next year.
I’ll have the report finished by Tuesday next week.
Can you be here by 10 o’clock?
Ask me again on Monday. I shall know by then. (bis dahin)

2. All essays were good except (for) / with the exception of / but / save Sean’s. (bis auf)
bar (lit.)
The preposition bar occurs only in stereotyped phrases:
(It’s) all over bar the shouting.
378 PREPOSITIONS

Said when the result of a contest or the outcome of an action appear certain. To be in
a condition in which the result is already certain and only the official announcement of
the winner, the cheering, etc have still to happen:
By mid afternoon, when most of the votes had been counted, it was all over bar the
shouting, and the politicians whose hopes of being elected were now at an end went
quickly home. (die Schlacht ist geschlagen, die Sache ist gelaufen)
He is the best singer in the country bar none / one. (ohne / mit einer Ausnahme)
That’s the best meal I’ve ever had, bar none.
The whole class is here bar two that are ill.
barring: not including, allowing for, if there is / are not:
Barring accidents, we should arrive on time.
Barring any last-minute problems we should finish the job by tonight.
save (for) (preposition)
save that (conjunction)
When used as a preposition (no ornaments in the room save a crucifix) and a
conjunction (I cannot remember anything about his appearance save that he had a
morning coat; A small liqueur glass ... empty save for a tiny drop) it has an air of
archaism or formality about it. (Examples from the NSOED.) It can often be replaced
by except or but.
The New Fowler’s Modern English Usage. Ed. R. W. Burchfield, Oxford 31996, s.v. save
but
I told this to no one but you.
They looked in every place but the right one.
He thinks of nothing but making money.
Note: As a preposition, but should be followed by the accusative case; but usage
permits a nominative when the pronoun in question stands immediately before a verb
to which at first sight it might appear to be the subject (though, of course, actually it
is not).
The boy stood on the burning deck,
Whence all but he had fled.
All but him, though grammatically correct, would sound awkward in such a position.
Whether a gerund or an infinitive should be used as the verbal noun after but depends
on which is demanded by the verb that precedes it and on which it depends. He thinks
of nothing but making money, because to think of needs the gerund (He thinks of
making money – not to make money). But He lives for nothing but to make money,
because after lives the infinitive is needed to express purpose (He lives to make
money).
Colloquially, nothing but is often used to emphasise the noun that follows.
That boy is nothing but a nuisance.
That car has given me nothing but trouble ever since I have had it.
Nothing but and anything but can also be followed
(i) By an infinitive without to.
He does nothing but eat.
He will do anything but work.

(ii) By certain adjectives, when the sentence becomes a form of understatement.

She looks anything but well. (I.e. She looks ill.)
My father was anything but pleased when he heard my story. (I.e. He was very
displeased.)
Anything but may also be followed by a noun, to produce the same effect.
He is anything but a fool. (I.e. He is a clever person.)
All but often has the force of a compound adverb, equivalent in meaning to almost.
We have all but finished our task.
The work was all but complete, when we received orders to proceed no farther with it.
F.T. Wood, English Prepositional Idioms
PREPOSITIONS 379

3. All but two houses had been destroyed by the fire. (bis auf)
use but after the interrogative pronoun who or words like all, anybody, anyone,
anything, anywhere, everybody, everyone, everything, everywhere, no, nobody, no
one, nothing

4. We didn’t stay to / till / until the end of the meeting. (bis zu)
till and until are interchangeable. Both words refer to time only. There is, however, a
difference in the level of style.
Till is informal only. It is used in everyday, conversational contexts but not in written
English.
Note the following common expressions with till:
from morning till night: von früh bis spät
from early in the morning till late at night
He laughed till he cried: Er lachte Tränen.
till then: bis dann, bis nachher
They danced till early morning / into the early / small hours.
Until can be used in both formal and informal contexts:
Just wait until / till I come back.
Passengers are requested to remain seated until the aircraft has come to a complete
standstill.
We waited till / until 9 o’clock, then we left.
Further services will be suspended until all outstanding debts have been settled.
Note: There is a difference in position. It is not usual to begin a sentence with till.
Therefore, if the
till / until clause comes first, until is used. Till is used when its clause comes
second. Study the following examples:
Until John told me, I had no idea.
I had no idea till / until John told me.
Until he pays me, I’m not going to do any more work.
I’m not going to do any more work till / until he pays me.
Until his accession to the throne he had not been very popular.
till / until: are interchangeable with to
a) when length of time before an event is to be expressed:
It’s an hour till / to dinner.
It’s only a month till / to the holidays.
It’s another week to / till the 23rd.
b) when preceded by from:
We stayed from June to / till September.

5. They would have liked to throw him out, but the rent had been paid up to / to / till / until
the first of June. (bis zu)
up to: is usually used (in the sense of German bis zu) with numbers or capacity:
There is no charge for children up to the age of six.
Each group has up to 15 students.
She filled the glass up to the top.
up to / till now:
You have been in charge up to now, but tomorrow it’s my turn.
She is seventeen and till now she has been educated privately.

6. Up to now / so far she hasn’t said anything. (bis jetzt)

7. You are not to leave until / before that’s done.
the latter is less emphatic
380 PREPOSITIONS

8. Your essay is very good except for / but for / apart from the spelling. (bis auf)
save for (fml.)
Not: except: Here the contrast is between disparate things (essays – spelling),
whereas in sentence 2 the things contrasted (essays – essays) are in paria materia.
cf. 15

9. She had not as yet made up her mind where to go for her holiday. (bis jetzt)
10. He was here up to / until / till a moment ago.
11. I’ll count to / up to three.
12. Don’t leave the train until / till you get to Sydenham.
13. See you tomorrow!
14. I’m up to the eyes in work!
15. We know nothing about him except his age. (bis auf)
cf. 2/8

16. On the first day of our journey we got as far as Ratisbon. (bis nach)
17. To this day nobody knows why he broke off his engagement. (bis auf)
less likely: until / till
compare:
to this day: To this day, we don’t know why they did it.
to the day: It’s two years to the day since we first met.

18. He told us the story of his divorce down to the minutest detail. (bis in)
19. Apples cost up to / as much as 80p a pound this year. (bis zu)
20. The loss amounts to between £200 and £300.
21. It’s only five miles there. (bis dahin)
22. We got to within a mile of the testing site. (bis auf)
23. This / thus far and no further! (bis hierher)
Note: so far: bisher
So far we have finished about half the work we have to do.
So far, nobody had noticed that the key was missing.
He’s not coming as / so far as I know.
There’s been no change as / so far as I know.

24. He was blunt and outspoken to the point of rudeness. (bis zu)
25. This old custom exists up to / up till the present day.
26. By the time you have finished we’ll have gone.
27. She won’t leave until / till you promise to help her.
28. Age and illness had changed her out of / beyond / past all recognition. (bis zur
Unkenntlichkeit)
29. Many days passed before she received his letter.
30. The exhibition will be open Monday through Friday. (AE!)
also: Such disagreements contributed to his decision to terminate his contract, which
ran through 1997.
Note: In BE this would be: to / till / until
PREPOSITIONS 381

9 Exercise: German durch

1. We all learn by trial and error.

cf. to learn from experience: suggests the source of knowledge
to learn by experience: suggests the method
to learn sth from sb

2. You must not walk across the meadow when it’s not yet mown.
cf. in a meadow

3. Cautiously he put his head round the bedroom door.

or: through the bedroom door
to be cautious about (doing) sth:
He was cautious about spending money / committing himself.
to be cautious of sb / sth:
He was cautious of strangers.
to be cautious in doing sth:
He was cautious in using fire arms.
(to feel) cautious optimism
a cause for cautious optimism

4. She suffers from sleeplessness through overwork.

He was made ill by overwork.

5. We did not expect such unkind treatment at your hands.

i.e. from you
atrocious / brutal / cruel / special / gentle / harsh / (in)human / kid-glove / kind / equal
/ (un)fair / preferential / red-carpet / rough / shabby treatment of sb / sth
to be under / receive / get / have / undergo / give / provide treatment for sth
to respond to treatment
dental / heat / medical / outpatient / radiation / shock / (in)effective treatment
to take / lead sb by the hand
to fall into sb’s hands
to be in safe hands:
The documents were in safe hands.
to eat out of sb’s hands
to wash one’s hands of sth
to suffer at sb’s hands
to have time on one’s hands
to be / act hand in glove with sb
to be close / near at hand
to be made by hand

6. There is a swelling tide of salesmen travelling the countryside.

His heart / breast swelled with pride.
to travel the world / on business / for pleasure / in Canada / across Africa / by air / to
work
to travel first- / second-class / deluxe / tourist class
to travel extensively / widely / far and wide / incognito
382 PREPOSITIONS

travel (n)
This noun is always uncountable, i.e. no article can ever be used with the singular
form travel.
Moreover, the word can never be used for a particular journey or voyage.
Journey, trip, voyage are the words to be used:
What sort of journey did you have?
Did you have a good trip?
to make / go on a journey / voyage (i.e. by sea)
to take / go on a trip
BUT
Travel / travelling broadens the mind.
This travel book is a best-seller.
Air travelling is still rather expensive.
travelling at night
to be fond of travelling
The plural travels is used for a series of journeys and voyages made by a specific
person. It is preceded by a possessive:
When he returned form his travels in ...
“Gulliver’s Travels” was first published in 1726.

7. An ingenious idea suddenly flashed across / through my mind.

The driver flashed (his lights) at us.
His eyes flashed with rage.

8. After tea they showed us round / over the house.

9. Our national team’s forthcoming tour of South America was heralded with great fanfare.
fanfare
a) a flourish or short tune usually played on a trumpet, used as a military signal, at a
ceremonial event etc:
A fanfare of trumpets sounded as the queen entered.
b) an ostentatious flourish or display:
The dictator’s secret diaries were published with much / great fanfare.
to be accompanied by a fanfare of publicity
to herald (fml./lit.): to be the sign of sth coming or about to happen:
Their new offer may herald a breakthrough in the peace talks.
The singing of the birds heralded (in) the day.

10. The burglar escaped by / through the back door.

compare:
to escape from the police: to escape from police custody
to escape the police: to elude the police without being caught
to escape from sb / sth:
The animal escaped from its cage.
to escape (doing) sth:
He (narrowly) escaped a fine / criticism / capture / arrest.
We cannot escape paying for it / being criticised.
to escape sb / sth:
Your name escapes me.
Nothing ever escapes her attention / notice.

11. Their export trade is suffering a great deal from the war.
PREPOSITIONS 383

12. Did he take warning from the accident?

warning
Let this / may this be a warning to you.
Let that serve as a warning to you.
It happened without advance warning.
to take sth for a warning (of what may happen)
to give / issue / send / sound / heed / receive / ignore / disregard a warning
to warn sb of sth:
to warn of the existence of sth: a danger / pickpockets / the consequence of his
actions:
We were warned of possible delays.
to warn against / (about) sth that sb may do: against trusting sb / against drink /
pickpockets:
The police have warned shopkeepers about forged banknotes.
The doctor warned us against overtiring the patient.
to warn sb off doing sth:
I had been warned off visiting her while she was still unwell.
Note: He warned me not to go near the dog / to skate on the thin ice.

13. He died at the hands of his own servant, not by his own hand.
14. They achieved their objective by means of / through deceit.
a web of deceit
to reveal a deceit
to be accused of deceit
Espionage is an activity that deals in deceit.
deceitful words / behaviour
to deceive os / sb into doing sth: deliberately mislead:
You cannot pass exams without working, so don’t deceive yourself (into thinking you
can).
They deceived her into signing the papers.
to deceive sb with sb
Note:
deception / deceptive
to obtain sth by deception
a victim of deception
a calculated deception
to see through a deception
Appearances can be deceptive.
My first impression had been deceptive.

15. He won the prize by dint of / as a result of / through hard work.

not: by means of
Do not mix up price and prize.
384 PREPOSITIONS

10 Exercise: German für

1. This is a classic example of medieval architecture.

2. Maria Callas was a divinity to her fans.
divine
a) of / from / like God or a god
divine wisdom / justice
b) wonderful, beautiful

3. This man has absolutely no sense of humour.

4. Her courage is a good example to us all.
to demonstrate / display / show / have (the) courage to do sth
to gather up / muster / pluck up / screw up / summon (up) / work up (the) courage to
do sth
to draw / take courage from sth
It takes great courage to climb the Matterhorn.
dauntless / great / immense / indomitable / sheer / moral / physical courage
a person of great / immense courage
to have / lack the courage of one’s convictions

5. This painting is typical of the artist’s early period.

6. Low taxes are a stimulus to more consumer spending.
7. The egg is the symbol of life.
8. The speaker felt more and more tempted to play to the gallery.
to tempt sb into doing sth
to tempt sb to do sth
to overcome / resist temptation
to be exposed to / feel / face temptation
to succumb to / yield to / give in to temptation
to put temptation in sb’s way
a(n) irresistible / strong temptation

9. Day by day the situation is deteriorating.

not: day after day
“Day by day” means “each day, one following on another”. It
1. thinks of each day separately and individually
2. can be used only adverbially
She grew weaker day by day.
Day by day she learnt more about her job.
The problem is getting worse day by day.
“Day after day”
1. thinks of the days as a continuous series
2. can be used as the subject of a verb (though the adverbial use is the more
frequent):
subject: Day after day went by, and still no message arrived.
adverb: We waited day after day, but the expected visitor never arrived.
cf. F.T. Wood, English Prepositional Idioms
Note also: day in day out
PREPOSITIONS 385

10. There are no simple solutions to the problems of unemployment.

11. Such rudeness is characteristic of him.
12. I’d rather have a bedroom to myself.
13. Hg is the symbol for mercury.
14. After endless discussions he eventually warmed to the idea.
15. It is binding upon a gentleman never to lose his self-control.
16. We’ve decided on Nepal for our next holiday.
17. The significance of this discovery to our country is invaluable.
to have / acquire significance for sb / sth
to attach significance to sth
great / deep significance
to be of significance to / for sb / sth

18. In medieval paintings the snake is symbolic of evil.

a poisonous / venomous snake
snakes bite / coil / strike / crawl / hiss / slither

19. This blend of self-pity and comedy is unique to Irish writers.

20. He’s a Reader in English literature.
Reader: senior university teacher of a rank immediately below a professor

21. In the event of a nuclear holocaust humanity could be annihilated.

22. The car’s safety record is an impressive testament to automobile engineering.
record
a) best performance
to establish / set a record
to equal / beat / break / hold / surpass a record
a(n) unbroken / all-time / national / world / Olympic record
a record falls
b) a file, permanent account
to have a (criminal) record
a(n) clean / impeccable / spotless / unblemished / brilliant / distinguished /
outstanding / excellent record
a(n) academic / safety / police / prison / criminal record
He’s been in gaol and has a record.
to make / keep a record of sth
to keep a record of one’s expenses
to open up / close a record
a(n) accurate / detailed / official / verbatim / written / daily / weekly / monthly record
A person’s medical record is confidential.
on (the) record:
That was the warmest day on record.
to be / go on record as saying sth
to say sth off the record
(to say sth) (just) for the record: to make a statement that one wants to be noted and
remembered, esp. in order to correct sth previously stated
386 PREPOSITIONS

23. These artistes are in a class by itself.

24. This is supposed to be a secret, so keep it to yourself.
to make a / no secret of sth
to guard / keep a secret
to betray / blurt out / divulge / reveal a secret
to ferret out / uncover / unearth a secret
a(n) closely guarded / open / state secret
to let sb in on a secret

25. The suit she had bought for her sister was so beautiful that she decided to keep it for
herself.

11 Exercise: German gegenüber

1. The Leader of the Opposition accused the Home Secretary of being soft on organized
crime.
Home Secretary: minister in charge of the Home Office
Home Office: the government department that deals with law and order, immigration,
etc
cf. Foreign Office
to be / go soft on sb / sth:
Have the authorities gone soft on crime?
If a manager is too soft on the staff they will not respect him.
to be soft with sb:
That teacher is too soft with his class: they’re out of control.
I think they’re too soft with these young offenders.
cf. to take a soft line with sb
to be soft on sb: to be fond of / in love with
to get / go soft in the head
a soft option: the easier of two choices:
He always tends to take the soft option.
to have a soft spot for sb / sth

2. In England – as against Scotland – no university other than Oxford or Cambridge was built
earlier than the last century.
Oxbridge (a portmanteau word / blend): Oxford and Cambridge
often regarded as being academically superior to other universities and as enjoying
and giving special privilege and prestige
redbrick universities: founded relatively recently (late 19th and early 20th centuries),
e.g. Liverpool, Manchester
He is very Oxbridge in his manner.
just a few more examples of portmanteau words:
anecdotage / brunch / chunnel / edutainment / to electrocute / fanimal / infotainment
/ motel / shamateur / smog / stagflation / workaholic
PREPOSITIONS 387

3. It is high time somebody spoke out against our government’s ambivalence towards human
rights violations.
to commit a violation
a brazen / flagrant / blatant / gross / minor / major violation of rights / rules / (the)
law(s)
a parking / traffic violation
to act in violation of the law

4. What a change from last year!

5. All his commitments to reform were only a ploy.
ploy: sth done in order to gain an often unfair advantage; tactic:
His usual ploy is to pretend to be ill, so that people will feel sorry for him.

6. They tend to be intolerant of anything foreign.

7. He has an income of £20,000 a year as against the national average of £10,000.
above / below average
on (an) average
sth averages out at / to sth:
Snowfall in this part of the country averages out at / to 18 inches a year.

8. Parents are often blind to the faults of their children.

blind in one eye
blind faith / fury / obedience / allegiance / panic / loyalty / rage / hate
to blind sb (to sth):
to be blinded by smoke
His determination blinded him to all the difficulties.
a blinding light / headache / pain
Note: sth is blindingly obvious
to be as blind as a bat:
I’m as blind as a bat without my glasses.
to be blind with sth:
He was blind with tears and rage.
to be blind to sb’s faults / in one eye:
He seems to be blind to the consequences of his policy.
to turn a blind eye / deaf ear to sth: to pretend not to see / hear etc
He often turned a blind eye to their drinking sessions.
to shut / close one’s eyes to sth
(A case of) the blind leading the blind: people with little information advising people
with even less
a blind alley / date / spot:
I’ve a blind spot where computers are concerned.
He first met his wife on a blind date (i.e. an arrangement made one of his friends to go
on date with sb one has never met before).
to be blind drunk
to go blind
to accept sth blindly
388 PREPOSITIONS

9. This year production is up 1.5 per cent, a slight increase on last year.
a(n) increase / rise in wages / population / prices / production
prices / consumption / inflation are / is on the rise / increase
a dramatic / steady / sharp / gradual / moderate / slight / considerable / substantial
rise / increase

10. His teaching experience gave him a considerable advantage over the other applicants.
11. He is totally immune to criticism.
to be immune to sth:
a) cannot be harmed by a disease
b) not affected by:
to be immune to criticism / abuse / flattery / opposition
to be immune from sth: protected / free / exempt from:
immune from prosecution
immunize sb against sth
cf. to inoculate sb (with sth) against sth
to vaccinate sb against sth
immunity:
to give sb immunity against a disease / virus
to grant sb immunity from sth:
He was granted immunity from prosecution.
sb’s immunity to sth:
His immunity to criticism served him well as a politician.

12. A certain preference for the adverb as against / over the adjective has long been a feature
of American English.
to give preference to sb / sth
to display / show / express / have a preference for sth
a decided / marked / strong preference:
He showed a decided preference for pop music.
What are your preferences in music?
in preference to sth:
He studied chemistry in preference to physics.

13. Under a totalitarian regime the general public has no legal rights vis-à-vis the police.
to establish / overthrow / bring down / topple a regime
a(n) authoritarian / dictatorial / totalitarian / puppet / corrupt / repressive regime
cf. regimen
to put sb on a regimen
to follow a (daily / strict) regimen

14. He married the plain-looking heiress out of obedience to his parents.

to demand / exact / expect obedience from sb
to pledge / swear obedience to sb / sth
blind / unquestioning / strict obedience

15. His steadfastness in the face of opposition was remarkable.

PREPOSITIONS 389

16. He was sitting across from me / opposite me, shielding the script with his hand.
to shield sb / sth against / from sb / sth:
She tried to shield her eyes from the sun.
They tried to shield the actor from the journalists.

17. They stood facing each other.

18. His dislike of hard work earned him a certain notoriety.
to achieve / acquire notoriety for (doing) sth

12 Exercise: German über

1. This is a treatise on Shakespeare’s imagery.

2. His behaviour is something to be wondered at.
to wonder about sth: to feel curious, ask os questions about sth:
I’ve been wondering about Frank’s health recently.
to wonder at sth: to feel great surprise and admiration:
Her beauty can only be wondered at.

3. She was most indignant at / about what I had said.

indignant at / about / over sth
an indignant look / response

4. He was offered a job with a starting salary in excess of 20K a year.

Note: 1K (infml.) = 1,000
a big / handsome / high / decent / good / low / meagre / poor / small / modest salary
to be on a salary of £10,000
to draw / get / receive / earn a salary
to boost / raise / cut / reduce sb’s salary
income – Einkommen
the total amount of money that sb receives in a particular period, including money
from work, profits, savings, rent etc
gross / net income
to be on a high / low income
Help for people on low incomes.
to live beyond / within one’s income
income support
Many single mothers are on income support.
pay – Lohn / Gehalt / Sold
the money that is paid to sb, either monthly or weekly, for regular work that they do
to move to a job with better pay
What’s the pay in your job?
a pay-increase
a (pay) rise
pay claim
As expected, management said the workers’ pay claim was too high.
pay-day
(to be on) sick-pay – Krankengeld (beziehen)
to be paid overtime
overworked and underpaid
390 PREPOSITIONS

salary – Gehalt
fixed amount of money that is paid monthly, usually directly into a bank account and
especially for professional work
to earn / get / be on quite a good / a high / decent salary in one’s present job
salaried posts / employees / workers / staff
There are relatively few salaried posts in the company – most employees work
freelance.
to cut / raise / put up sb’s salary
a rise in salary
salary increase
wages – Lohn
the money that sb in a non-professional job receives each week, and that is usually
given to them in the form of coins or notes in a packet
wage
the amount of money, usually calculated hourly and paid weekly, which sb earns for
work they do, esp. work in a non-professional job
to increase sb’s wage(s)
to demand higher wages
a wage freeze – Lohnstopp
wage demands
wage increase
to get / be paid a weekly wage of £300
earnings
the total amount of money you earn from any work you do
His earnings amount (up) to £4,000.
He earns £100 a week.

5. Give me time to sleep on your offer.

6. We were all dismayed at his refusal to resign.
a(n) adamant / brusque / categorical / curt / flat / out-and-out / outright / point-blank
/ polite / straightforward refusal
to resign from sth
to resign from a post / place / organisation:
He resigned from the Nature Conservancy Council.
The Minister resigned (from office).
to resign sth
to resign a post / position:
She resigned her directorship and left the firm.
She resigned her post as chairwoman.
to resign as sb:
to resign as chairman
to resign os to (doing) sth: be ready to accept and endure sth as inevitable:
The team refused to resign themselves to defeat / to being defeated.
Note: to resign from a committee / board of directors, etc, but usually to resign an
office / position though for this also to resign from is sometimes used, especially
when the actual name of the office or position is not mentioned:
He has resigned from three of ten offices he held.

7. Are we all agreed on this course of action?

agree with: We agree with a suggestion / demand / practice / proposal / statement
etc, when we view it with favour and when it meets with our approval:
I agree with all you say.
I don’t agree with buying children expensive presents.
to agree to: to give one’s consent to:
It is doubtful whether the trade union representatives will agree to the proposals put
forward by the employers.
PREPOSITIONS 391

compare:
We agree with the scheme in principle, but we think it needs modification in detail.
We agree with the scheme, but we can’t agree to it at the moment.
to agree on: is used to indicate the matter concerning which agreement exists or is
reached:
The representatives of the two sides have now agreed on the proposals to be put
before their members.
sth agrees with sb / sth: (of food / climate etc) (usually neg.) to suit one’s health:
I never eat pork, it does not agree / disagrees with me.
This damp weather does not agree with my rheumatism.

8. They went to Gibraltar via / by way of Lisbon.

9. Do you remember the debate on tax reform?
to conduct / open / have / hold / chair a debate
a(n) acrimonious / bitter / heated / sharp / stormy / lively / spirited debate
sth is a matter for debate
to carry out / effect a reform
a far-reaching / radical / sweeping reform
a(n) orthographic / spelling reform
sth cries for reform
to reform sth
to reform one’s ways / habits
a reformed character / criminal / alcoholic

10. Her verdict on my cooking was anything but complimentary.

complimentary about sth
to be highly complimentary about sth
a complimentary remark / review
cf. complementary (to sth):
They have complementary characters.

11. The patient was complaining of splitting headaches.

to complain to sb about sth:
They complained to the hotel manager about the noise.
She complains about anything.
to complain of sth: say that one is suffering pain:
She complained of indigestion / back pain.

12. The new ideas on the rights of man were universally acclaimed.
to acclaim sth as sth:
It was universally acclaimed as a great discovery.
The discovery was acclaimed as a breakthrough.

13. Next term our prof will be lecturing on 18th-century poetry.

to give / deliver / read a lecture on / about sth
The policeman let us off with a lecture about speeding.
to lecture sb about (doing) sth:
He lectured his daughter about smoking.
392 PREPOSITIONS

14. They are morally above / beyond suspicion.

to arouse / cause / create / evoke / give rise to / sow / stir / raise (a) suspicion
to entertain / harbour / have a suspicion
to confirm a suspicion
to cast suspicion on sb / sth
to allay / dispel suspicion
a(n) groundless / unfounded / lingering / lurking / sneaking / strong / vague / well-
founded suspicion
(the) suspicion falls on sb
to be above / beyond suspicion
to be under suspicion
a cloud of suspicion
to be arrested on suspicion of (doing) sth

15. Come on, give us the low-down on her divorce.

low-down: the true and often secret information about a person, event:
He says he has the low-down on what happened at the negotiations.

16. The Athletics Association has yet to rule on his eligibility.

to rule against / in favour of / for sb / sth:
The judge ruled against me.
to rule on sth
to rule over sb / sth:
He rules over a vast empire.

17. Any speculation as to / on / about the necessity of such an operation is futile.

18. His latest novel is a satire on one-upmanship.
one-upmanship: the art of getting and keeping an advantage over other people

19. He was sent to his room to meditate on his misdeeds.

20. The last word on the plan has not yet been spoken.
to have a word in sb’s ear: to speak confidentially / in private
to give sb one’s word (that): to promise
to have sb’s word for it (that): be promised:
You have my word for it that the goods will arrive in time.
to go back on one’s word: to fail to fulfil a promise
to have a word (with sb about sth):
Could we have a word before you go to that meeting?
to have words (with sb about sth): to quarrel
to keep / break one’s word
last word:
a) most recent / fashionable:
Ten years ago this dress was considered the last word in elegance.
b) definitive statement:
This book may fairly claim to be the last word on the subject.
c) to be / give one’s final opinion / decision:
I have said my last word – take it or leave it.
I hope that is not your last word on the subject.
not to mince (one’s) words / matters
PREPOSITIONS 393

to put words in sb’s mouth: suggest that sb has said sth when he has not:
She accused the journalists of putting words in her mouth.

13 Exercise: German um

1. The situation is getting more explosive by the hour.

2. Stop beating about the bush and tell us whether you passed or not.
to pass / fail an exam(ination)
Examen machen:
to pass an exam
to sit / take / do an exam / go in for an exam
to set / invigilate an exam
a(n) oral / written exam
a difficult / stiff / easy exam
to be under examination
on closer / further examination
to do / make an examination: scrutiny
a(n) careful / close / complete / in-depth / thorough / cursory / perfunctory / superficial
examination

3. Out of gratitude the girl fell on her mother’s neck.

V-neck sweater
to break one’s neck doing / to do sth: to work especially hard:
I am not going to break my neck to finish my essay today – my teacher does not want
it until next week.
to get it in the neck: to be severely scolded / punished for sth:
You will get it in the neck if you’re caught stealing.
a millstone round sb’s / one’s neck: a heavy burden / responsibility:
My debts were like a millstone round my neck.
neck and neck with sth / sb: (horse-racing / contest) with neither one or the other
having an advantage or lead; level:
The two contestants were neck and neck with 20 points each.
to risk / save one’s (own) neck: to risk / save one’s life
to risk / avoid great misfortune:
He saved his own neck by fleeing the country.
to be up to the neck in sth: very deeply involved in:
Even as a young man he was up to his neck in crime.
to fall on one’s knees / on hard times / evil days / on one’s feet / on deaf ears
to fall on sb (i.e. be sb’s duty):
It falls on me to thank the chairman for his speech.
to show / feel / express gratitude:
She felt everlasting gratitude to them for their help.
profound / deep / sincere / undying / eternal / everlasting / gratitude
in gratitude for sth:
They gave him a gold watch in gratitude for his service.
to remember sb / sth with gratitude

4. He overcharged them by £10.

394 PREPOSITIONS

5. The only thing she cares about is her husband’s career.

to carve out / make a career (for os)
to enter on a career
to launch os / sb on a career
to abandon / give up one’s career
a brilliant / distinguished / chequered / colourful / promising / successful / turbulent
career
a career in politics / journalism / the police force
to move a few rungs up the career ladder
to be career-minded / -oriented
career woman / girl

6. Jacob tricked Esau out of his birthright for a mess of pottage.

cf. Gen. XXV, 29-34
mess: archaic: a portion of food, esp. soft or semiliquid pottage: thick meat or
vegetable soup
mess of pottage (Linsengericht)
fig. a material gain involving the sacrifice of a higher value
The meaning of this quotation is: to obtain some material comfort or advantage at the
expense of sth of much greater value or lasting worth.
birthright: property which a person may claim because of birth or status:
The estate is the birthright of the eldest son.
fig. Freedom is our natural birthright. (Erst- / Geburtsrecht)
trick:
to trick sb into (doing) sth
She tricked him into marrying her / marriage.
I cannot open the box – is there a trick to it?
He has an annoying trick of saying “You know?” after every sentence.
(i.e. characteristic habit)
to know any / every trick in the book: any / every trick that can be used to achieve
what one wants:
I tried every trick in the book but I still couldn’t persuade him.
to know / learn the tricks of the trade:
If you want to open your own car business you should ask his advice, he knows all the
tricks of the trade.
to do the trick / job: fulfil one’s purpose, do what is needed:
The medicine ought to do the trick (i.e. cure the illness).
to teach old dogs new tricks: you can’t teach old dogs new tricks: you can’t success-
fully get old people who are set in their ways to change their ideas, methods of work,
etc

7. The exhibition had to be extended by a week.

8. Everything in the family turns on her.
9. The number of road accidents has risen by 10 per cent last year.
10. Do you really envy him his health and good looks?
to envy sb (for) sth:
She envied us our new house.
I envy you your job.
She envies me (for) my freedom to travel.
envious of sb / sth:
She was envious of her sister’s success.
enviable:
an enviable achievement / position / salary / life / slimness
PREPOSITIONS 395

to arouse / stir up / feel envy

to be consumed / green with envy
to do sth out of envy

11. Week after week went by, and still there was no news of him.
12. By this time tomorrow we shall be in the Caribbean.
also: This time tomorrow we shall be in the Caribbean.

13. The earth revolves on its own axis.

The earth revolves (a)round the sun on its axis.
A wheel revolves round / on its axis.
fig.: centre on
His life revolves (a)round his family.
to rotate on an axis
cf. the Axis: alliance of Germany, Italy and Japan in World War II

14. The oncoming car missed us by a hair’s breadth, i.e. it came within a hair’s breadth of
hitting us.
to win by a hair’s breadth
to come / be within a hair’s breadth of doing sth
a hair’s breadth escape / victory

15. He is a politician who has deserved well of his country.

16. I’m concerned about my father’s health. (s. Sorgen machen)
concerned with: having to do with, or having as one’s concern or business:
We are not concerned with that matter.
concerned about: worried:
I’m concerned about my wife’s health.
He seems to be making little progress, and the doctor is very concerned about him.
concerned for is also sometimes used in this connection:
She felt concerned for the child’s safety.
But concerned for more often means anxious to assure.
concerned in: implicated / involved:
More than one person has been concerned in this affair.
F.T. Wood, English Prepositional Idioms

17. He never concerned himself about public opinion. (s. kümmern)

18. Youth clubs should be concerned with the welfare of the young. (s. bemühen)
396 PREPOSITIONS

14 Exercise: German unter

1. The candidate’s essay was beneath contempt.

to demonstrate / feel / display / show / have contempt for / of sb / sth:
His remarks show a total contempt for / of truth / his teachers.
bitter / deep / total / unmitigated / utter contempt
with contempt:
He treated us with contempt.
He looked at us with contempt.
to hold sb / sth in contempt:
He held all his critics in contempt.
contemptible: deserving contempt:
contemptible cowardice / behaviour
contemptuous (of sb / sth): showing contempt:
He has always been contemptuous of public opinion.
a contemptuous manner / laugh / remark

2. In the police force a sergeant is below an inspector.

3. The prisoner stated under / (on) oath that he had signed the confession under duress.
The judge reminded the witness that she was under oath.
to put sb under oath
to swear / take an oath
to take the Hippocratic oath
to break / violate an oath
to be on / under oath to tell the truth
to testify under oath that ...
a sacred / solemn oath
duress: threats or force used to make sb do sth

4. His bloodshot eyes shone out from under bushy eyebrows.

5. This must remain a secret between us, Rachel!
6. It is unwise to put one’s signature to a contract without having read the small print first.
also: fine print
to print sth (in) boldface / in italics / in Roman
to be written in large print
The titles are in bold print.
The debate is raging in print and on the radio and television.
to work in print journalism
to be in print
to be / go out of print
to conclude / sign / enter into a contract
to carry out / execute a contract
to break / breach / violate a contract
a(n) aural / written / legal / binding / exclusive / valid contract

7. Amidst all the difficulties he met was that of finding something to eat.
8. He was held on suspicion of having defrauded his employer.
to defraud sb of sth

9. Those of us who know him think highly of him.

PREPOSITIONS 397

10. He considers such a job beneath him.

11. She is suffering from insomnia.
12. No one in the audience was surprised by the speaker’s statement.
13. As for your prize, you may choose from among these books.
14. It is difficult for them to compete with overseas producers on anything like equal terms.
15. Underneath his gruff manner he is really very kind-hearted.
gruff: unfriendly or lacking patience
to be gruff with sb

16. Settle that among(st) / between yourselves!

between two people / more than two: among(st)

17. We’ll carry out the job with the proviso that we are paid in advance.
proviso: condition, a thing that is required as part of an agreement

18. I shall come with you on condition that you pay for the trip.
19. She was feeling off colour, but coped well in / under the circumstances.
in / under no / any circumstances
due to circumstances beyond our control
to have to do sth by force of / regardless of circumstances
to live in reduced / straitened circumstances

20. We bought the car for less than / under £3,000.

15 Exercise: German in/im

1. When were you last in England, and have you ever been to Eire?
in: static – to: dynamic
Eire: the former name of the Republic of Ireland, sometimes still used outside Ireland
to distinguish it from Northern Ireland

2. As far as I know he’s not on duty tonight.

cf. off duty
to assume / take on a duty
to carry out / do / perform one’s duty
to relieve sb of her / his duties
to suspend sb of her / his duties
to shirk one’s duties
a(n) ethical / moral / legal / painful / (un)pleasant / civic / patriotic / public duty

3. He is our country’s envoy to Ruritania.

Ruritania
an imaginary kingdom in Central Europe in novels by Anthony Hope (1863-1933). The
name connotes make-believe romance, chivalry and intrigue at a royal court in a
modern European setting.
398 PREPOSITIONS

4. This theory of yours is at variance with the known facts.

5. On average we receive several dozen orders a day.
also: on an / the average

6. He chided them for failing to look to the future.

to look to sth: make sure that sth is adequate or in good condition:
The country must look to its defences.
to look to sb for sth / to sb to do sth: rely or expect sb to provide sth or to do sth:
They were looking to us for help.
Many people are looking to the government to stamp out corruption.
to chide – chid / chided – chid / chided

7. Baked beans are on offer this week at the supermarket.

8. These wind turbines are a blot on the landscape.
blot
a) spot / stain by ink: a page covered in (ink)blots
b) a blot on sth: sth that spoils the good character / reputation:
His involvement in the scandal was a blot on his reputation.
a blot on the / one’s escutcheon: (joc.) an event that disgraces a family / group (Fleck
auf weißer Weste)

9. Our job is, to all intents and purposes, finished.

i.e. practically
to be intent on (doing) sth:
She’s intent on getting the job / on promotion / on getting promoted.

10. I felt as though I was intruding (up)on his privacy.

11. Today most colleges at Oxford are co-residential.
at Oxford: university
in Oxford: town
cf. a school is co-educational
residential:
1. containing or suitable for private houses:
a residential area / suburb / district / road / street
2. connected with or based on residence:
a residential home for the elderly
residence / residency:
1. house, large and impressive:
the President’s official residence
a country / family residence
2. the fact of living in a particular place:
to take up residence in a college / castle
3. the period of this:
to be granted residence
The asylum-seekers were granted permanent / temporary residence in our country.
in residence: living in a particular place because of one’s work or duties:
Students must remain in residence during the academic year.
The Queen is in residence at Balmoral.
PREPOSITIONS 399

12. The two analysts did not see eye to eye on / over / about economic issues.
analyst
1. person skilled in making (esp. chemical) analyses
2. psychoanalyst
cf. shrink
to see eye to eye with sb over / on / about sth
a(n) basic / collateral / side / controversial / burning / dead / sensitive / debatable /
thorny / divisive / moral / political / social / local / global / national issue
to bring up / raise an issue
to address / confront / deal with / face / debate / discuss / explore an issue
to settle / avoid / evade / sidestep / dodge / duck an issue
to take an issue with sb on sth: to disagree with sb about sth

13. Which animal that is native to Britain is also known as brock?

esp. in rural use: badger: Dachs

14. The coup was foiled at the last minute.

to foil sb / sth: prevent from being successful:
He had planned to leave at 3, but was foiled by Mrs Smith, who rang for tea.
to foil sb’s plans
foil (n)
a) metal in the form of a sheet as thin as paper, used esp. to wrap food and keep it
fresh:
Wrap cakes in foil before storing them.
aluminium foil / the foil wrapper of a bar of chocolate
b) sth that is a foil for sth else makes its good qualities more noticeable, when the two
things are experienced together, because of the great difference between them:
She had bronzed skin, for which her yellow swimsuit was a perfect foil.
Dr Watson acts as a foil to Sherlock Holmes.

15. My father is away on business.

16. He cut the bread into thin slices and the cake in half.
to cut into + nouns: halves, quarters, slices, cubes, thirds
to cut in + adv.: half, two, three
She cut the meat into cubes.
The bus was cut in two / half by the train.

17. He spent many years abroad on active service.

18. In our department women are outnumbered by men in the ratio of ten to one.
19. He went on the offensive before anyone could criticize him.
offensive
1. causing offence, unpleasant, repulsive:
crude jokes that are offensive to women
offensive remarks / smells / attitude / language / behaviour
2. of or for attacking: offensive weapons:
The troops took up offensive positions.
to be / go on the offensive
to go over to / start up / take / break off the offensive against sb / sth
to carry out / conduct / undertake an offensive
to launch / mount an offensive
to take the offensive: attack first
400 PREPOSITIONS

20. The beauty of the plan consists in its simplicity.

to consist in (doing) sth: have as its chief elements or features:
Freedom consists in the absence of oppressive laws.
to consist of sb / sth: be composed of, made up of:
A football team consists of 11 players.

21. He is an expert at / in restoring old furniture.

When an “expert” means “one who is expert in the performance of sth” it is followed
by in or at, according to which would be used after the corresponding adjective (an
expert in the art of persuasion, an expert at persuading people); when it means “one
with an expert knowledge of sth”, it is followed by on (an expert on complaints of the
chest and lungs).
cf. F.T. Wood, English Prepositional Idioms
to soup up
a) to increase the power of a car by modifying the engine:
a souped-up old mini (frisieren)
b) fig.: The new film is just a souped-up version of the 1948 original.

22. It would be unfair to criticize him on that score.

score
group / set of 20 / a score of people / three score (sgl!) and ten (70):
How many people were there? – There were scores of them.
on that score: with regard to that
on more scores than one: for many good reasons:
I want revenge on her on more scores than one.

What’s the score?

to score a goal
With the score on 40-love, Edberg now serves for the match.

23. Don’t interfere in his affairs.

to interfere in other people’s relationships
to interfere between two people / husband and wife
Having children would have interfered with her career.
to interfere with often means to molest sexually (esp. children)

24. On our way to Cornwall we stopped at Salisbury.

25. She is now under treatment for anorexia.
anorexia: loss of wish to eat
cf. bulimia: abnormal desire to keep eating
atrocious / brutal / cruel / special / gentle / harsh / (in)human / kid-glove / kind / equal
/ (un)fair / preferential / red-carpet / rough / shabby treatment of sb / sth
to be under / receive / get / have / undergo / give / provide treatment for sth
to respond to treatment
dental / heat / medical / outpatient / radiation / shock / (in)effective treatment

26. In principle we should be able to come to an understanding.

in principle: as regards the general principle:
Not only are those proposals impracticable, they are wrong in principle.
We agree with the scheme in principle, but we think it needs modification in details.
PREPOSITIONS 401

on principle: on account of / in accordance with one’s principles:

He would always take the word of an Englishman against that of a foreigner, on
principle.

27. There were only two women on the panel.

28. We disagreed with him over / on / about that matter.
to disagree bitterly / profoundly / sharply / completely / totally / utterly
cf. agree
agree with: We agree with a suggestion / demand / practice / proposal / statement
etc, when we view it with favour and when it meets with our approval:
I agree with all you say.
I don’t agree with buying children expensive presents.
to agree to: to give one’s consent to:
It is doubtful whether the trade union representatives will agree to the proposals put
forward by the employers.
compare:
We agree with the scheme in principle, but we think it needs modification in detail.
We agree with the scheme, but we can’t agree to it at the moment.
to agree on: is used to indicate the matter concerning which agreement exists or is
reached:
The representatives of the two sides have now agreed on the proposals to be put
before their members.
sth agrees with sb / sth: (of food / climate etc) (usually neg.) to suit one’s health:
I never eat pork, it does not agree with me.
This damp weather does not agree with my rheumatism.
The sauce disagreed with me.

29. People of his age sometimes get crazy notions.

30. Television fantasies of adventure in space are sometimes called space operas on the
analogy of the so-called soap operas.
to draw an analogy between
a close / superficial analogy between
by analogy (with sth)
to reason by analogy:
This applies to you, and by analogy to all the others.
You should try to illustrate your abstract concept by analogy with something concrete.
on the analogy of sth:
The group was set up on the analogy of a kibbutz.

16 Exercise: German in/im

1. He had won on the pools and was handed a cheque to the value of £10,000.
to do the football pools every week
a cheque for £200
to attach value to sth
to place / set / put a value on sth
to acquire / take on value
to have (a) value of
(a / an) great / high / inestimable / little / low value
a value falls / goes down / rises / goes up
402 PREPOSITIONS

sth increases / drops / falls / goes down in value

to take sth at face value
to be of great / little / some value to sb
to get value for one’s money
to be good / excellent / poor / bad value for money
basic / core / enduring / lasting / traditional / aesthetic / family / human / moral /
religious / spiritual / social values (i.e. principles / standards)
to value sb / sth (as sth):
They valued our advice.
They’ve decided to have the property valued.
She valued him as a true friend.
to value sth at sth:
The paintings were valued at £150,000.
a valued friend / client / customer / contribution / possession

2. We first heard about the accident on the radio.

to plug in / put on / switch on / turn on a radio
to switch off / turn off / unplug a radio
to listen to the radio
a portable / medium-wave / long-wave / short-wave / transistor / clock / car radio
He worked in radio before TV.
She’s got a job in radio.

3. I told him to his face that he was an impostor.

to run sb down behind his back
impostor / imposter: person who pretends to be sb else in order to deceive people

4. I lent him the money on the understanding that he would pay his debts with it.
to arrive at / come to / reach an understanding (to do sth)
a clear / complete / full / secret / tacit / verbal / written understanding
to contract / incur / run up / owe a debt
to get / go / run / slip into debt
to collect / recover a debt
to pay (off) / repay / clear / settle / write off a debt
to cancel a debt
an outstanding / unsettled debt
a business / gambling / private debt
to be in debt to sb for sth:
He’s in debt to me for a large sum.
(to owe sb) a debt of honour / gratitude
to be deeply / heavily / up to one’s ears in debt

5. The enemy was put to flight.

to take (to) flight:
The whole gang took (to) flight.
to put sb to flight
to be in full / headlong flight:
They were in headlong flight when they were caught.
PREPOSITIONS 403

6. At the end of the first lap they were well ahead, but on the second lap we caught up with
them.
a lap of honour
to do / run / swim a lap

7. When we arrived he was at his last gasp and died shortly after.
to emit / give / let out a gasp (of amazement)
to gasp at / in / with sth: to express surprise:
They gasped at our offer.
She gasped in surprise / with pain.
to be gasping for sth
to gasp for a drink / a pint
to gasp for breath / air

8. He was urged to go into early retirement.

to urge older staff to take early retirement
to live in retirement
to reach retirement age
to reduce retirement age for teachers to 55
to urge forcefully / strongly

9. His invaluable collection was scattered to the four winds.

also: a priceless / valuable collection
a(n) art / coin / private / stamp / rare-book collection
a collector’s item
a(n) ardent / avid / keen / serious collector
Valuable means “worth a lot of money”, the opposite is worthless, or, more formal,
valueless.
Priceless means that the value cannot be expressed in terms of money; invaluable is
often used in the more general sense of “extremely useful”: invaluable advice /
information / help.
sth is invaluable to / for sb

10. On balance, travelling abroad has probably done him more good than harm.
to keep / lose one’s balance:
I found it hard to keep / I lost my balance on the icy path.
to strike a balance between things:
We try to strike a balance between justice and mercy.
to act as a balance:
They work well together – her steadiness acts as a balance to his clever but often
impractical ideas.
to be / hang in the balance: state of uncertainty:
The future of the nation is / hangs in the balance.
on balance: when everything has been considered:
I think on balance I prefer the old system.
to travel the world / on business / for pleasure / in Canada / across Africa / by air / to
work
to travel first- / second-class / deluxe / tourist class
to travel extensively / widely / far and wide / incognito
404 PREPOSITIONS

travel (n)
This noun is always uncountable, i.e. no article can ever be used with the singular
form travel.
Moreover, the word can never be used for a particular journey or voyage.
Journey, trip, voyage are the words to be used:
What sort of journey did you have?
Did you have a good trip?
to make / go on a journey / voyage (i.e. by sea)
to take / go on a trip
but:
Travel / travelling broadens the mind.
This travel book is a best-seller.
Air travelling is still rather expensive.
travelling at night
to be fond of travelling
The plural travels is used for a series of journeys and voyages made by a specific
person. It is preceded by a possessive
When he returned form his travels in ...
“Gulliver’s Travels” was first published in 1726.

11. They met at regular intervals.

12. Would you agree with me on that point?
also acceptable: about / over
agree with: We agree with a suggestion / demand / practice / proposal / statement
etc, when we view it with favour and when it meets with our approval:
I agree with all you say.
I don’t agree with buying children expensive presents.
to agree to: to give one’s consent to:
It is doubtful whether the trade union representatives will agree to the proposals put
forward by the employers.
compare:
We agree with the scheme in principle, but we think it needs modification in detail.
We agree with the scheme, but we can’t agree to it at the moment.
to agree on: is used to indicate the matter concerning which agreement exists or is
reached:
The representatives of the two sides have now agreed on the proposals to be put
before their members.
sth agrees with sb / sth: (of food / climate etc) (usually neg.) to suit one’s health:
I never eat pork, it does not agree / disagrees with me.
This damp weather does not agree with my rheumatism.

13. The casualty figures run into hundreds.

to incur / suffer casualties
heavy / serious / light / civilian / military / traffic casualties
to inflict heavy casualties on the enemy

14. He spent his last years in the bosom of his family.

a bosom friend / buddy / pal
to have an ample bosom

15. At his age it is not easy to find a new job.

PREPOSITIONS 405

16. I have been much deceived in you.

but: to be deceived by sb
a web of deceit
to reveal a deceit
to be accused of deceit
Espionage is an activity that deals in deceit.
deceitful words / behaviour
to deceive os / sb into doing sth: deliberately mislead:
You cannot pass exams without working, so don’t deceive yourself (into thinking you
can).
They deceived her into signing the papers.
to deceive sb with sb
note: deception / deceptive
to obtain sth by deception
a victim of deception
a calculated deception
to see through a deception
Appearances can be deceptive.
My first impression had been deceptive.

17. He lives on the tenth floor of a high-rise.

high-rise: very tall, with many storeys, also attributively: a high-rise office block

18. The house may be very old, but it’s still in good repair.
to be under repair
to be in need of repair
to be in good / poor / bad repair
to be in a(n) excellent / terrible state of repair
to do / make repairs
extensive / major / minor / necessary repairs

19. He is a local councillor and sits on several committees.

20. Tolerance consists in respecting the opinions of others.
to consist in (doing) sth: have as its chief elements or features:
Freedom consists in the absence of oppressive laws.
to consist of sb / sth: be composed of, made up of:
A football team consists of 11 players.

21. Nothing has changed and the reform forces are on the defensive.
to put sb on the defensive
cf. offensive (adj.)
1. causing offence, unpleasant, repulsive:
crude jokes that are offensive to women
offensive remarks / smells / attitude / language / behaviour
2. of or for attacking: offensive weapons:
The troops took up offensive positions.
offensive (n)
to be / go on the offensive
to go over to / start up / take / break off the offensive against sb / sth
to carry out / conduct / undertake an offensive
to launch / mount an offensive
to take the offensive: attack first
406 PREPOSITIONS

22. You can trust him; he’s very good at this sort of thing.
to be good at / in (doing) sth:
Is he any good at chess?
He’s good at / in maths / reading maps.
to be good for sb / (doing) sth:
Exercise is good for you.
This is the best knife for cutting vegetables.
This weather is good for business.
to be good to sb:
He’s always been good to his parents.
to be good with sb / sth:
He’s very good with his hands.
Their receptionist is very good with people.

23. They approached the premises under cover of darkness.

24. He was found guilty on three different counts.
count
I want you to start on a count of 5 (i.e. after I have counted up to five).
By my count (i.e. as I have counted them) that is five cakes you have already had.
a) in law
any of a group of offences of which a person is accused:
two counts of forgery and one of fraud
He was found guilty on all counts.
b) any of a set of points made in a discussion or argument:
I disagree with you on both counts.

25. The drug was first tested at two research centres in the U.S.
26. There was something about his tone I didn’t like.
27. This statue is unique of its kind.
to be unique to sb / sth
to be in a unique position to do sth
to miss a unique opportunity

28. In / with hindsight it is easy to criticize.

hindsight
It is easy to say now what we should have done then – with the wisdom / benefit of
hindsight.
We failed and with (the benefit of) hindsight I now see where we went wrong.

29. We shall meet again tomorrow week.

also: a week from tomorrow

30. He tried to explain the movement of light by analogy with that of water.
to draw an analogy between
a close / superficial analogy between
by analogy (with sth)
to reason by analogy:
This applies to you, and by analogy to all the others.
You should try to illustrate your abstract concept by analogy with something concrete.
on the analogy of sth:
The group was set up on the analogy of a kibbutz.
PREPOSITIONS 407

17 Exercise: German mit

1. Did you do this on purpose?

cf. deliberately
by accident, accidentally

2. Smoking in moderation is not harmful.

moderation: quality of being moderate, freedom from excess, restraint:
They showed a remarkable degree of moderation in not quarrelling publicly on TV.
Even after sunset there was no moderation in the temperature.
in moderation: not excessively:
Whisky can be good for you if taken in moderation.
to show / display moderation in (doing) sth:
He displayed surprising moderation in the consumption of alcohol.
to moderate: to exercise a moderating influence on:
He must learn to moderate his temper.
moderate (adj.)
to travel at a moderate speed
a moderate-sized bathroom
a man with moderate views
moderate wage demands / prices / a moderate drinker / eater
moderator:
a) person who arbitrates in a dispute, mediator
b) person who makes sure that the same standards are used by different examiners
when marking an examination
c) Presbyterian minister presiding over a church court
Moderator
(TV) presenter, host, anchor man
moderieren: to present:
Who will present his show while he is away?
Our review of this week’s papers is presented by the editor of The Times.
anchor man
a) person who co-ordinates the work of a group, esp. that of interviewers in radio or
television broadcast
b) a strong member of a sports team who has a vital part to play:
The anchor man in a relay team runs last.

3. You ought to reconcile yourself to your lot.

to reconcile
a) settle a quarrel:
We were finally reconciled when he apologized.
She refused to be reconciled with her brother.
They can’t reconcile their differences.
b) make agree:
to reconcile the evidence with the facts
Can eating fish be reconciled with vegetarianism?
c) accept reluctantly sth unpleasant, unwelcome:
The high salary reconciled me to living abroad.
Could you reconcile yourself to a lifetime of unemployment?
408 PREPOSITIONS

4. He’s a nice fellow, but a bit short on brains.

short of sth: (suggests material things) not having much or enough of: of money / time
/ ideas
short on sth: (suggests desirable qualities / emotions) a particular quality or emotion,
people don’t have as much of it as they should have (esp. of desirable qualities):
He looked intelligent but was a bit short on wisdom / wit / brains.
short with sb: curt, rudely impatient:
I am sorry I was a bit short with you on the phone this morning, I was rather busy.
at short notice:
The meeting had to be arranged at short notice.
nothing short of:
He would settle for nothing short of total independence.
You should do anything you feel like doing in public, short of assault or robbery. (i.e.
except for)

5. Don’t get emotionally involved with somebody like her!

to be / get involved with sb / sth:
to get involved with criminals / gangsters / people engaged in drug trafficking
He’s involved with a married woman at work.
She is involved with a much older man.
She has been engaged with animals rights for many years now.
to be / get involved in sth:
to get involved in crime / a project / a discussion / an argument / a fight / an accident
/ a scandal / a crash
to be heavily / deeply involved in sth:
He got involved in anti-war demonstration.
to involve sb in (doing) sth:
Three criminals were involved in carrying out the crime.
He tried to involve everybody in the decision-making process.
The teacher tried to involve all the children in the game.
His statement involves you in the robbery.
to involve sb / sth / doing sth:
The accident involved a coach and a lorry.
These regulations will involve everybody in the department.
The operation involves putting a tiny tube into the patient’s heart.

6. In As You Like It Shakespeare compares the world to a stage.

to compare sb / sth to sb / sth: to state a resemblance between, to liken
to compare sb / sth with sb / sth: place side by side, noting resemblances and
differences, usually with the stress on the differences:
The standard of living of the British working man is high compared with that of his
counterpart in many other countries.
All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages.
(As You Like It, II,7,139ff)
stage
The plan is still in its early stages.
At this stage of the negotiations ...
to set the stage for sth: prepare for / make possible:
The unjust peace treaty set the stage for another war.
PREPOSITIONS 409

to become the stage for:

Geneva has become the stage for many meetings of world leaders.
to travel by easy stages: i.e. only for a short distance at a time
stage fright: nervousness felt by an actor, etc in front of an audience

7. He’s engaged on / in an inquiry into the causes of the epidemic.

cause of: sth which produces an effect (Grund):
They are investigating the causes of the explosion.
Smoking is one of the causes of heart diseases.
cause for: sth that provides a satisfactory reason for an action, justification, etc
(Anlass):
You have no cause for complaint.
There is no cause for anxiety.
to inquire may take a direct object: to enquire the time / way / a person’s name / the
price of sth;
to enquire about is rather more vague.
to enquire after: usually means ask after sb’s health:
Did you enquire after his mother’s health when you last saw him?
to enquire of: to ask:
I must enquire of you where you obtained this money, sir.
to enquire for:
a) enquire the whereabouts of some place one wishes to find
This young lady is enquiring for the furnishing department.
b) ask by name for sb one wishes to see or speak to:
When you ring up, enquire for Mrs Mason.
to enquire into: to investigate, usually: inquire (more common in this case than
enquire):
The court ordered the council to inquire into the conduct of the 2 officers.
engaged in (doing) sth:
to be engaged in washing the car / writing a book
engaged on a project or an important piece of work / on the plans for the new library
/ on research into plant diseases
to engage sb as sth:
We engaged him as a guide.
to engage sb to do sth:
We engaged him to drive us round the city.

8. His brother has broken off his engagement to a beautiful young model.
9. In the Lake District you can’t always reckon on having good weather.
to reckon on sb / sth: depend:
You can always reckon on my support.
to reckon sb / sth among sb / sth / as sb / sth:
I reckon him among my friends.
I reckon him as my friend.
to reckon with sth: take into consideration:
We’ll have to reckon with that possibility.
sb / sth to be reckoned with: sb / sth powerful that must be regarded seriously as a
possible opponent / danger
410 PREPOSITIONS

10. We are not dealing in computer software.

to deal with sb / sth
a) do business with:
I hate dealing with large impersonal companies.
We won’t deal (i.e. negotiate) with terrorists.
b) behave towards, tackle a problem or task:
How would you deal with an armed burglar?
They try to deal politely with angry customers.
You dealt with an awkward situation very tactfully.
The next chapter deals with verbs.

11. His novels are hardly comparable to / (with) Hemingway’s.

12. They rejected the plans by a majority of ten to nine.
to reject sth completely / flatly / outright / totally

13. All entries must be made in ink.

cf. in pencil; but: with a pencil

14. Don’t be so hard on the boy, father!

hard on sb
also severe on / with sb:
She’s very hard / severe on herself.
Don’t be severe on him – he couldn’t help it.
to be hard on sth: to wear sth out easily or quickly, have a bad effect on sth:
Children are very hard on their shoes.
Running ten miles a day is very hard on the knee joints.
to be hard at it: to be very busy doing sth:
She was hard at it on her computer.
to be hard on / for sb:
It’s hard for the children having both their parents in hospital.
It must be hard for Sheila, bringing up four children on her own.
cf. a hard drinker – a hard worker

15. The chairs were covered in / with black leather.

to cover with: in order to protect (be-, abdecken)
to cover in (be-, überziehen)
to be covered with a tarpaulin: (a sheet or cover of) heavy cloth especially treated so
that water will not pass through it:
The load on the trailer had a (sheet of) tarpaulin strapped over it.
to cover sb / sth in / with sth:
Last night’s storm covered the ground with / in snow.
I’d better cover the child with more bedclothes.
Nature covered the bear with a warm fur coat.
The trees are covered in new leaves now that spring is here.
The room would look much brighter if we covered the sofa with a light-coloured
material.
compare:
The ice, dangerously thin, was covered by a thin layer of snow.
You’re covered in mud! What on earth have you been doing?
The garden was absolutely covered in leaves when the storm passed.
with is used
a) to indicate the thing used as a covering:
The body was covered with a white sheet.
PREPOSITIONS 411

b) when covered is felt to be adjectival rather than participial:

The ground was covered with snow.
All the furniture was covered with dust.
For this last purpose, in is often used, esp. in spoken English, though some purists
condemn it.
cf. F.T. Wood, English Prepositional Idioms

16. We spent the day sightseeing.

17. Go easy on the brandy; we all want some.
18. We had to sell our house at a loss.
He made a loss / profit of £2,000 on the deal.
I made a handsome profit from the sale of my car.
to be at a (complete) loss for sth / to do sth:
He was at a loss for words.
I was at a loss to find anything wrong with them.
I was at a loss as to how I could lay my hand on the money.
to be a dead loss:
That goalkeeper is a dead loss.

19. They had pity on the poor boy and gave him some money.
pity
to be full of / filled with pity for sb / feel (very little) pity for sb
to be moved to pity by sb’s suffering
to do sth out of pity
to arouse / feel / show pity
to have / take pity on sb
to be pitied:
Survivors of the disaster who lost their relatives are much to be pitied.
pitying
a) expressing pity:
He lay helpless in the street under the pitying gaze of the bystanders.
b) showing pity and some contempt:
The performer received only pitying looks from his audience.

20. In their experiments on the guinea pigs they suffered a severe setback.
21. This is nothing to what I saw down under.
also: compared with what ...
down under: Australia

22. The young couple hadn’t planned on triplets.

plan for sb / sth: make plans concerning (sb or the future):
They are planning for a three-fold increase in student-numbers.
I’ll be honest, my baby wasn’t exactly planned for.
Planning for their old age gives people an aim in life.
plan on (doing) sth: intend (doing) sth, expect, make allowances for sth:
I had not planned on their early arrival, and dinner wasn’t ready.
Do you plan on staying here another year?
Everything goes according to plan.
to have (no) plans to do sth
to make plans to do sth / for doing sth
to concoct / conceive / devise / draw up / work out a plan
to outline a plan
412 PREPOSITIONS

to announce / unveil / present / propose a plan

to carry out / execute / implement / submit a plan
to put a plan into operation
to drop / shelve a plan
to reject / turn down / accept / approve a plan
to foil / thwart a plan
a(n) ingenious / brilliant / well-thought / feasible / realistic / complicated / elaborate /
detailed / grandiose / impracticable / unrealistic plan
a five-year / long-term / short-term / a three-point plan
a plan calls for sth
a plan materializes / succeeds / works / fails / falls through

23. They are not very particular about their food.

24. We had to settle for less than half price.
to settle for sth: accept sth simple, undemanding, unrewarding, because one has
modest tastes, or is lacking in ambition:
Don’t settle for the second best.
I’ll not get the top price for the lambs; I’ll just have to settle for whatever I can get.

25. He’s writing an autobiography with a view to publishing it.

on view: being shown to the public
in sb’s view: in sb’s opinion
to hold / take the view that ...
to echo / endorse / share sb’s view
in view of sth: in consideration of
with a view to doing sth: to redecorate one’s house with a view to selling it
to have sth in view: have a clear idea / plan in one’s mind

18 Exercise: German nach

1. I’ve had no time to prepare for tomorrow’s meeting, so I’ll have to play things by ear.
to play at (doing) sth: to pretend to be sth; to do sth for fun:
He is only playing at being a businessman.
He’s only playing at his job.
The children were playing (at) being robbers.
to play sth
1. take part in a game, to compete against:
to play cards / chess / football
2. feign:
He played dead.
to play against sb
to play sb at sth
to play sb at cards / chess / squash / tennis
to play (sth) for sb /sth:
He played football for our school.
He played for money.
They are playing for time.
to play on sth:
to play on words / on sb’s fears / emotions
PREPOSITIONS 413

to play a joke / trick on sb

to play to a full house
to play it by ear: improvise, decide what to do according to the way a situation
develops
to play into sb’s hands

2. To my knowledge he has been released from hospital.

to acquire / accumulate / gain / absorb / soak up knowledge
to have knowledge of sth
to broaden / deepen / brush up one’s knowledge
to demonstrate / air / display / show / parade / flaunt one’s knowledge
to communicate / disseminate / impart knowledge
to deny (all) knowledge of sth
detailed / extensive / profound / thorough / rudimentary / slight / superficial know-
ledge
to have (a) fluent / reading / speaking knowledge of a language
sth is common knowledge:
It is common knowledge that she spent three years in prison.

to one’s knowledge:
To my knowledge he has never been here.
to come to sb’s knowledge:
It came to my knowledge that he had left town.
to the best of one’s knowledge
a person of great knowledge

3. God created man in his own image – or is it the other way round?
4. She’s mad about the boy.
to be mad about: to love
to be mad at: angry, furious with

5. According to my lights his decision was perfectly logical.

according to
a) as stated in or by:
According to John you were in Edinburgh last week.
You have been in prison six times according to our records.
According to the Bible God created the heaven and the earth.
b) in a manner or degree that is in proportion to:
There are four classes organized according to age.
Salary according to qualifications and experience.
Arrange the exhibits according to size.
You will be paid according to the amount of work you do.
The books on the shelves are placed according to authors.
Note: Do not use according to with nouns such as opinion / view
compare:
according to the management – in the management’s opinion

6. Buses for London leave every two hours.

7. This is a painting after Titian.
also, with difference of meaning: by
414 PREPOSITIONS

8. A drowning man will clutch at a straw.

also: to grasp at a straw
to fall into sb’s clutches
to clutch sth: to hold sth, esp. because you are frightened, or in pain or because you
do not want to lose it:
“Ah!” she cried clutching her stomach.
She climbed into the car, clutching her hat so the wind didn’t blow it off.
to clutch at sth: try to clutch sth:
My husband? Having an affair? I clutched at the desk. It couldn’t be true.
to clutch at straws
to draw the short straw: be unlucky
to decide sth by drawing straws
the (last / final) straw that breaks the camel’s back: the final burden that exceeds sb’s
endurance
a straw in the wind: a sign of sth that might happen in the future
a man of straw / a straw man

9. He went about his business as he was wont to.

to be wont to do sth: (dated or rhet.) in the habit of doing; accustomed to doing:
He was wont to give lengthy speeches.

10. Under English law arson is a felony.

also: in the eyes of
arson: criminal and deliberate act of setting fire to a house or other building, either
from malice or in order to claim insurance money
felony: serious crime, e.g. murder; to be convicted of felony
cf. misdemeanour

11. The principal characters of the novel are portrayed to the life.
a portrait drawn / taken / painted from life, i.e. a living model:
The artist drew the scene from memory.
The writer drew the stories from her own experience.
a life class: i.e. in which art students draw from living models
to draw / imitate / resemble sb / sth to the life: exactly:
That child can mimic people to the life.
The writer’s description of a village cricket match is particularly to recommend: he has
depicted it to the life.
for the life of: even if life depended on it:
I can’t remember for the life of me where I put that money.
He tried again and again, but for the life of him he could not mount that horse.
for life: during the whole or rest of one’s lifetime:
As a result of that accident he was crippled for life.
In those days, if you were born a peasant you were a peasant for life.

12. In my judgement the plan is doomed to failure.

judgement
to do sth against one’s better judgement:
I agreed against my better judgement.
I let him go against my better judgement (i.e. though I knew it was probably a mis-
take).
PREPOSITIONS 415

to defer / reserve / suspend judgement

to pass / pronounce / render / sit in judgement on sb / sth:
He passed judgement on the guilty man.
She has no right to sit in judgement on everything anyone here does.
to make an unfair judgement of a person’s character
in sb’s judgement:
In my judgement the plan is ill-conceived.
to display / have / show / exercise excellent / good judgement:
Teachers need to have good judgement.
Her actions were always based on sound judgement.
He did the right thing, but more by luck than by judgement.
to be a judgement on sb: misfortune considered to be a punishment from God for
doing sth wrong:
This failure is a judgement on you for being so lazy.
to be doomed to (do) sth:
Some communists still think hat capitalist economies are doomed to collapse.
to be doomed from he start:
Their project was doomed from the start because they didn’t have the necessary
capital.
to meet / go / send sb to one’s doom
doom and gloom / gloom and doom
These tabloids are full of doom and gloom these days.
doomsday / Doomsday: the end of the world, a time when sth very bad will happen
to predict a doomsday scenario
till / until doomsday: for ever
You could talk till doomsday, you won’t make them change their minds.

13. He tries to live by his beliefs.

also, with difference of meaning: up to
to live up to sth: to do as well as one is expected to do, to do what one promised to do:
to live up to a rule / principle
to live by sth: according to; up to: behave in a way worthy of (sth such as a high
standard):
to live by a rule / principles
to live in comfort / luxury / poverty
to live by doing sth
to live by working / writing / cheating (indicates the means)
to live by / on one’s wits: to get money by clever tricks rather than by an ordinary job,
esp. dishonestly:
Unable to get a job when he left school, the boy lived by / on his wits and in the end
turned to crime.
to live by os: to live alone
to live from hand to mouth
to live off sth
a) a certain food:
These animals live off the leaves of all trees.
b) at the cost of:
He has been living off his brother for nearly a year. (implies exploitation)
c) to find enough food or income in:
How can you live off the land without experience in farming?
I’m afraid that she will not be able to live off her writing much as she hopes she will.
Note:
to live off the fat of the land: to live well, have plenty of money, food, amusement, etc:
416 PREPOSITIONS

In spite of the government’s attempts to share the nation’s wealth more equally, some
business men still make big profits and live off the fat of the land, while some unskilled
workers earn hardly enough to feed their families.
to live apart: to live separately although remaining married:
They wondered whether they should live apart for some time to try to improve their
relationship.

14. He had three new suits made to measure.

a tailor-made / ready-made suit / made-to-measure suit
curtains / doors / suits made to measure
an off the-peg suit
to buy a suit off the peg

15. One ought never to ask people about their political views.
on view: being shown to the public
in sb’s view: in sb’s opinion
to hold / take the view that ...
to echo / endorse / share sb’s view
in view of sth: in consideration of
with a view to doing sth
to redecorate one’s house with a view to selling it
to have sth in view: have a clear idea / plan in one’s mind

16. He’s a man after my own heart.

17. All his efforts to aspire after knowledge were in vain.
but: to aspire to a career in politics

18. A magnetic needle always points towards the north.

also: points north
to point sth at sb / sth:
He pointed an accusing finger at his wife.
He pointed his gun at me.
to point to / at sb / sth: indicate by pointing:
‘That’s the man’, she said, pointing at me.
He pointed to a mark on the horizon.
point to sth: cite, mention, because one thinks it is important; suggest that sth is likely,
indicate:
All the evidence collected so far points to jealousy as the motive of the crime.
Everything pointed to his neighbour as the murderer.
Many politicians have pointed to the need of reform.
The President pointed to poverty as a major problem.
Where some visual mark or object is concerned, point to means “indicate by
pointing”, whereas point at means “in the direction of”:
It’s rude to point at people.
‘Look at this,’ he said, pointing to a blood stain on the carpet.
F.T. Wood, English Prepositional Idioms

19. By my watch it is now five past / to seven.

What does your watch say?
to wind a watch
PREPOSITIONS 417

to set a watch (by the time signal on the radio)

a watch is (two minutes) fast / slow
a stopwatch / wrist watch

20. The fortress affords a fine view in all directions.

21. He is the author of a textbook on which we’ve all been trained.
to train (for sth / as sth):
He trained at a good school.
He trained for the fight.
He trained as a pilot in Texas.
to train sb in sth:
Women are now trained in carpentry, construction and engineering.

22. He was dressed in the latest fashion.

after a fashion: to a certain extent, but not satisfactorily:
I can play the piano after a fashion.
after / in the fashion of sb / sth: like, imitating:
She paints in the fashion of Picasso.
to come / be in / go / be out of fashion:
Faded jeans are still in fashion.
Long skirts have come into fashion again.
to be fashion conscious

23. To judge by his pronunciation he must be Welsh.

less likely: from

24. To / by all appearances they are as thick as thieves.

appearance
Don’t judge by / from appearances – they may be misleading.
to keep up appearances:
There is no point in keeping up appearances when everybody knows we are nearly
bankrupt.
to put in an appearance:
I don’t want to go to that party, but I’d better put in an appearance.
against / contrary to all appearances
thick as thieves: very friendly
as thick as two short planks: very stupid
to have a thick skull: stupid:
How can I get it into your thick skull that we can’t afford a new car?
through thick and thin:
He remained loyal to me through thick and thin.
to be thick with sb
a) intimate:
John is very thick with Ann.
b) densely covered / filled:
a garden thick with flowers
The building was thick with reporters.

25. You mustn’t judge by / from appearances.

418 PREPOSITIONS

19 Exercise: German nach

1. All combustion engines work on the same principle.

in principle: as regards the general principle:
Not only are those proposals impracticable, they are wrong in principle.
We agree with the scheme in principle, but we think it needs modification in details.
on principle: on account of / in accordance with one’s principles:
He would always take the word of an Englishman against that of a foreigner, on
principle.
to work on / at (doing) sth: give thought, effort to making or discovering sth:
to work on a book / play / author / improvement / problem
He’s been working on perfecting his style.
He worked on his essay all night.
You’ll solve the problem if you really work at it.
You’ll have to work on the weak points of your English if you want to pass the exam.
to work on sb / sth: have an effect on:
The sight of so much suffering worked on our hearts so that we were filled with pity.
Will this cleaning stuff work on the stain?
to work on sb (to do sth) try to persuade sb:
My father might accept the suggestion if someone works on him properly.

2. The pugilist lost the bout on points.

pugilist (fml.): professional boxer
a bout
a) a short period of great activity:
one of his intermittent drinking bouts
b) an attack of illness:
a bout of influenza
c) a boxing match
to lose on points / by a knock-out
to keep to the point:
Don’t digress so much, keep to the point.
to make it a point to do sth
to make a point of doing sth:
I have always made it a point to visit my mother on her birthday.
to the point: relevant to the subject:
He made an excellent speech, and everything said was to the point.
off the point: irrelevant:
The student received low marks for his essay, as much of it was off the point.
a case in point: a case that has relevance to the point under discussion, or the point
one is making:
Some crimes are so grave that they ought to be visited with greater penalties than the
law at present prescribes. The recent bank robbery is a case in point.
beside the point: having nothing to do with the point at issue or under discussion:
What we have to decide is whether he is guilty of negligence; that he is a person of
good character is beside the point.
There is no point in staying any longer.
What point is there in it?
PREPOSITIONS 419

3. The college was named after George Washington

AE: for
to know sb by name / sight:
He knows all the staff by name.
to know sb by sight, but not by name
to call sb by his name:
You can call him by his first name.
to be on first-name terms
to have a good name for sth:
The company has a (good) name / quite a name for reliability.
to make a name for os:
George Elliot had already made a name for herself as a writer of considerable talent.
under the name / pseudonym of
in name only:
Many of these branches are inactive, existing in name only.
cf. Christian / given / maiden / married / assumed / pet name / byname / nickname /
pseudonym / so(u)briquet
Mrs Dodd, née Miller

4. He had embarked for America where he tried to find employment.

5. Their tax system was modelled on ours.
6. I wonder whether he has the courage to live by / up to his beliefs.
to live on sth
to live on vegetables
Sheep live on grass.

live on: sb / sth lives on:

Her memory lives on.
to live in comfort / luxury / poverty
to live by working / writing / cheating / fishing (indicates the means)
to live by / on one’s wits: to get money by clever tricks rather than by an ordinary job,
esp. dishonestly:
Unable to get a job when he left school, the boy lived by / on his wits and in the end
turned to crime.
to live by os: to live alone
to live from hand to mouth
to live off sth
a) a certain food:
These animals live off the leaves of all trees.
b) at the cost of:
He has been living off his brother for nearly a year. (implies exploitation)
c) to find enough food or income in:
How can you live off the land without experience in farming?
I’m afraid that she will not be able to live off her writing much as she hopes she will.
Note: to live off the fat of the land: to live well, have plenty of money, food, amuse-
ment, etc:
In spite of the government’s attempts to share the nation’s wealth more equally, some
business men still make big profits and live off the fat of the land, while some unskilled
workers earn hardly enough to feed their families. (wie Gott in Frankreich / die Made
im Speck)
to live apart: to live separately although remaining married:
They wondered whether they should live apart for some time to try to improve their
relationship.
420 PREPOSITIONS

7. This elixir has been made to a secret formula.

8. He acted on the instructions of his superiors.
according to would be accetable
in accordance with would change the meaning
to act on sth
a) Does the drug take long to act on the nerve centres? (i.e. affect)
b) She acted on your suggestion. (i.e. did what you suggested)

9. There will be no longer a communist party in this country – not even in name.
10. Everything went according to plan.
according to sb / sth
a) as stated in or by:
According to John you were in Edinburgh last week.
You have been in prison six times according to our records.
According to the Bible God created the heaven and the earth.
b) in a manner or degree that is in proportion to:
There are four classes organized according to age.
Salary according to qualifications and experience.
Arrange the exhibits according to size.
You will be paid according to the amount of work you do.
The books on the shelves are placed according to authors.
Note: Do not use according to with nouns such as opinion / view.
compare:
according to the management – in the management’s opinion

plan for sb / sth: make plans concerning (sb or the future):

They are planning for a three-fold increase in student-numbers.
I’ll be honest, my baby wasn’t exactly planned for.
Planning for their old age gives people an aim in life.
plan on (doing) sth: intend (doing) sth, expect, make allowances for sth:
I had not planned on their early arrival, and dinner wasn’t ready.
Do you plan on staying here another year?
Everything goes according to plan.
to have (no) plans to do sth
to make plans to do sth / for doing sth
to concoct / conceive / devise / draw up / work out a plan
to outline a plan
to announce / unveil / present / propose a plan
to carry out / execute / implement / submit a plan
to put a plan into operation
to drop / shelve a plan
to reject / turn down / accept / approve a plan
to foil / thwart a plan
a(n) ingenious / brilliant / well-thought / feasible / realistic / complicated / elaborate /
detailed / grandiose / impracticable / unrealistic plan
a five-year / long-term / short-term / a three-point plan
a plan calls for sth
a plan materializes / succeeds / works / fails / falls through

11. Their fight against an enemy who seemed to strike at will was pathetic.
to fight sb / sth:
They want to build a new road across this park, but we’ll fight them.
The firemen fought the blaze bravely.
PREPOSITIONS 421

to fight sb for sth:

He fought the other contenders for leadership of the party.
to fight against sb / sth:
It’s no use fighting against the legal department on this issue – they’re too powerful.
I tried to fight against sleep, but couldn’t.
to fight a war with sb over / about sth
The US fought a war with Mexico about their common border.
The dogs were fighting over a bone.
to fight (a war) for sth:
The war was fought for a just cause.
to fight for justice / freedom / control of the country
to fight fire with fire: use the same methods as one’s opponents
to fight bravely / heroically / desperately / hard / stubbornly / unfairly / fair(ly)
You must have an iron will to have given up smoking after all these years.
cf. be iron- / weak-willed
He donated the money of his own free will.
I was forced to sign the document against my will.
Have you made your will yet?
pathetic
1. causing one to feel pity or sadness:
the pathetic sight of starving children
2. extremely inadequate, contemptible:
a pathetic attempt / performance / excuse

12. Nobody can tell whether God is really working to plan.

13. By my estimate, there are around 17,000 cars stolen annually in this country.
at a rough estimate:
According to some estimates the number of farms has increased by 50%.
to give / make / submit an estimate
a(n) approximate / conservative / preliminary estimate

14. A good secretary should be able to write fluently from dictation.

a secretary taking dictation
to take down a letter from dictation
to dictate a letter to sb
cf. I refuse to be dictated to by you.
dictate (n)
Follow the dictates of common sense / one’s heart / conscience / fashion.
diktat (derog.): an order that is forced on people by a ruler or government:
to rule by diktat
to issue a diktat

15. She was dying for a cup of tea.

compare: they died of hunger : from a lack of food
Though of and from seem to be used interchangeably in some cases, it seems
preferable to use
to die of an illness or feeling, while to die from often is to die following something,
except illness or feeling:
die of / from hunger / cancer / a heart attack / one’s injuries / starvation
I almost, nearly died / could have died of curiosity / embarrassment / grief / laughter /
boredom.
He died from his wounds.
The child died from a fall out of a high window.
to die for one’s belief(s) / principles
422 PREPOSITIONS

to be dying for a cup of tea / something to eat

to be dying to do sth:
She is dying to know where you have been.
to be dying of: to feel sth very strongly:
The children are dying of boredom / of curiosity to see what is in the parcel.
Note: to die a poor man / a hero / a martyr
How to die:
to be gone / to pass away / on /
to be deceased verscheiden, hinscheiden
to drop dead
to lose one’s life
to perish
to die in a battle auf dem Schlachtfeld sterben
to die a natural / violent death eines natürlichen / gewaltsamen Todes sterben
to die of cancer / a fever / hunger
/ grief / illness an etwas sterben
to die through neglect
to die with grief vor Kummer sterben
to die for one’s country den Heldentod sterben
to give / lay down / sacrifice
one’s life for sb / sth sein Leben opfern, hingeben
to commit suicide / kill os Selbstmord begehen
to die by one’s own hand
to be murdered ermordet werden
to die by violence,
i.e. a violent death
to die (peacefully) in one’s sleep
to die from a wound / lack of food an einer Wunde sterben
to be killed in an accident / in a
plane crash bei einem Unfall ums Leben kommen
to be murdered / assassinated
criminals / murderers
to die on the scaffold / at the auf dem Schafott, Scheiterhaufen,
stake / in the electric chair elektrischen Stuhl sterben
to be hanged / electrocuted /
executed
to be condemned to execution
by hanging
to be sentenced to be hanged
to execute sb by hanging / gass-
ing / shooting / by the sword /
by electrocution / lethal injection
to be on / be sent to death row
(chiefly AE)
death row Todestrakt
Execution is still the penalty in some states for murder.
The execution will be carried out by a firing squad.
Countries employ a variety of procedures in carrying out executions, including lethal
injection, electrocution, hanging, gassing, and shooting.
to be killed in action (soldier)
to fall (in battle) (soldier)
to be shot dead
to be shot three times in the head
Troops had been given orders to shoot to kill.
mercy killing
euthanasia: the act of painless killing sb who is seriously ill or old, esp. to reduce their
suffering:
Although some people campaign for the right to euthanasia, it is still illegal in most
countries.
PREPOSITIONS 423

Note:
to dye
She dyed her hair red.
a die / dice
The die is cast.
a pair of dice
to roll / shake / throw the dice

16. This music is not to my taste.

cf. a man after my own heart
This milk has a funny taste, it has gone sour, I think.
Once you have had a taste of life in our country you won’t return home. (i.e. short
experience)
to have (good) taste
to have taste / no taste / bad taste in clothes
it’s bad taste to do sth
sth is in (very) bad / poor taste:
His jokes about the President’s illness were in very bad taste.
to have a taste for sth:
I have always had a taste for 19th-century literature.
to (sb’s) taste:
Their house has not been decorated to my taste.
Add salt and pepper to taste. (nach Geschmack / Bedarf)
What are your tastes in music?
There is no accounting for taste(s).

17. On / after reflection he decided to accept their offer.

reflection
He looked at his reflection in the mirror.
The rising rate of crime is a reflection of an unstable society.
reflection on sb / sth: disapproval or unfavourable judgement, esp. expressed in an
indirect way:
The fact that we’re dismissing you is no reflection on the quality of your work – we
simply can’t afford to employ you any more.
to reflect on sth
1. cause to be seen in an unfavourable way:
The unemployment figures reflect badly on the government’s policies.
2. think carefully:
After reflecting for a time on the problem he decided not to go.

18. These pictures have been drawn from life.

a portrait drawn / taken / painted from life, i.e. a living model:
The artist drew the scene from memory.
The writer drew the stories from her own experience.
a life class: i.e. in which art students draw from living models
to draw / imitate / resemble sb / sth to the life: exactly:
That child can mimic people to the life.
The writer’s description of a village cricket match is particularly to recommend: he has
depicted it to the life.
for the life of: even if life depended on it:
I can’t remember for the life of me where I put that money.
He tried again and again, but for the life of him he could not mount that horse.
424 PREPOSITIONS

for life: during the whole or rest of one’s lifetime:

As a result of that accident he was crippled for life.
In those days, if you were born a peasant you were a peasant for life.

19. In the opinion of the Chancellor of the Exchequer VAT may be a necessity, but to my mind
it is sheer daylight robbery.
Value Added Tax
Chancellor of the Exchequer; in other countries: Finance Minister (Schatzkanzler,
Finanzminister)
exchequer
1. treasury: national public supply of money
2. person’s supply of money:
This month there is nothing left in the exchequer.

20. Shall I set my watch by yours?

What does your watch say?
to wind a watch
to set a watch (by the time signal on the radio)
a watch is (two minutes) fast / slow
a stopwatch / wrist watch

21. She inquired for somebody called Geoffrey.

to inquire may take a direct object: to enquire the time / way / a person’s name / the
price of sth;
to enquire about is rather more vague.
to enquire after: usually means ask after sb’s health:
Did you enquire after his mother’s health when you last saw him?
to enquire of: to ask:
I must enquire of you where you obtained this money, sir.
to enquire for:
a) to enquire the whereabouts of some place one wishes to find
This young lady is enquiring for the furnishing department.
b) to ask by name for sb one wishes to see or speak to:
When you ring up, enquire for Mrs Mason.
to enquire into: to investigate, usually: inquire (more common in this case than
enquire):
The court ordered the council to inquire into the conduct of the 2 officers.

22. They were strangers in the town and had to enquire the way to the station.
23. The old banger was in good nick and I inquired about its price.
24. Did you inquire after his son’s health when you last saw him?
25. The two roads ran due north, like the prongs of a tuning-fork.
due to
adjectival use, usually preceded by be
Note: Some speakers are careful to use due to only after the verb to be:
His lateness was due to the heavy traffic on the M1.
But it is generally considered acceptable today as synonym of owing to:
He was late owing to / due to the very heavy traffic.
Due to / owing to the heavy traffic he was late.
Due to can be used immediately after a noun:
Accidents due to driving at high speed were very common that weekend.
PREPOSITIONS 425

due
a) deserving:
She is due for promotion soon.
b) requiring immediate payment: become / be / fall due:
My rent isn’t due till Wednesday.
c) due to do (i.e. expected, arranged):
The train is due to arrive / leave at 10.
d) suitable / proper:
after due consideration
With all due respect, I disagree completely.
in due course: eventually, at the appropriate time:
Your request will be dealt with in due course.

20 Exercise: German von/vom

1. Not everybody can play music at sight.

cf. to sight-read music
at the sight of sth:
I always faint at the sight of blood.
to know sb / sth by sight
to catch / lose sight of sb / sth:
At first sight it looked like an accident, but later the police became suspicious.
to let sb / sth out of one’s sight:
She is very careful with her children, she never lets them out of her sight.
to be in sight:
Peace is now in sight.
The strike has now lasted six months, and there is still no end in sight.
to play at (doing) sth: to pretend to be sth; to do sth for fun:
He is only playing at being a businessman.
He’s only playing at his job.
The children were playing (at) being robbers.
to play sth
1. take part in a game, to compete against:
to play cards / chess / football
2. feign:
He played dead.
to play against sb
to play sb at sth
to play sb at cards / chess / squash / tennis
to play (sth) for sb / sth:
He played football for our school.
He played for money.
They are playing for time.
to play on sth
to play on words / on sb’s fears / emotions
to play a joke / trick on sb
to play to a full house
to play it by ear: improvise, decide what to do according to the way a situation
develops
to play into sb’s hands
426 PREPOSITIONS

2. I only know him by sight.

3. I think he’s rather taken with the idea.
4. He is a successful novelist and lives by his pen.
to live on sth
to live on vegetables
Sheep live on grass.
to live on: sb / sth lives on:
Her memory lives on.
to live in comfort / luxury / poverty
to live by working / writing / cheating / fishing (indicates the means)
to live by / on one’s wits: to get money by clever tricks rather than by an ordinary job,
esp. dishonestly:
Unable to get a job when he left school, the boy lived by / on his wits and in the end
turned to crime.
to live by os: to live alone
to live from hand to mouth
to live off sth
a) a certain food:
These animals live off the leaves of all trees.
b) at the cost of:
He has been living off his brother for nearly a year. (implies exploitation)
c) to find enough food or income in:
How can you live off the land without experience in farming?
I’m afraid that she will not be able to live off her writing much as she hopes she will.
Note: to live off the fat of the land: to live well, have plenty of money, food,
amusement, etc:
In spite of the government’s attempts to share the nation’s wealth more equally, some
business men still make big profits and live off the fat of the land, while some unskilled
workers earn hardly enough to feed their families. (wie Gott in Frankreich / die Made
im Speck)
to live apart: to live separately although remaining married:
They wondered whether they should live apart for some time to try to improve their
relationship.

5. The Liberal democrats are to the left of the Conservative Party.

6. One apple out of / (in) ten was rotten.
7. My parents will be disappointed in / with me if I fail the driving test.
to be disappointed by / at / about / with sb / sth:
I was disappointed at / by my failure / with my performance / work.
to be disappointed in / with sb (for doing sth):
My father was disappointed in me for choosing acting instead of a legal career.
to be bitterly / deeply / greatly / terribly disappointed
a disappointed hope / plan / expectation

8. The cool morning breeze off the sea was ruffling his hair.
9. He was reading a novel by Graham Greene.
10. This is the only exception to the rule.
to make an exception to the rule
an exception that proves the rule
with the exception of sb / sth:
Everybody was on time, with the exception of Fred.
PREPOSITIONS 427

11. He died by his own hand.

compare: they died of hunger : from a lack of food
Though of and from seem to be used interchangeably in some cases, it seems
preferable to use
to die of an illness or feeling, while to die from often is to die following something,
except illness or feeling:
die of / from hunger / cancer / a heart attack / one’s injuries / starvation
I almost, nearly died / could have died of curiosity / embarrassment / grief / laughter /
boredom.
He died from his wounds.
The child died from a fall out of a high window.
to die for one’s belief(s) / principles
to be dying for a cup of tea / something to eat
to be dying to do sth:
She is dying to know where you have been.
to be dying of: to feel sth very strongly:
The children are dying of boredom / of curiosity to see what is in the parcel.
Note: to die a poor man / a hero / a martyr
How to die:
to be gone / to pass away / on /
to be deceased verscheiden, hinscheiden
to drop dead
to lose one’s life
to perish
to die in a battle auf dem Schlachtfeld sterben
to die a natural / violent death eines natürlichen / gewaltsamen Todes sterben
to die of cancer / a fever / hunger
/ grief / illness an etwas sterben
to die through neglect
to die with grief vor Kummer sterben
to die for one’s country den Heldentod sterben
to give / lay down / sacrifice
one’s life for sb / sth sein Leben opfern, hingeben
to commit suicide / kill os Selbstmord begehen
to die by one’s own hand
to be murdered ermordet werden
to die by violence,
i.e. a violent death
to die (peacefully) in one’s sleep
to die from a wound / lack of food an einer Wunde sterben
to be killed in an accident / in a
plane crash bei einem Unfall ums Leben kommen
to be murdered / assassinated
criminals / murderers
to die on the scaffold / at the auf dem Schafott, Scheiterhaufen,
stake / in the electric chair elektrischen Stuhl sterben
to be hanged / electrocuted /
executed
to be condemned to execution
by hanging
to be sentenced to be hanged
to execute sb by hanging / gass-
ing / shooting / by the sword /
by electrocution / lethal injection
to be on / be sent to death row
(chiefly AE)
death row Todestrakt
Execution is still the penalty in some states for murder.
The execution will be carried out by a firing squad.
428 PREPOSITIONS

Countries employ a variety of procedures in carrying out executions, including lethal

injection, electrocution, hanging, gassing, and shooting.
to be killed in action (soldier)
to fall (in battle) (soldier)
to be shot dead
to be shot three times in the head
Troops had been given orders to shoot to kill.
mercy killing
euthanasia: the act of painless killing sb who is seriously ill or old, esp. to reduce their
suffering
Although some people campaign for the right to euthanasia, it is still illegal in most
countries.
Note:
to dye
She dyed her hair red.
a die / dice
The die is cast.
a pair of dice
to roll / shake / throw the dice

12. He was possessed with the idea that he was being victimized.
He fought like one / a man possessed.
She’s surely possessed.
to possess sb (to do sth): (of a feeling / idea) to influence sb so completely as to
control or direct actions:
Fear possessed him and prevented him from moving.
What possessed you to do that?
What on earth possessed you to come here?
He is possessed by fear / terror / greed / envy / jealousy.
Why am I so possessed by her?
to be possessed by an evil spirit
to be possessed with sth: be dominated by:
He is possessed with the idea that someone is persecuting him.
I was possessed with the notion that I was alone.
to be possessed of sth: to have / possess:
a person is possessed of money / land / attributes of character etc
He is possessed of health, wealth and good sense.

13. He will be thirty next week and he still lives off his parents.
also, with difference of meaning: with
cf. at his parents’

14. He was a man possessed by evil spirits.

15. He resigned his position as honorary president of the club.
to resign from sth
to resign from a post / place / organisation:
He resigned from the Nature Conservancy Council.
The Minister resigned (from office).
to resign sth:
to resign a post / position
She resigned her directorship and left the firm.
She resigned her post as chairwoman.
to resign as sb
to resign as chairman
PREPOSITIONS 429

to resign os to (doing) sth: be ready to accept and endure sth as inevitable:

The team refused to resign themselves to defeat / to being defeated.
Note: to resign from a committee / board of directors, etc, but usually to resign an
office / position though for this also to resign from is sometimes used, especially
when the actual name of the office or position is not mentioned
He has resigned from three of ten offices he held.

16. By rights, half the reward should be mine.

to offer / pay / claim / receive / a reward for (doing) sth
in rewards for (doing) sth
to receive sth as / give sb (sth as) a reward
sth is its own reward
a(n) ample / handsome / just / well-earned reward

17. They strongly objected to eating off paper plates.

to object strenuously / strongly / violently to (doing) sth
to have / lodge / make / raise / voice an objection
to overrule / sustain an objection
to brush aside / deal with / meet / withdraw an objection
a vaild / serious / strenuous / strong / violent / vociferous objection

18. The whole class was infected by the teacher’s enthusiasm.

19. Telephone bills and stationery can be set off against taxes.
to set sth (off) against tax: make a recored of the money spent on things concerned
with one’s job, in order to reduce the amount of money one has to pay

20. He was seized with panic.

He was seized with an acute illness.
to be seized with a feeling of ... / with terror / ambition / a desire
to be seized by sb / by the throat / by the arm
to seize sb’s arm / sb by the arm
to seize on sth: eager to take and use:
to seize on a(n) suggestion / idea / chance / possibility
to seize a chance / an opportunity (with both hands)

21. They made their agreement conditional on higher subsidies.

to arrive at / come to / reach / conclude / enter into an agreement about / on sth / with
sb
to draw up / work out an agreement
to seal / sign / carry out / live up to an agreement
to break / violate / cancel / denounce / rescind an agreement
a binding / contractual / ironclad / legal / secret / tacit / entative / verbal / written
agreement
an armistice / ceasefire / peace / arms control / non-proliferation / bilateral /
multilateral agreement
by mutual agreement

22. He tried to scrounge a cigarette off / from me.

to scrounge: get by borrowing or taking it without permission:
She’s always scrounging money off her brother.
430 PREPOSITIONS

I managed to scrounge the materials to build a shed.

on the scrounge:
If you’re on the scrounge again, I’ve no money.

23. He is someone who understands horses.

24. They are looking to the government for help.
to look to sth: make sure that sth is adequate or in good condition:
The country must look to its defences.
to look to sb for sth / to sb to do sth: rely or expect sb to provide sth or to do sth:
They were looking to us for help.
Many people are looking to the government to stamp out corruption.

25. Nine times out of ten he is right.

26. He can’t live on unemployment benefit alone.
27. Do you know why he divorced his wife?
They are divorcing each other / getting a divorce.
to ask / sue for a divorce / start divorce proceedings
to get / grant / obtain a divorce
to divorce sth from sth: fig. to separate, esp. in a false way:
You cannot divorce science from ethical questions.
He is a politician totally divorced from the real needs of the people (i.e. unable to
understand and deal with).
a divorce settlement
(a) divorce by mutual consent

28. Did you hear from him directly?

to hear from sb: personally
to hear of sb / sth: through a third party
Who’s he? I’ve never heard of / about him.
about is more vivid and suggests a fuller knowledge of the details.
Did you hear about the party? – It was a complete failure.
Note: I won’t hear of your walking to the station – let me give you a lift. (i.e. I refuse to
allow)

29. Our mission has so far been plagued with accidents.

to plague sb / sth with sth:
She was plagued with arthritis.
They plagued him with repeated requests.
in the passive by is also common:
to be plagued by doubts / jealousy / ill health
The new governmet was plagued by scandals.
The football star was plagued by autograph hunters.

30. He’s been plagued by back pain all his life.

PREPOSITIONS 431

21 Exercise: German vor

1. All men are equal in the sight of God.

at the sight of sth:
I always faint at the sight of blood.
to know sb / sth by sight
to catch / lose sight of sb / sth:
At first sight it looked like an accident, but later the police became suspicious.
to let sb out of one’s sight:
She is very careful with her children, she never lets them out of her sight.
to be in sight:
Peace is now in sight.
The strike has now lasted six months, and there is still no end in sight.

2. Purple with rage he stormed out of the room.

3. She slammed the door in his face.
4. He showed commendable courage and I take my hat off to him.
5. She has a great fear of snakes and spiders.
sb’s fear of flying
sb’s fears for the future
to live in fear of sb / sth
to have a fear of doing sth
to arouse / kindle / instil fear(s)
to have / feel / express / show fear(s) for (sb’s safety)
to confirm sb’s (worst) fears:
The diagnosis confirmed my worst fears.
to put the fear of God into sb: to make sb very frightened
(a) grave / mortal / constant / strong / groundless / unfounded / lingering / morbid /
sudden fear(s)
to allay / calm / dispel / overcome fear(s)

6. His resignation is a shameful capitulation to organized crime.

7. They had several hours’ start on us.
start
(amount of) advantage gained or allowed in starting, advantageous position:
He smaller boys were given a start of ten seconds in the race.
They didn’t give me much / any start.

8. We had warned him against eating contaminated fish.

warning
Let this / may this be a warning to you.
Let that serve as a warning to you.
It happened without advance warning.
to take sth for a warning (of what may happen)
to give / issue / send / sound / heed / receive / ignore / disregard a warning
to warn sb of sth:
to warn of the existence of sth: a danger / pickpockets / the consequence of his
actions:
We were warned of possible delays.
432 PREPOSITIONS

to warn against / (about) sth that sb may do: against trusting sb / against drink /
pickpockets:
The police have warned shopkeepers about forged banknotes.
The doctor warned us against overtiring the patient.
to warn sb off (doing) sth:
I had been warned off visiting her while she was still unwell.
Note: He warned me not to go near the dog / to skate on the thin ice.

9. They were dying with impatience.

10. He has no secrets from her.
to make a / no secret of sth
to guard / keep a secret
to betray / blurt out / divulge / reveal a secret
to ferret out / uncover / unearth a secret
a(n) closely guarded / open / state secret
to let sb in on a secret

11. I’ll meet you outside / in front of the station!

outside
adverb
opp.: inside
Come inside – it’s dark outside.
adjective
the outside wall
outside repairs / interests / chances
opp.: inside
noun
It looked tiny from the outside.
a coat with fur on the outside
an observer from the outside
preposition
Wait just outside the door. (vor)
to stay somewhere outside New York
a job to be done outside working hours
That’s quite outside my experience.
opp.: within
compare: Go outside if you want to smoke – Let’s go out for a drink.

12. Labour’s lead over the Conservatives seems to be slipping.

cf. 25
to slip
fall from a standard, get worse or lower:
I’m afraid the National Theatre is slipping; this year’s productions have been very poor.
to let sth slip
a) fail to follow (a chance, an offer):
Don’t let that opportunity slip (through your fingers).
b) say without intending:
She let slip that she was intending to leave the company.
Note also:
a) My foot slipped and I nearly fell.
The soap slipped out of my hand.
b) She slipped into / out of the house.
As the years slipped by / past, I thought less about her.
PREPOSITIONS 433

c) fig.: The terrorists managed to slip through the airport’s security net.
I’m sorry I told them your secret – it just slipped out.
The date completely slipped my mind.
There’s many a slip ‘twixt the cup and the lip: a plan or intention may easily go wrong
before it is fully carried out or when it seemed to be about to succeed
a slip of the tongue / pen
a slipcase: a usually cardboard protective cover with one open end, for keeping a
book in (Schuber)

13. He failed to see the wood for trees.

sth fails sb: is inadequate:
My courage failed me at the last minute.
Words fail me.
to fail sb
a) to decide that sb has not passed an examination:
The examiners failed 30% of the students.
b) not do what sb was trusted to do, to disappoint sb:
He felt he had failed his family by being unemployed.
to fail to do sth:
She failed to understand.
He never fails to write.
to fail in one’s duty / responsibility
a failed marriage / actor / writer
failing health / eyesight
to be trapped in a failing relationship

14. He wanted to buy the car, but balked at the high price.
also: baulked

15. She was beside herself with joy.

to dance / jump / shout for joy
to be overcome with joy
it is a joy to do sth
to be sb’s pride and joy
to laugh / burst with joy
to radiate joy
to fill sb with joy
to find joy in (doing) sth
to be a joy to sb:
These children have always been a joy to us.
to sb’s joy
To our joy, they will be able to come.
boundless / deep / great / indescribable / ineffable / overwhelming / pure / sheer /
unbounded joy

16. The devaluation of the yen was a shot across the bows of speculators.
bow: front part of a ship
cf. stern
to bow to sb / sth: to bend the head / upper part of the body forward, esp. to show
respect:
We must all bow to fate / the inevitable / sb’s wishes / to authority.
434 PREPOSITIONS

to be bowed with sth:

His back was bowed with age.
to give a bow to sb:
He gave a deep / low bow to the Queen.
bow: weapon for shooting arrows
cf. archery
a bow-tie
bow-legged / knock-kneed

17. The boat was riding at anchor.

to cast / drop / raise / weigh anchor
to lie / ride at anchor

18. Please, not in front of the children!

19. Lotteries and other games of chance are the 12th largest industry in the U.S., ahead of air
transport, oil and petrol.
20. He was groaning with pain and foaming at the mouth, a sure sign of poisoning.
groan
to groan at / about / over sth (over new taxes / at his terrible jokes)
to groan in / with sth (frustration / pain)
to groan under / beneath the load of sth:
The table groaned under the weight of the food.
They are groaning under the load of new taxes.
to be moaning and groaning about sth
to emit / utter / give out / let out / heave a groan
to foam
produce foam:
The dying animal was found foaming at the mouth.
a glass of foaming beer
fig.:
be very angry:
He could hardly speak, he was foaming at the mouth.
to be foaming at the mouth over sth

21. Our own trainees will be given preference over applicants from other firms.
to give preference to sb / sth
to display / show / express / have a preference for sth
a decided / marked / strong preference:
He showed a decided preference for pop music.
What are your preferences in music?
in preference to sth:
He studied chemistry in preference to physics.

22. She was unable to speak for excitement when she learnt that she had won the first prize.
23. He had the house built well in advance of the official planning permission.
24. Under / in the eyes of the law libel is a misdemeanour.
libel: false written or printed statement that damages sb’s reputation:
to sue sb for libel
libel proceedings
libel on sth: things that tend to harm the reputation:
That interview was an absolute libel on an honest man.
PREPOSITIONS 435

slander: offence of making a false statement:

a case of slander
to bring an action against / sue sb for slander
slanderous / libellous magazines / attacks / accusations
misdemeanour:
minor wrongdoing / misdeed
(law) punishable offence, less serious than felony, i.e. murder, armed robbery, arson,
etc

25. The latest opinion polls give Labour a three-point lead over the Conservatives.
26. He’s brimming with confidence.
to be full to the brim : to be brimful
to enjoy / have / gain / win / lose sb’s confidence
to inspire / instil confidence in sb
to place one’s confidence in sb / sth
to take sb into one’s confidence
to shake / undermine sb’s confidence
to betray sb’s confidence
absolute / every / perfect confidence in sb / sth
to exchange confidences
to tell sb sth in (strict / strictest) confidence
confidence: belief in one’s own ability / firm belief / self-confidence
to express / gain / have confidence
to lack confidence
to be lacking in confidence
to give sb confidence
to bolster / boost sb’s confidence
to shake / undermine sb’s confidence
to ooze / radiate confidence
buoyant / unbounded confidence

27. The boat was last seen off the coast of Dyfed.
8 Welsh counties:
Dyfed, Clwyd, Gwynedd, Powys, Gwent, Mid Glamorgan, South Glamorgan, West
Glamorgan
(Look up the pronunciation!!)

28. He was walking along the promenade, whistling thoughtfully to himself.

29. She was green with envy when she saw her friend’s new hat.
to envy sb (for) sth:
She envied us our new house.
I envy you your job.
She envies me (for) my freedom to travel.
envious of sb / sth:
She was envious of her sister’s success.
enviable:
an enviable achievement / position / salary / life / slimness
to arouse / stir up / feel envy
to be consumed / green with envy
to do sth out of envy
436 PREPOSITIONS

30. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musicals have been playing to full houses.
to play at (doing) sth: to pretend to be sth; to do sth for fun:
He is only playing at being a businessman.
He’s only playing at his job.
The children were playing (at) being robbers.
to play sth
1. take part in a game, compete against:
to play cards / chess / football
2. feign:
He played dead.
to play against sb
to play sb at sth
to play sb at cards / chess / squash / tennis
to play (sth) for sb / sth:
He played football for our school.
He played for money.
They are playing for time.
to play on sth:
to play on words / on sb’s fears / emotions
to play a joke / trick / prank on sb
to play to a full house
to play it by ear: improvise, decide what to do according to he way a situation
develops
to play into sb’s hands

22 Exercise: German zu/zum/zur

1. He threw himself at his master’s feet, begging for mercy.

throw os at sb: (usually of a woman) to attempt forcefully to win the love of, make
eager advances:
If you throw yourself at that boy, he’s likely to run away.
You couldn’t wait, could you? You had to throw yourself at the first man you met,
didn’t you?

2. From a rather plain child she had grown up into a beautiful woman.
to grow
Don’t spend so much – money doesn’t grow on trees, you know.
to grow away from sb : come to a less close relationship:
a teenage girl growing away from her mother
to grow into sth:
He has grown into an old miser.
The coat is too big for him now, but he’ll grow into it.
to grow out of (doing) sth: one’s clothes / children’s games / habits / sucking one’s
thumb
to outgrow is used in the same meaning:
He’s outgrown the habit of sucking his thumb.
to grow on sb: come to have a greater attraction, win the liking of:
a book / piece of music that grows on you
His music is difficult to listen to, but after a while it starts to grow on you.
PREPOSITIONS 437

3. The sort of music they play tends towards trad.

trad: traditional jazz

4. It’s easier to go there on foot.

5. His remarks were not really germane to the argument.
germane to (fml.): relevant to

6. In conclusion I would like to thank everybody.

to arrive at / come to / jump to / leap to / reach a conclusion
a(n) correct / logical / reasonable / tenable / (in)valid / foregone / inescapable /
inevitable / erroneous / false / wrong / hasty / conclusion

7. They took the TV set on approval.

to give one’s approval for sth
to nod / show / voice one’s approval
to gain / meet with / obtain / receive / win sb’s approval (for sth / to do sth)
complete / full / wholehearted / universal / widespread / tacit / limited approval
to give sth the seal / stamp of approval
a roar of approval

8. He needed a housekeeper and regarded marriage as a means to an end.

9. There is no need for alarm.
to create / feel / have / meet / obviate / satisfy a need
a(n) acute / basic / fundamental / unfulfilled / urgent / compulsive / crying / desperate
/ pressing need
a biological / emotional / spiritual / psychological / physical need
a need arises

10. God’s love to / towards man is immeasurable.

11. We bought these books at half-price.
12. Citizens by the million could become contaminated.
13. Come and sit with / beside me.
14. The outbreak of cholera is giving cause for concern.
cause of: sth which produces an effect (Grund):
They are investigating the causes of the explosion.
Smoking is one of the causes of heart diseases.
cause for: sth that provides a satisfactory reason for an action, justification, etc
(Anlass):
You have no cause for complaint.
There is no cause for anxiety.
concerned with: having to do with, or having as one’s concern or business:
We are not concerned with that matter.
concerned about: worried:
I’m concerned about my wife’s health.
He seems to be making little progress, and the doctor is very concerned about him.
concerned for is also sometimes used in this connection:
She felt concerned for the child’s safety.
But concerned for more often means anxious to assure.
438 PREPOSITIONS

concerned in: implicated / involved:

More than one person has been concerned in this affair.

15. You have no right to sit in judgement over him.

judgement
to do sth against one’s better judgement:
I agreed against my better judgement.
I let him go against my better judgement (i.e. though I knew it was probably a
mistake).
to defer / reserve / suspend judgement
to pass / pronounce / render / sit in judgement on sb / sth:
He passed judgement on the guilty man.
She has no right to sit in judgement on everything anyone here does.
to make an unfair judgement of a person’s character
in sb’s judgement:
In my judgement the plan is ill-conceived.
to display / have / show / exercise excellent / good judgement:
Teachers need to have good judgement.
Her actions were always based on sound judgement.
He did the right thing, but more by luck than by judgement.
to be a judgement on sb: misfortune considered to be a punishment from God for
doing sth wrong:
This failure is a judgement on you for being so lazy.

16. Everybody in the office contributed towards a wedding present for Agatha.
to contribute (sth) to sth
to contribute to charity / discussion:
His war injuries contributed to his early death.
The elderly have much to contribute to the community.
Bertrand Russel’s speeches in Trafalgar Square contributed significantly to the
movement against nuclear proliferation.
This is the kind of appeal to which most people will be glad to contribute (something).
A great amount of money was contributed to the disaster fund.
to contribute towards: is often used when the object or purpose of the contribution is
expressed, i.e. to give one’s share of money (s. beteiligen an):
Everybody contributed towards a wedding present for them.

17. Television is not necessarily the antithesis of art.

18. The newly discovered sculpture is now on view.
also: on display
on view: being shown to the public
in sb’s view: in sb’s opinion
to hold / take the view that ...
to echo / endorse / share sb’s view
in view of sth: in consideration of
with a view to doing sth: to redecorate one’s house with a view to selling it
to have sth in view: have a clear idea / plan in one’s mind

19. He invited me to lunch.

also: for lunch

20. He does not count among my best friends.

PREPOSITIONS 439

21. He was appointed chairman of the RSPCA.

Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Who shall we appoint (as) chairperson?
He was appointed to the post of sales director / to the vacant post / as sales director.
an appointee: a person appointed to a job / position

22. There was a steep gradient of one in five between the two villages.
23. May I congratulate you on your new job?
24. The students had several questions on the text.
to ask sb / look into / bring up / raise / broach / answer / respond to / reply to / field /
parry / sidestep a question
to shoot / fire questions at sb
to address / pose / put a question to sb
a(n) academic / hypothetical / rhetorical / debatable / moot question
a complicated / complex / puzzling question
a blunt / direct / pointed / probing / straightforward question
a(n) awkward / embarrassing / sticky / ticklish / (ir)relevant / leading / loaded / tricky /
thorny / trivial question
a burning / open / controversial / crucial / explosive question

25. In his speech marking the bicentenary of the country’s independence, the President
lashed out against his critics.
to lash out at / against sb / sth: to attack violently with blows or words:
The union leader lashed out at the new regulations.
to lash sb into a frenzy / rage / fury:
The speaker lashed his audience into a wild frenzy.
to deliver / give / make a speech to sb
to ad-lib / improvise a speech
a(n) eloquent / passionate / rousing / brief / short / impromptu / unrehearsed / boring
/ long / long-winded / rambling speech about sb / sth
freedom of speech
the power of speech (i.e. the ability to speak)
a speech impediment / therapy
a speech bubble / balloon: circle around the words said by sb in a cartoon
in speech – in writing:
Certain expressions are more common in speech than in writing.

23 Exercise: German zu/zum/zur

1. This novel must be numbered among the classics.

to number things from ... to ...
sb’s days are numbered

2. They claimed in their defence that they had been misled.

to come to sb’s defence:
Nobody came to her defence as the crowd surged forward.
440 PREPOSITIONS

in defence of sth:
The soldiers died in defence of freedom.

3. Their relations with their neighbours quickly deteriorated.

4. He’s learning Arabic for fun.
in fun and for fun sometimes seem to be interchangeable, though strictly speaking
there is a difference:
in fun means animated or prompted by fun
for fun means in order to produce fun;
hence we usually say sth in fun, but do sth for fun. The distinction, however, is not
always observed.

5. He declared himself the heir of his uncle.

The organisers of last week’s coup undoubtedly saw themselves as the legitimate
heirs of Bolshevism.
to be heir / heiress to a large fortune / the throne / a title
to make / declare sb one’s heir:
She made her stepson her heir.
heirloom: (usu. valuable) object that has been handed down in a family for several
generations:
That clock is a family heirloom.
to inherit: sth from sb / to come into sth:
also fig.: This government has inherited many problems from the previous one.
inheritance
This title passes by inheritance to the eldest son.
the inheritance of good looks from one’s parents
to come into one’s inheritance
legacy
a) money or property left to sb in a will
b) fig.: things passed to sb by predecessors or from earlier events, etc:
the cultural legacy of the Renaissance
His weak chest was a legacy from a childhood disease.
heritage
a) things such as works of art / cultural achievements and folklore that have been
passed on from earlier generations:
our literary heritage
These ancient buildings are part of the national heritage.
b) (dated or fml.) property that has been or may be inherited by an heir
to bequeath
a) arrange by making a will to give (property / money) to sb when one dies, to leave:
He bequeathed £1000 (to charity).
She has bequeathed me her jewellery.
b) (fig.) pass on (e.g. knowledge):
discoveries bequeathed to us by scientists of the last century
bequest
a) the bequest of one’s paintings to a gallery
b) legacy: to leave a bequest of £3000 each to one’s grandchildren

6. Do you have any questions as to / on / about the financial risks of the operation?
also: concerning
to ask sb / look into / bring up / raise / broach / answer / respond to / reply to / field /
parry / sidestep a question
to shoot / fire questions at sb
PREPOSITIONS 441

to address / pose / put a question to sb

a(n) academic / hypothetical / rhetorical / debatable / moot question
a complicated / complex / puzzling question
a blunt / direct / pointed / probing / straightforward question
a(n) awkward / embarrassing / sticky / ticklish / (ir)relevant / leading / loaded / tricky /
thorny / trivial question
a(n) burning / open / controversial / crucial / explosive question
to assume / run / incur / take a risk / the risk of doing sth:
They are running the risk of being overvoted.
to entail / involve a risk
to outweigh a risk:
The advantages certainly outweigh the risks.
to reduce / increase a risk
a grave / high / serious / great / low / calculated risk
to do sth at one’s own risk
at the risk of doing sth:
He did it at the risk of being ridiculed.
to be at risk:
Our lives were at risk.
to put sb / sth at risk
sth is worth the risk

7. Would you mind if I asked the Joneses to / for dinner?

8. He gave us the information in proof of his loyalty.
to furnish / give / offer / present / produce / provide / show proof of sth
ample / clear / conclusive / concrete / convincing / definite / incontestable / indis-
putable / irrefutable / living / positive / tangible / undeniable / unquestionable proof
the burden of proof
The proof of the pudding is in the eating.
sb’s loyalty to sb / sth:
Her loyalty to her family / the cause has never been in doubt.
to command / inspire / demonstrate / shop / pledge / swear loyalty to sb / sth
blind / deep-rooted / steadfast / strong / unquestioning / unshakeable / unswerving
loyalty

9. The new model is now on sale.

10. Some day you will be held to account for your dishonest practices.
to bring / call sb to account (for (doing) sth)
to give an account of sth
to keep an account of sth
a(n) eyewitness / firsthand account
to take account of sth
to take sth into account
by / from all accounts
by sb’s own account
to give a good / poor account of os
to put / turn sth to good account

11. Regular maintenance of the boiler can go a long way towards reducing your fuel bill.
442 PREPOSITIONS

12. It’s not his ability that’s at issue, it’s his character I’m worried about.
13. Does anybody have a question about the last sentence?
14. The word what in the meaning that which belongs with the relative pronouns.
belong to sb / sth
a) be the property of:
That book belongs to me.
b) form part of, go with as an accessory or component:
A full stop belongs to the sentence that precedes it, not to the one that follows.
Which door does this key belong to?
The daffodil belongs to the genre “Narcissus”.
c) be a member of sth:
He has never belonged to a trade union.
d) be fitting or seemly for sb:
It does not belong to a mere fallible human being to question the ways of divine
providence.
to belong with sb / sth: have a place with:
The hammer belongs (in the shed) with the rest of the tools.
A child belongs with its mother (i.e. should live with and be cared for by her).
to belong under:
These items belong under this heading (i.e. they are wrongly classified).
to belong: to fit a certain environment:
He doesn’t feel he belongs / has no sense of belonging here.

15. For the moment we are quite content to wait and watch.
16. All the boats in the harbour sounded their sirens in salute.
to sound / turn on a siren
a(n) air-raid / ambulance / fire / police siren
a siren blares / goes off / sounds / wails

17. You can win a prize of £3,000 towards a car of your choice.
to award / give / present a prize to sb for sth
to distribute prizes
to accept / receive / win a prize for (doing) sth
a booby / consolation prize

18. The boy’s love of poetry is unusual.

19. Ever since she was a child she wanted to go on the stage.
stage
The plan is still in its early stages.
At this stage of the negotiations ...
to set the stage for sth: prepare for / make possible:
The unjust peace treaty set the stage for another war.
to become the stage for sth:
Geneva has become the stage for many meetings of world leaders.
to travel by easy stages: i.e. only for a short distance at a time
stage fright: nervousness felt by an actor, etc in front of an audience

20. Smokers have a one in four chance of dying of cancer.

to chance
to chance to do sth: to happen by accident:
PREPOSITIONS 443

She chanced to be in the park when I was there.

I chanced to overhear them talk about your work.
to chance doing sth: to risk:
We’ll have to chance meeting an enemy patrol.
I’ll chance being punished.
to chance on sb / sth: meet / find by accident:
She chanced upon some valuable documents when she was cleaning the attic.
chance (n) of doing / to do sth
a) possibility:
Is there any chance of getting a ticket for tonight’s performance?
What are her chances of getting the job?
I think we have a good chance of winning.
b) opportunity:
You won’t get another chance of going there.
She put down the receiver before I had a chance to reply.
The extra day’s holiday gave us a chance to paint the house.
compare: they died of hunger : from a lack of food
Though of and from seem to be used interchangeably in some cases, it seems
preferable to use
to die of an illness or feeling, while to die from often is to die following something,
except illness or feeling:
die of / from hunger / cancer / a heart attack / one’s injuries / starvation
I almost, nearly died / could have died of curiosity / embarrassment / grief / laughter /
boredom.
He died from his wounds.
The child died from a fall out of a high window.
to die for one’s belief(s) / principles
to be dying for a cup of tea / something to eat
to be dying to do sth:
She is dying to know where you have been.
to be dying of: to feel sth very strongly:
The children are dying of boredom / of curiosity to see what is in the parcel.
Note: to die a poor man / a hero / a martyr
How to die:
to be gone / to pass away / on /
to be deceased verscheiden, hinscheiden
to drop dead
to lose one’s life
to perish
to die in a battle auf dem Schlachtfeld sterben
to die a natural / violent death eines natürlichen / gewaltsamen Todes sterben
to die of cancer / a fever / hunger
/ grief / illness an etwas sterben
to die through neglect
to die with grief vor Kummer sterben
to die for one’s country den Heldentod sterben
to give / lay down / sacrifice
one’s life for sb / sth sein Leben opfern, hingeben
to commit suicide / kill os Selbstmord begehen
to die by one’s own hand
to be murdered ermordet werden
to die by violence,
i.e. a violent death
to die (peacefully) in one’s sleep
to die from a wound / lack of food an einer Wunde sterben
to be killed in an accident / in a
plane crash bei einem Unfall ums Leben kommen
to be murdered / assassinated
444 PREPOSITIONS

criminals / murderers
to die on the scaffold / at the auf dem Schafott, Scheiterhaufen,
stake / in the electric chair elektrischen Stuhl sterben
to be hanged / electrocuted /
executed
to be condemned to execution
by hanging
to be sentenced to be hanged
to execute sb by hanging / gass-
ing / shooting / by the sword /
by electrocution / lethal injection
to be on / be sent to death row
(chiefly AE)
death row Todestrakt
Execution is still the penalty in some states for murder.
The execution will be carried out by a firing squad.
Countries employ a variety of procedures in carrying out executions, including lethal
injection, electrocution, hanging, gassing, and shooting.
to be killed in action (soldier)
to fall (in battle) (soldier)
to be shot dead
to be shot three times in the head
Troops had been given orders to shoot to kill.
mercy killing
euthanasia: the act of painless killing sb who is seriously ill or old, esp. to reduce their
suffering:
Although some people campaign for the right to euthanasia, it is still illegal in most
countries.
Note:
to dye
She dyed her hair red.
a die / dice
The die is cast.
a pair of dice
to roll / shake / throw the dice

21. These notes on the text are meant to help the reader.
22. I would like to express my sympathies on the death of your father.
sympathize with sb: feel / show sympathy with sb:
I know you feel angry, and I sympathize with you.
It is hard to sympathize with her political opinions.
sympathy: sensitivity to / understanding of the sufferings of other people:
I didn’t get much sympathy from the doctor when I told him about my pains.
The documentary aroused public sympathy for the victims of the disaster.
in sympathy with sb / sth:
I am really in sympathy with her aims, but I don’t like the way she goes about achiev-
ing them.
The dock workers have come out in sympathy (with the miners) (i.e. stopped work as
a sign of support for them).
cf. a sympathy strike
one’s / sb’ sympathies: loyalty, message of comfort in grief:
Although I pity him, my sympathies lie / are with his family.
No one is quite sure where her political sympathies lie.
She sent her sympathies on the death of her friend’s husband.
sympathetic: to(wards) sb / sth:
a) showing (a willingness to give) agreement / approval
They were quite sympathetic to our proposals.
They promised to give our suggestions a sympathetic hearing.
PREPOSITIONS 445

b) pleasant, similar to what one likes or wants, congenial:

a sympathetic atmosphere at a party

23. At the beginning of the first chapter the reader is given a detailed description of the novel’s
setting.
to give / provide a description of sb / sth
to fit / answer to a description:
He answers to the description of the escaped terrorist.
to beggar / defy description
a(n) accurate / correct / exact / clear / graphic / matter-of-fact / objective / lively / vivid
/ blow-by-blow / detailed / full / lengthy / thorough / firsthand / short / brief /
superficial description
to be ... beyond / past description:
The lecture was boring beyond description.
of any / that description:
A man of that description was here yesterday.

24. Portuguese has an affinity with Spanish.

to demonstrate / show / have / feel an affinity for / with sb / sth:
She feels a strong affinity with the homeless.
He felt a natural affinity with these people.
This French painting has affinities with some German paintings from the same period.
in chemistry it is: an affinity for sth

25. The affinity of salt for water is made use of in numerous chemical experiments.

24 Exercise: Miscellaneous

1. When were you last in England, and have you ever been to Eire?
Eire: the former name of the Republic of Ireland, sometimes still used to distinguish it
from Northern Ireland
in: static – to: dynamic:
Have you ever been (i.e. gone) to England?
compare:
He has gone to England. (i.e. that is where you can find him)
He has been to England. (i.e. he is now back again)

2. My son is reading arts at Oxford.

in Oxford / Cambridge: is simply a geographic reference
at Oxford / Cambridge: connotes the universities

3. Please don’t write in the margin!

a wide margin between the winner and the loser, i.e. a big difference in points scored:
He beat the other runners by a wide margin / by a margin of 10 seconds.
Leave a good safety margin between your car and the next.
446 PREPOSITIONS

4. Did she put salt in his tea by mistake or did she do it on purpose?
cf. accidentally – by accident
on purpose / intentionally / purposely / deliberately:
She said it deliberately to provoke me.

5. I’ve always considered him my friend.

also: as my friend
but: to regard / look on are always followed by as
to consider
We are considering going to Canada.
We consider this (to be) very important.
I wouldn’t consider it wise to interfere.

6. On average we receive fifty letters per day.

also: on an / the average
also: fifty letters a day

7. Tolerance consists in respecting the opinion of others.

to consist in (doing) sth: have as its chief elements or features:
Freedom consists in the absence of oppressive laws.
to consist of sb / sth: be composed of, made up of:
A football team consists of 11 players.

8. This man has no sense of humour.

9. In the opinion of the Chancellor of the Exchequer VAT may be a necessity, but to my mind
it is sheer daylight robbery.
Value Added Tax
Chancellor of the Exchequer; in other countries: Finance Minister (Schatzkanzler,
Finanzminister)
exchequer:
1. treasury: national public supply of money
2. person’s supply of money:
This month there is nothing left in the exchequer.
daylight robbery: the act of charging far too much money for sth:
£2.50 for a cup of coffee? That’s daylight robbery.
cf. to fleece: They really fleeced us at that hotel.

10. He lives on the tenth floor in a bed-sitter which measures ten feet by 15 feet and offers a
fine view of the city.
of / over the city: possible, with a slight difference of meaning

11. Baked beans are on offer this week at the supermarket.

to be on offer: to be available
to make / consider / accept / agree to / decline / reject / refuse / spurn / turn down /
withdraw an offer
An offer of £5,000 is not to be sneezed at.
a(n) attractive / generous / reasonable / tempting offer
PREPOSITIONS 447

12. In conclusion I should like to say how much I enjoyed myself.

to arrive at / come to / jump to / leap to / reach a conclusion
a(n) correct / logical / reasonable / tenable / (in)valid / foregone / inescapable / in-
evitable / erroneous / false / wrong / hasty conclusion

13. This painting is typical of the artist’s early period.

14. The town is an important trading centre and lies on a river.
cf. Stratford upon Avon; Newcastle on Tyne; Stoke on Trent; London on the Thames

15. Did you hear from him directly?

to hear from sb: personally
to hear of sb / sth: through a third party
Who’s he? I’ve never heard of / about him.
about is more vivid and suggests a fuller knowledge of the details:
Did you hear about the party? – It was a complete failure.
Note: I won’t hear of your walking to the station – let me give you a lift. (i.e. I refuse to
allow)

16. He is the MP for Leeds North-East and represents his party on the committee.
i.e. an MP for the constituency of Leeds
to be / sit on a committee / panel / board
to set up / establish / appoint / form / organize a committee
to be on the staff / board of directors / senate of the university

17. Do you know for what reason he jilted her?

to jilt sb: to finish a close relationship with sb suddenly and in a cruel way:
She jilted him for another man.

18. May I congratulate you on your new job?

19. Some people say that she married him out of pity.
20. There were sheep grazing in the meadows and labourers working in the fields.
21. From what motive did he do it?
out of would be acceptable
cf. to do sth out of curiosity / desperation / jealousy / kindness / necessity / pity /
spite, etc
Just out of curiosity, why did you reject the offer?
Jealousy was the motive for the murder / the murder motive.
What do you think his motives were in helping us?
to find / establish a motive
to question / doubt / suspect sb’s motives
to have nothing but the highest motives
The underlying motive is ...
a(n) altruistic / (dis)honourable / noble / base / selfish motive
cf. motif
a) main subject, idea on which a work of art is based
b) a singular or repeated pattern or colour:
a cat motif on the child’s pyjamas
448 PREPOSITIONS

22. They signed the contract of their own free will.

You must have an iron will to have given up smoking after all these years.
cf. be iron- / weak-willed
He donated the money of his own free will.
I was forced to sign the document against my will.
Have you made your will yet?

23. He is said to be an expert at / in souping up cars.

When an “expert” means “one who is expert in the performance of sth” it is followed
by in or at, according to which would be used after the corresponding adjective (an
expert in the art of persuasion, an expert at persuading people); when it means “one
with an expert knowledge of sth”, it is followed by on (an expert on complaints of the
chest and lungs).
cf. F.T. Wood, English Prepositional Idioms
to soup up
a) increase the power of a car by modifying the engine:
a souped-up old mini (frisieren)
b) fig.: The new film is just a souped-up version of the 1948 original.

24. Did you know that he is an expert on / in metaphysical poetry?

25. You ought to see Dr Crichton about your claustrophobia; he’s an expert in psychology.
claustrophobia: fear of being shut up in a small enclosed place: Platzangst
phobia
abnormal or morbid fear or aversion
-phobia combining form forming abstract nouns denoting a fear or dislike of what is
specified (agoraphobia; xenophobia)
-phobic
combining form forming adjectives
-phobe combining form forming nouns and adjectives denoting a person having a
fear or dislike of what is specified (xenophobe).
-philia combining form
1. denoting (esp. abnormal) fondness or love of what is specified (necrophilia).
2. denoting undue inclination (haemophilia)
-philiac
combining form forming nouns and adjectives
-philic
combining form forming adjectives
-philous
combining form forming adjectives
cf. Concise Oxford Dictionary, ed. D. Thompson, Oxford 91995
He needs help in overcoming his phobias.
cf. Anglophobia / Anglophobe / Anglophile / Anglophilia / Francophobe / Francophile
/ Germanophobe / Germanophile / bibliophile

26. This is a classic example of medieval architecture.

27. Her courage is a good example to us all.
cf. take a leaf out of sb’s book
to give / cite / provide an example
to set an example to sb
to make an example of sb
to follow sb’s example
PREPOSITIONS 449

a(n) classic / typical / concrete / extreme / glaring / striking / illustrative / inspiring /

perfect / textbook example:
That was a textbook example of how to sell a product.

28. I have a question about the last sentence.

also: as to / concerning
to ask sb / look into / bring up / raise / broach / answer / respond to / reply to / field /
parry / sidestep a question
to shoot / fire questions at sb
to address / pose / put a question to sb
a(n) academic / hypothetical / rhetorical / debatable / moot question
a complicated / complex / puzzling question
a blunt / direct / pointed / probing / straightforward question
a(n) awkward / embarrassing / sticky / ticklish / (ir)relevant / leading / loaded / tricky /
thorny / trivial question
a(n) burning / open / controversial / crucial / explosive question

29. The students had several questions on / about the text.

30. Do you have any questions as to / about / on the financial risks of the enterprise?

25 Exercise: Miscellaneous

1. He promised on his honour to pay me back by the end of the week.

It is a point of honour with me to repay all my debts promptly.
to give sb one’s word of honour:
I give you my word of honour that I did not take the money.
to be on one’s honour to do sth:
He was on his honour not to tell the secret. (moral. verpflichtet)
to be an honour to sb / sth:
He is an honour to the country.
to do sb honour:
Her behaviour in such a difficult situation does her honour.
to hold a ceremony in honour of sb:
The ceremony was held in honour of the Queen.
to grant / do sb the honour of (doing) sth:
She did me the honour of attending the opening of my exhibition.
to pay sb back:
I’ll pay him back (with interest) for what he did to me.
I’ll pay him back in his own coin.
to pay (sth) for sth:
I paid good money for that bike, now take care of it.
Sometimes one has to pay dearly for one’s mistakes.
to pay (sb) for sth:
He paid (the waitress) for the cup of tea.
450 PREPOSITIONS

2. Unless I hear anything to the contrary, I shall assume that the meeting has been cancelled.
on the contrary:
I hear you are enjoying your new job. – On the contrary, I find it rather dull.
There was nothing dowdy or ugly about her dress: on the contrary, she had a certain
private elegance.
contrary to sth:
Contrary to popular belief, the desert can produce crops.
Contrary to what is generally assumed, the adjustment to this kind of work is relatively
easy.
to the contrary:
This method, despite thousands of published statements to the contrary, has no
damaging effects whatsoever.
to assume
He was mistakenly assumed to be a Welshman because of his name.
Let’s assume for a moment that everything goes according to plan.
Hitler assumed power in 1933.
I made a mistake and I will assume responsibility for it.
His eyes assumed a strange, weary, indifferent look.
Civil servants assume a certain military air.
He assumed an air of innocence.
She wrote an anti-Nazi novel under an assumed name (i.e. a pseudonym).

3. The exhibition had to be extended by a week.

4. One apple out of / in every ten was rotten.
Not one in ten boys could spell the word.
Roughly four Mexicans in every ten lack a full-time job.
He got six out of ten marks.
There is a one-in-ten chance of success.

5. It is unwise to swim on a full stomach.

6. We came across / upon the manuscript quite by accident.
7. He is very good at English, but rather weak at / in French.
to be good at / in (doing) sth:
Is he any good at chess?
He’s good at / in maths / reading maps.
to be good for sb / (doing) sth:
Exercise is good for you.
This is the best knife for cutting vegetables.
This weather is good for business.
to be good to sb:
He’s always been good to his parents.
to be good with sb / sth:
He’s very good with his hands.
Their receptionist is very good with people.

8. Such bluntness is characteristic of him.

9. Are there any more questions about the last sentence?
also: as to / concerning

10. The boat was last seen off the coast of Dyfed.
note: 8 Welsh counties:
Dyfed, Clwyd, Gwynedd, Powys, Gwent, Mid Glamorgan, South Glamorgan, West
Glamorgan
PREPOSITIONS 451

(Look up the pronunciation!!)

off
a narrow street off the High Street (i.e. turning away from)
an island off the coast of France
six miles off Portsmouth

11. He was born the son of a well-to-do lawyer.

cf. die a poor man / hero / martyr
to come back, return a reformed character / an invalid
to be born the son of a rich father
to be born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth
cf. “Similes” 11 Exercise

12. I think he acted out of anger.

He was filled with anger at the way he had been tricked.
to speak in anger about the plight of poor people
It was said in a moment of anger.
Look Back in Anger (John Osborne)

13. He was arrested on his return from Hertford.

by return of post:
Please let me know your answer by return of post.
in return for: in exchange or as a payment for:
He agreed to give evidence against the terrorists in return for a guarantee of
protection.

14. An attempt on the President’s life was foiled at the last minute.
It was only a faint attempt at a joke.
The young birds manage to fly several kilometres at their first attempt.
to foil sb / sth: prevent from being successful:
He had planned to leave at 3, but was foiled by Mrs Smith, who rang for tea.
to foil sb’s plans
foil (n)
a) metal in the form of a sheet as thin as paper, used esp. to wrap food and keep it
fresh:
Wrap cakes in foil before storing them.
aluminium foil / the foil wrapper of a bar of chocolate
b) sth that is a foil for sth else makes its good qualities more noticeable, when the two
things are experienced together, because of the great difference between them:
She had bronzed skin, for which her yellow swimsuit was a perfect foil.
Dr Watson acts as a foil to Sherlock Holmes.

15. We shall meet again tomorrow week.

also: a week from tomorrow

16. Her father was away on business.

Are you here for pleasure or on business?

17. I have to account to the Board of Inland Revenue for every penny I earn.
Board of Inland Revenue: Finanzamt
452 PREPOSITIONS

18. The matter is still under consideration.

cf. under medical treatment / review / repair
For several months he has been under treatment for a gastric ulcer.

19. She shouted at him for being late, but he bit his lips and turned his back on her.
20. I shall go there on condition that you come with me.
You must on no condition tell / on no condition must you tell him what happened.
21. Wine is made from grapes.
also: out of
22. This box is made of brass.
from: when the material is no longer recognizable
of: when the original material is still recognizable
of
a) material still exists in its original form:
a dress made of velvet
a box made of wood
a house made of brick
Are these shoes made of leather?
The children like making houses of sticks and clay. I would rather make a house of
stone.
Note: I’m not made of money.
b) the constituents that make up a mixture or combination:
a drink made of orange juice, sugar and water
a salad made of lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumber
from
refers to the source material, from which sth different is produced:
Cider is made from apples, bread is made from flour, flour from wheat.
You can make petroleum from (out of) coal.
a flute made from bone
That night we made a shelter from branches and leaves.
Mother can make a wonderful meal from bits of food left over from the day before.
The children’s playhouse has been made from a pile of cardboard boxes.
out of
a) is often a colloquial equivalent of from and of:
a box made out of wood
a table cloth made out of nylon
b) more strictly it refers to the conversion of one article into another:
a dressing gown made out of a blanket
I’m going to make a shirt out of this material.
also: from / of
Note: You can’t make silk purses out of sows’ ears. (etwa: aus einem Kieselstein kann
man keinen Diamanten schleifen)

23. At the beginning of the first chapter the reader is given an outline of the city’s history.
24. In the beginning he had one small shop; now he owns several branches.
25. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
cf. St. John: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the
Word was God.

26. We fully agree to the plan.

We agree with a suggestion / demand / practice / proposal / etc, when we view it with
favour and when it meets with our approval:
PREPOSITIONS 453

I agree with all you say.

I don’t agree with buying children expensive presents.
to agree to: to give one’s consent to:
It is doubtful whether the trade union representatives will agree to the proposals put
forward by the employers.
compare:
We agree with the scheme in principle, but we think it needs modification in detail.
We agree with the scheme, but we can’t agree to it at the moment.
to agree on: is used to indicate the matter concerning which agreement exists or is
reached:
The representatives of the two sides have now agreed on the proposals to be put
before their members.
sth agrees with sb / sth: (of food / climate / etc) (usually neg.) to suit the health:
I never eat pork, it does not agree / disagrees with me.
This damp weather does not agree with my rheumatism.

27. The two teams could not agree on a venue.

venue: the place where an event or activity will happen

28. Would you agree with me on this point?

29. Fat does not agree with me.

26 Exercise: Miscellaneous

1. She was so indignant at / about what he had said that she was trembling in every limb.
indignant: angry and scornful, esp. at injustice or because of undeserved blame:
She was most indignant with me when I suggested she might try a little harder.
to tremble about sth:
His father and mother trembled about his future.
to tremble with sth:
His voice trembled with excitement / rage / emotion.
in fear and trembling: in a frightened or cowed manner:
They went to the teacher in fear and trembling to tell her that they had broken a
window.

2. We need somebody who can think for himself and handle tasks on his own initiative.
3. A boy by / (of) the name of Hugh was the only witness.
to know sb by name / sight:
He knows all the staff by name.
to know sb by sight, but not by name
to call sb by his name:
You can call him by his first name.
to be on first-name terms
to have a good name for sth:
The company has a (good) name / quite a name for reliability.
to make a name for os:
George Elliot had already made a name for herself as a writer of considerable talent.
under the name / pseudonym of
454 PREPOSITIONS

in name only:
Many of these branches are inactive, existing in name only.
cf. Christian / given / maiden / married / assumed / pet name / byname / nickname /
pseudonym / so(u)briquet
Mrs Dodd, née Miller
witness
to bear witness to sth:
They attempt through their art to bear witness to the truth as they see it.
to be witness to:
This was the first time I was witness to one of his rages.

4. Should smoking be banned in / at the workplace?

not: from

5. The situation is growing more dangerous by the hour.

to sell sth by the pound / kilo:
We sell tea by weight, not just by the box.
They gave us apples by the basketful.

6. Are we all agreed on this course of action?

7. We learnt of his misfortune at first hand.
to have first-hand knowledge of sth
to buy sth first- / second-hand
to hear sth (straight) from the horse’s mouth
cf. 31

8. When he heard what had happened he slapped his thigh and danced for / with joy.
He slapped her across the face.
I slapped him on the back and wished him the best of luck.
a slap in the face: action deliberately intended to offend or upset sb
a slap on the wrist: a punishment that is not severe
to dance to the music of a band
to dance with sb
to dance to sb’s tune: to conform to sb’s wishes (cf. 32)
to dance attendance on sb: to satisfy sb’s every wish

9. It is not uncommon for students to blame their failure on their teachers.

(to be ) common to sb / sth:
a heritage common to both our countries
to be common for sb / sth to do sth:
It is quite common for trains to be late.
to have sth in common (with sb / sth):
They have a lot in common.

10. He showed commendable courage and I take off my hat to him.

commendable: worthy of praise

11. He married that girl out of / in obedience to his parents.

to demand / exact obedience from sb
to instill obedience in(to) sb
to pledge / swear obedience
PREPOSITIONS 455

blind / strict / unquestioning obedience

12. Have you any money on / about / with you?

13. On second thoughts I think he’s the right man in the right place.
14. Our troops inflicted a heavy defeat on the enemy.
to inflict: to force (sth / sb unpleasant) on sb:
The judge inflicted the severest possible penalty.
Don’t inflict your ridiculous ideas on me.
Mary has inflicted her children on her mother for the weekend.

15. The bullet hit him in the shoulder.

in suggests depth

16. The chairs in the drawing-room were covered in blue velvet.

to cover with: in order to protect (be-, abdecken)
to cover in (be-, überziehen)
to be covered with a tarpaulin: (a sheet or cover of) heavy cloth especially treated so
that water will not pass through it:
The load on the trailer had a (sheet of) tarpaulin strapped over it.
to cover sb / sth in / with sth:
Last night’s storm covered the ground with / in snow.
I’d better cover the child with more bedclothes.
Nature covered the bear with a warm fur coat.
The trees are covered in new leaves now that spring is here.
The room would look much brighter if we covered the sofa with a light-coloured
material.
compare:
The ice, dangerously thin, was covered by a thin layer of snow.
You’re covered in mud! What on earth have you been doing?
The garden was absolutely covered in leaves when the storm passed.
with is used
a) to indicate the thing used as a covering:
The body was covered with a white sheet.
b) when covered is felt to be adjectival rather than participial:
The ground was covered with snow.
All the furniture was covered with dust.
For this last purpose, in is often used, esp. in spoken English, though some purists
condemn it.
cf. F.T. Wood, English Prepositional Idioms
velvet: If you describe sb as having an iron fist in a velvet glove, you mean that they
hide a firm and determined personality behind a gentle and quiet manner. (eiserne
Faust unter dem Samthandschuh)
to handle sb with velvet gloves
velvety
the kitten’s velvety fur
the girl’s velvety voice

17. You can’t live on 200 calories per day.

also: a day
per hour / metre / second
per capita / per person
but: a head
Cut the pie so that there are two pieces per person.
The annual income per person in some countries is less than 1,000 pounds.
Among the largest consumers of energy per capita is the United States.
456 PREPOSITIONS

The average per capita income has decreased over the past 5 years.
It cost three pounds a head to eat there.
to live in comfort / luxury / poverty
to live by working / writing / cheating (indicates the means)
Note: to live by / on one’s wits: to get money by clever tricks rather than by an ordinary
job, esp. dishonestly:
Unable to get a job when he left school, the boy lived by / on his wits and in the end
turned to crime.
to live by os: to live alone
to live from hand to mouth
to live off sth
a) a certain food:
These animals live off the leaves of all trees.
b) at the cost of sb / sth:
He has been living off his brother for nearly a year. (implies exploitation)
c) to find enough food or income in sth:
How can you live off the land without experience in farming?
I’m afraid that she will not be able to live off her writing much as she hopes she will.
Note: to live off the fat of the land: to live well, have plenty of money, food, amuse-
ment, etc:
In spite of the government’s attempts to share the nation’s wealth more equally, some
business men still make big profits and live off the fat of the land, while some unskilled
workers earn hardly enough to feed their families.
to live apart: to live separately although remaining married:
They wondered whether they should live apart for some time to try to improve their
relationship.

18. The producer had scribbled some stage directions in the margin.
19. On his doctor’s advice he took quinine to avoid being quarantined.
to advise
cf. devise-device; practise-practice, license-licence
to advise sth:
The doctor advised complete rest.
to advise sb against (doing) sth:
The lawyer advised (me) against signing the contract / not to sign the contract.
to advise sb that ...:
I advised her that she (should) change her job / wait.
to advise sb on sth:
She advised the President on foreign affairs.
The Advisory Council advises the BBC on Further Education Problems.
Note: to advise sb of sth: to inform sb about sth:
Please advise me of the cost.
The company spends a lot of time keeping its salesmen advised of their new
products.
well- / ill-advised:
You’ll be well-advised to stay at home today.
quarantine: period of time during which a person / animal that may have a disease is
kept separate from others, so that the disease does not have a chance to spread

20. We want this statement of yours in black and white.

21. This man has no sense of decency.
decency: being / appearing as respectable people wish (Anstand)
an offence against decency
He had the decency to (i.e. was polite enough to) apologize for what he did.
PREPOSITIONS 457

22. Did he die a natural death or by his own hand?

I couldn’t look up the spelling of the word, as I hadn’t a dictionary at hand.
i.e. within reach
at hand
a) close / near at hand:
He lives close at hand.
b) about to happen:
Your big moment is at hand.
in hand:
a) I still have some money in hand.
b) We have the situation well in hand.
cf. The football fans have got completely out of hand.
off one’s hands: no longer one’s responsibility:
They’ll be glad to get their son off their hands.
on one’s hands: resting on one as a responsibility:
I don’t know how she manages, with three growing children and an invalid husband
on her hands.
on hand: available:
I always keep a certain amount of money on hand, in case of an emergency.
to hand
a) within reach, readily available:
I don’t have the information to hand.
b) received (commercial):
Your letter is to hand. (liegt vor)
off hand
a) on the spur of the moment, here and now:
I cannot give you the information off hand, I shall have to look it up.
b) casual, as though one were not interested or did not wish to be troubled:
He treated my request in a very off-hand / offhand manner. (wurstig, lässig)
He was very off-hand to / with me.

23. These notes on the text are meant to help the reader.
24. Reading lies to the west of London, but Ealing lies in the west of London.
(a map might help)
to the west: outside of London (also: to be / lie west of London)
in the west: be part of London
Heathrow Airport is a few kilometres to the west of London.
Brest is west of Paris.
Bristol is in the west of England.

25. Nine times out of ten the train is on time.

not really acceptable: nine times in ten
in time (for sth / to sth)
We got there (just) in time (for the concert).
He got up just in time to prepare breakfast.
on time:
They rarely get to work on time.

26. The police arrived just in time to prevent him from committing suicide.
27. At present we are a bit short of staff.
short of sth: (suggests material things) not having much or enough of: of money / time
/ ideas
458 PREPOSITIONS

short on sth: (suggests desirable qualities / emotions) a particular quality or emotion,

people don’t have as much of it as they should have (esp. of desirable qualities:
He looked intelligent but was a bit short on wisdom / wit / brains.
short with sb: curt, rudely impatient:
I am sorry I was a bit short with you on the phone this morning, I was rather busy.
at short notice: The meeting had to be arranged at short notice.
nothing short of:
He would settle for nothing short of total independence.
You should do anything you feel like doing in public, short of assault or robbery. (i.e.
except for)

28. Rachel wasn’t short on either humour or vitality.

29. In principle it should be possible to reach an agreement.
in principle: as regards the general principle:
Not only are those proposals impracticable, they are wrong in principle.
We agree with the scheme in principle, but we think it needs modification in details.
on principle: on account of / in accordance with one’s principles:
He would always take the word of an Englishman against that of a foreigner, on
principle.

30. He does not drink on principle.

31. I was abroad at the time, so I got the news second hand.
also: at second hand (less good); cf. 7

32. When the new director arrives, we shall have to dance to his tune.
i.e. to conform to his wishes

27 Exercise: Miscellaneous

1. The American embassy in London is in Grosvenor Square.

in a square; in the market square

2. The Conservative Party is to the right of the Liberal Democrats.

3. He was sent to his room to meditate on his misdeeds.
to commit / rectify a misdeed
a glaring misdeed

4. Such a despicable act is beneath contempt.

It is unworthy even of contempt.
to demonstrate / feel / display / show / have contempt for / of sb / sth:
His remarks show a total contempt for / of truth / his teachers.
bitter / deep / total / unmitigated / utter contempt
with contempt:
He treated us with contempt.
He looked at us with contempt.
to hold sb / sth in contempt:
He held all his critics in contempt.
PREPOSITIONS 459

He was held in contempt by all decent people.

contemptible: deserving contempt:
contemptible cowardice / behaviour
contemptuous (of sb / sth): showing contempt:
He has always been contemptuous of public opinion.
a contemptuous manner / laugh / remark
lit.: In contempt of death and danger they undertook the hazardous task.

5. Most cases of bed-wetting occur in children from broken homes.

dripping / soaking / sopping / wringing wet
to be / get wet through and through
to be wet with sth:
His face was wet with sweat.
to be wet behind the ears: young and without experience
a wet person / a wet: sb who is not forceful in expressing their opinion or unable to
take firm actions:
Don’t be so wet! Just tell them that you don’t want to do it!
An idea suddenly occurred to me.
Has it never occurred to you that this old book might be valuable?

6. A drowning man will clutch at a straw.

also: grasp at a straw
to fall into sb’s clutches
to clutch sth: to hold sth, esp. because you are frightened, or in pain or because you
do not want to lose it:
“Ah!” she cried clutching her stomach.
She climbed into the car, clutching her hat so the wind didn’t blow it off.
to clutch at sth: try to clutch sth:
My husband? Having an affair? I clutched at the desk. It couldn’t be true.
to clutch at straws
to draw the short straw: be unlucky
to decide sth by drawing straws
the (last / final) straw that breaks the camel’s back: the final burden that exceeds sb’s
endurance
a straw in the wind: a sign of sth that might happen in the future
a man of straw / a straw man

7. He’s brimming with confidence.

to be full to the brim: to be brimful
to enjoy / have / gain / win / lose sb’s confidence
to inspire / instil confidence in sb
to place one’s confidence in sb
to take sb into one’s confidence
to shake / undermine sb’s confidence
to betray sb’s confidence
absolute / every / perfect confidence in sb / sth
to exchange confidences
to tell sb sth in (strict / strictest) confidence
confidence: belief in one’s own ability / firm belief / self-confidence
to express / gain / have confidence
to lack confidence
460 PREPOSITIONS

to be lacking in confidence
to give sb confidence
to bolster / boost sb’s confidence
to shake / undermine sb’s confidence
to ooze / radiate confidence
buoyant / unbounded confidence

8. He was in great pain and had to be operated on for appendicitis.

cf. to have emergency surgery / an operation on the heart
to have / undergo an operation for a hernia (disease)
to have / undergo an operation on the wrist (part of body)

9. Television is not necessarily the antithesis of art.

10. The college was named after George Washington.
AE: for
namesake:
Unlike his famous literary namesake, Mark Shakespeare showed little ability as a
writer.
to know sb by name / sight:
He knows all the staff by name.
to know sb by sight, but not by name
to call sb by his name:
You can call him by his first name.
to be on first-name terms
to have a good name for sth:
The company has a (good) name / quite a name for reliability.
to make a name for os:
George Elliot had already made a name for herself as a writer of considerable talent.
under the name / pseudonym of
in name only:
Many of these branches are inactive, existing in name only.
cf. Christian / given / maiden / married / assumed / pet name / byname / nickname /
pseudonym / so(u)briquet
Mrs Dodd, née Miller

11. At first he thought the asking price was too high, but on reflection he decided to accept the
offer.
cf. on second thoughts
reflection
He looked at his reflection in the mirror.
The rising rate of crime is a reflection of an unstable society.
reflection on sb / sth: disapproval or unfavourable judgement, esp. expressed in an
indirect way:
The fact that we’re dismissing you is no reflection on the quality of your work – we
simply can’t afford to employ you any more.
to reflect on sth:
1. cause to be seen in an unfavourable way:
The unemployment figures reflect badly on the government’s policies.
2. think carefully:
After reflecting for a time on the problem he decided not to go.
PREPOSITIONS 461

12. Let’s drink to your success in your new job.

with your new job is only just acceptable
But: “Cheers, and good luck with your new job!”
to drink os to death
to drink sb under the table

13. He is somebody who really tries to live by the Ten Commandments.

according to
a) as stated in or by:
According to John you were in Edinburgh last week.
You have been in prison six times according to our records.
According to the Bible God created the heaven and the earth.
b) in a manner or degree that is in proportion to:
There are four classes organized according to age.
Salary according to qualifications and experience.
Arrange the exhibits according to size.
You will be paid according to the amount of work you do.
The books on the shelves are placed according to authors.
Note: Do not use according to with nouns such as opinion / view.
compare: according to the management – in the management’s opinion
to live up to sth: to do as well as one is expected to do, to do what one promised to do
to live up to a rule / principle
to live by sth: according to; up to: behave in a way worthy of (sth such as a high
standard)
to live by a rule / principles
to live in comfort / luxury / poverty
to live by doing sth
to live by working / writing / cheating (indicates the means)
to live by / on one’s wits: to get money by clever tricks rather than by an ordinary job,
esp. dishonestly:
Unable to get a job when he left school, the boy lived by / on his wits and in the end
turned to crime.
to live by os: to live alone
to live from hand to mouth
to live off sth
a) a certain food:
These animals live off the leaves of all trees.
b) at the cost of sb / sth:
He has been living off his brother for nearly a year. (implies exploitation)
c) to find enough food or income in sth:
How can you live off the land without experience in farming?
I’m afraid that she will not be able to live off her writing much as she hopes she will.
Note
to live off the fat of the land: to live well, have plenty of money, food, amusement, etc:
In spite of the government’s attempts to share the nation’s wealth more equally, some
business men still make big profits and live off the fat of the land, while some unskilled
workers earn hardly enough to feed their families.
to live apart: to live separately although remaining married:
They wondered whether they should live apart for some time to try to improve their
relationship.
the Ten Commandments: the Decalogue:
a list of rules of behaviour that God gave to Israel through Moses on Mount Sinai
the eleventh commandment: “Thou shalt not be found out.”
462 PREPOSITIONS

14. They stood back to back measuring their difference in size.

to measure sth by sth:
Education should not be measured purely by examination results.
to measure up to sb / sth: reach the standards required or expected:
Will she really measure up to her new abilities?
These players don’t measure up to those of my youth.
to measure sb / sth against sb / sth:
He’d like to measure his strength against worthy opponents.

15. Her verdict on my cooking was far from complimentary.

The jury returned / gave a verdict of (not) guilty.
to fail to reach a verdict
a majority verdict of 10 to 2
a verdict on sth:
What’s your verdict on his latest film?

16. Anyone leaking information to the press would be seen as a traitor to the cause.
a traitor to sb / sth
a traitor to one’s country
to turn traitor
The branded him a traitor to their cause.
sb / sth lacks sth:
He lacks confidence / energy.
His voice lacked conviction.
We lack the capital to launch the new product.
sth is lacking:
Financial support / money for the project is lacking.
sb is lacking sb:
We’re lacking three members of staff due to illness.
sb / sth is lacking in sth:
She’s totally lacking in charm of any sort.
to be lacking in politeness / in musical ability
to be badly / completely / sadly / totally / utterly lacking in sth
to lack for nothing / something:
His parents made sure that he lacked for nothing.
You shall never lack for money while I am alive.
These children are lacking for nothing.

17. Exact casualty figures are not known, but they run into hundreds.
to incur / suffer casualties
heavy / serious / light / civilian / military / traffic casualties
to inflict heavy casualties on the enemy

18. Her latest novel is a satire on social snobbery.

cf. a(n) article / book / essay / lecture / talk / treatise on sb / sth

19. He had specialized in electronic engineering and was dealing in PCs and mainframes.
mainframe: Großrechner
to specialise in a particular kind of goods, products, etc:
a firm that specialises in high-grade steel
a shop that specialises in tea and coffee
PREPOSITIONS 463

But specialise on something, when the sense is “devote os specially to, acquire a
special knowledge of, or make a special study of”:
Nowadays scholars tend to specialise on one particular branch of a subject.
F.T. Wood, English Prepositional Idioms
to deal with sb / sth
a) do business with:
I hate dealing with large impersonal companies.
We won’t deal (i.e. negotiate) with terrorists.
b) behave towards, tackle a problem or task:
How would you deal with an armed burglar?
They try to deal politely with angry customers.
You dealt with an awkward situation very tactfully.
The next chapter deals with verbs.

20. He was shot several times at close range.

21. She failed in her attempt to swim the Channel.
Mind the difference between canal and channel:
the Suez / Panama Canal
the alimentary canal
channels of information / communication
diplomatic / official channels
to find a channel for one’s energy
sth fails sb: is inadequate:
My courage failed me at the last minute.
Words fail me.
to fail sb
a) to decide that sb has not passed an examination:
The examiners failed 30% of the students.
b) not do what sb was trusted to do, to disappoint sb:
He felt he had failed his family by being unemployed.

to fail to do sth:
She failed to understand.
He never fails to write.
to fail in one’s duty / responsibility
a failed marriage / actor / writer
failing health / eyesight
to be trapped in a failing relationship

22. They are not especially particular about their food, but it should be rich in roughage.
cf. to be choos(e)y, fussy
roughage: fibre (i.e. string-like vegetable material) contained in food, that does not
actually feed the eater, but helps the bowels to work (Ballaststoffe)

23. The sort of music they play tends towards trad.

trad(itional) jazz: New Orleans 1920

24. I’m mad about the boy, but I know Father will get mad at / with me for going out with him.
to be mad about: to love
to be mad at: angry, furious with
464 PREPOSITIONS

25. Things said in fun are sometimes taken seriously.

26. He’s learning Arabic for fun.
in fun and for fun sometimes seem to be interchangeable, though strictly speaking
there is a difference:
in fun means animated or prompted by fun;
for fun means in order to produce fun;
hence we usually say sth in fun, but do sth for fun. The distinction, however, is not
always observed.
to make fun of sb / poke fun at sb
Because he stammered slightly, the other boys made fun of / poked fun at him.

27. All his cows have been infected with BSE.

BSE: Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
mad cow disease (Hirnerkrankung bei Rindern)

28. The whole class was infected by the teacher’s enthusiasm.

29. I had hoped to sell my house at a profit, but I had to settle for much less.
cf. at a loss
He made a profit of £2000 on the deal.
I made a handsome profit from the sale of my car.
to be at a (complete) loss for sth / to do sth:
He was at a loss for words.
I was at a loss to find anything wrong with them.
I was at a loss as to how I could lay my hand on the money.
to be a dead loss:
That goalkeeper is a dead loss.
to settle for sth: accept sth simple, undemanding, unrewarding, because one has
modest tastes, or is lacking in ambition:
Don’t settle for the second best.
I’ll not get the top price for the lambs; I’ll just have to settle for whatever I can get.

30. We need a new drawing-room suite, but we haven’t settled on a colour yet.
Can we at least settle on a date for our next meeting?
suite
a) a set of rooms:
a luxury suite / hotel suite / suite of offices
b) a set of pieces of furniture for a room:
a bathroom / bedroom suite
a three-piece suite: two chairs and a sofa
c) a piece of music
the Nutcracker Suite
PREPOSITIONS 465

28 Exercise: Miscellaneous

1. We were all dismayed at his refusal to resign.

We were dismayed by / at the cost.
to sb’s dismay:
He learnt to his dismay that he had lost his job.
in / with dismay:
He heard the news with dismay.
They stared at each other in dismay.
She groaned in dismay.
to be filled / struck with dismay at sth
I was dismayed to learn that ...
a(n) adamant / brusque / categorical / curt / flat / out-and-out / outright / point-blank
/ polite / straightforward refusal
to resign from sth
to resign from a post / place / organisation:
He resigned from the Nature Conservancy Council.
The Minister resigned (from office).
to resign sth
to resign a post / position:
She resigned her directorship and left the firm.
She resigned her post as chairwoman.
to resign as sb
to resign as chairman
to resign os to (doing) sth: be ready to accept and endure sth as inevitable:
The team refused to resign themselves to defeat / to being defeated.
Note: to resign from a committee / board of directors, etc, but usually to resign an
office / position though for this also to resign from is sometimes used, especially
when the actual name of the office or position is not mentioned
He has resigned from three of ten offices he held.

2. On the strength of his promise I agreed to lend him the money without asking for any
security.
to build up / develop (one’s) strength
to find / gather / gain (the) strength (to do sth)
to do sth with all one’s strength
to lose / recoup / regain / conserve / husband / save one’s strength
to (over)tax sb’s strength
brute / great / inner / physical strength
a show / position of strength
to argue from a position of strength
on the strength of: because of / influenced / persuaded by:
I bought it on the strength of his advice.
strength: the quality or degree of being strong or powerful:
She succeeded by strength of will alone.
the current strength of the dollar
Her strength as a novelist lies in her compassion.
The (great) strength of my plan is that it is so cheap compared with the others.
below / at full strength:
The police force is 400 men below / is not at full strength but next year it should be full
strength.
466 PREPOSITIONS

(to go) from strength to strength: with continuing and growing success:
Our new company / that student is going from strength to strength.

3. The President maintains that nothing has changed, and that reform forces are on the
defensive.
to put sb on the defensive
cf. offensive (adj.)
1. causing offence, unpleasant, repulsive:
crude jokes that are offensive to women
offensive remarks / smells / attitude / language / behaviour
2. of or for attacking: offensive weapons:
The troops took up offensive positions.
offensive (n)
to be / go on the offensive
to go over to / start up / take / break off the offensive against sb / sth
to carry out / conduct / undertake an offensive
to launch / mount an offensive
to take the offensive: attack first

4. They fought side by side and shoulder to shoulder.

to shrug one’s shoulders (at sth)
to straighten one’s shoulders
broad / square shoulders
to give sb the cold shoulder: be unfriendly
to put one’s shoulder to the wheel: work very hard
to rub shoulders with sb: associate with sb, meet famous people socially
to tell sb sth straight from the shoulder: in a direct manner
to be / give sb a shoulder to cry on: give sympathy and comfort
to have a good head on one’s shoulders: be sensible
to be / stand head and shoulders above sb / sth: be much better than

5. We heard about the coup in / on the news on the radio.

repetition of on should be avoided
to plug in / put on / switch on / turn on a radio
to switch off / turn off / unplug a radio
to listen to the radio
a portable / medium-wave / long-wave / short-wave / transistor / clock / car radio
He worked in radio before TV.
She’s got a job in radio.

6. They went to Gibraltar via / by way of Lisbon.

7. After the death of her husband she moved to Beaconsfield and lived there a widow.
to live as husband and wife
to live as a slave
to be born / die a rich man
He is innocent and may leave the court a free man.
cf. “Similes” 11 Exercise

8. He was last seen walking along the High Street with a young lady on his arm.
to have a woman on one’s arm (old-fash.)
He took her in her arms and kissed her.
They walked down the road arm in arm.
to take sb by the arm
PREPOSITIONS 467

to put / fling / throw one’s arms around sb

to keep sb at arm’s distance / length: to keep a safe distance away from, avoid being
friendly with

9. With / in hindsight it is easy to criticize.

hindsight
It is easy to say now what we should have done then – with the wisdom / benefit of
hindsight.
We failed and with (the benefit of) hindsight I now see where we went wrong.

10. He is an authority on 18th-century English literature.

to be under sb’s authority:
These employees are under my authority.
by sb’s authority:
By whose authority were the funds spent?
on sb’s authority:
She did all this on her own authority.
to have sth on sb’s authority / on the authority of sb:
I have it on good / the highest authority that the meeting has been cancelled.
in authority:
I want a decision from / I need the support of someone in authority.
the / a(n) greatest living / outstanding / leading / respected / competent / indisputable
authority on sth
to have / exert / exercise / wield authority over sb
to overstep / abuse one’s authority
to challenge / defy / deny / reject / rebel against / undermine sb’s authority
absolute / complete / full / supreme / unquestioned authority

11. You can trust him; he’s very good at this sort of thing.
If you trust to sb / sth, you rely on them to make decisions for you or look after you:
However much you plan an expedition like this, you still have to trust to luck to a
certain degree.
trust to chance / luck / fate / fortune
to trust sb / sth completely / blindly / implicitly
to trust sb with sth:
Would you trust him with your savings?
You trust to your memory too much.
to trust one’s own judgement / own instincts / sb’s advice / a person
to be good at / in (doing) sth:
Is he any good at chess?
He’s good at / in maths / reading maps.
to be good for sb / (doing) sth:
Exercise is good for you.
This is the best knife for cutting vegetables.
This weather is good for business.
to be good to sb:
He’s always been good to his parents.
to be good with sb / sth:
He’s very good with his hands.
Their receptionist is very good with people.
468 PREPOSITIONS

12. This is a good example of Shelley’s lyric poetry.

cf. take a leaf out of sb’s book
to give / cite / provide an example
to set an example to sb
to make an example of sb
to follow sb’s example
a(n) classic / typical / concrete / extreme / glaring / striking / illustrative / inspiring /
perfect / textbook example
That was a textbook example of how to sell a product.

13. On closer examination we discovered that the lock had been tampered with.
also: after
to pass / fail an exam(ination)
to sit / take / do / go in for an exam
to set / invigilate an exam
an oral / written exam
cf. viva
a difficult / stiff / easy exam
to be under examination
on closer / further examination
to do / make an examination sth: scrutiny
a(n) careful / close / complete / in-depth / thorough / cursory / perfunctory / superficial
examination
to tamper: touch or make changes in sth without permission, esp. so as to cause
damage

14. I realize that he can’t live on his salary alone.

to live in comfort / luxury / poverty
to live by working / writing / cheating (indicates the means)
Note: to live by / on one’s wits: to get money by clever tricks rather than by an ordinary
job, esp. dishonestly:
Unable to get a job when he left school, the boy lived by / on his wits and in the end
turned to crime.
to live by os: to live alone
to live from hand to mouth
to live off sth
a) a certain food:
These animals live off the leaves of all trees.
b) at the cost of sb / sth:
He has been living off his brother for nearly a year. (implies exploitation)
c) to find enough food or income in sth:
How can you live off the land without experience in farming?
I’m afraid that she will not be able to live off her writing much as she hopes she will.
Note: to live off the fat of the land: to live well, have plenty of money, food,
amusement, etc:
In spite of the government’s attempts to share the nation’s wealth more equally, some
business men still make big profits and live off the fat of the land, while some unskilled
workers earn hardly enough to feed their families.
to live apart: to live separately although remaining married:
They wondered whether they should live apart for some time to try to improve their
relationship.
PREPOSITIONS 469

15. We disagreed with him over / about that matter.

to disagree bitterly / profoundly / sharply / completely / totally / utterly
The sauce disagreed with me.
cf. agree
agree with: We agree with a suggestion / demand / practice / proposal / statement
etc, when we view it with favour and when it meets with our approval:
I agree with everything you say.
I don’t agree with buying children expensive presents.
to agree to: to give one’s consent to:
It is doubtful whether the trade union representatives will agree to the proposals put
forward by the employers.
compare:
We agree with the scheme in principle, but we think it needs modification in detail.
We agree with the scheme, but we can’t agree to it at the moment.
to agree on: is used to indicate the matter concerning which agreement exists or is
reached:
The representatives of the two sides have now agreed on the proposals to be put
before their members.
sth agrees with sb / sth: (of food / climate etc) (usually neg.) to suit one’s health:
I never eat pork, it does not agree / disagrees with me.
This damp weather does not agree with my rheumatism.

16. They took the television on approval.

to give one’s approval for sth
to nod / show / voice one’s approval
to gain / meet with / obtain / receive / win sb’s approval (for sth / to do sth)
complete / full / wholehearted / universal / widespread / tacit / limited approval
to give sth the seal / stamp of approval
a roar of approval

17. They approved the plan by a majority of thirteen to four.

to approve a plan: to agree to it officially, accept it (genehmigen)
to approve of sb / sth: to feel or show that sb / sth is good or acceptable

18. The poor child was blind in the left eye and deaf in one ear.
of would be archaic
blind faith / fury / obedience / allegiance / panic / loyalty / rage / hate
to blind sb (to sth):
to be blinded by smoke
His determination blinded him to all the difficulties.
a blinding light / headache / pain
Note: sth is blindingly obvious
to be as blind as a bat:
I’m as blind as a bat without my glasses.
to be blind with sth:
He was blind with tears and rage.
to be blind to sb’s faults / in one eye:
He seems to be blind to the consequences of his policy.
to turn a blind eye / deaf ear to sth: to pretend not to see / hear etc:
He often turned a blind eye to their drinking sessions.
to shut / close one’s eyes to sth
470 PREPOSITIONS

(A case of) the blind leading the blind: people with little information advising people
with even less
a blind alley / date / spot:
I’ve a blind spot where computers are concerned.
He first met his wife on a blind date (i.e. an arrangement made one of his friends to go
on date with sb one has never met before).
to be blind drunk
to go blind
to accept sth blindly

19. Don’t worry, he is on the committee that controls the party’s finances.
also: sits on

20. He will have to attend the conference at his own expense.

at great expense:
We had the roof repaired at great expense.
At great expense, they sent their four children to university.
at sb’s expense:
I bought it at my own expense.
She was very successful, but at her children’s expense.
He is always making jokes at the expense of other people.

21. The latest opinion polls give Labour a three-point lead over the Conservatives.
22. Which animal that is native to Britain is also known as brock?
brock: rural / dial. for badger: Dachs

23. From the way he talks you’d think that he has nothing but sex on the brain.
to rack one’s brain(s)
to cudgel one’s brains
to pick sb’s brains: question sb who knows a lot about a particular subject
to (over)tax one’s / sb’s brain: set a difficult task
to blow one’s / sb’s brains out: shoot through the head
fig. He is one of the leading / best brains in the department.
to have a(n) excellent / good / not much brain
to have sth on one’s brain:
I have that song on the brain today.
cf. scatter-brained / bird-brained
to rack one’s brains
brain damage / surgery / cells

24. He gave us the information in proof of his loyalty.

to furnish / give / offer / present / produce / provide / show proof of sth
ample / clear / conclusive / concrete / convincing / definite / incontestable / indis-
putable / irrefutable / living / positive / tangible / undeniable / unquestionable proof
the burden of proof
The proof of the pudding is in the eating.
PREPOSITIONS 471

25. We had warned him against eating contaminated food.

warning
Let this / may this be a warning to you.
Let that serve as a warning to you.
It happened without advance warning.
to take sth for a warning (of what may happen)
to give / issue / send / sound / heed / receive / ignore / disregard a warning
to warn sb of sth:
to warn of the existence of sth: a danger / pickpockets / the consequence of his
actions
We were warned of possible delays.
to warn against / (about) sth that sb may do: against trusting sb / against drink /
pickpockets:
The police have warned shopkeepers about forged banknotes.
The doctor warned us against overtiring the patient.
to warn sb off doing sth:
I had been warned off visiting her while she was still unwell.
Note: He warned me not to go near the dog / to skate on the thin ice.

26. Haven’t you been warned of pickpockets?

27. The pyramids were visible at / from a distance of several miles.
in the distance, far off (in der Ferne):
You can see the ancient ruins in the distance.
from a distance, from a point distant from whatever the speaker has in mind (aus der
Ferne):
It looks quite nice from a distance, but when you get close you can see it is pretty
awful.
at a distance of, at a spot from whatever is specified (aus einer Entfernung von):
He won’t hit the target at that distance.
to keep sb at a distance: auf Distanz halten
Note: My office is within (easy) walking distance of the station.

28. He could see the tower in the distance.

29. Her portrait looks much better from a distance.
30. Even from / at a distance of ten yards he missed the target.

29 Exercise: Miscellaneous

1. He mentioned in passing that they had spent their holidays at / by the seaside.
cf. song: I do like to be beside the seaside
but: Clacton-on-Sea; Saltburn-by-the-Sea

2. We hadn’t planned for rain, so the party had to be cancelled.

to plan for sb / sth: make plans concerning (sb or the future):
They are planning for a three-fold increase in student-numbers.
I’ll be honest, my baby wasn’t exactly planned for.
Planning for their old age gives people an aim in life.
472 PREPOSITIONS

to plan on (doing) sth: intend (doing) sth, expect, make allowances for sth:
I had not planned on their early arrival, and dinner wasn’t ready.
Do you plan on staying here another year?
Everything goes according to plan.
to have (no) plans to do sth
to make plans to do sth / for doing sth
to concoct / conceive / devise / draw up / work out a plan
to outline a plan
to announce / unveil / present / propose a plan
to carry out / execute / implement / submit a plan
to put a plan into operation
to drop / shelve a plan
to reject / turn down / accept / approve a plan
to foil / thwart a plan
a(n) ingenious / brilliant / well-thought / feasible / realistic / complicated / elaborate /
detailed / grandiose / impracticable / unrealistic plan
a five-year / long-term / short-term / a three-point plan
a plan calls for sth
a plan materializes / succeeds / works / fails / falls through

3. Do you plan on staying with Muriel for ever?

4. The political situation forced thousands to flee their country.
to flee – fled – fled
to flee from sb / sth or flee sb / sth / a place:
The customers fled (from the bank) when the alarm sounded.
to flee the country
The city’s population prepared to flee the heat for the relative cold of the rivers.
fig. to pass away quickly / vanish:
All hope had fled.

5. He tried to avoid the oncoming car and ran into a lamp-post.

to run / bump into sb: to meet unexpectedly

6. They claimed in their defence that they had been misled.

to come to sb’s defence:
Nobody came to her defence as the crowd surged forward.
in defence of sth:
The soldiers died in defence of freedom.

7. Unemployment has reached record levels, but there are no easy answers to the problem.
8. All entries into the application form must be made in ink.
Should I sign my name in pencil or in ink?
but: An entry is made with a pencil / by hand.

9. These reforms must be seen against a backdrop of political and social upheavals.
backdrop: also BE: backcloth:
1. a painted cloth hung across the back of a stage
2. the conditions in which sth happens, background:
The stormy political events of the 1930s provided the backdrop for the film.
The backdrop to the hearings was complex.
PREPOSITIONS 473

10. In principle you are right, but I can’t agree with you entirely.
to agree with sth: We agree with a suggestion / demand / practice / proposal /
statement etc, when we view it with favour and when it meets with our approval:
I agree with all you say.
I don’t agree with buying children expensive presents.
to agree to sth: to give one’s consent to:
It is doubtful whether the trade union representatives will agree to the proposals put
forward by the employers.
compare:
We agree with the scheme in principle, but we think it needs modification in detail.
We agree with the scheme, but we can’t agree to it at the moment.
to agree on sth: is used to indicate the matter concerning which agreement exists or
is reached:
The representatives of the two sides have now agreed on the proposals to be put
before their members.
sth agrees with sb / sth: (of food / climate etc) (usually neg.) to suit one’s health:
I never eat pork, it does not agree / disagrees with me.
This damp weather does not agree with my rheumatism.
to disagree bitterly / profoundly / sharply / completely / totally / utterly:
The sauce disagreed with me.
in principle: as regards the general principle:
Not only are those proposals impracticable, they are wrong in principle.
We agree with the scheme in principle, but we think it needs modification in details.
on principle: on account of / in accordance with one’s principle:
He would always take the word of an Englishman against that of a foreigner, on
principle.

11. Such good health is rare in old people.

among is possible, but different in meaning

12. Telephone bills and stationery can be set off against taxes.
to set sth (off) against tax: make a record of the money spent on sth connected with
one’s job in order to reduce the amount of tax one has to pay

13. It was quite obvious that the onus of proof lay with him.
onus: responsibility / duty
the onus is on sb to do sth
the onus (of sth) lies / rests with sb
to put the onus (of sth) on sb
to furnish / give / offer / present / produce / provide / show proof of sth
ample / clear / conclusive / concrete / convincing / definite / incontestable / indis-
putable / irrefutable / living / positive / tangible / undeniable / unquestionable proof
the burden of proof
The proof of the pudding is in the eating.

14. His invaluable collection has been scattered to the four winds.
Valuable means “worth a lot of money”, the opposite is worthless, or, more formal,
valueless.
Priceless means that the value cannot be expressed in terms of money; invaluable is
often used in the more general sense of “extremely useful”: invaluable advice /
information / help.
sth is invaluable to / for sb
474 PREPOSITIONS

15. Sixteen people have died in the air crash.

compare: they died of hunger: from a lack of food
Though of and from seem to be used interchangeably in some cases, it seems
preferable to use
to die of an illness or feeling, while to die from often is to die following something,
except illness or feeling.
die of / from hunger / cancer / a heart attack / one’s injuries / starvation
I almost, nearly died / could have died of curiosity / embarrassment / grief / laughter /
boredom.
He died from his wounds.
The child died from a fall out of a high window.
to die for one’s belief(s) / principles
to be dying for a cup of tea / something to eat
to be dying to do sth: She is dying to know where you have been.
to be dying of: to feel sth very strongly:
The children are dying of boredom / of curiosity to see what is in the parcel.
Note: to die a poor man / a hero / a martyr
How to die:
to be gone / to pass away / on /
to be deceased verscheiden, hinscheiden
to drop dead
to lose one’s life
to perish
to die in a battle auf dem Schlachtfeld sterben
to die a natural / violent death eines natürlichen / gewaltsamen Todes sterben
to die of cancer / a fever / hunger
/ grief / illness an etwas sterben
to die through neglect
to die with grief vor Kummer sterben
to die for one’s country den Heldentod sterben
to give / lay down / sacrifice
one’s life for sb / sth sein Leben opfern, hingeben
to commit suicide / kill os Selbstmord begehen
to die by one’s own hand
to be murdered ermordet werden
to die by violence,
i.e. a violent death
to die (peacefully) in one’s sleep
to die from a wound / lack of food an einer Wunde sterben
to be killed in an accident / in a
plane crash bei einem Unfall ums Leben kommen
to be murdered / assassinated
criminals / murderers
to die on the scaffold / at the auf dem Schafott, Scheiterhaufen,
stake / in the electric chair elektrischen Stuhl sterben
to be hanged / electrocuted /
executed
to be condemned to execution
by hanging
to be sentenced to be hanged
to execute sb by hanging / gass-
ing / shooting / by the sword /
by electrocution / lethal injection
to be on / be sent to death row
(chiefly AE)
death row Todestrakt
Execution is still the penalty in some states for murder.
The execution will be carried out by a firing squad.
Countries employ a variety of procedures in carrying out executions, including lethal
injection, electrocution, hanging, gassing, and shooting.
PREPOSITIONS 475

to be killed in action (soldier)

to fall (in battle) (soldier)
to be shot dead
to be shot three times in the head
Troops had been given orders to shoot to kill.
mercy killing
euthanasia: the act of painless killing sb who is seriously ill or old, esp. to reduce their
suffering:
Although some people campaign for the right to euthanasia, it is still illegal in most
countries.
Note:
to dye
She dyed her hair red.
a die / dice
The die is cast.
a pair of dice
to roll / shake / throw the dice

16. The last word on the plan has not yet been spoken.
to hang on sb’s words / every word: pay close attention to everything sb is saying
to have a word in sb’s ear: to speak confidentially / in private
to give sb one’s word (that): to promise
to have sb’s word for it (that): be promised:
You have my word for it that the goods will arrive in time.
to go back on one’s word: to fail to fulfil a promise
to have a word (with sb about sth):
Could we have a word before you go to that meeting?
to have words (with sb) (about sth): to quarrel
to keep / break one’s word
last word
a) most recent / fashionable:
10 years ago this dress was considered the last word in elegance.
b) definitive statement:
That book may fairly claim to be the last word on the subject.
c) to be / give one’s final opinion / decision:
I have said my last word – take it or leave it.
I hope that is not your last word on the subject.
not to mince (one’s) words / matters
to put words in sb’s mouth: suggest that sb has said sth when he has not:
She accused the journalists of putting words in her mouth.

17. Many people were alarmed at / by the news of the outbreak of polio.
The government is alarmed by the dramatic increase in violent crime.
I am rather alarmed (to hear) that you are planning to leave the company.
polio, short for poliomyelitis: infantile paralysis

18. The train arrived at five o’clock to the minute, on the dot, so to speak.
to the minute: used mainly in the phrase: punctual to the minute
not to the minute: not always strictly punctual
at the last minute
this minute:
Get out, this minute!
476 PREPOSITIONS

any minute now:

We expect them any minute now.
the minute sb does sth:
I would like to see him the minute he arrives.

19. He was found guilty on three different counts.

count
I want you to start on a count of 5 (i.e. after I have counted up to five).
By my count (i.e. as I have counted them) that is five cakes you have already had.
a) in law
any of a group of offences of which a person is accused:
two counts of forgery and one of fraud
He was found guilty on all counts.
b) any of a set of points made in a discussion or argument:
I disagree with you on both counts.
to be guilty of sth:
He was guilty of murder.
But: I feel guilty about forgetting to post your letter.
Note: to plead guilty to (doing) sth

20. I want this job done by tomorrow night.

21. Her husband is a sub-editor on The Times.
i.e. on the staff of
on is definitely the best solution, with is also possible, for is just acceptable; not: of
Note: It was picked up by reporters on (for) The Times / by Times reporters.

22. The pugilist lost the bout on points.

pugilist: professional boxer
a bout
a) a short period of great activity: one of his intermittent drinking bouts
b) an attack of illness: a bout of influenza
c) a boxing match
to lose on points / by a knock-out
to keep to the point:
Don’t digress so much, keep to the point.
to make it a point to do sth
to make a point of doing sth:
I have always made it a point to visit my mother on her birthday.
to the point: relevant to the subject:
He made an excellent speech, and everything said was to the point.
off the point: irrelevant:
The student received low marks for his essay, as much of it was off the point.
a case in point: a case that has relevance to the point under discussion, or the point
one is making:
Some crimes are so grave that they ought to be visited with greater penalties than the
law at present prescribes. The recent bank robbery is a case in point.
beside the point: having nothing to do with the point at issue or under discussion:
What we have to decide is whether he is guilty of negligence; that he is a person of
good character is beside the point.
There is no point in staying any longer.
What point is there in it?
PREPOSITIONS 477

23. They approached the enemy camp under cover of darkness.

to cover with: in order to protect (be-, abdecken)
to cover in (be-, überziehen)
to be covered with a tarpaulin: (a sheet or cover of) heavy cloth especially treated so
that water will not pass through it:
The load on the trailer had a (sheet of) tarpaulin strapped over it.
to cover sb / sth in / with sth:
Last night’s storm covered the ground with / in snow.
I’d better cover the child with more bedclothes.
Nature covered the bear with a warm fur coat.
The trees are covered in new leaves now that Spring is here.
The room would look much brighter if we covered the sofa with a light-coloured
material.
compare:
The ice, dangerously thin, was covered by a thin layer of snow.
You’re covered in mud! What on earth have you been doing?
The garden was absolutely covered in leaves when the storm passed.
with is used
a) to indicate the thing used as a covering:
The body was covered with a white sheet.
b) when covered is felt to be adjectival rather than participial:
The ground was covered with snow.
All the furniture was covered with dust.
For this last purpose, in is often used, esp. in spoken English, though some purists
condemn it.
cf. F.T. Wood, English Prepositional Idioms

24. It’s the cause of the epidemic that’s giving us cause for concern.
cause of: sth which produces an effect (Grund):
They are investigating the causes of the explosion.
Smoking is one of the causes of heart diseases.
cause for: sth that provides a satisfactory reason for an action, justification, etc
(Anlass):
You have no cause for complaint.
There is no cause for anxiety.

25. In the picture the tree is the symbol of life.

26. In the periodic table Pb is the symbol for lead.
27. I think I locked the door, but I wouldn’t swear to it.
to swear
a) to swear at / about sb / sth: to curse, use rude or blasphemous words:
The drunken fellow started swearing at the policeman.
I overheard one of the dissatisfied spectators swearing about the referee.
Stop swearing in front of the children!
Mind your language! Don’t swear at me, please!
Why did you swear at missing the bus? There will be another soon.
b) to swear by sth
1) name as a guarantee of what one is promising:
to swear by Almighty God / the name of God / one’s honour/ all that is sacred / holy /
dear / all the gods / all saints / all one holds sacred / holy / dear
2) to have unbounded faith / confidence in:
Mother swears by Brown’s silver polish, she has used it for years with excellent
results.
Many of my friends are using word processors, but I still swear by my old typewriter.
478 PREPOSITIONS

to swear on sth: to make a solemn promise on sth that is supposed to have a binding
power on one:
The witness is asked to swear on the Bible that he will tell the truth, the whole truth
and nothing but the truth.
on one’s honour / father’s grave / the head of my son / on oath
to swear to sth: to affirm the truth of; outside legal phraseology: to be certain beyond
all doubt:
He swore to having paid for the goods.
I think I have met the man somewhere, but I couldn’t swear to it.
to swear off (doing) sth: to declare that one will stop:
I have decided to swear off smoking / drugs.
He swore off smoking when doctors told him it caused cancer.

28. My mother-in-law swears by elderberry wine as a cure for colds.

bilberry
also: blaeberry – whortleberry
(the fruit of) a low North European bush growing on hillsides and in high woods
Heidel-, Blaubeere
blackberry
also: bramble: a common wild prickly bush of the rose family, esp. the wild blackberry
Brombeere
blueberry
(the fruit of) any of several types of small North American bush like the bilberry
Blau-, Heidelbeere
cranberry
small and slightly sour
cranberry sauce
Preiselbeere; Kronsbeere
elderberry
fruit of an elder: a small tree with scented white flowers and red or black berries
elderberry wine
Holunderbeere
gooseberry
also: infml.: goosegog
(bush with) a green, smooth, sour but edible berry: gooseberry jam
Stachelbeere
fig. an unwanted third person present when two people (esp. lovers) wish to be alone
together
I didn’t wish to play gooseberry (i.e. to be the unwanted person).
Anstandswauwau, fünftes Rad am Wagen
Note: He still thinks that children are found under the gooseberry bush. (Er glaubt
noch an den Klapperstorch)
blackcurrant / redcurrant
redcurrant jelly
schwarze / rote Johannisbeere
raspberry
a type of bramble: raspberry jam
fig. also: razz, Bronx cheer: sound made with the tongue and the lips to show dislike,
contempt (made by putting one’s tongue out and blowing)
to give / blow sb a raspberry
The teacher got a raspberry as she turned her back.
Himbeere
loganberry
a type of red berry from a plant which is half blackberry and half raspberry
Loganbeere
strawberry
Erdbeere
PREPOSITIONS 479

29. He swore on the Bible that he would tell the truth.

30. He swore by all he held dear that he was innocent.
31. He swore to actually having seen a UFO.
Unidentified Flying Object

30 Exercise: Miscellaneous

1. On closer inspection we discovered that the painting was an ingenious forgery.

also: after
to carry out / conduct / make an inspection
a(n) careful / close / cursory / perfunctory / superficial / on-site inspection

2. You must learn to be tolerant of criticism.

cf. He was intolerant of any opposition.
3. Parents are sometimes blind to the faults of their children.
blind faith / fury / obedience / allegiance / panic / loyalty / rage / hate
to blind sb (to sth):
to be blinded by smoke
His determination blinded him to all the difficulties.
a blinding light / headache / pain
Note: sth is blindingly obvious
to be as blind as a bat:
I’m as blind as a bat without my glasses.
to be blind with sth:
He was blind with tears and rage.
to be blind to sb’s faults / in one eye:
He seems to be blind to the consequences of his policy.
to turn a blind eye / deaf ear to sth: to pretend not to see / hear etc:
He often turned a blind eye to their drinking sessions.
to shut / close one’s eyes to sth
(A case of) the blind leading the blind: people with little information advising people
with even less
a blind alley / date / spot:
I’ve a blind spot where computers are concerned.
He first met his wife on a blind date (i.e. an arrangement made one of his friends to go
on date with sb one has never met before).
to be blind drunk
to go blind
to accept sth blindly

4. All combustion engines work on the same basic principle.

in principle: as regards the general principle:
Not only are those proposals impracticable, they are wrong in principle.
We agree with the scheme in principle, but we think it needs modification in details.

on principle: on account of / in accordance with one’s principles:

He would always take the word of an Englishman against that of a foreigner, on
principle.
480 PREPOSITIONS

5. For / with / despite all his learning he is a very affable man.

for / with all: despite / in spite of
For / with all his boasting he has achieved very little.
For all his talks about sports cars and swimming-pools he is just an ordinary bank-
clerk.
For all you say, I think he is the best teacher we have got.
For all his wealth and fame, he is a very lonely man.
He has great power and wealth, but is still unhappy for all that.
With all her faults he still likes her.

6. Is he the rightful heir to his father’s estate.

cf. The organisers of last week’s coup undoubtedly saw themselves as the legitimate
heirs of Bolshevism.
to be heir / heiress to a large fortune / the throne / a title
to make sb one’s heir:
She made her stepson her heir.
heirloom: (usu. valuable) object that has been handed down in a family for several
generations:
That clock is a family heirloom.
to inherit sth from sb / to come into sth:
also fig.: This government has inherited many problems from the previous one.
inheritance
This title passes by inheritance to the eldest son.
the inheritance of good looks from one’s parents
to come into one’s inheritance
legacy
a) money or property left to sb in a will
b) fig.: things passed to sb by predecessors or from earlier events, etc:
the cultural legacy of the Renaissance
His weak chest was a legacy from a childhood disease.
heritage
a) things such as works of art / cultural achievements and folklore that have been
passed on from earlier generations:
our literary heritage
These ancient buildings are part of the national heritage.
b) (dated or fml.) property that has been or may be inherited by an heir
to bequeath
a) to arrange by making a will to give (property / money) to sb when one dies, to leave:
He bequeathed £1000 (to charity).
She has bequeathed me her jewellery.
b) (fig.) to pass on (e.g. knowledge):
discoveries bequeathed to us by scientists of the last century
bequest
a) the bequest of one’s paintings to a gallery
b) legacy: to leave a bequest of £3000 each to one’s grandchildren

7. They had pity on the stowaway and gave him work in the galley.
galley
a) formerly: long flat ship, usu. rowed by slaves or criminals; ancient Greek or Roman
warship
b) kitchen in a ship or aircraft
c) long tray used by printers for arranging type (Setzschiff)
galley (proof): printed proof on a long slip of paper before it is divided into pages
(Fahne(nabzug)
PREPOSITIONS 481

proof reading
galley slave
a) person forced to row in a galley
b) fig. person made to work like a slave
stowaway: person who hides himself on a ship or aircraft before its departure, in order
to travel without paying or being seen
pity
to be full of / filled with pity for sb / feel (very little) pity for sb
to be moved to pity by sb’s suffering
to do sth out of pity
to arouse / feel / show pity
to have / take pity on sb
to be pitied:
Survivors of the disaster who lost their relatives are much to be pitied.
pitying
a) expressing pity:
He lay helpless in the street under the pitying gaze of the bystanders.
b) showing pity and some contempt:
The performer received only pitying looks from his audience.

8. They refused to carry out the repairs to the damaged car.

to be under repair
to be in need of repair
to be in good / poor / bad repair
to be in a(n) excellent / terrible state of repair
to do / make repairs
extensive / major / minor / necessary repairs
cf. reparation for sth
a) compensating for damage; making amends for loss:
to make reparation (to God) for one’s sins
b) pl. compensation for war damage, demanded from a defeated enemy:
to exact heavy reparations (Reparation, Wiedergutmachung)

9. Our village boasts a fine swimming pool.

to boast of / about sth: to speak with too much pride and satisfaction, to brag:
He’s always boasting about his children’s success at school.
That’s nothing to boast of.
He boasted of being / that he was the best player in the team.

to boast sth: to possess (sth to be proud of):

The town boasts a world-famous gallery.
a boast: thing that one is proud of, boastful statement:
His boast that he could drink 10 pints of beer impressed nobody.
It was his proud boast that he had never missed work because of illness.

10. This newspaper article could affect his chances of becoming ambassador on the
incumbent’s retirement.
to affect
a) have an influence, produce an effect on:
The tax increases have affected us all.
The change in climate may affect your health. (i.e. be bad for)
b) (of disease) attack:
Cancer had affected his lungs.
482 PREPOSITIONS

c) cause to have feelings of sadness / sympathy:

We were deeply affected by the news of her death.
d) (often derog.) make an obvious show of using, wearing or liking:
She affects bright colours.
He affects a pretentious use of language. (i.e. tries to impress people by using
obscure words, etc)
e) pretend to have or feel:
to affect not to know sth / ignorance of sth
She affected a foreign accent.
She affects the helpless female. (i.e. she poses as)
ambassador
the British Ambassador to Greece / in Athens
incumbent
(n): person holding an official position
(adj):
a) necessary part of one’s duty:
It is incumbent (up)on all users of this equipment to familiarize with the safety pro-
cedures.
b) (attr.) holding the specific official position, current:
the incumbent President
to chance
to chance to do sth: to happen by accident:
She chanced to be in the park when I was there.
I chanced to overhear them talk about your work.
to chance doing sth: to risk:
We’ll have to chance meeting an enemy patrol.
I’ll chance being punished.
to chance on sb / sth: meet / find by accident:
She chanced upon some valuable documents when she was cleaning the attic.
chance (n) of doing / to do sth
a) possibility:
Is there any chance of getting a ticket for tonight’s performance?
What are her chances of getting the job?
I think we have a good chance of winning.
b) opportunity:
You won’t get another chance of going there.
She put down the receiver before I had a chance to reply.
The extra day’s holiday gave us a chance to paint the house.

11. I have been very much deceived in you.

to deceive os / sb into doing sth: deliberately mislead:
You cannot pass exams without working, so don’t deceive yourself (into thinking you
can).
They deceived her into signing the papers.
to deceive sb with sb
a web of deceit
to reveal a deceit
to be accused of deceit
Espionage is an activity that deals in deceit.
deceitful words / behaviour
note: deception / deceptive
to obtain sth by deception
a victim of deception
a calculated deception
to see through a deception
PREPOSITIONS 483

Appearances can be deceptive.

My first impression had been deceptive.

12. I invited him to lunch and told the waiter to charge the bill to my account.
to charge sb with (doing) sth: accuse of sth:
He was charged with murder.
to charge (at sb / sth): to rush forward and attack:
The troops charged (at) the enemy lines.
to charge (sb) for sth:
How much do they charge for mending shoes?
As long as you’ve paid in advance we won’t charge you for delivery.
to charge sb / sth / sth with sth: to fill with / give a duty to:
a voice charged with tension
The atmosphere was charged with excitement.
She was charged with an important mission.

13. The judge ruled that he was innocent of his son’s death.
to rule: to give an official decision:
The judge ruled that she must pay the money back.
It’s up to the courts to rule on that matter.
The court has ruled in favour of the sacked employee.
The company’s behaviour has been ruled unlawful.
to rule sth / sb out
1. to say that sth or sb is not under consideration as a possibility:
The police have ruled out foul play.
We can’t rule out the possibility that she was murdered by her husband.
2. to make it impossible for sth to happen / sb to do sth:
Rain ruled out further play.
An ankle injury ruled him out for the big match.

14. He doesn’t expect you to take him at his word.

cf. take sb by the hand
to hang on sb’s words / every word: pay close attention to everything sb is saying
to have a word in sb’s ear: to speak confidentially / in private
to give sb one’s word (that): to promise
to have sb’s word for it (that): be promised:
You have my word for it that the goods will arrive in time.
to go back on one’s word: to fail to fulfil a promise
to have a word with sb (about sth):
Could we have a word before you go to that meeting?
to have words (with sb) (about sth): to quarrel
to keep / break one’s word
last word
a) most recent / fashionable:
10 years ago this dress was considered the last word in elegance.
b) definitive statement:
That book may fairly claim to be the last word on the subject.
c) to be / give one’s final opinion / decision:
I have said my last word – take it or leave it.
I hope that is not your last word on the subject.
not to mince (one’s) words / matters
484 PREPOSITIONS

to put words in sb’s mouth: suggest that sb has said sth when he has not:
She accused the journalists of putting words in her mouth.

15. In medieval paintings the snake is symbolic of evil.

16. They did not object to eating off paper plates, but none of them would drink from / out of
plastic cups.
cf. to eat out of sb’s hand

17. To / by all appearances they are as thick as thieves.

appearance:
Don’ t judge by / from appearances – they may be misleading.
to keep up appearances:
There is no point in keeping up appearances when everybody knows we are nearly
bankrupt.
to put in an appearance:
I don’t want to go to that party, but I’d better put in an appearance.
against / contrary to all appearances
thick as thieves: very friendly
as thick as two short planks: very stupid
to have a thick skull: stupid:
How can I get it into your thick skull that we can’t afford a new car?
through thick and thin:
He remained loyal to me through thick and thin.
to be thick with sb
a) intimate:
John is very thick with Ann.
b) densely covered / filled:
a garden thick with flowers
The building was thick with reporters.

18. Most female graduates have no real hope of promotion.

19. He swung the child onto his shoulders and walked away into the night.
swing – swung – swung
to shrug one’s shoulders (at sth)
to straighten one’s shoulders
broad / square shoulders
to give sb the cold shoulder: be unfriendly
to put one’s shoulder to the wheel: work very hard
to rub shoulders with sb: associate with sb, meet famous people socially
to tell sb sth straight from the shoulder: in a direct manner
to be / give sb a shoulder to cry on: give sympathy and comfort
to have a good head on one’s shoulders: be sensible
to be / stand head and shoulders above sb / sth: be much better than

20. The earth revolves on its own axis once every 24 hours.
The earth revolves (a)round the sun on its axis.
A wheel revolves round / on its axis.
fig.: to centre on sb /sth
His life revolves (a)round his family.
to rotate on an axis
cf. the Axis: alliance of Germany, Italy and Japan in World War II
PREPOSITIONS 485

21. Don’t put yourself out on my account.

to put os out: make an effort to do sth that will help sb
to put os out on sb’s account / behalf
to bring / call sb to account (for (doing) sth)
to give an account of sth
to keep an account of sth
a(n) eyewitness / firsthand account
to take account of sth
to take sth into account
by / from all accounts
by sb’s own account
to give a good / poor account of os
to put / turn sth to good account

22. We did it at the instance of Mr Smith.

for instance
in this instance:
He is right about most things, but in this instance he is obviously mistaken.
to cite / give an instance of sth
in rare / a few isolated instances
cf.
The band are playing this march by request of her Majesty the Queen.
Further information will be supplied on request.
At the request of the Medical Officer of Health, the sale of corned beef has been
temporarily suspended.
Buses stop here by request. (bei Bedarf)
Note: request stop (Bedarfshaltestelle)

23. At the end of the first lap they were all well ahead, but on the second lap we rapidly gained
(up)on them.
We are on the second lap, so don’t slacken.
to do a lap of honour

24. They had met regularly for seven years; in the end they got married.
25. He was after her money and regarded marriage as a means to an end.
26. Did you inquire after his mother’s health when you last saw him?
to inquire may take a direct object: to enquire the time / way / a person’s name / the
price of sth;
to enquire about is rather more vague.
to enquire after: usually means ask after sb’s health:
Did you enquire after his mother’s health when you last saw him?
to enquire of: to ask:
I must enquire of you where you obtained this money, sir.
to enquire for
a) to enquire the whereabouts of some place one wishes to find:
This young lady is enquiring for the furnishing department.
b) to ask by name for sb one wishes to see or speak to:
When you ring up, enquire for Mrs Mason.
to enquire into: to investigate, usually: inquire (more common in this case than
enquire):
The court ordered the council to inquire into the conduct of the 2 officers.
486 PREPOSITIONS

27. She inquired for somebody called Geoffrey.

28. The old books were in mint condition and I inquired about their price.
also: I inquired their price
mint: of objects which people collect for pleasure such as books, postage stamps,
coins, etc: in perfect condition, as if new and unused
the Royal Mint: place where coins are made by the government
fig.: He must be making a mint. (i.e. a large amount of money)

29. We lost our way and had to inquire the way to the station.
30. The court ordered the council to inquire into the causes of the race riots.
cause of: sth which produces an effect (Grund):
They are investigating the causes of the explosion.
Smoking is one of the causes of heart diseases.
cause for: sth that provides a satisfactory reason for an action, justification, etc
(Anlass):
You have no cause for complaint.
There is no cause for anxiety.

31 Exercise: Miscellaneous

1. His life hung by a thread.

also: by a hair
to lose the thread of an argument / a story: be unable to follow any longer
to pick up the thread(s) of a conversation: carry on after an interruption

2. What we need is an official inquiry into the causes of the contamination.

to inquire may take a direct object: to enquire the time / way / a person’s name / the
price of sth;
to enquire about is rather more vague.
to enquire after: usually means ask after sb’s health:
Did you enquire after his mother’s health when you last saw him?
to enquire of: to ask:
I must enquire of you where you obtained this money, sir.
to enquire for
a) to enquire the whereabouts of some place one wishes to find:
This young lady is enquiring for the furnishing department.
b) to ask by name for sb one wishes to see or speak to:
When you ring up, enquire for Mrs Mason.
to enquire into: to investigate, usually: inquire (more common in this case than
enquire):
The court ordered the council to inquire into the conduct of the 2 officers.
cause of: sth which produces an effect (Grund):
They are investigating the causes of the explosion.
Smoking is one of the causes of heart diseases.
cause for: sth that provides a satisfactory reason for an action, justification, etc
(Anlass):
You have no cause for complaint.
There is no cause for anxiety.
PREPOSITIONS 487

3. They overcharged us by £5.

to overcharge
a) That grocer never overcharges.
We were overcharged for the eggs.
They overcharged me (by) £3 for the shopping.
b) fill or load sth too heavily
fig. a poem overcharged with emotion / feeling

4. On impulse he asked her to marry him.

also: on an impulse

5. Some doctors say that smoking in moderation is not harmful.

moderation: quality of being moderate, freedom from excess, restraint:
They showed a remarkable degree of moderation in not quarrelling publicly on TV.
Even after sunset there was no moderation in the temperature.
in moderation: not excessively:
Whisky can be good for you if taken in moderation.
to show / display moderation in (doing) sth:
He displayed surprising moderation in the consumption of alcohol.
to moderate: to exercise a moderating influence on:
He must learn to moderate his temper.
moderate (adj.)
to travel at a moderate speed
a moderate-sized bathroom
a man with moderate views
moderate wage demands / prices / a moderate drinker / eater
moderator
a) person who arbitrates in a dispute, mediator
b) person who makes sure that the same standards are used by different examiners
when marking an examination
c) Presbyterian minister presiding over a church court
Moderator
(TV) presenter, host, anchor man
moderieren: to present:
Who will present his show while he is away?
Our review of this week’s papers is presented by the editor of The Times.
anchor man
a) person who co-ordinates the work of a group, esp. that of interviewers in radio or
television broadcast
b) a strong member of a sports team who has a vital part to play:
The anchor man in a relay team runs last.

6. With God all things are possible.

cf. By God / Jove / jingo (exclamations)

7. Speculation as to / about / on the desirability of these measures is an unprofitable

pastime.
speculation about / (up)on / (over) sth:
There was much speculation over the cause of the air crash.
His remarks have led to intense speculations about the possibility of tax cuts.
488 PREPOSITIONS

to speculate in sth:
in oil / property development / mining shares
to speculate on / about:
We don’t know all the circumstances, so it would be pointless to speculate on what
happened.
It is the subject of much speculation / it is pure speculation.
unprofitable: cf. profitable – remunerative – well-paid
to carry out / take measures against (doing) sth:
They took harsh measures against smuggling.
farsighted / interim / stopgap / temporary / precautionary / preventive / prophylactic /
safety / security / emergency / extraordinary / draconian / drastic / harsh / stern /
stringent / tough / radical / punitive measures

8. Don’t ask him why he left the force; he’s a bit touchy on that score.
touchy
a) easily offended
b) (of a subject / situation) requiring careful handling because of potential controversy
or offence:
Racism remains a touchy issue.
touchy about sth:
Although he is a successful manager, he is very touchy about his lack of qualifications.
touchily:
“You said you didn’t like my paintings, so don’t buy it out of pity”, she said touchily.
score
group / set of 20 / a score of people / three score (sgl!) and ten (70)
How many people were there? – There were scores of them.
on that score: with regard to that
on more scores than one: for many good reasons:
I want revenge on her on more scores than one.
also:
What’s the score?
to score a goal
With the score on 40-love, Edberg now serves for the match.
No score.
force
the force: the police force
the forces: the armed forces (army, navy, air force)

9. The icebreaker had been heading home when it was diverted to aid in / (with) the rescue.
to head
a) be at the front / top of:
to head a procession / his name headed the list
b) be in charge of / lead:
to head a rebellion / government / delegation
c) (esp. pass.) give a heading to:
The chapter was headed “My Early Life”.
d) move in a specified direction:
Where are you heading / headed?
to head south / back to camp / away from the town / towards home
to head for: move towards:
The boat was heading for some rocks.
He headed straight for the bar.
PREPOSITIONS 489

fig. Is the world heading for disaster?

to divert sb / sth from sth to sth
a) to divert traffic from one road to another:
to divert sb’s attention / energies
b) to entertain, amuse:
Children are easily diverted.
aid
in aid of sth:
A bazaar will be held in aid of the church funds.
to collect money in aid of charity
Now then, what’s all this crying in aid of? (purpose)
aid in (doing) sth:
A dictionary is a very valuable aid in learning a new language.
with the aid of sb / sth
Eventually, with the aid of a little subterfuge, he got her to agree.
by the aid of sth:
Small though the writing was, I managed to make it out by the aid of a magnifying
glass.

to come / go to the aid of sb:

He was drowned when he went to the aid of a swimmer in difficulty.
to aid and abet sb in (doing) sth: help in some criminal activity:
He was accused of aiding and abetting the terrorists.
to aid sb in / with sth:
We were greatly aided in our investigation by the co-operation of the police.
rescue
to rescue sb / sth from his enemies / the mob / drowning / poverty / a name from
oblivion
to come to sb’s rescue

10. We haven’t come to any decision yet; the matter is still under discussion.
11. These pictures have been drawn from life.
a portrait drawn / taken / painted from life, i.e. a living model
The artist drew the scene from memory.
The writer drew the stories from her own experience.
a life class: i.e. in which art students draw from living models
to draw / imitate / resemble sb / sth to the life: exactly:
That child can mimic people to the life.
The writer’s description of a village cricket match is particularly to recommend: he has
depicted it to the life.
for the life of: even if life depended on it:
I can’t remember for the life of me where I put that money.
He tried again and again, but for the life of him he could not mount that horse.
for life: during the whole or rest of one’s lifetime:
As a result of that accident he was crippled for life.
In those days, if you were born a peasant you were a peasant for life.

12. Do you know why he divorced his wife?

They are divorcing each other / getting a divorce.
to ask / sue for a divorce / start divorce proceedings
to get / grant / obtain a divorce
to divorce sth from sth: fig. to separate, esp. in a false way:
You cannot divorce science from ethical questions.
490 PREPOSITIONS

a politician totally divorced from the real needs of the people (i.e. unable to under-
stand and deal with)
a divorce settlement
(a) divorce by mutual consent

13. He had stuck a flower in his hat.

14. They were fined for going over a crossroads on / at red.
at a / the crossroads: at a decisive point:
Our business is at the crossroads; if this deal succeeds, our future is assured, if not,
we shall be bankrupt.
Ecology stands at a crossroads at present.
traffic light(s) / stoplight / traffic signal:
control of road traffic, esp. at junctions by means of red, yellow / amber, and green
lights:
The traffic lights are at green / were against us.
to shoot the amber / the traffic lights: go past when they are signalling cars to stop
to cross a street at red, i.e. when red is showing
to jump the lights: to go through red lights
The bus had failed to stop at the red light.
“Do not go forward when traffic lights are green unless there is room for you to clear
the junction safely. Never go forward when the red and amber lights are showing
together.”
(The Highway Code, prepared by The Ministry of Transport and the Central Office of
Information, published by Her Majesty’s Stationery Office)

15. Cocaine has a special perniciousness when industrious citizens by the million become
addicted.
cf. to sell by the dozen / yard / ton
pernicious (to sb / sth): very harmful, often in a way that is not easily noticeable,
having or being an evil influence:
the pernicious effects of those horror videos on young children
a pernicious lie
a pernicious campaign to blacken his character
Pollution of the water supply reached a level pernicious to the health of the people.
cf. detrimental / conducive to

16. The symptoms were first seen in monkeys at two research centres.
17. Of course, I realize on reflection that there is a solution to all our problems.
reflection
He looked at his reflection in the mirror.
The rising rate of crime is a reflection of an unstable society.
reflection on sb / sth: disapproval or unfavourable judgement, esp. expressed in an
indirect way:
The fact that we’re dismissing you is no reflection on the quality of your work - we
simply can’t afford to employ you any more.
to reflect on sth
1. to cause to be seen in an unfavourable way:
The unemployment figures reflect badly on the government’s policies.
2. to think carefully:
After reflecting for a time on the problem he decided not to go.
solution of / to sth:
This piece of evidence may help us in the solution of the problem (i.e. act of solving).
PREPOSITIONS 491

The solution of / to the problem on page 10 will be published next week (i.e. a solution
attaching, belonging, applying to).
Only to: There seems to be no solution to the problem
to find a solution to / for sth:
There has been considerable activity world-wide to find a solution to the growing
problem of water shortages.

18. Come and sit with / beside me.

also: next to

19. There’s a growing need for new housing.

20. We have no need of your advice.
to create / feel / have / meet / obviate / satisfy a need
a(n) acute / basic / fundamental / unfulfilled / urgent / compulsive / crying / desperate
/ pressing need
a(n) biological / emotional / spiritual / psychological / physical need
a need arises

21. There is no need for alarm.

22. Although the bungalow was badly in need of repair he rented it for want of a more suitable
one.
in want of sth:
The house is in want of repair.
for want of sth: on account of the lack / absence / neglect of whatever is specified:
If we did not succeed, it was not for want of trying.
It is not for want of money that he lives so wretchedly.
to be wanting in sth: lacking in:
His behaviour was wanting in courtesy.
to want for sth: (in negatives and questions): want in respect of:
He does not want for money.
The children have never wanted for anything.

23. Tom’s marks by contrast with Harry’s were excellent.

24. In contrast to / with previous statements he disclaimed all responsibility.
by contrast (with sth):
His uncouth manner was the more noticeable by contrast with the courtesy always
shown by his brother.
She had almost failed the exam, but her sister, by contrast, had done very well.
in contrast with sb / sth:
The white figure stood out plainly in contrast with the dark background.
His white hair was in sharp contrast with his dark skin.
in contrast to sb / sth:
is used when the phrase expresses opposition between two notions, and modifies an
entire statement:
In contrast to his brother, he was always considerate in his treatment of others.

25. You ought to reconcile yourself to your lot.

26. How can such a decision be reconciled with justice?
to reconcile
a) settle a quarrel:
We were finally reconciled when he apologized.
492 PREPOSITIONS

She refused to be reconciled with her brother.

They can’t reconcile their differences.
b) make agree:
to reconcile the evidence with the facts
Can eating fish be reconciled with vegetarianism?
c) accept reluctantly sth unpleasant, unwelcome:
The high salary reconciled me to living abroad.
Could you reconcile yourself to a lifetime of unemployment?

27. It is not possible to compare the wages of German workers with those of workers in Great
Britain.
to compare sb / sth with sb / sth: place side by side, noting resemblances and
differences, usually with the stress on the differences:
The standard of living of the British working man is high compared with that of his
counterpart in many other countries.
compare with: used intransitively cf. 30

28. In As You Like it Jaques compares the world to a stage.

to compare sb / sth to sb / sth: to state a resemblance between, to liken
to compare sb / sth with sb / sth: place side by side, noting resemblances and
differences, usually with the stress on the differences:
The standard of living of the British working man is high compared with that of his
counterpart in many other countries.
All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages.
(As You Like It, II,7,139ff)
stage
The plan is still in its early stages.
At this stage of the negotiations ...
to set the stage for sth: prepare for / make possible:
The unjust peace treaty set the stage for another war.
to become the stage for
Geneva has become the stage for many meetings of world leaders.
to travel by easy stages: i.e. only for a short distance at a time
stage fright: nervousness felt by an actor, etc in front of an audience

29. Nothing can compare with wool for warmth.

30. Sir Philip Sidney’s poetry is hardly comparable with / to Shakespeare’s.
Sir Philip Sidney (1554-1586), soldier, diplomat, scholar, poet; The Defense of Poetry,
Astrophel and Stella, et al.
PREPOSITIONS 493

32 Exercise: Idiomatic Expressions

1. You may take your jacket off; we don’t stand on ceremony here.
to stand on one’s own (two) feet
standing on one’s head: easily
Why are you worrying about the examination? You can pass that standing on your
head.
to stand on one’s dignity

2. He died not by his own hand, but at the hands of his own servant.
at hand
a) close / near at hand:
He lives close at hand.
b) about to happen:
Your big moment is at hand.
in hand:
a) I still have some money in hand.
b) We have the situation well in hand.
cf. The football fans have got completely out of hand.
off one’s hands: no longer one’s responsibility:
They’ll be glad to get their son off their hands.
on one’s hands: resting on one as a responsibility:
I don’t know how she manages, with three growing children and an invalid husband
on her hands.
on hand: available:
I always keep a certain amount of money on hand, in case of an emergency.
to hand
a) within reach, readily available:
I don’t have the information to hand.
b) received (commercial):
Your letter is to hand. (liegt vor)
off hand
a) on the spur of the moment, here and now:
I cannot give you the information off hand, I shall have to look it up.
b) casual, as though one were not interested or did not wish to be troubled:
He treated my request in a very off-hand / offhand manner. (wurstig, lässig)
He was very off-hand to / with me.

3. The soldiers were ordered to report to their officers at / on the double.

on / at double: quickly and without any delay
to report sth (to sb):
Many rape victims are too scared to report the accident to the police.
We reported the information to the authorities.
to report on / about sth:
The correspondent reported on the situation at the front.
to report sb / sth as doing sth:
The fire was reported as burning out of control.
also: The fire was reported to be burning out of control.
to report to sb / sth (for sth): present os:
The soldiers had to report to the headquarters for duty.
Please report to the receptionist / to reception on arrival.
494 PREPOSITIONS

to report to sb: be responsible to sb:

She reports directly to the dean.
to report sb to sb for (doing) sth:
He reported the boy to the head teacher for smoking on the school premises.

4. We have it on good authority that the government are planning tax cuts.
to be under sb’s authority:
These employees are under my authority.
by sb’s authority:
By whose authority were the funds spent?
on sb’s authority:
She did all this on her own authority.
to have sth on sb’s authority / on the authority of sb:
I have it on good / the highest authority that the meeting has been cancelled.
in authority:
I want a decision from / I need the support of someone in authority.
the / a(n) greatest living / outstanding / leading / respected / competent / indisputable
authority on sth
to have / exert / exercise / wield authority over sb
to overstep / abuse one’s authority
to challenge / defy / deny / reject / rebel against / undermine sb’s authority
absolute / complete / full / supreme / unquestioned authority

price / job / wage / pay / tax cuts:

This will lead to considerable pay cuts for millions of workers.
cuts in sth:
cuts in public spending
to plan for sb / sth: make plans concerning (sb or the future):
They are planning for a three-fold increase in student-numbers.
I’ll be honest, my baby wasn’t exactly planned for.
Planning for their old age gives people an aim in life.
to plan on (doing) sth: intend (doing) sth, expect, make allowances for sth:
I had not planned on their early arrival, and dinner wasn’t ready.
Do you plan on staying here another year?
Everything goes according to plan.
to have (no) plans to do sth
to make plans to do sth / for doing sth
to concoct / conceive / devise / draw up / work out a plan
to outline a plan
to announce / unveil / present / propose a plan
to carry out / execute / implement / submit a plan
to put a plan into operation
to drop / shelve a plan
to reject / turn down / accept / approve a plan
to foil / thwart a plan
a(n) ingenious / brilliant / well-thought / feasible / realistic / complicated / elaborate /
detailed / grandiose / impracticable / unrealistic plan
a five-year / long-term / short-term / a three-point plan
a plan calls for sth
a plan materializes / succeeds / works / fails / falls through

5. Like so many politicians, he can smile on cue, whatever his inner feelings.
dead / right on cue: exactly at the right moment:
He walked in right on cue.
PREPOSITIONS 495

The actor missed his cue and came onto the stage late. (Stichwort, Einsatz)
I wasn’t sure what to do, so I took my cue from the person sitting next to me.
The fall in interest rates may be a cue for an upturn in consumer spending. (Finger-
zeig, Wink)

6. I hope you will not immediately foam at the mouth if I tell you that our intervention was of
little avail.
to foam
produce foam
The dying animal was found foaming at the mouth.
a glass of foaming beer
be foaming at the mouth (over sth):
fig. be very angry: He could hardly speak, he was foaming at the mouth.
avail
to avail os of sth: make use / take advantage of:
You must avail yourself of every opportunity to speak English.

of little / no avail (adjectival use):

The advice we got was of no avail.
His efforts / interventions were of no / little avail.
to little / no avail / without avail (adverbial use):
The doctors did everything to keep him alive but to no avail.
cf. 12

7. He’s obviously trying to curry favour with his superiors again.

cf. to ingratiate os with
to cosy / suck / play up to sb
to butter sb up

8. They used to argue for hours on end.

9. Another reason for his decision was to remind the world at large that he was still in
command.
at large: as a whole, altogether
to be at large:
The escaped prisoners are still at large / at liberty / on the loose / on the run.
to be under sb’s command:
The army is under the King’s direct command.
to take command sth
to put sb in supreme command
to take command of an army / a situation
at sb’s command:
I’m here at the King’s command.
They opened the fire at his command.
to have a good / excellent / fluent / perfect command of French / a language / the
details
to carry out / execute / give / issue / obey a command (to do sth)

10. For once the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer did not see eye to eye on
/ about economic issues.
also: just for once / just this once
496 PREPOSITIONS

11. They are defenceless vis-à-vis / against an enemy who appears to strike at will.
vis-à-vis sb / sth
a) in relation, regard to sb / sth:
One solution would be for us to lower our exchange rate vis-à-vis other countries.
They discussed plans for the company vis-à-vis a merger.
Where do we stand vis-à-vis last week’s change in the law?
b) in comparison with sth:
Women’s salaries are low vis-à-vis what men earn for the same work.
His salary vis-à-vis the national income is extremely high.
will
She has great strength of will / no will of her own.
to have a strong / weak will
to be strong-, weak-willed
against one’s will
of one’s own free will:
I did it of my own free will.
with a will: willingly and enthusiastically:
She started digging the garden with a will.
Where there’s a will there’s a way.

12. They tried to save him from going bankrupt, but to no avail.
13. A young man who is down on his luck might do anything to find a job.
14. This job will provide you with an opportunity to turn your knowledge to good advantage.
to acquire / accumulate / gain / absorb / soak up knowledge
to have knowledge of sth
to broaden / deepen / brush up one’s knowledge
to demonstrate / air / display / show / parade / flaunt one’s knowledge
to communicate / disseminate / impart knowledge
to deny (all) knowledge of sth
detailed / extensive / profound / thorough / rudimentary / slight / superficial know-
ledge
to have (a) fluent / reading / speaking knowledge of a language
sth is common knowledge:
It is common knowledge that she spent three years in prison.
to one’s knowledge:
To my knowledge he has never been here.
to come to sb’s knowledge:
It came to my knowledge that he had left town.
to the best of one’s knowledge
a person of great knowledge

15. We should make the excursion in all weathers.

16. On occasion he had happened (up)on people endowed with ESP.
ESP: extra-sensory perception: knowledge or feelings about outside, past or future
things obtained without the use of the 5 senses
endowed with: provided with:
She is endowed with intelligence as well as beauty / with both beauty and brains.
PREPOSITIONS 497

17. The prisoner was set at liberty.

also: ... was set free / was released
cf. He is still at large.
to be at liberty to do sth: free:
You are at liberty to leave / to say what you like.
to take liberties with sb / sth: to behave in a presumptuous disrespectful way:
She told him to stop taking liberties (i.e. treat her with too much familiarity).
This film takes considerable liberties with the novel it is based on.
to take the liberty of doing sth: to do without permission:
I took the liberty of borrowing your lawn-mower while you were away.

18. The sudden change in / of the weather caught the hikers completely off guard.
but: a change of weather
hike
a) long walk, esp. in the country:
to go on a ten-mile hike
b) rise in prices / costs:
The union demands a 7% wage hike.
to hike: a hiking holiday
guard
be on / off one’s guard against sb / (doing) sth:
Be on your guard against saying the wrong thing.
to catch sb off their guard
also: to catch sb napping / on the hop / with his / her pants down
guarded: cautious:
Be guarded in what you say.
guardian
a) The police are the guardians of law and order.
b) person legally responsible for sb, esp. an orphaned child / ward

19. We had our instructions and carried them out to the letter.
the letter / spirit of the law:
Obey the spirit, not the letter of the law.
to keep to the letter of an agreement / a contract

20. You can’t expect your wife to wait on you hand and foot.
to wait on sb: attend to sb
to wait for sb (to do sth):
They waited for me to leave.
to keep sb waiting

21. She is generous to a fault; she has given away most of her money.
i.e. excessively, so that it almost amounts to a fault
critical / careful to a fault
The fault is / lies with the managers / in the management.
to be at fault
498 PREPOSITIONS

22. I’m concerned about my father’s health.

concerned with: having to do with, or having as one’s concern or business
We are not concerned with that matter.
concerned about: worried:
I’m concerned about my wife’s health.
He seems to be making little progress, and the doctor is very concerned about him.
concerned for is also sometimes used in this connection:
She felt concerned for the child’s safety.
But concerned for more often means anxious to assure.
concerned in: implicated / involved:
More than one person has been concerned in this affair.
F.T. Wood, English Prepositional Idioms

23. Youth clubs should be concerned with / for the welfare of the young.
24. Few people seem to be concerned about / over the damage to relations with other
countries.
25. More than one politician has been concerned in this affair.
26. A good employer must be concerned for / with the welfare of his workers.

33 Exercise: Miscellaneous

1. Unless I hear anything to the contrary, I’ll meet you outside the station.
on the contrary:
I hear you are enjoying your new job. – On the contrary, I find it rather dull.
There was nothing dowdy or ugly about her dress: on the contrary, she had a certain
private elegance.
contrary to sth:
Contrary to popular belief, the desert can produce crops.
Contrary to what is generally assumed, the adjustment to this kind of work is relatively
easy.
to the contrary:
This method, despite thousands of published statements to the contrary, has no
damaging effects whatsoever.
outside
adverb
opp.: inside
Come inside – it’s dark outside.
adjective
the outside wall
outside repairs / interests / chances
opp.: inside
noun
It looked tiny from the outside.
a coat with fur on the outside
an observer from the outside
preposition
Wait just outside the door. (vor)
to stay somewhere outside New York
a job to be done outside working hours
PREPOSITIONS 499

That’s quite outside my experience.

opp.: within
compare: Go outside if you want to smoke – Let’s go out for a drink.

2. A man is helping the police with their enquiries.

3. He won’t be lecturing this term, he’s on sabbatical.
sabbatical: leave given to academics for travel, study etc:
a one-year sabbatical
a sabbatical year / term

4. These people tend to be intolerant of anything foreign.

5. No one does anything from a single motive.
out of would be acceptable
cf. to do sth out of curiosity / desperation / jealousy / kindness / necessity / pity /
spite, etc
Just out of curiosity, why did you reject the offer?
Jealousy was the motive for the murder / the murder motive.
What do you think his motives were in helping us?
to find / establish a motive
to question / doubt / suspect sb’s motives
to have nothing but the highest motives
The underlying motive is ...
a(n) altruistic / (dis)honourable / noble / base / selfish motive
cf. motif
a) main subject, idea on which a work of art is based
b) a singular or repeated pattern or colour:
a cat motif on the child’s pyjamas

6. To tilt at windmills means to fight (against) imaginary enemies.

to tilt
(cause to) slope (as if) by raising one end:
The table top suddenly tilted and all the plates and glasses crashed onto the floor.
fig.: This piece of evidence may tilt the balance of opinion against the defendant.
tilt (n)
She wore her hat at a tilt over her left eye.
In his newspaper column this week he has one of his regular tilts at modern fashions.
at full tilt: at full speed / with full force:
They rode down the hill at full tilt.
to fight sb:
They want to build a new road across this park, but we’ll fight them.
to fight sb for sth:
He fought the other contenders for leadership of the party.
The firemen fought the blaze bravely.
to fight against sb / sth:
It’s no use fighting against the legal department on this issue – they’re too powerful.
I tried to fight against sleep, but couldn’t.
to fight a war with sb over / about sth:
The US fought a war with Mexico about their common border.
The dogs were fighting over a bone.
to fight (a war) for sth:
The war was fought for a just cause.
to fight for justice / freedom / control of the country
500 PREPOSITIONS

to fight fire with fire: use the same methods as one’s opponents
to fight bravely / heroically / desperately / hard / stubbornly / unfairly / fair(ly)

7. His guilt has been established beyond reasonable doubt.

to plant / raise a doubt / doubts
to cast doubts on sb / sth
to have / feel / entertain / harbour / express / voice / a doubt / doubts about sb / sth
to dispel / clear up / resolve a doubt / doubts
(a) serious / strong deep / reasonable / slight / gnawing / lingering doubt(s)
a doubt / doubts arise(s) / appear(s)
to give sb the benefit of the doubt
There is not a shadow of a doubt that ...
cf. to be beyond belief / dispute / repair / sb’s control / number
Her professionalism is beyond dispute.
grains of sand beyond number

8. They were fifty in number.

9. He is an orphan and lives with his uncle / at his uncle’s.
to be orphaned:
She was orphaned when her parents were killed in a car accident.

10. So far there has been no progress towards ending the civil war.
i.e. progress in the peace talks has been rather disappointing
progress towards an end or objective
progress towards the solution of the problem / a settlement of the dispute
progress in (doing) / on / with sth:
The funds will boost progress in cancer research and help to save lives.
Medical researchers have made great progress in developing drugs to control
schizophrenia in the past five years.
Rapid progress was made on the development of gas turbines at that time.
Because of the bad weather we made no progress on the house for the next three
days.
She’d made no progress with the report she had to write.
Note: in progress: happening
An inquiry is now in progress.
a lesson / recording in progress

11. It was a big mistake on your part to put your signature to the contract without reading the
small print.
to put one’s signature to sth: suggests commitment
to put one’s signature on sth: refers to the physical act
I have some documents which require your signature.
Will you witness my signature?
to put one’s signature on a cheque
a document with two signatures on it
a contract ready for signature
signatory: person, country that has signed an agreement
the signatory powers
the signatories to the treaty (Signatarstaaten)
also: fine print
to print sth (in) boldface / in italics / in Roman
to be written in large print
PREPOSITIONS 501

The titles are in bold print.

The debate is raging in print and on the radio and television.
to work in print journalism
to be in print
to be / go out of print

12. He tore the sheets across the middle and consigned them to the waste-paper basket.
to consign (fml. / hum.)
a) hand over: to consign a child to / into its uncle’s care:
The body was consigned to the flames.
b) put sth unwanted away
This old chair should be consigned to the attic.
c) send for delivery:
The books have been consigned (to you) by rail.
tear – tore – torn
to tear at sth
to tear sth out of / off sth:
She tore several pages out of the book.
He tore a button on / off his jacket.
to tear into sb / sth: attack, criticize:
The tow boxers were tearing into each other.
He tore into his opponent.
to tear sb / sth to pieces / shreds:
He tore my arguments to shreds.
to tear sth on sth:
She tore her blouse on a nail.
to be torn between people / things:
I’m torn between buying a new car and going on a holiday to Mexico.

13. He had completely forgotten about her letter.

but: to forget sth / sb
compare:
She forgot to buy the stamps, i.e. she did not buy them.
She forgot about buying the stamps, i.e. either she did not buy them or she did not
remember buying them.

14. We have to stock up on / (with) petrol and sugar before prices go up.
to stock up with / on sth:
Jerry is stocking up with wine and brandy for the New Year party.
The power stations, anticipating a long strike, had stocked up with coal.
This shop is well stocked up with camping supplies.
We must stock up on pencils, we seem to have very few left.
We always stock up on cheap cigarettes when we go to Holland.
We’ve got plenty of fruit and vegetables, but we must stock up on meat.
The equipment has been on order for some weeks. (bestellt)
cf. out of stock
Note: to take stock of sth:
Let’s take stock of the situation.
Buy now while stock lasts!
cf. store
to put little / great / no / not much store by / on sth
502 PREPOSITIONS

to have / there is sth in store for sb:

We have a few surprises in store.
There is a great shock in store for him.
a library with a store (i.e. a large amount) of rare books
stored with:
a gallery stored with fine paintings
a mind well stored with facts

15. She wanted to buy the dress but balked at the high price.
to ba(u)lk: be unwilling to do or agree to sth difficult or unpleasant

16. The sudden rise in the cost of living dealt a serious blow to the government’s chances of
re-election.
to increase / go up / rise in value
to chance
to chance to do sth: to happen by accident:
She chanced to be in the park when I was there.
I chanced to overhear them talk about your work.
to chance doing sth: to risk:
We’ll have to chance meeting an enemy patrol.
I’ll chance being punished.
to chance on sb / sth: meet / find by accident:
She chanced upon some valuable documents when she was cleaning the attic.
chance (n) of doing / to do sth
a) possibility:
Is there any chance of getting a ticket for tonight’s performance?
What are her chances of getting the job?
I think we have a good chance of winning.
b) opportunity:
You won’t get another chance of going there.
She put down the receiver before I had a chance to reply.
The extra day’s holiday gave us a chance to paint the house.

17. All but four of the colleges at Oxford are co-residential.

cf. all but: almost, nearly:
It’s all but impossible.
The town has all but disappeared after the earthquake.
After two and a half years work the building was all but completed.
cf. a school is co-educational
residential
1. containing or suitable for private houses:
a residential area / suburb / district / road / street
2. connected with or based on residence:
a residential home for the elderly
residence / residency
1. house, large and impressive:
the President’s official residence
a country / family residence
2. the fact of living in a particular place:
to take up residence in a college / castle
3. the period of this:
to be granted residence
The asylum-seekers were granted permanent / temporary residence in our country.
PREPOSITIONS 503

in residence: living in a particular place because of one’s work or duties:

Students must remain in residence during the academic year.
The Queen is in residence at Balmoral.

18. There were only three women on the jury.

cf. to be / sit on a staff / committee / panel / board

19. This is an English language course which is oriented towards the needs of scientists.
also: orientated
to create / feel / have / meet / obviate / satisfy a need
a(n) acute / basic / fundamental / unfulfilled / urgent / compulsive / crying / desperate
/ pressing need

a biological / emotional / spiritual / psychological / physical need

a need arises

20. The defeat was a wound to his pride.

21. He was bleeding from a wound in his head.
bleed – bled – bled
to bleed profusely / uncontrollably
to bleed from a wound / the nose
to bleed to death
to bleed sb for sth:
The blackmailers bled him for £10,000.
to bleed sb white

22. He had a cut on his little finger.

23. This building is unique of its kind.
to be unique to sb / sth
to be in a unique position to do sth
to miss a unique opportunity

24. This blend of self-pity and comedy is unique to Irish writers.

pity
to be full of / filled with pity for sb / feel (very little) pity for sb
to be moved to pity by sb’s suffering
to do sth out of pity
to arouse / feel / show pity
to have / take pity on sb
to be pitied:
Survivors of the disaster who lost their relatives are much to be pitied.
pitying
a) expressing pity:
He lay helpless in the street under the pitying gaze of the bystanders.
b) showing pity and some contempt:
The performer received only pitying looks from his audience.

25. This town is fairly unique in the wide range of leisure facilities it offers.
504 PREPOSITIONS

26. He was possessed of a wonderfully calm temperament.

He fought like one / a man possessed.
She’s surely possessed.
sth possesses sb (to do sth): (of a feeling / idea) to influence sb so completely as to
control or direct actions:
Fear possessed him and prevented him from moving.
What possessed you to do that?
What on earth possessed you to come here?
He is possessed by fear / terror / greed / envy / jealousy.
Why am I so possessed by her?
to be possessed by an evil spirit
to be possessed with sth: be dominated by:
He is possessed with the idea that someone is persecuting him.
I was possessed with the notion that I was alone.
to be possessed of sth: to have / possess:
a person is possessed of money / land / attributes of character etc
He is possessed of health, wealth and good sense.

27. He is possessed with / (by) the idea that he is being persecuted.

28. He was a man possessed by evil spirits.
29. He’s never been possessed of much sense.
30. Hikers can’t always reckon on having good weather.
31. The deposed Premier is still a force to be reckoned with.
to reckon on sb / sth: depend:
You can always reckon on my support.
to reckon sb / sth among sb / sth / as sb / sth:
I reckon him among my friends.
I reckon him as my friend.
to reckon with sth: take into consideration:
We’ll have to reckon with that possibility.
sb / sth to be reckoned with: sb / sth powerful that must be regarded seriously as a
possible opponent / danger

34 Exercise

1. Would you like to join me in a glass of wine, or would you rather we discussed this matter
over lunch?
to join up (with):
a) meet and unite to form one group:
The firm joined up with a small delivery company to reduce costs.
The M62 joins up with the M1 south of Leeds.
or: The M62 and the M1 join up south of Leeds.
b) become a member of the armed forces:
We both joined up in 1939.
to join a club / union / choir / the army / the navy / the police / a procession / a queue
/ a demonstration
to join sb in / for sth:
Will you join me for a drink? (i.e. come and sit with me and have a drink)
Will you join me in a drink? (i.e. have a drink with me)
PREPOSITIONS 505

over lunch / a bottle of beer / glass of wine

Many a business has been concluded over a bottle of wine.
We can discuss that over dinner.

2. She had two sons by / from a previous marriage.

She is married to my brother / to her work.
There were 2 children of / by / from the marriage.
The son is by his first marriage.
She has two sons from her first marriage / by her first husband.
to be / get married to sb

3. You can enquire about trains to London at the information desk.

to inquire may take a direct object: to enquire the time / way / a person’s name / the
price of sth;
to enquire about is rather more vague.
to enquire after: usually means ask after sb’s health:
Did you enquire after his mother’s health when you last saw him?
to enquire of: to ask:
I must enquire of you where you obtained this money, sir.
to enquire for
a) to enquire the whereabouts of some place one wishes to find:
This young lady is enquiring for the furnishing department.
b) to ask by name for sb one wishes to see or speak to:
When you ring up, enquire for Mrs Mason.
to enquire into: to investigate, usually: inquire (more common in this case than
enquire):
The court ordered the council to inquire into the conduct of the 2 officers.

4. The beauty of the plan consists largely in its simplicity.

to consist in (doing) sth: have as its chief elements or features:
Freedom consists in the absence of oppressive laws.
to consist of sb / sth: be composed of, made up of:
A football team consists of 11 players.

5. In the event of a nuclear war the whole of humanity is likely to be wiped off the face of the
earth.
also: to be wiped off the map
to wipe the floor with sb: to defeat sb completely in a competition or argument,
making them feel shame
to wipe sth out: to destroy or remove completely:
The entire population was wiped out by the terrible disease.
The cost of the new building will wipe out all the company’s profits this year.

6. I want to express my sympathies on the death of your father.

sympathize with sb: feel / show sympathy with sb:
I know you feel angry, and I sympathize with you.
It is hard to sympathize with her political opinions.
sympathy: sensitivity to / understanding of the sufferings of other people:
I didn’t get much sympathy from the doctor when I told him about my pains.
The documentary aroused public sympathy for the victims of the disaster.
506 PREPOSITIONS

in sympathy with sb / sth:

I am really in sympathy with her aims, but I don’t like the way she goes about achiev-
ing them.
The dock workers have come out in sympathy (with the miners) (i.e. stopped work as
a sign of support for them).
cf. a sympathy strike
one’s / sb’s sympathies: loyalty, message of comfort in grief:
Although I pity him, my sympathies lie / are with his family.
No one is quite sure where her political sympathies lie.
She sent her sympathies on the death of her friend’s husband.
(to be) sympathetic to(wards) sb / sth
a) showing (a willingness to give) agreement / approval:
They were quite sympathetic to our proposals.
They promised to give our suggestions a sympathetic hearing.
b) pleasant, similar to what one likes or wants, congenial:
a sympathetic atmosphere at a party

7. This is a treatise on Shakespeare’s imagery.

a book / article / satire / treatise on sb / sth
imagery: to use figurative language to produce pictures in the minds of readers /
hearers: similes / metaphors
cf. also: the living / spitting / very image of sb: to look exactly like:
She is the spitting image of her mother.

8. I wonder at his behaviour.

to wonder about: think about, feel curious about:
Do you often wonder about the future of the world?
I am still wondering about taking a further degree.
I often wonder about why she treated me like this.
to wonder at: be surprised by:
I wonder at your rudeness, when I have always been so kind to you.
A severe winter like this is not to be wondered at, in view of the summer we have had.
Can you wonder at it that he should be so angry?
That the criminal was caught so quickly is not to be wondered at.

9. He was sitting across his desk from me and told me the whole story down to the minutest
detail.
across the street / table from sb / sth: opposite and on the other side of:
Bill sat down across the desk from him.
The house is just across from ours.
They live just across the road (from us).
detail: to go into detail(s)

10. A certain preference for the adverb as against / over the adjective has long been a feature
of American English.
in preference to sth:
He studied chemistry in preference to physics.
She chose to learn the violin in preference to the piano.
to give preference to sb / sth
to display / show / express / have a preference for sth
a decided / marked / strong preference
He showed a decided preference for pop music.
What are your preferences in music?
PREPOSITIONS 507

11. He was brought up a devout Catholic.

as a devout Catholic: acceptable
She lived there a widow.
There are a number of intransitive verbs which can take a subject complement. They
are verbs which express a transition to a different state, e.g.: to wake up happy (to
wake up, i.e. to change over from being asleep to being awake): when he woke up he
was happy.
to die a poor man / be born a rich man / come back / return a reformed character /
changed man
to arrive exhausted / marry young / go away a changed man

to be brought up to do sth:
They were brought up to respect their parents and teachers.

12. The slave threw himself at his master’s feet begging for mercy.
to throw os at sb: (usually of a woman) to attempt forcefully to win the love of, make
eager advances:
If you throw yourself at that boy, he’s likely to run away.
You couldn’t wait, could you? You had to throw yourself at the first man you met,
didn’t you?

13. The windows of the drawing-room gave onto / on / out on the garden.
also: look out on / onto / over
also: overlook the garden

14. The devaluation of the dollar was a shot across the bows of speculators.
bow: front part of a ship
cf. stern
to bow to sb / sth: to bend the head / upper part of the body forward, esp. to show
respect:
We must all bow to fate / the inevitable / sb’s wishes / to authority.
His back was bowed with age.
to give a bow to sb:
He gave a deep / low bow to the Queen.
bow: weapon for shooting arrows
cf. archery
a bow-tie
bow-legged / knock-kneed
speculation about / (up)on / (over) sth:
There was much speculation over the cause of the air crash.
His remarks have led to intense speculations about the possibility of tax cuts.
to speculate in sth
in oil / property development / mining shares
to speculate on / about sth:
We don’t know all the circumstances, so it would be pointless to speculate on what
happened.
It is the subject of much speculation / it is pure speculation.

15. Such gadgets are a must if we are to compete on anything like equal terms with overseas
producers in the export market.
terms
to be on good / bad / familiar / intimate / speaking / first-name terms with sb
to negotiate with sb on equal / even terms
508 PREPOSITIONS

to come to terms with sb: reach an agreement

to come to terms with sth: accept sth unpleasant
She has now come to terms with her disability.
in terms of sth / in certain terms:
In economic terms that country is a superpower.
In terms of foreign trade, that country is a serious competitor.
on the market: for sale:
They’ve put their house on the market.
to be in the market for sth: want to buy:
Are you in the market for a used washing machine?

16. We caught him in a lie.

We caught him telling a lie.
an outright lie
to lie to sb about sth
She lies about her age.
Don’t you dare lie to me!
lying smiles
His story was nothing but a pack / tissue of lies.
to give the lie to: prove sth to be untrue:
These figures give the lie to reports that business is declining.
to live a lie: suggest by one’s way of living that sth untrue is true:
She lived a lie for 20 years by pretending to be his wife.
to lie os out of sth:
He lied himself out of trouble.
cf. a fib: untrue statement, esp. about sth unimportant:
Stop telling such silly fibs.
You little fibber.
white lie: harmless or trivial lie, esp. one told in order to avoid hurting sb
to lie in / through one’s teeth / throat: tell a very big lie:
Don’t trust him when he tells you he is very rich, he is lying through his teeth: he hasn’t
got a penny.

17. He was trembling with rage and one could smell the gin on his breath.
cf. to die with impatience
to go / turn red / crimson with anger
cf. purple / white with rage / pale with fear
cf. to tremble with fear / excitement / anger / rage / cold
to tremble at the thought of / prospect of sth
to tremble to think that ...

18. I wish you would give me time to sleep on your proposal.

to think sth over
to sleep like a log / top
to sleep the sleep of the just
to sleep in: AE for lie in: sleep later than usual in the morning:
I often sleep / lie in on Sundays (or: have a good lie-in).
to oversleep
to sleep sth off: to recover from by sleeping
to sleep off a bad headache / hangover
PREPOSITIONS 509

19. I was able to reassure them on this point.

to reassure sb (about sth):
The police reassured her about her child’s safety.
I was worried that my work wasn’t good enough, but the teacher reassured me about
it.
to lose on points / by a knock-out
to keep to the point:
Don’t digress so much, keep to the point.
to make it a point to do sth
to make a point of doing sth:
I have always made it a point to visit my mother on her birthday.
to the point: relevant to the subject:
He made an excellent speech, and everything said was to the point.
off the point: irrelevant:
The student received low marks for his essay, as much of it was off the point.
a case in point: a case that has relevance to the point under discussion, or the point
one is making:
Some crimes are so grave that they ought to be visited with greater penalties than the
law at present prescribes. The recent bank robbery is a case in point.
beside the point: having nothing to do with the point at issue or under discussion:
What we have to decide is whether he is guilty of negligence; that he is a person of
good character is beside the point.
There is no point in staying any longer.
What point is there in it?

20. Adversary is a synonym of enemy, but can you think of a synonym for friend?
Avoid repetition!

21. For some people “football fan” is synonymous with “criminal”.

22. There is nothing to say in excuse of his rudeness.
in / by way of excuse:
I know it’s poor work. I can only say in / by way of excuse that I was ill at the time.

23. Dickens’s Nicholas Nickleby was originally published in monthly instalments.

24. To buy something on the never-never means to pay by / in instalments.
25. It is difficult to play tennis by oneself.
26. He went about his business whistling thoughtfully to himself.
27. This is supposed to be a secret, so keep it to yourself.
to make a / no secret of sth
to guard / keep a secret
to betray / blurt out / divulge / reveal a secret
to ferret out / uncover / unearth a secret
a(n) closely guarded / open / state secret
to let sb in on a secret

28. The scarf she had bought for her sister was so beautiful that she decided to keep it for
herself.
29. He and his wife lived in genteel poverty and kept themselves to themselves.
genteel: showing unnaturally polite manners, esp. so as to appear socially important:
She always speaks in such a genteel voice when she’s on the phone.
510 PREPOSITIONS

30. How would you like living on your own, all by your lonely self?
31. I’d rather have a bedroom to myself.
(all) by himself: alone, without help:
One cannot play tennis by oneself.
to oneself: for one’s own private use, not to be shared:
I would rather have a bedroom to myself.

35 Exercise

1. He’ll have to see a doctor about the injury sustained in the accident.
to sustain: experience, suffer:
to sustain a(n) injury / loss / damage / defeat

2. Labour’s lead over the Conservatives is slipping.

to slip
to fall from a standard, get worse or lower:
I’m afraid the National Theatre is slipping; this year’s productions have been very poor.
to let slip
a) fail to follow (a chance, an offer):
Don’t let that opportunity slip (through your fingers).
b) say without intending:
She let slip that she was intending to leave the company.
Note also:
a) My foot slipped and I nearly fell.
The soap slipped out of my hand.
b) She slipped into / out of the house.
As the years slipped by / past, I thought less about her.
c) fig.: The terrorists managed to slip through the airport’s security net.
I’m sorry I told them your secret – it just slipped out.
The date completely slipped my mind.
There’s many a slip ‘twixt the cup and the lip: a plan or intention may easily go wrong
before it is fully carried out or when it seemed to be about to succeed
a slip of the tongue / pen
a slipcase: a usually cardboard protective cover with one open end, for keeping a
book in (Schuber)

3. Out of gratitude the girl fell on her mother’s neck.

V-neck sweater
to break one’s neck doing / to do sth: to work especially hard:
I am not going to break my neck to finish my essay today – my teacher does not want
it until next week.
to get it in the neck: to be severely scolded / punished for sth:
You will get it in the neck if you’re caught stealing.
to be a millstone round sb’s / one’s neck: a heavy burden / responsibility:
My debts were like a millstone round my neck.
neck and neck with sth / sb: (horse-racing / contest) with neither one or the other
having an advantage or lead; level:
The two contestants were neck and neck with 20 points each.
PREPOSITIONS 511

to risk / save one’s (own) neck: to risk / save one’s life

to risk / avoid great misfortune:
He saved his own neck by fleeing the country.
to be up to the neck in sth: very deeply involved in:
Even as a young man he was up to his neck in crime.
to fall on one’s knees / on hard times / evil days / on one’s feet / on deaf ears
to fall on sb (i.e. be sb’s duty):
It falls on me to thank the chairman for his speech.
to show / feel / express gratitude
profound / deep / sincere / undying / eternal / everlasting gratitude
She felt everlasting gratitude to them for their help.
in gratitude for sth:
They gave him a gold watch in gratitude for his service.
to remember sb / sth with gratitude

4. Low interest rates are a stimulus to investments.

to give / provide a stimulus to sb / sth
a strong / powerful stimulus

5. He was green with envy when he saw the new car.

to envy sb (for) sth:
She envied us our new house.
I envy you your job.
She envies me (for) my freedom to travel.
envious of sb / sth:
She was envious of her sister’s success.
enviable:
an enviable achievement / position / salary / life / slimness
to arouse / stir up / feel envy
to be consumed / green with envy
to do sth out of envy
6. Everything in the family turns on her.
to turn on sb / sth
a) attack:
His normally placid dog turned on him and bit him in the leg.
Why are you all turning on me? (i.e. criticizing / blaming me)
b) have as its main topic:
The discussion turned on the need for better public health care.
c) depend on:
The success of a picnic usually turns on the weather.
The success of the negotiations turns on getting the agreement of the Italian
delegation.
d) cause to start functioning:
to turn on the light / radio / central heating / the bath
fig. She turns on her charm whenever she wants anything.
to turn sb on: excite or stimulate (esp. sexually)
Jazz has never really turned me on.
I am not impressed by their choice of candidate, he is not likely to turn the voters on.
512 PREPOSITIONS

7. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musicals have been playing to full houses.

Andrew Lloyd Webber: composer: Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Cats, Oliver, Phantom
of the Opera. Texts: Tim Rice (e.g. Evita, Superstar)
cf. to play to the gallery: do what will please most people in order to gain popularity,
even if it is not the most sensible course of action.

8. There is a steep gradient of one in five between Windermere and Penrith.

gradient
a degree of slope, esp. in a road or railway:
A gradient of 1 in 4 is a rise or fall of one metre for every 4 metres forward.
a hill with a gradient of 1 in 4 (or 25%) (Steigung, Gefälle)

9. They were seized with panic.

He was seized with an acute illness.
to be seized with a feeling of ... / with terror / ambition / a desire
to be seized by sb / by the throat / by the arm
to seize sb’s arm / sb by the arm
to seize on sth: eager to take and use
to seize on a(n) suggestion / idea / chance / possibility
to seize a chance / an opportunity (with both hands)

10. Congrats on the birth of your daughter, old boy!

11. He looked at me from over his glasses.
12. She was unable to speak for excitement.
cf. We could hardly see for the thick mist.
We couldn’t see the wood for the trees.

13. Ever since she was a child she wanted to go on the stage.
stage
The plan is still in its early stages.
At this stage of the negotiations ...
to set the stage for sth: prepare for / make possible:
The unjust peace treaty set the stage for another war.
to become the stage for:
Geneva has become the stage for many meetings of world leaders.
to travel by easy stages: i.e. only for a short distance at a time
stage fright: nervousness felt by an actor, etc in front of an audience

14. Do you really envy him his health and good looks?
cf. 5

15. She could not console herself over / for / on her son’s death.
to console sb for / on a loss
to console os with sth:
He consoled himself with the idea that it might have been worse.
to console os / sb by doing sth:
He consoled me by saying that I would probably be happier in my new job.
consolation
My only consolation is that nobody knows yet.
PREPOSITIONS 513

consolation prize
also: booby prize: given to the person who comes last in a competition
Looks like you get the booby prize.
booby: a foolish person
booby-trap
a) hidden trap designed to surprise sb, e.g. sth balanced on top of a door so that it will
fall on the first person opening it
b) hidden bomb designed to explode when an apparently harmless object is touched:
The police did not go near the car, fearing it was a booby-trap / booby-trapped.
a booby-trap bomb

16. Going down coal mines with lamps in our hats was a strange experience.
17. On the day he got married to a fashion model his sister broke off her engagement to a
male model.
a male model: Dressman
fashion:
dressed in the latest fashion
after a fashion: to a certain extent, but not satisfactorily:
I can play the piano after a fashion.
after / in the fashion of sb / sth: like, imitating:
She paints in the fashion of Picasso.
to come / be in / go / be out of fashion:
Faded jeans are still in fashion.
Long skirts have come into fashion again.

18. Cook is at the market today.

19. “Do you remember the debate on tax reform?” – “Of course I do, I was in the public
gallery.”
20. His name was struck off the register for professional misconduct.
to strike sb off sth
a) remove with a sharp blow / cut off:
He struck off the rotten branches with an axe.
b) remove sb’s / one’s name from, esp. from the membership list of a professional
body:
Strike her name off the list.
The doctor was struck off the list for incompetence.

21. He tried to explain the movement of light by analogy with that of water.
to draw an analogy between
a close / superficial analogy between
by analogy (with sth)
to reason by analogy
This applies to you, and by analogy to all the others.
You should try to illustrate your abstract concept by analogy with something concrete.
on the analogy of sth:
The group was set up on the analogy of a kibbutz.

22. I realized that the old banger was in want of repair, but I took it none the less for want of a
better means of locomotion.
in want of sth:
The house is in want of repair.
514 PREPOSITIONS

for want of sth: on account of the lack / absence / neglect of whatever is specified:
If we did not succeed, it was not for want of trying.
It is not for want of money that he lives so wretchedly.
to be wanting in sth: lacking in:
His behaviour was wanting in courtesy.
to want for sth: (in negatives and questions): want in respect of:
He does not want for money.
The children have never wanted for anything.

23. The plants died from / for want of water.

compare: they died of hunger : from a lack of food
Though of and from seem to be used interchangeably in some cases, it seems
preferable to use
to die of an illness or feeling, while to die from often is to die following something,
except illness or feeling.
die of / from hunger / cancer / a heart attack / one’s injuries / starvation
I almost, nearly died / could have died of curiosity / embarrassment / grief / laughter /
boredom.
He died from his wounds.
The child died from a fall out of a high window.
to die for one’s belief(s) / principles
to be dying for a cup of tea / something to eat
to be dying to do sth: She is dying to know where you have been.
to be dying of: to feel sth very strongly:
The children are dying of boredom / of curiosity to see what is in the parcel.
Note: to die a poor man / a hero / a martyr
How to die:
to be gone / to pass away / on /
to be deceased verscheiden, hinscheiden
to drop dead
to lose one’s life
to perish
to die in a battle auf dem Schlachtfeld sterben
to die a natural / violent death eines natürlichen / gewaltsamen Todes sterben
to die of cancer / a fever / hunger
/ grief / illness an etwas sterben
to die through neglect
to die with grief vor Kummer sterben
to die for one’s country den Heldentod sterben
to give / lay down / sacrifice
one’s life for sb / sth sein Leben opfern, hingeben
to commit suicide / kill os Selbstmord begehen
to die by one’s own hand
to be murdered ermordet werden
to die by violence,
i.e. a violent death
to die (peacefully) in one’s sleep
to die from a wound / lack of food an einer Wunde sterben
to be killed in an accident / in a
plane crash bei einem Unfall ums Leben kommen
to be murdered / assassinated
criminals / murderers
to die on the scaffold / at the auf dem Schafott, Scheiterhaufen,
stake / in the electric chair elektrischen Stuhl sterben
to be hanged / electrocuted /
executed
to be condemned to execution
by hanging
PREPOSITIONS 515

to be sentenced to be hanged
to execute sb by hanging / gass-
ing / shooting / by the sword /
by electrocution / lethal injection
to be on / be sent to death row
(chiefly AE)
death row Todestrakt
Execution is still the penalty in some states for murder.
The execution will be carried out by a firing squad.
Countries employ a variety of procedures in carrying out executions, including lethal
injection, electrocution, hanging, gassing, and shooting.
to be killed in action (soldier)
to fall (in battle) (soldier)
to be shot dead
to be shot three times in the head
Troops had been given orders to shoot to kill.
mercy killing
euthanasia: the act of painless killing sb who is seriously ill or old, esp. to reduce their
suffering:
Although some people campaign for the right to euthanasia, it is still illegal in most
countries.
Note:
to dye
She dyed her hair red.
a die / dice
The die is cast.
a pair of dice
to roll / shake / throw the dice

24. We slept during the day and worked at night.

during the day stresses the durative aspect of an action
by day: while it is daylight
at / by night suggests time of the day (while it is dark or light)
by night suggests conditions under which sth is done or takes place

25. I prefer to travel by day rather than by night, and by bicycle rather than on foot.
to travel the world / on business / for pleasure / in Canada / across Africa / by air / to
work
to travel first- / second-class / deluxe / tourist class
to travel extensively / widely / far and wide / incognito
travel (n)
This noun is always uncountable, i.e. no article can ever be used with the singular
form travel.
Moreover, the word can never be used for a particular journey or voyage.
Journey, trip, voyage are the words to be used.
What sort of journey did you have?
Did you have a good trip?
to make / go on a journey / voyage (i.e. by sea)
to take / go on a trip
BUT:
Travel / travelling broadens the mind.
This travel book is a best-seller.
Air travelling is still rather expensive.
travelling at night
to be fond of travelling
516 PREPOSITIONS

The plural travels is used for a series of journeys and voyages made by a specific
person. It is preceded by a possessive.
When he returned form his travels in ...
“Gulliver’s Travels” was first published in 1726.

26. At night all cats are grey.

27. Day by day the economic situation is deteriorating.
day by day: thinks of each day separately, can be used only adverbially

28. Day after day went by, and still there was no news of him.
day after day, can be used as a subject; suggests protraction, monotonous repetition;
thinks of the days as a continuous series

29. She was desperately trying to cope with day-to-day problems.

36 Exercise: Idiomatic Expressions

1. If my memory is not at fault, the damage was estimated at more than £100,000.
memory
1. power of recollecting
to jog / refresh sb’s memory
to commit sth to memory
to slip sb’s memory:
The date has slipped my memory.
to lose one’s memory
to have a memory like a sieve
My memory is playing tricks on me.
if my memory serves me (well / correctly)
a(n) bad / poor / good / infallible / photographic / visual / powerful / retentive /
tenacious / short / long memory
2. recollection
to bring back / call up / conjure up / evoke / stir up a memories:
The accident called up painful memories.
to blot out / bury / suppress a memory
bitter / bittersweet / dim / vague / enduring / fond / happy / pleasant / haunting /
poignant / painful / sad / unpleasant memories
in / to the memory of sb / sth:
to set up a memorable fund in memory of sb
within sb’s memory
in living memory:
the coldest winter in living memory

The fault is / lies with the managers / in the management.

to be at fault
to a fault: extremely: generous / fastidious to a fault
at a rough estimate:
According to some estimates the number of farms has increased by 50%.
to give / make / submit an estimate
a(n) approximate / conservative / preliminary estimate
PREPOSITIONS 517

2. The lion suddenly turned on its keeper.

to turn on sb / sth
a) attack:
His normally placid dog turned on him and bit him in the leg.
Why are you all turning on me? (i.e. criticizing / blaming me)
b) have as its main topic:
The discussion turned on the need for better public health care.
c) depend on :
The success of a picnic usually turns on the weather.
The success of the negotiations turns on getting the agreement of the Italian dele-
gation.
d) cause to start functioning:
to turn on the light / radio / central heating / the bath
fig. She turns on her charm whenever she wants anything.
to turn sb on: excite or stimulate (esp. sexually)
Jazz has never really turned me on.
I am not impressed by their choice of candidate, he is not likely to turn the voters.

3. I know the house was expensive, but I can’t give you any figure off the top of my head.
off the top of one’s head: without previous thought or preparation
to fill sth to the top
to be on top of a situation: in control
to cheer / shout / scream at the top of one’s voice
to come out on top: first in position
from top to bottom: completely
from top to toe
to be top of sth
to get on top of sb: be too much for sb to manage:
His work seems to be getting on top of him.
to get on top of sth: manage to control, finish sth:
How will he ever get on top of all that work?
on top
1. in a leading position:
He was on top throughout the match.
2. on the highest point:
a cake with icing on top
He is going bald on top.
3. in addition:
He borrowed my car and asked me to lend him £100 on top.
on top of sb / sth
1. covering sb / sth:
The building collapsed on top of hundreds of visitors.
2. in addition to sth:
He gets a commission on top of his salary.
to be / fell on top of the world: very happy
up top: in the head:
He hasn’t got much up top.

4. The soldiers were standing to / at attention while the bugles sounded the last post.
last post: military bugle-call sounded at sunset, a military funeral, etc (Zapfenstreich)
bugle: brass musical instrument like a small trumpet but without keys or valves, used
for giving military signals
518 PREPOSITIONS

musical instruments
brass and woodwind Holz-, Blechblas-
bugle Horn
bassoon Fagott
clarinet
flute Querflöte
French horn
oboe
saxophone
trombone Posaune
trumpet
tuba
piccolo
recorder Blockflöte
strings Streich-, Saiten-
cello
double-bass
guitar
harp
violin
viola Bratsche, Viola
percussion Schlag-
bass drum große Trommel
cymbals Becken
kettledrum (Kessel)Pauke
side-drum kleine (Wirbel)Trommel
triangle
xylophone
grand piano Flügel
piano
to attract / capture / catch / command / get sb’s attention
to have / hold / retain sb’s attention
to call / draw sb’s attention to sth
to devote / give / turn one’s attention to sth
to focus one’s attention on sth
to pay attention to sth
to bring sth to sb’s attention
to escape sb’s attention
close / meticulous / minute / rapt / studious / undivided attention
He gave the matter his undivided attention.
to call sb to attention:
The sergeant called his men to attention.

5. We’ll accept the job with the proviso that we are paid by the hour.
6. In his speech the presidential candidate played on the audience’s fears of recession.
sb’s fear of flying
sb’s fears for the future
to live in fear of sb / sth
to have a fear of doing sth
to arouse / kindle / instil fear(s)
to have / feel / express / show fear(s) for (sb’s safety)
to confirm sb’s (worst) fears:
The diagnosis confirmed my worst fears.
to put the fear of God into sb: to make sb very frightened
(a) grave / mortal / constant / strong / groundless / unfounded / lingering / morbid /
sudden fear(s)
to allay / calm / dispel / overcome fear(s)
PREPOSITIONS 519

to attract / draw an audience

to captivate / electrify / grip / move / stir / turn on an audience
a(n) appreciative / attentive / enthusiastic / (un)responsive / (un)sympathetic / cold /
hostile audience
an audience applauds / cheers / boos / hisses / hoots

7. We did not expect such unkind treatment at your hands.

atrocious / brutal / cruel / special / gentle / harsh / (in)human / kid-glove / kind / equal
/ (un)fair / preferential / red-carpet / rough / shabby treatment of sb / sth
to be under / receive / get / have / undergo / give / provide treatment for sth
to respond to treatment
dental / heat / medical / outpatient / radiation / shock / (in)effective treatment
to take / lead sb by the hand
to fall into sb’s hands
to be in safe hands:
The documents were in safe hands.
to eat out of sb’s hands
to wash one’s hands of sth
to suffer at sb’s hands
to have time on one’s hands
to be / act hand in glove with sb
to be close / near at hand
to be made by hand

8. After tea they showed us (a)round / over the house.

9. She was appointed, not because she is a woman, but on her own merits.
10. Our organization is looking to the government for help.
to look to sth: make sure that sth is adequate or in good condition:
The country must look to its defences.
to look to sb for sth / to sb to do sth: rely or expect sb to provide sth or to do sth:
They were looking to us for help.
Many people are looking to the government to stamp out corruption.

11. He sets great store by good manners.

to put little / great / no / not much store by / on sth
to have / there is sth in store for sb:
We have a few surprises in store.
There is a great shock in store for him.
a library with a store (i.e. a large amount) of rare books
stored with:
a gallery stored with fine paintings
a mind well stored with facts

12. The candidate’s address was long on promises, but short on specifics.
short of sth: (suggests material things) not having much or enough of: of money / time
/ ideas
short on sth: (suggests desirable qualities / emotions) a particular quality or emotion,
people don’t have as much of it as they should have (esp. of desirable qualities):
He looked intelligent but was a bit short on wisdom / wit / brains.
short with sb: curt, rudely impatient:
I am sorry I was a bit short with you on the phone this morning, I was rather busy.
520 PREPOSITIONS

at short notice:
The meeting had to be arranged at short notice.
nothing short of:
He would settle for nothing short of total independence.
You should do anything you feel like doing in public, short of assault or robbery. (i.e.
except for)
to make / fulfil / keep / break / go back on a promise
a(n) broken / empty / false / hollow / rash / vague / sacred / solemn promise
to hold sb to a promise
to show (great / little / real) promise as sth:
He shows great promise as a singer.

13. Elizabeth II is Queen of England in her own right rather than by marriage to a king.
14. He is compiling a new dictionary with a view to publishing it with OUP.
on view: being shown to the public
in sb’s view: in sb’s opinion
to hold / take the view that ...
to echo / endorse / share sb’s view
in view of sth: in consideration of
with a view to doing sth: to redecorate one’s house with a view to selling it
to have sth in view: have a clear idea / plan in one’s mind

15. They came rushing from the barracks with guns at the ready.
also: rushing out of the barracks
also (occasionally): to the ready
to have sth at / to the ready:
Have your guns at / to the ready.
He had his camera at the ready.
Reserve troops were held at the ready.
to be ready with sth: to be quick to give
to be ready with excuses / criticisms / advice
cf. ready – steady – go / on your mark(s) – get set – go
ready-made
a) (of clothes): not made specially for the buyer, able to be worn at once: a ready-
made suit; opp.: tailor-made, made-to-measure
fig. His second wife had three children already, so when he married her he had a
ready-made family.
b) useful and suitable for the purpose:
The rain gave us a ready-made excuse for not going to the party.
c) not original: ready-made opinions
to do sth in a rush
to be in a rush:
I can’t talk now – I’m in a kind of rush.
a rush on / for sth:
There was a rush on swimsuits in the hot weather.
a rush to do sth:
There was a rush to get tickets for the final.
a rush of excitement / enthusiasm / panic
to rush (sb) into (doing) sth:
She rushed into marriage.
They rushed her into signing the document.
PREPOSITIONS 521

a rush job: done as quickly as possible, and therefore not very good:
Her latest book is a bit of a rush job.

16. The Defense Secretary found himself at variance with the President on / over the subject
of arms control.
17. He did all this off his own bat.
to swing a bat
a baseball / cricket / table-tennis bat
Bats fly at night.
to be as blind as a bat
to have bats in the belfry
(right) off the bat: without delay

18. As from / as of next week you will be in charge of the department.

by next week would change the meaning: spätestens nächste Woche
BE: as from / AE: as of
also: from next week on
as from / of:
As from next Monday you can use my office.
We shall have a new address as of 12 May.
as against: in contrast with:
She gets Saturdays off in her new job as against working alternate weekends in her
last one.
We had 12 hours of sunshine yesterday, as against a forecast of continuous rain.
charge (n)
a) to be arrested on a charge of murder
b) All goods are delivered free of charge.
c) in / under sb’s charge:
to leave the children in a friend’s charge
The patients are under the charge of Dr Watson.
d) take charge of: take control of, become responsible:
The department was badly organized until she took charge (of it).

19. He came into a fortune when his rich aunt died.

to accumulate / amass / make / come into / inherit a fortune
to seek / try one’s fortune
to dissipate / run through / spend / waste / squander / lose a fortune
a(n) enormous / huge / vast / large fortune
to have the (great) good fortune to do sth:
We had the fortune / the good fortune / the great good fortune to a find a suitable
house.
Fortune has always smiled on him.
to tell sb’s fortune
a stroke of good fortune
the fortunes of war
a turning point in sb’s fortunes
His fortunes underwent a drastic change for the worse.
a fortune hunter: sb who tries to marry sb who has a lot of money
a soldier of fortune: sb who fights for anyone who will pay them
522 PREPOSITIONS

20. He took careful aim, but the shot went wide of the mark.
cf. beside or off the mark; but wide of
to be / fall wide of the mark: be inaccurate or far from the point aimed at:
His guesses were all wide of the mark.
not to be / feel (quite) up to the mark: not feel as well / lively as usual:
I have got (the) flu, so I am not quite up to the mark.
up to / below the mark: not / equal to required standards:
Her schoolwork is quite up to the mark.
Your latest piece of work is below the mark.
to be quick / slow off the mark: make a prompt start, be quick in understanding:
You have to be quick off the mark, when you answer a newspaper advertisement.

21. I got the job on the strength of your recommendation.

to build up / develop (one’s) strength
to find / gather / gain (the) strength (to do sth)
to do sth with all one’s strength
to lose / recoup / regain / conserve / husband / save one’s strength
to (over) tax sb’s strength
brute / great / inner / physical strength
a show / position of strength
on the strength of: because of / influenced / persuaded by:
I bought it on the strength of his advice.
strength: the quality or degree of being strong or powerful:
She succeeded by strength of will alone.
to argue from a position of strength
the current strength of the dollar
Her strength as a novelist lies in her compassion.
The (great) strength of my plan is that it is so cheap compared with the others.
below / at full strength:
The police force is 400 men below / is not at full strength but next year it should be full
strength.
(to go) from strength to strength: with continuing and growing success:
Our new company / that student is going from strength to strength.

22. The band are playing this march by request of Her Majesty the Queen.
at sb’s request:
They did it at my request.
on request: when you ask for it:
Further information will be supplied on request.
by request: because sb has especially asked for it:
There were no flowers at the funeral, by request.
in request: being asked for:
His novels are still much in request.
to make a request for sth
to file a request with the authorities
to submit a request to sb
to grant / honour a request
to deny / refuse / reject / turn down a request
a(n) moderate / modest / (un)reasonable / desperate / urgent / written / oral / informal
/ official request
PREPOSITIONS 523

23. Further information will be supplied on request.

24. At the request of the Medical officer of health the sale of shellfish has been temporarily
suspended.
25. Buses stop here by request.
request stop: Bedarfshaltestelle

26. Skilled mechanics are very much in demand.

demand: request
to make a demand for sth
to make a demand on sb / sth
to make demands on sb’s time:
The new jet makes tremendous demands on pilots.
to meet / respond to / satisfy a demand
to give in / yield to a demand
to ignore / refuse / reject a demand
to drop / give up a demand
a(n) excessive / exorbitant / unrealistic / moderate / modest / reasonable / renewed /
tremendous demand
demand: desire for commodity
to create / meet / satisfy a demand
a(n) brisk / enormous / great / heavy / strong / growing / increased / increasing /
limited demand for sth
demand drops off / falls off / increases / rises
the law of supply and demand

27. Passengers must show their tickets on demand.

28. This system has always made heavy demands on those working in it.

37 Exercise

1. He failed to mention that, notwithstanding the risks he took, he never lost heart.
notwithstanding: in spite of, despite, without being affected by:
They are determined to go ahead with the plan, notwithstanding widespread public
opposition.
They went ahead, public opposition notwithstanding.
adv.: Many people told her not to try, but she went ahead notwithstanding.
sth fails sb: is inadequate:
My courage failed me at the last minute.
Words fail me.
to fail sb
a) to decide that sb has not passed an examination:
The examiners failed 30% of the students.
b) not do what sb was trusted to do, to disappoint sb:
He felt he had failed his family by being unemployed.
to fail to do sth:
She failed to understand.
He never fails to write.
to fail in one’s duty / responsibility
524 PREPOSITIONS

a failed marriage / actor / writer

failing health / eyesight
to be trapped in a failing relationship

2. Envious of our success, our competitors are impatient for results.

to envy sb (for) sth:
She envied us our new house.
I envy you your job.
She envies me (for) my freedom to travel.
envious of sb / sth:
She was envious of her sister’s success.
enviable:
an enviable achievement / position / salary / life / slimness
to arouse / stir up / feel envy
to be consumed / green with envy
to do sth out of envy

3. He picked up a novel by Graham Greene and turned to a passage marked with vertical
lines in the margin.
a wide margin between the winner and the loser, i.e. a big difference in points scored:
He beat the other runners by a wide margin / by a margin of 10 seconds.
Leave a good safety margin between your car and the next.
on the line: in danger:
Work hard; your job is on the line.
He laid his life on the line for his country. (i.e. he risked his life)
in line with: straight or level compared with:
That is not in line with my ideas at all.

4. They came up against a lot of opposition to the scheme.

to arouse / stir up / offer / overcome / wear down opposition
to come across / encounter / face / run up against opposition

bitter / determined / fierce / stiff / strong / unbending / unyielding / vehement oppo-

sition
growing / mounting opposition
a scheme to do / for doing sth
to devise a scheme for (doing) sth
a scheme for making money
to devise a scheme for getting publicity
to concoct / devise / think up a scheme
to foil / thwart a scheme
a diabolical / fantastic / grandiose / harebrained / crazy / ill-conceived scheme
Scheme often has the connotation “crafty / dishonest”; it may also be an officially
organized plan or system:
a training / housing / pension / savings scheme

5. His latest novel will be numbered among the classics.

6. Their electoral system was modelled on ours.
7. They had some sandwiches by way of a meal.
by way of
a) for the purpose of, as a sort of, instead of:
I only said it by way of a joke.
PREPOSITIONS 525

What are you thinking of doing by way of a holiday this year?

By way of an introduction, I shall explain some of the historical background.
b) by way of: via:
They went to Lisbon by way of / via Madrid.

8. We need to tackle air pollution at source.

to be the source of sth
to locate / track down / trace down / find / identify the source of sth
to cite / disclose / reveal one’s source(s)
a(n) unnamed / impeccable / (well-)informed / reliable / reputable / trustworthy source
a source dries up
to have its source in sth
the source / target language

9. The Channel Islands lie off the coast of France.

off
a narrow street off the High Street (i.e. turning away from)
an island off the coast of France
six miles off Portsmouth

10. In his address the President was dovish and hawkish by turns.
a gentle dove
a dove coos
hawk: bird of prey
to watch sb like a hawk
to have eyes like a hawk

11. The counterfeiters are now safely under lock and key.
12. He was at a loss for words.
at a loss
cf. at a profit:
He sold it at a (huge) profit.
He made a profit of £2000 on the deal.
I made a handsome profit from the sale of my car.
to be at a (complete) loss for sth / to do sth:
He was at a loss for words.
I was at a loss to find anything wrong with them.
I was at a loss as to how I could lay my hand on the money.
to be a dead loss:
That goalkeeper is a dead loss.

13. He spends much time on the study of foreign languages.

Most of his time is spent studying financial reports.

14. By my watch it’s getting on for midnight.

What does your watch say?
to wind a watch
to set a watch (by the time signal on the radio)
a watch is (two minutes) fast / slow
a stopwatch / wrist watch
526 PREPOSITIONS

15. The candidate’s examination script was beneath contempt.

It is unworthy even of contempt.
to demonstrate / feel / display / show / have contempt for / of sb / sth
His remarks show a total contempt for / of truth / his teachers.
bitter / deep / total / unmitigated / utter contempt
with contempt:
He treated us with contempt.
He looked at us with contempt.
to hold sb / sth in contempt:
He held all his critics in contempt.
He was held in contempt by all decent people.
contemptible: deserving contempt:
contemptible cowardice / behaviour
contemptuous (of sb / sth): showing contempt:
He has always been contemptuous of public opinion.
a contemptuous manner / laugh / remark
lit.: In contempt of death and danger they undertook the hazardous task.

16. He wrote a block-buster novel which went through many editions.

“Great Expectations” went into a fourth edition within a few weeks of its appearance
in book form.
blockbuster
1. sth very effective or remarkable, esp. a very successful film or book:
The new James Bond picture is a real blockbuster.
2. an extremely powerful bomb

17. The construction of the tower, which will afford a magnificent view of the city, is well under
way.
on view: being shown to the public
in sb’s view: in sb’s opinion
to hold / take the view that ...
to echo / endorse / share sb’s view
in view of sth: in consideration of
with a view to doing sth: to redecorate one’s house with a view to selling it
to have sth in view: have a clear idea / plan in one’s mind

18. My son distinguished himself over his schoolfellows.

to distinguish os by sth / in (doing) sth:
She distinguished herself by her coolness and bravery.
She distinguished herself by running a marathon / in the fine arts.

19. I felt as though I was intruding (up)on his privacy.

to intrude into sb’s private life

20. The lorry driver was unable to stop his vehicle in time.
to be in time (for sth / to do sth):
Will he be in time for the bus / to catch the bus?
to be on time:
This train always arrives (bang / right) on time.
PREPOSITIONS 527

21. This collection of Victorian silver will be on display till / until next month.
till and until are interchangeable. Both words refer to time only. There is, however, a
difference in the level of style.
till is informal only. It is used in everyday, conversational contexts but not in written
English.
Note the following common expressions with till:
from morning till night: von früh bis spät
from early in the morning till late at night
He laughed till he cried.: Er lachte Tränen.
till then: bis dann, bis nachher
They danced till early morning / into the early / small hours.
until can be used in both formal and informal contexts:
Just wait until / till I come back.
Passengers are requested to remain seated until the aircraft has come to a complete
standstill.
We waited till / until 9 o’clock, then we left.
Further services will be suspended until all outstanding debts have been settled.
Note: There is a difference in position. It is not usual to begin a sentence with till.
Therefore, if the till / until clause comes first, until is used. Till is used when its clause
comes second. Study the following examples
Until John told me, I had not idea.
I had no idea till / until John told me.
Until he pays me, I’m not going to do any more work.
I’m not going to do any more work till / until he pays me.
Until his accession to the throne he had not been very popular.
till / until are interchangeable with to
a) when length of time before an event is to be expressed:
It’s an hour till / to dinner.
It’s only a month till / to the holidays.
It’s another week to / till the 23rd.
b) when preceded by from:
We stayed from June to / till September.
up to is usually used (in the sense of German bis zu) with numbers or capacity:
There is no charge for children up to the age of six.
Each group has up to 15 students.
She filled the glass up to the brim.
as far as is used for expressions of place and distance (German bis nach/zu):
I’ll walk with you as far as the library.
Does the bus go as far as the hospital?
by is used for German nicht später als. It is used for an action which happens at or
before a certain time.
compare:
I have to keep writing until the end of next year.
My book will be finished by the end of next year.
I’ll have the report finished by Tuesday next week.
cf. I’ll have finished the report by Tuesday next week.
Can you be here by 10 o’clock?
Ask me again on Monday. I shall know by then. (bis dahin)
Note the following:
See you soon / later / Monday.
for the time being – bis auf weiteres
How soon can you have it finished? – Bis wann können Sie es fertig haben?
How long do you want to stay? – Bis wann möchten Sie bleiben?
528 PREPOSITIONS

22. The landlady complained bitterly about her lodger’s rudeness.

to complain to sb about sth:
They complained to the hotel manager about the noise.
She complains about anything.
to complain of sth: say that one is suffering pain:
She complained of indigestion / back pain.

23. The patient was complaining of splitting headaches.

24. The final decision rests with the chairman; I wash my hands of it.
also: lies with

25. His fame rests more on his novels than on his plays.
26. The voters reacted strongly against the government’s tax increases.
to react against sb / sth: respond with hostility / resistance
to react against unfair treatment / sb’s conservatism
to react to sb / sth: to respond
to react to a stimulus / provocation / idea / suggestion / penicillin / sb’s death
to react with sth: (chemistry): substances change by coming in contact with sth
This medication reacts with aspirin.
to cause / provoke / trigger a reaction
to encounter / meet with a reaction
a(n) enthusiastic / favourable / positive / negative / immediate / instantaneous / quick
/ spontaneous / knee-jerk / natural / normal / adverse / angry / hostile / delayed /
mixed reaction
to have an allergic reaction to sth

27. She reacted to the accusation by turning her back on him.

28. You should trust in your own judgement.
judgement:
to do sth against one’s better judgement:
I agreed against my better judgement.
I let him go against my better judgement (i.e. though I knew it was probably a mis-
take).
to defer / reserve / suspend judgement
to pass / pronounce / render / sit in judgement on sb / sth:
He passed judgement on the guilty man.
She has no right to sit in judgement on everything anyone here does.
to make an unfair judgement of a person’s character
in sb’s judgement:
In my judgement the plan is ill-conceived.
to display / have / show / exercise excellent / good judgement:
Teachers need to have good judgement.
Her actions were always based on sound judgement.
He did the right thing, but more by luck than by judgement.
to be a judgement on sb: misfortune considered to be a punishment from God for
doing sth wrong:
This failure is a judgement on you for being so lazy.
If you trust to sb / sth, you rely on them to make decisions for you or look after you:
However much you plan an expedition like this, you still have to trust to luck to a
certain degree.
to trust to chance / luck / fate / fortune
PREPOSITIONS 529

to trust sb / sth completely / blindly / implicitly

to trust sb with sth:
Would you trust him with your savings?
You trust to your memory too much.
to trust your own judgement / own instincts / sb’s advice / a person

29. At such rare moments you have to trust to your instinct.

30. In God we trust.

38 Exercise

1. It is binding (up)on a gentleman never to lose his self-control.

to display / exercise / exhibit / show / maintain self-control
admirable / complete / great / total self-control
it takes great self-control to do sth

2. You are really on / in form today, aren’t you?

BE: on; AE: in

3. To judge by his pronunciation he must be Welsh.

less likely: from
to judge sth (by sth):
It is difficult to judge the full extent of the damage.
The performance was good, to judge by their usual standards.
The committee judged it advisable to postpone the meeting.
to judge fairly / harshly / leniently / impartially / severely / sternly
to judge by / from appearances

4. Everybody in the office contributed towards a wedding present for Rachel.

to contribute (sth) to sth:
to contribute to charity / discussion
His war injuries contributed to his early death.
The elderly have much to contribute to the community.
Bertrand Russel’s speeches in Trafalgar Square contributed significantly to the
movement against nuclear proliferation.
This is the kind of appeal to which most people will be glad to contribute (something).
A great amount of money was contributed to the disaster fund.
to contribute towards: is often used when the object or purpose of the contribution is
expressed, i.e. to give one’s share of money (s. beteiligen an):
Everybody contributed towards a wedding present for them.

5. The enemy was put to flight.

to take (to) flight:
The whole gang took (to) flight.
to put sb to flight
to be in full / headlong flight:
They were in headlong flight when they were caught.
530 PREPOSITIONS

6. This ugly high-rise is a blot on the landscape.

blot
a) spot / stain by ink: a page covered in (ink)blots
b) a blot on sth: sth that spoils the good character / reputation:
His involvement in the scandal was a blot on his reputation.
a blot on the / one’s escutcheon: (joc.) an event that disgraces a family / group (Fleck
auf weißer Weste)

7. The road to Norwich is still under repair.

cf. under discussion / review / treatment
to be in need of repair
to be in good / poor / bad repair
to be in a(n) excellent / terrible state of repair
to do / make repairs
extensive / major / minor / necessary repairs
cf. reparation for sth
a) compensating for damage; making amends for loss:
to make reparation (to God) for one’s sins
b) pl. compensation for war damage, demanded from a defeated enemy:
to exact heavy reparations (Reparation, Wiedergutmachung)

8. He promised to have the paper finished by the end of term.

to make / fulfil / keep / break / go back on a promise
a(n) broken / empty / false / hollow / rash / vague / sacred / solemn promise
to hold sb to a promise
to show (great / little / real) promise as sth:
He shows great promise as a singer.

9. His proposals border on the absurd.

to border
a) fields bordered by woods

b) to share a border with sb:

France borders Germany along parts of the Rhine.
c) be next to sth:
My land borders on yours.
The park borders on the shores of the lake.
fig. to verge on / be very much like sth:
Strange behaviour like this borders / verges on madness.

10. He emptied his glass at a draught.

also: in
He gulped the brandy down in / at one draught.
He took a long / deep draught of air into his lungs / of cider.
He took a sleeping draught.
also: the depth of water needed by a ship
a small boat with a very shallow draught
on draught: (of beer): served by being drawn from a barrel:
This pub has several good beers on draught.
PREPOSITIONS 531

11. There was not a cloud in the sky.

cf. heaven: where God or the gods are supposed to live; place of complete happiness:
I was in heaven when I heard the good news.
He is in the / his seventh heaven when he is watching football.
It was sheer heaven being able to stay in bed all day.
to move heaven and earth to do sth
Suddenly the heavens opened.
a heaven-sent opportunity
to go to heaven
but: to praise sb / sth to the skies
a blue / clear / cloudless / starry / grey / dull / cloudy / overcast sky
a sky clears up / clouds up / clouds over

12. He ascended the throne on the death of his father.

13. This is nothing to what I saw down under.
also: nothing compared with what I saw
down under: Australia

14. At his age it is not easy to venture on a new career.

in this day and age
at a very young tender age
at the age of 40
to be of / past child-bearing age
people of all ages
to be over / under age: too old / young
to look / show / feel one’s age
to venture into the water / over a wall / too near the edge of a cliff / out in the rain
to venture an opinion / objection / explanation
to venture to do sth:
May I venture to suggest a change?
Proverb: Nothing venture, nothing gain / win.
to carve out / make a career (for os)
to enter on a career
to abandon / give up one’s career
a brilliant / distinguished / chequered / colourful / promising / successful / turbulent
career
a career in politics / journalism / the police force
to move a few rungs up the career ladder
to be career-minded / -oriented

15. He was so prejudiced that he failed to see the wood for the trees.
to arouse / stir up prejudice against sb / sth
to have / hold / dispel / encounter / come up against a prejudice
to display / show prejudice towards sb / sth
to reinforce / confirm sb’s prejudices against sb / sth / about (doing) sth
(a/an) blind / deep / deep-rooted / deep-seated / ingrained / strong / racial / race /
religious prejudice
to be prejudiced against / in favour of sb / sth
532 PREPOSITIONS

16. We’ve decided to turn a blind eye to your rude behaviour on that occasion.
blind faith / fury / obedience / allegiance / panic / loyalty / rage / hate
to blind sb (to sth):
to be blinded by smoke
His determination blinded him to all the difficulties.
a blinding light / headache / pain
Note: sth is blindingly obvious
to be as blind as a bat:
I’m as blind as a bat without my glasses.
to be blind with sth:
He was blind with tears and rage.
to be blind to sb’s faults / in one eye:
He seems to be blind to the consequences of his policy.
to turn a blind eye / deaf ear to sth: to pretend not to see / hear etc:
He often turned a blind eye to their drinking sessions.
to shut / close one’s eyes to sth
(A case of) the blind leading the blind: people with little information advising people
with even less
a blind alley / date / spot:
I’ve a blind spot where computers are concerned.
He first met his wife on a blind date (i.e. an arrangement made one of his friends to go
on date with sb one has never met before).
to be blind drunk
to go blind
to accept sth blindly
to rise to the occasion
to have / take an occasion to do sth
an occasion for sth:
There’s no occasion for alarm.
an occasion arises
to celebrate / mark / observe an occasion
a(n) festive / happy / joyful / joyous / auspicious / special / memorable / momentous /
unforgettable occasion
on occasion: occasionally

17. He was appointed chairman of the fact-finding commission.

as possible, but less likely
Who shall we appoint (as) chairperson?
He was appointed to the post of sales director / to the vacant post / as sales director.
an appointee: a person appointed to a job / position
fact-finding: having as its purpose the discovery and making clear of the facts of a
situation:
The government representatives went on a fact-finding mission to Africa to discover
how bad the famine really was.
to set up a fact-finding commission: einsetzen

18. On balance, travelling abroad has probably done him more good than harm.
cf. all in all, all things considered, on the whole
to keep / lose one’s balance:
I found it hard to keep / I lost my balance on the icy path.
to strike a balance between things:
We try to strike a balance between justice and mercy.
PREPOSITIONS 533

to act as a balance:
They work well together – her steadiness acts as a balance to his clever but often
impractical ideas.
to be / hang in the balance: state of uncertainty:
The future of the nation is / hangs in the balance.
on balance: when everything has been consider:
I think on balance I prefer the old system.

19. Heather is allergic to strawberries and has come out in spots.

to acquire / develop / have an allergy to sth
to come out in / be covered in spots
to have a soft spot for sb / sth
to be in a (tight) spot: difficulty
on the spot
1. immediately
2. at the place where sth is happening:
Let’s go over to our reporter on the spot.
on-the-spot reporting
The police was on the spot within a few minutes.
to put sb on the spot: cause difficulty, embarrassment:
Our questions put him on the spot.
to be / stand rooted to the spot: unable to move
BILBERRY
also: blaeberry – whortleberry
(the fruit of) a low North European bush growing on hillsides and in high woods
Heidel-, Blaubeere
BLACKBERRY
also: bramble: a common wild prickly bush of the rose family, esp. the wild blackberry
Brombeere
BLUEBERRY
(the fruit of) any of several types of small North American bush like the bilberry
Blau-, Heidelbeere
CRANBERRY
small and slightly sour
cranberry sauce
Preiselbeere; Kronsbeere
ELDERBERRY
fruit of an elder: a small tree with scented white flowers and red or black berries
elderberry wine
Holunderbeere
GOOSEBERRY /z/
also: infml.: goosegog
(bush with) a green, smooth, sour but edible berry: gooseberry jam
Stachelbeere
fig. an unwanted third person present when two people (esp. lovers) wish to be alone
together:
I didn’t wish to play gooseberry (i.e. to be the unwanted person). (Anstandswauwau,
fünftes Rad am Wagen)
Note: He still thinks that children are found under the gooseberry bush. (Er glaubt
noch an den Klapperstorch.)
BLACKCURRANT
REDCURRANT
redcurrant jelly
schwarze/rote Johannisbeere
534 PREPOSITIONS

RASPBERRY
a type of bramble: raspberry jam
Himbeere
fig. also: razz, Bronx cheer: sound made with the tongue and the lips to show dislike,
contempt (made by putting one’s tongue out and blowing)
to give sb / blow sb / get a raspberry:
The teacher got a raspberry as she turned her back.
LOGANBERRY
a type of red berry from a plant which is half blackberry and half raspberry
Loganbeere
STRAWBERRY
Erdbeere

20. Poor old Doug’s on the bottle again.

on drugs / the pill / a diet
bottle
He is a bit too fond of the bottle.
He has hit the bottle / is on the bottle again.
to be brought up on the bottle
to be bottle-fed / breast-fed

21. There will be no longer a communist party in this country – not even by name.
22. Our firm is oriented towards the export side of the business.
23. Close on / to 500 people had come to see her off.
His body temperature was close to 40 degrees, so they called a doctor.
A crowd close on a thousand people gathered at the concert.
It was close on 7 o’clock by the time Bill got home.
to be close to tears
to be close with one’s money
to be close about one’s past

24. Television fantasies of adventure in space are sometimes called space operas on the
analogy of the so-called soap-operas.
soap-opera: (often derog.) radio or TV serial drama dealing with the events and
problems of the characters’ daily lives, often in a sentimental way
to draw an analogy between
a close / superficial analogy between
by analogy (with sth)
to reason by analogy
This applies to you, and by analogy to all the others.
You should try to illustrate your abstract concept by analogy with something concrete.
on the analogy of sth:
The group was set up on the analogy of a kibbutz.

25. She was deeply disappointed about / at losing the match.

to be bitterly / deeply / greatly / sorely disappointed at / about sth / in / with sb

26. My parents will be disappointed in / with me if I fail the driving test.

PREPOSITIONS 535

27. Not everybody can play music at sight.

cf. to sight-read music
at the sight of sth:
I always faint at the sight of blood.
to know sb / sth by sight
to catch / lose sight of sb / sth:
At first sight it looked like an accident, but later the police became suspicious.
to let sb out of one’s sight:
She is very careful with her children, she never lets them out of her sight.
to be in sight:
Peace is now in sight.
The strike has now lasted six months, and there is still no end in sight.

28. He does not count among my best friends, but I know him by sight.
29. All men are equal in the sight of God.
30. The guards had order to shoot looters on / at sight.
i.e. without delay, without finding out who was there
a guard dog
guard
be on / off one’s guard against sth:
Be on your guard against saying the wrong thing.
to catch sb off their guard
also: to catch sb napping / on the hop / with his / her pants down
guarded: cautious:
Be guarded in what you say.
guardian
a) The police are the guardians of law and order.
b) person legally responsible for sb, esp. an orphaned child / ward
to loot: to steal, esp. in large quantities, and often causing widespread damage:
Anyone found looting (the bombed houses and shops) will be shot.
There was an outbreak of looting.
loot (n): goods, esp. valuable objects, taken away illegally, esp. by soldiers after
defeating an enemy or by thieves

39 Exercise

1. He went on the offensive before anyone could criticize him.

offensive (adj.)
1. causing offence, unpleasant, repulsive:
crude jokes that are offensive to women
offensive remarks, smells, attitude, language, behaviour
2. of or for attacking: offensive weapons:
The troops took up offensive positions.
offensive (n)
to be / go on the offensive
to go over to / start up / take / break off the offensive against sb / sth
to carry out / conduct / undertake an offensive
to launch / mount an offensive
to take the offensive: attack first
536 PREPOSITIONS

2. This ointment has been made to a secret formula.

also: a recipe
a formula / recipe for economic progress:
There is no sure recipe / formula for success.
Do you know the formula of the washing powder?
to follow a recipe
the recipe calls for / requires sth

3. In the possessive case singular names ending in -s take an additional ‘s.

but: to end with an s
This word ends in a vowel.
The match ended in a goalless draw.
The war will end in disaster.
Their marriage ended in divorce.
We ended our meal with a delicious dessert.
to end a speech on an optimistic note
to end one’s remarks by quoting sb sth

4. Did he take warning from this accident?

warning
Let this / may this be a warning to you.
Let that serve as a warning to you.
It happened without advance warning.
to take sth for a warning (of what may happen)
to give / issue / send / sound / heed / receive / ignore / disregard a warning
to warn
to warn of the existence of sth: a danger / pickpockets / the consequence of his
actions:
We were warned of possible delays.
to warn against / (about) sth that sb may do: against trusting sb / against drink /
pickpockets:
The police have warned shopkeepers about forged banknotes.
The doctor warned us against overtiring the patient.
to warn sb off doing sth:
I had been warned off visiting her while she was still unwell.
Note: He warned me not to go near the dog / to skate on the thin ice.

5. The bride arrived on the arm of her father.

to have a woman on one’s arm (old-fash.)
He took her in her arms and kissed her.
They walked down the road arm in arm.
to take sb by the arm
to put / fling / throw one’s arms around sb
to keep sb at arm’s distance / length: to keep a safe distance away from, avoid being
friendly with

6. The President’s resignation is nothing but a shameful capitulation to organized crime.

cf. unconditional surrender
PREPOSITIONS 537

7. In his speech the Chancellor of the Exchequer talked about sacrifices on / at the home
front.
Exchequer: the government department that is responsible for the collection of taxes
and the paying out of public money. It is part of the Treasury, whose chief minister is
called the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
in other countries: Minister of Finance / Finance Minister

8. By one estimate, there are about 5,000 paintings stolen annually in Britain.
at a rough estimate:
According to some estimates the number of farms has increased by 50%.
to give / make / submit an estimate
a(n) approximate / conservative / preliminary estimate

9. The number of accidents has risen by twenty per cent from five to six thousand.
10. He handed us a cheque to the value of £10,000.
a cheque for £200
to pay (sb) (for) sth by cheque
value
to get value for one’s money
The trade-in value of this car is £5,000.
to attach value to sth
to take sth at face value

11. We had to sell our house at a loss.

cf. at a profit
loss
The company made big losses this year / suffered losses in the export market.
He made a loss on the deal.
to inflict losses on sb
to suffer / sustain / incur losses
to cut / make up losses
heavy / light losses
We all expressed our condolences at his great loss.
an irreplaceable loss to our firm / country
The British forces suffered heavy losses on the first day of the battle.
She has moved to another job, it’s a great loss to our firm.
a(n) great / irredeemable / irreparable / irreplaceable loss
to be a dead loss: completely useless
at a loss:
I was at a loss for words / what to do next.
cf. loss leader: article sold at a low price to attract people into a shop

12. There are twelve inches in / to a foot.

13. This year the proceeds are up 1.5 per cent, a slight increase on last year.
also: rise on
a(n) increase / rise in wages / population / prices / production
prices / consumption / inflation are / is on the rise / increase
a dramatic / steady / sharp / gradual / moderate / slight / considerable / substantial
rise / increase
sb rises to power / popularity / fame
538 PREPOSITIONS

sth gives rise to sth:

This development will give rise to new optimism.

14. A delicious meal, cooked to perfection, made his mouth water, and he smacked his lips.
to lick / smack one’s lips
to lick one’s wounds

15. He was afflicted with rheumatism and lame in the left leg.
16. There were no hospitals and only about one doctor to a thousand inhabitants.
17. Smokers have a one in four chance of dying of cancer.
chance
to have the chance to do sth
to have / stand a chance of (doing) sth
to get a chance of doing / to do sth
to give sb a chance to do sth
to let a chance slip by
to grab / jump at a chance
to take one’s chances
to miss a chance
not have the / a ghost of a chance
not have a dog’s chance
not have a snowball’s chance in hell
a fair / fifty-fifty / fat / slim / slight / poor / small chance
blind / pure / sheer chance
It was by pure chance that ...
I met him by sheer chance.
compare: they died of hunger : from a lack of food
Though of and from seem to be used interchangeably in some cases, it seems
preferable to use
to die of an illness or feeling, while to die from often is to die following something,
except illness or feeling:
die of / from hunger / cancer / a heart attack / one’s injuries / starvation
I almost, nearly died / could have died of curiosity / embarrassment / grief / laughter /
boredom.
He died from his wounds.
The child died from a fall out of a high window.
to die for one’s belief(s) / principles
to be dying for a cup of tea / something to eat
to be dying to do sth: She is dying to know where you have been.
to be dying of: to feel sth very strongly:
The children are dying of boredom / of curiosity to see what is in the parcel.
Note: to die a poor man / a hero / a martyr
How to die:
to be gone / to pass away / on /
to be deceased verscheiden, hinscheiden
to drop dead
to lose one’s life
to perish
to die in a battle auf dem Schlachtfeld sterben
to die a natural / violent death eines natürlichen / gewaltsamen Todes sterben
to die of cancer / a fever / hunger
/ grief / illness an etwas sterben
to die through neglect
to die with grief vor Kummer sterben
to die for one’s country den Heldentod sterben
PREPOSITIONS 539

to give / lay down / sacrifice

one’s life for sb / sth sein Leben opfern, hingeben
to commit suicide / kill os Selbstmord begehen
to die by one’s own hand
to be murdered ermordet werden
to die by violence,
i.e. a violent death
to die (peacefully) in one’s sleep
to die from a wound / lack of food an einer Wunde sterben
to be killed in an accident / in a
plane crash bei einem Unfall ums Leben kommen
to be murdered / assassinated
criminals / murderers
to die on the scaffold / at the auf dem Schafott, Scheiterhaufen,
stake / in the electric chair elektrischen Stuhl sterben
to be hanged / electrocuted /
executed
to be condemned to execution
by hanging
to be sentenced to be hanged
to execute sb by hanging / gass-
ing / shooting / by the sword /
by electrocution / lethal injection
to be on / be sent to death row
(chiefly AE)
death row Todestrakt
Execution is still the penalty in some states for murder.
The execution will be carried out by a firing squad.
Countries employ a variety of procedures in carrying out executions, including lethal
injection, electrocution, hanging, gassing, and shooting.
to be killed in action (soldier)
to fall (in battle) (soldier)
to be shot dead
to be shot three times in the head
Troops had been given orders to shoot to kill.

mercy killing
euthanasia: the act of painless killing sb who is seriously ill or old, esp. to reduce their
suffering:
Although some people campaign for the right to euthanasia, it is still illegal in most
countries.
Note:
to dye
She dyed her hair red.
a die / dice
The die is cast.
a pair of dice
to roll / shake / throw the dice

18. He chided his associates for failing to look to the future.

19. Among the 150 works on view were paintings by William Turner and John Constable.
landscape painters: Turner 1775-1851; Constable 1776-1837
cf. portrait painters
portrait format: (or upright format) piece of paper that has is longer edges at the sides,
i.e. its height is greater than its width (Hochformat)
landscape format (or oblong format): its width is greater than its length (Querformat)
on view: being shown to the public
540 PREPOSITIONS

in sb’s view: in sb’s opinion

to hold / take the view that ...
to echo / endorse / share sb’s view
in view of sth: in consideration of
with a view to doing sth: to redecorate one’s house with a view to selling it
to have sth in view: have a clear idea / plan in one’s mind

20. Did God really create man in his own image?

21. Have you ever been to Cairo?
22. In my judgement the plan is ill-conceived.
cf. in my opinion – to my mind
judgement
to do sth against one’s better judgement:
I agreed against my better judgement.
I let him go against my better judgement (i.e. though I knew it was probably a mis-
take).
to defer / reserve / suspend judgement
to pass / pronounce / render / sit in judgement on sb / sth:
He passed judgement on the guilty man.
She has no right to sit in judgement on everything anyone here does.
to make an unfair judgement of a person’s character
in sb’s judgement:
In my judgement the plan is ill-conceived.
to display / have / show / exercise excellent / good judgement:
Teachers need to have good judgment.
Her actions were always based on sound judgement.
He did the right thing, but more by luck than by judgement.
to be a judgement on sb: misfortune considered to be a punishment from God for
doing sth wrong:
This failure is a judgement on you for being so lazy.
Note the adverbial use of ill meaning badly, wrongly, imperfectly, etc in combinations
such as:
ill-advised / affected / assorted / behaved / bred / concealed / conceived / considered
/ defined / disposed / fated / favoured / founded / gotten / judged / mannered /
matched / natured / placed / omened / starred / tempered / timed

23. What did he say in reply to your suggestion?

24. He feels a strong affinity to / for / with her.
There is a great affinity between them.
In scientific usage it is affinity for.

25. Portuguese has an affinity with Spanish and Italian.

26. In their experiments on guinea pigs the affinity of salt for water was a decisive factor.
also: tests on
to carry out / perform / run an experiment

27. The defector lived in fear of discovery for the rest of his life.
defector: political defectors
to defect (from / to): to desert a political party, group or country, esp. in order to join an
opposing one:
She defected to the West.
PREPOSITIONS 541

28. She did it out of / from fear.

29. She tiptoed through the room for fear of waking the baby.
also: for fear that she might wake ...
sb’s fear of flying
sb’s fears for the future
to live in fear of sb / sth
to have a fear of doing sth
to arouse / kindle / instil fear(s)
to have / feel / express / show fear(s) for (sb’s safety)
to confirm sb’s (worst) fears:
The diagnosis confirmed my worst fears.
to put the fear of God into sb: to make sb very frightened
(a/an) grave / mortal / constant / strong / groundless / unfounded / lingering / morbid
/ sudden fear(s)
to allay / calm / dispel / overcome fear(s)

30. I have a great fear of snakes.

(to decide) without fear or favour: showing impartial judgement

40 Exercise: Idiomatic Expressions

1. I always go weak at the knees when I hear that voice.

weak at the knees: temporarily hardly able to stand because of emotion, fear, illness,
etc:
The shock made me go all weak at the knees.
weak in the head: stupid:
You must be weak in the head to believe that.
to be weak-minded: lacking determination or stupid
in a weak moment:
In a weak moment I agreed to pay for her holiday.
weak at / in / on sth:
Her school report shows that she is weak at / in arithmetic and biology.
The book is weak on the medieval period. (i.e. in its treatment of)
to be weak with sth:
She was weak with hunger.
cf. to feel weak in the legs:
She felt weak in the legs.
Her legs felt weak.
the weaker sex
to bring sb to their knees: beat, defeat
weak evidence
a weak argument / attempt / explanation / sound / light / story
a weak heart / stomach / eyesight / bladder
weak eyes

2. It was a feather in his cap when he was made head of the department.
Birds of a feather (flock together).
I am not surprised those two are such good friends, they’re birds of a feather.
542 PREPOSITIONS

to smooth sb’s ruffled feathers: calm

as light as a feather / as air

3. As a writer he is on a par with America’s great novelists.

4. I’m not at liberty to fill you in on what happened at the meeting.

Marjorie filled me in on all the latest gossip.
to be at liberty to do sth: free:
You are at liberty to leave / to say what you like.
to take liberties with sb / sth: to behave in a presumptuous disrespectful way:
She told him to stop taking liberties (i.e. treat her with too much familiarity).
This film takes considerable liberties with the novel it is based on.
to take the liberty of doing sth: to do without permission:
I took the liberty of borrowing your lawn-mower while you were away.

5. He wants to find out how people who live within their means make both ends meet.
They’ve always been living beyond their means.
That’s beyond my comprehension / me.
He had changed beyond recognition.
This behaviour is beyond endurance.
The car is beyond repair.
His conduct is beyond reproach / criticism.
Note: not put sth beyond sb:
I have no proof that he forged the signature, but I wouldn’t put it beyond him.

6. Let this lavishly illustrated book be your guide to a night (out) on the town.
(out) on the town: enjoy os wildly, esp. at night, in places of entertainment (nightclubs,
theatres)
cf. to paint the town red
in town:
He bought me two tickets to the best show in town.
to go to town (on (doing) sth): act or behave without restraint, esp. spend a great deal
of money:
They’ve really gone to town on decorating their new home - they must have spent
more on the furniture than on the house itself.
When they give parties they really go to town.
a man about town: a man who spends much time at fashionable parties, clubs,
theatres, etc
to be lavish with sth / in doing sth:
She was lavish in donating money to charity.
She was not lavish with praise.
to lavish sth on sb / sth

7. I never expected to be landed with all that paperwork.

to land sb with sb / sth:
Don’t try to land me with your dirty work!
to land sb / sth on sb:
Don’t try to land your dirty work on me!

8. She went to the audition on the off-chance of getting the part.

PREPOSITIONS 543

9. They seem to glory in their new freedom.

i.e. to take delight in, be very happy about
to win / achieve glory
to bring glory to sb
to reflect glory on sb / sth
to bask in sb’s glory
to restore sth to its former glory
to be covered in / with glory

10. It will take you half an hour to get there, allowing for traffic delays.
to allow for sth:
You must allow for shrinkage.
to allow sth for sth:
They allowed twenty minutes for lunch.
to allow of sth:
Our financial situation allows of no unnecessary expenditures.
This question allows of several answers.
to allow (doing) sth:
I won’t allow smoking here.
to allow sb to do sth:
I won’t allow you to smoke here.

11. They dined on smoked salmon and caviar.

12. His expeditious handling of the case has put him in line for promotion.
expeditious in doing sth: quick and efficient
on the line: in danger:
Work hard; your job is on the line.
He laid his life on the line for his country. (i.e. he risked his life)
in line with: straight or level compared with:
That is not in line with my ideas at all.

13. After endless discussions he eventually warmed to the idea.

14. Every time he is in Gloucester, he drops in on me.
15. Please, help yourself to some more cheese.
to help os to sth: also: to steal:
While no one was looking the boys helped themselves to some apples and bananas.

16. Despite the country’s economic plight, he has indulged his taste for grandiose projects.
to indulge in (doing) sth
1. allow os to enjoy the pleasure of sth:
to indulge in a long hot bath
to indulge in gossip / one’s pastimes / speculation / daydreams
2. become involved in an activity, esp. one that is illegal:
to indulge in profiteering / telephone tapping
to indulge sth: to satisfy a (perhaps unwarranted) desire, interest:
to indulge one’s passion for sth
to indulge sb / os with sth: allow to have:
He indulged himself with a bottle of champagne.

17. The Lord will visit the sins of the fathers (up)on the children.
544 PREPOSITIONS

18. Don’t try to double-cross me! Remember: two can play at that game.
to play at (doing) sth: to pretend to be sth; to do sth for fun:
He is only playing at being a businessman.
He’s only playing at his job.
The children were playing (at) being robbers.
to play sth
1. take part in a game, to compete against:
to play cards / chess / football
2. feign:
He played dead.
to play against sb
to play sb at sth:
to play sb at cards / chess / squash / tennis
to play (sth) for sb / sth:
He played football for our school.
He played for money.
They are playing for time.
to play on sth:
to play on words / on sb’s fears / emotions
to play a joke / trick on sb
to play to a full house
to play it by ear: improvise
to play into sb’s hands
to double-cross: to cheat, esp. sb with whom one has already agreed to do sth
dishonest:
One of the thieves doubled-crossed the others by hiding the jewels.

19. He deluded himself into believing that he could capitalize on the mistakes of his com-
petitors.
20. She really tore into him about / for his extravagance
tear – tore – torn
to tear at sth
to tear sth out of / off sth:
She tore several pages out of the book.
He tore a button off his jacket.
to tear into sb / sth: attack, criticize:
The tow boxers were tearing into each other.
He tore into his opponent.
to tear sb / sth to pieces / shreds / bits:
He tore my arguments to shreds.
to tear sth on sth:
She tore her blouse on a nail.

to be torn between people / things:

I’m torn between buying a new car and going on a holiday to Mexico.

21. He was urged to go into early retirement for reasons of health.

to urge older staff to take early retirement
to live in retirement
to reach retirement age
to reduce retirement age for teachers to 55
to urge forcefully / strongly
PREPOSITIONS 545

22. He was excused by reason of his age.

to have / find / make / make up / accept / reject an excuse for (doing) sth
a(n) (un)acceptable / good / (un)satisfactory / valid / convincing / perfect / lame /
threadbare / flimsy / feeble / poor / convenient / glib / ready-made excuse for (doing)
sth

23. It stands to reason that people are loath to work without pay.
i.e. it is clear to all sensible people
to listen to reason:
I told him not to be so stupid, but he wouldn’t listen to reason.

24. Their plan does not admit of any improvement.

of is mandatory.
to admit sb (in)to sth:
He was admitted to university / into his office.
to admit (doing) sth (to sb):
He admitted his guilt (to the police).
He admitted stealing the money.
to admit of sth:
The situation admits of no delay.
The question admits of several answers.
to admit to (doing) sth:
He admitted to his complicity in the crime.
He admitted to stealing the money.
to admit sth openly / freely / frankly / readily

25. He wouldn’t admit to being wrong in front of the others.

41 Exercise

1. You have no right to sit in judgement on / over her; you’d probably have done exactly the
same thing.
to do sth against one’s better judgement:
I agreed against my better judgement.
I let him go against my better judgement (i.e. though I knew it was probably a mis-
take).
to defer / reserve / suspend judgement
to pass / pronounce / render / sit in judgement on sb / sth:
He passed judgement on the guilty man.
She has no right to sit in judgement on everything anyone here does.
to make an unfair judgement of a person’s character
in sb’s judgement:
In my judgement the plan is ill-conceived.
to display / have / show / exercise excellent / good judgement:
Teachers need to have good judgement.
Her actions were always based on sound judgement.
He did the right thing, but more by luck than by judgement.
546 PREPOSITIONS

to be a judgement on sb: misfortune considered to be a punishment from God for

doing sth wrong:
This failure is a judgement on you for being so lazy

2. It is easier to lead a horse by the bridle than to keep a dog on the lead.
3. She wept for / with joy when she learnt that she had won on the pools.
also: with
She wept with joy at the ceremony.
weep – wept – wept
to weep bitterly / bitter tears (of disappointment)
to weep over / about sb / sth
He wept over his misfortunes.
She was lying on her bed weeping over the death of her child.
If the damage is done, it is done; it’s no good weeping about it.
It’s no use weeping over what cannot be helped.
She wept bitter tears over the loss of her youth.
It’s not worth weeping a single tear over him.
Note: often weep over means virtually the same as weep about, except that perhaps
weep over is rather stronger.
F.T. Wood, English Prepositional Idioms.
to weep at sth: to weep in the presence of that which causes the weeping:
Several of the ladies wept at the sight of so much suffering.
pool
a) small area of water, etc:
The body was lying in a pool of blood.
b) common fund of money, esp. the stakes of all the players in a public game
c) a common supply of funds, goods, services which are available to a group of
people to be used when needed:
a pool of cars used by the firm’s salesmen
d) a group of people available for work when required:
a pool of doctors available for emergency work
a typing pool, i.e. a pool of typists
e) arrangement by a number of business firms to agree on prices and share profits in
order to avoid competition
f) AE: game similar to snooker
g) pools: the football pools: to do the pools every week / have a win on the pools
to pool: put (money / resources) into a common fund:
They pooled their savings and bought a house in the country.
If we pool our ideas, we may find a solution.

4. She takes an active part in local politics and sits on several committees.
5. He resigned his position as treasurer of the club.
to resign from sth:
to resign from a post / place / organisation
He resigned from the Nature Conservancy Council.
The Minister resigned (from office).
to resign sth:
to resign a post / position
She resigned her directorship and left the firm.
She resigned her post as chairwoman.
to resign as sb
to resign as chairman
to resign os to (doing) sth: be ready to accept and endure sth as inevitable:
PREPOSITIONS 547

The team refused to resign themselves to defeat / to being defeated.

Note: to resign from a committee / board of directors, etc, but usually to resign an
office / position though for this also to resign from is sometimes used, especially
when the actual name of the office or position is not mentioned
He has resigned from three of ten offices he held.

6. In his classes men were outnumbered by women in the ratio of five to one.
7. They had hoped to have an audience with / of Her Majesty the Queen.
to grant / give sb an audience
to have / request / seek / be granted an audience with sb
In formal BE it is “to have an audience of sb”, in AE and ordinary English the
preposition with is more common.

8. The car’s safety record is an impressive testament to its designers’ skill.

record
a) best performance:
to establish / set a record
to equal / beat / break / hold / surpass a record
a(n) unbroken / all-time / national / world / Olympic record
a record falls
b) a file, permanent account:
to have a (criminal) record
a(n) clean / impeccable / spotless / unblemished / brilliant / distinguished / outstand-
ing / excellent record
a(n) academic / safety / police / prison / criminal record
He’s been in gaol and has a record.
to make / keep a record of sth
to keep a record of one’s expenses
to open up / close a record
a(n) accurate / detailed / official / verbatim / written / daily / weekly / monthly record
A person’s medical record is confidential.
on (the) record:
That was the warmest day on record.
to be / go on record as saying sth
to say sth off the record
(to say sth) (just) for the record: to make a statement that one wants to be noted and
remembered, esp. in order to correct sth previously stated

9. In his speech marking the day of National Liberation he concentrated on the country’s
mounting economic problems.
to deliver / give / make a speech to sb
to ad-lib / improvise a speech
a(n) eloquent / passionate / rousing / brief / short / impromptu / unrehearsed / boring
/ long / long-winded / rambling speech about sb / sth
freedom of speech
the power of speech (i.e. the ability to speak)
a speech impediment / therapy
a speech bubble / balloon: circle around the words said by sb in a cartoon
in speech – in writing:
Certain expressions are more common in speech than in writing.
548 PREPOSITIONS

10. Car sales are down 5 per cent on last year.

i.e. by comparison with

11. A good secretary should be able to write fluently to dictation.

a secretary taking dictation
to take down a letter from dictation
to dictate a letter to sb
cf. I refuse to be dictated to by you.
dictate (n)
Follow the dictates of common sense / one’s heart / conscience / fashion.
diktat (derog.): an order that is forced on people by a ruler or government
to rule by diktat
to issue a diktat

12. On / under pain of death, don’t disobey the King’s orders.

also: penalty
capital punishment – the death penalty
to die on the scaffold / at the stake / in the electric chair
to be hanged / electrocuted / executed
to be condemned to execution by hanging
to execute sb by hanging / gassing / shooting / by the sword / by electrocution / lethal
injection
Execution is still the penalty in some states for murder.
The execution will be carried out by a firing squad.
Countries employ a variety of procedures in carrying out executions, including lethal
injection, electrocution, hanging, gassing, and shooting.

13. I shall set my watch by yours.

What does your watch say?
to wind a watch
to set a watch (by the time signal on the radio)
a watch is (two minutes) fast / slow
a stopwatch / wrist watch

14. It would be unfair to criticize him on that score.

score
group / set of 20 / a score of people / three score (sgl!) and ten (70)
How many people were there? – There were scores of them.
on that score: with regard to that
on more scores than one: for many good reasons:
I want revenge on her on more scores than one.
also: what’s the score / to score a goal
With the score on 40-love, Edberg now serves for the match.

15. There are no simple solutions to the problem of unemployment.

solution of / to sth:
This piece of evidence may help us in the solution of the problem (i.e. act of solving).
The solution of / to the problem on page 10 will be published next week (i.e. a solution
attaching, belonging, applying to).
Only to: There seems to be no solution to the problem.
PREPOSITIONS 549

to find a solution to / for sth:

There has been considerable activity world-wide to find a solution to the growing
problem of water shortages.

16. It’s a great honour to meet the author of this epoch-making manual; we’ve all been trained
on it.
to train (for sth / as sth):
He trained at a good school.
He trained for the fight.
He trained as a pilot in Texas.
to train sb in sth:
Women are now trained in carpentry, construction and engineering.
honour
It is a point of honour with me to repay all my debts promptly.
to give sb one’s word of honour:
I give you my word of honour that I did not take the money.
to be on one’s honour to do sth:
He was on his honour not to tell the secret. (moral. verpflichtet)
to be an honour to sb / sth
He is an honour to the country.
to do sb honour:
Her behaviour in such a difficult situation does her honour.
to hold a ceremony in honour of sb:
The ceremony was held in honour of the Queen.
to grant / do sb the honour of (doing) sth:
She did me the honour of attending the opening of my exhibition.

17. You can win a prize of £5,000 towards a car of your choice.
18. The word what in the meaning that which belongs with the relative pronouns.
to belong to sb / sth
a) be the property of:
That book belongs to me.
b) form part of, go with as an accessory or component:
A full stop belongs to the sentence that precedes it, not to the one that follows.
Which door does this key belong to?
The daffodil belongs to the genre “Narcissus”.
c) be a member of:
He has never belonged to a trade union.
d) be fitting or seemly for:
It does not belong to a mere fallible human being to question the ways of divine
providence.
to belong with: have a place with:
The hammer belongs (in the shed) with the rest of the tools.
A child belongs with its mother (i.e. should live with and be cared for by her).
to belong under:
These items belong under this heading (i.e. they are wrongly classified).
to belong: to fit a certain environment:
He doesn’t feel he belongs / has no sense of belonging here.
550 PREPOSITIONS

19. The bottle hit the wall and broke on impact.

bottle
He is a bit too fond of the bottle.
He has hit the bottle / is on the bottle again.
to be brought up on the bottle
to be bottle-fed / breast-fed
to have / make an impact on sth
to soften / lessen the impact of sth
a(n) considerable / strong / great / lasting / profound / dramatic / emotional / favour-
able impact

20. He was beside himself with joy.

cf. to dance / jump / shout for joy
to be overcome with joy
it is a joy to do sth
to be sb’s pride and joy
to laugh / burst with joy
to radiate joy
to fill sb with joy
to find joy in (doing) sth
to be a joy to sb:
These children have always been a joy to us.
to sb’s joy:
To our joy, they will be able to come.
boundless / deep / great / indescribable / ineffable / overwhelming / pure / sheer /
unbounded joy

21. They were confined on bread and water.

This is the shortened version of:
They were confined (to prison where they had to live) on bread and water.
to confine os / sth to (doing) sth:
Please confine yourself / your remarks to the subject under discussion.
to be confined to sb / sth / (doing) sth:
a disease confined to adults / an attitude confined to teachers
to be confined to a small apartment / a wheelchair / to bed
The fighting was confined to the capital.
A soldier who deserts his post will be confined to the barracks.
The former editor is now confined to organising the advertisements.
to confine sb / sth in a place:
to confine a bird in a cage
I hate being confined in my office all day.

22. While Irish politicians retain cordial ties with the church, they do not feel duty-bound to act
on its wishes.
to act on sth
a) Does the drug take long to act on the nerve centres? (i.e. affect)
b) She acted on your suggestion (i.e. did what you suggested).
PREPOSITIONS 551

23. The term real estate seems an incomprehensible and slightly comical Americanism to the
average man in the British Isles, who wonders on hearing it whether there is any such thing
as an unreal estate.
estate
a) area of land, esp. large area developed for a specific purpose, e.g. for houses or
factories
a housing / trading / industrial estate
b) all the money and property that a person owns, esp. that which is left at death:
real estate / real property: immovable property: land, houses, etc
personal property / estate: property owned by a person except land or income from
land

24. I hope you like the new car and wish you joy of it.
25. He cut the bread into thin slices and the cake in half.
cut into + nouns: halves, quarters, slices, cubes, thirds
cut in + adv.: half, two, three
She cut the meat into cubes.
The bus was cut in two / half by the train.

26. I see from your letter that you have not been well lately.
i.e. your letter tells me / in your letter you tell me that ...

27. I see by your letter that you can’t spell.

i.e. the whole of your letter shows that ...

28. Are you immune to / against tropical diseases?

to be immune to sth
a) cannot be harmed by a disease
b) not affected by:
to be immune to criticism / abuse / flattery / opposition
to be immune from sth: protected / free / exempt from:
immune from prosecution
to immunize sb against sth
cf. to inoculate sb (with sth) against sth
to vaccinate sb against sth
immunity
to give sb immunity against a disease / virus
to grant sb immunity from sth:
He was granted immunity from prosecution.
sb’s immunity to sth:
His immunity to criticism served him well as a politician.

29. The prisoner was given to understand that he would be immune from prosecution if he
helped the police.
30. He is totally immune to criticism.
552 PREPOSITIONS

42 Exercise

1. To my knowledge he’s been released from prison on probation.

cf. on bail
to put / place sb on probation
be out on probation for a year
to let sb out on probation
to violate (the terms of one’s) probation
to grant sb bail
to be out / released / remanded on bail (of £5,000)
to jump / forfeit bail

2. The teacher was besieged with questions and requests from his pupils.
to besiege
a) surround a place with armed forces in order to make it surrender:
Troy was besieged by the Greeks.
b) fig.
1. surround closely:
The PM was besieged by reporters.
All surviving hospitals were still being besieged by crowds of casualties needing treat-
ment.
2. to overwhelm sb with sth: e.g. questions, requests:
She was besieged with requests for her autograph.
to lay siege to sth
to be under siege
to lift / raise a siege
to be in a state of siege

3. He is getting on for thirty and still lives with his parents.

also: at his parents’
to live on sth
to live on vegetables
Sheep live on grass.
live on: sb / sth lives on:
Her memory lives on.
to live in comfort / luxury / poverty
to live by working / writing / cheating / fishing (indicates the means)
to live by / on one’s wits: to get money by clever tricks rather than by an ordinary job,
esp. dishonestly:
Unable to get a job when he left school, the boy lived by / on his wits and in the end
turned to crime.
to live live by os: to live alone
to live from hand to mouth
to live off sth
a) a certain food:
These animals live off the leaves of all trees.
b) at the cost of sb / sth:
He has been living off his brother for nearly a year. (implies exploitation)
c) to find enough food or income in sth:
How can you live off the land without experience in farming?
I’m afraid that she will not be able to live off her writing much as she hopes she will.

Note: to live off the fat of the land: to live well, have plenty of money, food, amuse-
ment, etc:
PREPOSITIONS 553

In spite of the government’s attempts to share the nation’s wealth more equally, some
business men still make big profits and live off the fat of the land, while some unskilled
workers earn hardly enough to feed their families. (wie Gott in Frankreich / die Made
im Speck)
to live apart: to live separately although remaining married:
They wondered whether they should live apart for some time to try to improve their
relationship.

4. He seems to thrive on criticism.

a thriving business / community / economy / industry / garden

5. I bought these books at half-price.

6. It would be difficult to set these poems to music.
also: put to music
a piece of music
to dance to the music of a band
What you say is music to my ears.
to face the music

7. The Athletics Association has yet to rule on his eligibility.

to rule: to give an official decision:
The judge ruled that she must pay the money back.
It’s up to the courts to rule on that matter.
The court has ruled in favour of the sacked employee.
The company’s behaviour has been ruled unlawful.
to rule sth / sb out
1. say that sth or sb is not under consideration as a possibility:
The police have ruled out foul play.
We can’t rule out the possibility that she was murdered by her husband.
2. make it impossible for sth to happen, sb to do sth:
Rain ruled out further play.
An ankle injury ruled him out for the big match.
eligible
1. sb who is elegible for sth is able or allowed to do it, e.g. because they are of the
right age:
Is he eligible to vote?
Are you eligible for early retirement?
2. rich, attractive and not married, and therefore desirable for marriage:
an eligible bachelor

8. It is impossible to find accommodation here; the city is already bursting at the seams.
9. Being a frequent visitor to the gallery she knew that the painting was only on loan from the
National Gallery in Trafalgar Square.
10. He will do anything within reason to earn his living.
11. The boat was riding at anchor six miles off Land’s End.
Land’s End: the extreme southwest point of England
to cast / drop / raise / weigh anchor
to lie / ride at anchor
off
a narrow street off the High Street (i.e. turning away from)
an island off the coast of France
six miles off Portsmouth
554 PREPOSITIONS

12. Smoking in the street is rather infra dig for a lady.

infml.: infra dignitatem: below the standards of social or moral behaviour:
it is infra dig for sb to do sth

13. It’s amazing what a bit of money can do towards solving life’s little problems.
i.e. for the purpose of, for part payment or fulfilment of

14. Coca-Cola was first heard of in 1887, albeit in the United States, and even its familiar
abbreviation coke is dated to 1909.
to date sb: to go out with sb
to date sth:
Please date your letters in future.
The letter was dated September 18, 1952.
The specialist can date many rocks.
sth dates back to:
The present city hall dates back to only 1941.
sth dates from:
The custom dates from the time when men wore swords.
to date sth back to a period / year:
Archaeologists have dated this building to about 250 B.C.
to date sth at:
The unusual shape of this pot dates it at about A.D. 400.
albeit (fml.): even though, although

15. I should like to say a few words by way of apology.

to owe sb an apology
to make / offer / present / demand / accept an apology
a full / heartfelt / sincere / public / humble / belated apology
to make an apology to sb for sth
to be apologetic about (doing) sth
an apologetic letter / smile

16. I can’t disturb the manager; he’s in conference.

but: to be at a conference
I’ll see him at the conference.
to have / organize / attend / convene a conference (on sth / with sb)

17. The two parties are neck and neck in the opinion polls.
V-neck sweater
to break one’s neck doing / to do sth: to work especially hard:
I am not going to break my neck to finish my essay today – my teacher does not want
it until next week.
to get it in the neck: to be severely scolded / punished for sth:
You will get it in the neck if you’re caught stealing.
a millstone round sb’s / one’s neck: a heavy burden / responsibility:
My debts were like a millstone round my neck.
neck and neck with sth / sb: (horse-racing / contest) with neither one or the other
having an advantage or lead; level:
The two contestants were neck and neck with 20 points each.
to risk / save one’s (own) neck: to risk / save one’s life
PREPOSITIONS 555

to risk / avoid great misfortune:

He saved his own neck by fleeing the country.
to be up to the neck in sth: very deeply involved in:
Even as a young man he was up to his neck in crime.

18. This question was discussed at great length at the last AGM.
AGM: Annual General Meeting: Jahreshauptversammlung
to keep sb at arm’s length
to go to great lengths to do sth
My horse won by two lengths.
to travel the length and breadth of the country

19. Two years to the day after his election the military tried to unseat the Premier.
the military: soldiers, the army:
As the police could not keep order in the city, the military were called in to help.
to call in the military
to serve in the military

20. Amid(st) all the rush and confusion she forgot to say goodbye.
to do sth in a rush
to be in a rush:
I can’t talk now – I’m in a kind of rush.
a rush on / for sth:
There was a rush on swimsuits in the hot weather.
a rush to do sth:
There was a rush to get tickets for the final.
a rush of excitement / enthusiasm / panic
to rush (sb) into (doing) sth:
She rushed into marriage.
They rushed her into signing the document.
a rush job: done as quickly as possible, and therefore not very good:
Her latest book is a bit of a rush job.
to cause / create / lead to confusion
to avoid / clear up confusion
confusion arises / reigns
complete / general / mass / total / utter confusion (about / over / as to sth)

21. He spent his last years in the bosom of his family.

a bosom friend / buddy / pal
to have an ample bosom

22. There was something about his tone I didn’t like, and I told him to his face that he was a
fraud.
I told him to his face that he was a liar.
cf. behind sb’s back
This decision was taken behind my back.
They say nasty things about him behind his back.

23. In retribution for his crimes he was sentenced to three years’ hard labour.
24. Contextualization is a buzz-word used in / with reference to language teaching.
also: a vogue word
556 PREPOSITIONS

25. He urged the locals to aid in the hunt for the killer.
aid
in aid of sth:
A bazaar will be held in aid of the church funds.
to collect money in aid of charity
Now then, what’s all this crying in aid of? (purpose)
aid in sth:
A dictionary is a very valuable aid in learning a new language.
with the aid of sb / sth:
Eventually, with the aid of a little subterfuge, he got her to agree.
by the aid of sth:
Small though the writing was, I managed to make it out by the aid of a magnifying
glass.
to come / go to the aid of sb:
He was drowned when he went to the aid of a swimmer in difficulty.
to aid and abet sb in (doing) sth: help in some criminal activity:
He was accused of aiding and abetting the terrorists.
to aid sb in / with sth:
We were greatly aided in our investigation by the co-operation of the police.

26. He needs every possible aid to keeping the firm going.

27. I know from experience that he will learn by trial and error and eventually by experience.
to learn from experience: suggests the source of knowledge
to learn by experience: suggests the method
cf. to learn by trial and error

28. I’m busy at the moment, but I’ll attend to you by and by.
to attend (on) sb:
The Chancellor always has his own doctor attending (on) him.
Two nurses attended (on) the patient.
to attend to sb / sth:
to attend to a customer / one’s duties / one’s business / one’s work
A nurse attended to his needs.

29. The project seems to have been shelved for the moment.
also: for the time being
to shelve sth: to decide not to go on with a plan, idea etc, although one might continue
with it at a later time

30. For the moment we are quite content to watch and wait.

43 Exercise: Idiomatic Expressions

1. She had run into him at the grocer’s in a little lane off Oxford Street.
2. At a rough estimate we have about 5,000 cases on file.
According to some estimates the number of farms has increased by 50%.
to give / make / submit an estimate
a(n) approximate / conservative / preliminary estimate
PREPOSITIONS 557

to make up / open / start a file on sb / sth

to keep / close a file on sb / sth
on file:
to have / keep sth on file
We’ll keep your application on file.
The petition has to be on file by next Friday.
in file
to walk in (Indian / single) file
the rank and file: the ordinary members of an organization, not the leaders:
The Chancellor seems to be losing the support of the party’s rank and file.

3. After twenty years of active service he was invalided out of the army.
cf. to spend time on active service

4. They were held on remand while enquiries continued.

cf. to remand sb in custody

5. I think he’s rather taken with the idea.

6. The point at issue is that each case has to be judged on its own merits.
i.e. by its own qualities, not by our opinions
a(n) basic / collateral / side / controversial / burning / dead / sensitive / debatable /
thorny / divisive / moral / political / social / local / global / national issue
to bring up / raise an issue
to address / confront / deal with / face / debate / discuss / explore an issue
to settle / avoid / evade / sidestep / dodge / duck an issue
to take an issue with sb on sth: to disagree with sb about sth

7. His deviousness is something his superiors have not tumbled to yet.

i.e. to become conscious of, understand
They didn’t tumble to the meaning of the clues.
devious
a) using tricks and deceiving people in order to get what one wants:
Don’t trust him – he’s devious!
b) not going in the most direct way:
a devious route

8. She flew at him and slapped his face.

cf. a slap in the face – a slap on the back
to fly into a rage / passion / temper
to fly off the handle: to become very angry
to fly in the face of sth: to be contrary to:
Such a suggestion flies in the face of common sense.

9. I wouldn’t bother; irony is quite lost on him.

10. This pub is off limits to all military personnel.
also: out of bounds to sb

11. Reggae may be difficult to listen to, but after a while it starts to grow on you.
to grow
Don’t spend so much – money doesn’t grow on trees, you know.
558 PREPOSITIONS

to grow away from: come to a less close relationship:

a teenage girl growing away from her mother
to grow into sth:
He has grown into an old miser.
The coat is too big for him now, but he’ll grow into it.
to grow out of (doing) sth: one’s clothes / children’s games / habits / sucking his
thumb
to grow on sb: come to have a greater attraction, win the liking of:
a book / piece of music that grows on you
His music is difficult to listen to, but after a while it starts to grow on you.

12. May I now call (up)on the chairman to address the meeting?
13. Petrol prices will be going up again, by the look(s) of it.
14. You needn’t pride yourself on that; it was as easy as falling off a log.
cf. child’s play – there is nothing to it
as easy as anything / as pie / as ABC / as winking
to take pride in (doing) sth
to be sb’s joy and pride
sb’s pride in sth:
Her pride in her achievements is justified.
to be the pride of sb:
The new car was the pride of the family.
to be puffed up with pride
to hurt sb’ pride
to be a blow to sb’s pride
to do sth out of a false sense of pride
to pocket one’s pride: to suppress / hide one’s feeling of pride / anger / shame
to take pride in sth / sb:
She takes pride in her children’s success.
He takes no pride in his work.
You should take more pride in your appearance.
to pride os on (doing) sth:
She prided herself on her skill as a gardener / remaining calm in an emergency.

15. They simply wouldn’t be (a) party to such a scheme.

16. I lent him £10 on the understanding that he would repay me today.
to arrive at / come to / reach an understanding (to do sth)
a clear / complete / full / secret / tacit / verbal / written understanding

17. I’ve had no time to prepare for this meeting, so I’ll have to play it by ear.
i.e. act according to what the situation requires

18. Remember, he has three hours’ and a couple of leagues’ start on / over us.
also: head start on / over

19. The old man muttered something under his breath.

also: below / beneath
PREPOSITIONS 559

20. He was convicted in default of exonerating evidence.

to exonerate sb (from sth)
to furnish / give / produce / provide / collect / gather / dig up / unearth / piece together
evidence
to fabricate / falsify evidence
to tamper with / conceal / destroy / suppress / withhold evidence
ample / strong / substantial / clear / cogent / compelling / convincing / (in)conclusive
/ concrete / hard / incontestable / indisputable / irrefutable / undeniable / unquestion-
able / reliable / trustworthy / (in)sufficient / satisfactory / (in)admissible / anecdotal /
circumstantial / documentary / forensic / hearsay / scientific evidence
the evidence indicates / points out / suggests
a piece / scrap / shred of evidence
evidence against / for / in favour of sb / sth / on sth
there’s increasing / mounting / growing evidence

21. She won by default, because her opponent had sprained her ankle.
22. They cheated the old woman out of a fortune by making her sign away her share in / of the
property.
23. They’ve only just got married, and already he’s started cheating on her.
to cheat at cards
to cheat sb (out) of sth
to feel cheated
to cheat on sb: be unfaithful to one’s partner

24. You’ll just have to take what I say on trust.

25. Don’t forget that nature and its resources have been given to us in trust.
i.e. to protect and pass on
to hold sth in trust
to place sb / sth in sb’s trust
to leave sth to sb in trust
If you trust to sb / sth, you rely on them to make decisions for you or look after you:
However much you plan an expedition like this, you still have to trust to luck to a
certain degree.
to trust to chance / luck / fate / fortune
to trust sb / sth completely / blindly / implicitly
to trust sb with sth:
Would you trust him with your savings?
You trust to your memory too much.
560 PREPOSITIONS

44 Exercise

1. The new ideas on the rights of man and the sovereignty of the people spread far beyond
the coasts of England.
cf. Ideas of how society should function have changed dramatically in the last 200
years.

2. Does he really have the courage to live up to / by his beliefs?

to live up to sth: to do as well as one is expected to do, to do what one promised to do
to live up to a rule / principle
to live by sth: according to; up to: behave in a way worthy of (sth such as a high
standard):
to live by a rule / principles
to live in comfort / luxury / poverty
to live by doing sth
to live by working / writing / cheating (indicates the means)
to live by / on one’s wits: to get money by clever tricks rather than by an ordinary job,
esp. dishonestly:
Unable to get a job when he left school, the boy lived by / on his wits and in the end
turned to crime.
to live by os: to live alone
to live from hand to mouth
to live off sth
a) a certain food:
These animals live off the leaves of all trees.
b) at the cost of sb / sth:
He has been living off his brother for nearly a year. (implies exploitation)
c) to find enough food or income in ssth:
How can you live off the land without experience in farming?
I’m afraid that she will not be able to live off her writing much as she hopes she will.
Note:
to live off the fat of the land: to live well, have plenty of money, food, amusement, etc:
In spite of the government’s attempts to share the nation’s wealth more equally, some
business men still make big profits and live off the fat of the land, while some unskilled
workers earn hardly enough to feed their families.
to live apart: to live separately although remaining married:
They wondered whether they should live apart for some time to try to improve their
relationship.

3. She is very anxious about her husband’s health.

to be anxious about one’s job
to be anxious for sth / for sb to do sth: wanting very much:
They were anxious for us to meet you.
to be anxious for sb’s safety / for promotion

4. The hostages were released on humanitarian grounds.

on the grounds of sth:
On what grounds are you claiming damages?
to have grounds for (doing) sth:
He had strong grounds for going there again.

on moral / legal / humanitarian / medical grounds

PREPOSITIONS 561

on grounds of sth:
The divorce was granted on grounds of adultery.
on the grounds of sth / on the grounds that ...:
He retired on the grounds of ill health.

5. We spent the first three days sightseeing.

to spend sth on sth
to spend a lot of money / time / energy on a project
to spend sth in doing sth
They spent a lot of time in exploring the matter.
to spend sth doing sth
to spend one’s life / spare time doing sth
spending money: pocket money

6. Would you have suspenders in stock?

cf. out of stock
note: to take stock of sth:
Let’s take stock of the situation.
Buy now while stock lasts!
to put little / great / no / not much store by / on sth
to have / there is sth in store for sb:
We have a few surprises in store.
There is a great shock in store for him.
a library with a store (large amount) of rare books
stored with sth:
a gallery stored with fine paintings
a mind well stored with facts

7. He was held on suspicion of being an accessory to a felony.

accessory
1. (usually plural) sth added to a machine, tool etc:
Accessories include alloy wheels.
2. sth such as a bag, jewellery etc that is worn or carried because it is attractive
fashion accessories
3. (law) sb who helps a criminal, esp. by helping them to hide from the police:
an accessory before / after the fact
felony: a serious crime such as murder
misdemeanour: a minor crime

8. He seems to be lacking in confidence.

sb / sth lacks sth:
He lacks confidence / energy.
His voice lacked conviction.
We lack the capital to launch the new product.
sth is lacking:
Financial support / money for the project is lacking.
sb is lacking sb:
We’re lacking three members of staff due to illness.
sb / sth is lacking in sth:
She’s totally lacking in charm of any sort.
to be lacking in politeness / in musical ability
562 PREPOSITIONS

to be badly / completely / sadly / totally / utterly lacking in sth

to lack for nothing / something:
His parents made sure that he lacked for nothing.
You shall never lack for money while I am alive.
These children are lacking for nothing.

9. Strictest secrecy was observed throughout the entire operation.

cloaked / shrouded / veiled in secrecy
a veil of secrecy
to swear sb to secrecy

10. The letter was sent to you in error.

but: by mistake
to commit / make an error
to correct / rectify an error
to admit (to making) an error
a(n) cardinal / costly / egregious / flagrant / glaring / grievous / gross / major / serious
/ fatal / minor / slight / grammatical / typographical / human / tactical error

11. Her teaching experience gave her a considerable advantage over the other applicants for
the job.
to have the advantage of sth:
Our team has the advantage of experience.
to gain / outweigh an advantage
to take advantage of sth
to turn sth to one’s advantage
sth works / is to sb’s advantage
a big / great / clear / decided / definite advantage

12. His love of poetry is something to be wondered at.

His love for his wife would never change.
He married for love, not for money.
to wonder about: think about, feel curious about:
Do you often wonder about the future of the world?
I am still wondering about taking a further degree.
I often wonder about why she treated me like this.
to wonder at: be surprised by:
I wonder at your rudeness, when I have always been so kind to you.
A severe winter like this is not to be wondered at, in view of the summer we have had.
Can you wonder at it that he should be so angry?
That the criminal was caught so quickly is not to be wondered at.

13. I have very strong doubts on that matter.

to plant / raise a doubt / doubts
to cast doubts on sb / sth
to have / feel / entertain / harbour / express / voice / a doubt / doubts about sb / sth
to have doubts about sb’s intelligence
to dispel / clear up / resolve a doubt / doubts
(a) serious / strong / deep / reasonable / slight / gnawing / lingering doubt(s)
PREPOSITIONS 563

a doubt / doubts arise(s) / appear(s)

to give sb the benefit of the doubt
not a shadow of a doubt that ...

14. At the launching ceremony the Queen made a little speech wishing godspeed to the ship
and all who sail in her, and all the boats in the harbour sounded their sirens in salute.
to launch a(n) ship / submarine / rocket / missile / torpedo / assault / campaign / offen-
sive / appeal / attack / inquire / scheme / a new model
at the launch (party) for sth:
Will she be at the launch (party) for her latest novel?
to launch (os) into sth:
He launched (himself) into a lengthy account of his adventures.
He launched into an attack on her handling of the finances.
to launch sb / os on a career
to sound / turn on a siren
a(n) air-raid / ambulance / fire / police siren
a siren blares / goes off / sounds / wails

15. A coalition government might be a means of getting the budget deficit under control.
to form / break / dissolve a coalition
a coalition breaks up / falls apart
a broadly based coalition
an umbrella coalition: it consists of many diverse elements

16. You must not walk across the meadow when it’s not yet mown.
17. The car is still under warranty.
to give a warranty
a warranty expires / runs out
a two-year warranty on sth
an anti-corrosion warranty
to buy sth without a warranty

18. The GP impressed on him the need for a check-up.

to create / feel / have / meet / obviate / satisfy a need
a(n) acute / basic / fundamental / unfulfilled / urgent / compulsive / crying / desperate
/ pressing need
a biological / emotional / spiritual / psychological / physical need
a need arises
to impress sb deeply / favourably
to impress sth on sb:
He impressed on us the importance of being there in time.
to impress sb with sth:
She impressed me with her grasp of the subject.

19. What is the significance of this discovery to our country’s economy?

20. We’ve decided on the Malayan archipelago for our next holiday.
564 PREPOSITIONS

21. We’ve arrived at the conclusion that these measures constitute an encroachment (up)on
our rights.
to arrive at / come to / jump to / leap to / reach a conclusion
a(n) correct / logical / reasonable / tenable / (in)valid / foregone / inescapable /
inevitable / erroneous / false / wrong / hasty conclusion

22. She was suffering from insomnia and is now under treatment.
atrocious / brutal / cruel / special / gentle / harsh / (in)human / kid-glove / kind / equal
/ (un)fair / preferential / read-carpet / rough / shabby treatment of sb / sth
to be under / receive / get / have / undergo / give / provide treatment for sth
to respond to treatment
dental / heat / medical / outpatient / radiation / shock / (in)effective treatment
to suffer for (doing) sth
to suffer for one’s sins / making rash decisions
to suffer from sth
to suffer from headaches / loss of memory / shock / asthma / depression / cancer
to inflict suffering on sb
to bear / endure / alleviate / ease / relieve suffering
great / chronic / intense / untold suffering
to suffer the consequences of sth
to suffer a defeat / damage / injury / loss / casualties / a blow

23. Next term I will be lecturing on 18th-century poetry.

to give / deliver / read a lecture
a lecture on / about sth:
The policeman let us off with a lecture about speeding.
to lecture sb about sth:
He lectured his daughter about smoking.

24. He had embarked for America where he tried to embark on a new career.
to carve out / make a career (for os)
to enter on a career
to abandon / give up one’s career
a brilliant / distinguished / chequered / colourful / promising / successful / turbulent
career
a career in politics / journalism / the police force
to move a few rungs up the career ladder
to be career-minded / -oriented

25. Will it interfere with your arrangements if we ask the Joneses for / to dinner?
also: invite the Joneses to / for dinner

26. Someone has been interfering with these papers.

to interfere in other people’s relationships
to interfere between two people / husband and wife
Having children would have interfered with her career.
to interfere with often means to molest sexually (esp. children)
PREPOSITIONS 565

27. Don’t interfere in matters that do not concern you.

concerned with: having to do with, or having as one’s concern or business:
We are not concerned with that matter.
concerned about: worried:
I’m concerned about my wife’s health.
He seems to be making little progress, and the doctor is very concerned about him.
concerned for is also sometimes used in this connection:
She felt concerned for the child’s safety.
But concerned for more often means anxious to assure.
concerned in: implicated / involved:
More than one person has been concerned in this affair.
F.T. Wood, English Prepositional Idioms

28. By order of the President the headquarters of the Opposition were closed down.
29. These days art thefts are no longer committed by individuals but by syndicates that steal
to order.
in / out of order
in chronological / numerical / alphabetical order
in order of importance / preference / appearance
in reverse / ascending / descending order
to have sth on order
to make / supply sth to order
to give orders to sb
to take orders from sb
to have orders / be under orders to do sth
by order / on the order of sb

30. I am under strict orders not to let anyone pass.

45 Exercise

1. The defendant pleaded guilty to having lied on / under oath.

cf. to commit perjury
to be guilty of sth
to feel guilty about (doing) sth
to plead guilty to (doing) sth
to find / pronounce sb guilty of sth
The judge reminded the witness that she was under oath.
to put sb under oath
to swear / take an oath
to take the Hippocratic oath
to break / violate an oath
to be on / under oath to tell the truth
to testify under oath that ...
a sacred / solemn oath

2. Please, not in front of the children!

i.e. in the presence of
566 PREPOSITIONS

3. His political enemies accused him of being too soft on organized crime.
to be / go soft on sb / sth:
Have the authorities gone soft on crime?
If a manager is too soft on the staff they will not respect him.
to be soft with sb:
That teacher is too soft with his class: they’re out of control.
I think they’re too soft with these young offenders.
cf. to take a soft line with sb
to take a hard line on / over sth, i.e. deal with sth in a very strict way:
The new government promised to take a hard line on law and order.
to be soft on sb: to be fond of / in love with
to get / go soft in the head
a soft option: the easier of two choices:
He always tends to take the soft option.
to have a soft spot for sb / sth

4. In England – as against Scotland – no university other than Oxford or Cambridge was built
earlier than the last century.
as against: in contrast / comparison with:
If you discuss a particular set of facts or figures as against another set you are com-
paring or contrasting the two sets of figures or facts: This is the distinguishing quality
of the human as against the animal creature.
She gets Saturdays off in her new job as against working alternate weekends in her
last one.
We had 12 hours of sunshine yesterday, as against a forecast of continuous rain.
cf. as from (BE) / as of (chiefly AE):
As from next Monday you can use my office.
We shall have a new address as of 12 May.

5. God’s love towards / to / for / of man is immeasurable.

6. Some days he worked for eight hours at a stretch.
7. The gentleman there offered £200! Any advance on £200?
i.e. Will anybody offer more than £200?
to halt the advance of sth / a disease
recent advance in medical science: progress
He asked for an advance on his salary.

8. It is imperative that a new government should declare war on poverty and crime.
to wage war on / against sb / sth
to be at war with sb
to conduct / fight / lose / win a war
to go to war with / against sb / sth
to avoid / avert / survive / provoke / plunge into a war

9. Cautiously he put his head round / through the bedroom door.

10. Lotteries and other games of chance are the 12th largest industry in the U.S., ahead of air
transport, oil and petrol.
PREPOSITIONS 567

11. The dying animal was groaning with pain and foaming at the mouth, a sure sign of
poisoning.
to foam
produce foam:
The dying animal was found foaming at the mouth.
a glass of foaming beer
fig. to be foaming at the mouth over sth: be very angry:
He could hardly speak, he was foaming at the mouth.
groan
to groan at / about / over sth (over new taxes / at his terrible jokes)
to groan in / with sth (frustration / pain)
to groan under / beneath the load of sth:
The table groaned under the weight of the food.
They are groaning under the load of new taxes.
to be moaning and groaning about sth
to emit / utter / give out / let out / heave a groan

12. Employees who have worked here for many years will be given preference over new-
comers.
to give / show preference to sb /sth:
We give preference to those who have experience.
to have a preference (for sb / sth)
to have no strong / particular preference (for sb / sth)
to express preference for sth
a clear / definite / marked / strong / decided / preference for sb / sth
in order of preference:
The most popular sports, in order of preference, are football, rugby, tennis ...

13. The latest model is now on sale and in our shops.

to be / go on sale:
Tickets will go on sale next Monday.
to be for sale
to put sth up for sale
to buy goods at / in the sales: the period when goods are sold at reduced prices

14. His bloodshot eyes shone out from under bushy eyebrows.
bloodshot (of eyes): red because of swollen or broken blood vessels:
eyes bloodshot from lack of sleep

15. We expect everybody on the staff to play by the rules.

it’s against the rules to ...
to adhere to / abide by / comply with / stick to / obey / observe / follow the rules
to break / bend / stretch / waive the rules
to play (it) by the rules
to go / do things by the rules
to make it a rule to do sth
to work to rule
as a (general) rule: in der Regel
as a rule of thumb
a hard and fast rule
an unwritten rule
568 PREPOSITIONS

16. Our company has long ceased trading in arms.

to trade / deal in sth
to trade / deal in furs
to trade with sb / a country
cf. trading partner
to trade sth for sth: to exchange:
She traded her radio for a scanner.
to trade sth in for sth: to give a used article a part of the payment for a new article:
She trade in her old car for the latest model.

17. On my honour, I didn’t know they did it of their own accord.

accord
be in accord with sb / sth:
The two sides are completely in accord (with each other) on this matter.
of one’s own accord: without being asked / ordered:
The children went to bed of their own accord because they were so tired.
with one accord: with everybody expressing their agreement, unanimously:
With one accord they all stood up and cheered.
to accord with: agree / be in harmony / compatible with:
His behaviour does not accord with his principles.
to accord sth to sb / sb sth: to give, grant
to accord sb permission / permission to sb
They accorded him a tremendous welcome.
They accorded a tremendous welcome to him.
Teachers don’t enjoy the respect that is accorded to doctors.
in accordance with: in a way that fulfils or agrees with:
In accordance with your wishes / orders I cancelled the meeting.
according to
a) as stated or shown by:
According to our records the books you have borrowed should now be returned.
According to Bill, she is a really good teacher.
b) in a way that agrees with:
We’ll be paid according to the amount of work we do.
Note: according to is used to show that the information comes from another person or
place and does not come from your own knowledge. It can also be used to suggest
that you don’t share sb’s opinion:
According to John I owe him £20 (but I don’t agree).
Do not use according to with words like opinion / view.
compare:
according to the management – in the management’s opinion / view

18. From St. Giles in the centre of Oxford two parallel roads run due north, like the prongs of
a tuning fork.
due to
adjectival use, usually preceded by be
Note: Some speakers are careful to use due to only after the verb to be:
His lateness was due to the heavy traffic on the M1.
But it is generally considered acceptable today as synonym of owing to, which is used
differently:
He was late owing to / due to the very heavy traffic.
Due to / owing to the heavy traffic he was late.
Due to can be used immediately after a noun:
Accidents due to driving at high speed were very common that weekend.
PREPOSITIONS 569

due
a) deserving:
She is due for promotion soon.
b) requiring immediate payment: become / be / fall due:
My rent isn’t due till Wednesday.
c) due to do (i.e. expected, arranged):
The train is due to arrive / leave at 10.
d) suitable/ proper:
after due consideration
With all due respect, I disagree completely.
in due course: eventually, at the appropriate time:
Your request will be dealt with in due course.

19. My name is Penelope, but most people call me Penny for short.
short of: not having much / enough of: money / time / ideas
short on: a particular quality or emotion, people don’t have as much of it as they
should have (esp. of a desirable quality):
He looked intelligent, but was a bit short on wisdom / wit / brains.
short with sb: curt, rudely impatient:
I am sorry I was a bit short with you on the phone this morning, I was rather busy.
at short notice:
The meeting had to be arranged at short notice.
nothing short of:
He would settle for nothing short of total independence.
You should do anything you feel like doing in public, short of assault and robbery (i.e.
except for).

20. He is very efficient and popular with his subordinates. In short, he is just the man for the
job.
21. He may have badmouthed me, but there is certainly no resentment on my part.
22. For my part, he can do exactly as he pleases, I’m past caring!
23. Flight BA 475 will arrive at Heathrow 20 minutes ahead of / behind schedule.
24. We are working to a very tight schedule.
25. Their project is dead on schedule.

46 Exercise: Idiomatic Expressions

1. There is nothing I can do for you; I am bound hand and foot by regulations.
also: tied
to adopt / apply / enforce a regulation
to obey / observe / ignore / violate a regulation
a strict / rigid regulation
government / health / safety / security / traffic / building / planning regulations
rules and regulations

2. We had better have the repairs done to the house while we are still in funds.
to be short of funds
to allocate / allot funds
570 PREPOSITIONS

to disburse / pay out funds

to raise funds
funds dry up / run out
to set up / establish / administer a fund
(to have) a fund of sth:
He has an inexhaustible fund of funny anecdotes / dirty jokes.
a(n) consolidated / contingency / emergency / pension / relief fund

3. Our team scored the most goals on aggregate.

on aggregate: taken as a whole
in (the) aggregate: added together, as a whole:
Football clubs are, in the aggregate, deeper in debt than ever before.

4. The old woman was at her last gasp when we arrived and she died shortly afterwards.
to emit / give / let out a gasp (of amazement)
to gasp at / in / with sth: to express surprise:
They gasped at our offer.
She gasped in surprise / with pain.
to be gasping for sth:
to gasp for a drink / breath / air / a pint

5. I was offered a good job abroad, but since my friends are all living here I was in two minds
about leaving.
6. I’m banking on you to help me with the preparations.
to bank on sb / sth / (sb) doing sth:
We were banking on Mark being there to show us the way.
We were banking on your support / on getting a pay rise.
to bank with sb / sth:
Who do you bank with?

7. She found it difficult to get any work done with three small children under her feet all day.
8. The government troops suffered great losses at the hands of the insurgents.
He made a profit of £2000 on the deal.
I made a handsome profit from the sale of my car.
to be at a (complete) loss for sth / to do sth:
He was at a loss for words.
I was at a loss to find anything wrong with them.
I was at a loss as to how I could lay my hand on the money.
to be a dead loss:
That goalkeeper is a dead loss.

9. May I take the liberty of calling on you tomorrow?

at liberty: free:
You are at liberty to leave / to say what you like.
to take liberties with sb / sth: to behave in a presumptuous disrespectful way:
She told him to stop taking liberties (i.e. treat her with too much familiarity).
This film takes considerable liberties with the novel it is based on.
to take the liberty of doing sth: to do without permission:
I took the liberty of borrowing your lawn-mower while you were away.
PREPOSITIONS 571

10. To answer in the affirmative or in the negative is a stylised periphrasis of saying yes or no.
11. His jokes had us all in stitches and we could hardly speak for laughing.
to laugh uncontrollably
to have / keep sb in stitches
to have not a stitch on / not be wearing a stitch: be naked

12. You really missed out on an extremely interesting lecture.

13. It all comes out in the wash.
to come out in the wash
a) (of sth shameful): to become known
b) turn out all right in the end:
Don’t worry, it will come out in the wash.

14. “Go easy on the whisky,” she said, or words to that effect.
15. He was caught off balance and almost fell.
to keep / lose one’s balance:
I found it hard to keep / I lost my balance on the icy path.
to strike a balance between things:
We try to strike a balance between justice and mercy.
to act as a balance:
They work well together – her steadiness acts as a balance to his clever but often
impractical ideas.
to be / hang in the balance: state of uncertainty:
The future of the nation is / hangs in the balance.
on balance: when everything has been considered:
I think on balance I prefer the old system.

16. There is no blinking the fact that he is on the mend.

to blink at sb / sth: seem surprised:
She didn’t even blink at his proposal / at the news.
I blinked as I came out into the sunshine (i.e. shut and open the eyes quickly).
The light on the machine is blinking.
to be on the blink: be out of order

17. We tried to shame him into apologizing to his victim, but he has no sense of guilt.
to be guilty of sth:
He was guilty of murder.
But: I feel guilty about forgetting to post your letter.
Note: to plead guilty to (doing) sth
to shame sb:
It shames me to admit it.
Your cowardice has shamed us all.
to sb’s shame:
She realized to her shame that ...
To my shame, I must admit that ...
to have no (sense of) shame:
You can’t wear a dress like that – have you no shame?
to feel shame at doing sth:
They felt shame at accepting bribes.
to bow / hang one’s head in shame
572 PREPOSITIONS

there’s no shame in (doing) sth

to bring shame on sb

18. Let’s concentrate on the problem in hand.

19. I don’t happen to have a dictionary to / at hand.
I couldn’t look up the spelling of the word, as I hadn’t a dictionary at hand.
i.e. within reach
at hand
a) close / near at hand:
He lives close at hand.
b) about to happen:
Your big moment is at hand.
in hand:
a) I still have some money in hand.
b) We have the situation well in hand.
cf. The football fans have got completely out of hand.
off one’s hands: no longer one’s responsibility:
They’ll be glad to get their son off their hands.
on one’s hands: resting on one as a responsibility:
I don’t know how she manages, with three growing children and an invalid husband
on her hands.
on hand: available:
I always keep a certain amount of money on hand, in case of an emergency.
to hand
a) within reach, readily available:
I don’t have the information to hand.
b) received (commercial):
Your letter is to hand. (liegt vor)
off hand
a) on the spur of the moment, here and now:
I cannot give you the information off hand, I shall have to look it up.
b) casual, as though one were not interested or did not wish to be troubled:
He treated my request in a very off-hand / offhand manner. (wurstig, lässig)
He was very off-hand to / with me.

20. For / with all his eloquence he could not make them see that the end of the world was at
hand.
also: despite / in spite of all his eloquence

21. We have a lot of orders on hand.

22. He wrote the address down in the notebook he kept to hand for jotting down such things.
also: keep sth ready to hand

23. I only heard about / of it at second hand.

to have first-hand knowledge of sth
to buy sth first- / second-hand
to hear sth (straight) from the horse’s mouth

24. There should always be a doctor on hand at the ringside.

PREPOSITIONS 573

25. From the top of the hill we could see antelopes grazing on every hand.
also: on all hands

47 Exercise

1. Don’t worry, there is nothing in this rumour.

to spread / circulate / confirm / trace / track down a rumour / rumours
to deny / dispel a rumour / rumours
(a/an) persistent / malicious / vicious / widespread / wild / baseless / unfounded / idle
/ vague rumour(s)
Rumour has it / rumours are strife that he’ll be soon divorced.
A rumour is spreading / going (a)round / circulating that ...
It is(widely) rumoured that ...
cf. Anyone can ride a bike, there’s nothing to it.

2. Do as you would be done by.

to do well by sb
to be hard done by: unfairly treated
to do well / badly by sb: to treat sb well / badly

3. The court ordered the council to enquire into the cause of the race riots.
also: inquire may take a direct object: to enquire the time / way / a person’s name / the
price of sth
to enquire about: is rather more vague
to enquire after: usually means ask after sb’s health
to enquire of: to ask:
I must enquire of you where you obtained this money, sir.
to enquire for
a) to enquire the whereabouts of some place one wishes to find:
This young lady is enquiring for the furnishing department.
b) to ask by name for sb one wishes to see or speak to:
When you ring up, enquire for Mrs Mason.
to enquire into: to investigate, usually: inquire:
The court ordered the council to inquire into the conduct of the two officers.
cause of: sth which produces an effect (Grund):
They are investigating the causes of the explosion.
Smoking is one of the causes of heart diseases.
cause for: sth that provides a satisfactory reason for an action, justification, etc
(Anlass):
You have no cause for complaint.
There is no cause for anxiety.

4. I’m not averse to a drop of whisky after a good meal.

Some purists insist that the etymologically correct form is averse from.

5. I personally would take issue with the speaker’s observations.

574 PREPOSITIONS

6. They will eventually be held to account.

also: to bring / call sb to account (for (doing) sth)
to give an account of sth
to keep an account of sth
a(n) eyewitness / firsthand account
to take account of sth
to take sth into account
by / from all accounts
by sb’s own account
to give a good / poor account of os
to put / turn sth to good account

7. He’s a Reader in English literature.

reader: Dozent

8. They were fully alive to the dangers of the operation.

i.e. conscious of
cf. The dead tree was alive with insects.

9. There is a swelling tide of foreign businessmen who haunt the harbours on the Baltic Sea
and travel the countryside.
to haunt
1. (of ghosts) visit:
A spirit haunted the castle.
2. (of sth unpleasant) return repeatedly to sb’s mind:
The terrorists were haunted by the idea of being found out.
The memory of the accident still haunts me.
3. visit or spend time in a place frequently:
This is the café we used to haunt as students.
to travel the world / on business / for pleasure / in Canada / across Africa / by air / to
work
to travel first- / second-class / deluxe / tourist class
to travel extensively / widely / far and wide / incognito
travel (n)
This noun is always uncountable, i.e. no article can ever be used with the singular
form travel.
Moreover, the word can never be used for a particular journey or voyage.
Journey, trip, voyage are the words to be used.
What sort of journey did you have?
Did you have a good trip?
to make / go on a journey / voyage (i.e. by sea)
to take / go on a trip
But:
Travel / travelling broadens the mind.
This travel book is a best-seller.
Air travelling is still rather expensive.
travelling at night
to be fond of travelling
The plural travels is used for a series of journeys and voyages made by a specific
person. It is preceded by a possessive
When he returned form his travels in ...
“Gulliver’s Travels” was first published in 1726.
PREPOSITIONS 575

10. Take an example from what happened to him.

cf. take a leaf out of sb’s book
to give / cite / provide an example
to set an example to sb
to make an example of sb
to follow sb’s example
a(n) classic / typical / concrete / extreme / glaring / striking / illustrative / inspiring /
perfect / textbook example
That was a textbook example of how to sell a product.

11. According to my lights the decision to go it alone was perfectly logical.

according to
a) as stated in or by:
According to John you were in Edinburgh last week.
You have been in prison 6 times according to our records.
According to the Bible God created the heaven and the earth.
b) in a manner or degree that is in proportion to
There are 6 classes organized according to age.
Salary according to qualifications and experience.
Arrange the exhibits according to size.
You will be paid according to the amount of work you do.
The books on the shelves are placed according to authors.
Note: Do not use according to with nouns such as opinion / view.
compare:
according to the management – in the management’s opinion

12. After years on the job our country’s envoy to Ruritania has decided to speak out against
our government’s ambivalence towards human rights violations.
i.e. our government’s ambivalent attitude
She was in a state of ambivalence about having children.
The Americans are strangely ambivalent about the whole business of royalty.
Ruritania
an imaginary kingdom in Central Europe in novels by Anthony Hope (1863-1933). The
name connotes make-believe romance, chivalry and intrigue at a royal court in a
modern European setting.
cf. our ambassador to Germany / in Bonn

13. He spent many years overseas on active service.

14. Buses for London leave here twice every hour on the quarter.
15. She had to undergo an operation on / (to) her left knee.
16. Film buffs will descend on the city this week for the 25th International Film Festival.
buff: film / tennis / wine buff: a person who is very interested in and knows a lot about
the stated subject
in the buff: naked
a blind man’s buff: a game in which a player whose eyes are covered with a piece of
cloth tries to catch and identify other players (Blindekuh)

17. By late afternoon the votes had been counted and it was all over bar the shouting.
i.e. a condition in which the result is already certain and only the official announce-
ment of the winner, the cheering, have still to happen: Das Rennen ist (im Grunde
schon) gelaufen.
576 PREPOSITIONS

18. These businessmen are in the main honest.

19. The black dress shows off her jewellery to good effect.
20. Regular maintenance of the engine can go a long way towards reducing your fuel bill.
21. The Cabinet approved of the proposed constitutional amendment.
an amendment to sth: a minor change or addition to a document
to introduce / propose / move / ratify / adopt an amendment
to approve a plan: to agree to it officially, accept it (genehmigen)
to approve of sb / sth: to feel or show that sb / sth is good or acceptable

22. They made their agreement conditional on the opposition’s willingness to cooperate.
23. He made some interesting remarks, but they were not really germane to the argument.
germane (of ideas, remarks): suitably connected with sth; relevant to

24. Under her scatty exterior she was cursed with a dependability of character that was
wasted on the company she kept.
scatty: slightly mad or scatter-brained, tending to forget things

25. He is the chief aide to the President and not afraid to speak his own mind.
26. Officers of the Board of Inland Revenue first stumbled on / across the bank’s money
laundering during a routine investigation.
27. Our mission has so far been plagued with accidents.
to plague sb / sth with sth:
She was plagued with arthritis.
They plagued him with repeated requests.
in the passive by is also common:
to be plagued by doubts / jealousy / ill health
The new governmet was plagued by scandals.
The football star was plagued by autograph hunters.

28. He’s been plagued by / with back pain all his life.
29. The only thing he cares about is his social standing.
30. I don’t really care for oysters.

48 Exercise

1. They are determined to root out transgressions that were once winked at.
to wink: to close and open (one eye) quickly, usu. as a signal between people, esp. of
amusement or a shared secret
to wink at sb:
He winked at me to show that he had said it tongue-in-cheek.
a wink
She gave him a saucy wink / a conspiratorial wink.
I didn’t get a wink of sleep / didn’t sleep a wink last night.
to have / take forty winks
to blink at sb / sth: seem surprised:
She didn’t even blink at his proposal / at the news.
PREPOSITIONS 577

I blinked as I came out into the sunshine (i.e. shut and open the eyes quickly).
The light on the machine is blinking.
to be on the blink: be out of order

2. You’re always finding fault with me.

The fault is / lies with the managers / in the management.
to be at fault
to a fault: extremely
to be generous / fastidious to a fault

3. Let this be a lesson to you.

to take / have lessons in the local language
We can draw / learn important lessons from this disaster / experience.
She decided to teach the boy a lesson. (i.e. punish him)
lessons in / on eight different subjects every week

4. It’s too late now to enter the competition.

competition
a) a situation in which people or organizations compete with each other; the people or
organizations one has to compete with:
to come up against / face competition
to offer / provide competition
competition among / with sb / for sth
competition for control of the market
to undercut / undersell competition
to be in competition with sb
bitter / close / fierce / formidable / heavy / intense / keen / stiff / strong / tough / cut-
throat / unfair / unscrupulous / free / unfettered / healthy competition
b) an event in which people or groups compete with each other:
to hold / stage / enter / win / lose a competition
a gymnastics / chess / beauty / boxing / swimming / crossword competition
competitive
fiercely / highly / keenly / intensely competitive
You have to be highly competitive to do well in tennis nowadays.
He won’t go far, he’s just no competitive spirit / lacks the competitive spirit.
an intensely competitive business
competitive prices
Note:
the competition: the people one has to compete with:
The competition on the track looked fierce and her heart sank.
He’s no competition for you.

5. The “ethnic cleansing” in the Balkans was for the most part a settling of old scores.
score
group / set of 20: a score of people / three score (sgl!) and ten (70)
How many people were there? – There were scores of them.
on that score: with regard to that
on more scores than one: for many good reasons:
I want revenge on her on more scores than one.
578 PREPOSITIONS

6. He seemed about to choke on his sandwich when he learnt about / of his son’s debts.
to choke (sb) to death:
He grabbed her around the neck and choked her to death.
The old man choked to death (on a bone).
to be choked with emotion
fig. The roads were choked with traffic.

7. The exhibition proved so popular that it was extended by a week.

8. Visitors to Nepal see the simulacrum of an economic boom, but in reality morale is at a
nadir.
nadir: lowest point
cf. zenith
simulacrum: things resembling or made to resemble sth: Abklatsch, Scheinbild
moral (adj / n) – morale – morality
moral (adj)
the moral lesson of a fable / story
(a) moral code / courage / dilemma / duty / judgement / law / maxim / obligation /
principle / problem / question / responsibility / support / victory
a fall in / decline of moral standards
moral (n)
a) in the first sense practically always used in the plural: morals:
the principles / values based on what a person / society believes are the right and
proper ways of behaviour:
You can’t doubt the excellency of their morals.
Business morals have never been so low before.
to protect / safeguard (public) morals
the corruption of public morals
to corrupt sb’s morals
the customs and morals of the 19th century
lax / loose / strict morals
b) a practical lesson that a story or event teaches:
The moral of the story is that you shouldn’t count your chickens before they’re
hatched.
to draw a moral from sth
the moral of a fable / story
There is a moral to the story.
morale
the mental and emotional condition of an individual or a group (with regard to the
tasks at hand); spirits, confidence:
The morale of the team is excellent; they are well trained and full of confidence.
the refugees’ morale
to affect / boost / destroy / improve / keep up / lower / maintain / raise / undermine
(sb’s) morale
morale is high / low
morality
a) a system or sphere of moral conduct, principles and values concerning people’s
behaviour:
Christian / Hindu / Muslim morality
public / sexual morality
b) (degree of conformity to standards of) right conduct or moral correctness:
the morality of abortion
to question / discuss the morality of sb’s actions
declining standards of morality
PREPOSITIONS 579

9. He threw a stone and hit me on the head.

He was hit in the arm by a bullet.
The bullet hit him in the chest.

10. This commercial is nothing but a play on words.

cf. a pun
to make a pun on sb / sth

11. Is he really heir to a million dollars?

cf. The organisers of last week’s coup undoubtedly saw themselves as the legitimate
heirs of Bolshevism.
to be heir / heiress to a large fortune / the throne / a title
to make sb one’s heir:
She made her stepson her heir.
heirloom: (usu. valuable) object that has been handed down in a family for several
generations:
That clock is a family heirloom.
to inherit: sth from sb / to come into sth:
also fig.: This government has inherited many problems from the previous one.
inheritance
This title passes by inheritance to the eldest son.
the inheritance of good looks from one’s parents
to come into one’s inheritance
legacy
a) money or property left to sb in a will
b) fig.: things passed to sb by predecessors or from earlier events, etc:
the cultural legacy of the Renaissance
His weak chest was a legacy from a childhood disease.
heritage
a) things such as works of art / cultural achievements and folklore that have been
passed on from earlier generations:
our literary heritage
These ancient buildings are part of the national heritage.
b) (dated or fml.) property that has been or may be inherited by an heir
to bequeath
a) to arrange by making a will to give (property / money) to sb when one dies, to leave:
He bequeathed £1000 (to charity).
She has bequeathed me her jewellery.
b) (fig.) to pass on (e.g. knowledge):
discoveries bequeathed to us by scientists of the last century
bequest
a) the bequest of one’s paintings to a gallery
b) legacy: to leave a bequest of £3000 each to one’s grandchildren

12. Thank goodness the exams are over and done with.
13. The cartoon showed the head of state astride a horse’s skeleton.
to sit astride a horse / motorbike: with one leg on each side
fig. a village astride the main road
The town lies astride the river.
580 PREPOSITIONS

14. But for him I would have been ruined.

but for sb / sth
But for the icy roads I would have been in time.
But for his father he would be in prison now.
But for the safety belt I would have been killed.

15. We were invited to partake of their simple fare.

cf. to take part in sth
to partake is a formal word
a) to partake in an activity:
Are you partaking in the music competition / in the festivities?
b) to eat or drink:
Will you partake of our food and drink / of a glass of wine?
c) sth partakes of sth, i.e. has a certain amount of a particular quality, often unfavour-
able:
Her so-called honesty partakes of rudeness.

16. The candidate comes from among the rank and file of the party.
to make up / open / start a file on sb / sth
to keep / close a file on sb / sth
on file
to have / keep sth on file:
We’ll keep your application on file.
The petition has to be on file by next Friday.
in file
to walk in (Indian / single) file
the rank and file: the ordinary members of an organization, not the leaders:
The Chancellor seems to be losing the support of the party’s rank and file.

17. He was given a gold watch on his retirement.

to urge older staff to take early retirement
to live in retirement
to reach retirement age
to reduce retirement age for teachers to 55

18. Nobody can tell whether God is working to plan.

cf. work to rule / to a tight schedule / to a budget / to tight deadlines

19. No government has yet been able to avoid running into debt.
20. There were plenty of top athletes around, but Carl Lewis was in a class of his own.
acceptable: in a class by itself

21. It is true that dental surgeons live from hand to mouth?

at hand
a) close / near at hand:
He lives close at hand.
b) about to happen:
Your big moment is at hand.
in hand:
a) I still have some money in hand.
PREPOSITIONS 581

b) We have the situation well in hand.

cf. The football fans have got completely out of hand.
off one’s hands: no longer one’s responsibility:
They’ll be glad to get their son off their hands.
on one’s hands: resting on one as a responsibility:
I don’t know how she manages, with three growing children and an invalid husband
on her hands.
on hand: available:
I always keep a certain amount of money on hand, in case of an emergency.
to hand
a) within reach, readily available:
I don’t have the information to hand.
b) received (commercial):
Your letter is to hand. (liegt vor)
off hand
a) on the spur of the moment, here and now:
I cannot give you the information off hand, I shall have to look it up.
b) casual, as though one were not interested or did not wish to be troubled:
He treated my request in a very off-hand / offhand manner. (wurstig, lässig)
He was very off-hand to / with me.

22. Her father, of necessity, always travelled light.

to obviate a necessity
an absolute necessity
to be faced with the necessity of doing sth
there’s no necessity to do sth
the bare / daily necessities
the necessities of life
a necessity arises
Necessity is the mother of invention.

23. These drinks are on the house.

24. It’s a bit difficult to get in touch with her, she’s not on the phone.
to be / get / keep / stay in touch with sb
to put sb in touch with sb
to be out of touch with sth:
I’m out of touch with the present situation.
to lose touch with sth:
He’s obviously lost touch with real life.

25. Her youngest son is second in line to the throne.

a line of kings / the Stuart line / in the male / female line / descended from King David
in direct line

26. We need a new stable-lad, but it may be difficult to find somebody who understands
horses.
27. He is engaged in / on an inquiry into the causes of the epidemic.
cf. to inquire
inquire may take a direct object: to enquire the time / way / a person’s name / the
price of sth;
to enquire about is rather more vague
to enquire after: usually means ask after sb’s health
582 PREPOSITIONS

to enquire of: to ask:

I must enquire of you where you obtained this money, sir.
to enquire for sb / sth
a) enquire the whereabouts of some place one wishes to find:
This young lady is enquiring for the furnishing department.
b) ask by name for sb one wishes to see or speak to:
When you ring up, enquire for Mrs Mason.
to enquire into sth: investigate, usually: inquire:
The court ordered the council to inquire into the conduct of the two officers.
cause of: sth which produces an effect (Grund):
They are investigating the causes of the explosion.
Smoking is one of the causes of heart diseases.
cause for: sth that provides a satisfactory reason for an action, justification, etc
(Anlass):
You have no cause for complaint.
There is no cause for anxiety.
engaged in (doing) sth:
to be engaged in washing the car / writing a book
engaged on a project or an important piece of work / on the plans for the new library
/ on research into plant diseases
to engage sb as sb / sth:
We engaged him as a guide.
to engage sb to do sth:
We engaged him to drive us round the city.

28. While one of the prisoners engaged the guard in conversation, the others escaped by /
through the back door.
29. You cannot see the manager just now; he is engaged with a visitor.
30. Our son is engaged to a girl of good family.

49 Exercise: Idiomatic Expressions

1. Purple with rage he slammed the door in her face.

cf. She went out slamming the door behind her.

2. I know you haven’t booked a seat, but in your place I’d go to the concert on spec.
speculation about / (up)on / (over) sth:
There was much speculation over the cause of the air crash.
His remarks have led to intense speculations about the possibility of tax cuts.
to speculate in sth:
in oil / property development / mining shares
to speculate on / about sth:
We don’t know all the circumstances, so it would be pointless to speculate on what
happened.
It is the subject of much speculation / it is pure speculation.

3. She was jilted by Ian and married Hugh on the rebound.

PREPOSITIONS 583

4. Our job is, to all intents and purposes, finished.

i.e. practically
to be intent on (doing) sth:
She’s intent on promotion / getting promoted.

5. Some teachers make a little money on the side by giving private lessons.
6. They were young, upfront and morally above / beyond suspicion, but I would have
credited them with more common sense.
upfront: behaving or talking in a direct honest way
to be upfront with sb about sth
(to be ) common to sb / sth:
a heritage common to both our countries
to be common for sb / sth to do sth:
It is quite common for trains to be late.
to have sth in common (with sb / sth):
They have a lot in common.

7. He tried to pull a fast one on me.

i.e. to deceive me

8. He does a thriving trade and makes money hand over fist.

to make / lose / spend money hand over fist: very quickly and in large amounts

9. He seems to have a tremendous hold on / over his younger brother.

10. He keeps a bottle in his desk and takes a swig now and then on the sly.
cf. on the q.t. / q t / Q.T. / Q T: on the quiet
to swig: to drink, esp. quickly in large mouthfuls

11. He departed this life Feb. 3rd 1865.

our dear departed mother
Let us remember the departed who are no longer with us.
to depart from sth
1. The train to Birmingham departs from platform 7.
2. Her approach departs radically from normal educational practices.
Why should we depart from our plan?
When making a speech, a politician hardly ever departs from his prepared text.

12. His garden backs onto / on to / on the other gardens of the square.
13. He’s a nice fellow, but a bit short on brains.
short of sth: not having much / enough of: money / time / ideas
short on sth: a particular quality or emotion, people don’t have as much of it as they
should have (esp. of a desirable quality):
He looked intelligent, but was a bit short on wisdom / wit / brains.
short with sb: curt, rudely impatient:
I am sorry I was a bit short with you on the phone this morning, I was rather busy.
at short notice
The meeting had to be arranged at short notice.
584 PREPOSITIONS

nothing short of
He would settle for nothing short of total independence.
You should do anything you feel like doing in public, short of assault and robbery (i.e.
except for).

14. There’s many a slip ’twixt the cup and the lip.
i.e. an accident or unforeseen obstacle may prevent one from doing or obtaining sth
expected

15. They had access to confidential information and thus were able to steal a march on us in
the negotiations for the contract.
i.e. to gain an advantage over sb by doing sth earlier than expected
to have / gain / seek access to sth
to deny / refuse / give / grant access to sth
direct / free / easy / (un)limited / (un)restricted / immediate / instant / quick / ready
access

16. He’s repeatedly tried to scrounge a cigarette off / from me.

17. He took the criticism as a slur on his reputation.
to slur: to make unfair damaging remarks, suggesting dishonesty, etc (den Ruf schmä-
lern)

18. After only three months in office he has reneg(u)ed on all his commitments to reform.
to reneg(u)e an agreement: not keep an agreement

19. With one accord they all stood up and cheered.

accord
be in accord with sb / sth:
The two sides are completely in accord (with each other) on this matter.
of one’s own accord: without being asked / ordered:
The children went to bed of their own accord because they were so tired.
with one accord: with everybody expressing their agreement, unanimously:
With one accord they all stood up and cheered.
to accord with: to agree / be in harmony / be compatible with:
His behaviour is not in accord with his principles.
to accord sb sth / sth to sb: give / grant
to accord sth to sb / sb sth: to give, grant
to accord sb permission / permission to sb
They accorded him a tremendous welcome.
They accorded a tremendous welcome to him.
Teachers don’t enjoy the respect that is accorded to doctors.
in accordance with: in a way that fulfils or agrees with:
In accordance with your wishes / orders I cancelled the meeting.
according to
a) as stated or shown by:
According to our records the books you have borrowed should now be returned.
According to Bill, she is a really good teacher.
b) in a way that agrees with:
We’ll be paid according to the amount of work we do.
PREPOSITIONS 585

Note: according to is used to show that the information comes from another person or
place and does not come from your own knowledge. It can also be used to suggest
that you don’t share sb’s opinion:
According to John I owe him £20. (but I don’t agree).
Do not use according to with words like opinion / view.
compare:
according to the management – in the management’s opinion / view

20. I have a pretty good memory for dates, but I’m not very strong on names.
memory
1. power of recollecting
to jog / refresh sb’s memory
to commit sth to memory
to slip sb’s memory:
The date has slipped my memory.
to lose one’s memory
to have a memory like a sieve
My memory is playing tricks on me.
if my memory serves me (well / correctly)
a(n) bad / poor / good / infallible / photographic / visual / powerful / retentive /
tenacious / short / long memory
2. recollection
to bring back / call up / conjure up / evoke / stir up memories:
The accident called up painful memories.
to blot out / bury / suppress a memory
bitter / bittersweet / dim / vague / enduring / fond / happy / pleasant / haunting /
poignant / painful / sad / unpleasant memories
in / to the memory of sb / sth
to set up a memorable fund in memory of sb
within sb’s memory
in living memory:
the coldest winter in living memory

21. My father has been dead for three years.

also: these three years

22. If my mother finds out about us, she’ll soon blow the whistle on our friendship.
to blow the whistle on sb / sth: to make sb suddenly stop doing sth, esp. sth illegal,
usually by informing people in authority

23. Although the bridge was built ages ago it is still in good repair.
to be under repair
to be in need of repair
to be in good / poor / bad repair
to be in a(n) excellent / terrible state of repair
to do / make repairs
extensive / major / minor / necessary repairs
cf. reparation for sth
a) compensating for damage; making amends for loss:
to make reparation (to God) for one’s sins
586 PREPOSITIONS

b) pl. compensation for war damage, demanded from a defeated enemy: to exact
heavy reparations (Reparation, Wiedergutmachung)
Traffic will be diverted while the road is under repair.
The vase was (damaged) beyond repair.

24. If I were you I would try not to get emotionally involved with somebody like her.
to be involved with sb
to be involved in (doing) sth:
He was not involved in the robbery / planning the robbery.

25. Some day you will be held to account for getting involved in those fraudulent schemes.
to bring / call sb to account (for (doing) sth)
to give an account of sth
to keep an account of sth
a(n) eyewitness / firsthand account
to take account of sth
to take sth into account
by / from all accounts
by sb’s own account
to give a good / poor account of os
to put / turn sth to good account
a scheme to do / for doing sth:
a scheme for making money
to devise a scheme for getting publicity
to concoct / devise / think up a scheme
to foil / thwart a scheme
a(n) diabolical / fantastic / grandiose / harebrained / crazy / ill-conceived scheme
Scheme often has the connotation “crafty / dishonest”; it may also be an officially
organized plan or system:
a training / housing / pension / savings scheme

50 Exercise: Idiomatic Expressions

1. The driver was arrested on a charge of manslaughter and confessed to driving under the
influence of alcohol, but was released on bail.
He confessed (to) leaving the cigarette on the chair / that he had left ...
to charge sb with sth: to accuse of:
He was charged with murder.
to charge (at): to rush forward and attack:
The troops charged (at) the enemy lines.
to charge (sb) for sth:
How much do they charge for mending shoes?
As long as you’ve paid in advance we won’t charge you for delivery.
to charge sb / sth with sth: to fill with / give a duty to:
a voice charged with tension
The atmosphere was charged with excitement.
She was charged with an important mission.
on bail
to put / place sb on probation
be out on probation for a year
PREPOSITIONS 587

to let sb out on probation

to violate (the terms of one’s) probation
to grant sb bail
to be out / released / remanded on bail (of £5,000)
to jump / forfeit bail

2. I usually keep a dictionary by me when I’m doing crosswords.

3. Marx wrote the first volume of Das Kapital and then handed the whole thing over to Engels,
sponging off him to the end of his life.
to sponge off / on sb: to live at the cost of sb
to sponge sth from sb

4. No reader is forced to read this book at / in one sitting.

5. He admires his teacher and hangs on his very word.
to hang on sth: depend on sth:
A lot hangs on his decision.
to hang on sb’s words / every word: pay close attention to everything sb is saying
to have a word in sb’s ear: to speak confidentially / in private
to give sb one’s word (that): to promise
to have sb’s word for it (that): be promised:
You have my word for it that the goods will arrive in time.

to go back on one’s word: to fail to fulfil a promise

to have a word with sb (about sth):
Could we have a word before you go to that meeting?
to have words (with sb) (about sth): to quarrel
to keep / break one’s word
last word
a) most recent / fashionable:
10 years ago this dress was considered the last word in elegance.
b) definitive statement:
That book may fairly claim to be the last word on the subject.
c) to be / give one’s final opinion / decision:
I have said my last word – take it or leave it.
I hope that is not your last word on the subject.
not to mince (one’s) words / matters
to put words in sb’s mouth: suggest that sb has said sth when he has not:
She accused the journalists of putting words in her mouth.

6. They had long been comrades in arms.

also: comrades-in-arms

7. This book gives all sorts of useful information on how to repair household gadgets.
also: about; though less common
I need more information on / about the patient’s medical history.
Anyone with information about the crime should contact the police.
to be under repair
to be in need of repair
to be in good / poor / bad repair
to be in a(n) excellent / terrible state of repair
588 PREPOSITIONS

to do / make repairs
extensive / major / minor / necessary repairs
cf. reparation for sth
a) compensating for damage; making amends for loss:
to make reparation (to God) for one’s sins
b) pl. compensation for war damage, demanded from a defeated enemy: to exact
heavy reparations (Reparation, Wiedergutmachung)

8. Anyone swimming in this lake does so at his own risk.

9. His creditors are getting more impatient by the day.

to be paid by the day / hour / week
to be sold by the pint / pound / dozen

10. This play lacks unity.

sb / sth lacks sth:
He lacks confidence / energy.
His voice lacked conviction.
We lack the capital to launch the new product.
sth is lacking:
Financial support / money for the project is lacking.
sb is lacking sb:
We’re lacking three members of staff due to illness.
sb / sth is lacking in sth:
She’s totally lacking in charm of any sort.
to be lacking in politeness / in musical ability
to be badly / completely / sadly / totally / utterly lacking in sth
to lack for nothing / something:
His parents made sure that he lacked for nothing.
You shall never lack for money while I am alive.
These children are lacking for nothing.

11. Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men.
to win / achieve glory
to bring glory to sb
to reflect glory on sb / sth
to bask in sb’s glory
to restore sth to its former glory
to be covered in / with glory

12. He came in from out of the rain.

13. Zanzibar is a beautiful island off Tanzania on the east coast of Africa and is very rich in
copra and cloves.
copra: dried coconut, from which oil is extracted (Kopra: zerkleinertes u. getrocknetes
Mark der Kokosnuß)
clove: dried unopened flower-bud of the tropical myrtle tree, used as spice (Gewürz-
nelke)

14. We could see a boat about a mile off / from the shore.
but: off shore (no article!)
PREPOSITIONS 589

15. Mr Austin got rich (by) selling second-hand cars.

cf. He made a fortune selling houses.

16. He is the best singer in the country bar none.

17. The sight was so sickening that he went off his food for a whole week.
to go off sb / sth: stop liking:
She’s gone off cooking lately.
She went off coffee when she was pregnant.
Sheila seems to be going off Albert.

18. The journalists were lying in wait for us and pounced on us as soon as we entered the
conference room.
The cat pounced on the mouse.
fig. The boss was quick to pounce on any mistake in my work.

19. He can speak Russian, after a fashion, but he can’t read it at all.
fashion
to be dressed in the latest fashion
after a fashion: to a certain extent, but not satisfactorily:
I can play the piano after a fashion.
after / in the fashion of sb / sth: like, imitating:
She paints in the fashion of Picasso.
to come / be in / go / be out of fashion:
Faded jeans are still in fashion.
Long skirts have come into fashion again.

20. As far as in me lies I’ll do anything to help you.

a formal, old-fashioned expression

21. People of his age with too much time on their hands sometimes get crazy notions.
i.e. people who have more time than one can usefully fill with work or activities

22. It fell to me to inform her of her husband’s death.

to fall to sb: to become sb’s duty:
It fell to me to inform her.
It fell to my lot to inform her.
also: It fell on me to do it.
to fall to doing sth: begin to do sth:
Eventually they fell to arguing among themselves.
She fell to brooding about what had happened to her.

23. She persists in believing that he would be better off if he lived at his country-seat.
persist in (doing) sth: keep on doing sth with patience, often in spite of difficulties or
opposition:
If this behaviour is persisted in it could lead to serious trouble.
He persisted in his error / in causing trouble.
persevere in (doing) sth: work hard and continuously at sth:
If you persevere in your search for / in looking for a job, you’ll certainly find something
suitable in the end.
590 PREPOSITIONS

He persevered in his efforts.

to insist on (doing) sth
1. declare sth firmly:
The prisoner insisted on his lack of guilt.
He insisted on being innocent / on his innocence.
2. urge, demand:
I have to insist on the return of the book.
Insist on your rights!
He insisted on paying his share of the meal.

24. He carried on as Parliamentary Undersecretary on sufferance only.

He’s here on sufferance: with permission though not welcomed

25. The speaker simply begged the question and no one in the audience was deceived.
26. The strikes heightened the unions’ dilemma vis-à-vis a population that was looking to the
government for help.
to look to sth: make sure that sth is adequate or in good condition:
The country must look to its defences.
to look to sb for sth / to sb to do sth: rely or expect sb to provide sth or to do sth:
They were looking to us for help.
Many people are looking to the government to stamp out corruption.

27. He definitely had the edge on / over his older opponent.

to be on edge: nervous:
I’ve been on edge since I got her letter.
to take the edge off sth: make less bad, strong etc:
Try these tablets. They should take the edge off the pain.
to have the edge over / on sb: be slightly better than
on the edge of one’s seat: very excited, giving one’s full attention to sth:
The final scene had the audience on the edge of their seats.

28. He did not deal fairly by her.

cf. to do well / badly by sb: to treat sb well / badly

29. She was getting impatient at having to wait so long.

30. They were impatient for the results of the exam.
31. He is extremely impatient of reproof.
32. The sailors were warned not to get into trouble while they were on shore.

51 Exercise: Idiomatic Expressions

1. There was every indication that the commander in chief was in on the conspiracy.
He was arrested on a charge of conspiracy to murder.
a conspiracy of silence
to hatch / organise / crush / foil / uncover a conspiracy
a conspiracy against sb
PREPOSITIONS 591

2. You can either lift the embargo or extend it across the board to all goods sold to the
military junta.
to impose / enforce an embargo
to place / put an embargo on sth
to lift / remove / an embargo from sth
to break an embargo
a(n) arms / news / trade / oil embargo

3. I’m not sure if he actually cheated in the exam, but I wouldn’t put it past him.
i.e. I wouldn’t be surprised if he did.

4. They tried several times to play a practical joke on him.

also: trick
to crack / make / tell a joke
to take a joke:
The problem is she really can’t take a joke.
a standing joke: sth that happens often and that people make jokes about:
Her spelling mistakes had become a standing joke in the department.
to make a joke of sth
to turn sth into a joke
a joke falls flat
to be(come) the butt / object of a joke / of everyone’s jokes
cf. to be(come) / make sb a target / an easy target for derision / hate / mockery / scorn

5. It is impossible to follow his line of argument, because he keeps going off at a tangent.
also: flying off at: i.e. to suddenly start thinking or talking of sth new completely
different

6. We tried to approach her, but she laid about her with a broomstick.
i.e. to attack violently
broomstick: stick that witches are supposed to fly on in children’s stories

7. He knew the police were looking for him, but he threw caution to the winds and came out
of hiding.
to do sth with caution
to treat sth with great / extreme / due caution
to fling / throw / cast / hurl caution to the winds
to exercise / use caution in doing sth:
You must exercise caution in dealing with them.
to go into / come out of hiding

8. The radio has been on the blink for some time, I must have it repaired.
to blink at sb / sth: seem surprised:
She didn’t even blink at his proposal / at the news.
I blinked as I came out into the sunshine (i.e. shut and open the eyes quickly).
The light on the machine is blinking.
to be on the blink: be out of order
592 PREPOSITIONS

9. In these days of universal suffrage politicians are more and more tempted to play to the
gallery.
i.e. to behave in an exaggerated way in order to attract people’s attention
to tempt sb into doing sth
to tempt sb to do sth
to overcome / resist temptation
to be exposed to / feel / face temptation
to succumb to / yield to / give in to temptation
to put temptation in sb’s way
a(n) irresistible / strong temptation

10. He felt a bit off colour and decided to take a day off.
i.e. not in good health: to look / feel / seem off colour

11. I demanded an explanation for his behaviour, but he said something under / (below /
beneath) his breath and left the room.
i.e. in a whisper
to draw / take a breath
to hold / lose one’s breath
to catch breath
out of / short of breath
to spare / save one’s breath: to avoid a futile conversation
to waste one’s breath
to take sb’s breath away
in the same breath
to one’s last / dying breath
with bated breath: with the breath held
to give / offer / provide / come up with an explanation
to demand / accept an explanation
to owe sb an explanation
a(n) brief / concise / simple / succinct / clear / lucid / convincing / adequate / plausible
/ rational / satisfactory / explanation of / for sth
to say sth by way of explanation
an explanation of a mystery / of how sth works
to have no explanation for sth / for sb’s behaviour / absence

12. You shouldn’t tell tales out of school.

13. The ambitious economic programme the President had envisioned will remain on hold.
cf. telephone: the caller is on hold
to put a caller on hold
The plan is on hold till next year. (auf Eis liegen)
I cannot leave the phone because I am still on hold. (in Wartestellung)

14. He joined the Communist Party only to do his reactionary father in the eye.
to be one in the eye: to humiliate, hurt:
If we win the cup, it’ll be one in the eye for that journalist – he’s always said we’re no
good.
PREPOSITIONS 593

15. Education is the only road by which the simple people of this country may come into their
own.
i.e. have an opportunity to show one’s qualities or abilities:
This car really comes into its own on the motorway.
to get one’s own back (on sb): to do sth to sb in return for harm, injury, etc:
One of these days I’ll get my own back on you!
to hold one’s own against sb: to maintain one’s position against attack, competition,
etc:
He can’t hold his own against anybody in an argument.

16. John gave me the low-down on the financial situation before we spoke to our boss.
low-down: the true and often secret information about a person, event, etc

17. He likes to lord it over the junior staff.

i.e. to treat sb as inferior

18. Mr Jones, although a hard master, had been a capable farmer, but of late he had fallen on
evil days.
from: G. Orwell, Animal Farm
to fall on
1. attack sb / seize sth greedily:
They fell on the retreating army.
The boys fell on the pizzas.
2. be borne or incurred by, be sb’s responsibility:
The costs fell on me.
That’s an obligation that may fall on any citizen.
The blame fell on his brother.
It fell on me to tell her.
also: It fell to me to tell her.
The responsibility fell on me.
3. fall on evil days / hard times, i.e. to suffer

19. The Republicans doubt that the Democrats are prepared to engage them on domestic
issues.
to engage in sth one is doing: in washing the car / writing a book / in a discussion
to engage on a project, an important piece of work (e.g. on the plans for the new
library, on research into plant diseases)
a(n) basic / collateral / side / controversial / burning / dead / sensitive / debatable /
thorny / divisive / moral / political / social / local / global / national issue
to bring up / raise an issue
to address / confront / deal with / face / debate / discuss / explore an issue
to settle / avoid / evade / sidestep / dodge / duck an issue
to take an issue with sb on sth: to disagree with sb about sth

20. Over and above their wages waiters get good tips.
21. Their team was really on song today and beat us hands down.
to beat sb / win hands down: very easily

22. Most observers were unanimous in laying the blame at his door.
594 PREPOSITIONS

23. I told her straight from the shoulder that she was being silly.
i.e. openly and honestly

24. He may get away with these shady transactions for a while, but he will be brought to book
one of these days.
to bring sb to book for (doing) sth: to force sb to give an explanation of their behaviour,
usually because they are doing sth wrong

25. It’s no good for them to know too much; they get unsettled and a bit above themselves.
to be above os: to imagine os to be more important than one actually is

52 Exercise

1. I have come in answer / response to your advertisement in yesterday’s paper.

to be the answer to sb’s problems / difficulties / worries
to give / have / come up with / provide an answer (to a question / problem)
a(n) clear / definite / straight / straightforward / definitive / direct / civil / diplomatic /
wise / immediate / ready / simple / (un)equivocal / evasive / vague / blunt / curt /
affirmative / positive / negative answer
in answer to sb’s letter / question

2. His steadfastness in the face of opposition was universally admired.

to arouse / stir up / offer / overcome / wear down opposition
to come across / encounter / face / run up against opposition
bitter / determined / fierce / stiff / strong / unbending / unyielding / vehement oppo-
sition
growing / mounting opposition

3. He was sitting across from me, putting his signature to a document, which he was
shielding with his hand.
to put one’s signature to sth: suggests commitment
to put one’s signature on sth: refers to the physical act
I have some documents which require your signature.
Will you witness my signature?
to put one’s signature on a cheque
a documents with two signatures on it
a contract ready for signature
signatory: person, country that has signed an agreement
the signatory powers
the signatories to the treaty (Signatarstaaten)
to shield sb / sth against / from sb / sth:
She tried to shield her eyes from the sun.
They tried to shield the actor form the journalists.
A new type of glass has been produced, which shields your eyes from the sun’s ultra-
violet rays.
PREPOSITIONS 595

4. At considerable cost he had the warehouse built in advance of the official planning
permission.
5. I’ll only walk with you as far as the next traffic light.
as far as, i.e. and not any farther!
The Bill is to be recommended in so / as far / insofar as it seeks to remedy the worst
evil, but it still falls short of what is needed.
As / so far as I know, they’re coming by car.

6. I should like to say a few words by way of introduction.

by way of: as sth / for sth

7. Under a totalitarian regime the general public has no legal rights vis-à-vis the police.
vis-à-vis
a) in relation to, with regard to:
One solution would be for us to lower our exchange rate vis-à-vis other countries.
They discussed plans for the company vis-à-vis a merger.
Where do we stand vis-à-vis last week’s change in the law?
b) in comparison with:
Women’s salaries are low vis-à-vis what men earn for the same work.
His salary vis-à-vis the national income is extremely high.

8. We’ll start shouting for help on the count of three.

also: on a count of
count
I want you to start on a count of 5 (i.e. after I have counted up to).
By my count (i.e. as I have counted them) that’s 5 cakes you’ve already had.
I disagree with you on all counts.
law: He was found guilty on all counts.

9. The depth of the cave has been variously calculated at from 200 to 400 feet.
also: has been calculated at between 200 and 400 feet
to calculate on sth:
We can’t calculate on (having) good weather for the barbecue.

10. We stopped at Salisbury en route from London to Cornwall.

en route (from ... to ... ): on the way
en route for ...
We drove home by a roundabout route.
They passed through Paris en route for Rome.
to take / follow a route
fig. the route to success

11. Eleonora Duse was a divinity to her fans, capable of selling out theatres on the strength of
her name on the marquee.
Eleonora Duse: Italian actress (1859-1924): her histrionic genius ranks “The Duse” as
one of the world’s greatest actresses.
marquee
1. a large tent for outdoor public events, such as competitions or shows, or for eating
and drinking in
2. AE a sign above a theatre or cinema which gives the name of the play or film and
sometimes its actors (Anzeigetafel)
596 PREPOSITIONS

12. They pulled the carpet out from under his feet.
i.e. take away help or support suddenly
to call / have sb on the carpet for (doing) sth: to call sb to account for (doing) sth
to sweep sth under the carpet
to roll out the red carpet for sb

13. By virtue of his position he was privy to the President’s intentions from the start.
by / in virtue of
in virtue of is commoner and means on the strength / on account of:
He was given a position on the board in virtue of his long association with the comp-
any.
by virtue of: means by means of / through the instrumentality of:
It was only by virtue of his indomitable will-power that he finally succeeded.
He was exempt from charges by virtue of his youth / of being so young / the fact that
he was so young.
F.T. Wood; English Prepositional Idioms
The distinction is not always observed; the DCE has
by virtue of = in virtue of: as a result of, by means of:
Though she isn’t British by birth, she’s a British citizen by virtue of her marriage to an
Englishman.
to be privy to sth: sharing the secret of sth

14. Jacob tricked Esau out of his birthright for a mess of pottage.
cf. Gen. XXV, 29-34
mess: archaic: a portion of food, esp. soft or semiliquid pottage: thick meat or
vegetable soup
mess of pottage (Linsengericht)
fig. a material gain involving the sacrifice of a higher value
The meaning of this quotation is: to obtain some material comfort or advantage at the
expense of sth of much greater value or lasting worth.
birthright: property which a person may claim because of birth or status:
The estate is the birthright of the eldest son.
fig. Freedom is our natural birthright. (Erst- / Geburtsrecht)
trick
to trick sb into (doing) sth:
She tricked him into marrying her / marriage.
I cannot open the box – is there a trick to it?
He has an annoying trick of saying “You know?” after every sentence. (i.e. character-
istic habit)
to know any / every trick in the book: any / every trick that can be used to achieve
what one wants:
I tried every trick in the book but I still couldn’t persuade him.
to know / learn the tricks of the trade:
If you want to open your own car business you should ask his advice, he knows all the
tricks of the trade.
to do the trick / job: fulfil one’s purpose, do what is needed:
The medicine ought to do the trick (i.e. cure the illness).
to teach old dogs new tricks: you can’t teach old dogs new tricks: you can’t success-
fully get old people who are set in their ways to change their ideas, methods of work,
etc

15. As of / as from now we must be more economical with our resources.

also: from now on
as from (BE) / as of (chiefly AE)
PREPOSITIONS 597

As from next Monday you can use my office.

We shall have a new address as of 12 May.

16. He has an income of £20,000 a year as against the national average of £10,000.
as against: in contrast with:
She gets Saturdays off in her new job as against working alternate weekends in her
last one.
We had 12 hours of sunshine yesterday, as against a forecast of continuous rain.

17. In the eyes of / under the law libel is a misdemeanour.

libel: false written or printed statement that damages sb’s reputation:
to sue sb for libel
libel proceedings
libel on sth: things that tend to harm the reputation:
That interview was an absolute libel on an honest man.
slander: offence of making a false statement:
a case of slander
to bring an action against sb
to sue sb for slander
slanderous / libellous magazines / attacks / accusations
misdemeanour: minor wrongdoing / misdeed
(law) punishable offence, less serious than felony, i.e. murder, armed robbery, arson,
etc

18. There were times when graduates were offered posts with starting salaries in excess of
20K a year.
1K = 1,000

19. Everything went according to plan. (nach)

according to
a) as stated in or by:
According to John you were in Edinburgh last week.
You have been in prison 6 times according to our records.
According to the Bible God created the heaven and the earth.
b) in a manner or degree that is in proportion to:
There are 6 classes organized according to age.
Salary according to qualifications and experience.
Arrange the exhibits according to size.
You will be paid according to the amount of work you do.
The books on the shelves are placed according to authors.
Note: Do not use according to with nouns such as opinion / view.
compare:
according to the management – in the management’s opinion

20. Reality was the life of the lower classes which, in accordance with tradition, had so far
found its literary treatment mainly in comedy.
in accordance with: in agreement / harmony with; in a way that fulfils or agrees with:
to act in accordance with custom / the regulations / the law
I am working for my employer in accordance with the agreement made between us.
In accordance with your wishes I cancelled the meeting.
In accordance with your instructions I have placed an order for 10 cases of wine.
Education is carried out in accordance with the principles of the school.
598 PREPOSITIONS

to hand down / pass down a tradition

to establish / start a tradition
to keep up / maintain / preserve / uphold a tradition
to break with / defy a tradition
a(n) ancient / old / deep-rooted / deep-seated / established / long / cherished / popu-
lar tradition
a family / religious tradition

21. As a result of / in consequence of / as a consequence of this accident he was unable to

use his right hand for the rest of his life.
22. The roads had become impracticable in consequence of / as a consequence of / as a
result of continual rains.
23. They achieved their objective by means of deceit.
24. He succeeded in his job by dint of hard work.
25. His lateness was due to a traffic jam in Leicester Square.
26. A power failure, due to a short circuit, brought the whole plant to a standstill.
27. The demand for books has gone up / down owing to a world-wide recession.
owing to: adverbial use, often at the beginning of a sentence
due to: adjectival use, usually preceded by be
Note: Some speakers are careful to use due to only after the verb to be:
His lateness was due to the heavy traffic on the M1.
But it is generally considered acceptable today as synonym of owing to, which is used
differently:
He was late owing to / due to the very heavy traffic.
Due to / owing to the heavy traffic he was late.
Due to can be used immediately after a noun:
Accidents due to driving at high speed were very common that weekend.

due
a) deserving:
She is due for promotion soon.
b) requiring immediate payment: be / become / fall due:
My rent isn’t due till Wednesday.
c) due to do (i.e. expected, arranged):
The train is due to arrive / leave at 10.
d) suitable / proper:
after due consideration
With all due respect, I disagree completely.
in due course: eventually, at the appropriate time:
Your request will be dealt with in due course.

28. We must apologize to listeners who missed the introduction to the radio play owing to a
technical fault.
PREPOSITIONS 599

53 Exercise

1. I’m sure that he acted in this matter from disinterested motives.

out of would be acceptable
cf. to do sth out of curiosity / desperation / jealousy / kindness / necessity / pity /
spite, etc
Just out of curiosity, why did you reject the offer?
Jealousy was the motive for the murder / the murder motive.
What do you think his motives were in helping us?
to find / establish a motive
to question / doubt / suspect sb’s motives
to have nothing but the highest motives
The underlying motive is ...
a(n) altruistic / (dis)honourable / noble / base / selfish motive
motive (adj): the motive power / force (e.g. electricity to operate machines)
motivated by greed / fear / love / a politically motivated murder
motif:
a) decorative design / pattern: an eagle motif on the curtains
b) theme or idea that is repeated and developed in a work of music or literature
disinterested: impartial, unbiased, (without fear or favour):
The argument should be settled by sb who is disinterested.
My advice is quite disinterested.
a disinterested act of kindness
uninterested: I am completely uninterested in football.

2. That’s something I would not wish on my worst enemy.

to wish for: express desire for:
It is no use wishing for things you cannot have.
What more could one wish for?
to wish sth away: try to get rid of sth by wishing it did not exist:
These problems can’t be wished away, you know.
to wish sb on sb: pass on to:
I don’t think we can wish the children on your parents while we are away.

3. I knocked, put my head round the door and shouted his name.
also: through

4. Rock music is not to my taste.

cf. a man after my own heart
taste
This milk has a funny taste, it has gone sour, I think.
Once you have had a taste of life in our country you won’t return home. (i.e. short
experience)
to have (good) taste
to have taste / no taste / bad taste in clothes
it’s bad taste to do sth
sth is in (very) bad / poor taste:
His jokes about the President’s illness were in very bad taste.
to have a taste for sth:
I have always had a taste for 19th-century literature.
600 PREPOSITIONS

to (sb’s) taste:
Their house has not been decorated to my taste.
Add salt and pepper to taste. (nach Geschmack/Bedarf)
What are your tastes in music?
There is no accounting for taste(s).

5. She was a cheerful little lass, always singing over her household chores.
during is possible but less likely
cf. Let’s discuss it over dinner / a bottle of wine.
to sing in tune / to piano accompaniment / the baby to sleep

6. Don’t be so hard on the boy, father!

hard on sb
also severe on / with sb / os:
She’s very hard / severe on herself.
Don’t be severe on him – he couldn’t help it.
to be hard on sth: to wear sth out easily or quickly, have a bad effect on sth:
Children are very hard on their shoes.
Running ten miles a day is very hard on the knee joints.
to be hard at it: to be very busy doing sth:
She was hard at it on her computer.
to be hard on / for sb:
It’s hard for the children having both their parents in hospital.
It must be hard for Sheila, bringing up for children on her own.
cf. a hard drinker – a hard worker

7. One ought never to ask people about their political views.

but: to ask for sth: bitten um

8. They were right on one count: somebody was leaking confidential information to the press.
count
I want you to start on a count of five (i.e. after I have counted up to five).
By my count (i.e. as I have counted them) that is five cakes you have had already.
a) law: any group of offences of which a person is accused:
two counts of forgery and one of fraud
He was found guilty on all counts.
b) any of a set of points made in a discussion or argument:
I disagree with you on both counts.
to leak
to leak out: become known
also fig.: The details were supposed to be secret, but somehow leaked out.
to leak in / out
The rain was leaking in.
Air leaked out of the balloon.
a leakage
a) a leakage of toxic water
b) The leakage of technological secrets is reaching alarming proportions.
leaky: a leaky ship / kettle / roof
PREPOSITIONS 601

9. The king eventually renounced his privileges.

to renounce sb / sth: to give up, refuse to acknowledge or to associate
to renounce one’s claim to sth / one’s faith / religion / one’s title / a right / a privilege /
one’s former business partners / one’s family / country / (the use of) violence / one’s
principles / one’s former ideals / one’s convictions / terrorism / war
to renounce sth for sth
to renounce wealth for happiness

10. I’m on duty tonight and shouldn’t be here at this party by rights.
cf. off duty
to assume / take on a duty
to carry out / do / perform one’s duty
to relieve sb of her / his duties
to suspend sb of her / his duties
to shirk one’s duties
a(n) ethical / moral / legal / painful / (un)pleasant / civic / patriotic / public duty

11. This book makes no pretensions to originality.

to have / make no pretensions to (doing) sth:
He has / makes no pretensions to being an expert.
a man of modest pretensions

12. He swears by vitamin C pills and says that he hasn’t had a cold since he started taking
them, but I wouldn’t swear to it.
to swear
a) to swear at / about sb / sth: to curse, use rude or blasphemous words:
The drunken fellow started swearing at the policeman.
I overheard one of the dissatisfied spectators swearing about the referee.
Stop swearing in front of the children!
Mind your language! Don’t swear at me, please!
Why did you swear at missing the bus? There will be another soon.
b) to swear by sth
1) name as a guarantee of what one is promising:
I swear by Almighty God / the name of God / one’s honour / all that is sacred / holy /
dear / all the gods / all saints / all one holds sacred / holy / dear
2) have unbounded faith / confidence in:
Mother swears by Brown’s silver polish, she has used it for years with excellent
results.
Many of my friends are using word processors, but I still swear by my old typewriter.
to swear on: to make a solemn promise on sth that is supposed to have a binding
power on one:
The witness is asked to swear on the Bible that he will tell the truth, the whole truth
and nothing but the truth.
to swear on one’s honour / one’s father’s grave / the head of my son / oath
to swear to sth: to affirm the truth of; outside legal phraseology: to be certain beyond
all doubt:
He swore to having paid for the goods.
I think I have met the man somewhere, but I couldn’t swear to it.
to swear off (doing) sth: to declare that one will stop:
I have decided to swear off smoking / drugs.
He swore off smoking when doctors told him it caused cancer.
602 PREPOSITIONS

13. His actions accord ill with his character, but we mustn’t judge by / from appearances.
accord
be in accord with sb / sth:
The two sides are completely in accord (with each other) on this matter.
of one’s own accord: without being asked / ordered:
The children went to bed of their own accord because they were so tired.
with one accord: with everybody expressing their agreement, unanimously:
With one accord they all stood up and cheered.
to accord with sth: agree / be in harmony / compatible with:
His behaviour is not in accord with his principles.
to accord sth to sb / sb sth: to give, grant
to accord sb permission / permission to sb
They accorded him a tremendous welcome.
They accorded a tremendous welcome to him.
Teachers don’t enjoy the respect that is accorded to doctors.
in accordance with: in a way that fulfils or agrees with
In accordance with your wishes / orders I cancelled the meeting.
according to
a) as stated or shown by:
According to our records the books you have borrowed should now be returned.
According to Bill, she is a really good teacher.
b) in a way that agrees with:
We’ll be paid according to the amount of work we do.
Note: according to is used to show that the information comes from another person or
place and does not come from your own knowledge. It can also be used to suggest
that you don’t share sb’s opinion:
According to John I owe him £20. (but I don’t agree).
Do not use according to with words like opinion / view.
compare:
according to the management – In the management’s opinion / view
appearance:
Don’ t judge by / from appearances – they may be misleading.
to keep up appearances:
There is no point in keeping up appearances when everybody knows we are nearly
bankrupt.
to put in an appearance:
I don’t want to go to that party, but I’d better put in an appearance.
against / contrary to all appearances

14. He acted on the instructions of his superiors.

according to would be acceptable
in accordance with would change the meaning
to act on sth
a) Does the drug take long to act on the nerve centres?
b) She acted on your suggestion (i.e. did what you suggested).

15. What a change from last year!

16. They met at regular intervals.
17. We shall come back by the nearest way.
less likely: via the nearest way
PREPOSITIONS 603

18. Agatha grew up into a beautiful girl, but otherwise there was nothing special about her.
to grow
Don’t spend so much – money doesn’t grow on trees, you know.
to grow away from: come to a less close relationship:
a teenage girl growing away from her mother
to grow into sth:
He has grown into an old miser.
The coat is too big for him now, but he’ll grow into it.
to grow out of (doing) sth: one’s clothes / children’s games / habits / sucking his
thumb
to grow on sb: come to have a greater attraction, win the liking of
a book / piece of music that grows on you:
His music is difficult to listen to, but after a while it starts to grow on you.
about
There was sth about him that I didn’t like.
I do not understand why she is so attracted by that man, he seems to have nothing
about him.

19. This new law could easily be taken to discriminate against ethnic minorities.
discriminate between / from / against / in favour of:
Death does not discriminate, it comes to everybody.
You should learn to discriminate between facts and opinions / facts from opinions.
The law discriminates between accidental and intentional killing.
Society still discriminates against women / in favour of men.

20. He was private secretary to the Prince of Wales, who had no secrets from him.
Are you going to let him into the secret?
Is he in the secret?
He left the country in secret.

21. The British Festival of 1951 was planned to demonstrate Britain’s pride in the past.
a large-scale exhibition opened on the South Bank in London, in 1951, to mark the
centenary of the Great Exhibition of 1851 and to demonstrate British economic and
technical progress over the intervening 100 years
sb’s pride
pride in sth:
Her pride in her achievements is justified.
to be the pride of sb:
The new car was the pride of the family.
to be puffed up with pride
to hurt sb’s pride
to be a blow to sb’s pride
to do sth out of a false sense of pride
to pocket one’s pride: to suppress / hide one’s feeling of pride
to take pride in sth / sb:
She takes pride in her children’s success.
He takes no pride in his work.
You should take more pride in your appearance.
to pride os on (doing) sth:
She prided herself on her skill as a gardener / remaining calm in an emergency.
604 PREPOSITIONS

22. Their shares fell by 50p on the Stock Exchange last week.
with difference of meaning: fell to 50p
Stock Exchange: place where stocks and shares are publicly bought and sold
to lose / win money on the Stock Exchange

23. Their strength consists in their union.

to consist of sb / sth: be composed / made up of:
The committee consists of 10 members.
a mixture consisting of flour and water
to consist in (doing) sth: have as its main / only element / feature:
The beauty of the plan consists in its simplicity.

24. Anybody could tell he didn’t belong – belong to the early summer sun, the cool Whitsun
wind off the sea, the holiday crowd.
from Graham Greene’s Brighton Rock
Whitsun – Whitsuntide / Whit Sunday / Monday (Pfingsten) rarely: Pentecost
Church Festivals / Public Holidays / Special Days:
New Year’s Day – Neujahr(stag)
Epiphany – Dreikönigsfest, Heiligedreikönigstag
Shrove Tuesday – Fastnachtsdienstag
or: Pancake Day
or: Pancake Tuesday
Ash Wednesday – Aschermittwoch
Lent – Fastenzeit
Palm Sunday – Palmsonntag
Maundy Thursday – Gründonnerstag
Good Friday – Karfreitag
Easter Sunday / Monday – Ostersonntag/-montag
Labour Day – Tag der Arbeit (U.K. on 1 May / U.S. on the
– first Monday in September)
May Day
Mothering Sunday – Muttertag
Mother’s Day
Ascension (Day) – Christi Himmelfahrt
Corpus Christi (Day) – Fronleichnam
All Saints’ (Day) – Allerheiligen
All Souls’ (Day) – Allerseelen
Remembrance Day – Volkstrauertag (November 11)
Remembrance Sunday – closest Sunday to Remembrance Day
Christmas Eve – Heiligabend
Christmas – Weihnachten
Xmas
Christmas Day – 1. Weihnachts(feier)tag
Boxing Day – 2.
New Year’s Eve – Silvester
Valentine’s Day
April Fool’s Day
Halloween
Guy Fawkes’ Night
Harvest Festival – Erntedankfest

25. In explanation of his absence he alleged illness.

to allege: state a fact but without proof:
He alleged illness as a reason for his absence.
The prisoner alleged that he was at home on the night of the crime.
We were alleged to have brought goods into the country illegally.
PREPOSITIONS 605

alleged: the alleged culprit / thief (i.e. said to be) mutmaßlich

allegedly: The novel was allegedly written by a computer.

26. We attended the ceremony out of respect for the bride’s father, who was a close friend of
our family.
to hold sb in (high) respect
to do sth out of respect for sth / sb
with all (due) respect:
With all due respect, these figures do not support your theory.
to lose / gain / get / win / earn sb’s respect
to have respect for sth / sb:
These people don’t seem to have any respect for the law.
to show / pay respect to sb / sth
to command sb’s respect:
This physicist commands the respect of all who know him.
deep / great / the greatest / profound / sincere / mutual / grudging respect
with respect to sth:
This is true with respect to France but not to Germany.
in respect of sth: money received in respect of overtime worked
to be highly / widely / universally respected

27. He died from a severe wound which had been inflicted on him in the skirmish.
to inflict: to force (sth / sb unpleasant) on sb:
The judge inflicted the severest possible penalty.
Don’t inflict your ridiculous ideas on me.
Mary has inflicted her children on her mother for the weekend.

28. She died of a fever, and nobody could save her.

This comes straight out of a well-known Irish folk-song:
She died of a fever, and nobody could save her, and that was the end of Molly Malone.
compare: they died of hunger : from a lack of food
Though of and from seem to be used interchangeably in some cases, it seems
preferable to use
to die of an illness or feeling, while to die from often is to die following something,
except illness or feeling:
die of / from hunger / cancer / a heart attack / one’s injuries / starvation
I almost, nearly died / could have died of curiosity / embarrassment / grief / laughter /
boredom.
He died from his wounds.
The child died from a fall out of a high window.
to die for one’s belief(s) / principles
to be dying for a cup of tea / something to eat
to be dying to do sth
She is dying to know where you have been.
to be dying of: to feel sth very strongly
The children are dying of boredom / of curiosity to see what is in the parcel.
Note: to die a poor man / a hero / a martyr
606 PREPOSITIONS

How to die:
to be gone / to pass away / on /
to be deceased verscheiden, hinscheiden
to drop dead
to lose one’s life
to perish
to die in a battle auf dem Schlachtfeld sterben
to die a natural / violent death eines natürlichen / gewaltsamen Todes sterben
to die of cancer / a fever / hunger
/ grief / illness an etwas sterben
to die through neglect
to die with grief vor Kummer sterben
to die for one’s country den Heldentod sterben
to give / lay down / sacrifice
one’s life for sb / sth sein Leben opfern, hingeben
to commit suicide / kill os Selbstmord begehen
to die by one’s own hand
to be murdered ermordet werden
to die by violence,
i.e. a violent death
to die (peacefully) in one’s sleep
to die from a wound / lack of food an einer Wunde sterben
to be killed in an accident / in a
plane crash bei einem Unfall ums Leben kommen
to be murdered / assassinated
criminals / murderers
to die on the scaffold / at the auf dem Schafott, Scheiterhaufen,
stake / in the electric chair elektrischen Stuhl sterben
to be hanged / electrocuted /
executed
to be condemned to execution
by hanging
to be sentenced to be hanged
to execute sb by hanging / gass-
ing / shooting / by the sword /
by electrocution / lethal injection
to be on / be sent to death row
(chiefly AE)
death row Todestrakt
Execution is still the penalty in some states for murder.
The execution will be carried out by a firing squad.
Countries employ a variety of procedures in carrying out executions, including lethal
injection, electrocution, hanging, gassing, and shooting.
to be killed in action (soldier)
to fall (in battle) (soldier)
to be shot dead
to be shot three times in the head
Troops had been given orders to shoot to kill.
mercy killing
euthanasia: the act of painless killing sb who is seriously ill or old, esp. to reduce their
suffering:
Although some people campaign for the right to euthanasia, it is still illegal in most
countries.
Note:
to dye
She dyed her hair red.
a die / dice
The die is cast.
a pair of dice
to roll / shake / throw the dice
PREPOSITIONS 607

29. They were dying with impatience.

of is acceptable

30. It’s terribly hot outside, and I’m dying for a cup of tea.

54 Exercise: Miscellaneous

1. To understand the present crisis, we need to consider the historical and political back-
ground to it.
2. The talks went on calmly, against a background of threats and rumours of war.
Background can mean the conditions that existed before an event happened and
which explain why it happened:
So long as I don’t know the background to the case, I can’t possibly comment.
The government’s decision must be taken / seen against a background of high
unemployment.
Can you give me some background (i.e. information) on the financial situation?
Background can also be used to refer to sth that is done before and in preparation to
sth else:
to give / fill in / sketch / supply background information / details / data / reading /
knowledge
A background is what can be seen behind the main things or people in a picture:
to paint the background to a picture
to photograph / film sb against a background of sth
Background also means the things that can be seen or heard behind other things:
the figure seen in the background of a photo / to listen to the music in the background
/ background music / noise
to stay / remain / lurk in the background / to keep to / to relegate sb to the background
Background also refers to sb’s family or experience, education, living conditions,
wealth, etc
(a/an) ethnic / religious / deprived / wealthy / privileged / academic / criminal / cultural
/ cultured / educational / exalted / humble / narrow / modest / obscure / political /
questionable / respectable / superior / working class background(s)
to have a background in sth (music / publishing / computer engineering)

3. The mark against Bob’s name in the class list means that he is taking Greek as well as
Latin.
4. The mail goes at 5.30, so I am working against time to have these letters ready by then.
to work against time, i.e. to work as fast as possible so as to finish by a specific time
by a specific time: not later than (by Tuesday / March 22nd / the end of the month)

5. I’m surprised at Mrs Woodson. She should be above gossiping about her neighbours.
6. Mrs Brown thinks herself above criticism.
to be above (doing) sth: consider os too important:
My friend’s wife thinks she’s above doing any housework.
to consider os above (doing) sth: to value sth above (and beyond) all else:
She values her job above her family.
to get above os: consider os more important than one really is:
He’s been getting above himself recently.
608 PREPOSITIONS

to speak above the heads of the audience

above suspicion / reproach
over and above
above and beyond
aboveboard
above-mentioned

7. None of us can lift this table alone, but we can certainly lift it among us.
8. You’ll never be good at tennis, unless you work at it.
cf. to be clever / an expert at (doing) sth

9. Her father won’t let her marry Paul because he is a poet – and an unsuccessful one at that.
at that, i.e. as well

10. I succeeded beyond my wildest expectations.

beyond sth: farther than sth reaches:
beyond endurance / one’s comprehension

11. He is selling his furniture, but I don’t think anyone will buy it because he is asking a price far
beyond its value.
beyond sth: more / greater than (usu followed by a statement of number or amount):
beyond forty people / half an hour / the ordinary

12. I’m sorry the patient is far beyond hope of recovery.

13. Tom is clever for / beyond his age.
for his age: für sein Alter
beyond his age: über sein Alter hinaus / mehr als sein Alter erwarten läßt

14. The smell quite put me off my food.

sth puts sb off, i.e. displeases / repels sb:
No doubt, he was a good salesman, but occasionally his manner put the customers
off.

15. After he had been caught trying to steal the watch, he passed the whole thing off as a joke.
to pass sth off as a joke / with a jest

16. You can buy nice suits off the peg in this shop.
off the peg / off the rack (AE)
cf. made-to-measure

17. This agreement is legally binding on all those who signed it.
a binding contract

18. Our profits this year show quite an advance on last year’s figures.
advances in medical science
to pay an advance on a salary
to let sb know (sth) in advance
to arrive in advance of everyone else
PREPOSITIONS 609

19. The present trade union laws are a brake on progress in industry.
to put a brake / the brakes on sth
to apply one’s brakes
to slam on the brakes
anti-lock brakes
a screech / squeal of brakes
brake lights / blocks / cables
brake pedal

20. I wouldn’t put it past / beyond him to get the money out of her even now.
21. Can’t you see through the man’s tricks?
to see through sb’s charm / glibness / sb’s smooth exterior
You can’t fool me – I see right through you!

22. The cinema was crowded with soldiers, to the total exclusion of its usual customers.
to the exclusion of sb / sth, i.e. resulting in the exclusion of sb / sth
Compare: exclusive of sb / sth (i.e. excluding sb / sth) and exclusive to sb (i.e. applying
only to those mentioned)

23. They danced to an ancient gramophone.

to dance to the music of a band
to dance attendance on sb
to dance to sb’s tune, i.e. do what they want

24. While she worked, she sang little songs under her breath.
25. Under clause 2c of this agreement you can reclaim in case of loss.
under the Obscene Publications Act / the Education Act of 1944 / Article 5 of the
Constitution

26. The concert will be held under the auspices of the Fine Arts Society.
27. Where under the sun is there a woman who is both beautiful and modest?
cf. under age / the counter / cover / fire / foot / one’s hat / lock and key / one’s nose /
the weather
They found it very slippery under foot.
She’s feeling rather under the weather today.

28. We are fighting our campaign under the banner of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity.
29. We will be here at 10 without fail.
30. There can be no doubt that parents have to answer for their children’s behaviour.
to answer (to sb) for (doing) sth, i.e. be responsible / accountable to sb for sth

31. The leader of the party was alleged to have appropriated certain sums of money to his own
use.
to appropriate sth to sth, i.e. take sth for one’s own use, to a particular purpose

32. He couldn’t explain why the items contained in the parcel didn’t correspond with those on
the list.
to correspond with sth, i.e. be the same
to correspond with sb, i.e. exchange letters
610 PREPOSITIONS

33. She always uses writing paper with her address embossed in pink.
in black and white
in ink / pencil / capital letters

55 Exercise: Miscellaneous

1. Wages are so low in relation to the cost of living that many families cannot survive on
them.
the relation of wages to costs
the relation between wages and costs

2. Ann has gained enormously in self-confidence.

3. Lucas beat Mark at squash the other day. Mark is now determined to have his revenge on
Lucas for his defeat.
to beat sb at a game
to have / take revenge on sb for sth
to do sth in revenge for sth (e.g. in revenge for his son’s death)

4. Mark’s father, who until recently was ignorant of his son’s decision to give up his studies,
seethed with anger when he was informed of / about it.
to be contemptuous / ignorant / intolerant / (un)conscious / (un)aware of sth
to seethe with anger / indignation
to inform sb of / as to sth / that ...
They are not informed of / as to the committee’s decision.
They informed him that his rates were overdue.

5. Mass unemployment is the greatest obstacle to economic progress.

6. My friend is prepared to plead guilty to driving without due care, but says he is not guilty of
dangerous driving.
to be guilty / innocent of (doing) sth
to plead guilty to sth

7. The new teacher is very strict with the children in her class. She seems to be particularly
strict on punctuality.
to be strict with sb on sth that one expects to be observed (discipline, observance of
the rules)
to be strict in a particular field (in one’s diet / one’s observance of social conventions)

8. My income doesn’t allow for much extravagance, and I really don’t know how I could do
for champagne if I didn’t know the ropes. I certainly would not be able to treat my friends
to the occasional bottle.
to allow for sth (shrinkage / sb’s youth)
to do for sth, i.e. manage to obtain sth (only in questions and after what and how):
What shall we do for fresh fruit while the strike is on?
I’m going to treat myself to a new pair of shoes.
PREPOSITIONS 611

9. I think we’ll never see eye to eye over / about / on it. So we’d better leave it at that, hadn’t
we?
10. The new champion said he wanted to model himself on Cassius Clay.
11. There’s no more work at the factory, so they’re paying off all the workers and closing
down.
12. In all probability, he’ll arrive in time for lunch.
13. The teacher founded his system of language teaching on the belief that speaking should
come before reading.
14. Such ideas verge on foolhardiness.
15. Your story conflicts with that of the other eye-witnesses, whose versions all tally with one
another down to the minutest detail.
16. She’s ambitious and wants to go to the top. I’m sure she’ll stop at nothing.
to stop / stick at nothing
to stop sb / sth from doing sth:
They tried to stop the fire from spreading.

17. Multiply 16 by 12. What does that amount to?

2 multiplied by 5 is 10, so 10 divided by 5 is / equals 2.
What do you get if you divide 3 into 9?
2 divides into 6 three times.

18. The joke was completely lost on her, because she doesn’t speak French.
19. His release from prison was conditional on his promising not to molest his neighbours
again.
conditional on sth, i.e. dependent on sth

20. He is in the habit of going to sleep with the lambs and getting up with the larks.
to have / make a habit / get into the habit of doing sth
But: to make it a habit to do sth

21. Do you think we could dispense with a translator?

22. He threw up his job with / at the bank and went abroad.
23. It was my wife who hit on / upon the idea of doing it this way.
to hit on an idea / the right road / a bargain

24. I’ll bow to your decision, though I still disagree with it.
to bow to a person / circumstances / the law / sb’s superior wisdom / sb’s judgement
to disagree with sb on / about sth:
Scientists disagree on the origin of the universe.
sth disagrees with sb / sth:
Damp weather disagrees with me / my rheumatism.

25. Has it never dawned on you that this story may be a fabrication?
26. The two sisters are always at odds with each other.
27. They’ve failed to solve the problem and they’re stuck with it.
612 PREPOSITIONS

28. You’ve broken your side of the contract so you can’t hold us to ours.
to hold on to sth (for support)
to hold (sb) to sth (a promise, resolution)
to hold with sth (an idea, custom, practice)

29. These tabloids pander to people’s interest in sex.

30. Quite a few bacteria have become resistant to antibiotics.
31. She’ll enter upon her new appointment as headmistress at the beginning of March.
to enter upon a task / an appointment, i.e. take up, begin sth
to enter into a discussion / competition / details

32. This is a special offer at reduced rates, exclusive to members of many years’ standing.
exclusive to sb, i.e. applying only to sb
exclusive of sb / sth, i.e. excluding

33. Everybody considered his conduct despicable in the extreme.

in the extreme, i.e. to the extreme extent
to go to the extreme / to extremes
 613

PROVERBS

1 Exercise

1. A rolling stone gathers no moss.

If a person does not settle down in one place, but always moves from one place or job
to another, he will never be able to establish himself anywhere with any permanence,
comforts or good things of life.

2. A stitch in time saves nine.

If we repair something when it is at the beginning of requiring it, we shall save
ourselves a lot of work later.

3. One man’s meat is another man’s poison.

What may be liked by, or good for, one person may be disliked by, or bad for, someone
else.
Des einen Freud, des anderen Leid. / Des einen Brot, des anderen Tod.
Was dem einen sin Ul, ist dem anderen sin Nachtigall.

4. It never rains but it pours.

Events of the same (esp. bad) kind seem to come together; said when unwelcome
things or events happen in quick succession.
Ein Unglück kommt selten allein.
to pour
to pour cold water on: to discourage:
Don’t pour cold water on the idea; it may be just what we need.
to pour oil on the flames: make matters worse
to pour oil on troubled waters: try to stop trouble or violence by making calmer the
people who are causing it

5. He who pays the piper calls the tune.

The person who pays has the right to decide how the money is spent.

6. Nothing venture, nothing gain.

also:
Nothing venture, nothing have.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
If you never take any risks, you will never have any success.
Wer nicht wagt, der nicht gewinnt.

7. A good example is better than a sermon.

also: A good example is the best sermon.
It is better to set a good example by an action than by simply talking about what must
be done.
to set / follow a good example:
He arrived at the office early to set a good example to the others.
Let this be an example to you.
614 PROVERBS

an example of sth:
His rudeness was a typical example of his usual bad manners.
to take a leaf out of sb’s book

8. A man’s home is his castle.

In his own home a man must be able to have privacy.
to build castles in the air / in Spain: to make plans which will probably not succeed; to
daydream

9. Let sleeping dogs lie.

Leave alone things which may cause trouble.
Schlafende Hunde soll man nicht wecken.
Barking dogs seldom bite.
His bark is worse than his bite.

10. Many hands make light work.

If everybody helps, the work will be light.

11. There’s no disputing about tastes.

also: There is no accounting for tastes.
One must never be surprised (or argumentative) about what other people like or
dislike.
Über Geschmack lässt sich nicht streiten.

12. It takes all sorts to make a world.

One must not expect everybody to be similar in habits, tastes, moods, characteristics
and so on.
Es gibt so’ne und solche.
“He has grown a long beard and wears flowers in his hair.” – “Well, it takes all sorts
(to ...).”

13. No man is a hero to his valet.

One’s own personal servant knows one’s weaknesses and faults, which may be
unknown to other people.

14. Everything comes to him who waits.

One must have patience in life.
Mit Geduld und Spucke fängt man eine Mucke.
cf. Was lange währt, wird endlich gut: (etwa) Good work takes (a long) time.
Ehrlich währt am längsten: Honesty is the best policy.

15. Charity begins at home.

One must give help or take care of one’s own family / country before other people.

16. Half a loaf is better than no bread.

It is better to take what one can get or is offered than to run the risk of having nothing.
cf. 23: A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
PROVERBS 615

17. As well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb.

If one is going to be punished for something small or unimportant, one might as well
do something really bad – to make the punishment really deserved.
Wenn schon, denn schon!
cf. to separate the sheep from the goats / the chaff from the wheat: the good from the
bad persons
a wolf in sheep’s clothing

18. More haste, less speed.

When hurrying one often makes mistakes that cause one, in the end, to take more
time than ever.
Eile mit Weile.

19. The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.

People often do bad things as a result of (misguidedly) good intentions.
Der Weg zur Hölle ist mit guten Vorsätzen gepflastert.
to pave the way for sb / sth
This agreement paves the way for a lasting peace.

20. Hitch your waggon to a star.

Follow a high principle to guide you in life.
to hitch: to fasten by hooking a rope or metal part over another object:
Another railway carriage has been hitched on.
to hitch a horse to a fence
Her dress hitched on a nail.
coll.: to be / get hitched: be / get married

21. A fool and his money are soon parted.

A foolish person quickly and wastefully spends all his money.

22. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.

One must not be critical of a thing that is given as a present.
Einem geschenkten Gaul schaut man nicht ins Maul.
a gift from the gods: a lucky chance
to have the gift of doing sth
to have a gift for music
I wouldn’t have it as a gift.
cf. Mitgift: dowry

23. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

It is better to be sure of the possession of one thing – though it may be small and
unimportant – than to have only the hope of something of greater value.
Besser ein Spatz in der Hand als eine Taube auf dem Dach.

24. As you make your bed, so must you lie on it.

also: You have made your bed and you must lie on it.
One must suffer the consequences of one’s own misdeeds or unwise actions.
Wie man sich bettet, so liegt man.

25. Birds of a feather flock together.

People who have similar characters and tastes (usually not good ones) tend to
associate with one another.
Gleich und gleich gesellt sich gern.
616 PROVERBS

26. Blood is thicker than water.

Blood-relationship is usually stronger than a relationship created by other
circumstances: marriage, professional or business relations, friendship, etc
Blut ist dicker als Wasser.

27. You can’t get blood out of a stone.

It is impossible to get sympathy or help from a cruel or hard-hearted person.
to get / wring water / blood from a flint (stone)

28. Those who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.

We should not blame others for faults we ourselves have.
Wer im Glashaus sitzt, sollte nicht mit Steinen werfen.
cf. hot-house / greenhouse: warm building where flowers and delicate plants grow

29. All is not gold that glitters.

also: All that glitters is not gold.
A fine appearance is sometimes deceptive; it may hide some thing of no value.
Es ist nicht alles Gold, was glänzt.

30. When Greek meets Greek, then comes the tug of war.
It is when the champions or the important contestants enter a race or a struggle that
things begin to be interesting.
It’s all Greek to me: I don’t understand.
The doctors were discussing my illness, but what they were saying was (all) Greek to
me.

2 Exercise

1. Every Jack has his Jill.

also: ... must have his Jill.
Somewhere there is a perfect mate for all of us.
Jeder Hans findet seine Grete.

2. You must know how many beans make five.

also: He knows how many (blue) beans make five.
You must be shrewd in life.

3. It’s too late to shut the stable-door after the horse has gone.
It’s too late to start to take precautions after the wrong has taken place, or the
mischief has been done.
Wenn das Kind in den Brunnen gefallen ist, deckt man ihn zu.
cf.
I have it (tips / advice / information) straight from the horse’s mouth: from a first-hand
source
It’s no use crying over spilt milk.

4. A little learning is a dangerous thing.

Too little knowledge may lead one to wrong conclusions.
PROVERBS 617

5. One must draw the line somewhere.

There is a limit to what a person will endure or put up with.
to draw the line
a) decide the exact difference between things that lack fixed borders:
Try to draw the line between science and art in medicine.
b) fix a border shutting out what one will not do or agree to:
I’m sorry that’s where I draw the line.
to draw the line at doing sth:
I don’t mind lending him my razor, but I draw the line at lending him my toothbrush.

6. It’s a long lane that has no turning.

also: run
Troubles do not usually last for ever.

7. Never do things by halves.

If anything is worth doing at all, do it well.
halves
to go halves in sth: share the cost of:
Let’s go halves in buying the wine.
Go halves with me.
cf. to go Dutch (with sb)

8. No news is good news.

Nothing terrible has happened – because we should certainly have been informed of
it if it had happened.
Keine Nachrichten sind gute Nachrichten.

9. Prevention is better than cure.

Vorbeugen ist besser als Heilen.

10. It’s the last straw that breaks the camel’s neck.
A small trouble, in itself seemingly unimportant, can cause a disaster if it follows a
large number of other troubles.
Der letzte Tropfen bringt das Fass zum Überlaufen.

11. The leopard cannot change its spots.

We cannot alter our inherited characteristics.
Die Katze lässt das Mausen nicht.
cf.
You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.

12. Life is not all beer and skittles.

We must not expect life to offer nothing but pleasure.
Das Leben ist nicht nur Vergnügen.
skittle: game in which a ball is bowled along an alley with the purpose of knocking
down a number of bottle-shaped pieces of wood (i.e. skittles / pins): Kegeln

13. Little pitchers have big ears.

Children have the habit of listening to the conversation of adults.
pitcher
618 PROVERBS

a large (usually earthenware) vessel with a handle and lip for holding liquids; large jug
having two ear-shaped handles

14. A burnt child dreads the fire.

If a person has been hurt by something, he will take good care to avoid the same thing
in the future.
Gebranntes Kind scheut das Feuer.
cf.
Once bitten, twice shy.

15. Don’t count your chickens before they are hatched.

Don’t make plans about what you are going to do with something until you actually
have it in your possession.
Das Fell des Bären nicht verteilen, bevor man ihn hat.

16. Every dog has his day.

Sooner or later, at some stage in her or his life, everyone will have a moment (or
period) of success or fame or glory.
cf.
Love me, love my dog: accept my friends as yours.
to treat sb like a dog: very badly

17. The early bird catches the worm.

Success in anything in life comes most easily to the person who gets there first.
Morgenstund’ hat Gold im Mund’.
cf.
First come, first served.
Wer zuerst kommt, mahlt zuerst.

18. You can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs.

Some things in life cannot be done without some sort of violent action, or some sort of
sacrifice.

19. One swallow does not make a summer.

One single act (incident, example, etc) is not enough to provide the basis for a rule.
Eine Schwalbe macht noch keinen Sommer.

20. There’s many a slip between the cup and the lip.
Something may easily go wrong before a plan is carried out.
slip
a slip of the tongue / pen: error in speaking / writing
to slip
He slipped on the icy road and broke his leg.
He slipped away / out / past without being seen.
The years slipped by.
The blanket slipped off the bed.
The knife slipped and I cut my hand.
Errors have slipped into the text.
to let sth slip
Don’t let the opportunity slip.
to let slip a secret
sth slips one’s mind
PROVERBS 619

21. When poverty comes in at the door, love flies out of the window.
Poverty in married life is a great danger.

22. There’s no royal road to learning.

Nobody (not even kings!) can learn without studying.
royal road to: (fig.) easiest way of getting to
Practice is the royal road to success when learning a language.

23. Make hay while the sun shines.

Persist with your work and seize all the advantages you can if conditions are
favourable for you. They may not be so favourable tomorrow, next week, etc
Man muss Heu machen, während die Sonne scheint.
cf. Strike while the iron is hot.: Man muss das Eisen schmieden, solange es heiß ist.

24. Where ignorance is bliss, ’tis folly to be wise.

frequently abbreviated to: ignorance is bliss
If knowledge only brings unhappiness, it is better to know nothing at all of the matter.
cf.
Wise men learn by other men’s harms; fools by their own.
It’s easy to be wise after the event.

25. It’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good.

However great a misfortune or tragedy may be, someone usually gets some profit or
benefit out of it.
cf. 29
Jedes Unglück hat auch sein Gutes.
cf. a blessing in disguise
It’s an ill bird that fouls its own nest.

26. In for a penny, in for a pound.

If we have committed ourselves, in some project or other, a certain financial
responsibility, we may find that we cannot withdraw – even though the project is going
to cost us more than we thought.
Man muss die Suppe auslöffeln, die man sich eingebrockt hat.
Wer A sagt, muss auch B sagen.
Note: The sentence in the book contains a typing error: *four > for

27. The labourer is worthy of his hire.

Everyone is entitled to a fair and proper payment for their work.

28. What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.
What is applicable to one person should be equally applicable to another.
Was dem einen recht ist, ist dem anderen billig.

29. Every cloud has a silver lining.

Trouble usually does not last for ever; there is always hope of an improvement in the
situation.
Auch das Unglück hat sein Gutes.
to have one’s head in the clouds:
to be not thinking about everyday matters, not paying attention, be in a dreamlike
state
620 PROVERBS

under a cloud: out of favour, looked on with distrust, under suspicion, in disgrace:
He wasn’t expelled from school but he’s certainly under a cloud.

30. A miss is as good as a mile.

No matter how near we came to succeeding, if we failed, we failed!
Knapp vorbei, ist auch daneben!

31. A fault confessed is half redressed.

If you have done wrong and you confess it readily and openly, you are already half way
to being forgiven.
Bekannt ist halb gebüßt.
to redress: set (a wrong) right again; make up for, do sth that compensates:
You should confess and redress your error.
to redress the racial inequalities
to redress the balance
If one species breeds too much, the theory says a new epidemic will arise to redress
the balance.

3 Exercise

1. Like master, like man.

Employees / servants tend to do what their employers / masters do.
Wie der Herr, so’s Gescherr.
cf. to be a past master of sth / at / in doing sth:
He’s a past master at getting free drinks out of other people.
to be one’s own master / mistress

2. Actions speak louder than words.

What you do is more important than what you say.

3. Look before you leap.

Think carefully about what you are about to do.
Erst wägen, dann wagen.

4. Fingers were made before forks (and hands before knives).

It’s all right to eat with one’s fingers because people had to eat somehow before there
were forks. Could be used to justify eating something with one’s fingers.

5. Time is money.
One should not waste time when one could be working and earning money.
Zeit ist Geld.

6. Like father, like son (like mother like daughter).

Fathers and sons / mothers and daughters resemble each other; sons / daughters
tend to do what their fathers / mothers did before them.
Wie der Vater / die Mutter, so der Sohn / die Tochter.
Der Apfel fällt nicht weit vom Stamm.
PROVERBS 621

7. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

One likes a person better when one has been away from him / her for some time; one
forgets the less attractive things about a person.
Die Liebe wächst mit der Entfernung.

8. Out of sight, out of mind.

Somebody / something that is not seen is soon forgotten.
Aus den Augen, aus dem Sinn.

9. One good turn deserves another.

If someone does you a favour, you should do him / her a favour in return.
Eine Hand wäscht die andere.
Hilfst du mir, so helf ich dir.

10. Opposites attract one another.

Gegensätze ziehen sich an.

11. Appearances are deceptive.

The truth may be different from what can be seen.
Der Schein trügt.

12. A bad workman always blames his tools.

A careless or unskilled person who produces bad work will blame his materials or
tools rather than admit that the fault lies in him.

13. God helps those who help themselves.

also: God helps them who ...
People who wish for good luck and God’s help in achieving what they want must first
make an effort themselves.
Hilf dir selbst, so hilft dir Gott.

14. Practice makes perfect.

Continual practice or repetition of an action or activity leads to perfection in its
performance.
Übung macht den Meister.

15. Charity begins at home.

One must give help to or take care of one’s own family / country before other people.

16. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.

Old people find it difficult to live in accordance with new ideas, fashions, etc
Der Mensch ist ein Gewohnheitstier.
Was Hänschen nicht lernt, lernt Hans nimmermehr.

17. Beggars can’t be choosers.

People in need cannot be concerned about quality but must accept what they are
given.
In der Not frisst der Teufel Fliegen.
622 PROVERBS

18. The proof of the pudding is in the eating.

The real worth of any idea, suggestion, etc is discovered only when it is put into
practice or use.
Probieren geht über Studieren.

19. To err is human.

also: To err is human, to forgive divine.
One should not be too harsh with somebody who makes a mistake, because all
human beings make mistakes.
Irren ist menschlich.

20. A friend in need is a friend indeed.

A person who helps when one is in trouble is a real or true friend.
Freunde in der Not gehen hundert / tausend auf ein Lot.

21. Pride comes before a fall.

also: goes / goeth
A person who behaves in a proud and impatient manner is likely to suffer an early
misfortune.
From the Bible: “Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.”
(Proverbs 16:18)
Hochmut kommt vor dem Fall.

22. Necessity is the mother of invention.

When one is faced with a very difficult problem, one will use one’s imagination to deal
with it.
Not macht erfinderisch.

23. Still waters run deep.

A person who is quiet and says little often hides deep feelings or a lot of knowledge of
a subject.
Stille Wasser gründen tief.

24. You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink.
You can make it easy for a person to do what you want but you cannot force him to do
something he does not want to do.
Man kann das Pferd an die Tränke führen, aber saufen muss es selbst.

25. A burnt child dreads the fire.

If something has hurt you once, you avoid it after that.
Gebranntes Kind scheut das Feuer.

26. It’s no use crying over spilt milk.

One should not cry or grieve because of a loss or mistake that cannot be put right.
Was passiert ist, ist passiert.
27. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
A person who spends all his time working will be a dull and uninteresting companion.
PROVERBS 623

28. Constant dripping wears away the stone.

Persistence accomplishes things.
Steter Tropfen höhlt den Stein.

29. Easier said than done.

It may be easy to say that something should be done, but difficult to do that thing.
Leichter gesagt als getan.

30. No man can serve two masters.

It is impossible to be loyal to two opposed principles, ideas, etc
Niemand kann zwei Herren dienen.

31. Speech is silver, silence is gold.

also shortened to: silence is golden
Reden ist Silber, Schweigen ist Gold.

32. There is no rose without a thorn.

To enjoy anything beautiful or pleasant, you must endure something difficult or painful.
Keine Rose ohne Dornen.

33. Walls have ears.

Someone may be listening. A warning: the speaker thinks the conversation is being
overheard.
Die Wände haben Ohren.

34. Well begun is half done.

Beginning a project well makes it easier to do the rest.
Frisch gewagt ist halb gewonnen.

35. When the cat is away the mice will play.

When no one in authority is present, the subordinates can do as they please.
Wenn die Katze aus dem Hause ist, tanzen die Mäuse.

36. Love me, love my dog.

If you love somebody, you must love everything that he / she loves.

37. Where there’s a will there’s a way.

If you really want to do something, you will find a way to do it, in spite of obstacles.
Wo ein Wille, da ein Weg.

38. Punctuality is the politeness of princes.

also: kings
Pünktlichkeit ist die Höflichkeit der Könige.

39. Better late than never.

Doing something late is better than not doing it.
Besser spät als nie.
624 PROVERBS

4 Exercise: Proverbs and Phrases

1. My sister lives just outside London. When I visited my brother in London I decided to kill
two birds with one stone and to go and see her as well.
zwei Fliegen mit einer Klappe schlagen
bow and arrow
a bow-tie: Fliege
bow-legged / knock-kneed
to bow
We are tired of having to bow to authority.
note: a shot across the bows:
warning or threat: Schuss vor den Bug
to swat: hit hard with a flat object
to swat a fly
to take a swat at a wasp
swatter: instrument, flat piece of plastic or metal fixed to a handle for swatting flies

2. Clothes make the man.

Kleider machen Leute
cf. Fine feathers make fine birds.
cf. Manners maketh man.

3. He’s gone home so the coast is clear, now tell me what he said.
die Luft ist rein
clean:
The bullet went clean through his shoulder.
I clean forgot about it.
cleanliness:
He is meticulous about his appearance and obsessed about cleanliness.
She doesn’t have high standards of cleanliness.
cleanness:
We were very impressed by the cleanness of the hotel.
Note the difference between to clean and to cleanse!

4. It’s not easy to become a member of that club – they want people who have plenty of
money to spend, not just every Tom, Dick, and Harry.
jeden x-beliebigen, Hinz und Kunz, Krethi und Plethi
also: any Tom ...
anybody and everybody

5. She keeps her sewing bits and pieces in that cupboard.

Nähzeug
also: bits and bobs
PROVERBS 625

6. He pulled the papers from the drawer, chose the more important ones, then, before you
could say Jack Robinson he was down the stairs and out of the house.
im Nu, im Handumdrehen, eh’ man sich versieht
Look up the difference between presently – at present!
a jack-of-all trades: a person who can do many different jobs
A mother has to be a jack-of-all-trades – cook, nurse, teacher, sports coach and lots
more!
Jack-of-all trades, master of none means a person is able to do many things but is not
really skilled at any of them.

7. He’s determined to finish the job come hell or high water.

unter allen Umständen
to run / work / hurt like hell
to give sb hell: make life very unpleasant for sb:
The boss really gave me hell today.
The journey was sheer / absolute hell.
She made his life (a) hell.
to wait till hell freezes over
to be hell-bent on (doing) sth:
They are hell-bent on balancing the budget.
purgatory: in Roman Catholic teaching a place or condition in which the souls of dead
people are made pure by suffering in preparation for Heaven
a prayer for the souls in purgatory
fig.: any place or condition of suffering:
Getting up at 4 in the morning is sheer purgatory.
cf. to purge sb / os / sth of sth / sth from sth: to make pure or healthy by removing sth
bad or undesirable:
She wanted to purge these unhappy memories from her mind.
to purge the party of extremists / dissidents
cf. to expurgate / bowdlerize

8. He let the cat out of the bag when he mentioned the party to her – it was supposed to be
a surprise.
die Katze aus dem Sack lassen
Her tenant left, bag and baggage, without paying the rent.
to lock the stable door after the horse has bolted: den Brunnen abdecken, nachdem
das Kind hineingefallen ist

9. None of his children have any love for the old man. They would be pleased if he kicked the
bucket tomorrow.
abkratzen, ins Gras beißen
to sweat / weep buckets
cf. 31
a watering-can, a petrol can, a beer can, a can of peaches (BE also: tin)
626 PROVERBS

10. You can’t trust him to keep a secret – he’s sure to spill the beans before long.
ausplaudern, aus der Schule plaudern
peas: as like as two peas (in a pod)
chestnuts
a chestnut tree / mare
chestnuit hair
Oh no, not that old chestnut! (Kamelle)
not have a bean: no money at all
to be full of beans: be full of life and energy, very lively and cheerful
peanuts: small amount of money:
to work for peanuts
He gets paid peanuts for doing this job.

11. Why don’t you take the bull by the horns and tell him to leave?
den Stier bei den Hörnern packen
a bull in a china shop: Elefant im Porzellanladen
to be like a red rag to a bull: make angry

12. Stop beating about the bush and tell me why you are here.
um den heißen Brei herumreden
cf. to call a spade a spade
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. (Der Spatz in der Hand ist besser als die
Taube auf dem Dach.)

13. When it extended into toys, the company bit off more than it could chew.
sich zuviel zumuten, zutrauen
to chew one’s fingernails
It takes hours for a meal to digest.
fig. Have you digested the news yet?
to gulp sth back: to prevent the expression of emotion by swallowing:
She gulped back her tears and tried to smile. (hinunterschlucken)
He gulped the coffee (down) greedily.
to swallow
She swallowed her anger and carried on.
Chew your food properly before swallowing.
She swallowed all the criticism without saying a thing.
sb’s eyes are bigger than their stomach: too greedy because they have asked for or
taken more food than they can eat

14. It was the morning of the World Cup Final and most of the players had butterflies in their
stomachs.
ganz flau im Magen, mulmig zumute, das Flattern kriegen
also: ants in the pants
to have a bee in one’s bonnet about sth: to think or talk about sth constantly, be
obsessed with sth:
Our teacher has a bee in the bonnet about punctuation.
Fimmel, Tick haben
the birds and the bees: the basic facts about sex:
to tell a child about the birds and the bees
PROVERBS 627

15. The auctions are a thorn in our side. Once they were selling wines at exorbitant prices, now
prices are ridiculously low.
ein Dorn im Auge sein
also: in our flesh
to be a pain in the neck: an annoying or boring person or thing (auf den Wecker, Geist
gehen)
to have sb in the palm of one’s hand: have complete power or control over
to grease sb’s palm: to bribe (schmieren)
an eye for an eye (and a tooth for a tooth):
The death penalty for murder works on the principle of an eye for an eye.

16. The mortgage on his house has become (like) a millstone round his neck, leaving him very
little money for anything else.
ein Klotz am Bein
hip
He stood with his hands on his hips.
What is your hip measurement?
vital statistics: measurements of a woman’s bust, waist and hips
What is your bust size, madam?
He is paralysed from the waist down.

17. Look, Peter, let’s bury the hatchet. It’s silly to go on quarrelling like this.
das Kriegsbeil begraben
to do a hatchet job (on sb / sth): criticize severely and unfairly

18. I’m sure he’ll give you the money back when he gets paid, so there is no need to start
making mountains out of molehills.
aus einer Mücke einen Elefanten machen

19. He spent most of his time at school kicking against the pricks but now he seems to be
more settled and willing to accept that some rules are necessary.
wider / gegen den Stachel löcken
to prick sb / sth
She pricked her skin on / with a needle.
Be careful the thorns will prick you.
His conscience is pricking him now that he realizes what he has done.
to champ (also: chomp) at the bit: be eager or impatient to start doing sth: an der
Gebissstange kauen, vor Ungeduld fiebern
to champ: to bite food noisily:
The mare was champing hay in her stable.
He was champing with rage at the delay.
to bridle one’s emotions / passion / temper / rage / tongue

20. He tried to explain the beauty of the music to his pupils but it was just casting pearls before
swine.
Perlen vor die Säue werfen
pig: selfish and greedy:
He made a pig of himself with the icecream.
628 PROVERBS

He was a real pig to her.

You pig!
to buy a pig in the poke: die Katze im Sack kaufen (poke: Scot dial)
pigs might fly:
Tom give up smoking? Yes, and pigs might fly. (Wer das glaubt, wird selig.)
hog: pig bred for its meat, esp. castrated male pig
cf. boar, sow, piglets

21. She was very upset when she lost her job but she fell on her feet and found another one a
week later.
auf die Füße fallen
also: land on one’s feet
to be / go down on one’s knees
to bring sb to their knees:
The industry was brought to its knees by the strike. (in die Knie zwingen)
to go weak at the knees:
The shock made me go all weak at the knees.
cf. butterflies in the stomach

22. Drop me a line to say when you’re coming.

ein paar Zeilen schreiben

23. David can do lots of things, but I don’t like the way he keeps blowing his own trumpet.
sein eigenes Lob singen
bugle: brass instrument: Jagdhorn
recorder: wooden musical instrument: Blockflöte

24. She really read the riot act to him when he hit a ball through the window and broke it.
jem die Leviten lesen
to lead sb a (merry / pretty / fine) dance: to cause sb a lot of trouble, esp. by making
them follow from place to place: jem an der Nase herumführen
She led him a pretty dance. (Er hat sich für sie die Hacken abgelaufen.)
to dance attendance upon sb: follow sb around, attending to their wishes:
She loves to have men dance attendance on her. (jem von hinten und vorn bedienen)
to lead sb by the nose: nach seiner Pfeife tanzen lassen

25. They know we hate them and will smell a rat when we try to be nice to them.
Lunte / den Braten riechen, etwas spitzkriegen, Verdacht schöpfen
cf. the rat race
to look like a drowned rat
like rats deserting the sinking ship

26. I know you’ve been going through a tough time, but it’s a bit early to throw in the sponge,
isn’t it?
das Handtuch werfen, aufgeben
also: the towel
sth fits like a glove: wie angegossen sitzen / passen
PROVERBS 629

to be hand in glove with sb: be working in close association:

He was found to be hand in glove with the enemy. (Hand in Hand arbeiten)
to handle sb with kid gloves: deal with sb very gently: mit Glacéhandschuhen
anfassen
keep one’s shirt on: not lose one’s temper
Keep your shirt on, it was only a joke!

27. The government are trying to sweep the affair under the carpet.
unter den Teppich kehren
to give sb red-carpet treatment
to roll out the red carpet
rug
a rug in front of the fire
a hearth rug

28. I need £500 this month to keep my head above water.

sich über Wasser halten
to have one’s head in the clouds: have one’s thoughts far away, have ideas, aims
which are not realistic
to be on cloud nine: very happy:
He was on cloud nine after winning the competition. (Wolke 7)

29. I spent ages looking for the book and it was right under my nose all the time.
direkt vor der Nase
guard
a soldier on guard / to keep guard
to drop / keep up one’s guard / be on / off one’s guard / put sb on their guard
under close guard:
The prisoner was brought back under close guard.

30. Within two minutes of walking into the classroom, she had the kids eating out of her hand.
jem aus der Hand fressen

31. If your father lends us some money it will be very helpful but it will really only be a drop in
the ocean when we have to pay all our debts.
Tropfen auf den heißen Stein
also: in the bucket

32. The reason why no work ever gets done here is that too many people pass the buck.
den schwarzen Peter weitergeben, die Verantwortung weiterschieben
to hit the roof / ceiling: become suddenly very angry
cf. to go through the roof:
She went through the roof when I told her I’d crashed her car.
Property prices have gone through the roof. (i.e. risen rapidly)

to let off steam:

The children were out in the playground letting off steam.
630 PROVERBS

33. I’ve almost forgotten what Jack looks like. I see him once in a blue moon now.
alle Jubeljahre (einmal)
to promise sb the earth / moon: das Blaue vom Himmel
waning / waxing moon
Throughout history empires have waxed and waned.

34. The boss looks really fierce, but I think his bark is worse than his bite because he has
always been kind to me.
Hunde, die bellen, beißen nicht.

35. When the cat is away the mice will play.

Wenn die Katze aus dem Haus ist, tanzen die Mäuse.
to squeak
The door opened with a squeak. (quietschen, piepsen)
They agreed without a squeak of protest.
children squeaking with excitement
a squeaky chair / voice
sth (image / room) is squeaky clean
to squeal: of tyres / brakes
He squealed with pain / pleasure / laughter. (kreischen, quieken, quietschen)
Pigs were squealing.

36. As a student he took an evening job to keep the wolf from the door.
sich über Wasser halten
snake
Be careful. He’s a snake in the grass.

37. What an idiot! He believed the whole story hook, line and sinker.
mit Stumpf und Stiel schlucken

38. She really set the cat among the pigeons with her comments about our system of
government.
etwas (Schönes) anrichten, für Aufregung sorgen
also: put the cat ...
The pigeon cooed softly.
clay pigeon (shooting)
carrier pigeon
stool-pigeon: a person who helps the police to trap a criminal, e.g. by associating with
criminals and getting secret information: Lockvogel, Spitzel
wood-pigeon
 631

REDUPLICATIVES

1 Exercise

1. argy-bargy
quarrelling, argument

2. boo-boo
also: booboo
a mistake

3. a mistake
bric-à-brac
also: bric-a-brac / bricabrac
(often old) ornaments, furniture, etc of no great value

4. chit-chat
noun: conversation about things that are not very important
verb: to gossip

5. chop-chop
exclamation: quickly

6. claptrap
worthless, insincere or stupid talk, nonsense

7. criss-cross
also: crisscross
noun: a pattern made up of straight lines, usually a lot of them, that cross each other
verb: to make a regularly repeated pattern of straight lines that cross each other, or to
make this pattern on sth

8. dilly-dally, to
to waste time because you cannot decide about sth

9. ding-dong
a) the noise made by a bell
b) a noisy argument

10. fifty-fifty
a) divided or shared equally between two people
b) having an equal chance of happening in one or two ways

11. flimflam
a) talk which deceives others, esp. in order to benefit the speaker
b) a trick intended to cheat sb
632 REDUPLICATIVES

12. fuddy-duddy
sb who has old-fashioned ideas and attitudes

13. gaga
a) senile, an insulting word used to describe sb who is confused because they are old
b) having a strong but often temporary feeling of love for sb

14. goody-goody
sb who likes to seem very good and helpful in order to please his parents, teachers
etc

15. hanky-panky
(dated / humorous) dishonest behaviour, esp. involving sexual activity or money;
sexual activity that is not very serious

16. helter-skelter
a) quickly and without order or organization
b) a tall structure in a fair-ground which you sit on at the top and slide round and round
to the bottom

17. higgledy-piggledy
in confusion or disorder

18. hobnob, to
to spend time talking with people (often with people who are in a higher social
position)

19. hocus-pocus
a method or belief that you think is based on false ideas

20. hoi polloi, the

ordinary people (the word is used to show disapproval)

21. hoity-toity
haughty, snobbish

22. hotchpotch
also: hodgepodge (esp. AE)
a number of things mixed up without any sensible order or arrangement; mishmash

23. hullabaloo
a) excited talk, newspaper stories etc, esp. when something surprising or shocking is
happening; uproar
b) a lot of noise, esp. made by people shouting
REDUPLICATIVES 633

24. hurly-burly
commotion, boisterous activity

25. hush-hush
an official operation that is hush-hush is very secret

26. jiggery-pokery
deceitful or dishonest dealing, trickery

27. (k)nick-(k)nack
small ornaments on display in a house, usually of little value

28. kowtow, to
to be too eager to obey or be polite to sb in authority

29. lovey-dovey
behaviour that is lovey-dovey is too romantic; sentimental

30. mishmash
a mixture with no particular order in its design or in the choice of what is included

31. mumbo-jumbo
a) talk or writing on a technical subject that is difficult to understand or seems to have
no sense
b) religious beliefs or activities that seem without sense or meaning

32. namby-pamby
too weak and too gentle and lacking determination; foolishly sentimental

33. nitty-gritty
the basic and practical facts of a subject

34. nitwit
a silly person

35. okey-doke(y)
used like ‘okay’ to express agreement

36. pitter-patter
also: pit-a-pat
a) with a sound like quick little steps
b) with a faltering sound
His heart went pit-a-pat.
634 REDUPLICATIVES

37. pooh-pooh sth, to

to say that you think an idea, suggestion, effort etc is silly or not very good

38. pow-vow
also: powvow
a) (hum.) a meeting or discussion
b) a meeting or council of Native Americans

39. razzle-dazzle
a) a lot of activity that is intended to be impressive and excite people; (confusion
caused by) very noisy and noticeable activity or a very colourful appearance, intended
to attract attention
b) AE complicated series of actions intended to confuse your opponent, esp. in
American football

40. razz(a)matazz
busy or noisy activity that is intended to attract people’s attention, razzle-dazzle

41. riff-raff
an insulting word for people who are noisy, badly-behaved, or of low social class

42. roly-poly
(of a person) round and fat

43. see-saw
also: seesaw
noun: a piece of equipment that children play on, made of a board that is balanced in
the middle, so that when one end goes up the other goes down
verb: to move repeatedly from one state or condition to another and back again

44. shilly-shally, to
to hesitate, be undecided, waste time or take too long to make a decision

45. shipshape
neat and clean

46. singsong
a) an informal occasion when people sing together
b) a way of speaking in which your voice repeatedly rises and falls

47. teen(s)y-ween(s)y
a word meaning “very small”, used esp. by or to children

48. teeter-totter
AE for: see-saw
REDUPLICATIVES 635

49. tiptop
also: tip-top
excellent

50. tittle-tattle
unimportant conversation about other people and what they are doing, gossip

51. topsy-turvy
in a state of complete disorder or confusion

52. walkie-talkie
one of a pair of radios that you can carry with you and use to speak to the person who
has the other radio

53. willy-nilly
if sth happens willy-nilly, it happens whether you want it or not
to become willy-nilly involved in sth
Note:
AE: willy-nilly means without any order
She threw her clothes willy-nilly into a drawer.

54. wishy-washy
a) wishy-washy persons do not have firm or clear ideas and seem unable to decide
what they want
b) colours that are wishy-washy are pale, not strong or dark

55. zigzag
adj: a pattern that looks like a line of z’s joined together
a zigzag path / road / pattern
verb: to move forward in sharp angles, first to the right, then to the left, etc

2 Exercise

1. Over the last few months the crisis has see-sawed between hopes of peace and fears of
war.
2. Quite a few people nowadays think that psychology is just a load of hocus-pocus.
3. This area of south London is criss-crossed by railway lines.
4. His career was brought to an abrupt end after revelations of hanky-panky with his
secretary, a former model.
5. The newly-weds had a ding-dong argument in the middle of a crowded restaurant.
6. The surgeon said there was only a fifty-fifty chance that Jane’s husband would survive the
operation.
7. The committee members complained that when they asked the chairman about his future
plans, all they got was flimflam.
8. You’re just an old fuddy-duddy. Most girls wear trousers these days!
636 REDUPLICATIVES

9. Let’s stop this idle chit-chat and get down to business straightaway.
10. The police constable told the journalists that he couldn’t say anything about the operation
– it seems to be all hush-hush.
11. I know I’m seventy-five and keep forgetting things but I haven’t gone gaga yet!
12. The minister had to step down after the huge hullabaloo in the press about his affair with
an actress.
13. You shouldn’t believe a word of what he says! As usual, it’s just a load of claptrap.
14. Dozens of people were screaming and running helter-skelter down the steps to escape the
flames in the department store.
15. After the burglary all the files were scattered higgledy-piggledy about the office.
16. Barbara has never been very popular with the other children in her class because of her
goody-goody behaviour.
17. The new party programme seems to be a hotch-potch of old and new ideas.
18. Some people consider vegetarians to be namby-pamby animal-lovers.
19. After only a few years they got fed-up with the hurly-burly of city life and moved to the
country.
20. The union leaders rightly began to suspect that there was some jiggery-pokery going on
behind the scenes.
21. My daughter’s room is crowded with useless knick-knacks.
22. Bob likes having his picture in the papers, hobnobbing with the rich and famous.
23. My youngest sister is getting married so I am going home for a family pow-vow this
weekend.
24. You don’t believe in fortune-telling and horoscopes and all that mumbo-jumbo, do you?
25. Let’s stop dilly-dallying – just pack our things and be off.
26. Rumours about the MP’s resignation turned out to be no more than idle tittle-tattle.
27. You’re a complete nitwit – you’re bound to have an accident if you drive at that breakneck
speed.
28. The country’s foreign policy seems to be following a zigzag course.
29. The Church was forced, willy-nilly, to make clear its position on birth control.
30. Don’t go into my office – it’s all topsy-turvy.
31. They think that by charging such high prices for the concert tickets they’re going to keep
the riff-raff out.
32. Stop shilly-shallying, and make a decision.
33. Welsh people are often described as having a singsong voice.
34. Just a teeny-weeny slice of cake for me, please – the doctor’s put me on a diet.
35. The golf course is in tiptop condition for the tournament.
36. Their new proposals are just a mishmash of vague ideas.
37. At first some committee members pooh-poohed their chairman’s scheme for raising
money.
38. They are neither right-wing nor left – just a bunch of wishy-washy liberals.
39. Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty and work out the costs, shall we?
40. Come on, chop-chop, you haven’t much time before the plane leaves.
41. I want a promotion but I’m not prepared to kowtow to the boss for it.
42. There’s been a lot of argy-bargy over the government’s job creation scheme.
REDUPLICATIVES 637

43. I think I made a boo-boo there; I hope you are not too upset.
44. It took us a long time to get the house shipshape after the builders had finished.
45. What do you think of all the razz(a)matazz surrounding the general elections?
638

SIMILES

3 Exercise: Like

1. You’d better see to it that there is enough booze in the house because I happen to know
that he drinks like a fish.
2. You’ll have to run like the wind / like the clappers if you want to catch your train.
3. You see, this holiday at the seaside had a salubrious effect on the patient; he is much
quieter now and sleeps like a log / top.
4. The news that they were getting married spread like wildfire.
5. We managed to move all the furniture in less than three hours, but only because Paddy
worked like a horse / a Trojan / a galley slave.
6. His latest novel is selling like hot cakes.
7. The heat was overwhelming and people were dropping off like flies.
8. After she had scrambled out of the wrecked car the woman began to shake like a leaf.
9. We need not have worried about Eamon and Sean not liking each other. They are getting
on like a house on fire.
10. He was not only clumsy, but his remarks showed little regard for the feelings of the
bereaved. In other words he behaved like a bull in a china shop and everybody was highly
embarrassed.
11. He has lived here all his life and knows the area like the back of his hand.
12. The new jacket fits like a glove! How did you know what size I take?
13. The party started at half past seven. Arrivals were punctual and everything went like
clockwork.
14. When my son saw his new bicycle he was like a dog with two tails.
15. Let’s open a window! It’s like a furnace in here!
16. The fellow is quite a nuisance; he follows me around like a shadow.
17. Among so many members of the nobility who attended the hunt ball he felt like a square
peg in a round hole / like a fish out of water.
18. It’s no use asking me to remember her telephone number. I have a memory like a sieve.
19. Neither of us had taken an umbrella and we arrived at the party looking like drowned rats
/ like something the cat’s brought / dragged in.
20. Not only was she very rude, but even shouted at him; but it was (all) like water off a
duck’s back.
21. Despite his classical education he took to business like a duck to water.
22. When the Foreign Secretary realized that the Under-secretary was involved in the scandal
he disclaimed all knowledge of the affair and dropped him like a hot potato.
23. That night Hodgson was unusually late and his mother was like a cat on hot bricks
waiting for him.
24. You’ll stand / stick out like a sore thumb if you go to the party dressed like this.
cf.
to look like something the cat’s brought / dragged in
to feel like a square peg in a round hole
to feel like a fish out of water
SIMILES 639

25. Witnesses say that there was an explosion and then the plane fell like a stone to earth.
26. He has a fiery temper and once he is aroused he swears like a trooper / bargee.
27. For goodness’ sake don’t go near him this morning; he’s like a bear with a sore head.
28. The horse shied at something white and bolted, but Homer held on to the reins like grim
death.
29. Her plans to convince him of her innocence worked like a charm / magic.
30. Most of these highly paid officials cling to their jobs like limpets / leeches.
31. Something must have frightened the cat, because he darted out of the room like greased
lightning.
32. She seized him by the lapels and banged his head against the wall. To her great surprise he
went out like a light.
33. He had been used to working from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day and was feeling like a fish
out of water when the firm closed down.
34. He was dead-beat and was out like a light as soon as his head touched the pillow.
35. Billy grabbed the money, turned on his heels and was off like a shot to the nearest tuck
shop.
tuck (dated): food, esp. sweets, cake, etc that children enjoy
a sweet shop / a candy store (AE)
36. Because all other trains had been cancelled, people on the 6.45 were packed like
sardines.
37. Such incompetence made him furious and he was / came down on his subordinates like
a ton of bricks.
38. He was determined to win the contest and practised like mad / one possessed.
39. True, the report was highly technical and a bit long-winded, but he went through it like a
dose of salts.

4 Exercise: LIKE OR AS?

LIKE is a preposition and must govern a noun or a noun-equivalent (pronoun, gerund): It is used
1. to introduce an example:
Like the English, the Germans ...
2. to express similarity:
He talks like a child.

AS when used to express similarity, is a conjunction and must govern either a clause or an
adverb or an adverbial phrase:
Their voices echoed as in a cathedral. (adverbial phrase)
The house was exactly as he had described it. (clause)
As always, he was late today again. (adverb)
640 SIMILES

AS + NOUN does not express similarity:

As a child I used to read a lot. (i.e. when I was a child)
I enjoyed seeing Laurence Olivier as Hamlet. (i.e. playing the part of Hamlet)
As your father I feel responsible. (i.e. being your father, in the capacity of ...)
Like your father would mean that I am not your father, but that I feel a similar responsibility.

1. Much as I like her, her recent attitude cannot be overlooked.

2. My friend has been working like a fiend the last month.
fiend
1. very wicked or cruel person, devil
2. person devoted or addicted to sth: a drug fiend, a fresh air fiend
fiendish: extremely bad, unpleasant:
fiendish weather
It’s fiendishly cold.

3. I shall go to the fancy-dress ball as a gondolier.

4. Today, as always, I was struck by his dexterity at the wheel of his small car.
Note: as usual / later than usual; not as usually / later than usually:
The train’s late, as usual.
The train’s later than usual.
Usually the train’s late.

5. When in Rome do as the Romans do.

6. What did she look like when you saw her last?
7. There’s nothing like being poor to make you appreciate the value of money.
Note: I respect his personality but not his values (i.e. moral standards).

8. This year I had the same trouble with my car as last year.
9. Be so good as to speak your mind.
cf. be kind and ...

10. He was hanged as / like a murderer.

Note the difference of meaning!

11. David Garrick, the famous actor, said of Oliver Goldsmith, the author of The Vicar of
Wakefield, that he wrote like an angel, but talked like poor Poll.
Poll: tame parrot; poll parrot: a user of conventional or cliché phrases or arguments
cf. poll
to be successful at the polls (i.e. election)
The country is going to the polls.
We’re conducting an opinion poll.
poll-tax: tax levied at the same rate of every (adult) person in the community

12. A novel as problematic as Graham Greene’s The Power and the Glory is unsuitable for
younger pupils. Stories by someone like Kipling or Stevenson would be more appropriate
to their age.
SIMILES 641

13. The new government did not run the country as efficiently as its predecessor, and public
confidence sank like a barometer before the storm.
14. I’ll have these players play something like the murder of my father.
15. He did it like / as his father.
Note the difference of meaning!

16. He behaves like a madman.

17. He came as / like a stranger into our house.
Note the difference of meaning!

18. He came like a stranger into his own house.

19. Many industrial towns, like Manchester and Birmingham, grew in the 19th century.
also: towns such as ...

20. There’s no business like showbusiness.

21. As a lawyer, I would advise caution.
22. I once worked as a bus conductor.
23. This motorway is like a car park!
24. It’s not really like Sheila to be rude.
25. As I explained, it’s a public holiday today.
26. He’s more like his mother than his father.
27. Who’s used this knife as a screw-driver?
28. You’re just like your brother.
29. He spends money like a millionaire.
30. She’s musical, as was her mother.
also: as her mother was

31. Why don’t you try something like doing a bit of work for a change?
32. She looks best in bright, vibrant colours, like red and pink.
also: such as

33. It looks as if I’m going to be in the office until late tonight.

34. You look as if you’ve just got out of bed.
35. My head hurt so much I felt as if someone was hammering on my skull.

6 Exercise: As

1. She can’t hear a word you say: she is as deaf as a post.

partially / profoundly / stone deaf

2. If you leave the boy alone and refrain from teasing him he will be as good as gold.
642 SIMILES

3. He had eaten too much and was feeling as sick as a dog.

as sick as a dog: very sick
as sick as a parrot: (humorous): extremely disappointed:
He felt as sick as a parrot when his team had lost the match.
to be sick at heart / at the prospect of doing sth
to be sick to one’s stomach
to make sb sick
to be sick (and tired) of (doing) sth
to be sick to death of (doing) sth
airsick / carsick / seasick

4. Though the sea was rather choppy the boat was as steady as a rock.
rock-steady
before a race: ready, steady, go!
The Americans have: get ready, get set, go!

5. If you get back to the flat you’ll have to be as quiet as a mouse or you’ll wake up
everybody.
as quiet / silent as the grave / tomb: very still, noiseless
sb is as silent as the grave
sth is quiet as the grave:
The house is / seems quiet as the grave.
as quiet as a mouse: quiet and self-effacing by nature; especially quiet for a purpose

6. It won’t be so easy to nail him down; he’s as slippery as an eel.

7. The doctor said that I was as sound as a bell and that nothing ailed me.
to ail (archaic): to trouble sb in body or in mind
ailment: a very common illness that is not usually serious:
a minor / common / slight ailment

8. They’ll be married in less than a year, as sure as eggs is / eggs.

also: as sure as fate / death / hell
as sure as (God made) little apples
as I am standing here

9. Be careful in your dealings with him; he is as cunning as a fox.

10. His son is a good, honest fellow, as straight as a die.
straight as a die: in a straight line, path, direction
fig. honest, not ambiguous
a line / path / road / route / man as straight as a die
as straight / stiff as a ramrod: rigid in carriage or posture
as straight as an arrow: in a straight line, path, direction
a line / path / road / route as straight as an arrow:
He drove the car as straight as an arrow along the line that had been made in the
sand.

11. The meat had been cut as thin as a wafer so that one could see right through it.
cf. wafer-thin
SIMILES 643

12. She returned from the seaside as brown as a berry.

13. You put too much starch in my shirt-front; it is as stiff as a board.
as stiff as a ramrod / poker

14. When she heard about the accident, she turned as white as a sheet / chalk.
as white as a sheet / as chalk: very pale in appearance as a result of illness, fear,
shock
cf. as pale as death
as white as snow: very white
(a) cloud / blossom / petal / hair / beard / dress / sheet as white as snow

15. Our Johnny is a lively lad, not much given to going to church, but this morning he sat
through the sermon as sober as a judge.
16. When the doctor saw the victim he realized that any help came too late and that the man
was as dead as a doornail / a / the dodo.
17. I did everything: I even tried to befriend him, but I found him as cold as ice.
18. The road stretched before him, as straight as a die.
19. Throughout the liberation of the hostages he remained as cool as a cucumber.
20. You needn’t worry about your investment; that business is as safe as houses / the Bank
of England.
21. Please light the fire; my feet are as cold as ice.
22. The next morning he arrived at his destination, feeling as fit as a fiddle / flea despite the
tiring journey.
23. I wouldn’t want to live in this area: it is as flat as a pancake; no hill or rise for miles around.
as flat as a pancake: very flat; often used to describe sth that is not normally flat but
has been flattened
fig. without interest, disappointing
a tyre / landscape / celebration / joke as flat as a pancake
to be / come out / turn out / fall as flat as a pancake
as flat as a board: implies that some roundness or unevenness would be desirable:
a face / chest / terrain / landscape as flat as a board

24. He may be kind and sympathetic, but when it comes to business he is as hard as nails.
as hard as nails: tough, with great physical stamina (cf. as tough as nails)
fig. selfish, ruthless
as hard as rock / iron: very strong (cf. as hard as (a) stone):
muscles / ground / earth / cake as hard as iron / a rock
cf. rock hard
as hard as steel: physically strong and with mental or moral firmness (esp. when such
qualities are desirable):
soldiers / men / armies / leaders as hard as steel
cf. a man / nerves of steel
as hard as flint: unforgiving, unsympathetic in temperament, character:
(a) boss / teacher / look / face / heart / eyes as hard as flint
as hard as (a) stone: very firm (cf. as hard as rock / iron)
fig. heartless, unfeeling
(a) ground / earth / heart / person as hard as stone

25. The two of them are as thick as thieves and won’t grass on each other.
644 SIMILES

26. We saw him coming out of the pub, singing and staggering, as drunk as a lord / a skunk.
27. The lecture was as dull as ditchwater and the speaker so prosy and long-winded that he
bored the pants off his audience.
28. The two sisters were as like as two peas (in a pod); even their mother had some difficulty
in knowing them apart.
29. Well, here you are, as large as life, I’m glad you were able to come.

7 Exercise: As

1. He came barging into my office as bold as brass and told me that he wanted a rise.
2. Real and artificial diamonds are as different as chalk and / from cheese.
3. I’ll show you how to do it; it’s as easy as ABC / falling off a log / winking / pie.
4. He wants to get even with you, but his course of action is as plain as a pikestaff / as day /
as the nose on / in your face.
5. Since his illness he has become as thin as a rake.
6. Even though he hadn’t slept a wink, he looked as fresh as a daisy.
7. The hijacker was a clerk from Derby with a record as long as your arm.
8. I refuse to eat this steak. It is as tough as leather / old boots / nails.
9. He is as keen as mustard. All he needs is a chance to show his skill.
10. His reason for going to London is as clear as crystal. He wants to see Agatha again.
11. I know him well. He’s an interesting fellow, but as mad as a hatter / a March hare.
12. I can’t understand how you could possibly miss that point in his argument; it was a plain as
a pikestaff / as day / as the nose on / in your face.
13. I want you to eat everything up and leave your plate as clean as a whistle / a new pin.
14. All those superstitious practices you mentioned are as dead as a / the dodo / as mutton /
as a doornail.
15. The boy wouldn’t take any money that doesn’t belong to him; he is as honest as the day
is long.
16. Sean was pleased as Punch when we gave him a model railway for his birthday.
17. The house was deserted and as silent as the grave.
also: a tomb
18. Without her glasses she is as blind as a bat / (a mole).
19. When she was discovered to be lying she turned as red as a beet(root).
20. When we called to see her she was as busy as a bee trying to whitewash the place.
21. This son of yours is as sharp as a needle and will go far.
22. The evenings in Beaulieu are as quiet as a / the grave; the only place to get a drink are a
handful of pubs.
23. There were no new developments because a promising lead had turned as dead as
mutton / a / the dodo / a doornail.
SIMILES 645

8 Exercise: As

1. Either you come with me to the party or you stay at home; it’s as broad as it is long.
2. “There’s a nice little house in the village where I could get you a room,” she said. “An old
people’s home?” he asked as quick as lightning / a flash.
3. He delighted in the eagerness of his young friend who was as bright as a button and very
affectionate.
4. I wouldn’t have thought it possible, but this dictionary comes as near as dammit / makes
no difference to being the book we’ve been looking for.
5. Your brother must be as strong as an ox / a horse, for he carried that heavy table by
himself from one end of the room to the other.
6. Her chest was as flat as a pancake.
also: a board
7. When the boy saw the policeman, he cleared off as fast as his legs would / could carry
him.
8. They were as good as their word and arrived at exactly the time they had promised.
9. The staff manager could make no promises, of course, but he did say Bob was as likely as
not to get the job.
10. All you want is rest and fresh air and good food and you’ll be as right again as rain.
11. This song is as old as the hills, I first heard it when I was 12.
12. My aunt has three pet monkeys and 20 cats and is as nutty as a fruitcake.
13. I had to have my tennis racket restrung and now it is as good as new.
14. We have had no rain for the last three weeks, and the tennis court is as dry as a bone.
15. Although it was a long-distance call I could hear her voice as clear as a bell.
16. I tried to talk him out of it, but to no avail, he was as stubborn as a mule.
17. The little girl in her Sunday dress looked as pretty as a picture.
18. I always had the impression she was a bit of a tart, but he was convinced that she was as
pure as the driven snow.
19. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky and the sea was as smooth as a baby’s bottom / a
billiard-table / as glass.
20. The path was as straight as an arrow / a die and went right through the middle of the
wood.
21. The fish we had for supper must have been off; I was up three times in the night feeling as
sick as a dog.
22. Your uncle is only going on for 80, but mine is as old as Methuselah.
23. By the time he had reached 30, he was as bald as a coot.
24. You must be careful in your dealings with financial consultants, most of them are as
cunning as foxes.
25. His lecture contained no original ideas and was as dull as ditchwater.
26. Don’t worry about your exam, you’ll see the questions are as easy as ABC / pie / falling off
a log / winking.
27. I don’t mind whether you go by train or by coach, it’s as broad as it’s long.
28. His intentions are clear as day(light); he wants to take over his brother’s firm.
646 SIMILES

29. That girder won’t come down. It is set in concrete and is as firm as (a) rock.
30. Her new flat is nice and cosy and makes one feel as snug as a bug in a rug.
31. She used to go shopping every Tuesday morning, as regular as clockwork.
32. He had contracted malaria and came back from Sumatra as thin as a rake.
33. I thought he had done himself a mischief, his face was as white as a sheet.
34. He settled down in an armchair, with a book in his hands and his pipe burning, as happy as
a lark.
also: as Larry / as the day was long
35. I have tried again and again to explain everything to him, but he is as thick as two short
planks and doesn’t seem to understand the seriousness of the situation.
36. She was as light as a feather / air, and it was no problem for him to lift her up.
37. The old man was as proud as a peacock when he heard his son had been elected to
represent his school at the conference.
38. I haven’t seen him for ages, and if he is still alive he must be as old as Methuselah.
39. I don’t know what you see in her; she is as ugly as sin.
cf. an ugly duckling
40. The windows were shut and the heating turned on, and it was as warm as toast in the
drawing-room.

9 Exercise: As

as blind as a bat stockblind

a mole
as bold as brass frech wie Oskar, rotzfrech
as brown as a berry braun wie ein Neger
as busy as a bee emsig wie eine Biene, bienenfleißig
as clear as a bell glockenrein
as cool as a cucumber eiskalt, kühl und gelassen
as cunning as a fox schlau wie ein Fuchs
as dead as a doornail mausetot
mutton
a / the dodo
as deaf as a post stocktaub
as different as chalk (is) from cheese unterschiedlich wie Tag und Nacht
chalk and cheese
night and day
as drunk as a lord blau wie ein Veilchen/eine Strandhaubitze
a skunk sturzbetrunken
as dull as ditchwater sterbenslangweilig
as fit as a fiddle topfit, fit wie ein Turnschuh
as flat as a pancake flach wie ein Brett, Bügel-
a board
SIMILES 647

as fresh as a daisy taufrisch

a rose
as good as gold Wort halten
one’s word
as hard as nails eisern, unerbittlich, knallhart
(a) rock bombenfest, steinhart
flint
(a) stone
steel / iron
as keen as mustard Feuer und Flamme sein
as large as life in voller Lebensgröße
as light as a feather federleicht
air
as like as two peas (in a pod) sich gleichen wie ein Ei dem anderen
as mad as a hatter total verrückt sein
a March hare
as miserable as sin
Job
(biblical figure)
as old as the hills stein-, uralt
Methuselah
as plain as the nose in / on your face sonnenklar
a pikestaff
as pleased as Punch sich wie ein Schneekönig freuen
as pretty as a picture bildschön
as red as a beetroot puter-, krebsrot
as right as rain kerngesund, pudelwohl
a trivet
as safe as houses bombensicher
the Bank of England
as sick as a dog hundeelend
a parrot
as silent as the grave verschwiegen/still wie das Grab
the tomb
as sober as a judge stocknüchtern
as steady as a rock ein Fels in der Brandung
as strong as a horse bärenstark
an ox
as stubborn as a mule störrisch wie ein Maulesel
as thick as thieves dicke Freunde sein
two short planks dumm wie Bohnenstroh
as tough as old boots zäh wie Leder
leather
648 SIMILES

as white as a sheet leichenblass

snow
chalk blass wie der Kalk an der Wand,
kreideweiß, -bleich

10 Exercise: As

1. He was a natural singer with a voice that was as clear as a bell.

2. After a good night’s sleep he woke up feeling as fresh as a daisy and eager to start work
again.
3. He might look kind and sympathetic, but deep down he is as hard as nails.
4. Pauline can’t have emigrated to New Zealand because I saw her last night at Simon’s party,
as large as life.
5. It’s no use arguing with him, he won’t listen. He’s as stubborn as a mule.
6. “You’re drunk!” – “No, I’m as sober as a judge.”
7. Am I nervous? Of course not. Look at my hand – it’s as steady as a rock.
8. As students, David, Kevin and William were as thick as thieves.
9. Whenever I feel embarrassed I always go as red as a beetroot.
10. Buying shares in this company is as safe as houses. There’s no way you can lose your
money.
11. Where is everyone? It’s as silent as the grave in here!
also: a tomb
12. Jimmy’s feeling a bit under the weather today, but I expect he’ll be as right as rain by the
weekend.
13. I’ll never eat and drink as much as that again! I was as sick as a dog on the way home.
14. Ask David to give you a hand moving the furniture. He’s as strong as a horse.
or: an ox
15. We can’t eat this meat – it’s as tough as old boots.
16. You shouldn’t have frightened her like that. Poor thing! She went as white as a sheet.
17. Nothing ever seems to bother Colin. No matter what happens, he always seems to remain
as cool as a cucumber.
18. You’ll have to shout. My father’s as deaf as a post.
19. It’s hard to believe Brian and Stephen are brothers, isn’t it? They’re as different as chalk
from cheese.
20. Although we had been told that the film was very exciting, both my wife and I found it to be
as dull as ditchwater.
dungeon: prison, esp. in a castle
don: teacher at a university, esp. an Oxford or Cambridge college
21. Honestly, Pam, ever since I gave up smoking I have been feeling as fit as a fiddle!
22. Our dog looks very ferocious, but don’t worry, Liz, Fido’s as gentle as a lamb – especially
with children.
SIMILES 649

23. “I hope the children didn’t play you up, Doreen?” – “No, not at all, Mrs Gardener. They’ve
been as good as gold.”
24. “The suitcase isn’t too heavy, is it?” – “No, it’s as light as a feather.”
25. I wish the new secretary would cheer up! She’s been as miserable as sin for the past week.
26. “By the way, have you heard the one about the Welshman, the Irishman and the pig?” –
“Yes, we have. That joke’s as old as the hills.”
27. Of course he loves you! It’s as plain as the nose on your face.
28. Kathy was as pleased as Punch when she heard she had passed the exam.
29. I hope the computer course starts this term. We’re all as keen as mustard to get going.
30. “I didn’t think that Mark would dare to ask you for help after the ways he’s treated you.” –
“Oh, you obviously don’t know Mark. He’s as bold as brass.”
31. Be careful in your dealings with him – he’s as cunning as a fox.
32. She returned from the seaside as brown as a berry.
33. I wouldn’t want to live in this area: it’s as flat as a pancake; no hill or rise for miles around.
also: a board
34. We saw him coming out of the pub, singing and staggering, as drunk as a lord.
35. When the doctor saw the victim he realized that any help came too late and that the man
was as dead as a doornail.
36. The two sisters were as like as two peas in a pod; even their mother had some difficulty
in knowing them apart.
37. I know him well. He’s an interesting fellow but as mad as a hatter.
38. Without her glasses she’s as blind as a bat.
39. When we called to see her she was as busy as a bee trying to whitewash the place.
40. In the 18th century the average clergyman was as poor as a church mouse.
41. The little girl in her Sunday dress looked as pretty as a picture.

11 EXERCISE: GERMAN ALS, ZU, FÜR

1. He came back from prison a reformed character.

2. Do you remember seeing / having seen Laurence Olivier as Hamlet / playing (the part of)
Hamlet / in the role of Hamlet?
3. As a child he had lived in India.
4. The car was reported to the police as (having been) stolen.
5. He used his coat as a blanket.
6. He was born English / an Englishman / an English subject but later became an American
citizen.
7. He was born a millionaire and died a beggar.
8. In times of great distress / in states of emergency Churchill proved / showed himself (to be)
a clever and farsighted politician.
9. The fact that Churchill emerged as (a / the) loser from the first general election(s) after the
Second World War / World War II was a real surprise.
650 SIMILES

10. The soldiers, thousands and thousands of whom returned invalids from the war, longed for
a fundamentally new society.
11. In 1965 Churchill died. He had served his country for decades as minister and premier and
had also gained / achieved fame as a painter and writer.
12. Tourists who visit London nowadays / today / these days can hardly imagine what the town
looked like after the innumerable / countless air raids of German planes in the Second
World War.
People who visit London as tourists would put too much stress on “tourists”, e.g.: as
tourists, and not as businessmen.
13. What I said was intended / meant to be a joke / as a joke.
14. She has proved / turned out / shown herself (to be) a(n) extremely / most unreliable witness.
15. The coach appointed the goalkeeper (to be) the team’s captain / the goalkeeper captain of
the team / the goalkeeper as (the) captain of the team / the goalkeeper as the team’s
captain.
The coach made the goalkeeper (the ) captain of the team.
16. As expected, he proved (himself) / showed himself (to be) a true friend when I asked him to
lend me £10,000.
17. On closer inspection / examination, the document proved / turned out (to be) a forgery /
fake.
18. He is universally recognized / acknowledged as the authority on phonetics / in the field of
phonetics.
He is universally recognized / acknowledged to be the ...
19. His parents brought him up (to be) a Moslem / Muslim but later (on) he converted to Roman
Catholicism.
His parents brought him up as a Moslem but later on he turned / became (a) Roman
Catholic.
... as a Mohammedan / Mohammadan
20. I’ll be 30 next week. I’m going to have a party and you may consider yourself (to be) invited
/ regard yourself as invited.
21. This politician regards it as his duty always to follow the dictate(s) of his conscience.
also:
considers it (to be) his duty ...
looks upon it as his duty ...
thinks (that) it is his duty ...
feels it (to be ) his duty ...
22. The alleged / assumed murderer declared himself (to be) innocent / not guilty.
23. Whom will he designate as / to be his successor?
also: nominate as his successor?
24. If he goes on drinking three bottles of beer every evening, he will end up / finish up / wind
up / land up as an alcoholic.
25. She didn’t understand that this remark was meant / intended as / to be a compliment.
26. She had intended / meant it as / to be a joke, but most people took her seriously.
27. The doctors pronounced / declared him (to be) unfit for work.
also: certified him (as) / to be unfit ...
28. He is known as / to be an outstanding / excellent physicist.
SIMILES 651

29. Does capital punishment / the death penalty serve as a deterrent to potential murderers?
have any deterrent / deterring effect(s) on ...
30. I would not exactly describe Sarah as a(n) hard-working / industrious student.
31. At first sight he struck me as (being) very competent.
I had / got the impression that he was ...
I was favourably / deeply / very / greatly / strongly / highly impressed by / with his
great competence.
... his competence impressed me deeply / greatly / strongly / highly.
... he made a very competent impression (on me).

12 German als, zu, für

A List
The preposition as designates a copular relation, particularly in specifying a role or status
associated with the direct object: The church condemned the relics as a fraud. Following a
complex transitive verb and a direct object, the prepositional complement of as functions
semantically as an attribute, and may be termed a ‘prepositional object complement’ in the same
way as the noun phrase following a transitive prepositional verb is called a prepositional object.
Quirk, et al., A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language, London 1985, p. 1200

I. As is optional
the patterns are:
a) verb + object + as + noun / adjective
b) verb + object + noun / adjective
c) verb + object + to be + noun / adjective

acknowledge sb / sth (as) sth / to be sth

The people acknowledged Mandela as their leader.
They acknowledged us to be the winners of the contest.
She is usually acknowledged to be one of the best artists.
to be acknowledged as is more common:
Von Braun was then acknowledged as the world’s foremost expert on rocket
engineering.

appoint sb (as) sth / to be sth

We appointed her (to be) treasurer.
We appointed her (as) treasurer.

believe sb / sth (to be) sth

All the crew are missing, believed dead.
They believed her to be reliable.
They all believed the story to be true.
to believe sb to be capable / honest / a fool
652 SIMILES

bring sb up (as) sth / to be sth

They brought her up a Catholic / to be a Catholic / as a Catholic.

certify sb / sth (as) sth / to be sth

She was certified as a teacher in 1990.
The psychiatrist certified him (as) insane.
The cause of death was certified as pneumonia.
to certify sb fit / unfit / insane
a noun is preceded by as: to be certified as a teacher
an adjective is more commonly not preceded by as: to be certified unfit
Can you certify this to be a true copy?

choose sb / sth as sth / to be sth

We chose this one as the most suitable for our purpose.
The Americans chose Bill Clinton as president / to be president.

consider sb / sth (to be) sb / sth (as) sb / sth

We considered him (to be) a genius / him as a genius.
We don’t consider her (to be) / as suitable for the job.
Note
a) consider as is still considered (as) incorrect by purists
b) “Do you think you could get this parcel mailed for me, please?” – “Consider it
done!”
c) compare:
In her book she considers Shakespeare as a playwright and as a poet. (i.e. she
examines Shakespeare)
She considers Shakespeare (to be) both a great playwright and a great poet. (i.e. she
believes that Shakespeare is)

count sb / sth (as) sth / to be sth

sb / sth counts as sth
We counted the draw as a victory.
Well, I think we can count this meeting (to be / have been) a great success.
We must count the ship as lost.
We must count ourselves lucky to have escaped.
sth / sb counts as sth / sb
For tax purposes this counts as unearned income.
The draw counts as a victory.

create sb sth
James I created him Duke of Buckingham.

crown sb sth
Elizabeth was crowned Queen in 1953.

declare sb / sth / (to be) sth

to declare sb (to be) unfit / insane / a traitor / the winner / the champion
to declare sth (to be) open / unsafe / a failure / a success
to declare os (to be) guilty / innocent
SIMILES 653

The government declared him persona non grata.

The mansion was declared a fire hazard.
The food was declared unfit for human consumption.
He declared the meeting closed / open.

deem sb / sth sth / (to be) sth (fml.)

to deem sth advisable / appropriate / necessary / proper
They were told to do whatever they deemed necessary.
The venture was deemed (to be) a great success.
The area has now been deemed (to be) safe.

designate sb / sth (as) sth / to be sth

They officially designated the area around the nuclear power station (as / to be) a
disaster area / (as to be) unsuitable for human habitation.

elect sb chairman / president / mayor / as sth / to be sth

We elected John (as / to be) chairman.
He was elected as MP for Oxford East.
He was elected as a Liberal, but later joined the Conservative Party.
Note:
No preposition is used when the name of an official position or office has the function
of an objective complement:
Sir Winston Churchill was first elected a Member of Parliament in 1900.

end up (as) sth

cf. finish up, land up, wind up
Our chess game finally ended up as a draw.
In spite of the people’s opinions, she ended up (as) the winner.
She will end up penniless if she carries on spending as much as that.
If he carries on driving like that, he will end up dead.
After gaining and losing two fortunes he ended up poor at the end of his life.
You don’t want to end up homeless, do you?
Nouns are preferably preceded by as, while adjectives are never preceded by as.

esteem sb / sth (as) sth (fml.)

Charles does not esteem him a trustworthy adviser.
I esteem it a privilege to address such a distinguished audience.
He esteemed the assistant trustworthy enough to look after the shop.
We did not esteem him experienced enough for the post. (dated)
I should esteem it a favour if you could speak to them. (dated)

finish up (as)
cf. end up

hold sb / sth / to be sb / sth

She held her niece (a) captive for several years.
to hold sb prisoner / hostage / captive
I was held prisoner in a tiny attic room.
We hold him to be responsible / accountable.
Small amounts of alcohol are held to be good for the heart.
These vases are held to be the finest examples of Greek art.
654 SIMILES

intend sth as sth / to be sth

My remark was intended as a joke.
This sweet wine is intended to be drunk after a meal.

judge sb / sth (to be) sb / sth

Edgar was judged overall winner.
She was judged innocent of murder.
The committee judged it advisable to postpone the meeting.
He was judged guilty as charged.
to judge it advisable / expedient / inappropriate / unwise to do sth
Their reunion was judged (to be / to have been) a great success.
Everyone present judged the meeting (to have been) a success.
The headmaster was judged (to be) incompetent.
I judged her to be about 30 years old.

know sb / sth as sth / to be sth

Chicago is known as “the windy city”.
He is well known as an authority on the Hebrew scriptures.
I know him to be a good worker / a fool.
Note:
I have never known it (to) snow in July.

land up (as)
cf. end up

make sb / sth sth

You could make this a really nice room.
That movie made him a star.
to make sb king / an earl / a peer
compare:
She made him a good wife.
It made her into a good wife.
cf. also: to make an honest woman of sb (dated or jocular):
to marry sb with whom one has been having an affair:
Even the silliest little shop girl has the sense to try and get an honest woman made of
herself.

meant as sth / to be sth

I wasn’t serious. I meant it as a joke.
It wasn’t meant to be difficult.

name sb (as) sth

Bob has been named (as) successor to the present manager.
The Principal will be retiring soon. Mr Johnson was recently named as his
replacement.
We are naming Dr Bob McClure head of the IRC in China.
cf. Her parents named her Sophia after her grandmother.
SIMILES 655

nominate sb as sth
The Liberals nominated James Mills as mayor.
also: nominate sb for sth
Would you like to nominate anybody for director.

part sth
They parted the best friends.

proclaim sb / sth (as) sth / to be sth

His son was immediately proclaimed King.
He proclaimed James II as King of England.
His accent proclaimed him (to be) a Scot.

profess os (to be) sth

The prince professed himself a supporter of free speech.
He professed himself amazed at the boy’s ability.
The composer professed himself to be delighted with the way we played his work.

pronounce sb / sth sb / sth

The victim was pronounced dead on arrival.
When the vicar says “I now pronounce you man and wife” and the newly-married
couple kiss, I always start to cry.
The doctors pronounced her condition utterly helpless.

prove (sb / sth) sth / sb / to be sth

Your computing experience should prove (to be) useful.
She proved (to be) a good worker.

qualify (sb / sth) as sth

She hopes to qualify as a lawyer and then return to India.
The propositions have been qualified as heretical.

reckon sb / sth sth / to be sth

She is often reckoned (to be) the most beautiful woman in Hollywood.
The likely cost of the system is reckoned to be about £20,000.
The inflation rate is now reckoned to be 10%.

recognize sb / sth as sth / to be sth

I immediately recognized the newcomer as / to be the person who had accosted me
in the street.

set (sb) up as sth / to be sth

There was enough money left to set the youngest boy up as a photographer.
He’s not the great expert he sets himself up as / himself up to be.

show sb / sth (as) sth / to be sth

He later showed himself (as / to be) an excellent chess player.
The cartoon showed the Prime Minister as Superman.
656 SIMILES

She showed herself (to be) unable to deal with money.

take sb / sth as sth / to be sth

We took her gesture as to be a sign of friendship.

think sb / sth (to be) sth

We all thought her (to be) very intelligent.
to think it right / important / strange / outrageous / natural / polite / wise to do sth
to be thought to be stupid / loyal / untrustworthy
Note: In many cases a that-clause is more natural: I thought her to be mistaken > I
thought that she was mistaken.

wind up (as)
cf. end up as

II. as is obligatory
pattern: verb + object + as + noun / adjective

accept sb / sth as sth

They accepted us as their equals.

act as sth / sb
Mrs Odel is on holiday, and I’m only acting as her replacement till she gets back.
to act as interpreter
Note:
He acted like a real hero.
If he acts like an idiot he shall expect to be treated like one!

categorize sb / sth as sth

At the age of 7 he was wrongly categorized as educationally subnormal.
Though I sympathize with the women’s movement I prefer not to be categorized as a
feminist.

characterize sb / sth as sth

He can be characterized as a fanatic.
I would characterise him as a born leader of men.

class sb / sth as sth

Heroin and cocaine are classed as hard drugs.

classify sb / sth as sb / sth

In the library catalogue Gulliver’s Travels is classified as fiction.
She was classified as fit for service.

define sb / sth as sth

The dictionary defines it as “a narrow passage”.
Which qualities define us as human?
SIMILES 657

describe / sb / sth as sth

Sarah described him as shy, but I would say he was just rude.

disguise os / sb / sth as sth

Maybe you could disguise yourself as a waiter and sneak in there.
He escaped across the border disguised as a Catholic priest.

double as sb / sth
The village post-office doubles as a store.
His coat had to double as a blanket when it was very cold.

dress (sb) (up) as sth

He dressed up as a cowboy.
They dressed her up as a ballerina.
cf. to dress / be dressed like sb
You’re a manager, but you are dressed like a tramp.
The little girl dresses like a boy.

emerge as sth
He emerged as the leading contender.

identify sb / sth as sth

His accent identified him as a Frenchman.

look (up)on sb / sth as sth

I look upon him as a good friend.

misread sb / sth as sb / sth

They misread me as a liberal.
I misread word as world.

pose as sb / sth
Bryce was caught posing as a lawyer.
He posed as a health-worker in order to get into the old lady’s house, and then stole
her money.

propose sb / sth as sb / sth

I propose Ann Kelly as chairman of the committee.

rate sb / sth as sth

sth rates as sth
Lewis is currently rated as the world’s No. 1 athlete.
That rates as the worst film I’ve ever seen.
The wine rates as excellent.
NOTE:
On a scale of ten, I rate this book a five.

regard sb / sth as
Her parents always regarded her as the cleverest of their children.
658 SIMILES

see sb / sth as sb / sth

Can you see him as Hamlet?
He saw any man who spoke to his wife as a potential threat.

serve as sb / sth
The old couch had to serve as a guest bed.
His illness served as an excuse.

strike sb as sth
He struck me as a brilliant strategist.
The idea struck me as silly.

think of sb / sth as sth

We now think of the car as being essential rather than a luxury.
He doesn’t think of himself as a politician.

treat sb / sth as sth

Even though they were much younger, we treated them as equals.
She treats everything I say as some kind of joke.
cf. She treats me like one of the family.
They treated me like dirt.
The staff in that hotel treated us like royalty.

use sth / sb as sth

She used the candle stick as a paperweight.

III. Usually no preposition after some intransitive verbs:

be born
blind / deaf / lucky / unlucky / free / English
I was born English but later became an American citizen.

come back
She went away a schoolgirl and came back a woman.

die
happy / poor / young / a hero / a martyr / a rich man / a broken man / a beggar / a
millionaire
Picasso died a millionaire.
Van Gogh died a broken man.
He lived and died a bachelor.

end
cf. start

go away
cf. example: come back
SIMILES 659

live
After her husband’s death, she moved to the country and lived there a widow.
cf. They lived as husband and wife.

part
(as) good friends
We parted the best of friends.

return
He returned from Africa an invalid.

start
They started (as) friends and ended (as) enemies.

wake up
He woke up a happy man.
Note also:
He was there first.
660

VERB + DIRECT OBJECT

1 Exercise

to abdicate a throne (fml.)

to give up
a) an official position, esp. that of king / queen
abdanken
b) a right / claim / responsibility:
He accused the government of abdicating its responsibility for the economy.
He abdicated all responsibility in the affair.
ablehnen / von sich weisen
cf. to depose a king / dictator / tyrant
the deposition of a king, etc

to adjourn a meeting / trial / discussion

to bring to a stop, esp. for a short period or until a slightly later time, to come to such
a stop / (hum.) to go to another place:
Shall we adjourn the discussion until tomorrow?
The committee adjourned for an hour / lunch.
After the meeting / supper we all adjourned to the pub / lounge.
The trial was adjourned for a week / until the following week.
vertagen / “umziehen”

to alleviate suffering / pain / difficulties / the boredom of sth / an unpleasant condition

to reduce, relieve:
We want to help alleviate the national food shortage.
The doctor gave her an injection to alleviate the pain.
They alleviated the boredom of waiting by singing songs.
mildern, lindern

to attract attention / criticism / interest / support

The new play has attracted a good deal of criticism / a lot of attention.
I tried desperately to attract his attention.
His proposal attracted widespread criticism.
to attract huge crowds / audiences
auf sich ziehen, anziehen

to broach a subject / an idea / an issue / a matter

to introduce as a subject of conversation, start talking about sth (esp. sth difficult or
likely to cause argument):
At last he broached the subject of the new contract to them.
He broached the subject of a loan with his bank manager.
She first broached the idea of a partnership in 1985.
Note:
to broach: to make a hole in a barrel to draw off the liquid inside; to open a bottle:
Let’s broach another bottle of wine.
ansprechen, -schneiden, -zapfen
VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT 661

to bungle a job / a rescue attempt / rescue operation

to do it badly or clumsily, spoil through lack of skill:
Don’t let him mend your bike, he’s sure to bungle the job.
to bungle sth appallingly / badly / completely
verpfuschen, verpatzen, Fehler, Schnitzer machen

to darn socks / a hole in one’s pocket / in a sock

to mend
I must darn the hole in my pocket.
a darning needle
stopfen

to demob(ilize) soldiers / troops

to release from military service:
The troops were stationed around the country before being demobilized.
entlassen, (Heer, Armee) auflösen

to destroy an animal
to destroy
a) damage so badly that it no longer exists etc:
They have destroyed all the evidence.
to destroy sb’s hopes / career / reputation
b) kill an animal (dog / horse) usually because ill or unwanted / put to sleep:
The injured dog had to be destroyed.
During the epidemic farmers had to destroy entire herds of cattle.
töten, einschläfern

to devise a scheme / plan / system / tool / a new type of transistor / games / cartoon characters
to invent
They devised a plan for getting the jewels out of the country.
Year by year we devise more precise instruments with which to observe the planets.
It has been necessary to devise a system of universal schooling.
ausdenken, erfinden

to dub a film
If a film or soundtrack is dubbed, the soundtrack you hear is not the actors speaking,
but other actors speaking a different language:
The series sells in 47 countries and is dubbed into 6 languages.
Is the film dubbed or does it have subtitles?
synchronisieren
Note:
to dub sb sth: to give sb / sth a nickname:
Some locals have dubbed it Dracula’s castle.
London was dubbed “the insurance capital of the world”.
to synchronize
1. (cause) to happen at the same time or the same speed:
You have to synchronize the soundtrack with the film.
The soundtrack and the film don’t synchronize.
2. set (clocks / watches) so that all show exactly the same time:
Let’s synchronize watches.
662 VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT

to embezzle funds / money / the pension fund / £1000 of the club’s money
to use money placed in one’s care in a wrong way to benefit oneself, steal:
The treasurer embezzled £1000 of the club’s money.
The clerk embezzled £10000 from the bank where he worked.
For years he had been embezzling very large sums of money from the company.
to commit (an act of) embezzlement
veruntreuen, unterschlagen

to flex a muscle / limb / joint / knees / toes

If you flex your muscles or parts of your body, you bend, move or stretch them for a
short time in order to exercise them:
He eased his boots off and flexed his toes in front of the stove.
The runners flexed their muscles as they waited for the race to begin.
Note:
to flex one’s muscles: show one’s strength and power, esp. as a warning or to display
pride in oneself
dehnen, biegen, beugen, anspannen, Muskeln spielen lassen

to irrigate a desert / desert areas / a field

to supply with water by means of stream, canals, pipes, etc:
to irrigate desert areas to make them fertile
They have built canals to irrigate the desert.
bewässern

to lubricate a machine / wheels / hinges / one’s throat / sb’s tongue

to cause to move or work easily and smoothly, without rubbing or sticking, esp. by
means of a lubricant (i.e. kind of oil)
fig.: to make speak freely:
A few whiskies will lubricate his tongue.
My throat needs lubricating.
The chain might need lubricating.
ölen

to overhear a conversation / an argument / a remark / sb on the phone

to hear (what others are saying) without their knowledge and by accident:
I overheard some cruel remarks about my husband.
I overheard him say(ing) that he was going to France.
I was too far away to overhear their conversation.
mitbekommen, aufschnappen
cf. to eavesdrop: to listen secretly, esp. to other people’s conversation

to perpetrate a crime / a fraud / a dreadful outrage / a practical joke / an atrocity / violence

against sb / sth / a massacre
to commit, do sth wrong or criminal, be guilty of:
Note (hum. use):
It was the managing director who perpetrated that frightful statue in the reception
area.
Who perpetrated that dreadful extension to the front of the building?
begehen, verüben, verbrechen
VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT 663

to peruse the minutes / a document / notes / the newspaper / a list

to read through carefully:
After breakfast he perused the newspapers.
He took the letter and perused it.
a brief perusal of the agenda / the newspaper
a casual / quick / detailed perusal of sth
(sorgfältig) durchlesen

to ratify a treaty / an agreement / a (UN) convention

to approve and make official by signing:
The heads of the two governments met to ratify the treaty.
Over 90 countries ratified an agreement to ban the use of these chemicals.
ratifizieren
cf. to initial a treaty: paraphieren

to refute an argument / theory / claim / a charge / the proposition that (the world is flat) / an
opponent / a suggestion
to prove that it / he is wrong:
The argument cannot be refuted at the moment.
This piece of evidence would have refuted the charge of his main accuser.
Note:
to refute is often used simply with the meaning say (not prove) that an argument or
statement is mistaken:
I refute the allegation entirely. But some people think this is bad English.
widerlegen

to reiterate a demand / command / question / statement / story / an offer / argument / one’s

refusal to do sth
to repeat several times in order to make as clear as possible:
She reiterated her story to the police.
(ständig) wiederholen

to second a motion / a proposal / nomination

to agree, support formally, so that argument or voting can follow:
Mrs Smith proposed the vote of thanks and Mr Jones seconded it.
unterstützen
motion: a suggestion formally made at a meeting:
The motion to increase the club’s membership charges was carried / defeated by 15
votes to 10.
The committee passed a motion that the bar should remain open until midnight.

to sta(u)nch a bleeding / wound / the blood from a wound / a cut / the flow of blood / migrants
/ flood of migrants
to stop the flow of sth:
The nurse staunched (the blood from) the wound.
Sophia staunched the blood with a cloth.
stillen
cf. to satisfy one’s curiosity / hunger / desire / the needs of sb / the requirements for
sth
to quench one’s thirst / desire / flames (also: fml. to slake)
664 VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT

to soothe / alleviate / kill pain

Note:
to still (fml./lit.): make quiet:
The food stilled the baby’s cries.
She couldn’t still her anxieties.
to breast- / bottle-feed a baby

to till a field
to cultivate
One man tilled the soil and produced vegetables.
bestellen, bebauen

to topple a government (from power) / a dictator(ship)

to topple sth: overthrow, cause to fall from power / authority:
The crisis / scandal threatened to topple the government (from power).
to topple (sth) over: (cause to) fall, be unsteady and fall:
The pile of books toppled over onto the floor.
The explosion toppled the old chimney.
stürzen, einstürzen lassen

to tune an instrument
to adjust it so that it produces the right notes, to set at the proper pitch:
Always tune your violin before you start playing.
The musicians / orchestra tuned their instruments (up) before the concert began.
stimmen
to unravel a mystery / plot / puzzle / secret / the secrets of sb / sth
a) cause sth woven, knitted or tangled to separate into strands:
My knitting has unravelled.
to unravel a cardigan / a ball of strings
auftrennen, aufribbeln, aufräufeln
b) fig. (cause) to become clear or solved: the mystery unravels slowly:
He felt he must unravel the mystery.
entwirren, klären

2 Exercise

1. They reiterated their demands for an official inquiry into the accident.
on demand:
Your money is available on demand.
abortion on demand
to be in (great) demand: (very popular):
These books were always in demand and were widely read.
a demand for sth:
My demand for a clean towel has upset them.
The problem is that demand for health care is unlimited.
to make demands on (sb’s time)
to meet / respond to / satisfy a demand
to give in to / yield to a demand
VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT 665

to ignore / reject / drop / give up a demand

(an) excessive / exorbitant / unrealistic / moderate / modest / unreasonable / non-
negotiable demand
(a/an) brisk / enormous / great / heavy / strong / growing / increasing / increased /
(un)limited demand
demand drops off / falls off / increases / rises
to demand sth of sb:
He has most of the qualities demanded of a leader.
demanding:
It is a very demanding and wearing job / an impatient and demanding public.
She is very demanding of her employees.

2. The present government does nothing to alleviate the sufferings of the poor.
presently
a) soon:
The doctor will be here presently.
He is having a rest now, but will be down presently.
b) (chiefly AE): at the moment you are writing or speaking:
America and Japan are presently working on a chip which will hold a million words.
The doctor is presently writing a book.
Note the position of presently in the examples.

3. In vain did he flex his muscles – the boulder wouldn’t budge an inch.
boulder
a large rock worn and shaped by water or the weather (Findling)
in vain:
Note the word order / (partial) inversion after expressions with a negative or restrictive
meaning:
Hardly had he arrived when a quarrel broke out.
Seldom had I seen such a remarkable creature.
Rarely could she have been faced with so difficult a choice.
Never have I felt better.
Scarcely had I arrived when I had new problems to cope with.
Only then did I understand what she meant.
Only after a year did she begin to see the results of her work.
Only in a few countries does the whole of the population enjoy a reasonable standard
of living.
Not only did we lose all our money, but we also came close to losing our lives.
Little did he realize that ...
after expressions with no:
Under no circumstances can we accept cheques.
In no way can Mr Perther be held responsible.
On no account are visitors allowed to feed the animals.
At no time was the President aware of what was happening.
No sooner was she back at home than she realized her mistake.
Note: In all these structures, the negative expressions can be placed later in the
sentence, without inversion. This usually makes a less literary or formal impression.
I had seldom seen such a remarkable creature.
I only began to see the results of my work after several months.
The President was at no time aware of what was happening.
Note: Nach in vain ist die Inversion fakultativ. (... ) In vain had we toiled all night. ( ...) –
In vain I made inquiries. (... ) – Das gleiche gilt für vainly (... ): Vainly he tried / Vainly did
he try to open the door.
A. Lamprecht, Grammatik der englischen Sprache, Berlin 81986, p. 46
666 VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT

4. There are certain subjects I would prefer not to broach while the ladies are still present.
to prefer
I prefer tea to coffee / walking to cycling.
I should prefer it if you didn’t go there alone.
I’d prefer that he remain forgotten.
Their father prefers them to be home early.
There are those who prefer to suffer deprivation rather than claim legal aid.
Compare: Do you like swimming? – Yes, but I prefer sailing.
Can I give you a lift? – No, thanks, I (would) prefer to walk.
Note: I would prefer to spend the weekend at home rather than drive to your mother’s.

5. I could not help overhearing your conversation since I happened to stand below the open
window of your study.
study
a) a room in a house which is used for reading and studying (Arbeitszimmer)
b) the activity of studying a subject (Studium) (Note the difference between singular
and plural!):
There are no rooms specifically set aside for quiet study.
I am not surprised that your studies are suffering.
Should I ever give up my studies, ...
to begin / take up / complete / finish / pursue one’s studies
advanced / graduate / postgraduate studies
c) a piece of research (Studie):
She has made a close study of male executives and their drinking habits.
Studies have shown that 30% of all households are headed by women.
to conduct / do / make a study
a(n) careful / detailed / exhaustive / in-depth / intensive / rigorous / thorough study
a feasibility / follow-up / pilot / statistical study
a case(-)study: an account that gives detailed information about a person, group or
thing and their development over a period of time (Fallstudie)
cf. case history: a record of the past history of sb suffering from an illness, social
difficulties, etc (for use in professional treatment, e.g. by a doctor) (Vor-, Kranken-
geschichte, Anamnese)

6. The chairman proposed a vote of thanks and Mr Strachan seconded the motion.
7. I’m sure the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty will be duly approved and ratified by the
House of Commons.
to proliferate
if things proliferate, they increase in number very quickly:
Tropical plants proliferate.
During the 1980s, computer companies proliferated.
proliferation: rapid increase or spreading: the proliferation of nuclear weapons /
nuclear proliferation
non-proliferation: Nicht-Weitergabe, Atomsperrvertrag

8. Jack the Ripper perpetrated the most despicable, heinous crimes.

Jack the Ripper
nickname given to an undiscovered murderer of at least seven women in London in
1888
to rip
to tear or be torn quickly and violently:
The sail ripped under the force of the wind.
I ripped my tights on the nail.
VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT 667

Impatiently, he ripped the letter open.

The cat ripped the cushion to pieces / into shreds.
fig. He ripped my arguments to pieces.
to rip sb / sth off: to charge too much / to steal:
They really ripped us off at that hotel.
Somebody ripped off my bicycle.
a rip-off:
£5 for a cup of coffee? What a rip-off!
to rip into sb / sth: attack:
The politician ripped into his opponents.
despicable: deserving to be despised, contemptible:
He is too nice a man to do anything as despicable as murder.
heinous: (of morally bad people / facts) extremely wicked, shameful, evil

9. The farmers were constantly engaged in local feuds and had little time to till their fields.
feud
a long-lasting, bitter quarrel / dispute between two people / families / groups:
His feud with the Premier proceeded remorselessly.
a bitter feud over territory
to stir up a feud
a(n) bitter / deadly / internecine / blood / family / personal feud
to feud (with sb):
The two families had been feuding for years.
to feud with one’s neighbours
cf. feudalism:
system in which people are given land and protection by lords and work and fight for
their lords in return (in Western Europe 9th-15th centuries)
feudal lords / system

10. Since he isn’t very clever and didn’t know how to go about it in the right way he bungled
the job completely.
to go about (sth)
a) be able to move / travel around (a place):
The quickest way to go about the city is by underground train.
b) start doing sth:
I wanted to make a dress but didn’t know how to go about it.
How do you go about building a boat?
c) do, perform:
The best cure for grief is to go about your usual work.
d) (of news / diseases) spread round (a place or group):
There are whispers going about the City that the Bank is to raise the interest rate
again.
There are a lot of colds going about the school.
Note: to go about one’s own business:
If that reporter comes here asking more questions, tell him to go about his own
business.

11. Should schools nowadays teach boys how to darn socks?

668 VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT

12. There was an excited hum of conversation in the auditorium. The lights had not yet been
dimmed and the musicians were busy tuning their instruments.
hum (n/v)
a low continuous noise (e.g. of bees or other animals, to buzz):
Air conditioners are costly and tend to hum.
She continued to hum the song over and over.
The only sound she heard was the hum of a machine in the basement.
to hum with sb / sth:
The area is usually humming with shoppers.
The town was really humming with activity.

13. In Conan Doyle’s detective stories Sherlock Holmes is always the one who unravels the
eery mystery, while Dr Watson only serves as a foil.
eerie / eery: causing fear because strange:
It is eerie to walk through a dark wood at night.
I had the eerie feeling that sb was watching me.
unheimlich, schaurig
foil (n)
a) metal in the form of a sheet as thin as paper, used esp. to wrap food and keep it
fresh:
Wrap cakes in foil before storing them.
aluminium / silver foil (note: AE aluminum)
the foil wrapper of a bar of chocolate
b) sth that is a foil for sth else makes its good qualities more noticeable, when the two
things are experienced together, because of the great difference between them:
She had bronzed skin, for which her yellow swimsuit was a perfect foil.
to act as a foil to / for sb / sth
This character acts as a foil for the hero.
to foil
to foil sb’s plans / attempts: to prevent from being successful:
He had planned to leave at 4, but was foiled by Mrs Harlowe, who rang for tea.

14. The doctor’s attempts to staunch the bleeding were of no avail.

15. As a result of last month’s balance of payments deficit the government devised a new
scheme for raising taxes.
balance of payments:
difference between the amount of money coming into a country and the amount going
out, taking into account all international business such as trade in goods, services,
insurance and banking (Zahlungsbilanz)
balance of trade:
the difference in value between a country’s imports and exports (Handelsbilanz)

16. They decided to build canals with which to irrigate the desert.
17. It would be a waste of time to refute such foolish arguments.
18. Do you think we should risk lubricating the machine with linseed oil?
linseed: the seed of flax
linseed oil: the oil from the seed of flax, used in linoleum, and in some paints, inks, etc
Leinsamen(öl), Leinöl
VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT 669

19. Horses competing in the Grand National at Aintree not infrequently break a leg and have to
be destroyed.
also: put to sleep
Grand National: principal event of English steeplechasing, instituted at Liverpool in
1839, now run at Aintree (near Liverpool) (30 jumps, including the famous hazardous
Becher’s Brook)
cf. The Oaks at Epsom, The Derby at Epsom, St. Leger at Doncaster

20. The chairman decided to adjourn the meeting until the following day.
21. The scandal could well lead to the government being toppled.
also: overthrown

22. It was discovered that the treasurer of the society had embezzled the funds entrusted to
him.
funds
the amount of money available to be spent:
They have spent their scarce funds on expensive housing.
Congress cut back the funds for the program.
to raise funds
to allocate / allot funds
to disburse / pay out funds
private / limited / unlimited funds
funds dry up / run out
fund
an amount of money collected or saved, e.g. to help sb or enable sth to be done:
A fund was set up to maintain these old buildings.
a disaster fund
fig. They have a fund of experience to draw on.
to fund
to provide money for:
The work is being funded both by governments and by private industry.
minutes
written record of the things that are said and decided at a meeting:
You must learn how to take / keep / do the minutes.
to accept / approve (unanimously) / correct / read / reject the minutes
to minute
The discussion was duly minuted.
The President was minuted as having said that ...
minute (adj.): extremely small:
I remember in minute detail what happened.

23. The lawyer perused the minutes in silence, making critical notes in the margin.
24. They tried to attract attention with a new advertising campaign.
25. After the war most of the soldiers were demobilized, or demobbed as most people would
call it in colloquial English.
26. She must have overheard my disparaging remarks about her husband.
to disparage
to speak without respect, make sound of little value or importance:
He tends to disparage the efforts of conservationists. (Natur-, Umweltschützer)
to speak disparagingly of sb / sth
to use a word / term disparagingly
cf. pejorative
670 VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT

a pejorative term / word / remark / comment

a word with a pejorative connotation

27. The fraud had been perpetrated by the managing director himself.
28. Is this Russian film dubbed or does it have subtitles?
29. King Edward VIII of England abdicated the throne in 1936.

3 Exercise

1. not to bat an eyelid

also: without batting an ...
AE: not bat an eye
remain completely calm, not shocked or surprised
nicht mit der Wimper zucken
a cricket / baseball / table tennis bat – tennis racket
as blind as a bat
have bats in the belfry
he is bats / batty: foolish, slightly mad
to bat: cricket / baseball: hit the ball with a bat
batsman – bowler – wicket keeper
to bat one’s eyes / eyelashes at sb
(of a woman) to open and close one’s eyes quickly in order to attract attention
(right / straight) off the bat: immediately
off one’s own bat: without being asked or told to do sth

2. to beg the question

not deal properly with the matter being discussed by assuming that a question
needing an answer has been answered; take sth as true that is not yet proved; to fail
to deal with or answer effectively the point that is being discussed
an der eigentl. Frage vorbeigehen, eine Sache von vornherein als erwiesen ansehen
Your proposal begs the question whether a change is needed at all.
to beg
to beg (for) money from passers-by
to beg sb’s pardon
to beg for mercy
I’m dying for a cigarette. Could I beg one off / from you?
May I beg a favour of you.
He begged (her) for forgiveness.
a begging letter

3. to blaze a / the trail

be a pioneer, lead the way, in a field of research, or study, or in doing sth new and
untried (from the original (US) practice of indicating a way through a forest, etc by
cutting marks on trees):
By its enlightened prison system Sweden has blazed a trail which a number of other
European countries gradually began to follow.
Weg markieren, bahnbrechend sein, Pionierarbeit leisten
VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT 671

to blaze / make / lay out a trail

note: trailblazer, trailblazing
to trail
a) drag or allow to drag behind, esp. without making any effort:
He sat on the side of the boat and trailed his feet in the water.
Her long skirt was trailing in the mud behind her.
b) follow the trail of (track of) sth:
The police trailed the criminal to his hiding place / hideout.
c) to fall behind, walk or move wearily, esp. behind or later than others:
The children trailed along behind their parents.
The horse I had backed trailed in last.
This country is still trailing far behind (others) in computer research.
The party is trailing badly in the (opinion) polls.
on the trail of sb:
The bank robbers rode off, with the sheriff’s men (hard / hot) on their trail.
The police were on his trail.
trail also means: a stream of dust, smoke, people, vehicles behind sth moving:
The car raced past leaving a trail of dust.
He left a trail of broken hearts / unpaid bills behind him.
The wounded animal left a trail of blood.
to blaze
a) burn brightly and fiercely:
When the fire brigade arrived the whole building was blazing.
a blaze
to control / fight / extinguish / put out a blaze
b) show great feeling:
He was blazing with indignation/his eyes blazed with anger.
c) mark a tree by cutting off some bark
blaze up:
The fire blazed up when he added paraffin.
fig. He blazed up without warning (suddenly became angry).
cf. a blaze of anger / passion / temper (sudden outburst)
blaze (n)
a) white mark on an animal’s face
b) mark cut in the bark of a tree to show which way to go

4. to carry the can

accept the responsibility (for sb or sth that someone else has done), have all the work
or worry of sth fall on os:
I always had to carry the can for my younger brother when he broke anything.
Originally a military phrase referring to a man chosen to get beer for a group. He would
have to carry a container of beer to the group and carry it back when it was empty.
in the can
finished, agreed or decided upon:
Our boss was pleased because the new contract was in the can.
Originally refers to cinema film, which is stored in cans (large metal containers).
can: also tin: a can of peaches / he drank four cans of beer / canned fruit / a canning
factory

5. to clinch a deal (an argument / a bargain)

to make a business, or other agreement, final and binding, settle finally:
I am not saying that Robert didn’t find Jenny attractive, but he didn’t marry her for
love. I am sure it was her having the money to set him up in business that clinched the
deal.
672 VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT

to clinch: fix (a nail / rivet) firmly in place by hammering sideways the end that sticks
out (stauchen)
deal (n)
to make / conclude / close / wrap up / strike a deal with sb:
We did a deal with the management on overtime.
The deal fell through. (i.e. no agreement was reached)
to deal in sth
a dealer in drugs / stolen goods / hardware / software
to deal with sb / sth
How would you deal with an armed burglar?
We don’t deal (i.e. negotiate) with terrorists.
The next chapter deals with verbs.
He dealt with an awkward situation very tactfully.
Haven’t you dealt with (i.e. replied to) the letter yet?

6. to cook the books

to falsify figures in order to make one’s financial, or other, affairs seem better than they
are
to falsify
the accounts / records / facts / a theory / a birth certificate
to adulterate
wine, milk (with water), food
to fake
results of an experiment / a signature document / report / painting / tribal art
The painting turned out to be a fake.
a fake priest / policeman
Her suntan must be fake.
That’s not real fur, it’s fake.
The actor was covered in fake blood.
to fake surprise / grief / disbelief / a headache / a heart attack
He’s not crying – he’s just faking.
to counterfeit
£5 notes / money / passports / jewels / cheques / paintings / works of art / documents
to forge
banknotes / a signature / a will / a passport / a cheque
to fiddle
the accounts / books / finances / figures in a transaction / one’s income tax
a fiddle
The management realized that some sort of fiddle was going on, but they didn’t know
how much they were losing.
to be on the fiddle
The till is £50 short again – somebody must be on the fiddle.
to rig
an election / a football match
to arrange dishonestly for the result of sth
to fix
to fix a football / cricket match / a sports game / a ballot
a clever / crude / skilful counterfeit / forgery etc

7. to curb inflation
curb (n)
a) strap or chain passing under a horse’s jaw, fastened to the bit, used to restrain the
horse
VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT 673

b) fig. thing that restrains or controls: to keep / put a curb on one’s anger / feelings /
spending / extravagance
to curb: to put a curb on sth: new efforts to curb drug trafficking

8. to eat humble pie

to admit that one is wrong or say that one is sorry for sth that one has done or said
klein beigeben, zu Kreuze kriechen
Humble in this phrase was originally humbles, the less desirable parts of a deer or
animal that had been killed in a hunt. The best meat was served to people of higher
social rank while the humbles were made into a pie and served to less important
people.
pie
meat or fruit encased in pastry and baked in a (usually deep) dish
Pastete, gefüllter Kuchen
steak and kidney pie / pudding – Rinds- und Nierenragout
pork pie – Schweinefleisch
game pie – Wild
shepherd’s pie – Rinder- oder Hammelhackfleisch mit Zwiebeln, mit Kartoffelpüre
überbacken
pies are typical pub lunch
sweet pies: mince pie – apple pie – cream pie (Torte)
mince meat: Pastetenfüllung
minced meat: Hackfleisch
as easy as pie / easy / simple as falling off a log
The examination was / his job is as ...
to keep / have a finger in every pie: to be concerned in some way with a large number
of different plans, arrangements, etc at the same time:
John seems to have a finger in every pie. He owns a business in town, he’s a member
of the local council, and he belongs to several clubs and societies.
pie in the sky: hoped for or planned event that is very unlikely to happen:
Their ideas about reforming the prison system are just pie in the sky.
cf. castle in the air / in Spain – Luftschloss
The government is making the public believe in castles in the air.
a pie chart
circle divided from its centre into several parts to show how a total amount is divided
up (Kreisdiagramm)
in apple-pie order: with everything tidy or arranged correctly:
The room was in .... / he wanted the account put in ...
humble: showing low / modest opinion of one’s own importance, low in rank:
in my humble opinion / my humble apologies / men of humble birth
a humble occupation / meal / home / offering
to humble one’s enemy / sb’s pride / a humbling experience
to humiliate: a country humiliated by defeat / feel humiliated by sb’s scornful remarks
/ a humiliating experience
to humble is frequently used in place of degrade when the ignominy of reduction in
rank is emphasized. Humiliate comes close to mortify and stresses chagrin and
shame.

9. to follow suit
to do what another person, group or organization etc is already doing or has already
done, follow sb’s example / lead:
When all his friends joined a club at home he decided to follow suit and became a
member.
674 VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT

Originally referring to playing the same kind of card as the card that has just been
played.
to play a card of the same suit
Four sets / suits form a pack of playing-cards.
The four suits in a pack of cars are diamonds, hearts, spades and clubs.
suit
a person’s strong point / (chiefly AE) suit:
Don’t ask me to add up the bill: arithmetic is not my strong point / suit.
suit: jacket and trousers or skirt; e.g. a trouser-suit
a bathing / diving / protective / ski / boiler / shell / wet / jogging / morning / swim suit
in one’s birthday suit: naked (Adamskostüm)
lawsuit: legal proceedings, to sue sb for sth
to bring a lawsuit against sb
a criminal / civil / malpractice / negligence / paternity / divorce suit

10. to foot the bill

a) be the person who pays (usu for sth that has been enjoyed by a number of people)
b) take the blame (for sth that sb else has done):
My younger brother stayed out late and woke everyone in the house when he came
home. I had to foot the bill for not bringing him home early with me.
cf. to fill / fit the bill: do / be everything that is needed or expected:
They did want a government capable of uniting the nation. And they reckoned that
Harold Wilson and Labour best fitted the bill.
der / die richtige(n) sein
to run up / pay / settle / submit / itemize a bill
a bill falls due

11. to jump the queue

to get on a bus, being served with goods in a shop etc before other people who have
waited in a line to do so
to stand in a queue for tickets
Is this the queue for the bus?
to queue (up) for sth
jump
to be in for the high jump: be about to be scolded / punished:
You’ll be in for the high jump when your mother discovers that you’ve broken her
favourite plate.
to jump / get / climb on / aboard the bandwagon: begin to do sth that other people are
doing because it seems to be profitable or advantageous:
You’d be the first to jump on the bandwagon if you saw somebody else making a lot of
money without much effort.
Referring to a band of musicians who are leading a march, esp. for a politician who is
making speeches and trying to win votes before an election
sich dranhängen, auf den fahrenden Zug aufspringen
to jump out of one’s skin: have / show feelings of great shock / fear / surprise etc by
moving suddenly:
I nearly jumped out of my skin when John suddenly stepped out from behind the door.
erschreckt hochfahren
to jump at an offer / in joy / from one topic to another / on one’s opponent / to one’s
feet / at a conclusion
to jump down sb’s throat: to berate sb
sth jumps out at sb:
The mistakes jumped out at me.
a train jumps the rails / track
VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT 675

12. to know the ropes (learn the ropes / show the ropes to sb)
to know all the details, rules, and organization of a business, method, etc:
The pupils who were new to the school were soon shown the ropes by those who had
been there for a few years.
The phrase comes from sailing and means to be familiar with the ropes that control
the sails of a ship.
Give him enough rope and he will hang himself:
allow him enough freedom of action and he will bring about his own downfall
to be at the end of one’s rope (chiefly AE):
have no more patience or strength left to deal with a problem or a difficult situation
to be on the ropes (boxing and fig):
in a bad situation in which one is about to be defeated

13. to labour / belabour a point

to continue to repeat, or explain, sth said and understood already:
Your argument was clear to us from the start, there is no need to labour the point.
herumreiten auf, breittreten, auswälzen
to labour
a) work / try hard:
to labour on / at a task
He laboured to finish the job on time.
b) do sth only with difficulty and effort:
The old man laboured up the hillside.
The ship laboured through the rough sea.
to labour under sth
a) suffer: people labouring under the handicaps of ignorance and superstition
b) be deceived / misled by sth:
He labours under the delusion that he is a fine actor.

14. to mark time

to remain in one’s present position, esp. until conditions become more favourable for
further progress or activity:
In a period when people have very little money to spend, most small businesses are
just marking time.
Mark time! is a military command instructing soldiers to move as if marching but
without actually moving forward.

15. to pan a film / play

to pan
a) pan for sth: to wash gravel in a pan in order to find gold or other valuable minerals:
prospectors panning for gold
b) criticize severely (verreißen)
c) (of a film camera): to move slowly from one side to another, or up and down:
The camera panned across the room.

16. to pass the buck

to pass on to sb else a responsibility one should accept for os
The term is from poker and was the equivalent of passing (i.e. not bidding) in a game
of bridge.
Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
buck: the male of certain animals, esp. the deer / rat / rabbit
cf. female: doe
676 VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT

17. to play truant

AE hook(e)y
to absent os from school without permission or good reason, and usu. without
consent or knowledge of one’s parents
facetiously: fail to be present at a place or time when one has a duty, or obligation, to
fulfil:
Elizabeth played truant from her office.
play second fiddle
to be subordinate in position, or function, to another person, be (considered) of
secondary importance or interest
die zweite Geige / eine untergeordnete Rolle spielen, im Schatten stehen
His family has had to play second fiddle to his career.
fiddle
cf. 6
fiddly: awkward to use / do:
Changing a fuse is one of those fiddly jobs I hate.
This tin-opener is awfully fiddly.
to be fiddling when Rome burns:
sb is not dealing with a serious or dangerous situation that exists but instead is doing
useless things or pretending that nothing is wrong
Refers to the Roman emperor Nero, who was said to have played a lyre while he
watched Rome burning.
as fit as a fiddle: kerngesund, topfit

18. to run the gauntlet (of sb / sth)

to risk danger, anger, criticism, be attacked on all sides:
Her parents had told me never to speak to their daughter again, so I knew I was
running the gauntlet when I telephoned her to arrange a meeting.
Spießrutenlaufen, einer Sache ausgesetzt sein
The reference is to the former punishment of soldiers and sailors; the company or
crew, provided with rope ends, were drawn up in two rows facing each other, and the
delinquent had to run between them, while every man dealt him as severe a
punishment as possible.
Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
to run the gauntlet of reporters and photographers
to throw down / pick / take up the gauntlet: to invite sb to fight, argue, defend himself
or his opinion, to challenge
Referring to custom in the Middle Ages. A protective glove (gauntlet), which was worn
with a suit of armour, was thrown down in front of a person as a sign that one wished
to fight the person.

19. to scour pots and pans / an area

to scour
a) make the dirty surface of sth clean or bright by rubbing it with sth rough:
to scour (out) a saucepan
to scour away / off:
Scour the grease off the floor.
b) go over (an area) thoroughly searching for sth / sb:
The police scoured the woods (looking) for the body.
VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT 677

20. to scrap a plan (a car / ship / bicycle)

to throw away (sth useless or worn out), give up
fig.: Lack of cash forced us to scrap the plan for a new house.
Student grants were scrapped and replaced by loans.

21. to serve a sentence / summons

sentence: (statement of the) punishment given by lawcourt:
The judge passed / pronounced sentence (on the prisoner).
She has served her sentence and will now be released.
under sentence of death
a sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment
to sentence a thief to 6 months’ imprisonment
fig.: A crippling disease which sentenced him to a lifetime in a wheel-chair.
summons
a) the order to attend a lawcourt, esp. to answer a charge:
to issue a summons
b) document containing this:
The summons was served by a bailiff.
bailiff: law officer who helps a sheriff in issuing writs and making arrests (Amts-,
Gerichtsdiener)

22. to squander money / time

He squandered / wasted all his money on drink.
He squandered his savings / a small fortune on bad investments.
fig.: Don’t squander your affection on him – he’ll never love you.

23. to swing the lead (old-fash.)

to avoid doing one’s work or duty, esp. by deceitful excuses
sich drücken
After I had seen how little work had been done while I was away, I knew that he was
swinging the lead.
From: casting a sounding-lead at sea.
An allusion to the lazy leadsman idly swinging the line and protracting the job of taking
soundings.

24. to thumb a lift

AE a ride
cf. to thumb one’s nose at: to cock a snook at:
to show one’s opposition, esp. by performing a particular action regarded as rude
Refers to a sign used to show scorn and mockery. It is made by putting the end of the
thumb on the end of the nose and by spreading out and moving the fingers.
to thumb through a dictionary: to turn over pages of a book
make a book / pages worn or dirty by doing so: a well-thumbed copy
a thumb-index
to be under sb’s thumb: influence, control:
She has got him under her thumb.
to be all (fingers and) thumbs: very clumsy: zwei linke Hände haben
to get / give / be thumbs up / down: indicate success / failure:
I am afraid it’s thumb down for your new proposal.
The chairman has given our plans the thumb up.
678 VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT

25. to toe the (party) line

to obey orders, accept ideas, principles etc of another person, group
The phrase means to stand with the toes touching a line, to stand in a row when one
is about to start a race etc.
cf. to take the line of least resistance: the easiest possible method of doing sth
cf. soft option
from head to foot / toe / from top to toe:
The children were covered in mud from head to toe.
on one’s toes
ready for action, alert:
The constant threat of danger kept us all on our toes.
to tread on sb’s corns / toes: offend, annoy:
I don’t want to tread on anybody’s toes so I won’t say what I think.

4 Exercise

1. The Chancellor of the Exchequer refused to take the blame for the strikes and was at pains
to pass the bucket to the trade unions who had refused to toe the line and had decided to
take industrial action.
to take industrial action: walk out on strike
Chancellor of the Exchequer: Minister of Finance
Schwarzen Peter weitergeben
spuren, sich fügen

2. Anti-nuclear demonstrations caused the government to scrap its plans for a nuclear power
plant.
fallen lassen
to scrap a car / old clothes
ausrangieren, verschrotten

3. No significant progress in curbing inflation has been made, and the government is still
marking time.
Inflationsrate senken
auf der Stelle treten

4. It is true, he made an awful blunder, but I do hope you have enough sense not to make him
eat humble pie for the rest of his life.
zu Kreuze kriechen, sich demütigen lassen

5. In these days of instant meals it is no longer necessary to scour dirty pots and pans.
scheuern
instant meals: Schnell-, Fertiggerichte

6. He has squandered all his money on drink and women.

verschwenden, durchbringen
VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT 679

7. We’re well aware of what you did – you need not labour the point.
also: belabour
breittreten, herumreiten

8. The English love to stand in line and are filled with disgust at the unusual spectacle of
anyone presuming to jump the queue.
sich vordrängeln
to presume
a) suppose, take for granted:
I presume that an agreement will eventually be reached.
Are they away on holiday? – I presume so.
The accused man must be presumed (to be) innocent until he is proved guilty.
b) venture to do, be as bold as to:
May I presume to advise you? (erdreisten)
c) presume on sth: take an unfair advantage: to presume on sb’s good nature (aus-
nützen)

9. The police scoured the moors for the missing girl, but were unable to find her.
also: searched
absuchen, durchkämmen

10. Computer accounting makes it more difficult to catch employees who try to cook the
books.
die Bücher fälschen

11. The young scientist decided to follow the trail blazed by his precursors.
den Pionierarbeiten seiner Vorgänger folgen

12. We had a slap-up dinner at a posh restaurant last night – and, as usual, left Father to foot
the bill.
zahlen, begleichen
slap-up: (of meals): excellent: super, piekfein, mit allem Drum und Dran

13. He’s a difficult person to get on with, unless you’re willing to play second fiddle to him.
die zweite Geige spielen

14. The President’s remarks simply begged the question and no one in the audience was
deceived.
von einer falschen Voraussetzung ausgehen

15. His latest film was panned by the critics and damned by the church.
verreißen, vernichtend kritisieren

16. They were prepared to undercut our offer because they wanted to clinch the deal at any
price.
Handel perfekt machen, besiegeln
to undercut: unterbieten
680 VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT

17. He’s been with the firm for over 20 years and knows the ropes.
sich auskennen

18. As his engine had conked out there was nothing for it but to thumb a lift to the nearest
service station.
per Anhalter fahren

19. Why do I always have to carry the can when our team loses?
die Sache ausbaden, verantwortlich sein

20. If you marry that girl, you’ll have to run the gauntlet of the family’s disapproval.
der Missbilligung ausgesetzt sein, auf Ablehnung stoßen

21. He did not bat an eyelid when a summons was served on him by the bailiff.
nicht mit der Wimper zucken
die Vorladung duch Gerichts-, Amtsdiener zustellen

22. He’s not so ill that he can’t go to work – he’s just swinging the lead.
sich drücken

23. Huckleberry Finn had little inclination to spend the day in a classroom and so decided to
play truant.
also: hook(e)y (chiefly AE)
die Schule schwänzen

24. So far he has served five years of his eight-year sentence.

verbüßen, absitzen

25. Once one bank starts raising interest rates, the others will soon follow suit.
dem Beispiel folgen

5 Exercise

1. to bandy words with sb

to argue with sb
sich herumstreiten
I’m not going to bandy words with a man I don’t respect.
I told them to stop wasting their time bandying words and get to work.
cf. to bandy sth about: to pass on (a rumour, information, etc), often in a thoughtless
way:
The stories being bandied about are completely false.
Her name is being bandied about as the next chairperson.
VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT 681

2. to bear false witness against sb

falsches Zeugnis ablegen
cf. to bear witness to sth: to provide evidence of the truth of sth, to speak in support:
His evidence bore witness to my testimony.
The new housing bears witness to the Council’s energy.
The village bore (silent) witness to the passage of the cyclone.
Note:
to witness sth:
He scored the most fantastic goal I ever witnessed.
to be witness to sth:
This was the first time I was ever witness to one of his rages.

3. to blow the whistle on sb

to make sb suddenly stop doing sth, esp. sth illegal, by informing people in authority
verpfeifen, auspacken
Refers to whistles used in certain games to stop unacceptable play.
They cheated the company for years until one of their colleagues blew the whistle on
them.
to whistle in he dark: to pretend not to be afraid:
She said she was not afraid of losing her job because of what she had done, but I think
she’s just whistling in the dark.
to wet one’s whistle: to have a drink, esp. an alcoholic one
to whistle to sb / at sb: You whistle to sb in order to get their attention, you whistle at
sb in order to express your feeling about that person:
We whistled to them but they didn’t seem to hear us.
The builders whistled at any woman who walked by.
cf. to wolf-whistle:
When she was wearing that mini-skirt the men on the building site wolf-whistled at
her.

4. to break the news to sb

to inform sb of sth (generally sth unwelcome or exciting)
überbringen
I had a letter this morning telling me I’ve failed my exam. That’s bad enough, but I
don’t know how to break the news to Dad.
to announce / give / break news to sb / spring news on sb
to spread / colour / distort / twist (the) news
a(n) bit / piece / item of news.
earthshaking / earth-shattering / sensational / shocking / startling / worldshaking /
unexpected / wonderful / good / bad news

5. to clap / set eyes on sb / sth

to see
erblicken
I disliked the place the moment I clapped eyes on it.
I hope I never set eyes on him again.
to clap
to clap one’s hands in delight
They clapped their hands in time to the music.
The audience clapped her / her speech enthusiastically.
to clap sb on his back / shoulder:
They spent a lot of time clapping each other on the backs.
682 VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT

to clap sb in / into prison:

He was clapped into prison for drug trafficking.
to clap one’s hand over one’s mouth:
He clapped his hand over his mouth in order to stop himself from laughing.
clapped-out: completely worn or exhausted:
a clapped-out old bicycle / car / machine

6. to cock a snook at sb
to show one’s opposition to sth, esp. by performing a particular action regarded as
rude
eine lange Nase machen; zeigen, dass man auf etwas pfeift
to thumb one’s nose at sb
Refers to a sign used to show scorn and mockery. It’s made by putting the end of the
thumb on the end of the nose and by spreading out and moving the fingers.
to cock
1. cock sth up: cause to be upright or erect, raise sth, turn (part of the body) in a
particular direction:
The horse cocked (up) its ears when it heard the noise.
The dog cocked its leg against the lamppost.
to keep an ear cocked for sb / sth: to listen carefully for
2. tilt or slant:
She cocked her hat at a jaunty angle.
The bird cocked its head to / on one side.
He cocked his head on one side with a slight frown.
jaunty: feeling and showing cheerfulness and self-confidence; sprightly, as a sign of
high spirits
3. raise the cock (of a gun) ready for firing:
I heard the noise of a rifle being cocked.
to cock sth up: to spoil or ruin by incompetence, to bungle:
The travel agent completely cocked up the arrangements for our holiday.
Trust him to cock it / things up.
noun
What a cock-up!
She made a complete cock-up of the arrangements / the figures.
to knock sb / sth into a cocked hat: to be very much better:
He knocked my pathetic efforts into a cocked hat.

7. to curry favour with sb

to try to gain the approach or favour of sb by behaving too politely towards him or
flattering him, esp. insincerely
sich einschmeicheln, lieb Kind machen
cf. to ingratiate os with sb, to fawn (up)on sb
He’s trying to curry favour with the boss again.
to return a favour
to vie for sb’s favour
to gain / win favour with sb
to find favour in sb’s eyes
to fall out of favour

8. to dance attendance on sb
to give much attendance to a person / thing, esp. in an effort to please, to satisfy sb’s
every whim:
He always danced attendance on his rich aunt.
VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT 683

jem. von hinten und vorne bedienen

attendance
1. action or time of being present:
Attendance at evening prayer is not compulsory.
You have missed several attendances this term.
2. the number of people present:
They are expecting a large attendance at the meeting.
Attendances have increased since we reduced the price of the tickets.
to be / have sb in attendance:
A nurse was in constant attendance.
The President always has 6 bodyguards in attendance.
to lead sb a merry dance (AE chase): to cause sb a lot of trouble, esp. by making them
follow from place to place
to dance to music:
They danced to the music of a rock band.
to dance to sb’s tune: to do what they demand

9. to defray the costs of sth

to defray sb’s expenses / the cost of sth
also: to bear the costs:
to pay for sth
My father has to defray my education.
The company will defray the costs of this trip / all your expenses.
die Kosten übernehmen, tragen

10. to draw the line at sth

to set limits (to one’s own or another person’s behaviour, etc), esp. when one refuses
to go past these lines, refuse to do or tolerate:
I encourage people to express their own opinions, but I draw a line at being rude.
A line has to be drawn somewhere – I can’t go on lending you money.
die Grenze ziehen
cf. to take the line of least resistance: the easiest possible method of doing sth,
dealing with a person:
When I arrived home he hadn’t done a single thing that I’d asked him to do. I didn’t
want to quarrel, so I took the line of least resistance and quietly did all the work
myself.

11. to lavish praise on sb / sth

mit Lob überschütten, überhäufen
lavish (adj.)
a) with sth / in doing sth: giving or producing generously or in large quantities:
He was lavish with praise for / in praising the project / in donating money to charity.
He was lavish with gifts for his wife.
b) plentiful, abundant:
a lavish meal / reception / display:
The building has been lavishly restored to a fresh brilliance.
to be lavishly equipped / illustrated / decorated
to lavish sth upon sb / sth: to give generously and abundantly:
to lavish care on a child
to lavish time / money / effort / attention / gifts on sb / sth
The media lavish a lot of attention on people like him.
684 VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT

12. to level charges against sb

Vorwürfe erheben
to level
a) make sth level, equal or uniform:
The ground should be levelled before you plant a lawn.
She needs to win this point to level the score.
to level social difference
cf. leveller:
Death / time / poverty / disease is a / the great leveller.
b) demolish: a town levelled by an earthquake:
The town was levelled to the ground.
c) level sth at sb: to aim (a gun, etc) at:
The hostage had a rifle levelled at his head.
to level criticism at the council
accusations levelled at the directors
level (n)
Levels of unemployment vary from region to region.
fig.: I could use threats, too, but I refuse to sink to your level.
to do one’s level best
high- / low-levelled negotiations
level-headed: calm and able do deal easily with difficult problems / situations
a level crossing: where a railway and a road cross
on a level (with):
Both players are on a level (i.e. of the same standard).
on the level: honest:
Are you sure this deal is on the level?
I’d like to help, but I can’t – on the level!

13. to look daggers at sb

to give fierce or angry looks to a person, esp. without speaking
jem. mit Blicken durchbohren
Her husband looked daggers at her for being rude to his employer.
cf. to be at daggers drawn (with sb): very hostile towards:
He and his partners are at daggers drawn.

14. to lose sight of sb / sth

aus den Augen, dem Blick verlieren
We must not lose sight of the fact that ...
Our original aims have been lost sight of.
cf. to keep sight of sb / sth; to keep sth / sb in sight:
Follow that man and keep him in sight all the time.
You must keep sight of one fact: your life is in danger.
Out of sight, out of mind.

15. (not) to make head or tail of sth

to understand, make some sense of sth (usu. in negative statements and in
questions):
I can’t make head nor tail of these instructions.
nicht schlau werden aus
‘Heads you win, tails you lose’, i.e. whatever happens I am going to win.
VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT 685

16. to part company with sb / sth

sich trennen
to part from sb / to part sb from sb
a) (cause to) go away or separate from sb:
I hope we can part as friends.
She has parted from her husband.
She and her husband have parted.
The children were parted from their father.
b) (cause to) divide or form separate parts:
Her lips parted in a smile.
The crowd parted to let them through.
The police parted the crowd.
c) separate (the hair of the head) along a line and comb the hair away from it:
He parts his hair in the middle.
to part company with
a) go different ways or separate after being together:
We parted company at the bus-stop.
fig.: It is on political questions that their views part company (i.e. are different).
b) disagree with:
I’m afraid I have to part company with you here.
to part with: to give away, relinquish:
Despite his poverty, he refused to part with the family jewels.
He hates parting with his money (i.e. spending).
cf. A fool and his money are soon parted.

17. to pave the way for sth

to make everything ready for sth; to lead to sth
den Weg ebnen
Good work by their younger players paved the way for the team’s most impressive
victory this year.
His economic policies paved the way for industrial expansion.
cf. The road to hell is paved with good intentions:
People may be blamed or punished as a result of not putting into practice their
original good motives.

18. to pick holes in(to) sth

also: knock holes in
to find faults or mistakes in (an argument / idea)
bemängeln, widerlegen
He’s very clever, I’m sure he could pick holes in your argument.
cf. to pick a fight / quarrel with sb: to deliberately cause a fight, e.g. by behaving
aggressively
to have a bone to pick with sb
to pick and choose: to make a selection from a number of things, esp. in a slow,
careful, or funny way:
I spent three days picking and choosing before deciding on the wallpaper and the
curtains.
We had to find a flat in a hurry – there was no time to pick and choose.
to pick sb’s brains: ask a lot of questions
to pick up the threads: to start again after an interruption:
Picking up the threads of our discussion, could we return to the topic of student
grants.
686 VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT

It is difficult to pick up the threads when you’ve been abroad for so many years.

19. to poke fun at sb

also: to make fun of (old-fash.: to make sport / game of)
to laugh and make humorous remarks about or cause other people to laugh about sb
/ sth
sich lustig machen über
to poke sb / sth with sth: to push sharply (with a stick / one’s fingers)
to poke sb in the ribs: to nudge him in a friendly way
to poke the fire (with a poke): to make it burn more strongly
to poke sth in sth: to make a hole in sth by pushing one’s fingers, a sharp instrument,
etc through it:
Poke two holes in the sack so you can see through it.
to poke / stick one’s nose into: to interfere though it is not one’s concern:
Don’t go poking your nose into other people’s business!
to poke out / through: be visible coming through (a hole / slit), to protrude:
a finger poking through a hole in his glove
A few daffodils were already poking up (i.e. starting to grow).

20. to run rings (a)round sb

to be a great deal better or more effective at some activity than sb:
She runs rings round all the other students.
jem. in die Tasche stecken

21. to set / clap eyes on sb / sth

cf. 5

22. to shed (a) light (up)on sb / sth

also: cast / throw
ein Licht werfen auf
to cast / shed / throw light on: make sth clearer:
Recent research has shed new light on the causes of the disease.
to shed
1. Trees shed their leaves / snakes shed their skins.
The lorry has shed its load: the load has accidentally fallen off onto the road.
2. to shed tears / blood
3. to take or throw sth off; remove:
to shed one’s clothes on a hot day
The duck’s feathers shed water immediately.
fig.: You must learn to shed (i.e. get rid of) your inhibitions.
cf. to come to light
to give the green light to sb / sth
to hide one’s light under a bushel

23. to steal a march on sb

to gain an advantage over sb by doing sth earlier than expected, by doing sth secretly
or slyly;
refers to an army getting ahead of an opposing army by marching on while the enemy
is resting
jem. zuvorkommen
VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT 687

to be on the march: be marching:

The enemy are on the march at last.
to steal the show / scene / limelight: to attract the most attention and praise, esp.
unexpectedly:
Despite fine acting by several well-known stars, it was a young newcomer who stole
the show.
to steal sb’s thunder: to spoil sb’s attempt to impress by anticipating him, detracting
from what he is doing, saying, etc
to steal a glance / look at sb / sth
to steal into / out of sth:
He stole out of the room.

24. to take a dim view of sth

also: a poor / serious view
to disapprove of sth
wenig, nicht viel halten von
My parents took a dim view of my staying out so late.
dim
a) where or which one cannot see well; not bright:
a dim corridor with no windows
the dim outlines of buildings on a dark night
to read by dim candle-light
b) not clearly remembered, faint:
a dim memory / recollection
c) (of people) lacking intelligence
cf. a dimwit
d) (of the eyes) not able to see well:
His sight is getting dim.
eyes dim with tears
in the dim and distant past: very long ago:
Once in the dim and distant past, I was a student here.

25. to turn the tables on / a deaf ear / blind eye to sb / sth

to turn the tables: to change a situation so that one gains a position of advantage
(over one’s opponent or enemy) after being at a disadvantage
den Spieß umdrehen, sich blind / taub stellen gegenüber jem. / einer Sache
In their first game, John beat Peter, but in the next game Peter turned the tables and
won easily.
to turn a deaf ear to: to refuse to listen (esp. to a request):
He turned a deaf ear to their complaints.
to turn a blind eye to: to take no notice; to stop os deliberately from becoming
concerned with sth:
I’ve decided to turn a blind eye to your rude behaviour on this occasion, but if it
happens again, you’ll be dismissed.

26. to wage war on / against sb / sth

Krieg führen
to wage: to begin and continue (a war):
to wage (a) war against / on poverty and disease
to wage a campaign against smoking
cf. wager: an amount of money risked on uncertain result, bet:
Would you care to have / place a small wager on that?
688 VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT

He wagered me 5 pounds that I wouldn’t do it.

27. to wield an influence over sb / sth

Einfluss ausüben
to wield: to have and / or use power / influence / authority / control:
She wields a lot of influence.
old use and lit: to hold and use as a weapon
to hold in one’s hand(s) and use (a weapon, tool, etc):
to wield a sceptre / an axe / a sword / a tennis racket / a baseball bat
to have a good / bad / beneficial / harmful influence on sb / sth
to exert a powerful influence on sb / sth
to exercise influence on / authority over sb / sth
cf. to brandish: to wave in the air in a threatening or excited way:
She brandished a saucepan at him.
to brandish a(n) gun / axe / a kitchen knife / letter / stick

6 Exercise

1. He tried to curry favour with the King by presenting the Queen with a splendid palfrey.
palfrey: old use: horse trained for riding, esp. for use by a woman: Paßgänger, Zelter
to amble: move at an easy unhurried rate by lifting the two legs on one side and then
on the other
cf. trot: a front foot and the opposite back foot move as a pair gallop
canter: faster than trot, slower than gallop (leichter Galopp, Handgalopp)

2. It is always easy to pick holes in other people’s arguments.

3. A great columnist can wield a tremendous influence over the minds of men.
also: exercise, exert

4. I have decided to part company with my friends and go it alone.

5. It’s not fair that people should poke fun at her because of her freckles.
freckle: small brown spot on the skin:
a freckled nose
When she lies in the sun her face gets covered in freckles.

6. He was so beset with difficulties that he lost sight of his real objective.
7. Now that he has left school he thinks he can cock a snook at his former teachers.
8. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
9. She is not headmistress because she is a woman; it’s just that she can run rings round
most of her male colleagues.
10. The fact that they had access to confidential information enabled them to steal a march on
us in the negotiations for an important contract.
11. The Home Secretary rejected the charges levelled against his Under-Secretary.
12. I usually encourage people to speak their mind, but I draw a line at being rude.
13. It is not uncommon for parents to turn a blind eye to their own children’s faults, but they
are all too ready to criticize them in others.
VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT 689

14. Why waste your time bandying words with that man? Surely, you’ve got more important
things to do.
15. Wherever the Emperor went, he was always accompanied by some sycophants who were
dancing attendance upon him.
sycophant: person who flatters those in position of power in order to gain personal
advantage

16. By a brilliant manoeuvre he completely turned the tables on his adversaries.

17. My policy is to turn a deaf ear to gossip about friends and acquaintances.
18. As soon as I clapped / set eyes on them I knew they were foreigners.
19. She was just sitting there, looking daggers at him while he was chuntering on about their
impending divorce.
20. With his press and interest in literature Caxton helped to pave the way for the humanistic
studies during the first half of the 16th century.
21. It’s high time someone blew the whistle on his dishonest practices.
22. He asked me if I was prepared to defray the costs of the law-suit.
23. I’ve read this letter several times, but I can’t make head or tail of it.
24. At the prize-giving ceremony the headmaster lavished praise on all those who had been
awarded grants.
25. I’ve failed my exam and don’t know how to break the news to my parents.
26. Pepys’s diary sheds an interesting light upon life in 17th-century England.
27. He takes a dim view of his lawyer’s professional standards.
28. They spent the whole afternoon arguing, but when they parted company they were friends
again.
29. If your father finds out about us, he’ll soon blow the whistle on our friendship.
30. In their attempt to establish an independent state the Sikhs have constantly been waging
war on their neighbours.
Sikh: a member of a religion (Sikkism) that developed from Hinduism in the 18th
century

7 Exercise

to allay fears / doubt / suffering / suspicion / trouble / concern / anger

to cause to be felt less strongly:
I hope this statement will allay public fears.
His efforts to allay fears met with little success.

to ascertain facts / the cause of sth

to find out that sth is the case, make sure, get to know:
I ascertained that Joe was still sound asleep.
We were unable to ascertain who the owners are.
The police are trying to ascertain exactly who was at the party / what really happened.
690 VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT

to audit accounts
to make an official examination (of the account of a business):
The accounts have to be audited by a firm of external auditors.
The yearly audit takes place each December.
The firm hasn’t had a proper audit for over a year.
to carry out / conduct a(n) annual / yearly / internal / external audit

to collate (ancient) manuscripts / editions / books / notes / pieces of information /

versions of a story
to examine carefully in order to find the difference between them:
It took an hour to collate all the findings.
All the evidence has been collated in a fresh dossier on the case.
to collate a new edition with an earlier one

to compound a medicine
to compound
1. sth (from / of) make (a substance or quality) by combining parts:
This medicine was compounded from several drugs.
He compounded the drugs into a medicine.
They specialise in local dishes compounded of fresh fish and vegetables.
2. make worse by adding or increasing, exacerbate:
Our difficulties were compounded by the language barrier.
to compound an error
Her uncertainty was now compounded by fear.
Initial planning errors were compounded by carelessness in carrying the plan out.

to condone wrongdoing / adultery / fraud / violence

to treat or regard (an offence) as if it were not serious or wrong, overlook, forgive:
Not punishing them amounts to condoning their crime.
I cannot condone the use of violence.
You sound as though you condone the terrorists.

to corroborate a statement / theory / a(n) account / argument / belief / idea / prediction /

diagnosis / findings / view / a charge against sb / story
to confirm or give support to:
Experiments have corroborated his predictions.
Someone who saw the accident corroborated the driver’s statement.
The Scoots entered the witness box one by one to corroborate the charges.
corroborative evidence / reports / accounts

to counterfeit money / coins / handwriting / jewels

to copy, imitate in order to deceive:
The gang of criminals counterfeited ten-pound notes.
cf. to forge / fake / falsify / adulterate / cook / fiddle / rig / fix
Note: counterfeit (adj.)
counterfeit money / passports / sympathy

to defer (making) a decision / a / one’s departure / payment

to postpone, delay until a later date:
His military service was deferred until he finished college.
The company will defer payment for whatever length of time you require.
VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT 691

to dismantle an engine / a machine / a faulty motor (for repairs) / an exhibition

1. take apart, to be able to be taken to pieces:
This machine dismantles easily.
2. bring to an end (a system, arrangement) esp. by gradual stages:
The new government set about dismantling their predecessors’ legislation.
We should dismantle our inefficient tax system.
They’ve been accused of dismantling the welfare state.
cf. to cannibalize

to disown a child / one’s responsibility for sth

to refuse to accept as one’s own, say that one has no connection with:
The organisation disowned him when he was arrested for fraud.
Her father disowned and disinherited her.
If you behave like that in front of my friends again, I’ll disown you.

to dress a wound / a cut

to clean(se) and put medicine and a protective covering on a wound:
She carried him to her house where his wounds were dressed.
dressing: material used to cover and protect a wound:
to apply a dressing to / put a dressing on a wound
to change / replace / remove a dressing
a sterile dressing
a dressing comes off

to exorcise a(n evil) spirit / a ghost / the memory of sth

1. to drive out an evil spirit from a place or person by solemn command, expel:
They called in a priest to exorcise the ghost (from the house).
2. to get rid of (esp. a bad thought or feeling):
He couldn’t exorcise the memory of the plane crash.
We gradually exorcised our feelings of panic and terror.

to foment discontent / civil disorder / discord / distrust / ill-feeling / rebellion / trouble /

revolution / racial tension
to help (sth evil or unpleasant) to develop, esp. over a long period of time:
He accused the government’s enemies of deliberately seeking to foment rebellion.
the art of fomenting distrust between one’s opponents

to indent a line
to indent
1. to make a usually toothlike or v-shaped mark on the surface or edge of sth:
an indented surface / coastline
2. to start (a line of writing) further into the page than the other:
In English the first line of a paragraph is often indented.
an indentation
to indent for sth: to make an official request:
We had to indent / make an indent for new equipment.

to infringe a right / copyright / law / patent / agreement / regulation / sb’s liberty

to infringe sth: to break, violate
to infringe on sth: affect so as to limit or restrict it, encroach on:
He considers that the school is infringing (upon) his rights as a parent by punishing his
son in that way.
They occasionally infringe the law by parking near a junction.
692 VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT

I found that the constant surveillance was infringing on my private life.

to lodge a complaint / a protest / an appeal / objection

to lodge
1. provide with a place to sleep or live in for a time:
The refugees are lodged in an old army camp.
I’m lodging at Mrs Brown’s (house) / with Mrs Brown.
2. (cause to) enter and become fixed in:
The bullet was lodged in his brain.
Several bullets lodged in the door.
The explosion lodged a small piece of metal in his left shoulder.
3. to lodge sth with sb / in sth: to leave (money) with sb (in sth for safety):
He lodged his valuables in the bank.
4. to lodge sth (with sb) (against sb): present (a statement etc) to the proper authorities
for attention:
He lodged a complaint with the police against one of his neighbours.

to moot a question / a proposal / a name / an idea

usually in the passive: to raise a matter for discussion, propose:
The question was first mooted many years ago.
His name was mooted as a possible successor.
cf. a moot point / question: matter about which there is uncertainty, undecided point:
It’s a moot point whether men or women are better drivers.

to ordain a priest
to ordain sb (as a) priest
to ordain
1. make sb a priest / minister:
When he was first ordained he served as a hospital chaplain.
She was ordained the first woman priest of the Church of England.
2. (of God / law / authority) order, command, decide in advance:
Fate has ordained that he should die in poverty.

to parse a sentence
to parse
1. describe the grammatical form and function (of a word), giving its part of speech,
case, etc
2. divide a sentence into parts and describe them grammatically
an automatic parser that uses a computer programme

to ply a trade
to ply
1. (esp. of a taxi driver) drive around or wait at a particular place looking for pass-
engers:
You won’t find many taxis plying for hire at this time of night.
Taxis licensed to ply for hire at the railway station.
2. (between) of a taxi, bus, or esp. a boat: travel regularly:
This ship plies between Southampton and Australia.
Ferries ply between England and France.
3. (lit. / old use) work at (one’s trade) esp. regularly:
It’s difficult for window cleaners to ply their trade round here.
Jim marvelled at the way his idol plies his craft.
VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT 693

4. use or work steadily with (a tool):

She sat plying her needle / sewing.
The expert used these three tools and plied them with patience.

to propound a theory / a problem / point of view / an idea / argument / a policy / a scheme

to put forward as a question or matter for consideration:
This line of argument is propounded largely by the more influential US commentators.

to rig an election / a football match

to rig
1. provide (a ship) with the necessary ropes, sails, etc:
a fully-rigged vessel
fig.: to dress up:
They rigged the little boy out as a sailor.
She rigged herself out in a bright orange uniform.
2. arrange an event dishonestly for one’s own advantage, control fraudulently:
These darts are rigged. Some of them don’t stick in the board.
She had rigged the cards.
to rig the market: to cause an artificial rise or fall in share prices in order to make
(illegal) profits

to subpoena a witness
to order to attend a court by means of a subpoena
a subpoena: written order to attend a court of law
to serve a subpoena on a witness:
The prosecution subpoenaed her (to appear) as a witness.

to waive a claim / a privilege / right / rule

to state officially that a right, rule, etc can be ignored, is no longer in effect:
We’ve decided to waive the age-limit for applicants in your case.
We cannot waive this rule except in the case of illness.
He has waived all claims to the money.
Rules about proper dress may be waived.
The court decided to waive her fine because she was a first offender.
cf. to bend a rule / to make an exception

8 Exercise

1. He said he wished to defer his decision until after his return.

2. A number of extremists attempted to foment trouble in certain sectors of the community.
3. Convinced that the rejection of the application was unwarranted, he decided to lodge a
complaint with the authorities.
unwarranted: not welcome and done without good reason:
an unwarranted intrusion into my private affairs
unwarranted interference / criticism / waste of public money

4. He has waived all claim to the money left by his father-in-law.

5. We tried to assure the old lady that flying was quite safe these days, but nothing could
allay her fears.
6. Numerous theories, trying to explain the origin of the earth, have been propounded.
694 VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT

7. The engine is out of kilter; I’m afraid we’ll have to dismantle it completely.
8. The accounts of the firm are usually audited every two years.
9. She was ordained the first woman priest of her church.
10. The compositor had forgotten to indent the first lines of each paragraph.
a compositor: arranges type for print
a composer: writes music

11. The Bishop himself was called upon to exorcise the evil spirits which were supposed to
haunt the vicarage.
12. The judge said he would have to ascertain the real facts of the case.
13. These manuscripts will have to be carefully collated in order to establish any divergencies.
14. At the annual Labour Conference the question of whether Britain should denationalize her
steel industry has been mooted again.
a denationalized / privatized / nationalized industry

15. He was prosecuted for having attempted to counterfeit greenbacks.

greenback: (AE dated) US dollar

16. As there were no nurses available, he had to dress the wound himself.
17. They were obviously welcoming the chance to earn a little extra money by plying the only
trade they knew.
to ply / practise a trade
She is a bookbinder by trade.

18. It did not take the pharmacist long to compound the medicine.
19. Since his wife was suddenly taken ill, he had to defer his departure for a week.
20. The judge asked Mr Smith if he had seen the accident and could corroborate the
statements made by the other witnesses.
to conform / bear out / back up / support

21. I resent people who try to infringe my rights.

22. Do you think that she should have condoned her husband’s infidelity?
23. The teacher had his students parse sentences ad nauseam.
24. The eldest son was so wicked that his father disowned him and cut him off without a
penny.
25. The judge asked counsel for the defence whether he had subpoenaed the witness.
26. He decided to lodge a strongly worded protest against the town council’s decision not to
grant him planning permission.
27. Rigging elections is common practice in countries ruled by dictators or military juntas.
junta: government, esp. a military one that has come to power by force rather than
through elections
VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT 695

9 Exercise

to beat a (hasty) retreat / beat time

to go away quickly so as to avoid sth unpleasant:
to beat / make / carry out a hasty / precipitate retreat
They boys beat a hasty retreat after crashing the car they had stolen.
The poachers beat a hasty retreat when they saw the police coming.
to sound the retreat: to give the signal for retreat
to beat time:
She beat time to the music with her fingers.
to be in / out of time (with)
to sing in / out of time with the music:
The violins are playing out of time.

to bury the hatchet

to agree to be friends again after having a quarrel, esp. a long one:
Court Feud Couple Bury the Hatchet. A couple who went to court yesterday to fight
about their marriage left the building arm-in-arm a few hours later. (Daily Mirror)

to change colour
to become pale or grow red in the face / blush, esp. because one feels awkward or
guilty:
The young boy changed colour when his mother asked him whether he had a girl-
friend yet.
to change / swap places
to change sides
to change one’s mind / one’s tune
to change horses in midstream

to chew the cud / fat

to chew the cud: to think deeply about sth, to ponder sth, reflect upon sth already said
or done:
He sat for a long time chewing the cud before he made a decision.
Whenever you two get together you do nothing but chew the cud of schoolboy
memories. I’ve heard these stories so often I’m bored stiff.
Referring to the thoughtful look of cows when they chew the cud, i.e. bring back food
from their first stomach and chew it in their mouth again.
to chew the fat / rag: to talk about affairs, events, etc esp. those of other people, in a
careless way; to chat, have an argument or (near) quarrel with sb over sth:
Most of the older women meet to chew the fat with their neighbours every morning.
“The other typists won’t like you appointing the new girl to be your private secretary.”
– “Oh, that will give them sth to chew the fat / rag about in their coffee-breaks.”
cf. to chew sth over: to think about sth slowly and carefully:
to chew over a problem
I’ll give you time to chew it over.
cf. to sleep on sth
to bite off more than one can chew: to attempt to do more than one can deal with or
succeed in finishing:
I told him he would be biting off more than he could chew if he tried to rebuild the
house himself.
696 VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT

to down tools
to stop work at the end of the day, for any official break, or as part of a strike or other
protest
fig.: to pause in, or discontinue, any activity:
The workers decided to down tools until their employers would agree to pay them
more money.
As soon as the clock strikes five, they down tools and off they go.
to down sb / sth
a) knock down:
The champion downed his challenger in the third round.
b) drink quickly:
He had downed four beers and we advised him not to drive home.

to draw a blank
to fail to obtain, learn, find sth one is searching for, or hopes to get
from drawing a blank ticket in a lottery, but “draw blank” is a hunting term for failure to
start game in a covert, etc where one hoped to find it:
Well, he might be at his club, but if you draw a blank there, I don’t know where to
suggest.
I lost my coat yesterday and have looked for it everywhere, but so far I’ve drawn a
blank.
The screen / my mind suddenly went blank.
Fill in all the blanks on the form.
cf. blank – empty – vacant
a blank cheque / cartridge / sheet of paper / cassette / disk

to drop a hint / sb a line

to drop a (broad) hint: to refer indirectly to sth, make a suggestion indirectly, or
tactfully, in order to give the listener an opportunity to do sth that the speaker wants
him to do:
to drop / give / take a hint
a(n) broad / obvious / delicate / gentle / subtle / helpful hint
His visit to France, which was to have started last Tuesday, was postponed on his plea
of influenza. Dark hints were dropped about a “diplomatic illness”.
to drop sb a line / letter
note: to write a short note
to drop a suggestion / remark
to drop: stop discussing, give up
to drop a plan / the charges against sb / a subject / an idea / formalities
to drop names: overuse of the names of celebrated or influential persons in order to
impress others with one’s acquaintance with, or knowledge of them
to drop a brick / clanger: say or do sth that causes embarrassment, or that should not
have been said or done in the company present:
Mary did not realize what a clanger she had dropped when she asked her hostess if
the soup came out of a tin.

to face the music

to face the difficulties arising from sth one has done, esp. to deal with them as bravely
as one can; to meet a crisis, an emergency with boldness and confidence:
He knew he’d never get away with it so he decided to face the music and give himself
up to the police.
We agreed that we should ask the Prime Minister for a new Minister of Defence. But
that agreement came to nothing, since my two colleagues declined to face the music
on the day of the battle.
VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT 697

cf. to be music to one’s ears:

(of a piece of news, an event, etc) to be very pleasant to sb, to give sb profit or
pleasure:
The name of the horse he had bet on was called as the winner. “Ah,” he said, “that’s
music to my ears.”

to flog a dead horse

to keep trying to get satisfaction from sth that cannot or can no longer give it; to
spend one’s time and energy in promoting some activity, or belief, that is already
accepted, or widely rejected or outdated:
You have amazed many people by your advanced views on education forty years ago,
but now you’re just flogging a dead horse.
You’re flogging a dead horse by asking him to lend you money – he hasn’t even got
enough for himself.
to flog os / sth to death / into the ground: to ruin, to make too heavy demands on:
If you go on driving like this you’ll flog the engine into the ground.
If he carries on like this he’ll flog himself to death.
to flog sth to death: to repeat so often that it becomes boring:
That suggestion has been absolutely flogged to death.

to gain ground
to advance, make progress, become more important or powerful:
Astrology fanatics seem to be gaining ground.
His pursuers were gaining ground on him rapidly.
cf. to lose / give ground: to lose or give up an advantage or power:
The struggle to save the old buildings in the town is losing ground because of the
need for more business offices.
to hold one’s ground: to keep one’s advantage, power:
We held our ground against five enemy attacks.
to be on familiar / one’s own ground:
When the conversation turns to football he’s on (his) familiar ground.
to be on safe / dangerous ground:
When you start discussing politics with him you’ll be on dangerous ground.

to heave a (deep) sigh

to heave / let out / give / breathe a (deep) sigh (of relief)
a(n) (in)audible / profound / deep sigh
to sigh with disappointment / sadness / despair / relief
to sigh for sb / sth:
She sighed for the friends she had left behind.
to heave
1. lift and pull or push with great effort:
We heaved him to his feet.
We heaved the piano up the steps.
2. throw (esp. sth heavy):
The children have just heaved a brick through the window.
3. rise and fall regularly:
Her chest heaved as she breathed deeply after the race.
4. give out a sound, esp. a sad sound:
We all heaved a sigh of relief.
to heave a groan
698 VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT

to kill time
to do sth to pass the time and prevent os from being bored, esp. when forced to wait,
make time pass quickly by finding sth to do:
He killed time (by) reading a newspaper while waiting for the bus.
We killed time / an hour window-shopping.

to lend sb a hand
also: to give / lend sb a helping hand
cf. to lend one’s ear to: to listen to, esp. in response to an appeal or request to do so:
Most people are only too keen to talk about their disabilities to anybody willing to lend
an ear.
to lend os / one’s name / voice to sth: allow os / one’s name to be associated with:
He’s a man who would never lend his name to violence.
She lent her name to many worthy causes.
Note: to loan sth to sb / sb sth (fml.):
The National Gallery loaned a painting to the Louvre.
I’ll loan you my car over the weekend.
cf. These paintings are on loan from the National Gallery.

to miss the boat / bus

to be too late or fail to take advantage of a chance when it is offered, lose an
opportunity to do or obtain sth:
Paul arrived late at the party and found that he had missed the boat. Judy was already
dancing with someone else.
Don’t miss the bus! Take advantage of our free offer now!
If we don’t offer a good price for the house now, we’ll probably miss the boat
altogether.
to miss an opportunity / a chance / doing sth:
I missed being run over this morning.

to nurse a grievance / grudge / resentment / anger / sorrow / old wounds / hurt feelings
to continue to think about a resentment; not allow it, or other painful or undesirable
feelings or mental reactions, to fade or be forgotten:
If you feel you are misunderstood, don’t nurse hurt feelings – speak out and clear the
matter up.
She still nursed a grudge against her husband’s new wife.
to air / vent a grievance
to file / submit a (formal) grievance
to harbour / nurse a grievance
to redress / settle a grievance
a just / legitimate / valid / unjustified grievance
cf. to nurse a viper in one’s bosom: to give protection or help to a person who is
harmful to os:
The leaders of that political party will soon be forced to admit that they have been
nursing vipers in their bosom – that man’s ideas could lose them a lot of support.

to produce a play
to prepare and bring before the public, to arrange the performance of a play, opera or
the making of a film, TV programme, record etc:
The book / play was produced on a very small budget.
She is producing ‘Hamlet’ at the local theatre.
He hopes to find the money to produce a film about Japan.
VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT 699

producer
1. person in charge of a film or theatrical production, who obtains the money to make
the film or put on the play, and arranges the schedules, publicity, etc
2. person who arranges the making of a TV or radio programme, record, etc
3. (esp. in the amateur theatre) person who arranges the performance of a play, tells
the actors what to do, director
4. director of an opera performance

to rule the roost

to be the one who directs others in community, business, household, etc; be more
important, popular, have more influence, than other persons, things of a similar kind:
I rule the roost in this house, and if I tell my daughter to be home before midnight, I
expect to be obeyed.
It’s his wife who really rules the roost in that house.
cf. wears the trousers
roost
bar, branch on which birds settle at night, esp. hens in a henhouse
cf. rooster: esp. AE for cock
to come home / back to roost: (of a bad or unwise action) to have a bad effect on the
doer, esp. after a period of time:
Their lack of financial planning is coming to roost.

to run a temperature
also: to have
temperature
1. the heat of the body:
The nurse took my temperature with a thermometer.
2. a bodily temperature higher than the correct one, a fever:
If you’ve got / are running a temperature, you should stay in bed.
cf. She has a high fever.
The fever will soon go down / abate.
fig. He was in a fever of impatience waiting for her to come.
Football fever gripped the town when the local team reached the cup final.
Our excitement rose to fever pitch (i.e. to the highest degree) as the great day
approached.

to shoulder a burden / responsibility / duty / guilt / blame / the cost(s) of sth / duties
also: carry / bear a burden
to accept:
The local residents are being asked to shoulder the costs of the repairs.
also literally: She shouldered her rucksack and set off along the road.

to smell a rat
to suspect that sth is wrong, that sb is trying to deceive one:
The policeman smelt a rat when the man said he hadn’t been out all night – but there
was fresh mud on his boots.
to smell danger / trouble (coming)
cf. sth smells fishy:
His account smells fishy to me (i.e. I suspect it is not true).

to split hairs
to argue over or to be too interested in small or unimportant details:
David loves to split hairs. At the zoo yesterday we saw an elephant and of course he
had to point out that it was an Indian elephant, not an African one.
700 VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT

to stifle a yawn / sigh

to stifle (a / an) rebellion / laugh / cry / sob / ideas / initiative / anger / scream / talent /
flames / opposition / competition / cough
to stifle
1. feel or make (sb) unable to breathe (easily) because of lack of fresh air, suffocate:
We were stifling in that hotel room with all the windows closed.
The smoke filled the room and almost stifled the firemen.
a baby stifled by a pillow
2. extinguish, put out:
They stifled the flames with a blanket.
3. suppress
stifling(ly)
It’s stifling in here, open a window.
the stifling atmosphere of the royal court with all its petty rules
It’s stifling(ly) hot.
It was a stifling hot day.

to stretch a point
to go beyond what is usually allowed, make a concession; extend a regulation or
definition, to cover sth that is usually not included:
She doesn’t have all the qualifications but I think we should stretch a point in her
favour.
cf. to bend the rules

to talk shop
to discuss one’s work with colleagues, esp. when with other people (who are not
interested):
They did nothing but talk shop, and my wife came home early because it was so
boring.
There was nothing but shop-talking at the party.

to wear the trousers / breeches / pants

to be the dominant partner in a marriage:
It would be quite false to call Tom a hen-pecked husband, nevertheless one does
gather the impression that she wears the trousers.
As soon as they’ve finished eating he piles up the plates and goes into the kitchen to
do the washing-up – it’s quite clear who wears the trousers in that house.
cf. to catch sb with his pants / trousers down: to catch, trap sb when he / she is
unprepared or not being watched:
The military aircraft was sent out to attack the weapons factories of the enemy and
succeeded in catching them with their pants down.

10 Exercise

1. You’ll just be flogging a dead horse if you try to make him change his will.
Zeit verschwenden
2. Isn’t it understandable that Ian, who got fined £50 for a parking offence, should nurse a
grievance?
Verdruss empfinden, Groll hegen
VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT 701

3. We were all bored to tears and some of us had difficulty to stifle a yawn.
unterdrücken
4. After her husband’s death she had to shoulder the burden of supporting the family.
auf sich nehmen
5. On hearing that her son had passed the viva she sighed a deep sigh of relief.
ausstoßen
to breathe / give / utter / heave a sigh
viva (voce): oral exam
to get / have / take a viva
6. We don’t usually admit anyone under the age of 21 to our club, but in your case I think we
might stretch a point.
ein Auge zudrücken, fünf gerade sein lassen, es nicht so genau nehmen
7. As soon as my lawyers have drawn up the contract I’ll drop you a line.
eine Nachricht zukommen lassen, ein paar Zeilen schreiben
8. Had we brought out this product six months ago, we would have made a fortune; but now
we’ve probably missed the bus.
Anschluss, Chance verpassen
9. He’d had haggis for lunch and in the evening he had gall trouble and was running a
temperature.
Fieber, Temperatur haben
haggis: Scottish dish made from sheep’s heart, lungs and liver
10. His excuses were so flimsy that I smelt a rat.
Lunte, den Braten riechen, Verdacht schöpfen
11. She dropped a few hints about her birthday to make sure we wouldn’t forget it.
Andeutungen machen, Bemerkungen fallen lassen
12. The practice of contracting all right to alright seems to be gaining ground.
an Boden gewinnen, um sich greifen
13. My wife thought that the party was boring because we spent most of the time talking
shop.
fachsimplen
14. You would not exactly call him a hen-pecked husband, nevertheless, I have the impression
that his wife is wearing the trousers.
die Hosen anhaben, das Regiment führen
15. There is no doubt as to who rules the roost in this clan; it’s the eldest son.
das Sagen haben, Herr im Hause sein
16. I’ve been trying to find out her present whereabouts, but so far I have drawn a blank.
eine Niete ziehen, kein Glück haben
17. It will be extremely difficult to produce a new play on such a small budget.
herausbringen, produzieren, aufführen
18. If we all lend a hand, it shouldn’t take us too long to get the job done.
mit anpacken
19. This row won’t get us anywhere, so let’s bury the hatchet and make a new start.
das Kriegsbeil begraben
702 VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT

20. Bill knew he’d never get away with it, so he decided to face the music and give himself up
to the police.
gerade stehen für
21. When they realized the disastrous consequences of their decision, they beat a hasty
retreat.
das Feld räumen, klein beigeben
22. He’s a smart aleck, the sort of nit-picking fool who just likes to split hairs.
Haarspalterei betreiben
smart alec(k), (also: smarty-pants / smart-arse): person who acts as if he or she is very
clever and knows everything (Besserwisser, Klugscheißer)
nit-picking: finding fault in a petty way (pingelig, Korinthenkacker, Erbsenzähler)
23. They just sat there drinking beer and chew the cud until it was time to go home.
vor sich hingrübeln, sinnieren
24. He bought himself a paper and tried to kill time (by) doing the crossword puzzle while
waiting for his wife.
Zeit totschlagen
25. The workers threatened to down tools unless their demands were met.
Arbeit niederlegen
cf. to walk out (on strike), take industrial action
26. If this young man means nothing to her, as she claims, why did she change colour at the
mention of his name?
Farbe wechseln, erröten
27. Could you lend a hand with these trunks, please?
mit anpacken, helfen

11 Exercise

to air one’s knowledge

also: to parade one’s knowledge / one’s concern over sth / one’s learning / one’s new
clothes
to show, demonstrate, the (great) amount of knowledge one has on a subject or
subjects, often in a boastful and superior way:
The author seldom misses an opportunity to parade his knowledge, we are meant to
be impressed, but for every fact he gets right there are half a dozen he gets wrong.
cf. to air clothing / bedding / sheets / clothes
to air one’s views / opinions / prejudices / ideas / grievances / differences:
to make them known in either speech or writing (the implication sometimes being that
the recipients may not like or want such opinions):
He finished by saying that the purpose of the meeting was to air our views, and to give
him ideas which he could think over.
He spoke on the radio, airing his views to the nation.
They agreed to refrain from publicly airing their differences.
VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT 703

to arouse sb’s curiosity / suspicion / interest / sympathy

to arouse
1. sb (from / out of sth): to wake sb from sleep:
He was aroused from his nap by the door bell.
to arouse sb from apathy / inactivity
2. sth: to cause to appear, awaken:
Her strange behaviour aroused our suspicion.
He succeeded in arousing the nation’s sympathy.
Discontent was aroused by the various attempts to change the law.
to arouse public concern / expectations / anger / fear / dislike

to boost sb’s morale

to boost production / sales / imports / demand / (share) prices / profits / sb’s ego /
confidence
to increase the strength or value of; to help or encourage:
The unexpected win boosted the team’s morale.
We need a holiday to boost our spirits.
She’s always trying to boost his ego by telling him how clever he is.
These changes will help to boost share prices / profits / demands.
to give a (much-needed) boost to sb / sth:
Last night’s news will give a great boost to our economy.
That will be a real ego-boost.

to burn one’s boats

also: one’s bridges (behind one)
to take some irrevocable step and thereby commit oneself to a course of action; to act
very firmly in a way that will not allow the opportunity to change one’s mind later:
I changed my mind about giving up my job, but unfortunately I had burnt my boats by
telling my boss that I was leaving.

to call sb’s bluff

to challenge sb to do what they are threatening to do (believing that they will not dare
to do it):
When he threatened to dismiss me I called his bluff.
Mike had often said he could swim 5 miles, so we decided to call his bluff and make
him prove it.
to fall for sb’s bluff: be deceived by a false threat

to crane one’s neck

to stretch one’s neck
to crane (forward) in order to get a better view:
Jane craned her neck to look for her mother in the crowd.
crane (n)
1. a bird with long legs, neck and beak
2. a machine or vehicle with a long movable arm from which heavy weights can be
hung in order to lift or move them

to dip one’s headlights

to dip
1. put into a liquid for a moment:
I dipped my pen in the ink.
to dip one’s hand in the water
704 VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT

2. (cause) to drop slightly, go below a surface or level:

The sun dipped below the western sea.
The road dips just around the corner.
3. pass (animals) through a bath containing a chemical that kills insects:
to dip sheep
to dip into sth
1. read short parts of a book, magazine, but not the whole thing:
It’s the kind of book you can dip into now and again.
2. use some of an amount of money that you have:
Medical bills forced her to dip into her savings.
Parents are asked to dip into their pockets for new school books.
to flash one’s headlights at sb / sth:
You’d better slow down. That car was flashing (its lights) at you.
to have one’s flashlights / headlights on:
Because of the fog all the cars had their headlights on.
breaklight(s)
parking / side light(s)
rear / tail light(s)

to enlist sb’s help

to enlist
1. enter or cause to enter the armed forces:
Have you enlisted yet?
He enlisted as a soldier in the army as soon as he was old enough.
They enlisted 400 recruits for the navy.
2. enlist sth / sb in / for sth
to obtain help, support, etc:
I’ve enlisted the co-operation of most of my neighbours in the campaign.
Can I enlist your help in raising the money?
We have enlisted a few volunteers to help clean the hall.

to feather one’s (own) nest

to look after one’s own interests, esp. by accumulating money or property (the
implication almost always being that greed, selfishness or dishonesty is involved):
That man does not really care about providing good houses cheaply; he just wants to
feather his own nest.
to foul one’s own nest: to pollute, or bring disgrace, to one’s own country, home,
family, profession:
If he refuses to help his neighbours now he’ll just be fouling his own nest – they’ll
never help him again.

to follow one’s bent

to do what one is interested in and enjoys doing:
Several of the boys who seemed stubbornly stupid under the former system now
showed plenty of common sense when allowed to follow their own bents.
to have / show a bent for sth: have a natural tendency or special skill:
She has a bent for art / an artistic bent / a (natural) bent for music.
bent (adj.)
1. dishonest, esp. by allowing os to be influenced by money or gifts / bribes:
a bent policeman (opp. straight)
2. bent (up)on (doing) sth: with one’s mind set, determined:
She’s bent on a career on the stage / on becoming an actress.
3. homosexual
VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT 705

to gratify sb’s curiosity

to gratify
1. (esp. passive) give pleasure, satisfaction to sb:
I was most gratified at / by / with the outcome of the meeting.
It gratified me to hear of your success.
I was gratified that they appreciated what I did for them.
2. give sb what is desired, indulge:
to gratify a person’s whims / desires
To gratify my curiosity, do tell me what it is.
Now she has a job in France she can gratify her desire to see Europe.
gratification:
His family’s success was a gratification to him in his old age.

to hedge one’s bets

to try to make os safe against possible loss, esp. by putting money in other
businesses; to make a number of smaller bets to protect os from a possible loss on a
main stake:
Diversification? You could call it industry’s way of hedging its bets.
to buy gold as a hedge against inflation
to hedge
1. put a hedge around
2. avoid giving a direct answer to a question, refuse to commit os:
Answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’ – stop hedging!
You’re hedging again – have you got the money or haven’t you?
to be hedged about / around with sth: to be full of, surrounded by, esp. in a way that
causes difficulty or limits one’s actions:
We’re trying to build an extension to the house, but the whole procedure seems to be
hedged about with problems.

to incur sb’s displeasure

to incur debts / losses / costs / great expenses / sb’s anger / disapproval
to receive as a result of one’s actions, to bring upon os, to cause os to suffer (sth bad):
I incurred her displeasure somehow; was it something I said?
Other expenses incurred: ...
The company incurred heavy losses in its first year.

to lose one’s bearings

to become suddenly confused and not know where one is or what one should be
doing:
The boy had lost his bearings in the dark and could not find his way home.
I’m afraid I’ve rather lost my bearings about the present political situation.
to find / get / take one’s bearings: to find out one’s position, where one is, what one
should do, esp. in a new situation:
to find / get one’s bearings in a new job
The road system was so complicated that it took us some time to find / get / take our
bearings.
bearing:
1. way of standing, walking; deportment; behaviour:
a man of soldierly bearing
her dignified bearing throughout the trial
2. bearing on: relevance to:
What he said had not much bearing on the problem.
706 VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT

3. bearings; aspects:
We must consider the questions in all its bearings.
to be past (all) bearing: no longer to be tolerated

to mince one’s words, not to

also: not mince matters
to speak honestly and truthfully without trying to be too kind, speak plainly, bluntly:
Not to mince matters, your work is getting worse each week.
I won’t mince words (with you): your plan is stupid.
to make mincemeat of sb: to defeat thoroughly, prove (an argument) to be totally
incorrect:
The teacher had been studying this period of history all his life, and he made
mincemeat of any ideas that did not agree with his own.
mincemeat: a sweet spicy mixture of small pieces of apple, currants and other fruit
which is eaten, esp. at Christmas, inside pastry cases
minced meat / beef / lamb: meat which has been cut into very small pieces
in a recipe: Mince the lean meat finely.

to mind one’s p’s and q’s / one’s (own) business

also: to watch
to be careful that one is polite and well-behaved:
You’ll have to mind your p’s and q’s if you want to be invited there again.
It is probably originally a warning to a printer (compositor), instructing him to be
careful of the letters p and q when preparing to print a page.
to mind one’s manners / language / tongue / one’s own business:
Tony, mind your own bloody business. I’ve never interfered with anything you did.
Why don’t you mind your own business? What is it to you whether I marry Margaret or
not?

to pull a person’s leg

to say sth in a joking way, tease, make fun of sb in a friendly way, e.g. by trying to
make him believe sth that is not true
leg-pulling / a leg-pull:
He had to suffer a great deal of leg pulling from his friends because he had a new girl-
friend.
You have to learn to tolerate a few leg-pulls without getting angry.

to purse one’s lips

to draw one’s lips tightly together, esp. indicating disapproval, doubt, concentrated
thought
We could tell from his body language that he was very self-conscious.
body language:
to clench fist anger, aggression
to crease / wrinkle /
furrow / knit brows concentration, puzzlement
to drum fingers impatience
to lick lips anticipation
to purse lips disapproval, dislike
to raise eyebrows inquiry, surprise
to shrug shoulders doubt, indifference
to stick out tongue disrespect
to twiddle thumbs idleness
to wrinkle nose dislike, distaste
VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT 707

to queer sb’s pitch

to cause trouble for a person, e.g. by ruining or upsetting his plans or arrangements:
It will really queer their pitch if it rains on the day of their trip to the sea.
I think I’m likely to get the job, but if Bob applies for it too it / he could queer my pitch.
pitch: here it refers to the place, e.g. in the street or market, where a person stands
and arranges his goods for sale. Originally someone was said to queer a person’s
pitch if he established his pitch close by, selling the same goods.

to quench one’s thirst

to satisfy by drinking:
to quench flames / a fire
When it’s hot it’s best to quench your thirst with water.
Her thirst for knowledge will never be quenched.

to rack one’s brains

also: to cudgel one’s brain(s)
to think hard about sth, esp. to try and work out the answer to a difficult problem:
Whenever the question of football hooliganism comes up, I rack my brains to think of
punishment which is bad enough for these dreadful people.
cf. to beat one’s / sb’s brains out
1. spend a lot of time in thinking or worrying over a subject:
I’ve been beating my brains out for hours trying to decide what to do next.
2. beat sb’s brains out
hit sb very violently, esp. on the head:
Do that again, and I’ll beat your brains out!
to blow one’s / sb’s brains out: kill by a shot in the head:
He took a gun and blew her brains out.
to be on the rack: be suffering great physical or mental pain:
A couple of years ago he was on the rack, following accusations of fraud and
corruption.

to sing one’s / sb’s (high) praises

to sing the praises of sb / sth
to praise very highly and with great eagerness:
You won’t endear yourself to your doctor by continually singing the praises of his
predecessor.
On the day after his first performance in London all the newspapers sang the praises
of this new young actor.
The critics are singing the praises of her new book.

to swallow one’s pride

also: pocket one’s pride
to humble os, esp. in order to do or obtain sth, or to admit error or guilt, to do sth
though one would usually feel ashamed to do it:
He was forced to swallow his pride and ask if he could have his old job back.
to swallow one’s anger / sb’s insults
to swallow the bait:
I told Dad that if he let me borrow the car for the weekend, I’d clean it for him, but he
didn’t swallow the bait.
708 VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT

to tender one’s resignation

to tender
1. offer, present sth formally:
May I tender my services?
He tendered his resignation to the PM.
2. tender for: to make an offer (to carry out work, supply goods, etc):
Firms are invited to tender for the construction of a new motorway.

to twiddle one’s thumbs

to do nothing useful or helpful, waste time:
I sat twiddling my thumbs waiting for him to finish using the phone.
You’re not being paid to twiddle your thumbs all day, you know!
to twiddle (with) sth: to twist or turn sth, esp. idly or aimlessly:
She twiddled with the controls of the radio until she found the station.
She sat twiddling the ring on her finger.

to vent one’s ill-temper (on sb)

to find or provide an outlet for (an emotion):
to vent one’s anger / spleen / fury / frustration / rage / wrath (on sb) (by doing sth):
After a tiring day at the office, he vented his anger / spleen on his wife.
He vented his spleen by shouting at his wife.
to give (full) vent to one’s anger, etc:
When he told her that he wanted to end their marriage, she gave vent to all her
bitterness and unhappiness that had been locked inside her.
spleen: bad temper, irritability, grumpiness

12 Exercise

1. Being a man who never minces / minced his words, he told them in no uncertain terms
what he thought of them.
kein Blatt vor den Mund nehmen
2. I can’t possibly manage on my own and shall have to enlist their help.
gewinnen, bitten um
3. It’s a pity that you burnt your boats by telling your boss that you are leaving.
Brücken hinter sich abbrechen
4. Your future in-laws are coming for the week-end, and so you’ll have to mind your p’s and
q’s if you want them to consent to your marriage.
sich anständig benehmen
5. They were trying to boost the morale of their hostages by telling them they would soon be
released.
Moral stärken, aufmuntern
6. Since he did not see eye to eye with the PM on the question of taxes, he resolved to tender
his resignation.
Rücktritt einreichen
7. Every time an oncoming car approaches you are expected to dip your headlights.
abblenden
VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT 709

8. The bystanders at the back craned their necks to see what was happening.
den Hals recken, sich fast den Hals verrenken
9. I thought that he was pulling my leg when he told me he’d seen a flying saucer.
auf den Arm nehmen
10. I had hoped to persuade him to support us, but your intervention with that ill-advised
remark has crossed my pitch.
Strich duch die Rechnung machen
11. Some of these young offenders might have become responsible citizens if only they’d had
a chance to follow their own bent.
der eigenen Neigung folgen, nachgehen
12. Would you gratify my curiosity by kindly explaining to me what you are looking for in my
desk?
befriedigen
13. It is very important to hedge one’s bets in any business, but putting on plays in theatres is
especially risky.
sich absichern, auf Nummer sicher gehen
14. On the day after his first performance the reviews sang / were singing the praises of this
young actor.
Loblied singen
15. It is a myth that all employers are unscrupulously exploiting their employees in order to
feather their own nest.
ihr Schäfchen ins Trockene bringen
16. Every time he is harassed by his creditors he vents his ill-temper on me.
seinem Ärger Luft machen, seinen Ärger an jem. abreagieren
17. So often had he threatened to give notice that eventually we decided to call his bluff.
auf die Probe stellen, es darauf ankommen lassen
18. After his long march through the desert he was so parched and famished that he could only
think of quenching his thirst.
stillen
19. He is rather vain and likes to air his knowledge in public.
zur Schau stellen
20. The Prime Minister decided to tender his resignation to the Queen, but was asked to
reconsider his decision.
Rücktritt einreichen
21. Don’t just sit there twiddling your thumbs; get on with what you have to do.
Däumchen drehen
22. After two years on the dole he swallowed / pocketed his pride and found himself a job as
a dish-washer.
seinen Stolz schlucken
23. When he told him that he was in trouble with the police, his probation officer screwed up
his eyes and pursed his lips with disapproval.
Lippen schürzen, Schmollmund machen
to screw up one’s eyes: zusammenkneifen
710 VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT

24. In vain did he rack his brains. He couldn’t think of her first name.
Kopf zerbrechen, das Hirn zermartern
25. This is the kind of slogan with which politicians attempt to give a new sense of direction to
voters who have lost their bearings.
Orientierung verlieren
26. By mentioning his extra-marital affairs I incurred his mother’s displeasure.
sich zuziehen
27. My private life is no concern of yours; you mind your own business!
sich um die eigenen Angelegenheiten kümmern
28. The young man’s strange behaviour aroused the constable’s suspicion.
erregen, erwecken

13 Exercise

to abduct a woman / child / president

to kidnap, take away illegally, using force or deception:
He was afraid of being abducted by a rival gang.
The police think the boy has been abducted (from his home).

to antedate a letter / document / cheque / the discovery of America

to antedate
a) be earlier in history than:
This old carriage antedates the invention of the car.
The Egyptians’ written records antedated those of the Greeks by thousands of years.
The event antedates the discovery of America by several centuries.
b) write a date earlier than the date of writing (on a letter / cheque) also: to predate
cf. to postdate, backdate

to award a medal / prize / damages / a free kick / a scholarship

The judges awarded both finalists equal points.
The court awarded (him) damages of £5,000.
She was awarded a medal for bravery.
The judge awarded substantial damages to the victims of the explosion.
She has been awarded a scholarship to study at Oxford.
When do you award 10 out of 10 for a piece of work?
to confer / grant / make / present an award
to accept an award
to earn / receive / win an award

to boost sb’s ego / demand / sales / sb’s morale / production / imports / share prices /
the dollar
to raise / increase:
These changes will help to boost share prices / profits / demand.
We need a holiday to boost our spirits.
She is always trying to boost his ego by telling him how clever he is.
There is nothing like winning to boost the morale of players.
This new technology will boost food production.
The unexpected win boosted the team’s morale.
VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT 711

to bowdlerize a novel / play / an edition of

to remove parts that are considered rude or shocking
Thomas Bowdler (1754-1825) Family Shakespeare (1818), an expurgated edition “in
which nothing is added to the original text; but those words are omitted which cannot
with propriety be read aloud in a family”.
cf. ad usum delphini: a set of Latin classics for the use of the Grand Dauphin,
published between 1674-1730 and subsequently reprinted in various parts of Europe.
Dauphin is the title of the eldest son of the king of France.
The edition of the Latin classics “ad usum delphini” was prepared for the son of Louis
XIV.
cf. to censor: a censored version of a film / book / letter
to expurgate (German purgieren): an expurgated / bowdlerized version of sth

to bridge a river / gap / an interval

to build a bridge across a river:
These tax reforms are an attempt to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor.
The Citizens Advice Bureaux were set up to bridge the gap between the people and
the bureaucrats.
The gulf / gap between the two cultures was too great to be easily bridged.
Note:
We’ll cross the bridge when we come to it: we’ll deal with the problem when it
happens and do not intend to think about it until then.
to burn one’s bridges / boats: to destroy all means of going back, so that one must go
forward

to commit an offence / adultery / murder / suicide / a crime / a sin / a theft / an unforgivable

blunder / (sth illegal / wrong / foolish)
cf. also: to commit a man to prison: to have him put into prison
to commit a patient to a mental hospital
to commit sth to paper / writing: write down
His body was committed to the flames: was burnt.
to commit os to (do) sth / doing sth: to make it impossible not to do, pledge os:
I can’t come on Sunday, I’m already committed.
He committed himself to support his brother’s children.
We are looking for sb with a real sense of commitment to the job: state of being
devoted and dedicated:
She is very committed to her job / helping people who are homeless.
I am afraid I can’t come owing to prior / previous commitments.
to demonstrate / show / display an all-out / a total / deep / passionate commitment
(dt. Engagement)
a committed socialist / Christian / teacher
to be committed to sth / to do sth / to doing sth
deeply / firmly / totally / wholeheartedly committed

to concoct a (loathsome / vile) broth / excuse / story / drink / tale / explanation / meal from
leftovers
to concoct
a) make by mixing or combining parts:
Jean concocted a splendid meal from the leftovers.
Nancy had concocted a red wine sauce to go with the pheasants.
Do you expect me to drink this vile concoction?
b) invent / make up (sth false so as to deceive):
He concocted an elaborate excuse for being late.
712 VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT

to consult a doctor / reference book / map / lawyer / watch

to ask for advice / information:
Have you consulted a doctor about your rash?
He consulted his watch and stood up to go.
to consult with sb:
The Chancellor was consulting with his ministers.

to convene a conference / meeting / the cabinet / one’s advisers / a committee / the members of
to convene to arrange:
Bob convened a small meeting to discuss the issue.
He has convened (a meeting of) the council to discuss the campaign.
Note:
The tribunal will convene tomorrow. (i.e. meet)
The President’s foreign policy advisers convened for an emergency session.

to defuse a bomb / a (dangerous) situation / a crisis / a row / tension / anger / violence / fears
to remove the fuse from an explosive so as to prevent an explosion:
They were unwilling to yield the concessions that would defuse the dispute.

to endorse a candidacy / policy / claim / statement / sb’s opinion / proposal

to say publicly that one supports or approves of sth, write one’s name on the back of
a cheque:
Delegates will be invited to endorse unilateral disarmament.
I am afraid I can’t endorse your opinion of the government’s record.
Note: to have one’s driving licence endorsed: an official record is made on it that the
owner has been found guilty of a driving offence:
He was ordered to pay a fine of £200 and his licence was endorsed.

to initial a memo / treaty / document / note

to mark or sign with one’s initials:
He picked up his pen and initialled the papers.

to invigilate an exam
to supervise the people who are taking an exam, to prevent cheating:
He wrote this whilst invigilating a biology examination.
also: to invigilate at sth: to invigilate at a history exam

to launch a boat / an attack / a campaign / a rocket / an offensive / a missile / a torpedo /

a satellite / a strike / threats / insults at / a new book / company / sb on a
career / a submarine / a product
The company is launching a new model next month.
He is launching his son on a career in banking.
The Government has launched a massive literacy campaign. (Alphabetisierung)
Guerrilla attacks were launched against the police and military barracks.
A Union official said that strikes should be launched on a limited scale only.
The new range of products launched last autumn is already selling well.
She is planning to launch a company to make electric toys.
They held a special party to launch his new book.

to parry a blow / question / attack / criticism / inquiries

to turn aside or keep away (an attacking blow or weapon); to deflect:
He parried the unwelcome question very skilfully.
He parried arguments with devastating repartee.
She aimed a blow at him, which he parried, simply covering his face with his arm.
VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT 713

to quell a rebellion / an uprising / opposition / fears / anxieties / doubts / disturbances / unrest

to put an end to, suppress:
The police had been called in to quell a minor disturbance.
This statement won’t quell disagreement over the Voting Rights Act.
The government’s reassurances have done nothing to quell the doubts of the public.

to reshuffle a cabinet / cards / a team

to shuffle playing cards again, to mix up, reorganize, interchange:
He felt it was time to reshuffle the team.

to scale a rock face / wall / a rock / cliff

to climb, esp. sth steep, using equipment to help one:
The commandos scaled the cliffs.

to sever (diplomatic) relations / ties / one’s connections with / links / relationship

to bring to an end, cut / break off:
We have severed all diplomatic relations with that country.
The new director wants to sever all ties with our sister company.
Note:
severance:
The border incident led to (a) severance of relations between the two countries.
Look up the pronunciation of: severe – severity, to sever – severance!

to shell peas / prawns (Garnele) / enemy positions / peanuts / almonds / nuts / eggs
to shell
a) remove from a shell or similar outer covering, esp. a pod:
Can you help me shell these peas?
b) fire shells at:
They continued to shell towns on the northern coast.
shell (n): a metal case filled with explosive, to be fired from a large gun
Note:
to come out of / crawl out of / retire / crawl into one’s shell:
to stop being nervous or quiet in a social situation and begin to be friendly, willing to
talk, etc

to sustain damages / a defeat / injuries / a wrong / a blow / a loss

to sustain
a) keep up strength, spirits, determination:
A light meal won’t sustain us through the day.
They don’t have enough money to sustain a strike.
to have the means to sustain a campaign
to sustain relationships
b) keep in existence over a long time, maintain:
He couldn’t sustain his interest in it.
c) suffer harm / loss:
The car sustained severe damages in the accident.
He sustained a severe blow on the head / a serious wound in the battle.
d) hold up the weight of sth:
I don’t think this floor will sustain the weight of a grand piano.
The foundations were not strong enough to sustain the weight of the house.
sustained:
a) continuing for a long time:
sustained applause / hard work / economic growth
714 VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT

b) determined:
to make a sustained effort

to tan a skin / hide

to tan
a) change animal skin into leather (by treating with tanning)
b) (cause to) become brown, esp. by sunlight:
Janet tanned quickly in the hot sun.
This special chemical liquid will tan you as you sleep.
He was never going to tan, no matter how many months he spent in the sun.
tanning lotion
c) tan sb’s hide / tan the hide off sb: beat sb severely:
He’ll tan your hide if you do that again.

to vacate a building / one’s position / premises / room / house / one’s post / one’s job / title /
a seat
to make sth available for other people by leaving or giving it up:
I got the job Allister was vacating because I had editorial experience.
The title vacated by Ali’s retirement was fiercely contested.
He drove neatly into the vacated space.
The squatters were ordered to vacate the premises.

14 Exercise

1. She had concocted a loathsome broth which she preferred to call mock-turtle.
loathsome: causing one to feel disgusted / shocked; repulsive:
a loathsome disease
What a loathsome creature he is!
to loathe (doing) sth: to feel great hatred or disgust for / to dislike greatly:
I loathe the smell of fish / having to go to these conferences.
to loathe (doing) sth deeply / intensely
a loathing: disgust: to have a loathing of sth / to feel intense loathing for sb / sth
deep / intense loathing
loath / loth: (pred.) to be loath to do sth: unwilling / reluctant:
He seemed somewhat loath to depart.
broth:
Too many cooks spoil the broth.
I know they only meant to help, but it was a case of too many cooks, I’m afraid.
turtle: large reptile living in the sea and having flippers and a large horny shell
(Schildkröte)
to turn turtle (of a boat): to turn upside down, capsize
a turtle-dove: wild dove noted for its soft cooing and its affectionate behaviour
towards its mate and young (Turteltaube)
turteln: to bill and coo: exchange kisses and loving whispers
mock (attrib.)
a) not real, substitute: a mock battle / exam, e.g. for training or practice
b) not genuine, counterfeit: mock modesty, i.e. pretence of being modest / mock
leather / surprise / horror / indignation
mock(-)turtle soup: soup made from a calf’s head or other meat to resemble turtle
soup
Mockturtlesuppe, falsche Schildkrötensuppe
VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT 715

2. For official reasons it might be advisable to antedate his letter of resignation.

3. The resignation of the Home Secretary forced the Prime Minister to reshuffle his cabinet.
cabinet
a) He was in the Cabinet as Paymaster-General.
He was the first man to be appointed to the Kennedy Cabinet.
Note:
The Cabinet meets / meet every Wednesday.
in cabinet: at a meeting of the Cabinet:
In Cabinet the minister was criticized for undermining the government.
b) a piece of furniture with drawers or shelves for storing or displaying things:
a china / medicine / filing cabinet (Schrank, Vitrine)
a cabinet-maker: craftsman who makes fine wooden furniture (Kunst-, Möbeltischler)

4. Eventually they succeeded in defusing the bomb the terrorists had planted in the boot of
their car.
to plant
a) hide:
I haven’t planted a microphone in your desk.
b) put down firmly:
He planted his deckchair beside hers.
He planted a kiss on her cheek.
c) send somewhere so that they can do sth secretly and illegally:
The CIA has planted its agents and informers in all the strategic areas.
d) cause sb to begin to believe or accept (an idea / story):
Someone else would have to plant the idea in his mind.
He might want to plant a false rumour.

5. The Opposition made an unexpected about-turn and decided to endorse the

Government’s policy of denationalization.
about-turn / -face: a complete change of attitude or opinion:
The Conservatives performed / did a swift about-turn.
These new measures indicate an about-face in government policy.
The government has done a complete about-turn in its policy on military spending.
policy
a) a general set of ideas or plans that has been officially agreed on by people in
authority and which is used as a basis for making decisions, esp. in politics,
economics, or business; a course of action:
I give you my word there is no change in our policy.
He was criticized for pursuing a policy of reconciliation.
b) a document which shows the agreement you have made with an insurance
company:
It is advisable to read the small print in your policy.
This service is free to policy holders.
politics
He has never had the slightest interest in politics.
Her politics at this time could be described as radical.
He went up to Cambridge at the age of 17 to read Politics and Economics.
politic: sensible / prudent, particularly with regard to one’s own interests so that one
can gain an advantage or achieve a goal:
It might be more politic to tell him yourself than let him find out from sb else.
That was not a very politic remark to make.
Note:
the body politic / Body Politic (i.e. the State)
the adverb: politicly
716 VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT

political: career / development / situation / party / scene / discussion

6. Having failed to obtain the squire’s consent, the young adventurer decided to abduct the
pretty heiress and to marry her at Gretna Green.
squire: (formerly) country gentleman, chief landowner in a country district / or: young
man who was a knight’s attendant until he himself became a knight
hum.: some English men address other men in a friendly way as squire:
Now, squire, what can I get you?
to fail
They failed to win a place in the finals.
She failed in her attempt to swim the Channel.
He failed his driving test twice.
He took his exam. – Did he pass? No, he failed.
The brakes failed and the car crashed into a tree.
Four local companies have failed this year.
He shouted orders until his voice failed.
You can trust me, sir, I have never failed you yet.
I would be failing in my duty to my family if I did not try to ensure their safety.
Gretna Green
Gretna Green Marriages – Runaway marriages
Elopers from England reaching Gretna (8 miles N.W. of Carlisle) could (up to 1856) get
legally married without licence, banns, or priest. All that was required was a
declaration before witnesses of the couple’s willingness to marry. This declaration was
generally made to a blacksmith, landlord, toll-keeper, etc. By an Act of 1856, the
residence in Scotland for at least 21 days of one of the parties became essential
before a marriage was possible. Although marriage by declaration ceased to be legal
in July 1940, Gretna Green and other places in Scotland continue to attract young
couples because minors may still marry there without parental consent.

7. The incident created so much bitterness that Ruritania threatened to sever diplomatic
relations with its neighbour.
Ruritania
an imaginary kingdom in pre-World War I Europe where Anthony Hope placed the
adventures of his hero in the novels The Prisoner of Zenda (1894) and Rupert of
Hentzau (1898). The name is frequently applied to any small state where politics and
intrigues of a melodramatic and romantic interest are the natural order of the day.

8. As he wanted a divorce at all costs, he pleaded guilty to having committed adultery.

guilty
They feel guilty about seeing her so little.
He was found guilty of passing on secret papers to a foreign power.
He pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage at his parents’ home.
The parents were guilty of gross neglect, abuse, and cruelty.
Some children get a guilty conscience about not learning enough lessons.
a guilty / bad / clear conscience
adultery
Adultery was a ground for divorce.
adulterer – adulteress
cf. to adulterate (of food / drink): to reduce the quality of / make weaker:
The champagne has been adulterated.
VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT 717

9. If you want to know more about the lives of Aeschylus and Sophocles, you should consult
an encyclopaedia.
Aeschylus (525-456 B.C.)
great Athenian tragic poet, may be regarded as the founder of Greek tragedy, having
introduced a second actor (where there had previously only been one actor and the
chorus) and subordinated the chorus to the dialogue: The Persians, The Seven against
Thebes, Prometheus Unbound
Sophocles (496-406 B.C.), the first to increase the number of actors from 2 to 3. He is
preeminently the dramatist of human character: Oedipus the King, Oedipus at
Colonus, Antigone, Electra

10. The prize was awarded to the winner of the contest.

a contest: a fishing / beauty / dancing / boxing contest
a contest between management and the Unions
to contest sth
a) an election / competitions / tournament: to take part:
There was a by-election contested by 6 candidates.
He contested 8 of the 11 titles.
The party has decided not to contest this election.
b) a statement / claim / decision / point: to object to it formally because one thinks it
is wrong or unreasonable:
We would hotly contest this idea.
I am going to contest the will. (anfechten)
cf. a contestant (for the Labour leadership)

11. In reply to the alarming increase in lung cancer the Minister of Health decided to launch a
nation-wide anti-smoking campaign.
to increase
Crime has increased by 5% last year.
Police checks on banks were increased in frequency.
increase (n)
At the meeting they demanded a sharp increase in wages.
The report called for a massive increase in defence spending.
to be on the increase:
Crime seems to be on the increase.
Is the consumption of beer still on the increase in Germany?

12. Some obtuse prig may prefer a bowdlerized / expurgated version of Geoffrey Chaucer’s
Canterbury Tales.
obtuse
slow to understand / stupid:
Are you normally stupid or are you just being deliberately obtuse?
He cannot possibly be so obtuse.
cf. obtuse / acute / right angle
prig
an irritating person who carefully observes rules of good behaviour and who behaves
as if he / she is better than other people, used showing disapproval:
Jason was a self-righteous prig.
(selbstgefälliger) Pedant/Tugendbold

13. The conference on pollution of the environment was convened by the Friends of the Earth.
718 VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT

14. The intruder lunged at him ferociously, but he managed to parry the blow with his sword.
to lunge
make a sudden forward movement of the body (esp. when trying to attack or catch):
He lunged wildly at his opponent.
She lunged out with a knife.
sich stürzen auf, einen Ausfallschritt / Sprung / Satz machen

15. The declaration of martial law did not exactly help to defuse a politically dangerous
situation.
martial law: military rule imposed on a country temporarily, order maintained by
soldiers instead of civilians:
to impose / declare martial law
The country has now spent more than 8 years under martial law.

16. These days manufacturers often resort to most questionable means in order to boost their
sales.
to resort
make use of sth for help, adopt sth as an expedient, fall back on:
If negotiations fail, we’ll have to resort to strike action.
to resort to trickery / deception / violence / threats
cf. a seaside / ski / health resort: popular holiday centre:
Brighton is a leading south coast resort.
Note: (as) a / one’s last resort / in the last resort: when everything else has failed:
In the last resort we can always walk home.
I have tried everyone else and now you are my last resort.

17. Some of the more daring mountaineers tried to scale the north face of the mountain.
face – Wand

18. He had concocted an unlikely story in explanation of his being late.

19. Bridge that gap with a Cadbury’s!
Cadbury, George (1839-1922)
Businessman and social reformer; founder of a highly prosperous cocoa and
chocolate enterprise near Birmingham. He was important for his improvement in
working conditions and for his successful experiments in housing and town planning.
The Cadburys were convinced that bad housing was the cause of many social evils.
They built working class dwellings unusual for their ample gardens and other
amenities. He renounced his proprietorship of the estate in 1900 and set up the
Bournville Village Trust. It has been the model for other “garden cities” and “garden
suburbs”.

20. Cromwell’s troops came to quell the Irish rebellion.

Cromwell, Oliver (1599-1658)
English general and leader. He was a Puritan and Member of Parliament and became
the leader of the Parliamentary army in the English Civil war. After the trial and
execution of Charles I he continued to crush opposition in Ireland and from the
Scottish supporters of Charles II with considerable cruelty. In 1653 he dissolved
Parliament, took the title of Lord Protector and ruled the country as a virtual dictator
until his death.
Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary – encyclopedic edition, s.v. Cromwell
VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT 719

21. Because of insufficient reconnaissance the attack had been launched too late.
reconnaissance
(patrol / flight / etc that carries out) an exploration or a survey of an area, esp. for
military purposes:
to make an aerial reconnaissance of an island
troops engaged in reconnaissance
a reconnaissance plane / party / mission
cf. to reconnoitre: to explore, survey

22. The driver got off with a fright, while his mate sustained severe injuries.
23. He initialled the memo in indelible ink.
indelible
that cannot be rubbed out or removed
also fig. indelible memory / shame
memo: memorandum
a) a note made for future use, esp. to help os to remember to write a memorandum
about sth:
a memo pad
b) informal written business communication: to circulate a memorandum to all sales
personnel
c) (law) a record of an agreement that has been reached but not yet formally drawn up
and signed
cf. to ratify

24. Because of the bomb-scare the premises had to be vacated.

25. The President convened (a meeting of) the cabinet to discuss the latest border incidents.
26. The American Indians used to make their clothes from animals’ skins, which they tanned
and tooled with great skill.
to tool
a) make a design on (the cover or binding of a book) by pressing with a heated tool:
hand-tooled leather
The spine is tooled in gold. (bearbeiten, mit Stempel verzieren)
b) to tool up; to equip (a factory) with the necessary machine tools

27. Shelling peas is proverbially easy.

28. Exams are usually invigilated in order to prevent students from cribbing.
to crib (sth) off / from sb: copy dishonestly:
In the exam he cribbed (an answer) from / off the girl next to him.
a crib
This answer must be a crib.
720 VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT

15 Exercise

to abjure a belief / religion / claim / opinion / life of dissipation / the use of violence
to make a solemn promise, esp. publicly, to give up; to renounce:
He abjured his religion (i.e. renounced it) and became a Muslim.
The government had abjured such a disreputable way of proceeding.

to administer justice / the last sacraments / last rites / baptism / punishment / relief to famine
victims / comfort / medicine / a blow to sb / sth / a sedative
to administer
1. hand out or give sth formally, to provide:
to administer the last rites to a dying man
The economic crisis administered a severe blow to their hopes.
2. put into operation, apply:
to administer the law
3. control the affairs (of a business), manage:
to administer a trust fund / an estate / a country
The company’s finances have been badly administered.
The man had a huge department to administer.

to alienate a supporter / follower / sb from sb

to cause to become unfriendly or indifferent, estrange:
The PM’s policy alienated many of his followers.
The years in prison alienated him from his family.
cf. inalienable rights: rights which cannot be taken away

to beggar (all) description

to be too extraordinary, bad, etc to describe:
The sunset in the country beggared description.
His conduct is so bad it beggars (all) description.
to beggar sb: to make poor, impoverish, ruin:
They were beggared by trying to pay for their children’s education.

to cannibalize an old car / a machine

to use a machine / vehicle to provide spare parts for others:
He cannibalized his old car to repair his new one.
They cannibalized the sports car for spare parts.

to carry a motion / bill / resolution / proposal

esp. passive: approve sth by a majority of votes:
I declare the motion carried.
My proposal was not carried.
The government’s motion was carried by 269 votes to 160.
cf. the ayes / nays have it

to cherish a hope / illusions / memories / dreams / ideas

to cherish
1. protect, tend lovingly, care for, be fond of:
The old man cherished the girl as if she were his daughter.
His stamp collection is his most cherished possession.
2. keep (a feeling / idea) in one’s mind or heart and think of it with pleasure:
to cherish the memory of one’s dead mother / the hope of winning an Olympic medal
VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT 721

He cherishes the illusion that she is in love with him.

It will be an experience you’ll cherish all your life.

to compile a dictionary / bibliography / statistics / a list / a report / a book / a programme

to collect information and arrange it in a book, list, report, etc:
He compiled statistics for a report on traffic accidents.
The police have compiled a list of suspects.
a guide book compiled from various sources
The programme was compiled and presented by Dr Brian Smith.

to concede a point / defeat

to admit that sth is true, valid, proper, etc, admit that one has lost; give sth away, allow
sb to have sth:
The government conceded defeat as soon as the election results were known.
England conceded a goal (to their opponents) in the first minute.

to contract a disease / (bad) habits / debts / measles / AIDS / a most unsuitable marriage
to contract
1. become smaller, narrower, shorter:
Metal contracts as it becomes cool / expands with heat.
In conversational English “is not” often contracts / is often contracted to “isn’t”.
2. arrange by formal agreement:
to contract an alliance
The firm contracted to build a new railway within a year.
Our firm contracted with a local clothing firm for 100 coats a week.
3. get or begin to have (sth bad, esp. an illness), acquire:
His son’s contracted pneumonia.

to dispel fears / doubts / worries / rumours / a myth / the notion that ...
to drive away, cause to vanish:
The company is trying to dispel rumours about a take-over.
The sun soon dispelled the mist.
Her reassuring words dispelled our fears / doubts.

to divulge a secret / a plan / a confidential report / sb’s identity / one’s age / one’s sources /
the details of sth / information
to tell or make known (what has been secret), to reveal:
Who divulged our plans (to the press)?
The doctor divulged that the president had been ill for some time before he died.
They refused to divulge where they had hidden the money.

to eschew evil / bad company / alcoholic drinks / political discussion / violence

to keep away from, abstain from, avoid:
A civilised leader must eschew violence.

to evince a feeling / a quality / readiness to do sth / a desire to do sth / a strong interest in sth
to show clearly that one has a feeling, quality; exhibit, reveal:
a child who evinces great intelligence
I’ve never heard of our boys evincing any interest in the movement.

to expurgate a novel / play / book / edition

to remove parts of it before it is published in order to avoid offending or shocking
people:
Even Shakespeare was considered dangerous, except in the expurgated version.
cf. an unexpurgated edition
722 VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT

to bowdlerize; to censor
to blue-pencil (the dirty words in) a play

to harbour resentment / a grudge / suspicions / thoughts of revenge / a secret passion for sth
/ political ambitions
to give shelter to, protect, conceal; keep secretly in one’s mind:
He was convicted of harbouring a wanted man.
Dirt harbours germs.
He harbours a secret grudge against his father.

to levy taxes / an army / charges

to levy
1. demand and collect a payment, tax, debt, etc by authority or force; impose sth:
Outrageous new taxes were levied to pay for the war.
a tax levied by the government on company profits
2. raise an army

to muzzle a critic / a newspaper / the press / freedom of speech / the media / the opposition
muzzle (n)
1. mouth and nose of an animal, esp. a fox or dog
2. a guard of straps or wires placed over this part of an animal’s head to prevent it
biting, etc
3. open end of a firearm, out of which the bullet comes
to muzzle sb / sth (esp. passive): to put a muzzle on sb / sth:
to prevent a person / society / newspaper, etc from expressing opinions freely:
The newspapers that opposed the junta were effectively muzzled by strict censorship
laws.
All dogs are supposed to be muzzled and on leads in the streets.

to obviate a danger / a difficulty / the need to do sth

to remove, get rid of, clear away, make unnecessary:
The new road obviates the need to drive through the town.
He destroyed the letter to obviate any suspicion that might fall on him.

to overrule a decision / an objection / a claim

to decide against (sth already decided, etc) by expressing one’s higher authority:
The judge overruled the previous decision.
We were overruled by the majority.
The umpire overruled the line-judge.

to promulgate a doctrine / belief / idea / theory / law

to make widely known, disseminate, spread, announce officially, proclaim:
The new law was finally promulgated in the autumn of last year.
It’s all part of the propaganda machine which promulgates the belief that men are
superior to women.

to redeem a promise / pledge / an obligation

to redeem
1. (sth from sb / sth) buy back by paying the required sum, recover:
I redeemed my watch from the pawn shop.
2. pay off (e.g. a debt), to clear:
to redeem a mortgage / loan
3. keep, fulfil a promise:
to redeem one’s pledges / obligations
Has the government redeemed all its elective promises?
VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT 723

4. obtain the freedom of sb, esp. by payment, to rescue:

to redeem hostages from captivity
5. (of Christ) free or save mankind from sin
6. make up for faults or deficiencies in sth:
The sole redeeming feature of this job is the salary.
Jones redeemed his earlier poor performance by scoring two goals.
The minister redeemed himself in the eyes of the public by resigning.
He’s a thoroughly unpleasant man: his one redeeming feature is his honesty.

to redress a wrong / the balance / an injustice / an abuse / a grievance / the damage done /
racial inequalities
to redress a wrong: to put right a wrong, to compensate for:
He did all that he possibly could to redress the wrongs.
to redress the balance: make things equal again:
The team has more men than women so we must redress the balance (i.e. include
more women in it).
Most of the films in this series were directed by men, so in order to redress the
balance they are now showing some films by women directors.

to render a wall / an account / a service

to render
1. give sth in return or exchange, or as sth which is due:
to render homage / obedience / allegiance / a reward for services rendered
to render good for evil / insult for insult
to render sb a service / a service to sb
to render help to disaster victims
We would never have secured our independence without the help you rendered.
2. present or send in (an account) for payment:
If you render an account / bill, you present it to the person who has to pay you for the
work that you have done for them.
3. cause to be in a certain condition:
rendered helpless by an accident
Your action has rendered our contract invalid.
His fatness renders him unable to touch his toes.
4. (usu. passive) give a performance of (music, a play, a character), give a portrayal of
in painting, etc:
The piano solo was well rendered.
Othello was rendered rather poorly.
She rendered the song beautifully.
5. express sth in another language, translate:
How would you render “bon voyage” (into English)?
Rendering poetry into another language is difficult.
6. cover stone or brick with a first layer of plaster
7. render an account of os / one’s behaviour:
to explain or justify what one has said, done, etc
You will be expected to render an account of money that is owed.

to rescind a contract / a verdict / a decision / an agreement / an order / an act

to put an end to, annul, repeal, cancel:
This law was later rescinded.
They had to summon a second conference and rescind the previous motion.
724 VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT

16 Exercise

1. The use of unsterilized syringes can easily lead to other patients contracting hepatitis.
sich zuziehen
-itis
The suffix -itis forming nouns
1. names of inflammatory diseases
appendicitis of the (vermiform) appendix
arthritis of a joint or the joints
bronchitis of the bronchial tubes
colitis of the colum, i.e. the large intestine between the caecum
and rectum (Dickdarm)
cystitis of the urinary bladder
epicondylitis tennis elbow
gastritis of the stomach
gingivitis of the gums (Zahnfleisch)
hepatitis of the liver
laryngitis of the larynx (Kehlkopf)
meningitis of the membranes that surround the brain or spinal cord (Hirnhaut)
nephritis inflammation of the kidneys
neuritis of a nerve or the nerves
perineuritis of the perineurium, i.e. the connective tissue forming a sheath
around a single bundle of nerves (Nervenscheide)
peritonitis of the periton(a)eum (Bauchfell)
pneumonia or
pneumonitis of one or both lungs
proctitis of anus and rectum
prostatitis of the prostate (gland)
sinusitis of the membranes lining a sinus, esp. a nasal sinus
(Nebenhöhlenentzündung)
tendovaginitis of the tendons (Sehnenscheide)
tonsillits of the tonsils
2. coll. in extended use with reference to conditions compared with diseases, an
obsession (often in nonce formations)
(a writer’s) adjectivits
baseballitis
computeritis
electionitis
jazzitis
telephonitis
televisionitis
vacationitis
World Cup-itis

2. The judge overruled the objection raised by the Public Prosecutor against counsel’s
insinuation that the defendant might have used violence.
aufheben, umstoßen
3. The king levied exorbitant taxes in order to be able to finance his ambitious projects.
erheben
4. They refused to divulge his present whereabouts.
preisgeben, enthüllen
5. The motion was carried unanimously.
annehmen
6. We harbour no resentment against anyone.
Groll hegen
VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT 725

7. From the top of the mountain they had a view of the valley, the magnificence of which
beggared all description.
sich nicht mit Worten beschreiben lassen
8. In vain did our captors try to make us abjure our political beliefs.
abschwören, aufgeben
9. Throughout his life he had sought to eschew evil.
vermeiden
10. The child’s answers evince(d) both intelligence and integrity.
zeigen, beweisen
11. If the consignment is not delivered on time we’ll have to rescind the contract.
annullieren, zurücktreten von
12. The citizens disliked the rule of William the Conqueror on account of the strict justice he
administered.
strenges Recht sprechen
13. I have only read the expurgated version of Lady Chatterley’s Lover, which was rather
boring.
purgiert
14. It would be difficult to render the walls of a building without a trowel.
verputzen
15. She is still cherishing the fond illusions of her youth.
anhängen, festhalten
16. The Doctrine of the Immaculate Conception was promulgated in December 1854.
verkündigen
Immaculate Conception: Roman Catholicism: the Virgin Mary was without sin from the
moment of her conception
17. She knew of our plans to leave the country but did not divulge them to the press.
preisgeben
18. Will the President be able to redeem all his election promises?
einlösen, erfüllen, halten
19. Observers thought that as a representative of the capitalist system the President would
eschew all connection with a member of the Communist party.
vermeiden, aus dem Weg gehen
20. A summit conference was convened in order to obviate the danger of a trade war.
verhindern, abwenden
21. Would it be possible for a layman to administer the last sacraments?
spenden
22. Not even his assurances that the work would be finished by the end of term could dispel
my doubts.
zerstreuen
23. She still cherishes the hope that one day she’ll meet her Prince Charming.
hegen
24. By endorsing his policy you risk alienating many supporters.
entfremden
726 VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT

25. As soon as the election results were out the government had to concede defeat.
eingestehen
26. It has taken him years of hard work to compile that dictionary.
kompilieren, zusammenstellen
27. Totalitarian governments often try to muzzle the media lest their human rights violations
become known.
mundtot machen, Maulkorb verpassen
28. You will be expected to render an account of your expenditure.
Bericht erstatten, Rechenschaft ablegen
29. My old car has conked out, and since I have no further use for it, you can have it and
cannibalize it for repairs of your own car.
ausschlachten
30. Most senior executives in our firm are men, so in order to redress the balance they
appointed a woman to the post of sales manager.
Gleichgewicht wiederherstellen

17 Exercise

1. to give professional advice to sb who has a problem

to counsel
2. to express an idea, a complaint, etc publicly
to air
3. to shut sb out of a place; prevent sb officially from doing sth
to debar
4. to make sth by mixing ingredients (esp. ones that do not usually go together); to invent a
story, an excuse, etc
to concoct
5. to resign from being, or choose not to become king, queen, emperor, etc
to abdicate
6. to accept wrong behaviour or treat it as if it were not serious; to ignore sth
to condone
7. to transfer sth to a state or place so as to be kept for future use
to commit
8. to admit that sth is true, valid, proper, etc; to give sth away; to allow sb else to have sth
to concede
9. to delay sth until a later time
to defer
10. to promise or swear to give up a claim, an opinion, a belief, etc
to abjure
11. to collect and combine information from two or more different books, sources, etc
to collate
VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT 727

12. to put sth into operation; to apply sth; to provide or give sth formally
to administer
13. to wave sth in order to threaten sb or because one is angry or excited, etc
to brandish
14. to understand or interpret the meaning of words, sentences, actions, etc in a particular way
to construe
15. to cut patterns or designs on metal
to chase
16. to take sb away illegally, using force or deception
to abduct
17. to go to a person, book, etc for information, advice, etc
to consult
18. to take over sth and have or use it as one’s own
to adopt
19. to copy coins, writing, etc in order to deceive
to counterfeit
20. to put an earlier date on a document, letter, etc than the one at the time of writing
to antedate
cf. pre-, postdate
21. to express a thought or an idea in a particular style or manner
to couch
22. to claim that sth is wrong or not proper; to dispute sth
to contest
23. to take sth apart so that it is in pieces; to end an organization, a system, etc in a gradual
and planned way
to dismantle
24. to state sth as a fact but without proof; to give as an argument or excuse
to allege

18 Exercise

1. After the ceremony the body of the deceased was committed to the flames.
2. The child was accosted by a smiling stranger who abducted, raped and strangled her.
3. They alleged that these four defendants killed seven people, not to mention two dogs, in
cold blood.
4. Nobody was ready to contest his claims there and then.
5. Things may be different, however, if we adopt a more flexible definition of ‘word-pair’, as
is advocated by several recent authors.
6. The refusal was couched in carefully chosen words.
7. King Edward VIII abdicated in 1936 so that he could marry Mrs Simpson, a divorced
woman.
728 VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT

8. Bob dismantled the dishwasher to see what the problem was but couldn’t put it back
together again.
9. Although his detractors were slow to concede it, Reagan had achieved his objectives at
the Geneva summit.
10. He said he wished to defer his departure on account of his son’s illness.
11. He asked the judge whether he should have condoned his wife’s adultery.
12. The citizens disliked the rule of William the Conqueror on account of the strict justice he
administered.
13. Plans were aired for reducing or reshuffling the cabinet.
14. For official reasons it might be advisable to antedate the letter of application.
15. He was prosecuted for having attempted to counterfeit bank-notes issued by the Bank of
England.
16. Do you think we should pursue our studies or would you counsel our giving them up?
17. Brandishing her umbrella, she charged at the robber.
18. She had concocted a loathsome broth which she called mock-turtle.
mock-turtle soup: soup made from meat, but tasting as if it were made from turtle
cf. a mock battle / exam: not real, but very similar
tortoise: land animal
turtle: lives esp. in water
19. If a man is content to abjure wealth and to live simply and without luxuries, he may spend
a very dignified, gentle life here.
20. The hilt of the sword consisted of chased silver.
21. According to statistics collated by the council, more than 600 BMW’s were stolen last year.
22. She construed his remark, accurately, as ingratitude.
23. Do you think that persons who have been convicted of homicide or manslaughter should
be debarred from voting at elections?
24. It would be difficult to commit the whole Bible to memory.
25. He had concocted a flimsy excuse for being late.
26. Thousands of people were trained in short courses to recognize the symptoms and signs
of venereal disease, encourage treatment, and administer antibiotics when necessary.
27. Reagan insisted on being consulted on the timing of every Presidential action so that his
wife could consult her friend in San Francisco about the astrological factor.
28. The word without can be construed with a noun or a participle, as in He left without a word
or He left without saying goodbye.
Note: participle must of course be replaced by gerund.
29. Major Burrows had dealt with the matter so effectively the father did not need to
administer any further punishment.
30. It is high time we adopted a different strategy in dealing with terrorism.
VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT 729

19 Exercise

1. to put a quality into sb / sth; to fill sb / sth with a quality

to instil
2. to make sth known (esp. a secret)
to divulge
3. to arrange the performance of a play, opera, etc
to produce
4. to search a place / thing thoroughly for sb / sth
to scour
5. to cause sb gradually to acquire a usu. desirable quality
to instil
6. to claim or pretend to be sth; to be intended to appear as sth
to purport
7. to be a sign or warning of sth in the future
to portend
8. to keep feelings or thoughts, esp. bad ones, in one’s mind for a long time
to harbour
9. to supply or make available food, services or information, esp. as one’s business
to purvey
10. to accept or believe an idea willingly and enthusiastically
to embrace
11. to bring sb / sth back to consciousness
to resuscitate
12. to say or show that sb cannot be blamed for sth or is not guilty of sth
to exculpate
13. to cause sth to be harmed, lost or destroyed; to put sth in danger of this happening
to jeopardize
14. to criticize sb / sth severely
to flay
15. to use money placed in one’s trust wrongly, esp. so as to benefit oneself
to embezzle
16. to make sth begin or happen
to instigate
17. to steal sth or use it without permission
to purloin (esp. sth of small value)
18. to make sth widely known
to promulgate
19. to protect sth by covering it with a material that prevents sth, esp. heat, electricity or
sound, from passing through
to insulate
20. to hold sth and use it as a weapon, tool, etc
to wield
730 VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT

21. to accuse sb officially of sth; to charge sb

to indict
22. to keep away from sth deliberately; to avoid sth
to eschew
23. to reject or refuse sb / sth in a way that shows contempt for them / it
to spurn

20 Exercise

1. These butchers have purveyed meat to the royal household for generations.
2. Sheila has been harbouring a grudge against her boss ever since her promotion was
refused.
3. The police (have) scoured the whole of London for the terrorist.
4. The public prosecutor refused to indict the demonstrators.
5. You need not attempt to exculpate (exonerate) the accused since we already possess
sufficient proof of his guilt.
6. He claimed that someone had purloined the keys from his pockets.
7. The knight retreated when he saw his adversary wielding an enormous halberd.
halberd: a combination of spear and battleaxe
8. Many houses could be warmer if they were properly insulated.
9. The little girl had almost been drowned and her heart had stopped, but the doctor
succeeded in resuscitating her.
10. The unfortunate author was flayed (i.e. severely criticized) by the local critics.
11. It would never occur to her to embezzle the funds entrusted to her.
12. Russian President Yeltsin said he whole-heartedly embraced the need for economic
reform.
13. He doubted whether it would be possible to produce (arrange the performance of) the new
play, since many of the requisite stage-effects were likely to involve serious technical
difficulties.
14. The superstitious populace believed that meteors portend (are a sign / warning of) war and
famine.
15. This book purports to be an original work of art but is only a compilation.
16. The early persecutions were instigated (initiated / caused to happen) by the government
as a safety-valve for popular discontent.
17. The government will soon promulgate a new law on equal opportunities.
18. Throughout his life he thought to eschew (avoid) bad company.
19. It would be useless to attempt to instil into them a stoic contempt of death.
20. Journalists do not divulge their sources.
21. Unfortunately the new leader was unable to infuse new life into the party.
22. We did not wish to jeopardize (put at risk) the lives of these women and children.
23. Only four months ago she had proudly spurned (rejected) our offers of help.
VERBS + DIRECT OBJECT 731

24. A great columnist wields (has / exerts / exercises) a tremendous influence over the minds
of men.
25. The philosopher desperately tried to promulgate (disseminate / make known / spread) his
ideas in literary circles.
26. The conjurer produced a rabbit out of his hat.
27. Observers thought that as he was a capitalist he would eschew (avoid / sever) all
connection with a member of the Communist party.
28. She did not wish to know that she had suspected him of harbouring (i.e. keeping secretly
in his mind) any sinister designs.

21 Exercise

1. Drivers who exceed the speed limit can be expected to be fined heavily .
2. It was only when she produced a knife that I took her threats seriously.
3. I hoped that going to university might broaden my horizons.
4. This year we’re raising funds for three charities.
5. A couple of victories would boost the team’s morale enormously.
6. Cinema in Britain is undergoing a revival of popularity.
7. They’re trying to arouse sympathy for their cause.
8. The important question is whether he is prepared to go to war to achieve his territorial
ambitions.
9. The group exists to try to bridge the gap between the unemployed and employers who
need workers.
10. The American drive to land a man on the moon captured the attention of the whole world.
11. With two players injured and three others removed from the game, the football team
conceded defeat.
12. Even under torture, he refused to deny his beliefs.
13. The government claims to be doing all it can to eradicate corruption.
14. The mayor tried to hush up the fact that he had been in prison.
15. Look, there’s no need to labour the point – I made a mistake – I admit it!
16. After the election defeat he went home for a few weeks to lick his wounds.
17. The new Secretary Act will muzzle the media and the opposition.
18. Give him a few drinks – that’ll lubricate his tongue.
19. When the Prime Minister reshuffled his Cabinet five ministers lost their jobs.
20. Mike pressed hard on the wound and sta(u)nched the flow of blood.
21. The US severed diplomatic relations with Cuba in 1961.
22. There’s no need to vent your rage on me.
23. He has been extorting money from the old lady for years.
24. Hopes of an economic recovery have been dashed by the latest unemployment statistics.
25. I read a brief extract of his new novel on the train and it has rather whetted my appetite for it.
732

SOME COMMON ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS

Exercise

1. AA Associate of Arts; a two year college degree in the US

Alcoholics Anonymous
Automobile Association
2. AC / DC alternating / direct current
3. AC air-conditioning (US)
4. ad lib Latin ad libitum
a) without formal preparation
b) as one pleases
5. AD Latin anno domini; in the year of our Lord, of the Christian era
6. AGM Annual General Meeting
7. AIDS / Aids Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
8. a. m. ante meridiem
9. Appt. Appoinment
10. APR Annual Percentage Rate
11. asap as soon as possible
12. ASCII American Standard Code for Information Interchange
13. ASH Action on Smoking and Health
14. Asst Assistant
15. Attn. / attn. Attention
16. AV audio-visual
17. AWACS Airborne Warning and Control System
18. AWOL absent without leave; absent from an army group without
permission
to go awol
19. B & B Bed and Breakfast
20. BA Bachelor of Arts
BArch Bachelor of Architecture
BEd of Education
BEng of Engineering
BLitt of Letters
BmedSci of Medical Science
MB of Medicine
BMus of Music
BPhil of Philosophy
ChB of Surgery
BSc of Science
BSc (Econ) of Science in Economics
LLB of Law (legum baccalaureus)
21. Bart Baronet
SOME COMMON ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS 733

22. BASIC computer language:

Beginners’ All-Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code
23. BC before Christ
24. bfts. Benefits
25. BR British Rail
26. Brig Brigadier
27. BSE Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
28. BST British Summer Time
29. Bt Baronet
30. BT British Telecom
31. BYOB bring your own bottle / beer / booze
32. C of E Church of England
33. c/o care of
34. ca circa
35. CAB Citizens Advice Bureau
36. Cantab Latin Cantabrigiensis; of Cambridge University
37. Capt Captain
38. Cath Catholic
39. CBE Commander of the British Empire
40. CCTV closed circuit television
41. Cdr Commander
42. Ceefax teletext service (see facts)
43. Cert Certificate
44. cf Latin confer; compare
45. CFC chloro-fluorocarbon
46. CIA Central Intelligence Agency (US)
47. CID Criminal Investigation Department
48. C-in-C Commander in Chief
49. CIS Commonwealth of Independent States
cf. German GUS
50. Cllr Councillor
51. CNN Cable News Network
52. COD cash on delivery
53. COI Central Office of Information
54. Col Colonel
55. Cons Conservative (Party)
56. cont(d) continued
57. CSE Certificate of Secondary Education
58. ct carat
59. CV Curriculum Vitae
60. d.o.b. date of birth
61. D.Sc. Doctor of Science
62. DBE Dame Commander (of the Order) of the British Empire
63. D-DAY 6th June 1944
734 SOME COMMON ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS

64. dept department

65. derv diesel oil: diesel engine road vehicle
66. Dip. A. D. Diploma in Art and Design
67. Dip. Ed. Diploma in Education
68. DIY do it yourself
69. DJ disc jockey
70. DLitt Doctor of Letters
71. DOE Depends on Experience
72. DT(s) delirium tremens
73. e.g. Latin exempli gratia; for example
74. ECG electrocardiogram
75. EDP electronic data processing
76. EEC European Economic Community
77. ELT English Language Teaching
78. EN enrolled nurse
79. Encl / Enc enclosure
80. EOE Equal Opportunity Employer
81. ESA European Space Agency
82. ESP extrasensory perception
83. Esq Esquire
84. ETA estimated time of arrival
85. EU European Union
86. ext extension
87. F/M Female / Male
88. FAO for the Attention of
89. FAQ frequently asked questions
90. Fax Res Resume per Fax
91. FBI Federal Bureau of Investigation (US)
92. fl oz fluid ounce
93. FT / PT full time / part time
94. FT Financial Times, the
95. ft foot / feet
96. GC George Cross, the
97. GCE General Certificate of Secondary Education
98. GHQ General Headquarter
99. GI soldier in the US army, esp. in the Second World War
100. GMT Greenwich Mean Time
101. GNP Gross National Product
102. GOP Grand Old Party (the Republican Party in US politics)
103. Govt Government
104. GP General Practitioner
105. GPO General Post Office
106. HM Her / His Majesty’s Government
107. HMS His / Her Majesty’s Ship
SOME COMMON ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS 735

108. HP hire purchase

109. HR Human Rescources
110. HRS His / Her Royal Highness
111. hrs / wk hours per week
112. i.e. Latin id est; that is / means
113. IBA Independent Broadcasting Authority, the
114. ICBM Intercontinental Ballistic Missile
115. ICU intensive care unit
116. ID card identity card
117. IMF International Monetary Fund
118. immed immediately
119. inc’ng salary including salary
120. infra dig Latin infra dignitatem; below the standard of social behaviour
121. IOU a note of debt, i.e. I Owe You
122. IQ intelligence quotient
123. IRA Irish Republican Army, the
124. ISBN International Standard Book Number
125. IT Information Technlogy
126. ITN Independent Television News
127. ITV Independent Television
128. J(n)r Junior
129. K one thousand
130. Lab Labour (Party)
131. laser lightwave amplification by stimulated emission of radiation
132. lb Latin libra; pound
133. Lib Dem Liberal Democrat
134. LLD Doctor of Laws (legum doctor)
135. LSE London School of Economics
136. Lt Lieutenant
137. M motorway
138. MA Master of Arts
MArch of Architecture
MBA of Business Administration
MEd of Education
MEng of Engineering
MLitt of Letters
MMedSci of Medical Science
MMus of Music
MPhil of Philosophy
MSc of Science
MSc (Econ) of Science in Economics
LLM of Law (legum magister)
139. Maj Major
140. max. maximum
736 SOME COMMON ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS

141. MBE Member (of the Order) of the British Empire

142. MC Military Cross / Master of Ceremonies
143. MD Doctor of Medicine
144. Med, the the Mediterranean Sea
145. Mgr Monsignor
Manager
146. min. minimum / minute(s)
147. misc. miscellaneous
148. MO medical officer, an army doctor
149. mod cons modern conveniences
150. MOT (test) Ministry of Transport test, the
151. MP Member of Parliament
152. mpg miles per gallon
153. mph miles per hour
154. MRP manufacturer’s recommended price
155. Ms abbreviation of both ‘Mrs’ and ‘Miss’
156. Mt Mount
157. NAAFI / Naafi Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes
158. NATO / Nato North Atlantic Treaty
159. NB / nb Latin nota bene; note well
160. NHS National Health Service
161. NI National Insurance Number
162. No(s) / no(s) Number(s)
cf. the symbol # (hash) in AE
163. NSPCC National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
164. NT National Trust, the
165. NUM National Union of Mineworkers
166. NUT National Union of Teachers
167. OAP old-age pensioner
168. ob. Latin obiit; he / she died
169. OBE Order of the British Empire
170. OECD Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
171. ofc office
172. OHMS On Her / His Majesty’s Service
173. OM Order of Merit
174. OPEC Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
175. oppty opportunity
176. Oracle teletext service: optical reception of anouncements by coded line
electronics
177. OTT over the top
178. OXFAM / Oxfam Oxford Committee for Famine Relief
179. Oxon Latin Oxoniensis; of Oxford University
180. oz ounce(s)
181. p and p / p & p postage and packing
SOME COMMON ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS 737

182. P&O Pensinsular and Oriental (Steam Navigation Company)

183. p(p) page(s)
184. p. a. Latin per annum
185. p.c. per cent
186. P.C. Police Constable
187. p.d.q. (slang) pretty damn quick
188. PAYE Pay As You Earn
189. Pd Paid
190. PE physical education
191. perm permanent (position)
192. PGCE Postgraduate Certificate of Education
193. PhD Doctor of Philosophy
194. PIN (number) personal identification number
195. p. m. post meridiem
196. PM Prime Minister
197. POW prisoner of war
198. pref’d preferred
199. PS Latin postscriptum; postscript
200. Pte Private (soldier)
201. PTO / pto please turn over
202. PYO pick your own
203. q.t., on the secret(ly)
204. QED Latin quod erat demonstrandum; that is what I wanted to prove,
and I have proved it
205. qv Latin quod vide; what may be referred to
206. R’s, the three reading, writing and arithmetic
(old-fashioned)
207. RAC Royal Automobile Club, the
208. radar radio detecting and ranging
209. RAF Royal Airforce
210. RC Roman Catholic
211. re with reference to
212. ref a) reference
b) referee
213. Rep Republican (Party)
214. req required
215. rev revolution
216. Rev(d) Reverend
217. RN Royal Navy
218. rpm revolutions per minute
219. RSA Royal Society of Arts
220. RSC Royal Shakespeare Company
221. RSPCA Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
222. RSVP French répondez s’il vous plaît; please answer (formal)
738 SOME COMMON ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS

223. Rt Hon Right Honourable

224. Rt Rev(d) Right Reverend
225. S(n)r Senior
226. Sal Salary
227. SALT / Salt Strategic Arms Limitation Talks
228. sec / secty Secretary
229. Sgt Sergeant
230. Sr Sister
231. SRN State Register Nurse
232. STD subscriber trunk dialling
233. Supt. Superintendent
234. TB tuberculosis
235. tbsp(s) tablespoonful(s)
236. TEFL Teaching English as a Foreign Language
237. temp temporary
238. Trnee Trainee
239. TUC Trades Union Congress
240. UFO Unidentified Flying Object
241. UN United Nations
242. UNESCO / Unesco United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
243. UNICEF United Nations Children’s Fund
244. VAT Value Added Tax
245. VC Victoria Cross
246. VCR video cassette recorder
247. VDU visual display unit
248. VIP very important person
249. viz. Latin videlicet; namely, that is to say
250. vs Latin versus; against
251. WASP White Anglo-Saxon Protestant (US)
252. WHO World Health Organization
253. WPC Woman Police Constable
254. yd(s) yard(s)
255. YHA Youth Hostels Association
256. YMCA Young Men’s Christian Association
257. yr(s) year(s)
258. Yuppy / yuppie young middle-class professional person working in a city
259. YWCA Young Women’s Christian Association