Idiomatic Complements with Precise Meanings

Study the questions and tasks

Work through the material below, or start the interactive practice above to complete an attempt. Try the exercises before opening any answer or transcript sections, then use them to review your work.

Practice level

C2. Try this level if you can follow the instructions and understand most of the language; choose an earlier level if you need more support.

Question formats

Matching

How to approach this practice

Read the complete context. Check both the meaning and the grammar, including word forms, collocations and links between sentences.

1. Question 1 · Matching

   Match each item to the correct choice.

   Match each beginning to its only suitable ending. Four responses to evidence.

   Answer choices

   • provide support for the claim
   • show the claim to be false
   • avoid settling the question
   • assume the very point that needs proving

   Items

   • bear out a claim
   • give the lie to a claim
   • beg the question
   • leave the question open
   Check answers and explanations

   1. bear out a claim

   provide support for the claim

   2. give the lie to a claim

   show the claim to be false

   3. beg the question

   assume the very point that needs proving

   4. leave the question open

   avoid settling the question

   Support, contradiction, circular assumption and suspension of judgement are distinct.

2. Question 2 · Matching

   Match each item to the correct choice.

   Match each beginning to its only suitable ending. Four ways of handling an objection.

   Answer choices

   • challenge or disagree with it
   • acknowledge and consider it
   • withhold an evaluation for now
   • dismiss it without proper consideration

   Items

   • brush it aside
   • take it on board
   • take issue with it
   • reserve judgement on it
   Check answers and explanations

   1. brush it aside

   dismiss it without proper consideration

   2. take it on board

   acknowledge and consider it

   3. take issue with it

   challenge or disagree with it

   4. reserve judgement on it

   withhold an evaluation for now

   The expressions distinguish dismissal, consideration, opposition and postponing judgement.

3. Question 3 · Matching

   Match each item to the correct choice.

   Match each beginning to its only suitable ending. Four descriptions of a fragile agreement.

   Answer choices

   • be fixed and not readily changeable
   • be close to collapse
   • remain effective over a long period
   • begin to fail in several connected ways

   Items

   • hang by a thread
   • stand the test of time
   • come apart at the seams
   • be set in stone
   Check answers and explanations

   1. hang by a thread

   be close to collapse

   2. stand the test of time

   remain effective over a long period

   3. come apart at the seams

   begin to fail in several connected ways

   4. be set in stone

   be fixed and not readily changeable

   The idioms differ in instability, durability, systemic breakdown and rigidity.

4. Question 4 · Matching

   Match each item to the correct choice.

   Match each beginning to its only suitable ending. Four moves in a difficult negotiation.

   Answer choices

   • hold back resources or action for a later opportunity
   • end a situation in which neither side can move
   • state one's intentions openly
   • change the agreed requirements during the process

   Items

   • keep one's powder dry
   • lay one's cards on the table
   • move the goalposts
   • break the deadlock
   Check answers and explanations

   1. keep one's powder dry

   hold back resources or action for a later opportunity

   2. lay one's cards on the table

   state one's intentions openly

   3. move the goalposts

   change the agreed requirements during the process

   4. break the deadlock

   end a situation in which neither side can move

   Reserved action, openness, shifting requirements and ending stalemate are separate actions.

5. Question 5 · Matching

   Match each item to the correct choice.

   Match each beginning to its only suitable ending. Four ways of describing an explanation.

   Answer choices

   • be substantially inaccurate
   • remain convincing under scrutiny
   • have significant shortcomings
   • sound credible or authentic

   Items

   • hold water
   • leave much to be desired
   • be wide of the mark
   • ring true
   Check answers and explanations

   1. hold water

   remain convincing under scrutiny

   2. leave much to be desired

   have significant shortcomings

   3. be wide of the mark

   be substantially inaccurate

   4. ring true

   sound credible or authentic

   Logical defensibility, general inadequacy, inaccuracy and perceived authenticity differ.

6. Question 6 · Matching

   Match each item to the correct choice.

   Match each beginning to its only suitable ending. Four institutional reactions.

   Answer choices

   • treat the issue as finished
   • shift responsibility to another party
   • accept blame for a failure
   • unite defensively against outside criticism

   Items

   • close ranks
   • pass the buck
   • carry the can
   • draw a line under the matter
   Check answers and explanations

   1. close ranks

   unite defensively against outside criticism

   2. pass the buck

   shift responsibility to another party

   3. carry the can

   accept blame for a failure

   4. draw a line under the matter

   treat the issue as finished

   Unity, blame shifting, blame acceptance and closure are distinct.

7. Question 7 · Matching

   Match each item to the correct choice.

   Match each beginning to its only suitable ending. Four qualifications of a claim.

   Answer choices

   • treat it with scepticism
   • accept it without questioning for the purpose at hand
   • accept its apparent meaning without deeper inquiry
   • separate it from surrounding information that affects its meaning

   Items

   • take it with a pinch of salt
   • take it as given
   • take it at face value
   • take it out of context
   Check answers and explanations

   1. take it with a pinch of salt

   treat it with scepticism

   2. take it as given

   accept it without questioning for the purpose at hand

   3. take it at face value

   accept its apparent meaning without deeper inquiry

   4. take it out of context

   separate it from surrounding information that affects its meaning

   The expressions distinguish scepticism, assumption, surface acceptance and removal of context.

8. Question 8 · Matching

   Match each item to the correct choice.

   Match each beginning to its only suitable ending. Four assessments of significance.

   Answer choices

   • divert attention from the main issue
   • be irrelevant to the issue
   • have influence or importance
   • concern the central issue

   Items

   • go to the heart of the matter
   • be beside the point
   • carry weight
   • be a red herring
   Check answers and explanations

   1. go to the heart of the matter

   concern the central issue

   2. be beside the point

   be irrelevant to the issue

   3. carry weight

   have influence or importance

   4. be a red herring

   divert attention from the main issue

   Centrality, irrelevance, influence and distraction have different meanings.

What to review next

Explain why each answer fits the meaning and structure. Record useful phrases and write a new example using each pattern you found difficult.

A focused practice result shows how you did on these tasks. Use several activities across skills to decide what to study next; one practice score does not certify an overall CEFR level.