|
|
| |
Idioms
are not hard and fast rules of grammar. Instead, they're
verbal habits and preferences that have become ingrained
in the English language after many years and decades of repeated use.
But just because they're not rules doesn't mean we can use
them any way we choose to; in fact, idioms can be one of the most
difficult subjects for students to handle, as the GMAT includes many
different idioms, each of which adheres to its own specific rules.
To prepare for idiom questions, take a look at the list of common
idioms below, split them into two lists – those you know, and
those you don't know – and memorize the ones you don't
know. It can also help to start reading every day, as idioms appear
in almost every kind of reading material available.
| Look
for these common tricks on GMAT questions:
- Consider, regard...
as, think of...as: there
is no as after consider, while both
regard and think of need the as.
- To be/being: In
general, avoid the construction to be/being because
they are usually passive. To be/being are commonly
used in junk answer choices.
|
|
|
|
 |
| |
Idioms
Idioms in Bold tend to be
more common on the GMAT.
| A |
|
| access to |
The company has access to large capital reserves. |
| act as |
The poison pill in the contract acts as a preventative
measure against hostile takeovers. |
| allows for |
The design of the robot arm allows for great
flexibility. |
| as...as |
Chocolate tastes as good as ice cream. |
| associate with |
He associates beer with potato chips. |
| attribute to |
The poor first quarter results are attributed
to the restructuring. |
| a responsibility to |
The CEO has a fiduciary responsibility to all
shareholders. |
| a result of |
The recent Nasdaq decline is a result of higher
interest rates. |
| a sequence of |
The Sumerian text was a sequence of incomprehensible
symbols. |
| agree with |
The Teamsters do not agree with the Republicans
on many issues. |
| among |
Used when discussing more than two items. He
was the finest policeman among the hundreds of rookies. |
| as good as/or better than |
The new software is as good as or better than
anything on the market. |
| as great as |
The new house looks as great as I had hoped. |
| attend to (someone) |
The emergency room doctor attended to the injured
victim. |
| attribute X to Y/X |
We attribute the results to the new management. |
| attributed to Y |
The extinction of the dinosaurs has been attributed
to an asteroid collision. |
Back
to Top |
|
| |
|
|
| |
| B |
|
| based on |
The results are based on a comprehensive ten
year study. |
| begin to |
He will begin to study twelve hours before the
test. |
| believe X to be Y |
After seeing the flying saucer, I believe UFOs
to be a real phenomenon |
| between |
Used when discussing two things (if there are more
than two, then use among instead). He could
not decide between Corn Flakes and Raisin Bran. |
Back
to Top |
|
|
| |
| C |
|
| care about |
How much do business schools care about your
score? |
| centers on + noun |
The GMAT centers on the knowledge of basic math
and writing/reading skills. |
| choose to |
The number of students who choose to go to business
school has increased in the last ten years. |
| consistent with |
Your grades are not consistent with your abysmal
GMAT scores. |
| contend that |
He contends that the GMAT has a cultural bias. |
| consider + noun |
How important do you consider the test? |
| continue + to |
If you continue to study, you will succeed. |
| contrast A with B |
If you contrast A with B, you can see the difference. |
| convert to |
You may convert muscle to fat if you study too
much. |
| compare A to B |
Compare to stresses similarities. The
music critic favorably compared him to Bob Dylan. |
| compare A with B |
Compare with stresses differences. Broccoli
is good for you compared with ice cream. |
| count on + noun |
He counts on management support. |
| concerned with |
They are concerned with investor relations more
than actual profitability. |
| conform to |
When you work at a new company, you should try
to conform to its corporate culture. |
Back
to Top |
|
|
| |
| D |
|
| decide to |
We decided to continue. |
| decide on |
We decided on the new format. |
| depend on |
The global economy depends on improving productivity. |
| different from |
The CAT is very different from the paper and
pencil GMAT. |
| difficult to |
Many students find the CAT difficult to take. |
| distinguish between X and Y |
Distinguish between domestic and international
production. |
| distinguish X from Y |
Juries must attempt to distinguish truth from
falsehood. |
| depends on whether |
Our place in the playoffs depends on whether
we win tonight. |
Back
to Top |
|
|
| |
| E |
|
| to be + essential to + noun |
Speed is essential to success in the Internet
marketplace |
| except for |
He did well on the GMAT, except for the sentence
construction questions. |
Back
to Top |
|
|
| |
| F |
|
| flee from |
The convict fled from the country. |
Back
to Top |
|
|
| |
| G |
|
| grow from |
Dell Computer grew from a start-up to a Fortune
500 company in less than fifteen years. |
| grow out of |
Needless to say, they quickly grew out of their
first office. |
Back
to Top |
|
|
| |
| H |
|
| help + noun + to |
Their direct business model helped them to grow
rapidly. |
Back
to Top |
|
|
| |
| I |
|
| indicate that |
Dell's recent stock trouble may indicate that
their growth will not continue to be as rapid. |
| invest in |
He is too risk-averse to invest in the stock
market. |
| identical with |
His DNA is identical with his twin's. |
| in contrast to |
The candidate claims to support tax cuts, in contrast to
his prior statements. |
| independent from |
The Federal Reserve Board is supposed to be independent
from political considerations. |
| indifferent towards |
Some countries are indifferent towards human rights. |
Back
to Top |
|
|
| |
| L |
|
| leads to |
Rapid growth often leads to problems. |
| like |
Usually used only for direct comparison: He
walks like Joe walks. |
| localized in |
Most Internet venture capital is localized in
a few areas of the world. |
Back
to Top |
|
|
| |
| M |
|
| mistook + noun + for |
I mistook you for an old friend. |
| modeled after |
The judicial building is modeled after the Parthenon. |
| more than ever |
Companies demand MBA graduates now more than
ever. |
Back
to Top |
|
|
| |
| N |
|
| native to |
There is a unique business culture native to
the U.S. |
| a native of |
It infects those who are not even a native of
America. |
| need to |
Living in New York City is an experience everyone
needs to try. |
| to be + necessary + to |
It is necessary to get a high GMAT score to get into Stanford. |
| neither...nor |
Neither Tom nor Sam has the necessary skills to finish the
job. |
| not only...but also |
Stanford not only has the highest GMAT average, but also
the highest GPA. |
Back
to Top |
|
|
| |
| P |
|
| prohibit from + gerund |
You are prohibited from using a calculator on
test day. |
| potential to |
A graduate of a top business school has the
potential to make over $100,000. |
Back
to Top |
|
|
| |
| R |
|
| range from X to Y |
The GMAT scores at top business schools will
range from 650 to 750. |
| refer to |
If you have any more questions, you should refer
to a grammar book. |
| regard as |
Wharton's finance program is regarded as the
finest in the world. |
| require + noun + to |
You require a GMAT score to go to most U.S. business schools. |
| rivalry between X and Y |
The rivalry between the Boston Red Sox and the New York
Yankees is one of the most celebrated in professional sports. |
| responsible for |
The manager is responsible for seven entry level employees. |
| retroactive to |
The tax policy change is retroactive to last year. |
Back
to Top |
|
|
| |
| S |
|
| save for |
Save for William, no one else passed the exam. |
| save from |
Many people use business school to save them
from dull jobs. |
| so that |
So should not be used as an adjective:
GMAT preparation is so... boring. Use it with
"that." This guide is designed so that you may raise
your score. |
| subscribe to |
Business school students should subscribe to
the Wall Street Journal. |
Back
to Top |
|
|
| |
| T |
|
| tie to |
The contract should be tied to concessions. |
| transmit to |
The communications system will transmit to anyone
within range. |
Back
to Top |
|
|
| |
| U |
|
| used + infinitive |
Japan used to be the model industrial economy. |
| to be + used to + gerund |
After five practice tests, he was used to the
GMAT CAT format. |
Back
to Top |
|
|
| |
Once again -
the most effective way to learn idioms is to practice them.
Whenever you get an idiom question wrong, write down the idiom. Make
a list, and memorize it. There are a finite number of idioms that
could be tested on the GMAT, and with enough practice, you should
be able to cover most of them.
Examples
1. When choosing a car you often have
to choose (between/among) practicality and performance."
"Between" is correct.
Use "between" to distinguish two things, such as "practicality"
and "performance." Use "among" for more
than two things: "The five bank robbers divided the stolen
money among themselves."
2. A small order of french fries has
(fewer/less) fries than the super-sized order.
"Fewer" is correct. "Fewer" answers the question
"How many?", while "less" answers the question
"how much?". That is, "fewer" refers to things
that can be counted (birds, airplanes, french fries, blades
of grass), and "less" refers to things that can't be counted
individually, and are usually referred to en masse, such as pudding,
water, or flour.
3. I prefer Mozart (to/over)
Beethoven.
"Prefer…to" is
the proper expression.
4. Timothy talks (like/as)
his friends do.
This is one of the few instances
"like" should be used in English. "Like" is
used here as a direct comparison.
5. He was studying (in/at)
a rate of two practice GMATs per day.
The proper expression is "at
a rate of," not "in a rate of."
6. The joint-venture contract covers
such questions (like/as) the division of profits
and costs.
"Covers… as" is better here. "Like"
should be used very rarely, only for direct comparisons (Joe looks
like his brother).
7. Dan Marino is regarded (as/to
be) one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play football.
The proper idiom is "regarded
as."
Back
to Top
 Need
more help? Classroom prep and tutoring through our GMAT Course Locator.
|
|
|
| |
Continue to Sample
Questions
|
|
