All The SAT Idioms (Grammer Section 9)
All The SAT Idioms (Grammer Section 9)
All The SAT Idioms (Grammer Section 9)
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Idiom questions on the SAT are different than most of the other grammar questions. Why? Idiom
questions can't be figured out by applying a specific rule. You have to rely on your general
knowledge of English and your familiarity with certain phrases. Because you’re likely to encounter a
couple of idiom questions on the SAT Writing and Language subsection, I’ll provide you with some
information about idioms that should help you raise your SAT score.
What Is an Idiom?
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Idioms are phrases or expressions that do not conform to simple rules. Each idiom, by definition, is
unique. Most people think of idioms as expressions that often have figurative meanings different from
their literal meanings. Examples of this type of idiom include "at the drop of the hat," "beat around the
bush," and "in over (one's) head." However, the SAT does not test you on these colloquial
expressions. SAT Writing and Language idiom questions will test you on different types of idioms.
Prepositional Idioms
For prepositional idioms, you must know which prepositions to use with a given word based on the
context of the sentence. For example, you should say that you're "interested in" something, not
"interested at" something. You "focus on" something, not "focus at" something. There is no ruleto
determine the correct preposition to use. You must be familiar with the phrase or rely on what you
think "sounds right." Here's an example sentence with a prepositional idiom:
Because he laughed when his friend fell down, Justin was accused of being devoid atsympathy.
You may encounter a sentence like this on your SAT. In the sentence, there is no violation of a
specific grammar rule. However, "devoid at" is an idiom error. Why? Well, the correct phrase is
"devoid of." The corrected version of the sentence looks like this:
Because he laughed when his friend fell down, Justin was accused of being devoid ofsympathy.
The expression "devoid of" means without. Familiarity with the given expression greatly helps to
identify an idiom error.
Gerunds are verbs that are used as nouns and end in "ing." Examples of gerunds
include running, jumping, and thinking. Infinitives are verbs used as nouns and are constructed by
using the word "to" plus a verb. Examples of infinitives include to run, to jump, and to think.
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What are some examples of idioms with gerunds or infinitives? The correct phrase is
"capable ofbeing," not "capable as being." The proper idiomatic expression is "mind being," not
"mind to be." For these types of idioms, you need to know which preposition to use and whether to
use a gerund or an infinitive.
With some idioms, depending on the context, it is acceptable to use an infinitive or a gerund.
Here's an example:
I struggle to do geometry.
Do you recognize the idiom error? Do you know the right idiom? This is the corrected version of the
sentence:
Again, there is no rule to learn that lets you know that the phrase should be "insists on being" instead
of "insists at being." This is another example of an idiom error:
The infinitive form should be used with the word "tends" instead of the gerund form. Now let's look at
idiom questions from the SAT.
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Real Examples
Here are a couple of idiom questions from the College Board's practice tests.
Explanation: The infinitive "to be" is incorrectly used with the verb "serves." In this sentence, the
proper idiomatic expression is "serves as." The correct answer is B.
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See if you can figure out this idiom question:
Explanation: The correct idiomatic expression is "as a means of." The answer is B.
Idiom questions can be challenging because other grammar questions follow specific rules or
patterns that can be applied to all sentences. Idiom questions test your knowledge of specific
idiomatic expressions. Literally, there are thousands of idioms. It's not practical to try to remember
each one.
Furthermore, ESL students are less likely to be able to identify idiom errors. Those who have recently
learned English have had less exposure to idiomatic expressions and can't learn all of the correct
expressions by memorizing a rule.
Idiom questions are one of the few types of grammar questions where solely relying on what
"sounds right" is likely to give you the right answer. These questions don't require you to
understand and apply a rule. If you're familiar with the specific idioms that appear on your SAT, you
can easily spot any idiom errors.
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SAT Tips for Idiom Questions
#2: The question may be testing idioms if the answer choices are all prepositions.
#4: Review and familiarize yourself with the list of idioms below.
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It's not practical for you to memorize every single idiom on this list. There will probably only be
a couple of idiom questions on your SAT Writing and Language subsection. Spending numerous
hours learning hundreds of idioms wouldn't be the best use of your study time.
However, I do recommend that you review this list periodically to become more familiar with
these phrases. Thinking about proper idiom construction should benefit you when you encounter
idiom questions on the SAT. You'll improve your intuitive grasp of idioms and be able to better
recognize idiom errors.
as a means of
serve as
wait for
in order to be
PREPOSITIONAL IDIOMS
About
anxious about
ask about
bring about
curious about
hear about
think about
talk about
worry about
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Against
advise against
argue against
count against
decide against
defend against
go against
rebel against
As
celebrate as
regard as
see as
view as
At
aim at
arrive at
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laugh at
look at
succeed at
By
accompanied by
amazed by
confused by
followed by
go by
impressed by
organized by
struck by
For
advocate for
ask for
blame for
famous for
known for
last for
meant for
named for
necessary for
pay for
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ready for
responsible for
tolerance for
strive for
wait for
watch for
From
abstain from
different from
excuse from
far from
obvious from
protect from
Into
enter into
look into
inquire into
read into
In
engage in
fall in love
in A as in B
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interested in
succeed in
take in
On
base on
draw on
focus on
impose on
insist on
move on
prey on
rely on
Over
argue over
rule over
talk over
think over
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Of
approve of
capable of
certain of
characteristic of
combination of A and B
cure of
deprive of
die of
a fan of
in danger of
in the hope of
in recognition of
made up of
a model of
an offer of
on the border of
remind of
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a selection of
a source of
suspicious of
take advantage of
an understanding of
a wealth of
To
able to
accustomed to
adapt to
adhere to
admit to
adjacent to
agree to
as opposed to
belong to
central to
come to
contribute to
devoted to
in addition to
in contrast to
listen to
object to
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prefer A to B
partial to
reluctant to
reply to
see to
similar to
a threat to
unique to
With
agree with
bargain with
correlate with
familiar with
identify with
in keeping with
interfere with
sympathize with
trust with
accuse of
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admire for
allow
appreciate
capable of
complete
concentrate on
confess to
consider
delay
describe
discourage from
discuss
dislike
effective at
enjoy
escape
finish
forbid
imagine
insist on
permit
plan on
postpone
refrain from
report
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resent
resume
stop
tolerate
before
after
without
agree
attempt
choose
condescend
dare
decide
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deserve
encourage
expect
fail
intend
love
mean
neglect
offer
plan
prepare
promise
refuse
scramble
seem
strive
swear
tend
threaten
want
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Additional Practice
Congratulations on successfully making it to this point in the article! I know that was a long list. By
now, you should understand the concept of idioms and how idioms are tested on the SAT. I've
created some realistic SAT questions on idioms for you. Consider the proper construction of idiomatic
expressions and try to answer these questions without referring to the list above.
1. Diligent research performed by education scholars indicates that more time spent studying
correlates from better educational outcomes.
A. NO CHANGE
B. of
C. with
2. Because she is extremely protective, Renee hopes to prevent her younger sister for making
irresponsible decisions at parties.
A. NO CHANGE
B. to
C. from
D. at
3. After being interrogated by the police for five hours, Ken admitted to being guilty of racketeering
and money laundering.
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A. NO CHANGE
B. to be
C. to having
D. is
4. Even though she was expected doing all of the domestic labor, Natasha was unwilling to
conform to traditional gender roles.
A. NO CHANGE
B. to do
C. at
D. having done
Answers: 1. C, 2. C, 3. A, 4. B
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