GMAT Idiom List

DeBon蝶

a debate over
a lot
a responsibility to
a result of
a sequence of
agree with
as an instance of
as good as/or better than
as great as
as good as...or better than
as much as
attend to (someone)
attribute X to Y/X is attributed to Y
based on
believe X to be Y
both X and Y
centers on
concerned with
conform to
created with
defined as
depends on whether
depicted as
different from/differ from
distinguishes between X and Y
distinguish from
doubt that
either...or
enable to

DeBon蝶

PR Idioms
Not so much ,,, as
Defined as
Regard as
Modeled after
Based on
A result of         A debate over
A responsibility to
Responsible for
A consequence of
So ,,,, as to be
So (adjective)that        As good as, or better than
Attribute to
Credited with
Different from
Depicted as
To result in

DeBon蝶

The bare minimum that you should do is make sure that you are familiar with all those marked with *. This page would certainly be worth printing out to have to hand when you are practising GMAT questions. Remember to add any other idiomatic expressions.

Ilia GMAT idioms
Differ from
Regard as(to be regarded as)
“Consider” never takes “to be” on the GMAT?
dispute whether(not”if”)
They do not know X or Y(not “nor”)
Do something at the urging of somebody
To be under pressure to
Just as,,,,,so
Forbid to : prohibit from
So,,,,,as to –so large as to equal
To have potential to
So as not to be hindered by
Insist that
Capable of        X is related to Y(not X is in realtion to Y)
Discourage from
Like to be at?
Respond to
Be encouraged by
Require that something be (not “are/is”)
Request that
The body did as he was told(not”like”)
As far/long as
For millenium( not “during” millenium)
As much with X as with Y
Enough that
Need for
Which compiled with standards

DeBon蝶

Steve loves to take advantage of those around him.
She taught Jim to dance.
She taught Jim the lambada.
She told him that he was a terrible dancer.
The rope is tied to the chair.
We transmitted the e-mail to him.

I use a light to read.
Years ago, he used to walk every day to work.
He is used to walking to work.

Fortunately, he was willing to help us.

DeBon蝶

U
Use + person/thing + infinitive
used + infinitive
to be + used to + gerund
W
to be + willing + infinitive

DeBon蝶

Save for that inconvenience, the trip was a success.
They saved me from another boring party.
He seeks to save your soul.
I seek the truth.
You seem to be sleepy today.
I can sleep with whoever I want!
I spoke to my secretary about the report I wanted.
I spoke with my colleague about the upcoming report.

Steve loves to take advantage of those around him.
She taught Jim to dance.
She taught Jim the lambada.
She told him that he was a terrible dancer.
The rope is tied to the chair.
We transmitted the e-mail to him.

DeBon蝶

S
Save for
save from
seek + infinitive
seek + thing/person
seem + infinitive
sleep with
speak to + person
speak with + person
T
Take advantage of
teach + person + infinitive
teach + person + thing
tell + person
tie to
transmit to

DeBon蝶

Liberalism, as we know it, originated in 17th century England.

Money permits us to live a comfortable life.
Stephen is prized as a teacher in Bogota.
Stephen is prized for his ability to dance the salsa.
In school, we were prohibited from fighting.
The promise of success drove us to the mountain's peak.
I promise to tell the truth more often – I swear.
Joel's first novel Love and the GMAT is published by ETS.
Steve's first novel will be published in March.

His clients range from multinationals to the smallest businesses.
I wish to refer to the latest work by Foucault....
She is regarded as an expert.
My work requires me to travel.
Steve resembles a young Charles Atlas.
Rough play often results in injuries.
Injuries often result from rough play.
The rivalry between Joel and Enrique Iglesias is legendary.
The rivals Enrique and Joel quarreled often.

DeBon蝶

P
*permit + thing/person + infinitive
prized as
prized for
*prohibit from + gerund
promise of + thing
promise to
published by
published in
R
*range from X to Y
refer to
*regard as
require + thing/person + infinitive
resemble + thing/person
results in
results from
rivalry between X and Y
*the rivals X and Y

DeBon蝶

I have to give you credit for your good work.
Joel predicts that Test Tutor will grow from a small company to a major multinational within five years.
Steve grew out of his overalls just last year.

Music helps me to think.

Studies indicate that people with gray hair are smarter than the majority.
Steve's constant worrying over his gray hair indicates to me a serious self-esteem problem.
Steve inherits his gray hair from his mother's family.
Steve should invest in hair dye.

Lack of exercise leads to obesity.
The pain is localized in my left foot.

You've managed to screw this up again, Steve.
Chocolate makes me think of Switzerland.
I'm sorry. I mistook you for someone else.

Penguins are native to the Antarctic.
Steve is a native of Canada.
Steve needs to think of some better sentences.
It is necessary to be creative.