Vocabulary for Examination - Sentence Transformation 6

It is not a habit of mine to sleep in the afternoon.

I AM not in the habit of sleeping in the afternoon. IN THE HABIT OF DOING STH - to be used/accustomed/given to doing sth

* They probably don't live at the same address anymore. (DOUBT)

I DOUBT WHETHER THEY ARE LIVING at the same address any more.

I suggest he doesn't know the right answer.

I DOUBT whether he knows the right answer.

He seemed to be worried about something. (IMPRESSION)

I GOT THE IMPRESSION THAT something was worrying him. GET/HAVE THE IMPRESSION (that...) - to think/reckon (that...)

I tried as hard as I could to make sure that this problem would not arise. (POWER)

I did everything IN MY POWER to prevent this problem for arising. DO STH IN YOUR POWER - to do sth you can

* I find Tom's behavior quite incomprehensible. (LOSS)

I find myself AT A LOSS to comprehend Tom's behavior.

I think you misunderstood, Kevin.

I think you must have GOT THE WRONG END OF THE STICK, Kevin.

I don't mind staying in on Saturday night if I have good company.

I'M NOT AVERSE to staying in on Saturday night if I have good company. NOT AVERSE TO DOING STH - to not dislike doing sth - to like doing sth

I would like to express my thanks for everything you've done for me. (THANKFUL)

I'd like to say HOW THANKFUL I am for everything you've done for me.

Things considered, he did try his best to save the company. (FAIRNESS)

IN ALL FAIRNESS TO HIM, he did try his best to save the company. IN ALL FAIRNESS TO SB: công bằng mà nói

* There aren't many other books which explained this problem so well.

IN FEW OTHER BOOKS in this problem well-explained.

His daughter has startling intelligence, though she wastes most evenings playing games.

INTELLIGENT as his daughter is, she wastes most evenings playing games.

* What alienated the workforce was that management never consulted them.

IT WAS the fact that management never consulted them that alienated the workforce.

* I was greatly relieved to hear that her condition was not serious.

IT WAS with great relief to hear that her condition was not serious.

* You won't reach the station in less than 20 minutes.

IT WILL TAKE you AT LEAST 20 minutes to reach the station.

If you wait for a good opportunity until the market improves, you'll get a better return on your investment. (BIDE)

If you BIDE YOUR TIME until the market improves, you'll get a better return on your investment. BIDE YOUR TIME - to wait calmly for a good opportunity to come

He decided to become the boss of a small company instead of working for a multinational company. (FISH)

In preference to working for a multinational company, he decided to become a BIG FISH IN A SMALL POND. IN PREFERENCE TO DOING STH - rather than do sth

It was not surprising when my parents were furious with my getting a tattoo. (ARMS)

It came as no surprise that my parents were UP IN ARMS ABOUT my getting a tattoo.

They don't mind which film they go to. (MATTER)

It doesn't MATTER to them which film they go to.

*** We really loved to have a chance to visit the Colosseum but we couldn't. (FOOT)

We would sooner have had a chance to SET FOOT ON the Colosseum.

* What has this experience taught you? (DRAWN)

What CONCLUSION has you DRAWN FROM this experience?

When should we collect the books we ordered last week?

When ARE WE SUPPOSED TO PICK up the books we ordered last week?

I really think she should stop ignoring me in meetings. (SHOULDER)

It's about time she STOPPED GIVING ME A COLD SHOULDER in meetings. GIVE SB A COLD SHOULDER - to ignore sb - to give sb the brush-off - to turn a deaf ear/blind eyes to sth - to bury your head in the sand - to close your eyes to sth - to shut your eyes to sth

Julie always listens to my complaints about work.

Julie always LENDS AN EAR TO my complaints about work.

* I'd really hate to live in a city.

LIVING in a city is NOT TO MY LIKING.

* The committee had a long discussion but they could not make up their mind. ._. (REACH)

Lengthy as their discussion might be, they could not REACH A CONCLUSION.

* Marry got the wrong end of the stick.

MARRY misunderstood something.

* The sole survivor of the crash was Mary Peters.

MARY PETERS was the only passenger not killed in the plane crash.

* The number of people who understand his idea exceeds his expectations.

MORE people understand him than he expects.

* Cheques should only be accepted with proof of identity.

NEVER accept cheques without proof of identity.

* The cause of the explosion is still unknown.

NOBODY knows what caused the explosion.

* They could not warn people by electronic mail because that might spread the computer virus. (FEAR)

They could not warn people by electronic mail FOR FEAR OF spreading the computer virus.

* I'm absolutely sure that they weren't playing in this weather.

THEY CAN'T have been playing in this weather.

There were many mistakes in her typing.

Her typing was RIDDLED WITH MISTAKES. RIDDLED WITH MISTAKES - full of mistakes

* We found her manner rather off-putting. (BY)

We were put off BY her manner.

He made too many mistakes to be considered for promotion. (FREQUENT)

His mistakes are too FREQUENT for him to be considered for promotion.

* How could you come on Saturday? (SUIT)

How does COMING on Saturday SUIT you?

A holiday in the UK is very expensive these days. (ARM)

A holiday in the UK COSTS YOU AN ARM AND A LEG these days. COST SB AN ARM AND A LEG - to charge sb too much - to be too expensive

* Our science correspondent sees this new inventions the answer to many of our problems.

ACCORDING to our science correspondent, this invention is the answer to many of our problems.

People are persuaded by adverts to spend more than they can afford.

ADVERTS TEMPT people INTO spending more than they can afford. TEMPT SB INTO DOING STH - to talk sb into doing sth

* Although he is young, there are several ministers even younger than him. (MEANS)

Although he is young, he is BY NO MEANS the youngest minister.

Anne was afraid her neighbors would despise her for not having a washing machine. (LOOK)

Anne was afraid her neighbors would LOOK DOWN ON HER/LOOK DOWN THEIR NOSES AT HER for not having a washing machine. LOOK DOWN ON SB = LOOK DOWN YOUR NOSE AT SB - to depreciate sb - to devalue sb - to despise sb

Being her only niece, Ann is very precious to her. (APPLE)

Being her only niece, Ann is THE APPLE OF HER EYES.

* We must include buying new furniture in our household budget this year. (ACCOUNTED)

Buying new furniture must be ACCOUNTED FOR in our household budget this year. ACCOUNT FOR STH - to form the total of sth

Don't worry about that. These problems are just imaginary. (MIND)

Don't worry about that. These problems are ALL IN YOUR MIND. ALL IN YOUR MIND - if a problem is all in the mind, it does not exist and is only imagined

* Jill's success could be put down to hard work.

HARD WORK was what caused Jill's success.

It is certain that he will compensate you for the damage he has done.

HE IS BOUND to make it up to you for the damage he has done. MAKE IT UP TO SB (for sth) -

* His efforts to find a solution didn't deserve such savage criticism.

HE SHOULDN'T have been savagely criticized for his efforts to find a solution.

You've got a nerve, implying it was all my fault.

HOW dare you imply that it was all my fault.

He failed in everything he did. (BALLOON)

He WENT DOWN LIKE A LEAD BALLOON. GO DOWN LIKE A LEAD BALLOON - unsuccessful - unaccepted

He easily loses his temper. (FLIES)

He easily FLIES INTO A TEMPER. FLY INTO A TEMPER/FURY/RAGE - to blow your top - to hit the roof - to see red - to go ballistic

* He used to be a teacher, so he really knows what it's like in the classroom. (FIRST-HAND)

He has FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE of the classroom.

*** He is rather A COLD FISH when you first meet him. (FORMAL)

He is FORMAL and a bit unfriendly when you first meet him.

He is famous for his vast knowledge of primitive religion. (AUTHORITY)

He is an AUTHORITY ON primitive religion. AN AUTHORITY ON STH - an expert at sth - an old hand at sth - a master of sth

If anyone succeeds in solving the problem right away, it will probably be him. (SPOT)

He stands a chance of solving the problem ON THE SPOT. ON THE SPOT - right away - at once - immediately

Helen won't be happy until she gets a full refund.

NOTHING short of a full refund will SATISFY Helen.

* It was pure chance that a policeman was passing as I was attacked.

ONLY by chance was a policeman passing as I was attacked.

* You could be in trouble for not giving a breath sample to the police. (HOT)

On refusal to give a breath sample to the police, you could be IN HOT WATER. IN HOT WATER/GET INTO HOT WATER - in trouble - having problems

* Organic vegetables are said to be very healthy. (WONDERS)

Organic vegetables are said to DO WONDERS TO your health.

Payment will be made when the order is received. (RECEIPT)

Payment will be made ON RECEIPT OF the order. ON RECEIPT OF STH - when sth is received

It was assumed that Roy would marry that rich old lady.

People TOOK IT FOR GRANTED that Roy would marry that rich old lady.

* His condition improved so rapidly that he went home four days after the operation.

THERE was such a rapid improvement IN his condition that he went home four days after the operation.

"You liar!", she said to him.

SHE CALLED him a liar.

* The Presidential visit attracted such an enormous crowd that all traffic came to a standstill.

SO MANY people turned out to see the Presidential visit that all traffic came to a standstill.

* She disapproved of my suggestion. (DIM)

She TOOK A DIM VIEW OF my suggestion. TAKE DIM VIEW OF STH - to frown on sth - to disapprove of sth

Were you to lose your ticket , no duplicate would be issued.

Should YOU LOSE YOUR TICKET, IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE to issue a duplicate.

*** Some people are not able to learn English. (UNABLE)

Some people find it UNABLE to learn English.

That reminds me of the time I climbed to the top of Mount Fuji.

THAT TAKES me back to the time I climbed to the top of Mount Fuji.

* The engine failed because a part had been badly fitted.

THE ENGINE FAILURE was due to a badly fitted part.

* They declared war on the pretext of defending their territorial rights.

THE EXCUSE for the declaration of war was the defence of their territorial rights.

* The job is yours provided your references are satisfactory.

THE JOB OFFER is dependent on your satisfactory references.

In a nutshell, Joseph's not up to the job.

THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT, Joseph's not up to the job.

* People no longer smoke so many cigarettes as they used to.

THE smoking of cigarettes is no longer as popular as it used to be.

* An announcement of engagement appeared in the local paper.

THEIR ENGAGEMENT was announced in the local paper.

* There is a predominance of boys in this class.

THERE ARE more boys than girls in this class.

The authorities have improved the public transport system here recently. (IMPROVEMENTS)

The authorities HAVE MADE SOME IMPROVEMENTS IN the public transport system here recently.

The disagreement was a lot of a fuss about nothing. (TEACUP)

The disagreement was A STORM IN A TEACUP. A STORM IN A TEACUP - a tempest in a teapot

* In my opinion, it was an absolute miracle that they survived the accident. (SHORT)

The fact that they survived the accident was NOTHING SHORT OF an absolute miracle.

*** The man is a bit over the top when you first meet him. (EXAGGERATED)

The man is EXAGGERATED IN his behavior when you first meet him.

* The police said that the circumstances of her death are suspicious. (TREATING)

The police are TREATING the circumstances of her death as suspicious.

I'm afraid our problems are just beginning. (ICEBERG)

The problems are just THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG, I'm afraid. THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG - the lull before the storm - the calm before the storm

They've been arguing about the motorway extension for years. (BONE)

The proposed motorway extension has been A BONE OF CONTENTION for years. BONE OF CONTENTION - sth sb argue about.

* I was not willing to buy the product because it was too expensive. (OFF)

The sheer expense/cost of the product PUT me OFF buying it.

The villagers prepared themselves to withstand the coming storm. (BRACED)

The villagers BRACED THEMSELVES to withstand the upcoming storm. BRACE YOURSELF - to prepare (physically and mentally)

Nobody said anything even though they all wanted to say. (PREGNANT)

There was A PREGNANT SILENCE/PAUSE. PREGNANT SILENCE/PAUSE - an occasion when nobody speaks, although people are aware that there are feelings or thoughts to express

* The writer's writing styles contrasted sharply with his spoken language. (CONTRAST)

There was a sharp CONTRAST BETWEEN the writer's writing style and his spoken language.

* They painted the wall very well. (MADE)

They MADE A GOOD JOB OF painting the wall. DO/MAKE A GOOD/BAD JOB OF STH - to do sth well/badly

This is not the first time he has openly disagreed with the party leader. (SWORDS)

This is not the first time he has CROSSED SWORDS WITH the party leader. CROSS SWORDS WITH SB - to argue with sb

I was surprised to discover that the hotel was a long way from the center. (TURNED)

To my surprise, the hotel TURNED OUT to be a long way from the center.

* We were elated by the birth of our first grand-child.

WE were OVER THE MOON when our first grand-child was born. OVER THE MOON - elated - delighted - happy

* We certainly will win if we exchange ideas with each other. (HEADS)

We are bound to win if we PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER. PUT YOUR HEADS TOGETHER - to exchange ideas - to discuss sth together

There's a possibility that you may be able to get a grant. (ELIGIBLE)

We are pleased to say that you may be ELIGIBLE to get a grant.

We should waste no words talking to that stubborn guy. (BREATH)

We should SAVE OUR BREATH BY not talking to that stubborn guy. SAVE YOUR BREATH: đừng có phí hơi - to not talk to sb - to consider sb not worth talking to

* Williams remained silent throughout the meeting.

Williams MADE NO CONTRIBUTION TO the discussion at the meeting.

We never buy things in small quantities as we would make profits. (BULK)

With a view to making profits, we always buy things IN BULK. BUY STH IN BULK - to buy sth a lot

* Be considerate to other road users.

YOU ARE NOT enough to other road users.

You don't have to buy one if you don't like it.

YOU ARE UNDER no obligation to buy one if you don't like it.

* You're a trainee for three months and then you become a junior employee.

YOU BECOME A JUNIOR EMPLOYEE ONCE you have been a trainee for three months.

It wasn't very polite of you not to notify them about the change of plans.

YOU COULD have notified them about the change of plans.

You only have a short time to do this work, so don't waste time.

You are WORKING AGAINST THE CLOCK, so don't waste time. DO STH AGAINST TIME/THE CLOCK - to do sth as fast as possible