Don’t tell the boss anything about this. breathe → Don’t breathe a word to the boss about this.
We have more important things to do at the moment. fish → We have bigger fish to fry at the moment.
The accused became very emotional. overcome → The accused was overcome with emotion.
Naturally, they will deduct points if you arrive late. penalized → Naturally, you will be penalized if you arrive late.
The model’s clothes lay all over the floor. strewn → The model’s clothes were strewn all over the floor.
Our new director wants you to call her “Madam”. addressed → Our new director wants to be addressed as “Madam.”
I can’t say I enjoy it when people tear my writing to pieces in front of me. having → I don’t enjoy having my writing torn to pieces in front of me.
We’ll have to make up our minds by the end of the week, won’t we? be → We’ll have to be decided by the end of the week, won’t we?
It’s just possible the hotel may need more staff in the summer. ruled → It’s not ruled out that the hotel may need more staff in the summer.
Surely nobody likes it when people make fun of them in public. being → Surely nobody likes being made fun of in public.
Never forget that the customer is always right. borne → Always bear in mind that the customer is right.
This school-leaver’s qualifications are not adequate for such a demanding job, are they? sufficiently → This school-leaver’s qualifications are not sufficiently adequate for such a demanding job, are they?
When she left home, she had to do everything on her own. fend → When she left home, she had to fend for herself.
I’m afraid I’ll be a bit late because something unexpected has happened. cropped → I’m afraid I’ll be a bit late because something unexpected has cropped up.
He’ll probably get here late; he usually does. liable → He’s liable to get here late; he usually does.
It’s not certain whether I’ll be able to pay the bills this month. touch → It’s touch and go whether I’ll be able to pay the bills this month.
It’s impossible to predict how long it will take to do this. telling → There’s no telling how long it will take to do this.
When I make my complaint, I hope that you will say you agree with me. back → When I make my complaint, I hope that you will back me up.
Many people believe that the death penalty deters criminals. deterRent → Many people believe that the death penalty acts as a deterrent to criminals.
She was nervous about going to the doctor’s, so I went with her so that she wouldn’t be alone. moral → She was nervous about going to the doctor’s, so I went with her out of moral support.
He offers them more money to encourage them to do the job quickly. incentive → He offers them a financial incentive to do the job quickly.
He has always done things to help her in her career. supported → He has always supported her career advancement.
Many customs restrictions within the EC have been abolished. Away on → Many customs restrictions within the EC have been done away with.
At the moment I can’t afford to buy a new car. question → At the moment, buying a new car is out of the question.
I assume you are hungry. granted → Granted that you are hungry, let’s get something to eat.
I know I can convince Dave that I’m right about this matter. Bring → I know I can bring Dave around to my point of view on this matter.
Students at the school are not allowed to go into the Rainbow Disco. Bounds → The Rainbow Disco is off bounds to students at the school.
He has changed his opinion on the house. Heart → He has had a change of heart regarding the house.
I treated him in the same way as he had treated me. Paid → I paid him back in the same way he had treated me.
Mr Pat was completely shocked on hearing the bad news. Arms → Mr Pat was caught off his guard when he heard the bad news.
Mrs Smith is on a diet and she eats very little. Bird → Mrs Smith is on a diet and eats like a bird.
She was really crazy about him. Head → She was head over heels in love with him.
She began to suffer from irrational fears. Prey → She became prey to irrational fears.
Who will inherit the estate? Heir → Who will be the heir to the estate?
The final version of the plan was quite different from the initial draft. resemblance → The final version of the plan bore little resemblance to the initial draft.
His irresponsible attitude is endangering his career as a doctor. Jeopardy → His irresponsible attitude is putting his career as a doctor in jeopardy.
You should excuse his bad manners, he’s only a child. allowances → You should make allowances for his bad manners since he’s only a child.
The candle fell over and made the barn start burning. Light → The candle fell over and set the barn alight.
City-dwellers often get depressed nowadays. Prone → City-dwellers are often prone to depression nowadays.
Fortunately, the boat didn’t sink. Stroke → Fortunately, the boat did not sink by a stroke of luck.
Bill reckoned that his success was due to incredible luck. Put → Bill put his success down to incredible luck.
I’ve considered the advantages and disadvantages and I’ve decided not to go. Weighed → I have weighed the pros and cons and decided not to go.
After a while I realised that I’ve made a terrible mistake. Dawned → It finally dawned on me that I had made a terrible mistake.
When she left her home, she had to do everything on her own. Fend → When she left home, she had to fend for herself.
I was not sure whether to go with him or not. Minds → I was in two minds about whether to go with him or not.
Nowadays we often buy goods and pay for them later. Credit → Nowadays we often buy goods on credit.
I suffered from obsessive and agonizing thoughts. prey → I fell prey to obsessive and agonizing thoughts.
The first sign of the disease is a feeling of faintness. onset → The onset of the disease is marked by a feeling of faintness.
As an antidote to their disappointment, he bought them ice-cream. offset → He bought them ice-cream to offset their disappointment.
I travel by bus only when I have no alternative. resort → I only resort to traveling by bus when I have no alternative.
Bill reckoned that his success was due to incredible luck. put → Bill put his success down to incredible luck.
Don’t forget those who are at work on this lovely, sunny day! spare → Spare a thought for those who are at work on this lovely, sunny day!
The impression most people have of him is that he is an honest person. Comes → The impression that most people have of him comes from his honesty.
The incident ruined my chances of promotion. Paid → The incident paid off my chances of promotion.
She began to suffer from irrational fear. Prey → She fell prey to irrational fears.
I can’t understand why they are reluctant to sign the contract. Baffled → I am baffled by their reluctance to sign the contract.
There isn’t much that Peter doesn’t know about modern art. Gaps → There are few gaps in Peter’s knowledge about modern art.
Bob has a habit of upsetting people unintentionally. Inclined → Bob is inclined to upset people unintentionally.
Martin’s habit of taking risks doesn’t fit in with his image as a family man. Compatible → Martin’s habit of taking risks is not compatible with his image as a family man.
John really must attend the meeting. Crucial → It is crucial that John attends the meeting.
Sally became known throughout the country as a result of her popular TV series. Household → Sally became a household name throughout the country as a result of her popular TV series.
John made his teacher very angry. Incurred → John incurred his teacher’s anger.
He used to be a teacher, so he really knows what it’s like in the classroom. Firsthand → He knows what it’s like in the classroom firsthand because he used to be a