REWRITE

1. I never thought that we'd have legal problems. (crossed)

=> It ___never crossed my mind___ that we'd have legal problems.
2. I've decided that teaching is not the right profession for me. (conclusion)
=> I've ___come to/reached the conclusion___ that teaching is not the right profession for me.
3. Could you tell me where you were last night, Mr Johnson? (account)
=> Could you ___give me an account of___ your whereabouts last night, Mr Johnson?
- give an account of sth : describe sth
4. The journalist pretended that she was a parent of one of the children. (false)
=> The journalist ___gave the false impression___ that she was a parent of one of the children.
5. You have to use logic and lateral thinking in equal measure in this job. (strike)
=> You have to ___strike a balance between___ logic and lateral thinking in this job.
6. I didn't tell Angie because I didn't want to hurt Eddie's feelings. (consideration)
=> I didn't tell Angie ___out of consideration for___ Eddie.
- out of consideration for (sb/sth) : on account of a kindly regard or consideration for someone
or something else
7. I'm never going to forget to consider Darren's views when I make a decision again. (account)
=> That's the last time I ___forget to take Darren's view into account___ when I make a decision.
8. I don't know how on earth she thinks of such brilliant plots for her novels. (come)
=> How on earth ___does she come up with___ such brilliant plots for her novels?
9. I'm sure Nancy is still presuming that the party starts at nine. (impression)
=> I'm sure Nancy ___is still under the impression___ that the party starts at nine.
10. Sean, do you know yet what you're doing this evening? (mind)
=> Sean, ___have you made up your mind___ yet what you're doing this evening?
11. I told Jeanne, thinking that she'd be supportive - how wrong I was! (belief)
=> I told Jeanne ___in the (mistaken) belief___ that she'd be supportive - how wrong I was!
12. There's no way that you're staying out all night with your friends, I'm afraid. (question)
=> Your staying out all night with your friends ___is out of the question___, I'm afraid.
13. I'm glad you now see sense and agree that your parents are right. (senses)
=> I'm glad ___you have (now) come to your senses___ and agree that your parents are right.
- come to your senses : to begin to use good judgment
14. I think you think - wrongly - that this is all a conspiracy against you. (misapprehension)
=> I think ___you are under the misapprehension___ that this is all a conspiracy against you.
- con'spiracy (n) : the activity of secretly planning with other people to do something bad or
illegal (âm mưu)
15. Don't you think we should decorate the living room soon? (up)
=> Isn't it about time ___we did up___ the living room?
- do sth up : to repair or decorate a building so that it looks attractive
16. Why should I offer you advice if you won't listen? (use)
=> What's ___the use of my offering___ you advice if you won't listen?
- what's the use of...? : used to tell someone to stop worrying because worrying will not help
17. Being in prison seems to have changed Kevin's behaviour for the better. (leaf)
=> Kevin has ___turned over a new leaf since___ he got out of prison.
18. Don't complain about it to me because it won't make any difference. (good)
=> It's ___no good complaining to me about___ it because it won't make any difference.
- It's no good (doing sth) : used to say that an action will not achieve what it is intended to
achieve
19. You only have a short time to do this work, so don't waste time. (clock)
=> You are ___working against the clock___, so don't waste time.
- against the clock : if you do something against the clock, you do it as fast as possible and try to
finish it before a certain time
20. When her dream of meeting Kelie came true after so long, Carol couldn't believe it. (reality)
=> Carol couldn't believe it when her dream of meeting Kelie ___became a reality___ after so
long.
21. I often think that Sean is actually his twin brother, Michael. (mix)
=> I often ___mix up Sean with___ his twin brother, Michael.
- mix sb up (with) : to fail to recognize two people or things correctly by thinking that one
person or thing is the other person or thing
22. Would you like to do what the Prime Minister does? (places)
=> Would you like to ___change places with___ the Prime Minister?
- change/trade/swap places : to be in another person's situation
23. The governmenr needs to stop this ridiculous bureaucratic system. (put)
=> The government needs to ___put an end to___ this ridiculous bureaucratic system.
- put an end to sth/ put a stop to sth : to make something stop happening or existing
24. No one except Jake has ever beaten me at a game of chess. (only)
=> Jake ___is the only person ever to___ beat me at a game of chess.
25. It's time we began to sort through these cupboards. (start)
=> It's time we ___made a start on sorting___ through these cupboards.
- make a start (on/at)
26. Julie asked for a second's thinking time before she answered. (just)
=> "Could ___you just give me a second to___ think before I answer?" asked Julie.
- take/give sb a second to do sth : to allow someone or something a moment or brief period of
time in which to do something
27. I can't really remember the last time I had a day off. (ages)
=> It feels ___like ages since___ I had a day off.
28. Sorry, Alan, but right now I'm rather busy. (in)
=> Sorry, Alan, but at ___this moment in time___ I'm rather busy.
- at this moment in time : now
29. 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
30. That medicine was very effective and I started to feel better immediately. (magic)
=> That medicine ___worked like magic___ and I started to feel better immediately.
- work like magic/a charm : to be very effective, possibly in a surprising way
31. The day started really well when we heard that Bob had been given his own TV series.
(flying)
=> The day ___got off to a flying start___ when we heard that Bob had been given his own TV
series.
- get off to a flying start : to have a very successful beginning
32. I do like this job, but I sometimes wonder if I've chosen the right career path. (again)
=> I do like this job, but ___every now and again___ I wonder if I've chosen the right career
path.
- (every) now and then/again : sometimes, but not very often
33. The headmaster was determined to stop all buying at the school. (end)
=> The headmaster was determined to ___put an end___ to all bullying at the school.
34. No one nowadays believes in witches, do they? (age)
=> No one ___in this day and age___ believes in witches, do they?
- in this day and age : at the present time
35. We were just about to leave for the airport when we heard all planes had been grounded.
(point)
=> We were ___(just) on the point of leaving___ for the airport when we heard all planes had
been grounded.
- be on the point of (doing) sth : to be going to do something very soon
36. I'll just finish this e-mail and then I'll be with you. (second)
=> It ___will (just/only) take me a second to___ finish this e-mail and then I'll be with you.
37. Ralph would hand in his resignation immediately if he could find a better job. (hat)
=> Ralph would hand in his resignation ___at the drop of a hat___ if he could find a better job.
- at the drop of a hat : immediately or in a way that shows that you have no doubts about doing
something
38. They made me wait for over 20 minutes on the phone! (kept)
=> I ___was kept waiting___ for over 20 minutes on the phone!
39. Although people consider Ashley to be a star, she is always friendly towards everyone.
(considered)
=> Despite ___being considered a star___, Ashley's always friendly towards everyone.
40. We have had reports that the Prime Minister is making a surprise visit to Syria. (be)
=> The Prime Minister ___is/has been reported to be making___ a surprise visit to Syria.
41. The manager provided the staff with extra training. (by)
=> The ___staff was/were provided with extra training by___ the manager.
42. I think someone needs to explain this computer program to me. (explaining)
=> I think I need ___this computer program explaining to___ me.
43. They have been building the new stadium for much longer than they originally estimated.
(under)
=> The new stadium ___has been under construction___ for much longer than they originally
estimated.
- Avoiding the passive : in progress, in training, on display, under consideration, under
construction,...
44. Do you know why they made Craig stay behind after the lesson? (to)
=> Do you know why ___Craig was made to stay___ behind after the lesson?
45. Call Lionel and ask him to send the reports up to my office. (have)
=> Call Lionel and ___have him send___ the reports up to my office.
46. Smith gave the ball to Jones just before the referee blew his whistle. (by)
=> Jones ___was given the ball by___ Smith just before the referee blew his whistle.
47. Reports say that police have arrested a number of people since the robbery. (reported)
=> There ___are reported to have been___ a number of arrests since the robbery.
48. Try to stay level with the other runners at the start of the race. (fall)
=> Try ___not to fall behind___ the other runners at the start of the race.
49. The police have put a barrier around the building to keep people out. (cordoned)
=> The building ___has been cordoned off by___ police.
- cordon off : stop people from entering an area by putting something such as a rope around it
50. A friend of ours fixed our car for us. (had)
=> We ___had a friend of ours fix___ our car.
51. The managing director always likes to welcome new employees on their first day. (point)
=> The managing director always ___makes a point of welcoming___ new employees on their
first day.
- make a point of doing sth : to always do something or take particular care to do it
52. After a slow start, the audience were soon laughing at the comedian's jokes. (had)
=> After a slow start, the comedian ___soon had the audience laughing___ at his jokes.
53. I just need to finish this work and then I'll call you. (way)
=> I just need to ___get this work out of the way___ and then I'll call you.
- get sth out of the way : to finish sth
54. It's possible that Greg didn't go to Swansea after all. (not)
=> Greg ___might/may not have been___ to Swansea after all.
55. It's quite likely that Sasha was lying about what Doug said. (well)
=> Sasha ___might/may well have been lying___ about what Doug said.
- may well : if you say that something may well happen, you mean that it is likely to happen
56. The most likely situation is that they awarded Grandpa the medal during the war. (must)
=> Grandpa ___must have been awarded the medal___ during the war.
57. I'd be surprised if Derek has already arrived. (ought)
=> Derek ___ought not to have arrived___ yet.
58. Jake, is it definite that they haven't announced the winner yet? (will)
=> Jake, ___will the winner definitely not have been___ announced yet?
59. It's highly likely that Stephen was listening. (may)
=> Stephen ___may well have been___ listening.
60. It's not possible that Andrew is half Spanish. (be)
=> Andrew ___couldn't/can't be___ half Spanish.
61. The adverts look exactly the same as the articles in this magazine. (difference)
=> It's impossible ___to tell the difference between the articles and___ the adverts in this
magazine.
62. I assume you've checked your facts carefully. (read)
=> I ___take it as read (that)___ you've checked your facts carefully.
- take sth as read : to accept that something is true without making sure that it is
63. You've got to persuade the editor not to publish that story. (out)
=> You've got to ___talk the editor out of publishing___ that story.
- talk sb into/out of (doing) sth : to persuade someone to do or not do something
64. Terry and I started arguing about the situation in the Middle East. (into)
=> I ___got into an argument with Terry___ about the situation in the Middle East.
65. I'm sure we'll be able to agree on this matter. (understanding)
=> I'm sure we'll be able to ___come to an understanding___ on this matter.
- come to/reach/achieve an understanding : to agree about something
66. I'd discuss this with Phil before making a final decision. (discussion)
=> I'd ___have a discussion with Phil about this___ before making a final decision.
67. My dad's not happy with me at all because he heard me swearing. (books)
=> I ___am in my dad's bad books___ because he heard me swearing.
- be in sb's good/bad books : if you are in someone's good books, they are pleased with you,
and if you are in their bad books, they are angry with you
68. There's no need for me to tell you that you'll be paid handsomely for this. (saying)
=> It ___goes without saying___ that you'll be paid handsomely for this.
- handsomely : very well or to a great degree
69. He hasn't announced anything, but my take on the situation is that the Prime Minister's going
to resign soon. (lines)
=> He hasn't announced anything, but, ___reading between the lines___, I'd say that the Prime
Minister's going to resign soon.
- read between the lines : to try to understand someone's real feelings or intentions from what
they say or write
70. Tom and Barbara aren't talking to each other at the moment. (terms)
=> Tom and Barbara aren't ___on speaking terms___ at the moment.
- on speaking terms : friendly enough to talk
71. Persuading Adrian to lie for you was a bad thing to do. (talked)
=> You should ___not have talked Adrian into lying___ for you.
72. I'm sure she discussed this with Bob first. (word)
=> She ___must have had a word with Bob about___ this first.
- have a word with (sb) : to talk to sb briefly
73. I'm sure Jasmin didn't misunderstand, Carol. (stick)
=>Jasmin can't ___have got the wrong end of the stick___, Carol.
74. It's not necessary for you to promise - I know I can trust you. (word)
=> You ___don't have to give me your word___ - I know I can trust you.
75. Without this new diet, Henry would never have lost so much weight. (it)
=> Had ___it not been for___ this new diet, Henry would never have lost so much weight.
76. Unless the plans change, we'll see you on the 19th. (no)
=> Provided ___that there are no changes to___ the plans, we'll see you on the 19th.
77. If you applied now, there's a good chance you would get the job. (apply)
=> Were ___you to apply now___, there's a good chance you would get the job.
78. I didn't know about your problem so I didn't offer to help. (have)
=> If I'd known about your problem, ___I would have offered___ to help.
79. It could get cold at night, so take some warm clothes. (in)
=> Take some warm clothes ___in case it gets___ cold at night.
80. I'd love to travel the world if I didn't have to pay off my mortgage. (having)
=> Were ___I not having___ to pay off my mortgage, I'd love to travel the world.
81. Ten years ago, people would have complained at seeing this film. (seen)
=> Had ___people seen this film ten years ago___, they would have complained.
82. Drivers are allowed to park here if they display a local resident permit. (condition)
=> Drivers are allowed to park here ___on condition that___ they display a local resident permit.
- on (the) condition that : only if
83. The only reason I haven't moved to London yet is the cost. (for)
=> Had ___it not been for the cost___, I would already have moved to Londo.
84. What do you think was the reason for the failure. (down)
=> What do you ___put the (reason for the) failure down___ to?
85. Ian was ill yesterday so he didn't go into work. (weather)
=> Ian was ___under the weather___ yesterday so he didn't go into work.
86. If the council stopped wasting money, more people might approve of them. (to)
=> Were ___the council to stop wasting___ money, more people might approve of them.
87. The doctor's advice was to just wait and see what happened and the baby would be fine.
(nature)
=> The doctor said that we should ___let nature take its course___ and the baby would be fine.
- let the nature take its course : allow something to develop without trying to influence it
88. If the English team can work together, they should win. (so)
=> The English team should win, ___so long as they can___ work together.
- so long as : only if
89. I made a slight mistake at the beginning, so my whole answer to the maths problem was
wrong. (slipped)
=> My answer to the maths problem would have been right ___if I hadn't slipped up___ at the
beginning.
- slip up : make a careless mistake; slip-up (n)
90. There's a good chance that Ed will be picked for the team. (being)
=> Ed's ___chances of being picked___ for the team are good.
91. We need to do two hours' work before we can take a break. (been)
=> We can't take a break ___until we have been working for___ two hours.
92. I was just about to ask Amy to marry me when she told me she wanted to split up! (verge)
=> I was just ___on the verge of asking___ Amy to marry me when she told me she wanted to
split up!
- on the verge of (doing) sth : very near to doing or experiencing something
93. We were going to be 12 for dinner, but Vicky couldn't come in the end. (meant)
=> There ___were meant to be/have been___ 12 for dinner, but Vicky couldn't come in the end.
- be meant to : to be required or supposed; to have to
94. Dad decided to pay a mechanic to look at the car when he couldn't find the problem. (looked)
=> Dad decided to ___have the car looked at___ by a mechanic when he couldn't find the
problem.
95. Jan has been having problems with her e-mail so it's quite likely she hasn't got your message.
(well)
=> Jan ___may well not have got___ your message because she's been having e-mail problems
96. Letting Brittany walk home on her own was a mistake. (have)
=> You ___should not have let___ Brittany walk home on her own.
97. I strongly suggest that you don't forget your dictionary next lesson. (better)
=> You ___had better not forget___ your dictionary next lesson.
98. I'm sure that the only thing that prevented me from leaving university was my dad's advice.
(it)
=> I'm sure that ___had it not been for my dad's advice___ I would have left university.
99. You have to put more effort in if you want to succeed. (fail)
=> You ___will/are going to fail unless___ you put more effort in.
100. The start of the debate is scheduled for six. (due)
=> The debate ___is due to start___ at six.
- be due to : used to talk about things that are expected or planned to happen at a certain time
101. Pauline doesn't want to be given a main part in the school play. (rather)
=> Pauline ___would rather not be given___ a main part in the school play.
101. We didn't get to meet the Minister and that was a great shame. (only)
=> If ___only we had got___ to meet the Minister!
102. Why don't they stop making so much noise downstair? (wish)
=> I ___wish they would stop___ making so much noise downstairs!
103. What a shame I didn't see his face when you told him the news. (could)
=> I wish ___I could have seen___ his face when you told him the news.
104. Don't you think they should bring out a new version of MatchPlayer? (about)
=> Don't you think it's ___about time they brought___ out a new version of MatchPlayer?
105. I only knew about the meeting because Cynthia rang me. (if)
=> I wouldn't have known about the meeting ___if Cynthia hadn't rung___ me.
* Other structures with wish/if only
- To criticise other people or wish for a situation to be different - Wish/If only + would : I wish
they would offer me a pay rise.
- Wishes about ability or permission - Wish/If only + could : I wish I could find a job that pays
well.
- Wishes about past ability or permission - Wish/If only + could + perfect infinitive : I wish I
could have got a mortgage with a fixed interest rate.
- To express desires in a very formal way - Wish + full infinitive : I wish to speak to the bank
manager.
- To wish someone luck/happiness/success/etc - Wish + noun : I wish him every success.
106. Some people will do anything to make money. (lengths)
=> Some people will ___go to great /any lengths___ to make money.
107. I don't know why you're saying this is so important. (deal)
=> I don't know why you're ___making a big deal out of___ this.
- make a big deal (out) of (sth) : to treat (something) as very important or too important
108. Simon said he had no idea what he was doing for the first few weeks of his new job. (depth)
=> Simon said he ___was (completely/totally) out of his depth___ for the first few weeks of his
new job.
- out of your depth : not having the knowledge, experience, or skills to deal with a particular
subject or situation
109. I think they're largely responsible for what's happened. (small)
=> I hold them ___in no small way___ responsible for what's happened.
- in no small way/part : to a great degree
110. We've searched everywhere for the lottery ticket and can't find it anywhere. (low)
=> We've searched ___high and low___ for the lottery tickey and can't find it anywhere.
- high and low : everywhere
110. We talked about investments for a very long time. (length)
=> We talked ___at great length___ about investments.
- at (great) length : for a long period of time
111. You're asking for trouble by arguing with the boss so aggressively like that. (ice)
=> You're ___skating on thin ice___ by arguing with the boss so aggressively like that.
- be skating on thin ice : to be doing something that is dangerous or involves risks
112. Are you saying Dan gets angry easily, Fiona? (short)
=> Are you saying Dan ___has (got) a short temper/fuse___, Fiona?
- have a short temper/fuse : to get angry very easily
113. There's no doubt shopping around is a good idea. (pays)
=> There's no doubt ___it pays to shop___ around.
- it (always) pays to (do sth) : it is (always) a wise or advantageous idea to do the thing
specified
114. I'd prefer to get value for money by staying at the theme park all day. (worth)
=> I'd rather I ___got my money's worth___ by staying at the theme park all day.
- get your money's worth : to receive good value for something you have paid for
115. I think Dad's worried about a lot of things at the moment. (mind)
=> I think Dad ___has got a lot of things on his mind___ at the moment.
116. Why didn't you search everywhere for your wallet? Then you might have found it. (low)
=> If ___you had searched high and low___ for your wallet, you might have found it.
117. I can't cope at all with my new job, and that bothers me. (depth)
=> I wish ___I wasn't out of my depth with/in___ my new job.
118. Jane was the unlucky one so she had to tell Ed he was losing his company car. (straw)
=> If Jane ___hadn't drawn the short straw___, she wouldn't have had to tell Ed he was losing
his company car.
- draw/get the short straw : to have to do the least enjoyable of a range of duties, often because
you have been chosen to do it