Proficiency Expressions #1 | Baamboozle - Baamboozle

It really is no w.......... that so many people choose to spend their holidays here. (not surprising)

wonder

Tourism accounts ..... £1.2 billion of the local economy.

for

Sand dunes stretch into the distance as far as the ...... can ......

eye, see

Sand dunes stretch ...... the distance...

into

many local business leaders are quick to point ...... that tourism brings in a lot of money

out

In 1996 he had the h.......... of performing on stage at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

honour

She received critical a......... for her latest art exhibition. (praise)

acclaim

The r.............. pressure eventually got to him and he had to take some time off.

relentless

It's an interesting, a............. long, documentary. (but)

albeit

P………… that there are no changes in the weather, the tournament will go ahead as planned.

provided/providing

I was in the area so I decided to drop by and visit my cousin on a w.......... (impulse)

whim

When I was at school there was a c....................... for yo-yos for about 6 months, everyone had one!

craze

Bell bottom jeans seem to be all the r............ again. (in fashion)

rage

The statement released to the press was w................ inaccurate, it couldn’t have been more wrong! (completely)

wholly

Some members of the team p....... f......... some interesting ideas and suggestions for the Xmas party.

put forward

The new administration has b....... a........ sweeping changes in its first month in office.

brought about

Services are now offered by a growing r............ of global resources.

range

Librarians are now information brokers who f............ and manage access to information.

facilitate

The new model of fighter jet dominated the skies because it r......... all older models obsolete.

rendered

I couldn’t make _____ nor _____ of the plot of the book.

head, tail

The play didn’t ______ up to the critic’s expectations.

live

She s_______ denied having taken the money despite the evidence to the c________.

strenuously, contrary

The loss of his job brought Phil down to _________.

earth

Susan’s not to _______ _____ the dog chewing your slipper. (not her fault)

blame for

_____ ______ her father’s assistance, she wouldn’t have passed her driving test. (without)

but for

No ________ had she graduated _____ she went abroad.

sooner, than

No _______ how often she warns her husband about driving too fast, he _______ no attention.

matter, pays

Things aren’t great but there’s some hope for the future. LIGHT Things aren’t great but………………………………………………………….. tunnel.

There’s light // at the end of the

We had to close four of the biggest stores, we had no choice. LEFT We were ………………………………………………………………… to close four of the biggest stores.

Left with no option/choice // but

John should have been given the position of general manager months ago. TIME It’s high ………………………………………………………….. over as general manager.

Time (that) John // took

He promised to make a big effort to help the company get out of trouble. LENGTHS He promised to……………………………………………………………… the company around.

Go to great lengths // to turn

I was greatly impressed by the presentation that the new head of marketing gave. IMPRESSION The presentation by the new head of marketing………………………………………… me.

made/had a great impression // on

My father’s words on my wedding day inspired me greatly. SOURCE My father’s words on my wedding day ………………………………………… to me.

Were a source // of great inspiration

Without Kelly’s guidance, we never would have survived. BEEN Had……………………………………………………………., we never would have survived.

It not been // for Kelly’s guidance

It was his brother who convinced him to buy shares in the company. TALKED It was his brother who………………………………………….. shares in the company.

Talked him // into buying

While there has been an improvement in the company’s fortunes, we’re still in trouble. WOODS While there has been an improvement in the company’s fortunes, we’re………………………………… yet.

Not out of // the woods

The company is in a very perilous situation and could close any day. THREAD The future of the company is…………………………………………………… and it could close any day.

Hanging // by a thread

There are rumours that the company is about to declare bankruptcy. VERGE The company is……………………………………………………… bankrupt.

Rumoured to be // on the verge of going

The accident damaged his ear drums and now he’s virtually deaf. INTENTS The accident damaged his ear drums and now………………………………… deaf.

To all intents and purposes // he’s

Someone has told me that several employees were upset about working weekends. ATTENTION It……………………………………………….. that several employees were upset about working

Has been brought // to my attention

The castle was __________ (history) used as the main defensive fort in the area.

historically

I had many _________ (agree) with my parents while I was growing up.

disagreements

The English term café is a _________ (derive) of the Turkish word kahve.

derivative/derivation

His business was __________ (prosper) for many years.

prosperous

Importing wine from France is a very ___________ (lucre) business.

lucrative

Under no c_________ should this door be opened.

circumstances

She s________ every chance of winning the competition.

stands

There is little p_________ of us having good weather for the picnic tomorrow.

prospect

His research goes much ________ than any previous scientists have gone.

further

He was the ______ child of poor farmhands in upper Silesia.

only

The console comes with an array of built-in games as ______ as two controllers.

well

More people than e_______ are choosing to work from home.

ever

His work has had an influence on fields well b________ psychology.

beyond

His second album a_________ worldwide popularity.

achieved

He s_________ (wasted) all his money on drugs and alcohol.

squandered

They were tales of the formation of a national i__________.

identity

Only a small h_______ of his films have been seen outside his native country.

handful

I was s______ up by the emotional scenes and started crying.

swept

We lived on the edge of the s__________ suburbs.

sprawling

He flipped ______ when he realised he’d missed the start of the match.

out

I was absolutely ______ when the pizzas finally arrived.

fuming

When she sees ______, there’s no holding her back.

red

He went through the _______ when the builders damaged his motorcycle.

roof

My parents went _______ when they saw my phone bill.

ballistic

He bit my ______ off when I asked him how the meeting had gone.

head

I went back into the shop and gave the shop assistant a piece of my ______.

mind

My dad blew his ______ when he saw how much the taxi cost.

top

I really lost my ______ when they told us our flight was delayed again.

rag

My mum ______ off the handle when she saw the mess we had made.

flew

When people…. it makes me tear my ______ out.

hair

When people…. it’s like a red rag to a ______ for me.

bull

It really stresses me _______ when people…

out

It really rubs me up the ________ way when people…

wrong

It really pisses me _______ when people….

off

It really gets my _______ when people….

goat

It drives me round the _________ when people….

bend

It drives me up the ________ when people….

wall

It really gets on my ________ when people….

nerves

One s________ (backstage helper) was nearly hit when a light fell from the rig and the leading man came _____ ______ a migraine

stagehand, down with

The popular show, co-written by p_______ Catherine Johnson and l__________ Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus,

playwright, lyricists

She admitted ________ (behind the scenes) after the show that it hadn’t all been p_____ s______ (easy) during rehearsals.

backstage, plain sailing

L________ lady Betty Harris gave a d_______ performance in the lead role.

leading, dazzling

The audience showed its appreciation by giving them a 10-minute standing ______ at the _______ call.

ovation, curtain

The audience g_____ the cast a u_________ thumbs-up.

gave, unanimous

The show has received g_______ reviews across the board and tickets are selling like _____ _______ so get yours while you can!

glowing, hot cakes

Despite the __________ rollercoaster of the last few weeks, she said that seeing the _______ smiles of audience at the end had made it all worthwhile!

emotional, beaming

Harris admitted to s________ from c________ stage fright in the past,

suffering, crippling

The classic Abba songs such as Dancing Queen and the title-track Mamma Mia really brought the _______ _____

house down

I'm not sure exactly what I'm going to say to Lisa about her performance but I'll _____________ and see how she reacts. (see how a situation develops before deciding what to do)

play it by ear

Phil insisted that he loathed any form of dance but after seeing the Cuban dancers performing live, he quickly ___________ . (expressed a different opinion)

changed his tune

Their old gymnastic equipment _________ on a well-known online auction site. (was sold very cheaply)

went for a song

Leila spent the whole meeting __________ instead of listening to other people's opinions! (talking about her own achievements)

blowing her how trumpet

That acrobatic display was fantastic! They certainly __________ . (tried their very best)

pulled out all the stops

Someone said he was a well-known actor but his name doesn't _________. (sound familiar)

ring a bell

Sally took _____ her new hobby of amateur theatricals like a duck to water!

to

As part of the breakdancing team, we spent months working _____ common goal.

towards

Why is it that the older generation always hark ______ to the good old days of the 60s and 70s music scene?

back

A professional pianist, Boris really enjoyed getting his teeth _____ challenging pieces by Bartok or Shostakovich.

into

The organisers were hard-pressed ____ new ideas for evening entertainment, so when I suggested a classical evening at a clue, they thought it was great!!

for

Most performers thrive ____ positive recognition but react badly to negative criticism

on