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Proficiency Expressions #1

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  • His second album a_________ worldwide popularity.
    achieved
  • It really pisses me _______ when people….
    off
  • The audience g_____ the cast a u_________ thumbs-up.
    gave, unanimous
  • His business was __________ (prosper) for many years.
    prosperous
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • It drives me round the _________ when people….
    bend
  • Some members of the team p....... f......... some interesting ideas and suggestions for the Xmas party.
    put forward
  • When people…. it makes me tear my ______ out.
    hair
  • We lived on the edge of the s__________ suburbs.
    sprawling
  • Someone said he was a well-known actor but his name doesn't _________. (sound familiar)
    ring a bell
  • Services are now offered by a growing r............ of global resources.
    range
  • John should have been given the position of general manager months ago. TIME It’s high ………………………………………………………….. over as general manager.
    Time (that) John // took
  • I went back into the shop and gave the shop assistant a piece of my ______.
    mind
  • The r.............. pressure eventually got to him and he had to take some time off.
    relentless
  • When people…. it’s like a red rag to a ______ for me.
    bull
  • L________ lady Betty Harris gave a d_______ performance in the lead role.
    leading, dazzling
  • I was in the area so I decided to drop by and visit my cousin on a w.......... (impulse)
    whim
  • 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
  • Bell bottom jeans seem to be all the r............ again. (in fashion)
    rage
  • As part of the breakdancing team, we spent months working _____ common goal.
    towards
  • That acrobatic display was fantastic! They certainly __________ . (tried their very best)
    pulled out all the stops
  • I couldn’t make _____ nor _____ of the plot of the book.
    head, tail
  • 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
  • It really is no w.......... that so many people choose to spend their holidays here. (not surprising)
    wonder
  • The new administration has b....... a........ sweeping changes in its first month in office.
    brought about
  • Harris admitted to s________ from c________ stage fright in the past,
    suffering, crippling
  • P………… that there are no changes in the weather, the tournament will go ahead as planned.
    provided/providing
  • She admitted ________ (behind the scenes) after the show that it hadn’t all been p_____ s______ (easy) during rehearsals.
    backstage, plain sailing
  • His work has had an influence on fields well b________ psychology.
    beyond
  • Most performers thrive ____ positive recognition but react badly to negative criticism
    on
  • The loss of his job brought Phil down to _________.
    earth
  • A professional pianist, Boris really enjoyed getting his teeth _____ challenging pieces by Bartok or Shostakovich.
    into
  • He was the ______ child of poor farmhands in upper Silesia.
    only
  • She s_______ denied having taken the money despite the evidence to the c________.
    strenuously, contrary
  • She received critical a......... for her latest art exhibition. (praise)
    acclaim
  • In 1996 he had the h.......... of performing on stage at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
    honour
  • Librarians are now information brokers who f............ and manage access to information.
    facilitate
  • Their old gymnastic equipment _________ on a well-known online auction site. (was sold very cheaply)
    went for a song
  • My parents went _______ when they saw my phone bill.
    ballistic
  • Importing wine from France is a very ___________ (lucre) business.
    lucrative
  • 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
  • The classic Abba songs such as Dancing Queen and the title-track Mamma Mia really brought the _______ _____
    house down
  • 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
  • Why is it that the older generation always hark ______ to the good old days of the 60s and 70s music scene?
    back
  • The show has received g_______ reviews across the board and tickets are selling like _____ _______ so get yours while you can!
    glowing, hot cakes
  • It really gets my _______ when people….
    goat
  • I had many _________ (agree) with my parents while I was growing up.
    disagreements
  • 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
  • The statement released to the press was w................ inaccurate, it couldn’t have been more wrong! (completely)
    wholly
  • 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
  • More people than e_______ are choosing to work from home.
    ever
  • 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 castle was __________ (history) used as the main defensive fort in the area.
    historically
  • When I was at school there was a c....................... for yo-yos for about 6 months, everyone had one!
    craze
  • The console comes with an array of built-in games as ______ as two controllers.
    well
  • 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
  • Sand dunes stretch ...... the distance...
    into
  • There are rumours that the company is about to declare bankruptcy. VERGE The company is……………………………………………………… bankrupt.
    Rumoured to be // on the verge of going
  • Without Kelly’s guidance, we never would have survived. BEEN Had……………………………………………………………., we never would have survived.
    It not been // for Kelly’s guidance
  • 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
  • No _______ how often she warns her husband about driving too fast, he _______ no attention.
    matter, pays
  • 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
  • The new model of fighter jet dominated the skies because it r......... all older models obsolete.
    rendered
  • When she sees ______, there’s no holding her back.
    red
  • Tourism accounts ..... £1.2 billion of the local economy.
    for
  • Sand dunes stretch into the distance as far as the ...... can ......
    eye, see
  • Under no c_________ should this door be opened.
    circumstances
  • 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
  • No ________ had she graduated _____ she went abroad.
    sooner, than
  • Susan’s not to _______ _____ the dog chewing your slipper. (not her fault)
    blame for
  • many local business leaders are quick to point ...... that tourism brings in a lot of money
    out
  • Sally took _____ her new hobby of amateur theatricals like a duck to water!
    to
  • He bit my ______ off when I asked him how the meeting had gone.
    head
  • Only a small h_______ of his films have been seen outside his native country.
    handful
  • There is little p_________ of us having good weather for the picnic tomorrow.
    prospect
  • 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
  • He went through the _______ when the builders damaged his motorcycle.
    roof
  • _____ ______ her father’s assistance, she wouldn’t have passed her driving test. (without)
    but for
  • He flipped ______ when he realised he’d missed the start of the match.
    out
  • It's an interesting, a............. long, documentary. (but)
    albeit
  • It really rubs me up the ________ way when people…
    wrong
  • My mum ______ off the handle when she saw the mess we had made.
    flew
  • Leila spent the whole meeting __________ instead of listening to other people's opinions! (talking about her own achievements)
    blowing her how trumpet
  • They were tales of the formation of a national i__________.
    identity
  • The audience showed its appreciation by giving them a 10-minute standing ______ at the _______ call.
    ovation, curtain
  • The popular show, co-written by p_______ Catherine Johnson and l__________ Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus,
    playwright, lyricists
  • The play didn’t ______ up to the critic’s expectations.
    live
  • I really lost my ______ when they told us our flight was delayed again.
    rag
  • It really gets on my ________ when people….
    nerves
  • He s_________ (wasted) all his money on drugs and alcohol.
    squandered
  • It really stresses me _______ when people…
    out
  • The English term café is a _________ (derive) of the Turkish word kahve.
    derivative/derivation
  • It drives me up the ________ when people….
    wall
  • My dad blew his ______ when he saw how much the taxi cost.
    top
  • His research goes much ________ than any previous scientists have gone.
    further
  • I was absolutely ______ when the pizzas finally arrived.
    fuming
  • I was s______ up by the emotional scenes and started crying.
    swept
  • She s________ every chance of winning the competition.
    stands