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