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Most Commonly Occuring Idioms in Standardized Exams Like GRE, TOEFL, and GMAT By: Jagdish Khubchandani What is an Idiom? An idiom is an expression (i.e. term or phrase) the meaning of which cannot be inferred from the dictionary definitions and the arrangement of its elements, but refers instead to a What is an Idiom? An idiom is an expression (i.e. term or phrase) the meaning of which cannot be inferred from the dictionary definitions and the arrangement of its elements, but refers instead to a figurative meaning that is known only through conventional use. This explanation is an adaptation from wikipedia. What I am concerned about is the usage of idioms and a thorough understanding of their occurrence in study abroad qualifying examinations like GRE GMAT TOEFL and SAT. Most students who don't have English as their native language face difficulties in the aforementioned exams due to the surprise elements like idioms .One obvious reason is that idioms are manners of communication which are natural to the native speakers of a particular language. You may have idioms for your native language and admittedly, in modern times it is in fact difficult to converse without idioms. The knowledge of these elements of speech doesn't bother you most of the times because you use it in your native language. When a study abroad aspirant faces idioms in exam preparation it becomes cumbersome because most of the study abroad exams are in English and English has a vast range of idioms currently in use. However, most of the educational and testing services have a basic collection of idioms which they want to test or expect you to know. If you plan to take any exam like the GRE, GMAT, TOEFL you won't face a lot of complex idiomatic expressions in the text or questions asked. I am providing a short list of idioms which helped me earn decent scores in my exams and still help me understand the content of speech of the people around me. I have realized that without knowing these most common expressions it is undoubtedly difficult to comprehend what others say in a study abroad program. Here is a list of idioms which will enhance your verbal and written communication skills in English, if you learn to accommodate them. Abide by Close by Versed in Wanting in Abound in Confide in Deficient in Interfere in Join in Lost in Pride in Identical with Interfere with Trifle with Reconciled with Overwhelmed with Part with Compete with Comply with Conversant with Bear with Abounds with Acquainted with Agree with Refrain from Relief from Part from Prohibited from Estranged from Differ from Abstain from Wedded to Testify to Stop to Submit to Subscribe to Reconciled to Partial to Limit to Jump to Keep to Indebted to Fancy to Due to Close to Commend to Acceptable to Addicted to Agree to Anxious to Sure of Remind of Repent of Run of Impatient of Inform of Inquire of Hopeful of Fond of Deaf of Despair of Dispose of Complain of Confident of Acquitted of Adapt of Hit upon Decide upon Agree upon Touch at Puzzled at Indignant at Get at Grumble at Call at Amazed at Arrive at Anxious about Zealous for Zest for Thankful for Reputation for Qualified for Partiality for Match for Long for Gift for Grateful for Fascination for Fit for Eligible for Call for Craving for Cure of for Bound for Keep up Bring up Murmur against Prejudice against Warned against Come across Run out of Get over Brood over Smile on Run on Keen on Hard on Call on Commend on Enticed into Fell under Inquire after Hanker after Look up to Dr. Jagdish Khubchandani is A Research Assistant in the Department of Public Health at Western Kentucky University. He is a physician from India who now represents the College of Health and Human Services at the Graduate Council of Western Kentucky University. He is the author of the famous Indian book "All In One- A comprehensive review of Internatioanl education and foreign exams". The book has an online supplement. PAACO requests your support for our Students... .............................................. Learn More About PAACO Get Our Newsletter! Privacy Policy PAACO Scholarship Application (in PDF format) PAACO Members' Areas - Resources, Plans, Executive Board Meetings & Minutes, Sign-Ups... Scholarships and Financial Aid - Resources for planning, applying, budgeting & managing your grants, scholarships, financial aid, loans & money... College/University Students - Resources for tutoring, mentoring, study skills, internships, work- study, fellowships, careers, pro- fessional affiliations, etc... 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