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.

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