SENTENCE TRANSFORMATION WITH IDIOMS (2)
1. Any correspondence from the Canberra office must be dealt with before other matters. (PRIORITY)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
2. I advise you not to believe what you read in the papers about me. (RELIANCE)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
3. “I don’t mind where the money goes as long as the people are the real beneficiaries”. (MATTER)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
4. Critics are hoping the new director can bring some positive changes into the French film industry. (BREATH)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
5. The terrorists attack on the Capital Trade Center was very much like the 11-9 attack on the WTO building. (CARBON)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
6. It is very difficult to give the exact value of a table like this, but it’s probably worth about $5000. (FIGURE)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
7. Five boys on a motorbike at the speed of 60mph is very likely to end up in hospital. (RECIPE)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
8. Detectives had stopped working on the Hornsey murders case three years previously. (BOOK)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
9. He is very good at cooking spaghetti. (DAB)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
10. We all want to make him realize that he is not as important as he thinks. (SIZE)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
11. He really disappointed me when breaking the promise to help me out. (TEETH)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
12. He died, having nothing of his own. (NAME)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
13. Have a look at this picture. It may help you to remember something. (JOG)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
14. Motorists are jamming the streets as they slow down to see the wall paintings. (HOLD UPS)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
15. He is becoming quite famous as an interviewer. (NAME)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
16. Social scientists find it hard to accept that the fal in the birth rate is responsible for the old
age of our society. (RESISTANCE)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
17. Every possible effort was made by the orphanage to find the boy’s parents. (STONE)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
18. The minister gave no precise figures about the casualties. (GO INTO)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
19. The new musical has delighted theatre audiences throughout the country. (STORM)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
20. They’ve been arguing about the motorway extension for years. (BONE)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
21. My father doesn’t approve of my borrowing so much money from a person like John. (VIEW)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
22. I like her a lot. (AFFECTION)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
23. You look as if something unpleasant has happened to you. (WARS)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
24. It’s brilliant film. – I laughed uncontrollably al through the way. (HEAD)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
25. She finds grammar exercises extremely boring. (STIFF)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
26. I’ll have to wait before I know whether he’ll keep his promise or not. (REMAINS)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
27. He was so worried that his mind couldn’t function normally. (STRAIGHT)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
28. They’ll cause a lot of trouble. (CAT)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
29. Some people say that there’s hardly any difference between love and hate. (LINE)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
30. She can buy anything she wants – She’s very rich. (ROLLING)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
31. A rise in temperature in the next century seems likely. (CHANCE)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
32. You must accept the fact that she has left you. (RESIGN)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
33. I just didn’t know what to say. (LOST)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
34. They arrived at the station with only a minute to spare. (NICK)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
35. They sent him to prison for three years. (SENTENCED)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
36. I don’t intend to tell you my plans. (INTENTION)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
37. Tim looks nothing like his father. (TAKE)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
38. He watched videos all day. (ENTIRE)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
39. I don’t think she likes doing other people’s work for them. (OBJECTS)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
40. I didn’t agree with the idea. (FAVOR)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
41. Teaching doesn’t suit her. (CUT)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
42. I never thought of going by train. (OCCUR)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
43. He is very likely to come. (PROBABILITY)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
44. The cause of the explosion is stil unknown. (CAUSED)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
45. The train is 5 minutes late in leaving. (DUE)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
46. The rain was coming down in torrent. (DOGS)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
47. Organic vegetables are said to be health. (WONDERS)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
48. He is determined to become a doctor. (HEART)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
49. Mary got married without her parents’ knowledge. (UNAWARE)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
50. John spent all his time working. (DEVOTED)
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
SENTENCE TRANSFORMATION WITH IDIOMS (2) - KEY
1. Any correspondence from the Canberra office must be dealt with before other matters. (PRIORITY)
 Any correspondence from the Canberra office must take priority (be given priority) over other matters.
2. I advise you not to believe what you read in the papers about me. (RELIANCE)
 I advise you not to place any reliance on what you read in the papers about me.
3. “I don’t mind where the money goes as long as the people are the real beneficiaries”. (MATTER)
 “It doesn’t matter where the money goes as long as the people are real beneficiaries”.
4. Critics are hoping the new director can bring some positive changes into the French film industry. (BREATH)
 Critics are hoping the new director can breathe (new) life into the French film industry.
ˌ breathe (new) ˈlife into sth : to improve sth by introducing new ideas and making people more interested in it
The results of their research have breathed new life into the debate.
5. The terrorists attack on the Capital Trade Center was very much like the 11-9 attack on the WTO building. (CARBON)
 The terrorist attack on the Capital trade Centre was carbon copy of the 11-9 attack on the WTO building.
6. It is very difficult to give the exact value of a table like this, but it’s probably worth about $5000. (FIGURE)
 It is very difficult to put a figure/ give an exact figure on a table like this, but it’s probably worth
about $5000. = say the exact price or number of sth
7. Five boys on a motorbike at the speed of 60mph is very likely to end up in hospital. (RECIPE)
 Five boys on a motorbike at the speed of 60mph is a recipe for disaster.
= a method / an idea that seems likely to have a particular result
8. Detectives had stopped working on the Hornsey murders case three years previously. (BOOK)
 Detectives had closed the book on the Hornsey murder case three years previously. = stop trying to solve
9. He is very good at cooking spaghetti. (DAB)
 He is a dab hand at cooking. = a person who is good at doing or using sth
10.We all want to make him realize that he is not as important as he thinks. (SIZE)
 We all want to cut him down to size. = show sb that they are not as important as they think they are
11.He really disappointed me when breaking the promise to help me out. (TEETH)
 He really kicked me in the teeth when breaking the promise to help me out.
= to treat sb badly / fail to give sb help when they need it
12.He died, having nothing of his own. (NAME)
 He died having nothing to his name/ without anything to his name / with nothing to his name/.
(have sth) to one’s name = have / own sth
13.Have a look at this picture. It may help you to remember something. (JOG)
 Have a look at this picture. It may help to jog your memory.
14.Motorists are jamming the streets as they slow down to see the wall paintings. (HOLD UPS)
 Motorists are causing hold ups as they slow down to see the wall painting.
15.He is becoming quite famous as an interviewer. (NAME)
 He is making (quite) a name for himself as an interviewer.
16.Social scientists find it hard to accept that the fall in the birth rate is responsible for the old
age of our society. (RESISTANCE)
 There is resistance among social scientists to the idea that the fal in the birth rate is
responsible for the old age of our society. 17.Ev
ery possible effort was made by the orphanage to find the boy’s parents. (STONE)
 The orphanage left no stone unturned in their attempt to find the boy’s parents.
18.The minister gave no precise figures about the casualties. (GO INTO)
 The Minister didn’t go into details about the casualties.
19.The new musical has delighted theatre audiences throughout the country. (STORM)
 The new musical has taken theatre audiences by storm.
20.They’ve been arguing about the motorway extension for years. (BONE)
 The proposed motorway extension has been a bone of contention for years.
21.My father doesn’t approve of my borrowing so much money from a person like John. (VIEW)
 My father takes a dim view of borrowing so much money from a person like John.
22.I like her a lot. (AFFECTION)
 I have a lot of affection for her.
23.You look as if something unpleasant has happened to you. (WARS)
 You look as if you have been in the wars.
24.It’s brilliant film. – I laughed uncontrollably al through the way. (HEAD)
 It’s a brilliant film – I laughed my head off al the way through.
25.She finds grammar exercises extremely boring. (STIFF)
 Grammar exercises bore me stiff.
26.I’ll have to wait before I know whether he’ll keep his promise or not. (REMAINS)
 It remains to be seen whether he’l keep his promise or not.
27.He was so worried that his mind couldn’t function normally. (STRAIGHT)
 He was so worried that he couldn’t think straight.
28.They’ll cause a lot of trouble. (CAT)
 They will put the cat among the pigeons.
29.Some people say that there’s hardly any difference between love and hate. (LINE)
 Some people say that there’s a thin line between love and hate.
30.She can buy anything she wants – She’s very rich. (ROLLING)
 She can buy anything she wants – she is rol ing in money.
31.A rise in temperature in the next century seems likely. (CHANCE)
 There is a (reasonable) chance that there will be a rise in temperature in the next century.
32.You must accept the fact that she has left you. (RESIGN)
 You must resign yourself to the fact that she has left you.
33.I just didn’t know what to say. (LOST)  I was lost for words.
34.They arrived at the station with only a minute to spare. (NICK)
 They arrived at the station in the nick of time.
35.They sent him to prison for three years. (SENTENCED)
 He was sentenced to three years in prison/ three years imprisonment.
36.I don’t intend to tell you my plans. (INTENTION)
 I have no intention of tel ing you my plans.
37.Tim looks nothing like his father. (TAKE)
 Tim doesn’t take after his father at al .
38.He watched videos all day. (ENTIRE)
 He spent the entire day watching videos.
39.I don’t think she likes doing other people’s work for them. (OBJECTS)
 I think she objects to doing other people’s work for them.
40.I didn’t agree with the idea. (FAVOR)
 I wasn’t favor of the idea.
41.Teaching doesn’t suit her. (CUT)
 She isn’t really cut out for teaching.
42.I never thought of going by train. (OCCUR)
 It never occurred to me to go by train (that I could go by train). /
The thought of going by train never occurred to me.
43.He is very likely to come. (PROBABILITY)
 In all probability he will come (is coming). /
There is a high/ distinct/ strong probability that he will come (is coming).
44.The cause of the explosion is stil unknown. (CAUSED)
 What caused the explosion is still unknown. / It is unknown (nobody knows) what caused the explosion.
45.The train is 5 minutes late in leaving. (DUE)
 The train was due to leave 5 minutes ago.
46.The rain was coming down in torrent. (DOGS)
 It was raining cats and dogs.
47.Organic vegetables are said to be health. (WONDERS)
 Organic vegetables are said to do wonders for one’s health.
48.He is determined to become a doctor. (HEART)
 His heart is set on becoming a doctor/ He has set his heart on becoming a doctor.
49.Mary got married without her parents’ knowledge. (UNAWARE)
 Mary’s parents were unaware of her marriage.
50.John spent all his time working. (DEVOTED)
 John is devoted to his work. KEY GOC
1. Any correspondence from the Canberra office must take priority (be given priority) over other matters.
2. I advise you not to place any reliance on what you read in the papers about me.
3. “It doesn’t matter where the money goes as long as the people are real beneficiaries”.
4. Critics are hoping the new director can breathe life into the French film industry.
5. The terrorist attack on the Capital trade Centre was carbon copy of the 11-9 attack on the WTO building.
6. It is very difficult to put a figure/ give an exact figure on a table like this, but it’s probably worth about $5000.
7. Five boys on a motorbike at the spead of 60mph is a receipe for disaster.
8. Detectives had closed the book on the Hornsey murder case three years previously.
9. He is a dab hand at cooking.
10. We all want to cut him down to size.
11. He real y kicked me in the teeth when breaking the promise to help me out.
12. He died with nothing to his name/ having nothing to his name/ without anything to his name.
13. Have a look at this picture. It may help to jog your memory.
14. Motorists are causing/ cause hold ups as they slow down to see the wall painting.
15. He is making (quite) a name for himself as an interviewer.
16. There is resistance among social scientists to the idea that the fall in the birth rate is
responsible for the old age of our society.
17. The orphanage left no stone unturned in their attempt to find the boy’s parents.
18. The Minister didn’t go into details about the casualties.
19. The new musical has taken theatre audiences by storm.
20. The proposed motorway extension has been a bone of contention for years.
21. My father takes a dim view of borrowing so much money from a person like John.
22. I have a lot of affection for her.
23. You look as if you have been in the wars.
24. It’s a brilliant film – I laughed my head off all the waythrough.
25. Grammar exercises bore me stiff.
26. It remains to be seen whether he’l keep his promise or not.
27. He was so worried that he couldn’t think straight.
28. They will put the cat among the pigeons.
29. Some people say that there’s a thin line between love and hate.
30. She can buy anything she wants – she is rol ing in money.
31. There is a (reasonable) chance that there will be a rise in temperature in the next century.
32. You must resign yourself to the fact that she has left you. 33. I was lost for words.
34. They arrived at the station in the nick of time.
35. He was sentenced to three years in prison/ three years imprisonment.
36. I have no intention of tel ing you my plans.
37. Tim doesn’t take after his father at al .
38. He spent the entire day watching videos.
39. I think she objects to doing other people’s work for them.
40. I wasn’t favor of the idea.
41. She isn’t really cut out for teaching.
42. It never occurred to me to go by train (that I could go by train)./ The thought of going by train never occurred to me.
43. In all probability he will come (is coming)./ There is a high/ distinct/ strong probability that he will come (is coming).
44. What caused the explosion is still unknown. / It is unknown (nobody knows) what caused the explosion.
45. The train was due to leave 5 minutes ago.
46. It was raining cats and dogs.
47. Organic vegetables are said to do wonders for one’s health.
48. His heart is set on becoming a doctor/ He has set his heart on becoming a doctor.
49. Mary’s parents were unaware of her marriage.
50. John is devoted to his work.