Idiomatic Expressions and Phrasal Verbs Flashcards

What does the phrasal verb 'look into' mean?

Answer: To investigate or examine something more closely

'Look into' means to investigate or examine a matter, often used in professional or academic contexts.

Which sentence correctly uses the idiom 'to burn the midnight oil'?

Answer: She burned the midnight oil to finish her dissertation before the deadline.

'Burn the midnight oil' means to work late into the night, as correctly illustrated in C with someone finishing a dissertation.

What does the phrasal verb 'fall through' mean?

Answer: To fail to happen or be completed as planned

'Fall through' means that a plan, deal, or arrangement fails to be completed or realized.

The idiom 'to hit the nail on the head' means:

Answer: To describe or identify something with complete accuracy

'Hit the nail on the head' means to describe or identify exactly what is causing a situation or problem.

Which option correctly completes the sentence: 'After years of struggling, the business finally _____ its competitors.'?

Answer: pulled ahead of

'Pull ahead of' means to move into a leading position, making it the correct choice for surpassing competitors.

What does the idiom 'to be on the fence' mean?

Answer: To be undecided or neutral about an issue

'On the fence' means being undecided or uncommitted, unable to choose one side of an argument or issue.

In which sentence is 'carry out' used correctly to mean 'to perform or complete an action'?

Answer: The team carried out extensive research before publishing their findings.

'Carry out' meaning to execute or perform is correctly used in B, where research is conducted and completed.