Strategies for idiomatic expression problems

Last updated: 13 Oct 2008

1. Watch for the prepositions (to, the, of, at, for, on, in, about, etc.,) changing among the answer choices. This usually implies an idiomatic problem, if not a parallel construction problem.
   
   
2. Note that idiomatic problems are often shorter than many of the other types of questions. Not in all cases, but as a general rule, if the problem seems much shorter than other problems, it is probably Idiomatic.
   
   
3. Check out the verb immediately before the changing preposition. Which verb-preposition combination sounds worst? Eliminate answer choices that sound just awful, ex. He forbids me of going. The correct answer would be He forbids me to go.
   
   
4. Which verb-preposition combination sounds best? Choose that as your answer.
   

Example

The Duke of Argyle told us that we could count with him to be there on time. A   with him to be there B   with him on being there C   on him to be there D   on him for being there E   to him to be there

Explanation

The correct answer is C. We know it is an idiomatic problem because firstly the prepositions change among the answer choices (with, with, on, on, and to), and secondly the problem is shorter than the average sentence correction problem.

We can eliminate count to for sounding unidiomatic. So eliminate E. Count on seems better than count with, so eliminate A and B. Between C and D, count on him to be there sounds better than count on him for being there, so choose C as your correct answer.

Next page: List of common idiomatic expressions for the GMAT