In addition to other grammar rules and sentence construction elements, the SAT Writing Multiple

Choice section also tests you on some common idioms. Idioms, by definition, are simply the
accepted way of saying something. The idioms on the SAT are not to be mistaken for colloquial
expressions such as as time goes by, he broke up with her, or they fell asleep. The idioms
tested on the SAT are exclusively tested in the context of verb + preposition such as attribute to
and advocate for.
Often, there will be an idiom error in a Sentence Completion answer choice or in an underlined
portion of an Identifying Sentence Errors problem. Most native English speakers should be able
to spot an idiom error right away since it will sound off to them, but for non-native English
speakers, the idioms have to be learned and memorized as there are no well-defined rules for
most idiom-construction in English.
To help our students study for idioms, we examined several past SAT tests and official practice
tests and constructed a list of idioms that have appeared on the SAT in the past. The following is
a list of some examples of the most common idioms you will find on the SAT.

SAT Writing Tips for Idiom Questions

#1: If a preposition/prepositional phrase is underlined in any of the subsections
(sentence improvement, identify the error, paragraph improvement), check for
idiom errors.

#2: If, after first reading a sentence, you cant identify an error, check for idiom
errors.

#3: Keep a list of idioms that appear on practice tests.

#4: Review and familiarize yourself with the list of idioms below.

About

For

On

To

Worry about

Named for

Based on

Recommend to

Complain about

Recognized for

Draw on

Listen to

Wonder about

Known for

Insist on

Try to not try and

Curious about

Famous for

Focus on

Prefer something
to something else

Think about

Celebrated for

Rely on

Bring about

Have a tolerance for Reflect on

To be particular
about

Strive for

Devoted to
In contrast to
Dwell on
In opposition to
Compensate for
A threat to
Responsible for

Over

Against

Central to
Watch for

Have power over

Protect against

Unique to
Look out for

Have control over

Defend against

Similar to
Wait for

Mull over
Parallel to

Last for

Of

At

As an alternative to
Endure for

Succeed at

Have an appreciation
of

Inured to

Suspicious of

Be native to

A mastery of

Put questions to

A command of

In addition to

Capable of

As opposed to

Prized for
Adept at
Necessary for
Criticize for
By
Blame for
Confused by
Advocate for
Followed by

Incapable of

Predate by

In recognition of

Puzzled by

Devoid of

Perplexed by

From

A proponent of

Toward

Impressed by

Protect from

A source of

Biased toward

Amazed by

Defend from

An offer of

A tendency toward

Awed by

Far from

An understanding of

Surprised by

Different from

A knowledge of

With

Stunned by

Refrain from

Approve of

Familiar with

Shocked by

Apparent from

Disapprove of

Unfamiliar with

Outraged by

Prevent x from doing In awe of

y
Take advantage of
Opposite from
Composed of

Encouraged by
Accompanied by

Identify with
Correlate with
Sympathize with

Comprised of

Consistent with

Consist of

Inconsistent with

Convinced of

Preoccupied with

Characteristic of

Cope with/Coping with

Into
Enter into
Have insight into
Typical of
In
In the hopes of
Interested in
A variety of
Succeed in
A plethora of
Have confidence in
An abundance of
Engage in
To be a native of
Take pride in
On the verge of
In x as in y
Combination of x and