The following chart presents common idioms that can appear on the GMAT.

Most of the Xs and Ys represent nouns, pronouns, or noun phrases. To create an idiomatic expression, substitute words or phrases for the X and Y

a lot of X acquaintance with X afraid of X alarmed at X amused at X angry with X appeal to X approve of X ashamed of X assure X of Y aware of X believe in X by means of X certain of X cheat X of Y communicate with X compare to X complain to X about Y concerned with X confident of X consideration for X contempt for X contribute to X convict X of Y correspond with X deal with X defend X against Y delighted with X deprive X of Y different from X disappointed with X distrust of X dream about X duty to X excel in X

accuse X of Y affection for X agree with X about Y amazed at X angry at X apparent to X appropriate to X argue with X for Y ask X of Y attraction to X because of X blind to X capable of X characteristic of X comment on X comparable to X competition with X for compare with X Y composed of X concerned about X confess to X confidence in X congratulate X on Y conscious of X consult with X about Y consult with X on Y contented with X contrast with X control over X converse with X about Y convince X of Y copy from X count on X for Y cure for X decide on X dedicate X to Y defend X from Y delight in X demand X of Y depend on X for Y designed for X desire for X disagree with X about Y disappointed in X disgusted with X displeased with X do X about Y doubt about X dream of X due to X engaged to X escape from X exception to X excuse for X

account to X for Y adapt to X agree to X a lot of X amused by X apologize to X for Y apply to X for Y argue about X ask X for Y at the top of X bargain with X for Y blame X for Y call to X from Y challenge X to Y close to X communicate X to Y

excuse X from Y faithful to X for the sake of X guard against X hear of X in case of X in place of X influence over X insist on X interfere with X irrelevant to X listen to X made of X need for X opportunity for X pay X to Y prefer X to Y provide X for Y quarrel with X over Y reason with X about Y rely on X require X of Y result from X rob X of Y send for X similar to X start with X take advantage of X talk to X about Y think about X threaten X with Y trust X with Y

explain X to Y fascinated with X full of X guess at X hint at X in common with X in search of X inform X of Y intent on X introduce X to Y laugh at X look at X make X for Y obligation to X opposition to X pity for X prejudice against X punish X for Y quote X from Y recover from X remind X of Y research in X result in X satisfactory to X shocked at X smile at X supply X with Y take care of X tell X about Y think of X tired of X wait for X

failure of X in Y fearful of X grateful to X for Y hear about X horrified at X in favor of X independent of X inquire into X interested in X invite X to Y lecture on X look for X mistaken for X on account of X pay X for Y point at X protect X from Y qualified to do X reason for X related to X reply to X about Y responsible to X result of X search for X shocking to X stare at X sure of X talk over X with Y thankful for X think over X trust in X weary of X

Its helpful to know and recognize some of the most commonly-tested idioms youll see on the GMAT. Some of these you probably wont have to think twice about. Others, you may need to study. While this isnt an exhaustive list of every possible idiom you may encounter

a result of appeal to

a responsibility to approve of / disapprove of

a debate over as a consequence of X

as as as many X as Y averse to believe X to be Y centers on comparewith (emphasizes differences) concerned about consider(ed) (without to be) convert to declare X to be Y desirous of different from differentiate X from Y enamored of / with from X rather than from Y identical with indifferent toward(s) intersection of X and Y independent from mistake X for Y not only X but (also) Y in comparison to prefer X to Y regard as

as as do / as as does ask X to do Y based on between X and Y choose from / choose to concerned with conform to consistent with credit X with having demonstrate that determined by disagree with (person / idea) distinguish X from Y enough X that Y hypothesize that in contrast to in regard to / with regard to in the same way that just as X, so (too) Y neither X nor Y not so much X as Y in conjunction with prohibit X from Y replace with

as good as or better than attribute X to Y (one attributes x, an effect, to y, a cause; or, if a passive construction is used, x is attributed to y) be afraid of both X and Y compare to (emphasizes similarities) collaborate with consider(ed) (with to be) contrast X with Y debate over depends on whether differ from / differ with differentiate between X and Y distinguish between X and Y
(The verb distinguish needs to be followed by from unless its followed by between)

fascinated by help to in association with intend(ed) to in violation of less X than Y not X but rather Y on the one hand / on the other hand in danger of question whether responsible for

refer to the more X the greater Y view X as Y call... to consider

so X as to be Y to result in whether X or Y

so X that Y (so clause A that clause B) used to (not use to) X regarded as Y

Idioms with Built-In Parallel Structure (Manhattan)

X Acts As Y As X, So Y Between X And Y Compared To X, Y Consider X Y In Contrast To X, Y Declare X Y X Develops Into Y Regard X As Y

Y Distinguish X From Estimate X To Be Y X Instead Of Y X is Known To Be Y X is Less Than Y Make X Y Mistake X For Y Not Only X(,) But Also Y
(the comma is optional)

X is the Same As Y X is good, and So Too is Y X, Such As Y (example) Think Of X As Y X is Thought To Be Y View X As Y Whether X Or Y X Differs From Y In the coming months(weeks)

Not in.but in

On the GMAT, you should always put a that between the Reporting Verb and the thought.

Agree that Claim that Contend that Indicate that demonstrate that hold that observe that recognize that think that be certain that Say (Somewhat oddly, the GMAT
does not require you to put that after the verb say)

announce that believe that Declare that Reveal that doubt that know that proclaim that repeat that warn that be assured that

assert that confess that Find that Rule that expect that mention that reason that state that be convinced that Show that