Expressions using "brain", "face", "head", "mind", "wits"
Can you share a recent situation where a problem being solved was a load_________________?
Can you share a recent situation where a problem being solved was a load off your mind?
I don't know many quotations from Shakespeare, but I do know To be, or not to be!
The only_________________
The only quotation I know from Shakespeare is To be, or not to be!
Airlines need to take___________ the London tube way of announcing things.
Airlines needs to take a leaf out of the London tube way of announcing things.
I can’t help you right now, as I’ve got a bit of work to finish. But I’ll be with you …
… in the twinkling of an eye.
negligent/negligible
The difference in price is _________, so just take the one you think looks best.
I'm afraid he was found to have been _________ on his duties and was subsequently fired.
The difference in price is negligible, so just take the one you think looks best.
I'm afraid he was found to have been negligent on his duties and was subsequently fired.
Can you recall a situation when you were at your____________________ and didn't know what to do?
Can you recall a situation when you were at your wits' end and didn't know what to do?
Colin prided himself on knowing everything about English idioms.
There wasn't____________
There wasn't much that Colin didn't know about English idioms.
I'm glad I didn't j______________, or I never would have married him!
I'm glad I didn't judge a book by its cover, or I never would have married him!
This watch looks expensive, especially with all those little jewels instead of numbers, but looks can be deceptive. After all …
… all that glitters is not gold.
extend/expand
Have you heard that the chain of bookshops is _________ and opening two new outlets?
Could we possibly ________ the deadline for this project?
Have you heard that the chain of bookshops is expanding and opening two new outlets?
Could we possibly extend the deadline for this project?
When was the last time you tried to keep__________ but, unable to contain yourself, burst into laughter?
When was the last time you tried to keep a straight face but, unable to contain herself, burst into laughter?
Liz really wished she could meet JK Rowling.
The person _________________-
The person (who/that) Liz really wished she could meet/to meet was JK Rowling.
The first reason is that they are still anxious to stay in the government's _________.
The first reason is that they are still anxious to stay in the government's good books.
My neighbours were playing loud music all night. I …
… haven’t slept a wink.
rare/scarce
Old books in perfect condition are valuable because they are so _________.
We have to make the most of _________food and water that we have left.
Old books in perfect condition are valuable because they are so rare.
We have to make the most of scarce food and water that we have left.
Have you ever put________________ to helping someone achieve a goal?
Have you ever put your mind to helping someone achieve a goal?
The tutor was happy if we gave our work in on time. All_______________
(2 variants)
All the tutor wanted was for us to give our work in on time.
All the tutor wanted was that we gave in our work/gave our work in on time.
After listening to what she said, if you r_____________, you can begin to see what she really means.
After listening to what she said, if you read between the lines, you can begin to see what she really means.
He gave me detailed instructions on how to upload my pictures to his website, but I didn’t understand a word of what he said. It was …
… all Greek to me.
difference/discrepancy
There is a __________between the books we display and the books we read for pleasure.
There is a ____________between the books he says he read and the books he actually reads.
There is a difference between the books we display and the books we read for pleasure.
There is a discrepancy between the books he says he read and the books he actually reads.
What books worthy of reading would your recommend to your boss off______________?
What books worthy of reading would your recommend to your boss off the top of your head?
People really admire JRR Tolkien for his creative imagination.
What__________________
(2 variants)
What JRR Tolkien is really admired for is his creative imagination.
What people really admire JRR Tolkien for is his creative imagination.
If you want to be left alone, you will be, because these bartenders can _____ a customer _______________.
If you want to be left alone, you will be, because these bartenders can read a customer like a book.
I don’t trust this man anymore. Not once had he promised to stay by my side but with the first trouble he would...
… vanish into thin air.
opportunity/possibility
Clive is optimistic about the __________of saving endangered languages.
Clive's work gave him the _____________to study endangered languages.
Clive is optimistic about the possibility of saving endangered languages.
Clive's work gave him the opportunity to study endangered languages.