Phrasal verbs
To reluctantly accept something undesirable as inevitable.
come to terms with
A sudden and brief loss of attention or awareness.
(mental) lapse
Rewrite using inversion:
“He had hardly entered when the phone rang.”
Hardly had he entered when the phone rang.
Which city hosted the 1992 Olympic Games?
Barcelona
What did one plate say to the other plate?
Dinner's on me.
To gradually stop a relationship, process, or product.
phase out
wind down
Calm confidence in a difficult or stressful situation.
composure
self-possession
poise
Transform using a modal:
“It is possible that she left early.”
She may have left early.
Who wrote The Trial?
Franz Kafka
What do you call a pig that does karate?
A pork chop
To support or strengthen an argument with evidence.
back up
Excessively detailed attention to minor or trivial points, often unnecessarily pedantic.
pedantry
over-precision
Rewrite with causative:
“They made him resign.”
He was made to resign.
The Renaissance began in which modern country?
Italy
What do you call a bear without any teeth?
A gummy bear.
To reduce the size, scope, or scale of something.
scale down
cut back
A statement that appears self-contradictory but may reveal a deeper truth.
paradox
apparent contradiction
Key word transformation (despite):
“Although it was raining, they continued.”
Despite the rain, they continued.
Which painter is associated with the De Stijl movement and grids of primary colours?
Piet Mondrian
Why can't a nose be 12 inches long?
Because then it would be a foot.
To avoid dealing with something directly, especially a problem or issue.
dodge around
skirt around
The act of deliberately using ambiguous language to mislead or avoid commitment.
equivocation
ambiguity
double-talk
Reformulate using inversion + emphasis:
“I have never seen such disorder.”
Never have I seen such disorder.
The Amur River forms part of the border between Russia and which country?
China
Why did the football coach yell at the vending machine?
He wanted his quarter back!