Common SAT and ACT Idiom List
Idiom refers to 1) an expression that people use in everyday conversation or 2) a group of words that has its own meaning.
For example, in a movie or a TV show, you will hear a phrase like "break a leg" or "easy does it."
In the SAT and the ACT, however, instead of these "expressions," Idiom questions ask students to choose the correct preposition (in, under, over), gerund (-ing), or infinitive (to + verb), that goes along with a given word.
For those who are avid readers, these questions come naturally and don't pose much challenge. However, for many students, especially those who speak English as a second language, idiom questions are very difficult because idioms don't follow specific rules like subject-verb agreement or verb tenses. To make matters worse, there are thousands of different idioms in the English language.
The best way to study for idiom questions is to simply memorize common idioms, including the ones that have appeared in the SAT (old and new) and the ACT. Below is the list of common idioms.
Common SAT and ACT Idiom List
different from
lost to
dotted with
unable to
connection to
exertion in/on
a means of
go so far as
prevent from
bring about
conferred on
found (him/herself) ing
grew in
correlate with
important to
(pre)occupation with
the reason is that
gives way to
process for
coincided with
resulting in
went on to win
over the course of
ability to
responsive to
place (emphasis) on
known for (e.g., something famous)
known as (e.g., name)
an eye for
likely to
suited to / for
out of this world
would do well to + verb
fixture in
capable of
the need for (something) in
starting out in (e.g., career)
enough to
based on
insist on
be + empowered by
reputation for
the demand of
the purpose of
serves as
chance to
integrated into
regarded as (being)
inconsistent with
important for (something/one) to
advocate + ing
took inspiration from
dates to
in addition to
collaborate with
place / put (him/herself) in
difficult to
is composed of
consist of