V2
Advanced Idioms & Fixed Phrases
CPE-level idioms · formal fixed phrases · proverbial expressions
to do something the easy way, sacrificing quality or thoroughness
The contractor cut corners to finish ahead of schedule, and the building was unsafe.
to change the rules or criteria during a process, making it harder to succeed
Every time we met their demands, they moved the goalposts.
a fundamental change in approach or underlying assumptions in a field
The internet caused a complete paradigm shift in how information is distributed.
something that has both advantages and disadvantages
Social media is a double-edged sword: it connects but also isolates.
a sequence of problems where each one makes the others worse
Poverty leads to poor education, which leads to more poverty — a vicious circle.
a turning point that marks a fundamental change
The moon landing was a watershed moment in human history.
misrepresenting someone’s position to make it easier to attack
Claiming your opponent wants to abolish all law is a straw man argument.
something introduced to divert attention from the real issue
The politician’s personal life is a red herring in the policy debate.
a result that is certain or was decided before it began
Given the evidence, the verdict was a foregone conclusion.
complete freedom to act however one wishes
The board gave the new CEO carte blanche to restructure the company.
something absolutely essential; an indispensable condition
Trust is the sine qua non of any effective working relationship.
the defining spirit or mood of a particular period of history
The film perfectly captured the zeitgeist of the 1960s counterculture.
1
Describe a watershed moment in your life or in history.
2
Is social media a double-edged sword? Why?
3
Have you ever felt someone moved the goalposts on you?
4
Spot the red herring in a recent debate you heard.
1 / 3
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