CJS IMAGE DICTIONARY

useful phrases with prepositions

high intermediate

For each page WRITE six answers on a sheet and THEN check.
Do the exercise SIX TIMES at increasing intervals;
THAT is how you will learn the expressions once and for all.

	CHECKLISTS

Complete these sentences .....
1)	"Pick a card at ??????????," said the magician. (ANY card by chance)
2)	With those two it was love at ??????????. (They fell in love the moment they saw each other.)
3)	I think I'll stay in this evening. I feel a bit under ?????????. (not on top form/slightly unwell)
4)	The journalists were waiting for the P.M. to arrive, pencils and notebooks at ??????????. (prepared)
5)	It was not his place to do that. He was totally out ??????????. (not entitled to do it)
6)	I did exactly what you asked. I followed your instruction to ????????. (exactly as you wrote them down)

Complete these sentences .....
1)	"Pick a card at random," said the magician. (ANY card by chance)
2)	With those two it was love at first sight. (They fell in love the moment they saw each other.)
3)	I think I'll stay in this evening. I feel a bit under the weather OR out of sorts. (slightly unwell)
4)	The journalists were waiting for the P.M. to arrive, their pencils and notebooks at the ready. (prepared)
5)	It was not his place to do that. He was totally out of order. (not entitled to do it)
6)	I did exactly what you asked. I followed your instructions to the letter. (exactly as you wrote them down)

Complete these sentences .....
1)	On ??????????, I prefer option A. (when all points have been weighed up)
2)	This government doesn't listen to or understand the people. It is completely out ??????????.
3)	This government is rotten to ??????????; the corruption is breathtaking. (completely and totally rotten)
4)	After this deal I was out ?????????? by £250, and I HATE losing money. (I had lost £250.)
5)	I'm a bit stressed: I have too much on ?????????? at the moment. (I have too many things to do.)
6)	Their marriage has been on ?????????? for some time. (shaky, threatened as in shipwrecked, doomed)

Complete these sentences .....
1)	On balance, I prefer option A. (when all points have been weighed up)
2)	This government doesn't listen to or understand the people. It is completely out of touch.
3)	This government is rotten to the core; the corruption is breathtaking. (like an apple)
4)	After this deal I was out of pocket by £250, and I HATE losing money. (I had lost £250.)
5)	I'm a bit stressed: I have too much on my plate at the moment. (I have too many things to do.)
6)	Their marriage has been on the rocks for some time. (shaky, threatened as in shipwrecked, doomed)

Complete these sentences .....
1)	I'm in ?????????? about whether to accept this proposal or not. (I can't decide/make up my mind)
2)	The two prisoners escaped last night and are now on ??????????. (trying to evade the police)
3)	His performance was certainly below ????????? today. (not as good as it usually is)
4)	I take nothing at ?????????? these days. I need proof. (The mere look of something doesn't count.)
5)	That is not the point at ??????; the remuneration is the main problem. (what matters - is to be discussed)
6)	I would not have expected that from him. It was totally out ??????????. (not like him at all)

Complete these sentences .....
1)	I'm in two minds about whether to accept this proposal or not. (I can't decide/make up my mind)
2)	The two prisoners escaped last night and are now on the run. (trying to evade the police)
3)	His performance was certainly below par today. (not as good as it usually is)
4)	I take nothing at face value these days. I need proof. (The mere look of something doesn't count.)
5)	That is not the point at issue; the remuneration is the main problem. (what matters - is to be discussed)
6)	I would not have expected that from him. It was totally out of character. (not like him at all)

Complete these sentences .....
1)	That's three contracts on ???????? that we've lost! This can't go on. (in a row/one after the other)
2)	It was an under ?????????? payment designed to avoid paying tax on the deal. (secret/undeclared)
3)	I paid over ?????????? for that car, but it was worth it for me. (more than the market price)
4)	For what he has done he should be behind ??????????. (in prison or locked up)
5)	I'm afraid you're out ??????? for that post. We're considering other candidates. (not under consideration)
6)	We're working round ?????????? to get the job done. (nonstop - all the time)

Complete these sentences .....
1)	That's three contracts on the trot that we've lost! This can't go on. (in a row/one after the other )
2)	It was an under-the-table payment designed to avoid paying tax on the deal. (secret/undeclared)
3)	I paid over the odds for that car, but it was worth it for me. (more than the market price)
4)	For what he has done he should be behind bars. (in prison or locked up)
5)	I'm afraid you're out of the running for that post. We're considering other candidates. (not being considered)
6)	We're working round the clock to get the job done. (nonstop - all the time)

Complete these sentences .....
1)	Pupils are not allowed in that area: it's out ??????????. (a prohibited area - off limits)
2) 3)	He's not up ?????????? job; we need someone more qualified. (not capable of doing it) He's out ??????????; the job is beyond him. (ditto)
4)	He's out ??????????. What on earth is he thinking of! (crazy, insane)
5)	I'm not sure he is really on ?????????. (honest and sincere)
6)	They got married too quickly. She was on ?????????? from her last relationship.

Complete these sentences .....
1)	Pupils are not allowed in that area: it's out of bounds. (a prohibited area - off limits)
2) 3)	He's not up to the job; we need someone more qualified. (not capable of doing it) He's out of his depth; the job is beyond him. (ditto)
4)	He's out of his mind. What on earth is he thinking of! (crazy, insane)
5)	I'm not sure he is really on the level. (honest and sincere)
6)	They got married too quickly. She was on the rebound from her last relationship.

Complete these sentences .....
1)	There is no way he could've committed the crime. He is totally above ??????????. (nobody suspects him)
2	I think we're over ???????????? with the project: the most difficult part is behind us.
3)	The project is now up ????????????, so we just have to see how it pans out. (working, in action)
4)	The job must be done by 18:00, so we're working against ??????????. (in a hurry to meet a deadline)
5)	I'm at ?????????? as to what to do about this. (I have no idea - I really don't know)
6)	The company is offering an across ???????????? payrise. (to everyone)

Complete these sentences .....
1)	There is no way he could've committed the crime. He is totally above suspicion. (nobody suspects him)
2	I think we're over the hill with the project: the most difficult part is behind us.
3)	The project is now up and running, so we just have to see how it pans out. (working, in action)
4)	The job must be done by 18:00, so we're working against the clock. (in a hurry to meet a deadline)
5)	I'm at a loss as to what to do about this. (I have no idea - I really don't know)
6)	The company is offering an across the board payrise. (to everyone)

Complete these sentences .....
1)	The company will do better with this new C.E.O. at ??????????. (leading us - "steering the ship")
2	She's over ?????????? about her new appointment. (celestially delighted, absolutely thrilled)
3)	That remark was a bit below ??????????. (extremely unfair - illegal in boxing)
4)	The boss called me every insult under ??????????! (every one you could possibly imagine)
5)	The two brothers have been at ?????????? for years. (sworn enemies ready to fight)
6)	Take time to study the report at ??????????. (in your own time - with no hurry)

Complete these sentences .....
1)	The company will do better with this new C.E.O. at the helm. (leading us - "steering the ship")
2	She's over the moon about her new appointment. (celestially delighted, absolutely thrilled)
3)	That remark was a bit below the belt. (extremely unfair - illegal in boxing)
4)	The boss called me every insult under the sun! (every one you could possibly imagine)
5)	The two brothers have been at daggers drawn for years. (OR "at each other's throats")
6)	Take time to study the report at your leisure. (in your own time - with no hurry)

Complete these sentences .....
1)	The police were given the command to fire at ????????? upon looters. (freely - as they decided)
2	By ??????? Jane should have got the job, but the boss decided otherwise. (normally/it was her turn)
3)	Keep this information under ???????? for the moment. (confidential - to yourself - don't tell anyone)
4)	Giving him the job is totally out ?????????. (unthinkable - not in consideration at all)
5)	Everything must be completely open and above ?????????. (legal, acceptable, clear)
6)	Erroll Flynn died young, but lived his life to ???????. (completely & without restraint or inhibitions)

Complete these sentences .....
1)	The police were given the command to fire at will upon looters. (freely - as they decided)
2	By rights Jane should have got the job, but the boss decided otherwise. (normally/it was her turn)
3)	Keep this information under wraps for the moment. (confidential - don't tell anyone)
4)	Giving him the job is totally out of the question. (unthinkable - not in consideration at all)
5)	Everything must be completely open and above board. (legal, acceptable, clear)
6)	Erroll Flynn died young, but lived his life to the full. (completely & without restraint or inhibitions)

Complete these sentences .....
1)	His behaviour was out ?????????? at such an event. (inappropriate)
2	I'll meet you at 12:00 on ??????????. Don't be late! (exactly, precisely)
3)	I'm fed up with going to the cinema every week. Let's go clubbing for ??????????! (to be different)
4)	I'm at the boss's ????? and ????? all day, and I'm getting fed up with it. (at his constant bidding)
5)	Things are looking better, but we're not out ?????????? yet. (safe, clear, out of trouble)
6)	You've caught me on ?????????! Give me a day or so to sort things out. (by surprise, unprepared, unawares)

Complete these sentences .....
1)	His behaviour was out of place at such an event. (inappropriate)
2	I'll meet you at 12:00 on the dot. Don't be late! (exactly, precisely)
3)	I'm fed up with going to the cinema every week. Let's go clubbing for a change! (to be different)
4)	I'm at the boss's beck and call all day, and I'm getting fed up with it. (at his constant bidding)
5)	Things are looking better, but we're not out of the woods yet. (safe, clear, out of trouble)
6)	You've caught me on the hop! Give me a day or so to sort things out. (by surprise, unprepared, unawares)

Complete these sentences .....
1)	Nothing's been done yet; we have to start from ?????????. (from the beginning - from square one)
2	You're in ??????????: there's no evidence against you. (free, innocent, not under investigation)
3)	His department is somewhat under ?????? just now. (discredited - under suspicion - out of favour)
4)	I don't like being left in ??????????. What is going on? (uninformed)
5)	The car normally takes 5, but will take 6 at ????????. (if absolutely necessary with no alternative)
6)	There was a lot we didn't know about going on behind ?????????. (out of sight/unbeknown to us)

Complete these sentences .....
1)	Nothing's been done yet; we have to start from scratch. (from the beginning - from square one)
2	You're in the clear: there's no evidence against you. (free, innocent, not under investigation)
3)	His department is somewhat under a cloud just now. (discredited - under suspicion - out of favour)
4)	I don't like being left in the dark. What is going on? (uninformed)
5)	The car normally takes 5, but will take 6 at a pinch. (if absolutely necessary with no alternative)
6)	There was a lot we didn't know about going on behind the scenes. (out of sight/unbeknown to us)

Complete these sentences .....
1)	Production is currently at ????????? due to a lack of parts. (stopped - suspended)
2	Our sales are increasing in ?????????. (going up considerably all the time by varying amounts)
3)	The project is way behind ????????? due to these strikes. (not making the planned progress)
4)	That job is right up ?????????; he'll love it! (it's perfect for him)
5)	Off ?????????, I'd say our chances are pretty much non-existent. (don't quote me on this)
6)	She's really on ????????? today. (in control, thinking clearly, doing well)

Complete these sentences .....
1)	Production is currently at a standstill due to a lack of parts. (stopped - suspended)
2	Our sales are increasing by leaps and bounds. (going up considerably all the time by varying amounts)
3)	The project is way behind schedule due to these strikes. (not making the planned progress)
4)	That job is right up his street; he'll love it! (it's perfect for him)
5)	Off the record, I'd say our chances are pretty much non-existent. (don't quote me on this)
6)	She's really on the ball today. (in control, thinking clearly, doing well)

Complete these sentences .....
1)	"Drinks tonight are on ??????????," said the bartender. (free)
2	You seem a bit on ?????????? this evening. What's on your mind? (nervous - unsettled)
3)	I will accept any quote within ??????????. (as long as it's not ridiculous)
4)	The staff are up ?????????? about their proposed new working hours. (very angry)
5)	People have to learn to live within ??????????. (according to their income)
6)	I'll deal with that topic at ?????????? in the next meeting. (in full - taking all the time necessary)

Complete these sentences .....
1)	"Drinks tonight are on the house," said the bartender. (free)
2	You seem a bit on edge this evening. What's on your mind? (nervous - unsettled)
3)	I will accept any quote within reason. (as long as it's not ridiculous)
4)	The staff are up in arms about their proposed new working hours. (very angry)
5)	People have to learn to live within their means. (according to their income)
6)	I'll deal with that topic at length in the next meeting. (fully - taking all the time necessary)

above board	behind the scenes	on the rocks	to the full
above suspicion	below par	on the run	to the letter
across the board	below the belt	on the trot	under a cloud
against the clock	by leaps and bounds	out of bounds	under the sun
at a loss	by rights	out of character	under the table
at a pinch	for a change	out of his depth	under the weather
at a standstill	from scratch	out of his mind	under wraps
at daggers drawn	in the clear	out of order	up and running
at face value	in the dark	out of place	up in arms
at first sight	in two minds	out of pocket	up someone's street
at issue	off the record	out of sorts	up to the job
at length	on balance	out of the question	within reason
at random	on edge	out of the running	within their means
at someone's beck and call	on my plate	out of the woods
at the helm	on the ball	out of touch
at the ready	on the dot	over the hill
at will	on the hop	over the moon
at your leisure	on the house	over the odds
behind bars	on the level	round the clock
behind schedule	on the rebound	to the core

colloquial