{"id":119,"date":"2014-02-05T09:00:16","date_gmt":"2014-02-05T09:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/?p=119"},"modified":"2020-03-06T14:02:48","modified_gmt":"2020-03-06T22:02:48","slug":"idioms-on-the-act-english-test","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/act\/idioms-on-the-act-english-test\/","title":{"rendered":"Idioms on the ACT English Test"},"content":{"rendered":"

The word \u201cidiom\u201d tends to make many ACT students uncomfortable. What does the word refer to, and how can it help you get more ACT English<\/a> questions correct? <\/p>\n

Simply put, an \u201cidiom\u201d is an expression, which consists of at least two words that naturally seem to \u201cgo\u201d together. It is something that native speakers of a language can usually quickly recognize, but is often challenging for those learning English as a secondary language, or for those who grew up speaking an English dialect that frequently breaks conventional idiom rules.<\/p>\n

Some common idioms are fun metaphorical expressions like \u201chitting the hay\u201d or having \u201ca chip on your shoulder.\u201d A non-native speaker might be wondering why anyone would literally beat up a pile of straw or have a potato chip sitting on his\/her shoulder, but we know that they are groups of unrelated words that take on new meanings when grouped together.<\/p>\n

While the ACT will NOT be testing idiomatic expressions like those I just mentioned, there are two main types of idioms you might see.
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Common Two-Part Idioms on the ACT<\/h2>\n

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Not only … but also<\/h4>\n

Incorrect:<\/b> Not only<\/em> did we see the Eiffel Tower, but<\/em> we saw the Louvre.<\/p>\n

Correct:<\/b> Not only<\/em> did we see the Eiffel Tower, but also<\/em> we saw the Louvre.
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Between … and<\/h4>\n

Incorrect:<\/b> Between<\/em> cookies or<\/em> crackers, I like cookies best.<\/p>\n

Correct:<\/b> Between<\/em> cookies and<\/em> crackers, I like cookies best.
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As … as<\/h4>\n

Incorrect:<\/b> Her hair was as<\/em> pretty than<\/em> my sister\u2019s.<\/p>\n

Correct:<\/b> Her hair was as<\/em> pretty as<\/em> my sister\u2019s.
\n <\/p>\n

Either … or\/Neither … nor<\/h4>\n

Incorrect:<\/b> Neither<\/em> my best friend or<\/em> I wanted to go shopping.<\/p>\n

Correct:<\/b> Neither<\/em> my best friend nor<\/em> I wanted to go shopping.<\/p>\n

If you see one of these in a sentence, check to make sure the other half is present, as well! Keep a list of two-part idioms you encounter in your studies and review them whenever practice!
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Idioms with Prepositions<\/h2>\n

The second way that the ACT will test idioms is when they involve prepositions. A preposition is a word that typically describes location. Many phrases in English are only constructed correctly when used with certain prepositions. These idioms also take recognition and practice to master! Here is a list of some of the most common:<\/p>\n