IDIOMS & COMMONLY USED PHRASES IN GRE

1. For all: means despite

Example:
For all her brilliance her quality of verbose speech compromised her intellect.
2. Nothing if not: means nothing but, i.e. the said quality
You use nothing if not in front of an adjective to indicate that someone or somethingclearly has
a lot of the particular quality mentioned.
Example:
Professor Fish has been nothing if not professional.
Hollywood is nothing if not creative, especially if someone else will pick up the bills.
3. Anything but: means not at all
You use anything but in expressions such as anything but quiet and anything but attractive
to emphasize that something is not the case.
Example:
She was anything but attractive she was not attractive
The patient was anything but quietthe patient was not quiet.
4. All but: means nearly, almost, practically, except
Example:
We had all but given up hope. We had almost given up hope
He is all but forgotten He is practically or nearly forgotten
The general was an unattractive man to all but his most ardent admirers. The general was an
unattractive man to all except his most ardent admirers
The plant will stand all but the worst winters. The plant will stand all except the worst winters
The castaway had all but given up on escaping the desert island, when he looked up and saw a
helicopter.
A perfect GRE score will all but guarantee admission into some institute of higher learning.

5. Everything but: means all except

Example:
He remembered to bring everything but his toothbrush.
I can resist everything but temptation
6. Notwithstanding: means despite, nonetheless, however, in spite of, although (in
spite of the fact)
Example:
He despised William Pitt, notwithstanding the similar views they both held.
His surroundings, notwithstanding the luxury of the view, remained spartan.
Notwithstanding that the hall was packed with bullies, our champion played on steadily and
patiently although the hall was packed with bullies, our champion played
Although there are some who oppose the plan, we will go through with
it notwithstanding although there are some oppose the plan, we will go through it
nevertheless

7. By no means- means not at all

He was by no means partial to her cause, yet he heard her out before railing against her beliefs.
The Internet by no means augurs the end of face-to-face interactions but simply provides another
medium for communication.
8. Heretofore until now, before this time
Example:
They reported that clouds are an important and heretofore uninvestigated contributor to the
climate.
9. Nothing but: means the character after but
Example:
She was nothing but a timid. She was a timid.
10. At once X & Y X & Y are opposite in meanings
Example:
At once he was bragging and humble
His life story was at once sad and inspiringhe had come from the most impoverished background,
yet he found away to become wealthy.

At once pioneering and derivative, her research draws on others work while expanding the
theoretical domain.
11. Not so much A as B implies B is more in extent than A
Example:
Bob was not so much tired as he was hungry
12. But for: means except for, If it was not for something or someone
Example:
I would have failed but for his help.
But for the support of the public, the President could not have survived the revolt.
13. Dyed -in-the-wool: means having a strong belief, not willing to change ones beliefs
or actions
Example:
That's why dyed-in-the-wool villains are so arrogant and pleased with themselves: what they
have done doesn't brook inspection.
The President, backed by trusted advisers, some of them dyed-in-the-wool oilmen, called
immediately for increased energy production.
14. Lest: means avoid the risk of, so as to prevent any possibility that, for fear that
Example:
He fled the country lest he be captured and imprisoned
He was alarmed lest she should find out
15. insofarmeans to an extent to
Example:
Looking back helps insofar as it helps you learn from your mistakes.
16. Seldom: means not often; rarely
Example:
His eyes could seldom meet the eyes of anyone else for long.
Graham knew he was taking a big risk but a hunch told him Drago was lying -- and his hunches
were seldom wrong.

17. If anythingused to contrast the idea given before;used to stress a statement

that disagrees or contrasts with a preceding idea
Example:
Living together didn't harm our friendship. If anything it strengthened it.
The economy has not improved. If anything, it has gotten worse
18. ill behooves means not suitable or beneficial
Example:
It ill behooves her to (= she should not) criticize her colleagues
It behooves us to study these findings carefully.
19. Forthwith means at once, immediately, without delay
Example:
Anyone wanting to sell the same should communicate with Michelle McGunnforthwith.
I am also discontinuing forthwith what had heretofore and hitherto been a
very pleasantassociation with you.
20. Hitherto means until this time
Example:
The polytechnics have hitherto been at an unfair disadvantage in competing for pupils and money
Lord appeared confident that the document was genuine and that these hitherto unheardoftrading rights actually existed.

21. Indeed
Indeed is used to add emphasis to a preceding statement.
Chris has lost three foosball games in a row. Indeed it has been three months since he has won two
consecutive games.
The old GRE is one of the most challenging standardized tests. Indeed, few people ever attained a
perfect score.

Takeaway
Idioms are words or phrases that carry a unique meaning, one that offer does not accord with
the word or words at hand. For instance, notwithstanding = not with standing. At face value,
you may be tempted to these words literally, which will lead you to misinterpret the sentence.

Therefore, learn the meaning of idioms and how they function in the sentences, much as the six
idioms above.
Few and far between= scarce; rare