C2: Key Word Transformation Training

Expressions
Discuss the meaning of the expressions in bold with your partner.
● Which ones are new?
● Which ones will you struggle to remember?
● Write the meaning in your own words.

1. The company’s profits show evidence of significant improvement this year.

Meaning The company’s profits have increased this year.
2. No matter how often she warns her husband about driving too fast, he pays no attention.
Meaning Even though she warns her husband about driving too fast, he doesn’t care.
3. No sooner had she graduated than she went abroad.
Meaning As soon as she graduated, she went abroad.
4. But for her father’s assistance, she wouldn’t have passed her driving test.
Meaning If it wasn’t for his father's help, she wouldn’t have passed her driving test.
5. Susan’s not to blame for the dog chewing your slipper.
Meaning It’s not Susan fault that the dog chews on your slipper.
6. The loss of his job brought Phil down to earth.
Meaning The loss of his job opened Phil’s eyes.
7. She strenuously denied having taken the money despite the evidence to the contrary.
Meaning She strongly denied taking the money despite the contrary evidence.
8. The manager had complete faith in his deputy’s honesty.
Meaning The manager fully trusted the honesty of his assistant.
9. The play didn’t live up to the critic’s expectations.
Meaning The play disappointed the critic's expectations.
10. I couldn’t make head nor tail of the plot of the book.
Meaning I couldn’t puzzle out the plot of the book.
11. I’ve been racking my brains trying to remember the name of the girl I sat next to at primary school.
Meaning I’ve been thinking hard about remembering the name of the girl I sat next to at primary school.
12. Try as I might I can’t put my finger on where I’ve seen that guy before.
Meaning Despite all my efforts I can’t figure out where I’ve seen that guy before.
13. We might as well leave now that the band have given their final encore.
Meaning We rather leave now that the band have given their last number.
14. So logical was his argument that nobody could refute it.
Meaning His argument was so coherent that nobody could give it the lie to.
15. He swore to tell the truth from now on.
Meaning He promised to tell the truth henceforth, hereafter.
16. Good sushi restaurants are few and far between in my town.
Meaning Good sushi restaurants rare to see in my town.
Version 2
Read the sentences and try to recall the expressions using the key word in brackets.

1. The company’s profits have improved a lot this year. (SHOW)

The company’s profits show evidence of significant improvement this year.
2. She’s always warning her husband about driving too fast, but he doesn’t listen. (MATTER/PAY)
No matter how often she warns her husband about driving too fast, he pays no attention.
3. She had only just graduated when she moved abroad. (SOONER)
No sooner had she graduated than she went abroad.
4. Without her Dad’s help she wouldn’t have passed her driving test. (FOR)
But for her father’s assistance, she wouldn’t have passed her driving test.
5. It’s not Susan’s fault that the dog chewed your slipper. (BLAME)
Susan’s not to blame for the dog chewing your slipper.
6. The loss of his job made Phil be more realistic. (EARTH)
The loss of his job brought Phil down to earth.
7. She insisted that she didn’t steal the money despite the clear proof. (HAVING/EVIDENCE)
She strenuously denied having taken the money despite the evidence to the contrary.
8. The manager was certain that his deputy wasn’t lying. (FAITH)
The manager had complete faith in his deputy’s honesty.
9. The play wasn’t as good as the critics had expected. (LIVE)
The play didn’t live up to the critic’s expectations.
10. I couldn’t understand the plot of the book. (HEAD)
I couldn’t make head nor tail of the plot of the book.
11. I’ve been thinking hard to remember the name of the girl I sat next to at primary school. (BRAINS)
I’ve been racking my brains trying to remember the name of the girl I sat next to at primary school.
12. It doesn’t matter how hard I try, I can’t remember where I’ve seen that guy before.
(MIGHT/FINGER)
Try as I might I can’t put my finger on where I’ve seen that guy before.
13. There’s no point staying now that the band have played their last song. (MIGHT/ENCORE)
We might as well leave now that the band have given their final encore.
14. He made such a good argument that nobody could disagree with it. (SO/REFUTE)
So logical was his argument that nobody could refute it.
15. He promised never to lie again. (TRUTH/NOW)
He swore to tell the truth from now on.
16. Good sushi restaurants are very rare in my town. (FAR)
Good sushi restaurants are few and far between in my town.
Discussion
1. When was the last time you watched a film/TV show that you couldn’t make head nor tail of? Do you
like stories with twisting/difficult plots?
2. Are you a down to earth person? Or do you tend to have your head in the clouds? What about your
friends and family?
3. But for her father’s assistance, she wouldn’t have passed her driving test. Can you think of a time
when someone’s help/assistance was essential to you achieving something?
4. Good sushi restaurants are few and far between in my town. What things/places is your
neighbourhood lacking?
5. Susan’s not to blame for the dog chewing your slipper. Who’s to blame when pets do bad things?
6. Have any recent experiences failed to live up to your expectations? Do you think it’s good to have high
or low expectations? What are the advantages of both points of view?
7. Complete the sentence so that it’s true for you: No matter how often I…..
8. Are you generally a trusting person? Do you tend to have complete faith in your friends/family?
9. Are you good with faces and names? Or do you have to rack your brains to remember?
10. No sooner had she graduated than she went abroad. When do you think is the best time to move
abroad?