CPE preparation

There’s no telling (how long)

Definition: It’s impossible to know or predict.

• T____ ____ ____ how long the recovery will take.

• T____ ____ ____ whether she’ll accept the offer.

There’s not much demand for

Definition: Few people want or need something.

• T___ ___ m____ d____ f___ printed encyclopedias anymore.

• T___ ___ m____ d____ f___ his specialist skills locally.

Be impressed by how skilled a negotiator he was

Definition: Admire someone’s ability in a field.

• I was i______ by h____ s______a negotiator he was.

• They were i______ by h____ s_____ she was at handling conflict.

Her resignation came as a surprise to

Definition: Someone did not expect it.

• Her resignation c____ as a s_____ to the entire team.

• It c____ as a s_____ to investors.

At the height of his success

Definition: At the most successful point in his career.

• He retired at the h_____ of his s______.

• The scandal broke at the h_____ of his s______.

Leave nothing to chance

Definition: Plan everything carefully.

• She l____ n_____ to c______ before an exam.

• The organisers l____ n_____ to c______

Be taken in by

Definition: Be deceived or fooled by.

• He was t____ i___ by the fake website.

• I was almost t____ i___ by her charm.

Was led to believe that

Definition: Was caused to think something was true.

• I was l___ to b_____ that the job was permanent.

• She was l___ to b_____ that help was guaranteed.

Was taken aback by

Definition: Was surprised or shocked.

• I was t____ a_____ by his bluntness.

• She was t____ a_____ by the sudden question.

Put forward a proposal

Definition: Suggest a formal idea or plan.

• They p___ f______ a reform proposal.

• She p___ f______ an alternative solution.

In my estimation

Definition: In my opinion.

• In my e______, the plan is unrealistic.

• He is, in my e_______, the best candidate.

There’s nothing I’d like more than (visit)

Definition: Strongly want to do something.

• There’s n_____ I’d like m_____ than to visit Japan.

• There’s n_____ I’d like m_____ than a break.

Took absolutely no notice

Definition: Completely ignored.

• He t____ a______ no n_____ of the warning.

• She t____ a______ no n_____ of the criticism.

Only as a last resort do they (employ)

Definition: They use something only when nothing else works.

• O____ as a l____ r______ do they employ legal action.

• O____ as a l____ r______ do they employ force.

Derisively small

Definition: So small it invites ridicule.

• The pay rise was d_____ small.

• He offered a d_____ small compensation.

Strike lucky

Definition: Succeed by chance.

• She s____ l_____ and found a buyer immediately.

• We s____ l_____ with the weather.

Fair-minded approach

Definition: A balanced and unbiased way of thinking.

• He adopted a f___-m_____ approach to the dispute.

• Her f___-m_____ approach won respect.

Impending issues

Definition: Problems that are about to happen.

• We must address the i_____ i_____

• I_____ i____ threaten the project.

Be abreast of things

Definition: Stay informed and up to date.

• I try to be a_____ of industry trends.

• She’s always a_____ of current affairs.

Have the nerve to (stand up and speak)

Definition: Have the courage to speak publicly.

• He finally h____ the n_____ to stand up and speak.

• She h___ the n_____ to challenge them.

Keep up with the twists and turns of events

Follow complex or changing developments.

• It’s hard to k____ up with the t_____ and t____ of events.

• I struggled to keep up with the story.

(She must have gotten the job) on her merits

Definition: She was hired because of her abilities.

• She must have gotten the job on her m____.

• He succeeded purely on his m_____.

Be prone to act on impulse

Definition: Tend to act without thinking.

• He’s p____ to act on impulse.

• She’s p_____ to impulsive decisions.

Is undaunted by the prospect

Definition: Not discouraged by what lies ahead.

• She is u_____ by the p_____ of failure.

• He remained u_____ by the challenge.

Seem strangely unassuming

Definition: Appear modest despite expectations.

• He seems strangely u______ for a celebrity.

• She remained strangely u______.

Was prepared to make a leap into the unknown

Definition: Ready to take a major risk.

• She was prepared to m____ a l____ into the u_____.

• He m____ a l____ into the u_____ by quitting.

Have a healthy disregard for adverse comment

Definition: Not be overly affected by criticism.

• She has a h____ d_____ for a______ comment.

• He ignores a______ comment and moves on.

go out on a limb

Definition: Taking a risk with an opinion or action.

• I was really g____ o____ on a l____ with that guess.

• He went o____ on a l____ defending her.

(The criticism received) was probably the making of her

Definition: Criticism/failure helped her succeed.

• The criticism was probably the m_____ of her.

• Failure turned out to be the m_____ of him.

(Audition) on a whim

Definition: Try out without planning.

• She auditioned on a w____.

• He applied on a w____ and got in.

Seem remarkably unfazed by the task ahead

Definition: Appear calm despite difficulty.

• She seemed u____ by the task ahead.

• He was r_____ u_____ by pressure.

For all the accolades, he’s surprisingly diffident

Definition: Despite praise, he is shy or modest.

• F___ all the a_____, he’s surprisingly d_____.

• Despite her success, she’s d_____.

What ultimately makes us tick

Definition: What truly motivates us.

• Curiosity is what m_____ us t____.

• Understanding what m_____ us t____ matters.

He talks with the air of someone with

Definition: He speaks as if he possesses something (authority, experience).

• He talks w____ the a____ of someone with vast experience.

• She spoke w____ the a____ of someone with nothing to prove.