Objective Proficiency p 19. Prepositions. Extra Gapped Sentences Exercise 3

Think of ONE word only that can be used appropriately in all three sentences of each exercise.
1.
a. Victoria is __________ a loss to know how best to deal with her teenage son. He doesn't respond to anything she says.
b. What are your options when your company is running ____________ a loss? maybe some essential business recovery tips can give you some solutions.
c. I don't mind your mother staying with us, but I won't be ________ her beck and call all day! 
2.
a. The thought that the family estate would be ____________ for grabs within the week filled her with nausea. 
b. The union are ___________ in arms again about the proposal to close down part of the production plant.
c.  All those people who have money invested in it are going to be ____________ the creek.
3.
a. Max has been improving since he came out of hospital, if only ____________ degrees.
b. _____________ the look of it, John won't be coming. He said he'd be here by lunchtime and now it's 2 o'clock. 
c. You have to show respect for your colleagues, and ____________ the same token they have to respect you. 
4. 
a. "Is it really necessary to rewrite the whole of that report?" "Well, you don't think I'm doing it __________ kicks, do you?"
b. Just ____________ the record, it was Ken's idea to come to this terrible party, not mine.
c. _________ two pins I’d have tipped that bowl and all its contents over her.
5.
a. Once we'd scored the third goal, the match was pretty much ___________ the bag.
b. Fiona has lived ___________ clover all her life. She doesn't know what work is.
c. We told the doctor on the phone that we suspected a heart attack, and the ambulance was here _______ a flash.

 


KEY
1. at 
at a loss confused and not knowing what to say or do. E.g.  His comments left me at a loss for words. He hesitated and briefly appeared at a loss for words. I'm at a loss what to do next.  I was at a loss to understand what had happened. "I am at a loss to see how this happened," he said.  She became popular, and was at a loss to know why.

loss: money that has been lost by a business or an organization. E.g. The company has announced net losses of $1.5 million. We made a loss on (= lost money on) the deal. Run/operate at a loss. We are now operating at a loss.  If my business is running at a loss, can I reduce employee wages? 

at somebody's beck and call always ready to obey somebody's orders. Continually at someone's disposal to carry out his wishes. E.g. She is constantly at the beck and call of her invalid father. Don't expect to have me at your beck and call.
Beck:  A gesture requesting attention, such as a nod or wave.
Beckon: to give somebody a signal using your finger or hand, especially to tell them to move nearer or to follow you. Sp. llamar con un gesto. E.g. He beckoned to the waiter to bring the bill. The boss beckoned him into her office. She beckoned him to come and join them.



2. up 
up for grabs (informal) available for anyone who is interested. If something is up for grabs, it is available and many people are trying to get it or win it. E.g. There are £25000 worth of prizes up for grabs in our competition!  We've got $1000 up for grabs in our new quiz. All you have to do is call this number. The state's senate seat will be up for grabs in the next election.

(be) up in arms (about/over something) (informal) to be very angry about something and ready to protest strongly about it. E.g. Local businessmen are up in arms over the new parking regulations which will make shopping very inconvenient for customers. The entire population is up in arms. They are up in arms, ready to fight. Wally was up in arms about the bill for the broken window. I am really up in arms about what happened.

up the creek (without a paddle) (informal) in a difficult or bad situation. In trouble. E.g. I was really up the creek without my car. If we don't get this contract, we're up the creek! If any more people resign, we'll be really up the creek. If the police raided us I’d be up the creek. I'm sort of up the creek and don't know what to do. You are up a creek! You got yourself into it, so get yourself out.



3. by
by degrees slowly and gradually. E.g. By degrees their friendship grew into love. The disease was killing him by degrees. Rivalries and prejudice were by degrees fading out. We reached the desired standard of efficiency by degrees.

By the look of it/things: judging by the information we have now. E.g. By the look of things, we won't be able to take our holiday till the autumn. It's going to rain today by the look of it(= judging by appearances).

by the same token: something that you say which means that the thing you are going to say next is true for the same reasons as the thing you have just said. Used to mean that something you are about to say is also true, for the same reasons as what has just been said. E.g. The penalty for failure will be high. But, by the same token, the rewards for success will be great.  I don't think that prices will go up but, by the same token, I don't see them going down either.



4. for
for kicks: for the excitement one gets. Because you thought it would be exciting. E.g. What do you do for kicks? I just play the banjo for kicks – I'm not very good at it. Rich kids turning to crime just for kicks. He decided to steal something from the shop, just for kicks.

for the record something that you say before you tell someone something important that you want them to remember. E.g. And, just for the record, we were never any more than good friends. Just for the record I would like to clarify something my colleague said earlier. And, for the record, he would be the last person I'd ask. It doesn't matter now, but just for the record – you were wrong.

for two pins  used to say that you would like to do something, even though you know that it would not be sensible. Used to convey strong temptation to do something, typically from annoyance or irritation. E.g. I'd kill him for two pins. For two pins I'd tell her what I really think of her. 



5. in
in the bag if something is in the bag, you are certain to get it or to achieve it. E.g. Nobody knows who'll get the job, despite rumours that Keating has it in the bag. The election is in the bag unless the voters find out about my past.

be/live in clover /ˈkləʊvə(r)/ (informal) to have enough money to be able to live a very comfortable life. In great material comfort. E.g. We’ll be in clover down there, lying around in the sun and fishing on the lake. Food retailers are in clover.

in/like a flash very quickly and suddenly. E.g. The weekend seemed to be over in a flash. The answer came to me like a flash. She was out of the back door in a flash