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C1 ADVANCED · VOCABULARY · PART 1

Fixed phrases

Advanced expressions like on the verge of, in the wake of and by no means.

Finn the puffin with glasses and a book, your vocabulary teacher
Finn says

C1 texts are full of fixed phrases – often with a preposition at the start – that make writing sound precise and sophisticated: on the verge of, in the wake of, at the expense of. You cannot change any word in these phrases, which is exactly why Part 1 tests them.

Time and circumstances

on the verge of
very close to
The species is on the verge of extinction.
in the wake of
after and because of
Prices rose in the wake of the crisis.
for the time being
for now, temporarily
The shop is closed for the time being.
in the light of
considering
In the light of the evidence, the plan was changed.
at stake
at risk
There is a lot of money at stake.

Opinion and emphasis

by no means
not at all
The result is by no means certain.
on balance
after considering everything
On balance, I think we made the right choice.
at the expense of
causing harm to
He succeeded at the expense of his health.
out of the question
impossible, not allowed
Another loan is out of the question.
to all intents and purposes
in almost every important way
The project is, to all intents and purposes, finished.
in keeping with
suitable for, matching
The new building is in keeping with the old town.

How it comes up in Part 1

In Part 1 you choose the word (A, B, C or D) that best fits each gap. The four options often have similar meanings, so knowing which words go together is what gets you the mark.

The company was on the verge of collapse when a new investor appeared.
A verge B border C side D rim

On the verge of is fixed.

New safety rules were introduced in the wake of the accident.
A wake B trail C track D path

In the wake of means after and as a result of.

Winning the match is by no means certain.
A means B way C chance D account

By no means means not at all. "On no account" means "never, under any circumstances".

Common mistakes

  • ✗ On the light of the new evidence…✓ In the light of the new evidence…In the light of.
  • ✗ There is a lot on stake.✓ There is a lot at stake.At stake.
  • ✗ For the time being, the office is closing.✓ For the time being, the office is closed.For the time being describes a temporary situation, not a change.
  • ✗ To all intends and purposes…✓ To all intents and purposes…The noun is intents.
Finn the puffin, smiling kindly
Finn's exam tip

Fixed phrases are ideal for your own writing too – one or two in an essay or report show a high level. But use them only when you are sure of every word: a fixed phrase with one wrong word looks worse than a simple phrase used correctly.

Quick check

Choose the word that best fits each gap.

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