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Difficulty: HardIdiomatic Word Choice

For over forty years, the legendary violinist had performed exclusively on a 1715 Stradivarius, making it incredibly difficult for him to part from the instrument upon his retirement.

Which choice is the most idiomatic expression to replace the underlined portion?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. part withAnswer
  3. C
    part of
  4. D
    part by

Answer

part with
The correct idiomatic expression for relinquishing ownership or giving up a physical possession is 'part with'. Since a violin is an object, the preposition 'with' must be paired with the verb 'part'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the relationship between the verb 'part' and the object 'the instrument' to determine the correct idiomatic preposition.
The sentence describes giving up a physical possession (a Stradivarius violin).
English idioms distinguish between separating from a person ('part from') and giving up an object ('part with').
2
Select the option that pairs the verb 'part' with the correct preposition for objects.
The phrase 'part with' is chosen.
This is the standard English idiom for relinquishing possession of an item.

Key Concept

Idiomatic preposition usage with the verb 'part' when referring to objects versus people.
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Idiomatic Word Choice

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