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Question

Difficulty: MediumCollocations and Fixed Phrases

The ambitious politician was accused of attempting to _______ favour with influential delegates prior to the party congress. Which verb correctly completes the standard fixed phrase in the sentence?

  1. curryAnswer
  2. B
    seek
  3. C
    gain
  4. D
    win

Answer

The verb 'curry' correctly completes the fixed phrase 'curry favour'.
The correct response is 'curry'. In standard English, 'to curry favour' is a fixed idiom meaning to flatter or ingratiate oneself with someone to gain an advantage.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the target idiomatic expression in the sentence.
The phrase follows the structure '[verb] + favour + with [someone]', describing insincere efforts to win approval.
Recognizing standard English collocations requires identifying fixed word pairings.
2
Evaluate the choices against standard British English idiomatic usage.
'Curry favour' is the recognized fixed phrase.
Other options substitute general verbs that violate the established collocation.

Key Concept

Collocations and Fixed Phrases: Idiomatic Verb-Noun Pairings
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Collocations and Fixed Phrases

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