Fixed Expressions and Idiomatic Collocations Exercise

Answers

1. With the merger talks collapsing overnight, the future of the entire research division now hangs in the balance.
2. After the opposition withdrew its candidate, the mayor’s re-election became a foregone conclusion.
3. The finance director and the creative team have been at loggerheads over the campaign budget for weeks.
4. Although she was never given the title of director, Marta was the head of the department in all but name.
5. Once the final investor pulled out, the project was, to all intents and purposes, dead.
6. Given his previously impeccable record, the committee decided to give him the benefit of the doubt.
7. The documentary was made on a shoestring, yet it went on to win two international awards.
8. Consumer confidence has been in the doldrums since the tax rise was announced.
9. After hours of evasive answers, the witness finally decided to make a clean breast of it.
10. After months of sensational advertising, the product launch turned out to be a damp squib.
11. The report is at pains to stress that no individual employee is being blamed.
12. The shortlisted candidates were kept on tenterhooks for three days before the final decision was announced.