The complex instructions _____ the new employees.

She quickly _____ her new neighbors after moving to the area.

The detective maintained an _____ stare during the interrogation.

His apology seemed _____ and insincere.

Rising crime rates are _____ of broader social problems.

Many criticized the politician's visit to the shelter as merely _____.

He made several _____ comments about his colleague's work.

The medication helped _____ her chronic pain.

The old building began to _____ after years of neglect.

Social media helps _____ both true and false information rapidly.

The dark clouds suggested that rain was _____.

The _____ scientist received a Nobel Prize for her research.

The _____ businessman donated millions to charity.

She was _____ when she won the lottery.

The children were _____ with excitement on Christmas morning.

"Life is a journey" is a common _____.

He spent time in quiet _____ after the argument.

Her explanation for being late seemed _____ enough.

The newspaper was criticized for its _____ rather than factual reporting.

It was difficult to _____ his true intentions.

The company was required to _____ its financial records.

The soldier was _____ from the army after completing his service.

The teacher _____ the student's excuse as ridiculous.

The punishment seemed _____ to the crime committed.

The magazine's _____ has declined significantly in recent years.

"Actions speak louder than words" is a well-known _____.

The corporation is a legal _____ separate from its owners.

The changes in her condition were almost _____.

Each artist has their own _____ style of painting.

His casual attire was _____ with the formal occasion.

Trust forms the _____ of any successful relationship.

The critics continued to _____ the director's latest film.

She _____ when she tasted the bitter medicine.

The company implemented an _____ security policy.

Many bird species are _____, with males and females looking different.

We _____ several problems during the renovation project.

There was a clear _____ between his skills and the job requirements.

The abandoned house had an _____ atmosphere.

It's difficult to _____ the vastness of the universe.

The mother _____ her child for breaking the vase.

His comment was dripping with _____.

The _____ prize didn't make up for losing the championship.

Police launched a massive _____ for the escaped prisoner.

The store installed _____ cameras to prevent theft.

The military decided to _____ troops to the troubled region.

The _____ waited in line for hours to get the best seats.

The diplomat was expelled for engaging in _____ activities.

The positive reviews helped _____ confidence in the new product.

The editor _____ several spelling mistakes in the article.

The _____ officer infiltrated the criminal organization.

_____ has increased dramatically with the rise of online banking.

The website offers a _____ of information about travel destinations.

Citizens in _____ regimes often lack basic freedoms.

She told her closest _____ about her plans to quit her job.

stem: The government took measures to ______ the tide of illegal immigration.

dissent: The judge wrote a strong ______ opposing the majority opinion.

forgery: He was arrested for ______ after creating fake documents.

undermine: Constant criticism began to ______ her self-confidence.

complimentary: The hotel provided ______ breakfast for all guests.

make off with: The thief ______ her purse while she wasn't looking.

bow out: After 30 years in politics, he decided to ______ gracefully.

clear out: When the police arrived, the protesters ______ immediately.

flesh out: The writer needs to ______ the main character's background story.

muscle out: The large corporation ______ all the small competitors.

iron out: The negotiators worked all night to ______ the final details.

be worn out: After the marathon, all the runners were completely ______.

dust off: She ______ her old guitar and started playing again.

scrub off: It took her an hour to ______ all the paint from her hands.

sweep away: The new management ______ all the old policies.

be swept away: She was ______ by the romance of the evening.

brush up on: I need to ______ my Spanish before the trip.

pull through: With the support of her family, she managed to ______ the crisis.

bring somebody round: It took months to ______ him ______ the idea of moving abroad.

fill somebody in on: Can you ______ me ______ what happened yesterday?

stand in for: The assistant ______ the manager while she was on vacation.

free somebody from: The new law ______ workers ______ the obligation to work overtime.

favor something over: Most customers ______ quality ______ price.

pin something down: It's hard to ______ exactly what makes this restaurant special.

shy away from: Many people ______ public speaking.

against one's better judgement: Against his better judgement, he ______ money to his unreliable friend.

throw in the towel: After failing three times, she finally ______.

throw yourself a bone: After working hard, he decided to ______.

throw a spanner in the works: The sudden rainstorm ______ our outdoor wedding.

throw caution to the wind: He ______ and invested all his savings in the startup.

have it coming: After treating his employees badly, he ______.

read the runes: Experienced investors can ______ and predict market crashes.

read between the lines: When she said “fine,” I could ______.

read the room: He couldn’t ______ and made jokes during the serious meeting.

go the extra mile: The staff always ______ to help customers.

cut corners: The construction company ______ and the building collapsed.

split hairs: Stop ______ and focus on the main issue.

trim the fat: The new CEO decided to ______ by eliminating redundant positions.

cut somebody some slack: Cut him some slack — it's his ______ day.

let the dust settle: Let's ______ before making decisions.

let sleeping dogs lie: It's better to ______ than bring up old arguments.

let bygones be bygones: After their fight, they decided to ______.

the ship has sailed: I wanted to apply, but the ______.

pull the plug on: The network decided to ______ the show due to low ratings.

He _____ his partner to avoid prosecution.

The interviewer _____ me by asking about my personal life.

The company _____ by canceling his project.

Before we proceed, let's make sure we're _____.

We get along so well because we're _____.

Don't worry — we're all _____.

His decision to quit _____ a few eyebrows.

Looking for parking downtown is a _____.

The startup operated _____ for years.

He quit smoking _____.

She could _____ with envy.

He sat alone to _____ about the decision.

She decided to _____ and admit her mistake.

Finally, a project she could _____!

After graduation, she found herself _____.

Many people _____ investing in the stock market.

I don't understand him, but I believe in _____.

_____ I like to treat myself.

She _____ playing the piano like a duck to water.

The department is finally _____.

Working long hours every day _____ his health.

Our drinks were _____ because of the long wait.

beholden to: She felt ______ her mentor for all the guidance.

illicit drugs: The police found ______ in the suspect’s apartment.

unwavering commitment: Her ______ commitment inspired others.

held accountable: The CEO was ______ for the company’s losses.

fine print: Always read the ______ before signing.

mounting pressure: The government faced ______ to act.

give somebody an ultimatum: She ______ him an ultimatum.

think tank: The ______ published a report on climate change.

thought bubble: The proposal is still just a ______.

think piece: The newspaper published a ______ on social media impacts.

the vast majority: The ______ of students passed the exam.

ineffable beauty: The sunset had an ______ beauty.

rabbit hole: Researching the topic led him down a ______.

cast doubt on: The new evidence ______ the witness’s testimony.

critically acclaimed: The ______ film won several awards.

gain momentum: The movement began to ______ after the oil spill.

gain recognition: The young artist finally ______ recognition.

gain favor: His new policies ______ favor among voters.

politically charged: The debate is always ______.

interest group: Environmental ______ lobbied against the factory.

uncanny valley: The robot fell into the ______, making people uncomfortable.

Based on the evidence, the detective ______ a conclusion.

Without ______ reforms cannot be implemented.

Their victory seemed like a ______.

The announcement ______ everyone by surprise.

Even in his wild stories, there's usually a ______ of truth.