English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
OBLIGATORY “THE”
I drive around the neighbourhood when I want ~to pass time~ (nonstandard).
I drive around the neighbourhood when I want *to pass the time* (standard).
If you do something to pass the time you do it because you have some time available and not because you really want to do it.
You sound like you’re deliberately ~adding fuel to fire~ (nonstandard).
You sound like you’re deliberately *adding fuel to the fire* (standard).
You hard fuel to the fire when you make a bad situation worse.
We should not make this conflict result in ~a fight to finish~ (nonstandard).
We should not make this conflict result in *a fight to the finish* (standard).
A fight to the finish is one in which one of the people or groups fighting is killed or completely defeated.
GAB
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