1. The witnesses’ statements ________ coincide, which makes the police suspicious.

2. After the scandal, the minister’s reputation was ________, and he was forced to resign.

3. I’m afraid I can’t tell you the secret; my lips are ________.

4. The new legislation is intended to ________ the loopholes that allow tax evasion.

5. He’s been ________ with the idea of starting his own business for years.

6. The project was ________ from the start due to a lack of clear objectives.

7. It’s important to ________ with the latest developments in your field.

8. The company’s decision to cut costs has ________ a lot of controversy.

9. I was ________ with joy when I heard the news of my promotion.

10. We need to ________ the pros and cons of the proposal before we make a decision.

11. The athlete’s performance was ________, and he broke the world record.

12. He’s always ________ his own horn, which can be quite tiresome for his friends.

13. The evidence ________ the defendant’s claim of innocence.

14. We need to ________ a strategy to improve our market share.

15. The news of the accident came as a ________ from the blue.

16. She’s been ________ the midnight oil lately to finish her book.

17. The team’s performance has been ________ lately, and they need to step up their game.

18. I’m a bit ________ for time at the moment; can we talk later?

19. The new policy has ________ a lot of interest among investors.

20. It's a ________; if we lower prices, we’ll increase sales, but our profit margins will shrink.

21. The lawyer tried to ________ light on the events leading up to the crime.

22. There is no need to ________ the point; we have all fully understood the gravity of the situation.

23. The results of the study were ________, and further research is needed.

24. We had to ________ our plans for the weekend because of the rain.

25. The company is on the ________ of a major breakthrough in cancer research.