diff --git a/activerecord/test/cases/base_test.rb b/activerecord/test/cases/base_test.rb
index 0edb8a8901..5a93ea3832 100644
--- a/activerecord/test/cases/base_test.rb
+++ b/activerecord/test/cases/base_test.rb
@@ -1299,9 +1299,10 @@ class BasicsTest < ActiveRecord::TestCase
   end
 
   def test_compute_type_no_method_error
-    ActiveSupport::Dependencies.stubs(:safe_constantize).raises(NoMethodError)
-    assert_raises NoMethodError do
-      ActiveRecord::Base.send :compute_type, 'InvalidModel'
+    ActiveSupport::Dependencies.stub(:safe_constantize, proc{ raise NoMethodError }) do
+      assert_raises NoMethodError do
+        ActiveRecord::Base.send :compute_type, 'InvalidModel'
+      end
     end
   end
 
@@ -1315,18 +1316,20 @@ class BasicsTest < ActiveRecord::TestCase
       error = e
     end
 
-    ActiveSupport::Dependencies.stubs(:safe_constantize).raises(e)
+    ActiveSupport::Dependencies.stub(:safe_constantize, proc{ raise e }) do
 
-    exception = assert_raises NameError do
-      ActiveRecord::Base.send :compute_type, 'InvalidModel'
+      exception = assert_raises NameError do
+        ActiveRecord::Base.send :compute_type, 'InvalidModel'
+      end
+      assert_equal error.message, exception.message
     end
-    assert_equal error.message, exception.message
   end
 
   def test_compute_type_argument_error
-    ActiveSupport::Dependencies.stubs(:safe_constantize).raises(ArgumentError)
-    assert_raises ArgumentError do
-      ActiveRecord::Base.send :compute_type, 'InvalidModel'
+    ActiveSupport::Dependencies.stub(:safe_constantize, proc{ raise ArgumentError }) do
+      assert_raises ArgumentError do
+        ActiveRecord::Base.send :compute_type, 'InvalidModel'
+      end
     end
   end
 
diff --git a/activerecord/test/cases/explain_test.rb b/activerecord/test/cases/explain_test.rb
index f1d5511bb8..64dfd86ce2 100644
--- a/activerecord/test/cases/explain_test.rb
+++ b/activerecord/test/cases/explain_test.rb
@@ -39,38 +39,49 @@ if ActiveRecord::Base.connection.supports_explain?
       binds   = [[], []]
       queries = sqls.zip(binds)
 
-      connection.stubs(:explain).returns('query plan foo', 'query plan bar')
-      expected = sqls.map {|sql| "EXPLAIN for: #{sql}\nquery plan #{sql}"}.join("\n")
-      assert_equal expected, base.exec_explain(queries)
+      stub_explain_for_query_plans do
+        expected = sqls.map {|sql| "EXPLAIN for: #{sql}\nquery plan #{sql}"}.join("\n")
+        assert_equal expected, base.exec_explain(queries)
+      end
     end
 
     def test_exec_explain_with_binds
-      cols = [Object.new, Object.new]
-      cols[0].expects(:name).returns('wadus')
-      cols[1].expects(:name).returns('chaflan')
+      object = Struct.new(:name)
+      cols = [object.new('wadus'), object.new('chaflan')]
 
       sqls    = %w(foo bar)
       binds   = [[[cols[0], 1]], [[cols[1], 2]]]
       queries = sqls.zip(binds)
 
-      connection.stubs(:explain).returns("query plan foo\n", "query plan bar\n")
-      expected = <<-SQL.strip_heredoc
-        EXPLAIN for: #{sqls[0]} [["wadus", 1]]
-        query plan foo
+      stub_explain_for_query_plans(["query plan foo\n", "query plan bar\n"]) do
+        expected = <<-SQL.strip_heredoc
+          EXPLAIN for: #{sqls[0]} [["wadus", 1]]
+          query plan foo
 
-        EXPLAIN for: #{sqls[1]} [["chaflan", 2]]
-        query plan bar
-      SQL
-      assert_equal expected, base.exec_explain(queries)
+          EXPLAIN for: #{sqls[1]} [["chaflan", 2]]
+          query plan bar
+        SQL
+        assert_equal expected, base.exec_explain(queries)
+      end
     end
 
     def test_unsupported_connection_adapter
-      connection.stubs(:supports_explain?).returns(false)
-
-      base.logger.expects(:warn).never
-
-      Car.where(:name => 'honda').to_a
+      connection.stub(:supports_explain?, false) do
+        assert_not_called(base.logger, :warn) do
+          Car.where(:name => 'honda').to_a
+        end
+      end
     end
 
+    private
+
+      def stub_explain_for_query_plans(query_plans = ['query plan foo', 'query plan bar'])
+        explain_called = 0
+
+        connection.stub(:explain, proc{ explain_called += 1; query_plans[explain_called - 1] }) do
+          yield
+        end
+      end
+
   end
 end
diff --git a/activerecord/test/cases/finder_test.rb b/activerecord/test/cases/finder_test.rb
index 4b819a82e8..0dc884497c 100644
--- a/activerecord/test/cases/finder_test.rb
+++ b/activerecord/test/cases/finder_test.rb
@@ -178,8 +178,9 @@ class FinderTest < ActiveRecord::TestCase
   end
 
   def test_exists_does_not_instantiate_records
-    Developer.expects(:instantiate).never
-    Developer.exists?
+    assert_not_called(Developer, :instantiate) do
+      Developer.exists?
+    end
   end
 
   def test_find_by_array_of_one_id
diff --git a/activerecord/test/cases/fixtures_test.rb b/activerecord/test/cases/fixtures_test.rb
index 64759160dc..e3c4bd9f4a 100644
--- a/activerecord/test/cases/fixtures_test.rb
+++ b/activerecord/test/cases/fixtures_test.rb
@@ -408,9 +408,11 @@ class FixturesWithoutInstantiationTest < ActiveRecord::TestCase
   end
 
   def test_reloading_fixtures_through_accessor_methods
+    topic = Struct.new(:title)
     assert_equal "The First Topic", topics(:first).title
-    @loaded_fixtures['topics']['first'].expects(:find).returns(stub(:title => "Fresh Topic!"))
-    assert_equal "Fresh Topic!", topics(:first, true).title
+    assert_called(@loaded_fixtures['topics']['first'], :find, returns: topic.new("Fresh Topic!")) do
+      assert_equal "Fresh Topic!", topics(:first, true).title
+    end
   end
 end
 
diff --git a/activerecord/test/cases/migration/command_recorder_test.rb b/activerecord/test/cases/migration/command_recorder_test.rb
index 99f1dc65b0..1e3529db54 100644
--- a/activerecord/test/cases/migration/command_recorder_test.rb
+++ b/activerecord/test/cases/migration/command_recorder_test.rb
@@ -31,7 +31,8 @@ module ActiveRecord
       end
 
       def test_unknown_commands_delegate
-        recorder = CommandRecorder.new(stub(:foo => 'bar'))
+        recorder = Struct.new(:foo)
+        recorder = CommandRecorder.new(recorder.new('bar'))
         assert_equal 'bar', recorder.foo
       end
 
diff --git a/activerecord/test/cases/nested_attributes_test.rb b/activerecord/test/cases/nested_attributes_test.rb
index b8a0401fe3..93cb631a04 100644
--- a/activerecord/test/cases/nested_attributes_test.rb
+++ b/activerecord/test/cases/nested_attributes_test.rb
@@ -273,10 +273,11 @@ class TestNestedAttributesOnAHasOneAssociation < ActiveRecord::TestCase
   end
 
   def test_should_modify_an_existing_record_if_there_is_a_matching_composite_id
-    @ship.stubs(:id).returns('ABC1X')
-    @pirate.ship_attributes = { :id => @ship.id, :name => 'Davy Jones Gold Dagger' }
+    @ship.stub(:id, 'ABC1X') do
+      @pirate.ship_attributes = { :id => @ship.id, :name => 'Davy Jones Gold Dagger' }
 
-    assert_equal 'Davy Jones Gold Dagger', @pirate.ship.name
+      assert_equal 'Davy Jones Gold Dagger', @pirate.ship.name
+    end
   end
 
   def test_should_destroy_an_existing_record_if_there_is_a_matching_id_and_destroy_is_truthy
@@ -457,10 +458,11 @@ class TestNestedAttributesOnABelongsToAssociation < ActiveRecord::TestCase
   end
 
   def test_should_modify_an_existing_record_if_there_is_a_matching_composite_id
-    @pirate.stubs(:id).returns('ABC1X')
-    @ship.pirate_attributes = { :id => @pirate.id, :catchphrase => 'Arr' }
+    @pirate.stub(:id, 'ABC1X') do
+      @ship.pirate_attributes = { :id => @pirate.id, :catchphrase => 'Arr' }
 
-    assert_equal 'Arr', @ship.pirate.catchphrase
+      assert_equal 'Arr', @ship.pirate.catchphrase
+    end
   end
 
   def test_should_destroy_an_existing_record_if_there_is_a_matching_id_and_destroy_is_truthy
@@ -638,17 +640,19 @@ module NestedAttributesOnACollectionAssociationTests
   end
 
   def test_should_take_a_hash_with_composite_id_keys_and_assign_the_attributes_to_the_associated_models
-    @child_1.stubs(:id).returns('ABC1X')
-    @child_2.stubs(:id).returns('ABC2X')
+    @child_1.stub(:id, 'ABC1X') do
+      @child_2.stub(:id, 'ABC2X') do
 
-    @pirate.attributes = {
-      association_getter => [
-        { :id => @child_1.id, :name => 'Grace OMalley' },
-        { :id => @child_2.id, :name => 'Privateers Greed' }
-      ]
-    }
+        @pirate.attributes = {
+          association_getter => [
+            { :id => @child_1.id, :name => 'Grace OMalley' },
+            { :id => @child_2.id, :name => 'Privateers Greed' }
+          ]
+        }
 
-    assert_equal ['Grace OMalley', 'Privateers Greed'], [@child_1.name, @child_2.name]
+        assert_equal ['Grace OMalley', 'Privateers Greed'], [@child_1.name, @child_2.name]
+      end
+    end
   end
 
   def test_should_raise_RecordNotFound_if_an_id_is_given_but_doesnt_return_a_record
diff --git a/activerecord/test/cases/relation/mutation_test.rb b/activerecord/test/cases/relation/mutation_test.rb
index ba4d9d2503..88d2dd55ab 100644
--- a/activerecord/test/cases/relation/mutation_test.rb
+++ b/activerecord/test/cases/relation/mutation_test.rb
@@ -55,9 +55,10 @@ module ActiveRecord
 
     test '#order! on non-string does not attempt regexp match for references' do
       obj = Object.new
-      obj.expects(:=~).never
-      assert relation.order!(obj)
-      assert_equal [obj], relation.order_values
+      assert_not_called(obj, :=~) do
+        assert relation.order!(obj)
+        assert_equal [obj], relation.order_values
+      end
     end
 
     test '#references!' do
diff --git a/activerecord/test/cases/transactions_test.rb b/activerecord/test/cases/transactions_test.rb
index 29a6ec7522..ec5bdfd725 100644
--- a/activerecord/test/cases/transactions_test.rb
+++ b/activerecord/test/cases/transactions_test.rb
@@ -487,13 +487,17 @@ class TransactionTest < ActiveRecord::TestCase
   end
 
   def test_rollback_when_commit_raises
-    Topic.connection.expects(:begin_db_transaction)
-    Topic.connection.expects(:commit_db_transaction).raises('OH NOES')
-    Topic.connection.expects(:rollback_db_transaction)
+    assert_called(Topic.connection, :begin_db_transaction) do
+      Topic.connection.stub(:commit_db_transaction, ->{ raise('OH NOES') }) do
+        assert_called(Topic.connection, :rollback_db_transaction) do
 
-    assert_raise RuntimeError do
-      Topic.transaction do
-        # do nothing
+          e = assert_raise RuntimeError do
+            Topic.transaction do
+              # do nothing
+            end
+          end
+          assert_equal 'OH NOES', e.message
+        end
       end
     end
   end