CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “My heart sank when I saw the difficult final question.”, what is the meaning of “One's heart sinks”?
A. forced to choose between two difficult options
B. to strongly annoy or emotionally affect someone
C. one suddenly feels disappointed, worried, or discouraged
D. in very good health and physical condition
Correct Answer: C
“One's heart sinks” means one suddenly feels disappointed, worried, or discouraged. Example: My heart sank when I saw the difficult final question. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Wrap things up”?
A. to take a short rest
B. the whole of something; everything involved
C. to examine detailed conditions carefully
D. to finish or complete something
Correct Answer: D
“Wrap things up” means to finish or complete something. Example: Let us wrap things up before lunch. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “a completely different situation with new conditions”?
A. Whole new ball game
B. Get down to business
C. Pick someone's brain
D. Make light of
Correct Answer: A
“Whole new ball game” means a completely different situation with new conditions. Example: Managing a large team is a whole new ball game. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Wet behind the ears”?
A. someone finally understands something
B. young and inexperienced
C. rare and not often found
D. a tendency toward cowardice
Correct Answer: B
“Wet behind the ears” means young and inexperienced. Example: The recruit is still wet behind the ears. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Up the creek without a paddle”?
A. to watch very carefully for something
B. to destroy someone's happy but unrealistic belief
C. in serious trouble without an easy solution
D. to strongly annoy or emotionally affect someone
Correct Answer: C
“Up the creek without a paddle” means in serious trouble without an easy solution. Example: Without backup files, we were up the creek without a paddle. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “His sarcastic remarks really got under her skin.”, what is the meaning of “Under one's skin”?
A. extremely irritated or close to losing patience
B. to begin doubting a decision already made
C. to destroy someone's happy but unrealistic belief
D. to strongly annoy or emotionally affect someone
Correct Answer: D
“Under one's skin” means to strongly annoy or emotionally affect someone. Example: His sarcastic remarks really got under her skin. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Touch base”?
A. to make brief contact to exchange information
B. to watch or pressure someone very closely
C. to reveal one's deepest thoughts and feelings
D. one suddenly feels disappointed, worried, or discouraged
Correct Answer: A
“Touch base” means to make brief contact to exchange information. Example: Let us touch base tomorrow about the schedule. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to think creatively in an unconventional way”?
A. Spare no expense
B. Think outside the box
C. Cut someone down to size
D. Fight fire with fire
Correct Answer: B
“Think outside the box” means to think creatively in an unconventional way. Example: The problem requires us to think outside the box. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Take its toll”?
A. to produce very good or surprising results
B. beyond one's authority, responsibility, or level of expertise
C. to cause damage, suffering, or exhaustion over time
D. to give permission for something to proceed
Correct Answer: C
“Take its toll” means to cause damage, suffering, or exhaustion over time. Example: Long working hours began to take their toll. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to lose an opportunity that was almost secured”?
A. Keep one's nose clean
B. Easy on the eyes
C. Cut one's teeth on
D. Slip through one's fingers
Correct Answer: D
“Slip through one's fingers” means to lose an opportunity that was almost secured. Example: The contract slipped through their fingers at the last moment. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Sink one's teeth into”?
A. to become deeply involved in an interesting task
B. to begin working out successfully or becoming organized
C. to defeat or weaken someone or something severely
D. to make noticeable physical effort or become anxious
Correct Answer: A
“Sink one's teeth into” means to become deeply involved in an interesting task. Example: She was eager to sink her teeth into the research project. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Shape up or ship out”?
A. shared opinions, interests, or beliefs
B. improve one's performance or leave
C. rare and not often found
D. a very unhappy or difficult life
Correct Answer: B
“Shape up or ship out” means improve one's performance or leave. Example: The manager told the team to shape up or ship out. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “After months of work, we can finally see light at the end of the tunnel.”, what is the meaning of “See light at the end of the tunnel”?
A. to act without a plan, relying on instinct and experience
B. a son often resembles his father in behavior or character
C. to see signs that a difficult period is nearing its end
D. the honest and morally acceptable way of living or behaving
Correct Answer: C
“See light at the end of the tunnel” means to see signs that a difficult period is nearing its end. Example: After months of work, we can finally see light at the end of the tunnel. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Second nature”?
A. to treat someone badly because they do not resist
B. a son often resembles his father in behavior or character
C. to continue resisting strongly even when defeat seems likely
D. a skill or habit that becomes automatic through practice
Correct Answer: D
“Second nature” means a skill or habit that becomes automatic through practice. Example: After months of practice, mental calculation became second nature. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to flee from danger or an unpleasant situation”?
A. Run for the hills
B. Take one's hat off to
C. Cut one's teeth on
D. Alive and kicking
Correct Answer: A
“Run for the hills” means to flee from danger or an unpleasant situation. Example: When the alarm sounded, everyone ran for the hills. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Raise the bar”?
A. in agreement or accordance with
B. to set a higher standard
C. fully informed, organized, and in control
D. irrelevant to the main issue
Correct Answer: B
“Raise the bar” means to set a higher standard. Example: The new syllabus raises the bar for candidates. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Play hardball”?
A. to reveal a great deal without words or detailed explanation
B. to treat something serious as if it were unimportant
C. to act aggressively and uncompromisingly to get what one wants
D. to be unintentionally neglected or missed by a system
Correct Answer: C
“Play hardball” means to act aggressively and uncompromisingly to get what one wants. Example: The company decided to play hardball in negotiations. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “She paid her dues before becoming department head.”, what is the meaning of “Pay one's dues”?
A. things have gone well up to the present point
B. to do something while waiting so that time passes
C. from the very beginning without using previous work
D. to earn a position through hard work and experience
Correct Answer: D
“Pay one's dues” means to earn a position through hard work and experience. Example: She paid her dues before becoming department head. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Out of sight, out of mind”?
A. people tend to forget things that are no longer visible or present
B. to attract a lot of attention or make a strong impression
C. at a point where an important decision must be made
D. to have a strong emotional effect or make something fully understood
Correct Answer: A
“Out of sight, out of mind” means people tend to forget things that are no longer visible or present. Example: Keep your goals visible; out of sight, out of mind. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to allow a large number or amount of something to happen suddenly”?
A. All hell breaks loose
B. Open the floodgates
C. Ballpark figure
D. Walk on air
Correct Answer: B
“Open the floodgates” means to allow a large number or amount of something to happen suddenly. Example: The ruling could open the floodgates to similar claims. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.