CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Count one's blessings”?
A. to take an unnecessary risk after already being fortunate
B. starting from the most basic level and building completely
C. to be grateful for the good things one has
D. to assess a situation carefully before deciding what to do
Correct Answer: C
“Count one's blessings” means to be grateful for the good things one has. Example: After the crisis, he learned to count his blessings. 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 gain control over most of the supply of a product or service”?
A. In a heartbeat
B. Second nature
C. Straight and narrow
D. Corner the market
Correct Answer: D
“Corner the market” means to gain control over most of the supply of a product or service. Example: The company tried to corner the market in specialized software. 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 “Cook someone's goose”?
A. to ruin someone's plans, chances, or position
B. put into a difficult situation without preparation
C. very gentle and unlikely to harm anyone
D. while acting under strong emotion without enough thought
Correct Answer: A
“Cook someone's goose” means to ruin someone's plans, chances, or position. Example: The leaked document cooked the minister's goose. 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 “Come to a standstill”?
A. to be patient with someone
B. to stop completely
C. improve one's performance or leave
D. very busy and active
Correct Answer: B
“Come to a standstill” means to stop completely. Example: Traffic came to a standstill after the accident. 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 years abroad, her career came full circle when she returned to teach.”, what is the meaning of “Come full circle”?
A. when a situation becomes critical and action is necessary
B. to spend whatever is necessary to achieve the best result
C. to return to the original position or situation after changes
D. to allow the possibility of future action or agreement
Correct Answer: C
“Come full circle” means to return to the original position or situation after changes. Example: After years abroad, her career came full circle when she returned to teach. 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 “Close call”?
A. there is no danger or obstacle present
B. in serious trouble without an easy solution
C. in very good health and physical condition
D. a narrow escape from danger or failure
Correct Answer: D
“Close call” means a narrow escape from danger or failure. Example: Passing by one mark was a close call. 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 remove tension or misunderstanding through honest discussion”?
A. Clear the air
B. Straight and narrow
C. Carry a torch for
D. So far, so good
Correct Answer: A
“Clear the air” means to remove tension or misunderstanding through honest discussion. Example: The two colleagues met to clear the air. 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 “Chase rainbows”?
A. to regain energy after becoming tired
B. to pursue unrealistic or impossible goals
C. an unrealistic promise, hope, or plan
D. to begin performing confidently and effectively
Correct Answer: B
“Chase rainbows” means to pursue unrealistic or impossible goals. Example: Without a plan, they were simply chasing rainbows. 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 “Change of pace”?
A. other situations often seem better than one's own
B. beyond one's authority, responsibility, or level of expertise
C. a different activity or speed that provides variety
D. to begin to like someone or something quickly
Correct Answer: C
“Change of pace” means a different activity or speed that provides variety. Example: The field visit was a welcome change of pace from office work. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “He still carries a torch for his childhood friend.”, what is the meaning of “Carry a torch for”?
A. to watch or pressure someone very closely
B. to ruin someone's plans, chances, or position
C. to make brief contact to exchange information
D. to continue having romantic feelings for someone
Correct Answer: D
“Carry a torch for” means to continue having romantic feelings for someone. Example: He still carries a torch for his childhood friend. 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 “Calm before the storm”?
A. a quiet period before serious activity or trouble
B. to flee from danger or an unpleasant situation
C. to relax or avoid excessive effort or worry
D. every possible method, including clever or questionable ones
Correct Answer: A
“Calm before the storm” means a quiet period before serious activity or trouble. Example: The silence before the announcement felt like the calm before the storm. 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 “by a very small margin”?
A. As old as the hills
B. By a whisker
C. Know something by heart
D. Pull no punches
Correct Answer: B
“By a whisker” means by a very small margin. Example: She missed the top position by a whisker. 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 “Butter someone up”?
A. not comparable because one is much better or worse
B. to become deeply involved in an interesting task
C. to flatter someone in order to gain a favor
D. to be unintentionally neglected or missed by a system
Correct Answer: C
“Butter someone up” means to flatter someone in order to gain a favor. Example: He tried to butter up the interviewer with excessive praise. 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 destroy someone's happy but unrealistic belief”?
A. Off one's chest
B. Devil is in the details
C. In plain English
D. Burst someone's bubble
Correct Answer: D
“Burst someone's bubble” means to destroy someone's happy but unrealistic belief. Example: I hate to burst your bubble, but the offer is not guaranteed. 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 “Brush something under the carpet”?
A. to hide or ignore an embarrassing problem
B. provided free of charge by a business
C. to think creatively in an unconventional way
D. in very good health and physical condition
Correct Answer: A
“Brush something under the carpet” means to hide or ignore an embarrassing problem. Example: The inquiry refused to brush the complaint under the carpet. 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 “Bring someone to their knees”?
A. fully informed or performing at the required level
B. to defeat or weaken someone or something severely
C. to accept a situation and adapt without resistance
D. to treat someone badly because they do not resist
Correct Answer: B
“Bring someone to their knees” means to defeat or weaken someone or something severely. Example: The prolonged crisis brought several firms to their knees. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “New funding breathed new life into the research program.”, what is the meaning of “Breathe new life into”?
A. directly from personal experience or the original source
B. put into a difficult situation without preparation
C. to make something active, successful, or interesting again
D. a person who looks almost exactly like another
Correct Answer: C
“Breathe new life into” means to make something active, successful, or interesting again. Example: New funding breathed new life into the research program. 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 “Breathe down someone's neck”?
A. involved in something too difficult to manage
B. extremely irritated or close to losing patience
C. good value or benefit for the money spent
D. to watch or pressure someone very closely
Correct Answer: D
“Breathe down someone's neck” means to watch or pressure someone very closely. Example: The manager was breathing down the team's neck before the deadline. 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 do something in a new and different way”?
A. Break the mould
B. Out of one's league
C. Lose face
D. In over one's head
Correct Answer: A
“Break the mould” means to do something in a new and different way. Example: The young administrator broke the mould with an innovative system. 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 “Blood, sweat and tears”?
A. to occur briefly as a thought
B. very hard physical or emotional effort
C. to wait patiently without taking action
D. something difficult to request or achieve
Correct Answer: B
“Blood, sweat and tears” means very hard physical or emotional effort. Example: The project succeeded through years of blood, sweat and tears. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.