CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “The careless message blew the agent's cover.”, what is the meaning of “Blow one's cover”?
A. to risk everything in an attempt to succeed
B. to fail badly or suffer an unexpected fall
C. to prepare for trouble or a difficult situation
D. to reveal someone's hidden identity or secret role
Correct Answer: D
“Blow one's cover” means to reveal someone's hidden identity or secret role. Example: The careless message blew the agent's cover. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Be snowed under”?
A. in serious difficulty and likely to fail
B. to think carefully about something before deciding
C. to have too much work to do
D. to have many responsibilities or tasks
Correct Answer: C
“Be snowed under” means to have too much work to do. Example: The office is snowed under with applications. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to be nervous, tense, or irritable”?
A. Foot the bill
B. Be on edge
C. All in a day's work
D. Keep something at bay
Correct Answer: B
“Be on edge” means to be nervous, tense, or irritable. Example: Everyone was on edge while waiting for the decision. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Bad hair day”?
A. a day when many things seem to go wrong
B. to manage to survive financially or cope with difficulties
C. to change one's opinion or manner, especially under pressure
D. to accept an insult or bad treatment without resistance
Correct Answer: A
“Bad hair day” means a day when many things seem to go wrong. Example: After missing the bus and losing his wallet, he was having a bad hair day. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “a person who gives unwanted advice to someone doing a task”?
A. Burn rubber
B. Much ado about nothing
C. Go back on one's word
D. Backseat driver
Correct Answer: D
“Backseat driver” means a person who gives unwanted advice to someone doing a task. Example: Stop being a backseat driver and let me finish the work. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Add up”?
A. to reveal private information or secrets
B. to be nervous, tense, or irritable
C. to make sense or appear reasonable
D. to suffer a final and decisive defeat
Correct Answer: C
“Add up” means to make sense or appear reasonable. Example: His explanation simply does not add up. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “A wolf in sheep's clothing”?
A. to stop or destroy a plan, hope, or activity
B. a dangerous or dishonest person pretending to be harmless
C. to deal with a difficult situation requiring careful balance
D. to flatter or support people who are gaining power
Correct Answer: B
“A wolf in sheep's clothing” means a dangerous or dishonest person pretending to be harmless. Example: The friendly fraudster was a wolf in sheep's clothing. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “She avoids unnecessary spending because a penny saved is a penny earned.”, what is the meaning of “A penny saved is a penny earned”?
A. money saved is as valuable as money earned
B. to have more important matters to deal with
C. to work or study late into the night
D. to reject something because one considers it inferior
Correct Answer: A
“A penny saved is a penny earned” means money saved is as valuable as money earned. Example: She avoids unnecessary spending because a penny saved is a penny earned. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “A frog in one's throat”?
A. to try deliberately to attract or win a particular person
B. to decide the result or give one side the advantage
C. to leave someone responsible for a problem or blame
D. temporary difficulty in speaking because the throat is dry or irritated
Correct Answer: D
“A frog in one's throat” means temporary difficulty in speaking because the throat is dry or irritated. Example: He cleared his throat because he had a frog in it. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “a person with good qualities that are not yet polished or obvious”?
A. Throw someone a lifeline
B. Sell like hot cakes
C. A diamond in the rough
D. Burn the midnight candle
Correct Answer: C
“A diamond in the rough” means a person with good qualities that are not yet polished or obvious. Example: The new recruit is a diamond in the rough. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “A couch potato”?
A. to leave someone responsible for a problem or blame
B. a person who spends a lot of time sitting and watching television
C. to decide the result or give one side the advantage
D. to delay a decision until one has had time to think
Correct Answer: B
“A couch potato” means a person who spends a lot of time sitting and watching television. Example: He became a couch potato during the holidays. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “A chip off the old block”?
A. a person very similar in character to a parent
B. to declare one's beliefs or intentions openly and firmly
C. to reveal someone's hidden identity or secret role
D. to pretend to be confident despite fear or difficulty
Correct Answer: A
“A chip off the old block” means a person very similar in character to a parent. Example: The young lawyer is a chip off the old block. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “He behaved like a bull in a china shop during the negotiations.”, what is the meaning of “A bull in a china shop”?
A. to admit that one was wrong after being proved mistaken
B. to stop support for or bring an activity to an end
C. to make the reality of something clear and forceful
D. a clumsy person who causes damage or trouble in a delicate situation
Correct Answer: D
“A bull in a china shop” means a clumsy person who causes damage or trouble in a delicate situation. Example: He behaved like a bull in a china shop during the negotiations. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Water under the bridge”?
A. to stay alert for new information or changes
B. to take responsibility temporarily while others are absent
C. a past event that is no longer important
D. to have more important matters to deal with
Correct Answer: C
“Water under the bridge” means a past event that is no longer important. Example: The old dispute is water under the bridge now. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to act very carefully to avoid upsetting someone”?
A. Read someone like a book
B. Walk on eggshells
C. A chip off the old block
D. Plough a lonely furrow
Correct Answer: B
“Walk on eggshells” means to act very carefully to avoid upsetting someone. Example: Staff felt they were walking on eggshells around the angry manager. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Turn up one's nose at”?
A. to reject something because one considers it inferior
B. the final event that causes failure or destruction
C. the least undesirable option in an unfavorable situation
D. a great deal of fuss over something unimportant
Correct Answer: A
“Turn up one's nose at” means to reject something because one considers it inferior. Example: Do not turn up your nose at an entry-level opportunity. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to reduce the intensity or unpleasantness of something”?
A. Curry favour
B. Don't count your chickens before they hatch
C. Come hell or high water
D. Take the edge off
Correct Answer: D
“Take the edge off” means to reduce the intensity or unpleasantness of something. Example: A short break took the edge off his fatigue. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Rule the roost”?
A. an incompetent person often blames equipment or circumstances for failure
B. to wait and observe how a situation develops before acting
C. to be the person who controls a group or situation
D. to buy or accept something without examining it properly
Correct Answer: C
“Rule the roost” means to be the person who controls a group or situation. Example: In that department, the senior clerk rules the roost. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Put paid to”?
A. to flatter or support people who are gaining power
B. to stop or destroy a plan, hope, or activity
C. to do something as fully or completely as possible
D. to stop an unsuccessful activity before losing even more
Correct Answer: B
“Put paid to” means to stop or destroy a plan, hope, or activity. Example: Heavy rain put paid to the outdoor event. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “With video evidence, it looked like an open-and-shut case.”, what is the meaning of “Open-and-shut case”?
A. a case that is easy to decide because the facts are clear
B. to hide one's real difficulties and maintain an outward image
C. with very little chance of success and relying mainly on hope
D. to take a risk by supporting an unpopular idea or person
Correct Answer: A
“Open-and-shut case” means a case that is easy to decide because the facts are clear. Example: With video evidence, it looked like an open-and-shut case. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.