CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “The impressive figures were mostly smoke and mirrors.”, what is the meaning of “Smoke and mirrors”?
A. to leave someone responsible for a problem or blame
B. to deal with a difficult situation requiring careful balance
C. to manage to survive financially or cope with difficulties
D. deceptive or misleading presentation intended to hide the truth
Correct Answer: D
“Smoke and mirrors” means deceptive or misleading presentation intended to hide the truth. Example: The impressive figures were mostly smoke and mirrors. 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 “Sleep on it”?
A. to begin a serious task and commit oneself to it
B. a clumsy person who causes damage or trouble in a delicate situation
C. to delay a decision until one has had time to think
D. a person who spends a lot of time sitting and watching television
Correct Answer: C
“Sleep on it” means to delay a decision until one has had time to think. Example: Do not decide tonight; sleep on it. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to reveal one's plans or intentions”?
A. Fish in troubled waters
B. Show one's hand
C. Take centre stage
D. Run rings around
Correct Answer: B
“Show one's hand” means to reveal one's plans or intentions. Example: The negotiator refused to show his hand too early. 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 “Shake a leg”?
A. to hurry up
B. to work extremely hard
C. more importantly than anything else
D. to ask for something impossible
Correct Answer: A
“Shake a leg” means to hurry up. Example: Shake a leg or we will miss the bus. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to sell very quickly and in large quantities”?
A. Take pains
B. Hang up one's boots
C. Out of line
D. Sell like hot cakes
Correct Answer: D
“Sell like hot cakes” means to sell very quickly and in large quantities. Example: The new guidebook sold like hot cakes. 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 “See which way the cat jumps”?
A. too many people controlling a task can ruin it
B. to stop an unsuccessful activity before losing even more
C. to wait and observe how a situation develops before acting
D. to gain an initial opportunity that may lead to greater success
Correct Answer: C
“See which way the cat jumps” means to wait and observe how a situation develops before acting. Example: He will see which way the cat jumps before announcing support. 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 “Save face”?
A. to receive an unfair or disadvantageous outcome
B. to avoid humiliation or loss of respect
C. a near success is still a failure
D. to make something seem very attractive, especially food
Correct Answer: B
“Save face” means to avoid humiliation or loss of respect. Example: The compromise allowed both sides to save face. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “The experienced debater ran rings around his opponent.”, what is the meaning of “Run rings around”?
A. to perform much better than someone
B. to reach the lowest or worst point
C. to gain honor or distinction
D. to waste time by delaying action
Correct Answer: A
“Run rings around” means to perform much better than someone. Example: The experienced debater ran rings around his opponent. 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 “Run amok”?
A. by a very small margin
B. to stop or suppress something
C. being apart can increase affection
D. to behave wildly and uncontrollably
Correct Answer: D
“Run amok” means to behave wildly and uncontrollably. Example: False rumors ran amok on social media. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to meet and spend time with important or influential people”?
A. On borrowed time
B. On one's toes
C. Rub shoulders with
D. Run like clockwork
Correct Answer: C
“Rub shoulders with” means to meet and spend time with important or influential people. Example: At the conference he rubbed shoulders with senior diplomats. 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 “Read someone like a book”?
A. to be the dominant decision-maker in a relationship
B. to understand someone's thoughts or intentions very easily
C. not intended for public reporting or official use
D. the apparent or stated value without deeper examination
Correct Answer: B
“Read someone like a book” means to understand someone's thoughts or intentions very easily. Example: Her mother could read her like a book. 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 “Raise eyebrows”?
A. to cause surprise, shock, or disapproval
B. to feel extremely well and confident
C. to earn a very large profit quickly
D. to reveal private information or secrets
Correct Answer: A
“Raise eyebrows” means to cause surprise, shock, or disapproval. Example: The unusual appointment raised eyebrows. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “She put a bold face on despite the disappointing result.”, what is the meaning of “Put a bold face on”?
A. to pursue an independent course without support from others
B. too many people controlling a task can ruin it
C. to return to the simplest and most important principles
D. to pretend to be confident despite fear or difficulty
Correct Answer: D
“Put a bold face on” means to pretend to be confident despite fear or difficulty. Example: She put a bold face on despite the disappointing result. 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 one's money where one's mouth is”?
A. a past event that is no longer important
B. to escape from someone following or watching you
C. to support one's words with action or money
D. according to one's own wishes without considering others
Correct Answer: C
“Put one's money where one's mouth is” means to support one's words with action or money. Example: If he believes in the scheme, he should put his money where his mouth is. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to begin a serious task and commit oneself to it”?
A. Put paid to
B. Put one's hand to the plough
C. Draw first blood
D. Bring grist to the mill
Correct Answer: B
“Put one's hand to the plough” means to begin a serious task and commit oneself to it. Example: Once you put your hand to the plough, do not turn back. 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 “Pull the plug”?
A. to stop support for or bring an activity to an end
B. to admit that one was wrong after being proved mistaken
C. to leave someone responsible for a problem or blame
D. temporary difficulty in speaking because the throat is dry or irritated
Correct Answer: A
“Pull the plug” means to stop support for or bring an activity to an end. Example: The sponsor pulled the plug on the project. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to decide what to do as events develop rather than plan in advance”?
A. Be on edge
B. Curry favour
C. On a wing and a prayer
D. Play it by ear
Correct Answer: D
“Play it by ear” means to decide what to do as events develop rather than plan in advance. Example: We have no fixed schedule and will play it by ear. 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 “Penny wise and pound foolish”?
A. a person very similar in character to a parent
B. to meet and spend time with important or influential people
C. careful about small amounts but wasteful about large ones
D. immediately and without consideration; also uncontrolled depending on context
Correct Answer: C
“Penny wise and pound foolish” means careful about small amounts but wasteful about large ones. Example: Skipping maintenance to save money is penny wise and pound foolish. 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 “Paint the town red”?
A. to accept an insult or bad treatment without resistance
B. to go out and celebrate in a lively way
C. to change one's opinion or manner, especially under pressure
D. to hope for good luck or a favorable result
Correct Answer: B
“Paint the town red” means to go out and celebrate in a lively way. Example: After the victory, the team went out to paint the town red. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “Leaving the hall before the permitted time is out of the question.”, what is the meaning of “Out of the question”?
A. impossible or not allowed
B. to stop or suppress something
C. very similar in character or behavior
D. exactly at the stated time
Correct Answer: A
“Out of the question” means impossible or not allowed. Example: Leaving the hall before the permitted time is out of the question. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.