CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to prevent something unpleasant from coming closer or becoming worse”?
A. Rub shoulders with
B. Have a field day
C. Take pains
D. Keep something at bay
Correct Answer: D
“Keep something at bay” means to prevent something unpleasant from coming closer or becoming worse. Example: Regular exercise can help keep illness at bay. 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 “Keep one's fingers crossed”?
A. careful about small amounts but wasteful about large ones
B. appearance does not reliably show true quality or character
C. to hope for good luck or a favorable result
D. to remain uncertain and capable of turning either way
Correct Answer: C
“Keep one's fingers crossed” means to hope for good luck or a favorable result. Example: Keep your fingers crossed for tomorrow's interview. 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 “Hold one's breath”?
A. to try any unlikely method when desperate
B. to wait anxiously for something to happen
C. to reveal one's plans or intentions
D. to receive an unfair or disadvantageous outcome
Correct Answer: B
“Hold one's breath” means to wait anxiously for something to happen. Example: We held our breath while the final result was announced. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “With strong evidence, the prosecution held all the aces.”, what is the meaning of “Hold all the aces”?
A. to have all the advantages in a situation
B. to fail badly or suffer an unexpected fall
C. to escape from someone following or watching you
D. to give someone little attention, sympathy, or consideration
Correct Answer: A
“Hold all the aces” means to have all the advantages in a situation. Example: With strong evidence, the prosecution held all the aces. 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 “Have many irons in the fire”?
A. to delay a decision until one has had time to think
B. to prevent something unpleasant from coming closer or becoming worse
C. to bear the cost or consequences of an action
D. to be involved in many activities or plans at the same time
Correct Answer: D
“Have many irons in the fire” means to be involved in many activities or plans at the same time. Example: She has many irons in the fire and manages several projects. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to have more important matters to deal with”?
A. Cry for the moon
B. Chew something over
C. Have bigger fish to fry
D. An eye for an eye
Correct Answer: C
“Have bigger fish to fry” means to have more important matters to deal with. Example: The director has bigger fish to fry than this minor complaint. 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 “Have a field day”?
A. to try deliberately to attract or win a particular person
B. to have an opportunity to enjoy oneself or exploit a situation greatly
C. to be the first to accuse or condemn another person
D. to begin a serious task and commit oneself to it
Correct Answer: B
“Have a field day” means to have an opportunity to enjoy oneself or exploit a situation greatly. Example: Critics had a field day after the report was released. 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 “Hang up one's boots”?
A. to retire from a profession or activity
B. to reach the lowest or worst point
C. to cause trouble or bring significant change
D. to survive with very little food
Correct Answer: A
“Hang up one's boots” means to retire from a profession or activity. Example: The veteran player finally hung up his boots. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “The fate of the agreement hangs in the balance.”, what is the meaning of “Hang in the balance”?
A. to manage to survive financially or cope with difficulties
B. to want two incompatible advantages at the same time
C. a past event that is no longer important
D. to remain uncertain and capable of turning either way
Correct Answer: D
“Hang in the balance” means to remain uncertain and capable of turning either way. Example: The fate of the agreement hangs in the balance. 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 “Green thumb”?
A. an important or influential person
B. exactly at the stated time
C. natural skill in growing plants
D. to perform much better than someone
Correct Answer: C
“Green thumb” means natural skill in growing plants. Example: Her beautiful garden shows that she has a green thumb. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to be too difficult for someone to understand”?
A. Run like clockwork
B. Go over someone's head
C. A wolf in sheep's clothing
D. Run rings around
Correct Answer: B
“Go over someone's head” means to be too difficult for someone to understand. Example: The technical explanation went over my head. 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 “Go out on a limb”?
A. to take a risk by supporting an unpopular idea or person
B. to go out and celebrate in a lively way
C. a person who gives unwanted advice to someone doing a task
D. to begin a serious task and commit oneself to it
Correct Answer: A
“Go out on a limb” means to take a risk by supporting an unpopular idea or person. Example: She went out on a limb to defend the reform. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to suddenly begin discussing a different subject”?
A. Add up
B. Touch bottom
C. Take up the cudgels for
D. Go off at a tangent
Correct Answer: D
“Go off at a tangent” means to suddenly begin discussing a different subject. Example: The speaker went off at a tangent and forgot the main issue. 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 “Go for broke”?
A. a great deal of fuss over something unimportant
B. family relationships are often stronger than other relationships
C. to risk everything in an attempt to succeed
D. to have all the advantages in a situation
Correct Answer: C
“Go for broke” means to risk everything in an attempt to succeed. Example: With one chance left, the candidate decided to go for broke. 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 “Go bananas”?
A. a near success is still a failure
B. to become extremely excited, angry, or irrational
C. to accept a difficult or unpleasant reality
D. to regard someone or something as inferior
Correct Answer: B
“Go bananas” means to become extremely excited, angry, or irrational. Example: The crowd went bananas when the team scored. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “The suspect gave the police the slip.”, what is the meaning of “Give someone the slip”?
A. to escape from someone following or watching you
B. to have all the advantages in a situation
C. to understand someone's thoughts or intentions very easily
D. to be the dominant decision-maker in a relationship
Correct Answer: A
“Give someone the slip” means to escape from someone following or watching you. Example: The suspect gave the police the slip. 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 “Give the game away”?
A. a past event that is no longer important
B. to seek approval by flattering or pleasing someone
C. money saved is as valuable as money earned
D. to reveal a secret or true intention unintentionally
Correct Answer: D
“Give the game away” means to reveal a secret or true intention unintentionally. Example: His nervous expression gave the game away. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to receive an unfair or disadvantageous outcome”?
A. Too many cooks spoil the broth
B. Run rings around
C. Get the short end of the stick
D. Take the plunge
Correct Answer: C
“Get the short end of the stick” means to receive an unfair or disadvantageous outcome. Example: Junior workers got the short end of the stick in the new policy. 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 “Get one's act together”?
A. to think carefully about something before deciding
B. to organize oneself and start behaving effectively
C. to have too much work to do
D. to remain proud and confident in difficulty
Correct Answer: B
“Get one's act together” means to organize oneself and start behaving effectively. Example: You need to get your act together before the final exam. 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 “Get a foot in the door”?
A. to gain an initial opportunity that may lead to greater success
B. a person or thing one is very pleased or relieved to see
C. to delay a decision until one has had time to think
D. to reject, abandon, or refuse to help someone or something
Correct Answer: A
“Get a foot in the door” means to gain an initial opportunity that may lead to greater success. Example: An internship can help graduates get a foot in the door. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.