CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “The department agreed to foot the bill for the repairs.”, what is the meaning of “Foot the bill”?
A. to cause surprise, shock, or disapproval
B. to make the best possible impression
C. slightly ill or not feeling well
D. to pay the cost of something
Correct Answer: D
“Foot the bill” means to pay the cost of something. Example: The department agreed to foot the bill for the repairs. 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 “Fish in troubled waters”?
A. to solve a very difficult problem by decisive action
B. considered too low or unworthy for one's status
C. to take advantage of a confused or difficult situation
D. to become confident and comfortable in a new situation
Correct Answer: C
“Fish in troubled waters” means to take advantage of a confused or difficult situation. Example: Some traders tried to fish in troubled waters during the shortage. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “more importantly than anything else”?
A. Pull the plug
B. First and foremost
C. Too many cooks spoil the broth
D. Put one's hand to the plough
Correct Answer: B
“First and foremost” means more importantly than anything else. Example: First and foremost, candidates must read the question carefully. 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 “Find one's feet”?
A. to become confident and comfortable in a new situation
B. to deal with a difficult situation requiring careful balance
C. to make the reality of something clear and forceful
D. careful about small amounts but wasteful about large ones
Correct Answer: A
“Find one's feet” means to become confident and comfortable in a new situation. Example: It took the new officer a month to find his feet. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to experience financial difficulty”?
A. Show one's hand
B. Have many irons in the fire
C. Hang up one's boots
D. Feel the pinch
Correct Answer: D
“Feel the pinch” means to experience financial difficulty. Example: Low-income families are feeling the pinch of rising prices. 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 “Fall on deaf ears”?
A. to regard someone or something as inferior
B. to earn a very large profit quickly
C. to be ignored or not listened to
D. to reduce spending because money is scarce
Correct Answer: C
“Fall on deaf ears” means to be ignored or not listened to. Example: Repeated warnings fell on deaf ears. 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 “Face value”?
A. every part of a place, including hidden areas
B. the apparent or stated value without deeper examination
C. continuing longer than expected before an inevitable end
D. the final event that causes failure or destruction
Correct Answer: B
“Face value” means the apparent or stated value without deeper examination. Example: Do not take every political promise at face value. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “He predicted failure but later had to eat crow.”, what is the meaning of “Eat crow”?
A. to admit that one was wrong after being proved mistaken
B. to do something as fully or completely as possible
C. to take advantage of a favorable opportunity while it lasts
D. to hide one's real difficulties and maintain an outward image
Correct Answer: A
“Eat crow” means to admit that one was wrong after being proved mistaken. Example: He predicted failure but later had to eat crow. 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 “Draw first blood”?
A. to pretend to be confident despite fear or difficulty
B. to begin a serious task and commit oneself to it
C. to want two incompatible advantages at the same time
D. to gain the first advantage in a contest or conflict
Correct Answer: D
“Draw first blood” means to gain the first advantage in a contest or conflict. Example: The opposition drew first blood by winning the opening debate. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to solve a very difficult problem by decisive action”?
A. Give it one's best shot
B. Lose one's touch
C. Cut the Gordian knot
D. Absence makes the heart grow fonder
Correct Answer: C
“Cut the Gordian knot” means to solve a very difficult problem by decisive action. Example: The new policy cut the Gordian knot of the long-running dispute. 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 “Cry for the moon”?
A. to work extremely hard
B. to ask for something impossible
C. to drive away very fast
D. to attract someone's attention
Correct Answer: B
“Cry for the moon” means to ask for something impossible. Example: Demanding perfect results without resources is crying for the moon. 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 “Come to terms with”?
A. to accept a difficult or unpleasant reality
B. people who act early gain an advantage
C. to seek approval by flattering or pleasing someone
D. to make a guess without enough information
Correct Answer: A
“Come to terms with” means to accept a difficult or unpleasant reality. Example: He slowly came to terms with the loss. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “Come hell or high water, she will sit the examination.”, what is the meaning of “Come hell or high water”?
A. to be nervous, tense, or irritable
B. to greatly surprise or impress someone
C. to be wasted or lost completely
D. regardless of any difficulty or obstacle
Correct Answer: D
“Come hell or high water” means regardless of any difficulty or obstacle. Example: Come hell or high water, she will sit the examination. 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 “Chew something over”?
A. to cause great excitement or enthusiastic applause
B. to have many responsibilities or tasks
C. to think carefully about something before deciding
D. to make something seem very attractive, especially food
Correct Answer: C
“Chew something over” means to think carefully about something before deciding. Example: I need a day to chew the proposal over. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “said when someone is unusually silent or unable to answer”?
A. Let bygones be bygones
B. Cat got your tongue
C. The best of a bad bargain
D. Come a cropper
Correct Answer: B
“Cat got your tongue” means said when someone is unusually silent or unable to answer. Example: Why are you not answering—has the cat got your tongue? 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 “Cast the first stone”?
A. to be the first to accuse or condemn another person
B. to try deliberately to attract or win a particular person
C. to prevent something unpleasant from coming closer or becoming worse
D. to stop an unsuccessful activity before losing even more
Correct Answer: A
“Cast the first stone” means to be the first to accuse or condemn another person. Example: Before you cast the first stone, examine your own conduct. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to buy or accept something without examining it properly”?
A. Get one's act together
B. Batten down the hatches
C. Every nook and cranny
D. Buy a pig in a poke
Correct Answer: D
“Buy a pig in a poke” means to buy or accept something without examining it properly. Example: Signing that contract without reading it is like buying a pig in a poke. 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 “Bring the house down”?
A. to wait anxiously for something to happen
B. to suffer a final and decisive defeat
C. to cause great excitement or enthusiastic applause
D. to remain proud and confident in difficulty
Correct Answer: C
“Bring the house down” means to cause great excitement or enthusiastic applause. Example: Her final speech brought the house down. 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 “Break ranks”?
A. not something one enjoys or feels comfortable with
B. to stop supporting or conforming to one's group
C. to reveal someone's hidden identity or secret role
D. money saved is as valuable as money earned
Correct Answer: B
“Break ranks” means to stop supporting or conforming to one's group. Example: Two members broke ranks and voted against the party. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “The scale of the discovery blew everyone's mind.”, what is the meaning of “Blow one's mind”?
A. to greatly surprise or impress someone
B. to make the best possible impression
C. to make sense or appear reasonable
D. to reveal private information or secrets
Correct Answer: A
“Blow one's mind” means to greatly surprise or impress someone. Example: The scale of the discovery blew everyone's mind. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.