CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “A feather in the cap”?
A. friendly enough to speak to each other
B. damage caused by ordinary use over time
C. an achievement that brings pride or credit
D. to show no surprise, fear, or emotion
Correct Answer: C
“A feather in the cap” means an achievement that brings pride or credit. Example: Winning the award was a feather in her cap. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “a person who refuses to believe something without proof”?
A. Dutch courage
B. Make a virtue of necessity
C. The thin end of the wedge
D. A doubting Thomas
Correct Answer: D
“A doubting Thomas” means a person who refuses to believe something without proof. Example: Do not be a doubting Thomas; the evidence is clear. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “A close-fisted person”?
A. a person unwilling to spend or give money
B. to succeed or fail entirely by one's own efforts
C. a very narrow escape from danger or failure
D. to act in a way that helps an opponent
Correct Answer: A
“A close-fisted person” means a person unwilling to spend or give money. Example: Everyone knew him as a close-fisted person. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “A chapter of accidents”?
A. an embarrassing or shameful secret
B. a series of unfortunate events
C. to find faults in something
D. to copy someone's good example
Correct Answer: B
“A chapter of accidents” means a series of unfortunate events. Example: The expedition became a chapter of accidents. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “She is up to her ears in paperwork.”, what is the meaning of “Up to one's ears in”?
A. to barely avoid danger or failure
B. false or insincere expressions of sorrow
C. deeply involved or overwhelmed by something
D. to bring something to an end
Correct Answer: C
“Up to one's ears in” means deeply involved or overwhelmed by something. Example: She is up to her ears in paperwork. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Turn the corner”?
A. having lost or spent money because of something
B. to protect oneself from danger, blame, or punishment
C. an unpleasant fact or situation that must be accepted
D. to pass the worst point and begin improving
Correct Answer: D
“Turn the corner” means to pass the worst point and begin improving. Example: The company appears to have turned the corner. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to run away”?
A. Take to one's heels
B. Take the law into one's own hands
C. Draw the wool over someone's eyes
D. A close-fisted person
Correct Answer: A
“Take to one's heels” means to run away. Example: The thief took to his heels when the guard appeared. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Strike a bargain”?
A. to deliberately ignore someone
B. to reach an agreement
C. to make something completely certain
D. unrealistic dreams or plans
Correct Answer: B
“Strike a bargain” means to reach an agreement. Example: The two parties finally struck a bargain. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Set one's teeth on edge”?
A. an obstacle that prevents progress
B. honest and just treatment or conduct
C. to irritate or annoy greatly
D. to eat a great deal
Correct Answer: C
“Set one's teeth on edge” means to irritate or annoy greatly. Example: The screeching sound set my teeth on edge. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “A backup generator saved the day during the outage.”, what is the meaning of “Save the day”?
A. to undertake a dangerous or difficult task that others avoid
B. to achieve a series of easy victories or successes
C. something common, expected, or required at a particular time
D. to prevent failure or solve a serious problem at the last moment
Correct Answer: D
“Save the day” means to prevent failure or solve a serious problem at the last moment. Example: A backup generator saved the day during the outage. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Run short of”?
A. to have too little of something
B. to punish or hold someone responsible
C. through spoken communication rather than writing
D. to lose approval, status, or reputation
Correct Answer: A
“Run short of” means to have too little of something. Example: The hospital ran short of essential supplies. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to give someone the necessary information”?
A. A dead end
B. Put someone in the picture
C. Fair play
D. In a blue funk
Correct Answer: B
“Put someone in the picture” means to give someone the necessary information. Example: Please put the new officer in the picture before the meeting. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Play into someone's hands”?
A. to take a risk in the hope of success
B. to cooperate in thinking about or solving a problem
C. to act in a way that helps an opponent
D. from a very short distance or in close contact
Correct Answer: C
“Play into someone's hands” means to act in a way that helps an opponent. Example: Responding angrily would only play into their hands. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Out of the woods”?
A. an obstacle that prevents progress
B. to exclude or ignore someone
C. out of favor with someone
D. free from danger or difficulty
Correct Answer: D
“Out of the woods” means free from danger or difficulty. Example: The economy is improving, but it is not yet out of the woods. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “On no account should confidential data be shared.”, what is the meaning of “On no account”?
A. under no circumstances
B. an awkward or troublesome situation
C. to reach an agreement
D. to sound convincing or believable
Correct Answer: A
“On no account” means under no circumstances. Example: On no account should confidential data be shared. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Off the beaten track”?
A. out of favor with or in conflict with someone or something
B. away from the usual or commonly chosen route or method
C. a situation in which success may fail at the last moment
D. to behave as if one is more important than others
Correct Answer: B
“Off the beaten track” means away from the usual or commonly chosen route or method. Example: The researcher chose a topic off the beaten track. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to speak openly and directly about something”?
A. Bring to a head
B. Have a soft corner for
C. Make no bones about
D. Scratch the surface
Correct Answer: C
“Make no bones about” means to speak openly and directly about something. Example: She made no bones about opposing the proposal. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Keep the wolf at bay”?
A. a person who refuses to believe something without proof
B. to lose emotional control or collapse under pressure
C. to cooperate in thinking about or solving a problem
D. to prevent hunger, poverty, or danger from becoming serious
Correct Answer: D
“Keep the wolf at bay” means to prevent hunger, poverty, or danger from becoming serious. Example: Temporary work helped the family keep the wolf at bay. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “In the good books of”?
A. favored or approved by someone
B. to eat a great deal
C. having nothing particular to do
D. an embarrassing or shameful secret
Correct Answer: A
“In the good books of” means favored or approved by someone. Example: Consistent performance kept her in the good books of the supervisor. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “He was in a blue funk before the viva.”, what is the meaning of “In a blue funk”?
A. for the purpose or benefit of something
B. in a state of fear or depression
C. to infer the truth from available facts
D. to stop working or to die
Correct Answer: B
“In a blue funk” means in a state of fear or depression. Example: He was in a blue funk before the viva. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.