CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Hold one's fire”?
A. to greatly impress or surprise someone
B. to watch very carefully for something
C. to delay criticism, action, or attack
D. free from blame, danger, or suspicion
Correct Answer: C
“Hold one's fire” means to delay criticism, action, or attack. Example: The committee held its fire until all evidence was reviewed. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “He has his head in the clouds if he thinks success requires no study.”, what is the meaning of “Head in the clouds”?
A. old-fashioned and not up to date
B. to hide or ignore an embarrassing problem
C. to occur briefly as a thought
D. unrealistic or unaware of practical realities
Correct Answer: D
“Head in the clouds” means unrealistic or unaware of practical realities. Example: He has his head in the clouds if he thinks success requires no study. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Have one's work cut out”?
A. to face a difficult amount of work
B. forced to choose between two difficult options
C. provided free of charge by a business
D. to suffer humiliation or loss of respect
Correct Answer: A
“Have one's work cut out” means to face a difficult amount of work. Example: The new director has her work cut out for her. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to have a very enjoyable time”?
A. Hit one's stride
B. Have a blast
C. Change of pace
D. Under one's breath
Correct Answer: B
“Have a blast” means to have a very enjoyable time. Example: We had a blast at the reunion. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Hang tough”?
A. to have both positive and negative effects
B. not permitted or beyond an allowed area
C. to remain determined and not give in
D. to begin to like someone or something quickly
Correct Answer: C
“Hang tough” means to remain determined and not give in. Example: Hang tough; the final stage is difficult but manageable. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to end in a very exciting or impressive way”?
A. Top dog
B. Dead ringer
C. Throw the book at someone
D. Go out with a bang
Correct Answer: D
“Go out with a bang” means to end in a very exciting or impressive way. Example: The festival went out with a bang. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Go down fighting”?
A. to continue resisting strongly even when defeat seems likely
B. to reveal a great deal without words or detailed explanation
C. a skill or habit that becomes automatic through practice
D. to be grateful for the good things one has
Correct Answer: A
“Go down fighting” means to continue resisting strongly even when defeat seems likely. Example: The team lost but went down fighting. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Get one's ducks in a row”?
A. to complete many difficult or unnecessary requirements
B. to organize everything properly before acting
C. fixed and not open to change
D. to monitor or watch something closely
Correct Answer: B
“Get one's ducks in a row” means to organize everything properly before acting. Example: Get your ducks in a row before submitting the application. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “They rebuilt the system from the ground up.”, what is the meaning of “From the ground up”?
A. a quiet period before serious activity or trouble
B. to control one's emotions or understand a situation properly
C. starting from the most basic level and building completely
D. to be unintentionally neglected or missed by a system
Correct Answer: C
“From the ground up” means starting from the most basic level and building completely. Example: They rebuilt the system from the ground up. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “For keeps”?
A. to experience complete silence
B. extremely thin
C. by a very small margin
D. permanently or seriously
Correct Answer: D
“For keeps” means permanently or seriously. Example: This time the change appears to be for keeps. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “something worth thinking about carefully”?
A. Food for thought
B. Blood, sweat and tears
C. Daylight robbery
D. Get a second wind
Correct Answer: A
“Food for thought” means something worth thinking about carefully. Example: The report provides plenty of food for thought. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Feast or famine”?
A. to attract a lot of attention or make a strong impression
B. a situation with either too much or too little and nothing in between
C. the most important matters should be dealt with before others
D. to act cleverly so as to achieve a desired result
Correct Answer: B
“Feast or famine” means a situation with either too much or too little and nothing in between. Example: Freelance work can be feast or famine. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Dog-eat-dog”?
A. sad or discouraged
B. to work extremely hard
C. fiercely competitive and ruthless
D. temporarily given low priority
Correct Answer: C
“Dog-eat-dog” means fiercely competitive and ruthless. Example: The industry has become a dog-eat-dog environment. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “He is a dead ringer for his father.”, what is the meaning of “Dead ringer”?
A. other situations often seem better than one's own
B. a person or thing widely mocked or ridiculed
C. while acting under strong emotion without enough thought
D. a person who looks almost exactly like another
Correct Answer: D
“Dead ringer” means a person who looks almost exactly like another. Example: He is a dead ringer for his father. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Cross to bear”?
A. a difficult responsibility or problem one must endure
B. in an uncertain state while awaiting a decision
C. to defeat or weaken someone or something severely
D. not allowed to be entered, used, or discussed
Correct Answer: A
“Cross to bear” means a difficult responsibility or problem one must endure. Example: Caring for the old property became his cross to bear. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to criticize or scold someone severely”?
A. On top of things
B. Chew someone out
C. Fed up to the back teeth
D. Go under
Correct Answer: B
“Chew someone out” means to criticize or scold someone severely. Example: The supervisor chewed him out for missing the deadline. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Catch-22”?
A. to return to the original position or situation after changes
B. to act cleverly so as to achieve a desired result
C. a situation in which contradictory rules make a solution impossible
D. to respond to someone with sudden anger or criticism
Correct Answer: C
“Catch-22” means a situation in which contradictory rules make a solution impossible. Example: He faced a Catch-22: experience was required for jobs, but he needed a job to gain experience. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “a dangerously or extremely fast speed”?
A. Cut someone down to size
B. Goody two-shoes
C. Caught off guard
D. Breakneck speed
Correct Answer: D
“Breakneck speed” means a dangerously or extremely fast speed. Example: The car raced down the road at breakneck speed. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Between a rock and a hard place”?
A. forced to choose between two difficult options
B. to reveal one's deepest thoughts and feelings
C. to pursue unrealistic or impossible goals
D. to make brief contact to exchange information
Correct Answer: A
“Between a rock and a hard place” means forced to choose between two difficult options. Example: The manager was caught between a rock and a hard place. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Baker's dozen”?
A. completely and beyond doubt
B. thirteen items
C. smiling very broadly
D. very busy and active
Correct Answer: B
“Baker's dozen” means thirteen items. Example: The shopkeeper gave us a baker's dozen of rolls. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.