CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Show the red flag”?
A. to refuse to change one's position despite pressure
B. to achieve a great success or gain unexpectedly
C. to give a warning of danger or trouble
D. to understand how a situation is developing
Correct Answer: C
“Show the red flag” means to give a warning of danger or trouble. Example: The auditors' remarks showed the red flag over weak controls. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to strongly oppose something”?
A. Elbow room
B. Go off the deep end
C. A fool's paradise
D. Set one's face against
Correct Answer: D
“Set one's face against” means to strongly oppose something. Example: The committee set its face against unnecessary expenditure. 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 “Sail close to the wind”?
A. to behave in a risky way close to the limits of rules or safety
B. already decided and not open to change or discussion
C. away from the usual or commonly chosen route or method
D. to cause a situation to reach a decisive or critical point
Correct Answer: A
“Sail close to the wind” means to behave in a risky way close to the limits of rules or safety. Example: The firm was sailing close to the wind with its accounting practices. 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 riot”?
A. directly from the original or most reliable source
B. to behave in an uncontrolled or destructive way
C. to argue about very small or unimportant differences
D. to feel particular affection or sympathy for someone
Correct Answer: B
“Run riot” means to behave in an uncontrolled or destructive way. Example: Rumors ran riot after the announcement. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “No authority should ride roughshod over lawful objections.”, what is the meaning of “Ride roughshod over”?
A. to undertake a dangerous or difficult task that others avoid
B. to avoid or hesitate to become involved with something
C. to treat others without regard for their rights or feelings
D. the most important or central point of an issue
Correct Answer: C
“Ride roughshod over” means to treat others without regard for their rights or feelings. Example: No authority should ride roughshod over lawful objections. 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 “Put on airs”?
A. a harmless or minor lie told to avoid hurting someone
B. to take a risk by expressing an opinion or supporting someone
C. out of favor with or in conflict with someone or something
D. to behave as if one is more important than others
Correct Answer: D
“Put on airs” means to behave as if one is more important than others. Example: He began putting on airs after his promotion. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to cooperate in thinking about or solving a problem”?
A. Put heads together
B. Do yeoman's service
C. By the same token
D. Get wind of
Correct Answer: A
“Put heads together” means to cooperate in thinking about or solving a problem. Example: The engineers put their heads together to find a solution. 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 ducks and drakes with”?
A. to punish or hold someone responsible
B. to waste or misuse something recklessly
C. to lose approval, status, or reputation
D. to have too little of something
Correct Answer: B
“Play ducks and drakes with” means to waste or misuse something recklessly. Example: The officials played ducks and drakes with public money. 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 “Pay lip service to”?
A. a person highly favored by someone in authority
B. to speak openly and directly about something
C. to express support without taking real action
D. to tell someone important or unpleasant information
Correct Answer: C
“Pay lip service to” means to express support without taking real action. Example: The organization pays lip service to transparency but hides key data. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “The cancelled trip left him out of pocket.”, what is the meaning of “Out of pocket”?
A. a very narrow escape from danger or failure
B. a result that is certain in advance
C. to be innocent or free from wrongdoing
D. having lost or spent money because of something
Correct Answer: D
“Out of pocket” means having lost or spent money because of something. Example: The cancelled trip left him out of pocket. 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 “On the wrong side of”?
A. out of favor with or in conflict with someone or something
B. to treat others without regard for their rights or feelings
C. the most important or central point of an issue
D. an unpleasant fact or situation that must be accepted
Correct Answer: A
“On the wrong side of” means out of favor with or in conflict with someone or something. Example: He found himself on the wrong side of the new regulations. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “judging from appearances or the available facts”?
A. A foregone conclusion
B. On the face of it
C. Break one's word
D. Blow one's top
Correct Answer: B
“On the face of it” means judging from appearances or the available facts. Example: On the face of it, the proposal seems reasonable. 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 “Not worth a straw”?
A. to avoid someone or something
B. to express doubt about something
C. of no value or importance
D. having nothing particular to do
Correct Answer: C
“Not worth a straw” means of no value or importance. Example: A promise without action is not worth a straw. 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 “Neither fish nor fowl”?
A. to be useful or helpful in the future
B. to act in a way that helps an opponent
C. to tell someone important or unpleasant information
D. not clearly belonging to one category or another
Correct Answer: D
“Neither fish nor fowl” means not clearly belonging to one category or another. Example: The hybrid policy was neither fish nor fowl. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “The skilled team made short work of the repairs.”, what is the meaning of “Make short work of”?
A. to finish or deal with something quickly
B. to show no surprise, fear, or emotion
C. to be useful or helpful in the future
D. at the busiest or most active stage
Correct Answer: A
“Make short work of” means to finish or deal with something quickly. Example: The skilled team made short work of the repairs. 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 “Let sleeping dogs lie”?
A. a result that is certain in advance
B. to avoid restarting an old conflict or problem
C. to refuse to change one's position despite pressure
D. to adapt to modern ideas or changes
Correct Answer: B
“Let sleeping dogs lie” means to avoid restarting an old conflict or problem. Example: The dispute is settled, so let sleeping dogs lie. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to exclude or ignore someone”?
A. Rank and file
B. Pros and cons
C. Leave in the cold
D. Six of one and half a dozen of the other
Correct Answer: C
“Leave in the cold” means to exclude or ignore someone. Example: Smaller districts felt left in the cold during the allocation. 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 “Kick up a row”?
A. to provide very valuable and loyal service
B. to be innocent or free from wrongdoing
C. to finish or deal with something quickly
D. to create a noisy argument or protest
Correct Answer: D
“Kick up a row” means to create a noisy argument or protest. Example: Residents kicked up a row over the sudden fee increase. 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 pot boiling”?
A. to maintain interest, activity, or discussion
B. to give someone the necessary information
C. to make someone understand something clearly
D. the advantages and disadvantages of something
Correct Answer: A
“Keep the pot boiling” means to maintain interest, activity, or discussion. Example: Regular updates kept the issue's pot boiling. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “Online learning is increasingly in vogue.”, what is the meaning of “In vogue”?
A. to irritate or annoy greatly
B. currently fashionable or popular
C. a sudden clever idea
D. to deliberately ignore someone
Correct Answer: B
“In vogue” means currently fashionable or popular. Example: Online learning is increasingly in vogue. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.