CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “In the offing”?
A. having nothing particular to do
B. to overturn or capsize
C. likely to happen soon
D. to fail completely, especially financially
Correct Answer: C
“In the offing” means likely to happen soon. Example: A major policy announcement is in the offing. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “neat, tidy, and well organized”?
A. The primrose path
B. At cross purposes
C. Salt of the earth
D. In apple-pie order
Correct Answer: D
“In apple-pie order” means neat, tidy, and well organized. Example: The records were kept in apple-pie order. 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 “Hold good”?
A. to remain true or valid
B. a dishonest or unreliable person
C. an awkward or troublesome situation
D. an urgent and important issue
Correct Answer: A
“Hold good” means to remain true or valid. Example: The same rule holds good in this case. 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 “Have clean hands”?
A. likely to end, fail, or die soon
B. to be innocent or free from wrongdoing
C. to accept the truth of a situation
D. for the purpose or benefit of something
Correct Answer: B
“Have clean hands” means to be innocent or free from wrongdoing. Example: He claimed to have clean hands in the transaction. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “The teacher has a soft corner for hardworking students.”, what is the meaning of “Have a soft corner for”?
A. to refuse to change one's position despite pressure
B. in debt or operating at a financial loss
C. to feel particular affection or sympathy for someone
D. friendly enough to speak to each other
Correct Answer: C
“Have a soft corner for” means to feel particular affection or sympathy for someone. Example: The teacher has a soft corner for hardworking students. 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 “Hang fire”?
A. to make a special effort to do something
B. to protect oneself from danger, blame, or punishment
C. a state of happiness based on false hopes
D. to delay taking action or making a decision
Correct Answer: D
“Hang fire” means to delay taking action or making a decision. Example: The proposal is hanging fire until the budget is approved. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to make a special effort to do something”?
A. Go out of one's way
B. Play into someone's hands
C. At one's elbow
D. A red herring
Correct Answer: A
“Go out of one's way” means to make a special effort to do something. Example: The officer went out of his way to help the applicants. 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 “Go by the board”?
A. financially profitable or free from debt
B. to be abandoned, rejected, or lost
C. to follow someone's example or guidance
D. false courage gained from drinking alcohol
Correct Answer: B
“Go by the board” means to be abandoned, rejected, or lost. Example: Several old procedures went by the board after digitization. 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 “Give a wide berth”?
A. false courage gained from drinking alcohol
B. false or insincere expressions of sorrow
C. to avoid someone or something deliberately
D. to adapt to modern ideas or changes
Correct Answer: C
“Give a wide berth” means to avoid someone or something deliberately. Example: Drivers should give the damaged bridge a wide berth. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “I heard about the policy change from the horse's mouth.”, what is the meaning of “From the horse's mouth”?
A. to behave irresponsibly or recklessly, especially when young
B. a very narrow escape from danger or failure
C. to give a warning of danger or trouble
D. directly from the original or most reliable source
Correct Answer: D
“From the horse's mouth” means directly from the original or most reliable source. Example: I heard about the policy change from the horse's mouth. 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 “For the sake of”?
A. for the purpose or benefit of something
B. to adapt to modern ideas or changes
C. to avoid restarting an old conflict or problem
D. to bring something to an end
Correct Answer: A
“For the sake of” means for the purpose or benefit of something. Example: For the sake of fairness, all candidates received equal time. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “regardless of whether the result is good or bad”?
A. Salt of the earth
B. For better or worse
C. Call someone's bluff
D. Cat-and-dog life
Correct Answer: B
“For better or worse” means regardless of whether the result is good or bad. Example: For better or worse, the decision has been made. 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 “Fight shy of”?
A. to react in an extremely angry or emotional way
B. to make damaging or insulting remarks about someone's character
C. to avoid or hesitate to become involved with something
D. something common, expected, or required at a particular time
Correct Answer: C
“Fight shy of” means to avoid or hesitate to become involved with something. Example: Investors are fighting shy of risky ventures. 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 “Eat like a horse”?
A. an obstacle that prevents progress
B. an unconvincing or weak excuse
C. to reach an agreement
D. to eat a great deal
Correct Answer: D
“Eat like a horse” means to eat a great deal. Example: After the long trek, he ate like a horse. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “Before submitting the form, dot the i's and cross the t's.”, what is the meaning of “Dot the i's and cross the t's”?
A. to pay careful attention to every detail
B. to become known or be discovered
C. to recover strongly after destruction or failure
D. to understand how a situation is developing
Correct Answer: A
“Dot the i's and cross the t's” means to pay careful attention to every detail. Example: Before submitting the form, dot the i's and cross the t's. 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 “Do yeoman's service”?
A. very close to doing or achieving something
B. to provide very valuable and loyal service
C. to be innocent or free from wrongdoing
D. a result that is certain in advance
Correct Answer: B
“Do yeoman's service” means to provide very valuable and loyal service. Example: Volunteers did yeoman's service during the flood relief operation. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to hurt someone deeply, especially emotionally”?
A. Within an ace of
B. Have a narrow escape
C. Cut to the quick
D. Turn turtle
Correct Answer: C
“Cut to the quick” means to hurt someone deeply, especially emotionally. Example: The public criticism cut her to the quick. 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 “Cut and dried”?
A. to speak indirectly or soften what one really means
B. misunderstanding each other because of different aims or meanings
C. to avoid restarting an old conflict or problem
D. already decided and not open to change or discussion
Correct Answer: D
“Cut and dried” means already decided and not open to change or discussion. Example: The selection process is not as cut and dried as it appears. 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 “Come out of one's shell”?
A. to become more confident and sociable
B. to have too little of something
C. financially profitable or free from debt
D. always ready to obey someone's orders
Correct Answer: A
“Come out of one's shell” means to become more confident and sociable. Example: The shy student came out of his shell during group work. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “He chanced his arm and applied for the prestigious scholarship.”, what is the meaning of “Chance one's arm”?
A. to avoid restarting an old conflict or problem
B. to take a risk in the hope of success
C. ordinary members of an organization rather than its leaders
D. to maintain one's position or perform well against others
Correct Answer: B
“Chance one's arm” means to take a risk in the hope of success. Example: He chanced his arm and applied for the prestigious scholarship. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.