CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Put two and two together”?
A. very close to doing or achieving something
B. to create a noisy argument or protest
C. to infer the truth from available facts
D. to be unable to decide between alternatives
Correct Answer: C
“Put two and two together” means to infer the truth from available facts. Example: She put two and two together and realized who had sent the anonymous letter. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to organize one's own affairs properly”?
A. Under a cloud
B. A matter of life and death
C. Castles in the air
D. Put one's house in order
Correct Answer: D
“Put one's house in order” means to organize one's own affairs properly. Example: The department must put its house in order before expanding. 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 “Pull a long face”?
A. to look sad or disappointed
B. to object strongly to something
C. to eat a great deal
D. a cause of dispute or quarrel
Correct Answer: A
“Pull a long face” means to look sad or disappointed. Example: He pulled a long face after seeing his result. 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 “Pros and cons”?
A. with complete energy, sincerity, and commitment
B. the advantages and disadvantages of something
C. to have too little of something
D. to become successful or well known
Correct Answer: B
“Pros and cons” means the advantages and disadvantages of something. Example: Consider the pros and cons before making a decision. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “The senior officer poured oil on troubled waters by arranging a compromise.”, what is the meaning of “Pour oil on troubled waters”?
A. a very good, honest, and dependable person
B. to tell someone important or unpleasant information
C. to calm a disagreement or tense situation
D. in a state of fear or depression
Correct Answer: C
“Pour oil on troubled waters” means to calm a disagreement or tense situation. Example: The senior officer poured oil on troubled waters by arranging a compromise. 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 fast and loose”?
A. the advantages and disadvantages of something
B. an unconvincing or weak excuse
C. to express doubt about something
D. to behave irresponsibly or dishonestly
Correct Answer: D
“Play fast and loose” means to behave irresponsibly or dishonestly. Example: No official should play fast and loose with public funds. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to find faults in something”?
A. Pick holes in
B. A narrow squeak
C. A chapter of accidents
D. Play ducks and drakes with
Correct Answer: A
“Pick holes in” means to find faults in something. Example: The opposition tried to pick holes in 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 “Part and parcel”?
A. to express support without taking real action
B. an essential or unavoidable part of something
C. to go directly and quickly toward something
D. to fail or be destroyed, especially financially
Correct Answer: B
“Part and parcel” means an essential or unavoidable part of something. Example: Hard work is part and parcel of competitive exam preparation. 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 frying pan into the fire”?
A. to defeat or gain an advantage over someone or something
B. to challenge someone to prove a claim or threat
C. from a bad situation into an even worse one
D. to suggest or have a trace of something unpleasant
Correct Answer: C
“Out of the frying pan into the fire” means from a bad situation into an even worse one. Example: Changing jobs without checking the new conditions took him out of the frying pan into the fire. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “After the dispute, the two officers were barely on speaking terms.”, what is the meaning of “On speaking terms”?
A. not clearly belonging to one category or another
B. to be unable to decide between alternatives
C. to recover strongly after destruction or failure
D. friendly enough to speak to each other
Correct Answer: D
“On speaking terms” means friendly enough to speak to each other. Example: After the dispute, the two officers were barely on speaking terms. 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 bat an eyelid”?
A. to show no surprise, fear, or emotion
B. to be unable to decide between alternatives
C. to tell someone important or unpleasant information
D. an essential or unavoidable part of something
Correct Answer: A
“Not bat an eyelid” means to show no surprise, fear, or emotion. Example: He did not bat an eyelid when the difficult question was asked. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to adapt to modern ideas or changes”?
A. The primrose path
B. Move with the times
C. Cut to the quick
D. Sink or swim
Correct Answer: B
“Move with the times” means to adapt to modern ideas or changes. Example: Institutions must move with the times and adopt digital systems. 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 “Mince one's words”?
A. to delay taking action or making a decision
B. to face a series of criticisms, difficulties, or dangers
C. to speak indirectly or soften what one really means
D. to make a special effort to do something
Correct Answer: C
“Mince one's words” means to speak indirectly or soften what one really means. Example: The judge did not mince his words while criticizing the negligence. 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 “Make one's mark”?
A. to lose approval, status, or reputation
B. to have too little of something
C. to punish someone without legal authority
D. to become successful or well known
Correct Answer: D
“Make one's mark” means to become successful or well known. Example: She hopes to make her mark in public service. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “Unable to hire more staff, the office made a virtue of necessity by automating routine work.”, what is the meaning of “Make a virtue of necessity”?
A. to turn an unavoidable situation into an advantage
B. a very narrow escape from danger or failure
C. to pay careful attention to every detail
D. in debt or operating at a financial loss
Correct Answer: A
“Make a virtue of necessity” means to turn an unavoidable situation into an advantage. Example: Unable to hire more staff, the office made a virtue of necessity by automating routine work. 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 “Make a beeline for”?
A. damage caused by ordinary use over time
B. to go directly and quickly toward something
C. friendly enough to speak to each other
D. to spoil a plan or stable situation
Correct Answer: B
“Make a beeline for” means to go directly and quickly toward something. Example: As soon as the doors opened, students made a beeline for the registration desk. 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 something completely certain”?
A. Face the facts
B. Go to the wall
C. Leave no room for doubt
D. Stand in good stead
Correct Answer: C
“Leave no room for doubt” means to make something completely certain. Example: The evidence left no room for doubt. 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 “Know which way the wind blows”?
A. in a difficult or troublesome situation
B. to tell someone important or unpleasant information
C. to express support without taking real action
D. to understand how a situation is developing
Correct Answer: D
“Know which way the wind blows” means to understand how a situation is developing. Example: An experienced politician knows which way the wind blows. 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 the bucket”?
A. to die
B. the advantages and disadvantages of something
C. an obstacle that prevents progress
D. a learned person or writer
Correct Answer: A
“Kick the bucket” means to die. Example: The old man joked that he wanted to travel before he kicked the bucket. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “A good officer keeps his head during a crisis.”, what is the meaning of “Keep one's head”?
A. judging from appearances or the available facts
B. to remain calm in a difficult situation
C. in a state of fear or depression
D. to go directly and quickly toward something
Correct Answer: B
“Keep one's head” means to remain calm in a difficult situation. Example: A good officer keeps his head during a crisis. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.