CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “In the red”?
A. to become very successful or popular very quickly
B. to feel particular affection or sympathy for someone
C. in debt or operating at a financial loss
D. a state of happiness based on false hopes
Correct Answer: C
“In the red” means in debt or operating at a financial loss. Example: The business has been in the red for months. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “financially profitable or free from debt”?
A. Carry conviction
B. The man in the street
C. Go off the deep end
D. In the black
Correct Answer: D
“In the black” means financially profitable or free from debt. Example: The company is finally in the black. 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 one's bad books”?
A. out of favor with someone
B. an unconvincing or weak excuse
C. left helpless or without support
D. in a state of extreme hostility
Correct Answer: A
“In one's bad books” means out of favor with someone. Example: He is in the manager's bad books for repeated lateness. 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 full swing”?
A. to accept the truth of a situation
B. at the busiest or most active stage
C. to recover strongly after destruction or failure
D. to adapt to modern ideas or changes
Correct Answer: B
“In full swing” means at the busiest or most active stage. Example: The election campaign is now in full swing. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “We are in a pickle because the documents are missing.”, what is the meaning of “In a pickle”?
A. in an arrogant or overbearing manner
B. to lose approval, status, or reputation
C. in a difficult or troublesome situation
D. through spoken communication rather than writing
Correct Answer: C
“In a pickle” means in a difficult or troublesome situation. Example: We are in a pickle because the documents are missing. 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 one's tongue”?
A. a dishonest or unreliable person
B. an urgent and important issue
C. very slowly
D. to remain silent
Correct Answer: D
“Hold one's tongue” means to remain silent. Example: He wisely held his tongue during the argument. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to achieve a great success or gain unexpectedly”?
A. Hit the jackpot
B. A skeleton in the cupboard
C. Give up the ghost
D. Hang fire
Correct Answer: A
“Hit the jackpot” means to achieve a great success or gain unexpectedly. Example: The researcher hit the jackpot with a major discovery. 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 “High and dry”?
A. an obstacle that prevents progress
B. left helpless or without support
C. favored or approved by someone
D. a strange or eccentric person
Correct Answer: B
“High and dry” means left helpless or without support. Example: The cancelled funding left the project high and dry. 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 “Heart and soul”?
A. a life full of frequent quarrels
B. an ordinary member of the public
C. with complete energy, sincerity, and commitment
D. human nature or one's close relatives
Correct Answer: C
“Heart and soul” means with complete energy, sincerity, and commitment. Example: She put her heart and soul into the project. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “The salesman has the gift of the gab.”, what is the meaning of “Have the gift of the gab”?
A. an unpleasant fact or situation that must be accepted
B. to achieve a great success or gain unexpectedly
C. to hear a rumor or learn something secretly
D. to be able to speak easily and persuasively
Correct Answer: D
“Have the gift of the gab” means to be able to speak easily and persuasively. Example: The salesman has the gift of the gab. 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 a bone to pick”?
A. to have a complaint or issue to discuss with someone
B. a general view from above or a broad overall view
C. to maintain one's position or perform well against others
D. directly from the original or most reliable source
Correct Answer: A
“Have a bone to pick” means to have a complaint or issue to discuss with someone. Example: I have a bone to pick with you about yesterday's report. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “short of money”?
A. Hang fire
B. Hard up
C. Make one's mark
D. For better or worse
Correct Answer: B
“Hard up” means short of money. Example: He was hard up after losing his job. 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 by a thread”?
A. ordinary members of an organization rather than its leaders
B. in debt or operating at a financial loss
C. to be in a very uncertain or dangerous situation
D. a very narrow escape from danger or failure
Correct Answer: C
“Hang by a thread” means to be in a very uncertain or dangerous situation. Example: The peace agreement was hanging by a thread. 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 to pieces”?
A. a very good, honest, and dependable person
B. to behave irresponsibly or recklessly, especially when young
C. something that gives new energy, confidence, or improvement
D. to lose emotional control or collapse under pressure
Correct Answer: D
“Go to pieces” means to lose emotional control or collapse under pressure. Example: He went to pieces after hearing the bad news. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “The supervisor went off the deep end over a minor error.”, what is the meaning of “Go off the deep end”?
A. to react in an extremely angry or emotional way
B. from a very short distance or in close contact
C. something that attracts attention only for a short time
D. to hear a rumor or learn something secretly
Correct Answer: A
“Go off the deep end” means to react in an extremely angry or emotional way. Example: The supervisor went off the deep end over a minor error. 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 cold turkey”?
A. having lost or spent money because of something
B. to stop an addictive habit suddenly and completely
C. to speak openly and directly about something
D. to be able to speak easily and persuasively
Correct Answer: B
“Go cold turkey” means to stop an addictive habit suddenly and completely. Example: He went cold turkey and stopped smoking at once. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to fail completely, especially financially”?
A. Blue-eyed boy
B. Word for word
C. Go belly up
D. Cut and dried
Correct Answer: C
“Go belly up” means to fail completely, especially financially. Example: Several small firms went belly up during the downturn. 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 up the ghost”?
A. a group weakened by internal conflict
B. a cause of dispute or quarrel
C. financially profitable or free from debt
D. to stop working or to die
Correct Answer: D
“Give up the ghost” means to stop working or to die. Example: The old computer finally gave up the ghost. 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 “Get wind of”?
A. to hear a rumor or learn something secretly
B. to pass the worst point and begin improving
C. to tell someone important or unpleasant information
D. to achieve a great success or gain unexpectedly
Correct Answer: A
“Get wind of” means to hear a rumor or learn something secretly. Example: The press got wind of the confidential meeting. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “Ignoring the evidence would fly in the face of common sense.”, what is the meaning of “Fly in the face of”?
A. to disappear or change very slowly
B. to openly oppose or contradict something
C. very similar in character or type
D. a matter open to debate or uncertainty
Correct Answer: B
“Fly in the face of” means to openly oppose or contradict something. Example: Ignoring the evidence would fly in the face of common sense. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.