CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Flesh and blood”?
A. a secretly treacherous or deceitful person
B. to give someone the necessary information
C. human nature or one's close relatives
D. through spoken communication rather than writing
Correct Answer: C
“Flesh and blood” means human nature or one's close relatives. Example: No one of flesh and blood can work without rest forever. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “honest and just treatment or conduct”?
A. Have a soft corner for
B. Out of the woods
C. Take by storm
D. Fair play
Correct Answer: D
“Fair play” means honest and just treatment or conduct. Example: Every competition should be governed by fair play. 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 “Elbow room”?
A. enough space or freedom to act
B. in a state of extreme hostility
C. false or insincere expressions of sorrow
D. to disappear or change very slowly
Correct Answer: A
“Elbow room” means enough space or freedom to act. Example: The new office gives the team more elbow room. 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 “Dutch courage”?
A. to maintain interest, activity, or discussion
B. false courage gained from drinking alcohol
C. with all possible effort and determination
D. a group weakened by internal conflict
Correct Answer: B
“Dutch courage” means false courage gained from drinking alcohol. Example: He needed Dutch courage before confronting his rival. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “The seller tried to draw the wool over the buyer's eyes.”, what is the meaning of “Draw the wool over someone's eyes”?
A. to object strongly to something
B. short of money
C. to deceive someone
D. to remain true or valid
Correct Answer: C
“Draw the wool over someone's eyes” means to deceive someone. Example: The seller tried to draw the wool over the buyer's eyes. 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 “Dog's breakfast”?
A. regardless of whether the result is good or bad
B. to become very successful or popular very quickly
C. to refuse to change one's position despite pressure
D. a badly organized or poorly done piece of work
Correct Answer: D
“Dog's breakfast” means a badly organized or poorly done piece of work. Example: The rushed report was a dog's breakfast. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to disappear or change very slowly”?
A. Die hard
B. On the face of it
C. Stand in good stead
D. Save the day
Correct Answer: A
“Die hard” means to disappear or change very slowly. Example: Old habits die hard. 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 “Dead letter”?
A. to achieve a series of easy victories or successes
B. a law, rule, or agreement that is no longer enforced or effective
C. to challenge someone to prove a claim or threat
D. to succeed or fail entirely by one's own efforts
Correct Answer: B
“Dead letter” means a law, rule, or agreement that is no longer enforced or effective. Example: Without implementation, the regulation became a dead letter. 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 “Days are numbered”?
A. through spoken communication rather than writing
B. to go directly and quickly toward something
C. likely to end, fail, or die soon
D. to finish or deal with something quickly
Correct Answer: C
“Days are numbered” means likely to end, fail, or die soon. Example: After repeated losses, the company's days were numbered. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “A sensible family cuts its coat according to its cloth.”, what is the meaning of “Cut one's coat according to one's cloth”?
A. to achieve a series of easy victories or successes
B. for the same reason or in a similar way
C. to achieve a great success or gain unexpectedly
D. to live or act within one's available means
Correct Answer: D
“Cut one's coat according to one's cloth” means to live or act within one's available means. Example: A sensible family cuts its coat according to its cloth. 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 “Crocodile tears”?
A. false or insincere expressions of sorrow
B. very near and ready to help
C. to lose approval, status, or reputation
D. in a state of extreme hostility
Correct Answer: A
“Crocodile tears” means false or insincere expressions of sorrow. Example: The corrupt official's apology was dismissed as crocodile tears. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to begin fighting physically”?
A. Save the day
B. Come to blows
C. Call someone's bluff
D. Set one's face against
Correct Answer: B
“Come to blows” means to begin fighting physically. Example: The argument became so heated that the men nearly came to 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 “Cat-and-dog life”?
A. a group weakened by internal conflict
B. to maintain interest, activity, or discussion
C. a life full of frequent quarrels
D. human nature or one's close relatives
Correct Answer: C
“Cat-and-dog life” means a life full of frequent quarrels. Example: The couple lived a cat-and-dog life for years. 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 “Cast in the same mould”?
A. false or insincere expressions of sorrow
B. in a state of extreme hostility
C. to give someone the necessary information
D. very similar in character or type
Correct Answer: D
“Cast in the same mould” means very similar in character or type. Example: The two administrators seem cast in the same mould. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “It is unfair to cast aspersions on a person without evidence.”, what is the meaning of “Cast aspersions on”?
A. to make damaging or insulting remarks about someone's character
B. from a bad situation into an even worse one
C. to argue about very small or unimportant differences
D. a badly organized or poorly done piece of work
Correct Answer: A
“Cast aspersions on” means to make damaging or insulting remarks about someone's character. Example: It is unfair to cast aspersions on a person without evidence. 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 “Call into question”?
A. likely to happen soon
B. to express doubt about something
C. currently fashionable or popular
D. of no value or importance
Correct Answer: B
“Call into question” means to express doubt about something. Example: The new evidence called his statement into question. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “for the same reason or in a similar way”?
A. Be in two minds
B. Pull a long face
C. By the same token
D. Put one's house in order
Correct Answer: C
“By the same token” means for the same reason or in a similar way. Example: If effort deserves praise, negligence by the same token deserves criticism. 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 “By fits and starts”?
A. in a difficult or troublesome situation
B. a life full of frequent quarrels
C. to organize one's own affairs properly
D. irregularly, with frequent stops and starts
Correct Answer: D
“By fits and starts” means irregularly, with frequent stops and starts. Example: The project progressed by fits and starts. 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 “By dint of”?
A. by means of persistent effort
B. to maintain interest, activity, or discussion
C. an obstacle that prevents progress
D. free from danger or difficulty
Correct Answer: A
“By dint of” means by means of persistent effort. Example: She passed the examination by dint of hard work. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “By resigning before securing another job, he burned his boats.”, what is the meaning of “Burn one's boats”?
A. from a bad situation into an even worse one
B. to make it impossible to return to a former position or decision
C. to make damaging or insulting remarks about someone's character
D. to react in an extremely angry or emotional way
Correct Answer: B
“Burn one's boats” means to make it impossible to return to a former position or decision. Example: By resigning before securing another job, he burned his boats. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.