CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Bring to a head”?
A. a law, rule, or agreement that is no longer enforced or effective
B. to have a complaint or issue to discuss with someone
C. to cause a situation to reach a decisive or critical point
D. a situation in which success may fail at the last moment
Correct Answer: C
“Bring to a head” means to cause a situation to reach a decisive or critical point. Example: The latest dispute brought the matter to a head. 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 to keep a promise”?
A. Black and blue
B. Go by the board
C. A red herring
D. Break one's word
Correct Answer: D
“Break one's word” means to fail to keep a promise. Example: A trustworthy person does not break his word. 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 “Black and blue”?
A. badly bruised
B. to begin fighting physically
C. under no circumstances
D. short of money
Correct Answer: A
“Black and blue” means badly bruised. Example: He was black and blue after the accident. 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 “Bird's-eye view”?
A. to behave as if one is more important than others
B. a general view from above or a broad overall view
C. an unpleasant fact or situation that must be accepted
D. to treat others without regard for their rights or feelings
Correct Answer: B
“Bird's-eye view” means a general view from above or a broad overall view. Example: The summary gives a bird's-eye view of the entire syllabus. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “The victim was beaten black and blue by the attackers.”, what is the meaning of “Beat black and blue”?
A. excessive official rules and bureaucracy
B. to have good intentions
C. to beat someone severely
D. completely confused or uncertain
Correct Answer: C
“Beat black and blue” means to beat someone severely. Example: The victim was beaten black and blue by the attackers. 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 “Bear in mind”?
A. an embarrassing or shameful secret
B. to exclude or ignore someone
C. an urgent and important issue
D. to remember and consider something
Correct Answer: D
“Bear in mind” means to remember and consider something. Example: Bear in mind that the deadline is final. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “a dishonest or unreliable person”?
A. Bad egg
B. Crocodile tears
C. Have clean hands
D. Put two and two together
Correct Answer: A
“Bad egg” means a dishonest or unreliable person. Example: The manager soon realized that the new agent was a bad egg. 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 “At the top of one's lungs”?
A. to find faults in something
B. as loudly as possible
C. secretly or confidentially
D. completely controlled by someone
Correct Answer: B
“At the top of one's lungs” means as loudly as possible. Example: The child shouted at the top of his lungs. 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 “At the end of one's tether”?
A. to spoil a plan or stable situation
B. to punish someone without legal authority
C. having no patience, strength, or resources left
D. to be unable to decide between alternatives
Correct Answer: C
“At the end of one's tether” means having no patience, strength, or resources left. Example: After repeated delays, the applicants were at the end of their tether. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “He expected his staff to be at his beck and call.”, what is the meaning of “At the beck and call”?
A. to have too little of something
B. honest and just treatment or conduct
C. human nature or one's close relatives
D. always ready to obey someone's orders
Correct Answer: D
“At the beck and call” means always ready to obey someone's orders. Example: He expected his staff to be at his beck and call. 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 “At cross purposes”?
A. misunderstanding each other because of different aims or meanings
B. to cooperate in thinking about or solving a problem
C. to maintain one's position or perform well against others
D. a person unwilling to spend or give money
Correct Answer: A
“At cross purposes” means misunderstanding each other because of different aims or meanings. Example: The two committees were talking at cross purposes. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “very slowly”?
A. With a high hand
B. At a snail's pace
C. Flesh and blood
D. Out of the woods
Correct Answer: B
“At a snail's pace” means very slowly. Example: The files were moving at a snail's pace through the office. 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 “An apple of discord”?
A. the advantages and disadvantages of something
B. to bring something to an end
C. a cause of dispute or quarrel
D. to follow someone's example or guidance
Correct Answer: C
“An apple of discord” means a cause of dispute or quarrel. Example: The inheritance became an apple of discord among the brothers. 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 “All at sea”?
A. an urgent and important issue
B. to become very angry
C. in exactly the same words
D. completely confused or uncertain
Correct Answer: D
“All at sea” means completely confused or uncertain. Example: Without clear instructions, the new clerk was all at sea. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “The notice was open to all and sundry.”, what is the meaning of “All and sundry”?
A. everyone without distinction
B. to deceive someone
C. an embarrassing or shameful secret
D. to begin fighting physically
Correct Answer: A
“All and sundry” means everyone without distinction. Example: The notice was open to all and sundry. 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 “Acid test”?
A. a general view from above or a broad overall view
B. a decisive test that proves the true quality or value of something
C. to make it impossible to return to a former position or decision
D. something that attracts attention only for a short time
Correct Answer: B
“Acid test” means a decisive test that proves the true quality or value of something. Example: The final interview will be the acid test of his preparation. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “a weak point in an otherwise strong person or system”?
A. A red herring
B. On the face of it
C. Achilles' heel
D. At the top of one's lungs
Correct Answer: C
“Achilles' heel” means a weak point in an otherwise strong person or system. Example: Poor time management was the candidate's Achilles' heel. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “You discover true friends when the chips are down.”, what does the idiom “When the chips are down” mean?
A. to ignore an unpleasant fact or problem
B. to survive with only the basic necessities
C. to reduce someone's confidence, enthusiasm, or advantage
D. when a situation becomes difficult or critical
Correct Answer: D
“When the chips are down” means when a situation becomes difficult or critical. Example: You discover true friends when the chips are down.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Wear many hats”?
A. to perform many different roles or responsibilities
B. to reveal one's real character or intentions
C. to keep changing one's attitude or opinion
D. to learn through difficult or unpleasant experience
Correct Answer: A
“Wear many hats” means to perform many different roles or responsibilities. Example: In a small business, the owner often wears many hats.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom means “kept secretly in reserve for possible use”?
A. Cross swords
B. Up one's sleeve
C. Put one's shoulder to the wheel
D. Fight tooth and nail
Correct Answer: B
“Up one's sleeve” means kept secretly in reserve for possible use. Example: The lawyer had one more argument up her sleeve.