CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “To one's heart's content”?
A. in a difficult situation without help
B. to annoy or irritate someone
C. as much as one wants
D. to become independent and self-reliant
Correct Answer: C
“To one's heart's content” means as much as one wants. Example: The children played to their heart's content.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “His negative comments threw cold water on the plan.”, what does the idiom “Throw cold water on” mean?
A. to discuss the most important practical details
B. a person who spoils other people's enjoyment
C. a story that sounds suspicious or unbelievable
D. to discourage an idea or reduce enthusiasm
Correct Answer: D
“Throw cold water on” means to discourage an idea or reduce enthusiasm. Example: His negative comments threw cold water on the plan.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “The writing on the wall”?
A. a clear sign that something bad or unsuccessful is likely to happen
B. to maintain the progress of an activity or conversation
C. to use one's power or influence in an unpleasantly forceful way
D. to reject or dislike something because one thinks it is not good enough
Correct Answer: A
“The writing on the wall” means a clear sign that something bad or unsuccessful is likely to happen. Example: Falling sales were the writing on the wall for the company.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom means “to speak foolishly or without knowing the facts”?
A. Worth one's salt
B. Talk through one's hat
C. Fall foul of
D. Off and on
Correct Answer: B
“Talk through one's hat” means to speak foolishly or without knowing the facts. Example: He is talking through his hat about the new law.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “The dishonest dealer took him to the cleaners.”, what does the idiom “Take someone to the cleaners” mean?
A. kept secretly in reserve for possible use
B. when a situation becomes difficult or critical
C. to defeat or financially exploit someone badly
D. to reveal one's real character or intentions
Correct Answer: C
“Take someone to the cleaners” means to defeat or financially exploit someone badly. Example: The dishonest dealer took him to the cleaners.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Take heart”?
A. in serious trouble or difficulty
B. to take a dangerous risk
C. to confess fully and openly
D. to become encouraged or hopeful
Correct Answer: D
“Take heart” means to become encouraged or hopeful. Example: Take heart; your performance is improving.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Take a back seat”?
A. to become less active or less important
B. to fight or compete with great determination
C. to state one's intentions or facts openly
D. to perform many different roles or responsibilities
Correct Answer: A
“Take a back seat” means to become less active or less important. Example: He took a back seat after the new director arrived.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “Despite criticism, she stuck to her guns.”, what does the idiom “Stick to one's guns” mean?
A. working very closely together, often secretly or dishonestly
B. to refuse to change one's position or opinion
C. caught between two equally difficult or unpleasant choices
D. hostility or ill feeling between people or groups
Correct Answer: B
“Stick to one's guns” means to refuse to change one's position or opinion. Example: Despite criticism, she stuck to her guns.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Stand on one's own feet”?
A. to act unfairly or cruelly
B. wealthy or financially comfortable
C. to become independent and self-reliant
D. to announce shocking or surprising news
Correct Answer: C
“Stand on one's own feet” means to become independent and self-reliant. Example: He wants to stand on his own feet after graduation.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom means “very clean and tidy”?
A. Cast pearls before swine
B. Meet halfway
C. At one's fingertips
D. Spick and span
Correct Answer: D
“Spick and span” means very clean and tidy. Example: The office was spick and span before the inspection.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Small hours”?
A. the very early hours after midnight
B. in a difficult or awkward situation
C. to lose energy, enthusiasm, or momentum
D. to admit one's error and apologize
Correct Answer: A
“Small hours” means the very early hours after midnight. Example: They worked into the small hours.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “He showed his true colors when the pressure increased.”, what does the idiom “Show one's true colors” mean?
A. to be very angry and strongly protesting
B. to reveal one's real character or intentions
C. when a situation becomes difficult or critical
D. to fail to have the intended effect
Correct Answer: B
“Show one's true colors” means to reveal one's real character or intentions. Example: He showed his true colors when the pressure increased.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Set one's heart on”?
A. in serious trouble or difficulty
B. to make every possible effort
C. to want something very much
D. poorly dressed or lacking money
Correct Answer: C
“Set one's heart on” means to want something very much. Example: She has set her heart on studying medicine.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom means “to understand or accept something after a period of confusion”?
A. Donkey's years
B. Come to grips with
C. Change hands
D. See the light
Correct Answer: D
“See the light” means to understand or accept something after a period of confusion. Example: He finally saw the light and changed his approach.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “The hikers returned safe and sound.”, what does the idiom “Safe and sound” mean?
A. unharmed and secure
B. occasionally or intermittently
C. sad or discouraged
D. with all one's belongings
Correct Answer: A
“Safe and sound” means unharmed and secure. Example: The hikers returned safe and sound.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Run out of steam”?
A. in a difficult or awkward situation
B. to lose energy, enthusiasm, or momentum
C. to shift responsibility to someone else
D. to be logical, reasonable, or valid
Correct Answer: B
“Run out of steam” means to lose energy, enthusiasm, or momentum. Example: The campaign ran out of steam after a strong start.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Rub salt into the wound”?
A. to pass from one owner to another
B. to abandon someone in a difficult situation
C. to make someone's pain or embarrassment worse
D. to identify the exact cause or problem
Correct Answer: C
“Rub salt into the wound” means to make someone's pain or embarrassment worse. Example: Reminding him of the defeat rubbed salt into the wound.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “After winning the award, she refused to rest on her laurels.”, what does the idiom “Rest on one's laurels” mean?
A. in a situation one enjoys and is naturally good at
B. a person with a lot of experience in a particular activity
C. something that is briefly successful but does not last
D. to rely on past achievements instead of continuing to work
Correct Answer: D
“Rest on one's laurels” means to rely on past achievements instead of continuing to work. Example: After winning the award, she refused to rest on her laurels.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Read the riot act”?
A. to give a severe warning or reprimand
B. forced to choose between two difficult alternatives
C. to reveal one's real character or intentions
D. to become less active or less important
Correct Answer: A
“Read the riot act” means to give a severe warning or reprimand. Example: The coach read the riot act to the team after their poor performance.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom means “to work hard and make a determined effort”?
A. In deep water
B. Put one's shoulder to the wheel
C. Donkey's years
D. Cross swords
Correct Answer: B
“Put one's shoulder to the wheel” means to work hard and make a determined effort. Example: If everyone puts a shoulder to the wheel, we can finish today.