CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Green with envy”?
A. to have influence or importance
B. in strong disagreement
C. extremely jealous
D. honest, open, and legitimate
Correct Answer: C
“Green with envy” means extremely jealous. Example: He was green with envy when his colleague was promoted.
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Idioms
In the sentence “He tried to grease the official's palm.”, what does the idiom “Grease someone's palm” mean?
A. very cheerful and lively
B. to deteriorate badly
C. to argue or disagree strongly
D. to bribe someone
Correct Answer: D
“Grease someone's palm” means to bribe someone. Example: He tried to grease the official's palm.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Golden opportunity”?
A. an excellent chance to achieve something
B. over a long period of time; eventually
C. to pay an excessively high price
D. something officially secret but widely known
Correct Answer: A
“Golden opportunity” means an excellent chance to achieve something. Example: The scholarship is a golden opportunity for her.
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Idioms
Which idiom means “to deteriorate badly”?
A. An open secret
B. Go to the dogs
C. Talk through one's hat
D. In low spirits
Correct Answer: B
“Go to the dogs” means to deteriorate badly. Example: The neglected neighborhood has gone to the dogs.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “The weather went from bad to worse.”, what does the idiom “Go from bad to worse” mean?
A. to be extremely busy
B. think carefully before taking action
C. to become increasingly worse
D. honest, open, and legitimate
Correct Answer: C
“Go from bad to worse” means to become increasingly worse. Example: The weather went from bad to worse.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Go against the grain”?
A. to tell someone angrily what one thinks of their behavior
B. a person unsuited to a particular role or environment
C. at the same time or in immediate succession, often inconsistently
D. to be contrary to one's natural inclination or accepted practice
Correct Answer: D
“Go against the grain” means to be contrary to one's natural inclination or accepted practice. Example: Lying goes against the grain for her.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Give someone a hand”?
A. to help someone
B. think carefully before taking action
C. very calm and composed
D. unharmed and secure
Correct Answer: A
“Give someone a hand” means to help someone. Example: Can you give me a hand with these boxes?
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “A good partnership requires give and take.”, what does the idiom “Give and take” mean?
A. to bribe someone
B. mutual compromise or exchange
C. to annoy or irritate someone
D. unharmed and secure
Correct Answer: B
“Give and take” means mutual compromise or exchange. Example: A good partnership requires give and take.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Get the hang of”?
A. to work hard and make a determined effort
B. to survive a difficult period or crisis
C. to learn how to do or use something
D. to punish or hold someone accountable for wrongdoing
Correct Answer: C
“Get the hang of” means to learn how to do or use something. Example: It took a week to get the hang of the new software.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom means “to get into trouble or a difficult situation”?
A. Have one's heart in one's mouth
B. A close shave
C. A square peg in a round hole
D. Get into a scrape
Correct Answer: D
“Get into a scrape” means to get into trouble or a difficult situation. Example: He got into a scrape after ignoring the regulations.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Get down to brass tacks”?
A. to discuss the most important practical details
B. forced to choose between two difficult alternatives
C. to abandon someone in a difficult situation
D. to stop working properly or become chaotic
Correct Answer: A
“Get down to brass tacks” means to discuss the most important practical details. Example: After introductions, we got down to brass tacks.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “The applicant was sent from pillar to post.”, what does the idiom “From pillar to post” mean?
A. to exhaust oneself by staying busy late at night and early in the morning
B. from one place or person to another without getting help or results
C. to maintain the progress of an activity or conversation
D. a tendency to feel resentful because of a perceived disadvantage or grievance
Correct Answer: B
“From pillar to post” means from one place or person to another without getting help or results. Example: The applicant was sent from pillar to post.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “For the time being”?
A. very calm and composed
B. to bribe someone
C. for now; temporarily
D. overcome with strong emotion
Correct Answer: C
“For the time being” means for now; temporarily. Example: For the time being, we will use the old system.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom means “permanently”?
A. Toe the line
B. A dark horse
C. Cast pearls before swine
D. For good
Correct Answer: D
“For good” means permanently. Example: She has left the city for good.
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Idioms
In the sentence “He flew off the handle over a minor mistake.”, what does the idiom “Fly off the handle” mean?
A. to suddenly become very angry
B. completely dead or no longer active
C. mutual compromise or exchange
D. to know something extremely well
Correct Answer: A
“Fly off the handle” means to suddenly become very angry. Example: He flew off the handle over a minor mistake.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Fill the bill”?
A. to be very angry and strongly protesting
B. to be suitable for a particular purpose
C. to abandon someone in a difficult situation
D. to reveal one's real character or intentions
Correct Answer: B
“Fill the bill” means to be suitable for a particular purpose. Example: This smaller laptop fills the bill for travel.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Fight tooth and nail”?
A. very close or equal in a competition
B. to refuse to listen or pay attention
C. to fight or compete with great determination
D. to enrich oneself, especially dishonestly or selfishly
Correct Answer: C
“Fight tooth and nail” means to fight or compete with great determination. Example: They fought tooth and nail to protect their rights.
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Idioms
In the sentence “The official was accused of using public money to feather his nest.”, what does the idiom “Feather one's nest” mean?
A. very close or equal in a competition
B. to fight or compete with great determination
C. to survive a difficult period or crisis
D. to enrich oneself, especially dishonestly or selfishly
Correct Answer: D
“Feather one's nest” means to enrich oneself, especially dishonestly or selfishly. Example: The official was accused of using public money to feather his nest.
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Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Fall flat”?
A. to fail to have the intended effect
B. good enough or meeting the required standard
C. to discourage an idea or reduce enthusiasm
D. to learn through difficult or unpleasant experience
Correct Answer: A
“Fall flat” means to fail to have the intended effect. Example: His joke fell flat and nobody laughed.
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Idioms
Which idiom means “honestly and according to the rules”?
A. Touch and go
B. Fair and square
C. Pass the buck
D. Save for a rainy day
Correct Answer: B
“Fair and square” means honestly and according to the rules. Example: She won the competition fair and square.