CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Back against the wall”?
A. slightly unwell, annoyed, or not feeling one's usual self
B. to use influence or connections to achieve something
C. in a difficult situation with very few options
D. to discuss the most important practical details
Correct Answer: C
“Back against the wall” means in a difficult situation with very few options. Example: With his back against the wall, he accepted the offer.
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Idioms
In the sentence “Thousands of jobs are at stake.”, what does the idiom “At stake” mean?
A. in a difficult situation with very few options
B. to create a complicated set of new problems
C. to harm one's own interests through one's actions
D. at risk or in danger of being lost
Correct Answer: D
“At stake” means at risk or in danger of being lost. Example: Thousands of jobs are at stake.
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Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “At one's wit's end”?
A. so worried or frustrated that one does not know what to do
B. a person whose abilities or chances are little known but may surprise others
C. slightly unwell, annoyed, or not feeling one's usual self
D. in a situation too difficult for one's knowledge or ability
Correct Answer: A
“At one's wit's end” means so worried or frustrated that one does not know what to do. Example: The repeated delays left him at his wit's end.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom means “readily available or easily accessible”?
A. Fill the bill
B. At one's fingertips
C. Pass the buck
D. Have one's heart in one's mouth
Correct Answer: B
“At one's fingertips” means readily available or easily accessible. Example: With the database, all the information is at her fingertips.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “The two departments are at loggerheads over the budget.”, what does the idiom “At loggerheads” mean?
A. to help someone
B. to make a humorous remark
C. in strong disagreement
D. with all one's belongings
Correct Answer: C
“At loggerheads” means in strong disagreement. Example: The two departments are at loggerheads over the budget.
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Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “At a loss”?
A. hostility or ill feeling between people or groups
B. to survive with only the basic necessities
C. to get into trouble or a difficult situation
D. unable to know what to do or say
Correct Answer: D
“At a loss” means unable to know what to do or say. Example: I was at a loss for words after hearing the news.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “As cool as a cucumber”?
A. very calm and composed
B. warmly and enthusiastically
C. a very long time
D. to bribe someone
Correct Answer: A
“As cool as a cucumber” means very calm and composed. Example: She remained as cool as a cucumber during the interview.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “Their planned merger was an open secret.”, what does the idiom “An open secret” mean?
A. people with similar interests or characteristics
B. something officially secret but widely known
C. an excellent chance to achieve something
D. to be logical, reasonable, or valid
Correct Answer: B
“An open secret” means something officially secret but widely known. Example: Their planned merger was an open secret.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “All in the same breath”?
A. to discuss private family or organizational problems openly in public
B. a weak or unstable plan or organization likely to collapse
C. at the same time or in immediate succession, often inconsistently
D. in a situation one enjoys and is naturally good at
Correct Answer: C
“All in the same breath” means at the same time or in immediate succession, often inconsistently. Example: He praised the plan and criticized it all in the same breath.
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Idioms
Which idiom means “to make a bad situation worse by adding humiliation or further harm”?
A. Be up in arms
B. As cool as a cucumber
C. Dead as a doornail
D. Add insult to injury
Correct Answer: D
“Add insult to injury” means to make a bad situation worse by adding humiliation or further harm. Example: Charging him a fee after cancelling the service added insult to injury.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Above board”?
A. honest, open, and legitimate
B. wealthy or financially comfortable
C. to deteriorate badly
D. to annoy or irritate someone
Correct Answer: A
“Above board” means honest, open, and legitimate. Example: All of the company's dealings were above board.
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Idioms
In the sentence “From the tense meeting, it was clear that a storm was brewing.”, what does the idiom “A storm is brewing” mean?
A. to fail to remember or find an answer
B. trouble or conflict appears likely to happen soon
C. to speak foolishly or without knowing the facts
D. hostility or ill feeling between people or groups
Correct Answer: B
“A storm is brewing” means trouble or conflict appears likely to happen soon. Example: From the tense meeting, it was clear that a storm was brewing.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “A needle in a haystack”?
A. wealthy or financially comfortable
B. to become independent and self-reliant
C. something extremely difficult to find
D. to make every possible effort
Correct Answer: C
“A needle in a haystack” means something extremely difficult to find. Example: Finding that old receipt was like looking for a needle in a haystack.
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Idioms
Which idiom means “a person with little substance, strength, or influence”?
A. A flash in the pan
B. Keep one's cards close to one's chest
C. Blow hot and cold
D. A man of straw
Correct Answer: D
“A man of straw” means a person with little substance, strength, or influence. Example: The supposed leader was merely a man of straw.
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Idioms
In the sentence “Without proper funding, the project was a house of cards.”, what does the idiom “A house of cards” mean?
A. a weak or unstable plan or organization likely to collapse
B. to make someone eager to spend money they have
C. to take something to a place where it is already plentiful
D. to offer something valuable to someone unable to appreciate it
Correct Answer: A
“A house of cards” means a weak or unstable plan or organization likely to collapse. Example: Without proper funding, the project was a house of cards.
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Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “A hard nut to crack”?
A. criticizing someone for a fault that one also has
B. a difficult person or problem to understand or solve
C. trouble or conflict appears likely to happen soon
D. to admit that what one said was wrong
Correct Answer: B
“A hard nut to crack” means a difficult person or problem to understand or solve. Example: This puzzle is a hard nut to crack.
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Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “A flash in the pan”?
A. to obey rules or conform to expected standards
B. to fail to remember or find an answer
C. something that is briefly successful but does not last
D. working very closely together, often secretly or dishonestly
Correct Answer: C
“A flash in the pan” means something that is briefly successful but does not last. Example: The singer's first hit was a flash in the pan.
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Idioms
In the sentence “His explanation for the missing money sounded like a fishy story.”, what does the idiom “A fishy story” mean?
A. good enough or meeting the required standard
B. to fail to have the intended effect
C. to make a poor or embarrassing impression
D. a story that sounds suspicious or unbelievable
Correct Answer: D
“A fishy story” means a story that sounds suspicious or unbelievable. Example: His explanation for the missing money sounded like a fishy story.
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Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “A dark horse”?
A. a person whose abilities or chances are little known but may surprise others
B. to rely on past achievements instead of continuing to work
C. to get into trouble with a person, rule, or authority
D. a tendency to feel resentful because of a perceived disadvantage or grievance
Correct Answer: A
“A dark horse” means a person whose abilities or chances are little known but may surprise others. Example: The quiet candidate proved to be a dark horse in the election.
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Idioms
Which idiom means “a narrow escape from danger or trouble”?
A. Well off
B. A close shave
C. Blow hot and cold
D. Spick and span
Correct Answer: B
“A close shave” means a narrow escape from danger or trouble. Example: Missing the falling branch by seconds was a close shave.