CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “With flying colors”?
A. good luck
B. very successfully
C. to go to bed
D. in private or secretly
Correct Answer: B
“With flying colors” means very successfully. Example: She passed the examination with flying colors.
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Idioms
In the sentence “The team turned the tables in the second half.”, what does the idiom “Turn the tables” mean?
A. to reverse a situation in one's favor
B. to have the same understanding or agreement
C. to do things in the wrong order
D. a subject that causes disagreement or argument
Correct Answer: A
“Turn the tables” means to reverse a situation in one's favor. Example: The team turned the tables in the second half.
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Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Take French leave”?
A. the final problem that makes a situation unbearable
B. a request to know what someone is thinking
C. a person's basic nature is unlikely to change
D. to leave without permission or without saying goodbye
Correct Answer: D
“Take French leave” means to leave without permission or without saying goodbye. Example: The worker took French leave before the shift ended.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom means “to behave cowardly or show fear”?
A. Smell a rat
B. On tenterhooks
C. Show the white feather
D. Rain cats and dogs
Correct Answer: C
“Show the white feather” means to behave cowardly or show fear. Example: The soldier refused to show the white feather.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Set the Thames on fire”?
A. during both good and bad times
B. to do something extraordinary or remarkable
C. to joke with or tease someone
D. everything possible or the full extent
Correct Answer: B
“Set the Thames on fire” means to do something extraordinary or remarkable. Example: He is competent but unlikely to set the Thames on fire.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “It was raining cats and dogs all evening.”, what does the idiom “Rain cats and dogs” mean?
A. to rain very heavily
B. in trouble or facing criticism
C. to show your emotions openly
D. very different from
Correct Answer: A
“Rain cats and dogs” means to rain very heavily. Example: It was raining cats and dogs all evening.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Put a spoke in someone's wheel”?
A. everything possible or the full extent
B. to release strong emotions or stress
C. to do something extraordinary or remarkable
D. to obstruct or prevent someone's plan
Correct Answer: D
“Put a spoke in someone's wheel” means to obstruct or prevent someone's plan. Example: Unexpected regulations put a spoke in their wheel.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Play second fiddle”?
A. to become nervous and back out of something
B. alert, competent, and quick to understand or act
C. to have a less important or subordinate role
D. said when the person being discussed unexpectedly appears
Correct Answer: C
“Play second fiddle” means to have a less important or subordinate role. Example: He disliked playing second fiddle to a younger colleague.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “The old machine is on its last legs.”, what does the idiom “On one's last legs” mean?
A. to have the same understanding or agreement
B. very weak, worn out, or near failure
C. to face a difficult or unpleasant situation bravely
D. to end a quarrel and make peace
Correct Answer: B
“On one's last legs” means very weak, worn out, or near failure. Example: The old machine is on its last legs.
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Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Nip in the bud”?
A. to stop a problem at an early stage before it grows
B. to experience the same unpleasant treatment one has given others
C. to postpone an invitation or plan until another time
D. to waste time on trivial matters during a serious crisis
Correct Answer: A
“Nip in the bud” means to stop a problem at an early stage before it grows. Example: The manager nipped the conflict in the bud.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom means “to manage expenses with the available income”?
A. On tenterhooks
B. Turn over a new leaf
C. A penny for your thoughts
D. Make both ends meet
Correct Answer: D
“Make both ends meet” means to manage expenses with the available income. Example: They struggle to make both ends meet.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Lion's share”?
A. caught while committing a wrongdoing
B. at the last possible moment
C. the largest part of something
D. to spoil someone's enjoyment or enthusiasm
Correct Answer: C
“Lion's share” means the largest part of something. Example: The senior partner received the lion's share of the profit.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “He keeps dishonest people at arm's length.”, what does the idiom “Keep at arm's length” mean?
A. to avoid saying what one really means
B. to avoid becoming too close or friendly
C. to understand a hidden or implied meaning
D. during both good and bad times
Correct Answer: B
“Keep at arm's length” means to avoid becoming too close or friendly. Example: He keeps dishonest people at arm's length.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Hold one's horses”?
A. to wait and be patient
B. to watch or monitor carefully
C. uncertain or not yet decided
D. in a very short time
Correct Answer: A
“Hold one's horses” means to wait and be patient. Example: Hold your horses; the announcement is coming soon.
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Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Go through fire and water”?
A. to begin behaving in a better or more responsible way
B. pursuing the wrong course or blaming the wrong person
C. to waste time on trivial matters during a serious crisis
D. to face any hardship or danger for someone or something
Correct Answer: D
“Go through fire and water” means to face any hardship or danger for someone or something. Example: She would go through fire and water for her family.
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Idioms
In the sentence “Arguing over decorations during the emergency was like fiddling while Rome burned.”, what does the idiom “Fiddle while Rome burns” mean?
A. a costly possession or project that is useless or burdensome
B. to calm down and regain control of your emotions
C. to waste time on trivial matters during a serious crisis
D. the advantages of two different situations at the same time
Correct Answer: C
“Fiddle while Rome burns” means to waste time on trivial matters during a serious crisis. Example: Arguing over decorations during the emergency was like fiddling while Rome burned.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Fair-weather friend”?
A. to have a selfish reason or hidden personal interest in an issue
B. a friend who is loyal only when things are going well
C. to waste time on trivial matters during a serious crisis
D. living with only enough money or food for immediate needs
Correct Answer: B
“Fair-weather friend” means a friend who is loyal only when things are going well. Example: He disappeared when I needed help, proving to be a fair-weather friend.
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Idioms
Which idiom means “to raise a false alarm repeatedly”?
A. Cry wolf
B. Add fuel to the fire
C. Put the cart before the horse
D. Take with a grain of salt
Correct Answer: A
“Cry wolf” means to raise a false alarm repeatedly. Example: If you keep crying wolf, nobody will believe you when danger is real.
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Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Carry the day”?
A. pursuing the wrong course or blaming the wrong person
B. to earn enough to avoid hunger or serious financial hardship
C. to deal with a problem only when it actually arises
D. to win or succeed in a contest, argument, or decision
Correct Answer: D
“Carry the day” means to win or succeed in a contest, argument, or decision. Example: The reform proposal carried the day.
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Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “By leaps and bounds”?
A. practical, realistic, and unpretentious
B. to sound familiar
C. very rapidly
D. in trouble or facing criticism
Correct Answer: C
“By leaps and bounds” means very rapidly. Example: Her English improved by leaps and bounds.