CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Burn one's fingers”?
A. alert, competent, and quick to understand or act
B. to suffer because of involvement in something risky
C. to face a difficult or unpleasant situation bravely
D. to achieve two objectives with one action
Correct Answer: B
“Burn one's fingers” means to suffer because of involvement in something risky. Example: He burned his fingers in a speculative business deal.
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Idioms
In the sentence “Teaching is her bread and butter.”, what does the idiom “Bread and butter” mean?
A. one's main source of income or livelihood
B. to understand a hidden or implied meaning
C. to have the same understanding or agreement
D. to reverse a situation in one's favor
Correct Answer: A
“Bread and butter” means one's main source of income or livelihood. Example: Teaching is her bread and butter.
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Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Bone of contention”?
A. to make more effort than is expected
B. to achieve two objectives with one action
C. to understand a hidden or implied meaning
D. a subject that causes disagreement or argument
Correct Answer: D
“Bone of contention” means a subject that causes disagreement or argument. Example: The boundary issue remains a bone of contention.
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Idioms
Which idiom means “a person who is greatly loved or cherished”?
A. In the same boat
B. Speak of the devil
C. Apple of one's eye
D. The ball is in your court
Correct Answer: C
“Apple of one's eye” means a person who is greatly loved or cherished. Example: His youngest daughter is the apple of his eye.
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Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “A white elephant”?
A. to experience the same unpleasant treatment one has given others
B. a costly possession or project that is useless or burdensome
C. pursuing the wrong course or blaming the wrong person
D. to postpone an invitation or plan until another time
Correct Answer: B
“A white elephant” means a costly possession or project that is useless or burdensome. Example: The unused stadium became a white elephant.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “He wears his heart on his sleeve, so everyone knows when he is upset.”, what does the idiom “Wear your heart on your sleeve” mean?
A. to show your emotions openly
B. an unbelievable or absurd story
C. do something slowly and carefully
D. in trouble or facing criticism
Correct Answer: A
“Wear your heart on your sleeve” means to show your emotions openly. Example: He wears his heart on his sleeve, so everyone knows when he is upset.
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Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Wash one's hands of”?
A. the final problem that makes a situation unbearable
B. to set a limit on what is acceptable
C. in a hurry to finish before a deadline
D. to refuse further responsibility for someone or something
Correct Answer: D
“Wash one's hands of” means to refuse further responsibility for someone or something. Example: After repeated warnings, she washed her hands of the matter.
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Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Turn over a new leaf”?
A. a lot of anger or excitement about a trivial matter
B. a costly possession or project that is useless or burdensome
C. to begin behaving in a better or more responsible way
D. I do not know any more than you do
Correct Answer: C
“Turn over a new leaf” means to begin behaving in a better or more responsible way. Example: He decided to turn over a new leaf and study seriously.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “His repeated absence was the last straw.”, what does the idiom “The last straw” mean?
A. to leave without permission or without saying goodbye
B. the final problem that makes a situation unbearable
C. to refuse further responsibility for someone or something
D. to understand how a job or system works
Correct Answer: B
“The last straw” means the final problem that makes a situation unbearable. Example: His repeated absence was the last straw.
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Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Take to task”?
A. to criticize or scold someone for a fault
B. to calm down and regain control of your emotions
C. someone dependent on others cannot be overly selective
D. said when the person being discussed unexpectedly appears
Correct Answer: A
“Take to task” means to criticize or scold someone for a fault. Example: The officer took the clerk to task for negligence.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom means “to suspect that something is wrong or dishonest”?
A. All ears
B. Hit the nail on the head
C. Sit on the fence
D. Smell a rat
Correct Answer: D
“Smell a rat” means to suspect that something is wrong or dishonest. Example: I smell a rat; the figures do not match.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Red-letter day”?
A. to have no influence or effect
B. in a risky or dangerous situation
C. a very important or memorable day
D. to admit defeat or give up
Correct Answer: C
“Red-letter day” means a very important or memorable day. Example: Graduation day was a red-letter day in her life.
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Idioms
In the sentence “Buying furniture before renting a house is putting the cart before the horse.”, what does the idiom “Put the cart before the horse” mean?
A. to join a popular trend or activity
B. to do things in the wrong order
C. to avoid becoming too close or friendly
D. to avoid saying what one really means
Correct Answer: B
“Put the cart before the horse” means to do things in the wrong order. Example: Buying furniture before renting a house is putting the cart before the horse.
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Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “On tenterhooks”?
A. in a state of nervous suspense
B. to raise a false alarm repeatedly
C. to earn money for a household
D. to have no influence or effect
Correct Answer: A
“On tenterhooks” means in a state of nervous suspense. Example: We were on tenterhooks waiting for the result.
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Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Not my cup of tea”?
A. to take attention or credit away from someone
B. to set a limit on what is acceptable
C. alert, competent, and quick to understand or act
D. not something one likes or is interested in
Correct Answer: D
“Not my cup of tea” means not something one likes or is interested in. Example: Horror movies are not my cup of tea.
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Idioms
In the sentence “It was a minor error; do not make a mountain out of a molehill.”, what does the idiom “Make a mountain out of a molehill” mean?
A. to remain persistent despite difficulty
B. to make every possible effort
C. to exaggerate a small problem
D. very common and not special
Correct Answer: C
“Make a mountain out of a molehill” means to exaggerate a small problem. Example: It was a minor error; do not make a mountain out of a molehill.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Keep the wolf from the door”?
A. what people do matters more than what they say
B. to earn enough to avoid hunger or serious financial hardship
C. to risk everything on a single plan or opportunity
D. to return to the starting point after a failed attempt
Correct Answer: B
“Keep the wolf from the door” means to earn enough to avoid hunger or serious financial hardship. Example: He took temporary work to keep the wolf from the door.
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Idioms
Which idiom means “just before it is too late”?
A. In the nick of time
B. Throw in the towel
C. Easy does it
D. On tenterhooks
Correct Answer: A
“In the nick of time” means just before it is too late. Example: The firefighters arrived in the nick of time.
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Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “In a nutshell”?
A. very common and not special
B. to reveal a secret accidentally
C. in trouble or facing criticism
D. in a few words; briefly
Correct Answer: D
“In a nutshell” means in a few words; briefly. Example: In a nutshell, the project needs more time and money.
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Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Have an axe to grind”?
A. to argue the opposite side in order to test an idea
B. the advantages of two different situations at the same time
C. to have a selfish reason or hidden personal interest in an issue
D. to return to the starting point after a failed attempt
Correct Answer: C
“Have an axe to grind” means to have a selfish reason or hidden personal interest in an issue. Example: His criticism is not neutral; he has an axe to grind.