CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Give the cold shoulder”?
A. to leave without permission or without saying goodbye
B. to deliberately ignore or treat someone unfriendly
C. to make more effort than is expected
D. to end a quarrel and make peace
Correct Answer: B
“Give the cold shoulder” means to deliberately ignore or treat someone unfriendly. Example: She gave him the cold shoulder after their argument.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “After losing his job, he lived from hand to mouth.”, what does the idiom “From hand to mouth” mean?
A. living with only enough money or food for immediate needs
B. to risk everything on a single plan or opportunity
C. a person who feels uncomfortable in an unfamiliar situation
D. to deal with a difficult situation directly and decisively
Correct Answer: A
“From hand to mouth” means living with only enough money or food for immediate needs. Example: After losing his job, he lived from hand to mouth.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Fish out of water”?
A. in a hurry to finish before a deadline
B. to leave without permission or without saying goodbye
C. someone dependent on others cannot be overly selective
D. a person who feels uncomfortable in an unfamiliar situation
Correct Answer: D
“Fish out of water” means a person who feels uncomfortable in an unfamiliar situation. Example: At the formal dinner, he felt like a fish out of water.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom means “an achievement to be proud of”?
A. Break a leg
B. Break even
C. Feather in one's cap
D. In the same boat
Correct Answer: C
“Feather in one's cap” means an achievement to be proud of. Example: Winning the national award was a feather in her cap.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Cut no ice”?
A. to admit defeat or give up
B. to have no influence or effect
C. in a state of nervous suspense
D. an achievement to be proud of
Correct Answer: B
“Cut no ice” means to have no influence or effect. Example: His excuses cut no ice with the principal.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “Nobody believed his cock and bull story about the missing files.”, what does the idiom “Cock and bull story” mean?
A. an unbelievable or absurd story
B. to show your emotions openly
C. to wait and be patient
D. regardless of difficulties or circumstances
Correct Answer: A
“Cock and bull story” means an unbelievable or absurd story. Example: Nobody believed his cock and bull story about the missing files.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Caught between two stools”?
A. to be upset about something that cannot be changed
B. to earn enough to avoid hunger or serious financial hardship
C. a lot of anger or excitement about a trivial matter
D. unable to choose between two alternatives and losing both advantages
Correct Answer: D
“Caught between two stools” means unable to choose between two alternatives and losing both advantages. Example: By trying to satisfy both sides, he was caught between two stools.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Bury the hatchet”?
A. to get directly to the main point
B. to deliberately ignore something wrong or unpleasant
C. to end a quarrel and make peace
D. to achieve two objectives with one action
Correct Answer: C
“Bury the hatchet” means to end a quarrel and make peace. Example: The two rivals finally buried the hatchet.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “The agreement was signed at the eleventh hour.”, what does the idiom “At the eleventh hour” mean?
A. a pointless or hopeless search
B. at the last possible moment
C. caught while committing a wrongdoing
D. to show your emotions openly
Correct Answer: B
“At the eleventh hour” means at the last possible moment. Example: The agreement was signed at the eleventh hour.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “A leopard can't change its spots”?
A. a person's basic nature is unlikely to change
B. to face a difficult or unpleasant situation bravely
C. to have a less important or subordinate role
D. to criticize or scold someone for a fault
Correct Answer: A
“A leopard can't change its spots” means a person's basic nature is unlikely to change. Example: He promised to change, but some say a leopard cannot change its spots.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom means “very different from”?
A. Take with a grain of salt
B. Throw in the towel
C. Throw caution to the wind
D. A far cry from
Correct Answer: D
“A far cry from” means very different from. Example: The new office is a far cry from the old cramped building.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Wild goose chase”?
A. to remain persistent despite difficulty
B. to make every possible effort
C. a pointless or hopeless search
D. something very easy to do
Correct Answer: C
“Wild goose chase” means a pointless or hopeless search. Example: The false address sent us on a wild goose chase.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “He says he will clean his room when pigs fly.”, what does the idiom “When pigs fly” mean?
A. a pointless or hopeless search
B. something will never happen
C. at the last possible moment
D. to fail spectacularly
Correct Answer: B
“When pigs fly” means something will never happen. Example: He says he will clean his room when pigs fly.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Turn a blind eye”?
A. to deliberately ignore something wrong or unpleasant
B. to avoid becoming too close or friendly
C. to make more effort than is expected
D. to join a popular trend or activity
Correct Answer: A
“Turn a blind eye” means to deliberately ignore something wrong or unpleasant. Example: The manager turned a blind eye to repeated lateness.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Throw caution to the wind”?
A. to spoil someone's enjoyment or enthusiasm
B. to have no influence or effect
C. to avoid choosing between two sides
D. to act without worrying about risk
Correct Answer: D
“Throw caution to the wind” means to act without worrying about risk. Example: He threw caution to the wind and invested all his savings.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “She took the bull by the horns and confronted the problem.”, what does the idiom “Take the bull by the horns” mean?
A. a practical general guideline rather than an exact rule
B. to lose an opportunity by being too late
C. to deal with a difficult situation directly and decisively
D. unable to choose between two alternatives and losing both advantages
Correct Answer: C
“Take the bull by the horns” means to deal with a difficult situation directly and decisively. Example: She took the bull by the horns and confronted the problem.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Steal someone's thunder”?
A. in a hurry to finish before a deadline
B. to take attention or credit away from someone
C. to make more effort than is expected
D. not something one likes or is interested in
Correct Answer: B
“Steal someone's thunder” means to take attention or credit away from someone. Example: He stole my thunder by announcing the idea before I could.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom means “a practical general guideline rather than an exact rule”?
A. Rule of thumb
B. Back to square one
C. All ears
D. Under the weather
Correct Answer: A
“Rule of thumb” means a practical general guideline rather than an exact rule. Example: As a rule of thumb, save part of your income every month.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Ring a bell”?
A. very rapidly
B. in private or secretly
C. to rain very heavily
D. to sound familiar
Correct Answer: D
“Ring a bell” means to sound familiar. Example: That name rings a bell, but I cannot remember where I heard it.
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Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Put your foot in your mouth”?
A. to admit defeat or give up
B. to avoid choosing between two sides
C. to say something embarrassing or inappropriate
D. to begin a journey or leave
Correct Answer: C
“Put your foot in your mouth” means to say something embarrassing or inappropriate. Example: I put my foot in my mouth by asking about the surprise.