CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Pull yourself together”?
A. to start planning again because the first plan failed
B. to calm down and regain control of your emotions
C. unable to choose between two alternatives and losing both advantages
D. to believe someone may be telling the truth despite uncertainty
Correct Answer: B
“Pull yourself together” means to calm down and regain control of your emotions. Example: Pull yourself together before the interview.
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Idioms
In the sentence “The new assistant is really on the ball.”, what does the idiom “On the ball” mean?
A. alert, competent, and quick to understand or act
B. a person who is greatly loved or cherished
C. to face a difficult or unpleasant situation bravely
D. to stop working on something for the day
Correct Answer: A
“On the ball” means alert, competent, and quick to understand or act. Example: The new assistant is really on the ball.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Off the hook”?
A. to avoid choosing between two sides
B. to admit defeat or give up
C. to joke with or tease someone
D. free from responsibility, blame, or difficulty
Correct Answer: D
“Off the hook” means free from responsibility, blame, or difficulty. Example: The new evidence got him off the hook.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom means “to summarize and omit unnecessary details”?
A. Hit the nail on the head
B. Through thick and thin
C. Make a long story short
D. Take to task
Correct Answer: C
“Make a long story short” means to summarize and omit unnecessary details. Example: To make a long story short, we missed the train.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Keep your chin up”?
A. to avoid choosing between two sides
B. remain cheerful and confident during difficulty
C. to begin a journey or leave
D. to make a bad situation worse
Correct Answer: B
“Keep your chin up” means remain cheerful and confident during difficulty. Example: Keep your chin up; better opportunities will come.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “The car disappeared in the blink of an eye.”, what does the idiom “In the blink of an eye” mean?
A. in a very short time
B. in the same difficult situation
C. to show your emotions openly
D. at the last possible moment
Correct Answer: A
“In the blink of an eye” means in a very short time. Example: The car disappeared in the blink of an eye.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “In black and white”?
A. something will never happen
B. to remain persistent despite difficulty
C. success requires effort and sacrifice
D. clearly written or printed
Correct Answer: D
“In black and white” means clearly written or printed. Example: The terms are there in black and white.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Hit the road”?
A. to joke with or tease someone
B. to avoid choosing between two sides
C. to begin a journey or leave
D. in a state of nervous suspense
Correct Answer: C
“Hit the road” means to begin a journey or leave. Example: It is getting late; we should hit the road.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “The prototype failed, so we must go back to the drawing board.”, what does the idiom “Go back to the drawing board” mean?
A. to accept the unpleasant consequences of one's actions
B. to start planning again because the first plan failed
C. to calm down and regain control of your emotions
D. pursuing the wrong course or blaming the wrong person
Correct Answer: B
“Go back to the drawing board” means to start planning again because the first plan failed. Example: The prototype failed, so we must go back to the drawing board.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Get a taste of your own medicine”?
A. to experience the same unpleasant treatment one has given others
B. a person who feels uncomfortable in an unfamiliar situation
C. living with only enough money or food for immediate needs
D. a lot of anger or excitement about a trivial matter
Correct Answer: A
“Get a taste of your own medicine” means to experience the same unpleasant treatment one has given others. Example: The bully got a taste of his own medicine.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom means “to accept the unpleasant consequences of one's actions”?
A. Wrap your head around
B. See eye to eye
C. Nip in the bud
D. Face the music
Correct Answer: D
“Face the music” means to accept the unpleasant consequences of one's actions. Example: He must face the music after breaking the rules.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Drop in the bucket”?
A. living with only enough money or food for immediate needs
B. I do not know any more than you do
C. a very small amount compared with what is needed
D. a person who feels uncomfortable in an unfamiliar situation
Correct Answer: C
“Drop in the bucket” means a very small amount compared with what is needed. Example: The donation was a drop in the bucket compared with the total cost.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “I can tolerate mistakes, but I draw the line at dishonesty.”, what does the idiom “Draw the line” mean?
A. to become nervous and back out of something
B. to set a limit on what is acceptable
C. to take attention or credit away from someone
D. to describe or identify something exactly correctly
Correct Answer: B
“Draw the line” means to set a limit on what is acceptable. Example: I can tolerate mistakes, but I draw the line at dishonesty.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Down to earth”?
A. practical, realistic, and unpretentious
B. in private or secretly
C. the largest part of something
D. feeling slightly ill
Correct Answer: A
“Down to earth” means practical, realistic, and unpretentious. Example: Despite his success, he remains down to earth.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Come rain or shine”?
A. do something slowly and carefully
B. very common and not special
C. caught while committing a wrongdoing
D. regardless of difficulties or circumstances
Correct Answer: D
“Come rain or shine” means regardless of difficulties or circumstances. Example: Come rain or shine, he goes for a morning walk.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “The thief was caught red-handed.”, what does the idiom “Caught red-handed” mean?
A. do something slowly and carefully
B. very common and not special
C. caught while committing a wrongdoing
D. the largest part of something
Correct Answer: C
“Caught red-handed” means caught while committing a wrongdoing. Example: The thief was caught red-handed.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Bring home the bacon”?
A. in a state of nervous suspense
B. to earn money for a household
C. to do something extraordinary or remarkable
D. remain cheerful and confident during difficulty
Correct Answer: B
“Bring home the bacon” means to earn money for a household. Example: She works two jobs to bring home the bacon.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom means “to have neither profit nor loss”?
A. Break even
B. Hit the road
C. Actions speak louder than words
D. In the blink of an eye
Correct Answer: A
“Break even” means to have neither profit nor loss. Example: The shop only managed to break even this month.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Blow off steam”?
A. to understand something difficult or complicated
B. remain cheerful and confident during difficulty
C. free from responsibility, blame, or difficulty
D. to release strong emotions or stress
Correct Answer: D
“Blow off steam” means to release strong emotions or stress. Example: He went for a run to blow off steam.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Behind closed doors”?
A. suddenly and unexpectedly
B. to agree fully
C. in private or secretly
D. uncertain or not yet decided
Correct Answer: C
“Behind closed doors” means in private or secretly. Example: The negotiations took place behind closed doors.