CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Beggars can't be choosers”?
A. to work or study late into the night
B. someone dependent on others cannot be overly selective
C. a person's basic nature is unlikely to change
D. to suffer because of involvement in something risky
Correct Answer: B
“Beggars can't be choosers” means someone dependent on others cannot be overly selective. Example: The room is small, but beggars cannot be choosers.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “After the sudden transfer, the office was at sixes and sevens.”, what does the idiom “At sixes and sevens” mean?
A. in a state of confusion or disorder
B. a subject that causes disagreement or argument
C. to avoid saying what one really means
D. to manage expenses with the available income
Correct Answer: A
“At sixes and sevens” means in a state of confusion or disorder. Example: After the sudden transfer, the office was at sixes and sevens.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “All ears”?
A. to say something embarrassing or inappropriate
B. during both good and bad times
C. to do something extraordinary or remarkable
D. fully attentive and ready to listen
Correct Answer: D
“All ears” means fully attentive and ready to listen. Example: Tell me what happened; I am all ears.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom means “in a hurry to finish before a deadline”?
A. Put your foot in your mouth
B. From hand to mouth
C. Against the clock
D. Go down in flames
Correct Answer: C
“Against the clock” means in a hurry to finish before a deadline. Example: The team worked against the clock to submit the report.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Actions speak louder than words”?
A. to risk everything on a single plan or opportunity
B. what people do matters more than what they say
C. to deal with a difficult situation directly and decisively
D. a person who feels uncomfortable in an unfamiliar situation
Correct Answer: B
“Actions speak louder than words” means what people do matters more than what they say. Example: He promised to help, but actions speak louder than words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “You look worried—a penny for your thoughts?”, what does the idiom “A penny for your thoughts” mean?
A. a request to know what someone is thinking
B. someone dependent on others cannot be overly selective
C. the final problem that makes a situation unbearable
D. to become nervous and back out of something
Correct Answer: A
“A penny for your thoughts” means a request to know what someone is thinking. Example: You look worried—a penny for your thoughts?
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Whole nine yards”?
A. to avoid choosing between two sides
B. to summarize and omit unnecessary details
C. to behave cowardly or show fear
D. everything possible or the full extent
Correct Answer: D
“Whole nine yards” means everything possible or the full extent. Example: They gave us the whole nine yards: food, transport, and accommodation.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “The tip of the iceberg”?
A. to risk everything on a single plan or opportunity
B. the advantages of two different situations at the same time
C. a small visible part of a much larger problem or situation
D. unable to choose between two alternatives and losing both advantages
Correct Answer: C
“The tip of the iceberg” means a small visible part of a much larger problem or situation. Example: These complaints are only the tip of the iceberg.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “I cannot join tonight; can I take a rain check?”, what does the idiom “Take a rain check” mean?
A. to work or study late into the night
B. to postpone an invitation or plan until another time
C. I do not know any more than you do
D. a person who feels uncomfortable in an unfamiliar situation
Correct Answer: B
“Take a rain check” means to postpone an invitation or plan until another time. Example: I cannot join tonight; can I take a rain check?
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Speak of the devil”?
A. said when the person being discussed unexpectedly appears
B. to set a limit on what is acceptable
C. to stop working on something for the day
D. to accept the unpleasant consequences of one's actions
Correct Answer: A
“Speak of the devil” means said when the person being discussed unexpectedly appears. Example: Speak of the devil—there is Ahmed now.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom means “to understand a hidden or implied meaning”?
A. Bread and butter
B. Keep your chin up
C. A blessing in disguise
D. Read between the lines
Correct Answer: D
“Read between the lines” means to understand a hidden or implied meaning. Example: If you read between the lines, the letter sounds like a warning.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Rain on someone's parade”?
A. to say something embarrassing or inappropriate
B. to avoid choosing between two sides
C. to spoil someone's enjoyment or enthusiasm
D. to have no influence or effect
Correct Answer: C
“Rain on someone's parade” means to spoil someone's enjoyment or enthusiasm. Example: I do not want to rain on your parade, but the plan has serious risks.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “Let me play devil's advocate and question this proposal.”, what does the idiom “Play devil's advocate” mean?
A. a costly possession or project that is useless or burdensome
B. to argue the opposite side in order to test an idea
C. living with only enough money or food for immediate needs
D. to do something cheaply or carelessly by skipping proper steps
Correct Answer: B
“Play devil's advocate” means to argue the opposite side in order to test an idea. Example: Let me play devil's advocate and question this proposal.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “On thin ice”?
A. in a risky or dangerous situation
B. to behave cowardly or show fear
C. fully attentive and ready to listen
D. to obstruct or prevent someone's plan
Correct Answer: A
“On thin ice” means in a risky or dangerous situation. Example: You are on thin ice after missing another meeting.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Make ends meet”?
A. I do not know any more than you do
B. to postpone an invitation or plan until another time
C. living with only enough money or food for immediate needs
D. to have just enough money to cover basic expenses
Correct Answer: D
“Make ends meet” means to have just enough money to cover basic expenses. Example: Many families work extra hours to make ends meet.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “The police left no stone unturned in the investigation.”, what does the idiom “Leave no stone unturned” mean?
A. to begin a journey or leave
B. to wait and be patient
C. to make every possible effort
D. to avoid choosing between two sides
Correct Answer: C
“Leave no stone unturned” means to make every possible effort. Example: The police left no stone unturned in the investigation.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Know the ropes”?
A. to stop working on something for the day
B. to understand how a job or system works
C. a person's basic nature is unlikely to change
D. someone dependent on others cannot be overly selective
Correct Answer: B
“Know the ropes” means to understand how a job or system works. Example: Ask Hamza; he knows the ropes.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom means “both sides are responsible for a situation or conflict”?
A. It takes two to tango
B. Turn a blind eye
C. In a nutshell
D. The ball is in your court
Correct Answer: A
“It takes two to tango” means both sides are responsible for a situation or conflict. Example: Do not blame only one person; it takes two to tango.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “In the same boat”?
A. to wait and be patient
B. very common and not special
C. in trouble or facing criticism
D. in the same difficult situation
Correct Answer: D
“In the same boat” means in the same difficult situation. Example: We are all in the same boat after the schedule changed.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Hit the sack”?
A. very common and not special
B. to reveal a secret accidentally
C. to go to bed
D. caught while committing a wrongdoing
Correct Answer: C
“Hit the sack” means to go to bed. Example: I am exhausted; I am going to hit the sack.