CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Have a change of heart”?
A. an achievement to be proud of
B. to change one's opinion or decision
C. everything possible or the full extent
D. in a risky or dangerous situation
Correct Answer: B
“Have a change of heart” means to change one's opinion or decision. Example: She had a change of heart and decided to stay.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “Hang in there; the semester is almost over.”, what does the idiom “Hang in there” mean?
A. to remain persistent despite difficulty
B. something very easy to do
C. to admit defeat or give up
D. in trouble or facing criticism
Correct Answer: A
“Hang in there” means to remain persistent despite difficulty. Example: Hang in there; the semester is almost over.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Go down in flames”?
A. something will never happen
B. in private or secretly
C. to reveal a secret
D. to fail spectacularly
Correct Answer: D
“Go down in flames” means to fail spectacularly. Example: The proposal went down in flames after the committee rejected it.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom means “to believe someone may be telling the truth despite uncertainty”?
A. Fair-weather friend
B. Rain on someone's parade
C. Give someone the benefit of the doubt
D. In the same boat
Correct Answer: C
“Give someone the benefit of the doubt” means to believe someone may be telling the truth despite uncertainty. Example: I will give him the benefit of the doubt until we know the facts.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Get out of hand”?
A. to avoid becoming too close or friendly
B. to become difficult or impossible to control
C. to admit defeat or give up
D. only just; by a very narrow margin
Correct Answer: B
“Get out of hand” means to become difficult or impossible to control. Example: The crowd got out of hand.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “Losing the job was hard, but every cloud has a silver lining.”, what does the idiom “Every cloud has a silver lining” mean?
A. there is something positive in every difficult situation
B. to suffer because of involvement in something risky
C. to lose an opportunity by being too late
D. the final problem that makes a situation unbearable
Correct Answer: A
“Every cloud has a silver lining” means there is something positive in every difficult situation. Example: Losing the job was hard, but every cloud has a silver lining.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Easy does it”?
A. to reveal a secret accidentally
B. to admit defeat or give up
C. very common and not special
D. do something slowly and carefully
Correct Answer: D
“Easy does it” means do something slowly and carefully. Example: Easy does it while carrying that glass table.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Cut to the chase”?
A. to do things in the wrong order
B. only just; by a very narrow margin
C. to get directly to the main point
D. to spoil someone's enjoyment or enthusiasm
Correct Answer: C
“Cut to the chase” means to get directly to the main point. Example: Let us cut to the chase and discuss the budget.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “We will cross that bridge when we come to it.”, what does the idiom “Cross that bridge when you come to it” mean?
A. to calm down and regain control of your emotions
B. to deal with a problem only when it actually arises
C. unable to choose between two alternatives and losing both advantages
D. to treat something with skepticism rather than accept it completely
Correct Answer: B
“Cross that bridge when you come to it” means to deal with a problem only when it actually arises. Example: We will cross that bridge when we come to it.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Break a leg”?
A. good luck
B. to reveal a secret
C. do something slowly and carefully
D. very common and not special
Correct Answer: A
“Break a leg” means good luck. Example: Break a leg in your performance tonight!
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom means “to take on more work or responsibility than one can handle”?
A. Burn one's fingers
B. Play devil's advocate
C. Turn over a new leaf
D. Bite off more than you can chew
Correct Answer: D
“Bite off more than you can chew” means to take on more work or responsibility than one can handle. Example: By accepting three projects at once, he bit off more than he could chew.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Best of both worlds”?
A. a practical general guideline rather than an exact rule
B. to do something cheaply or carelessly by skipping proper steps
C. the advantages of two different situations at the same time
D. to waste time on trivial matters during a serious crisis
Correct Answer: C
“Best of both worlds” means the advantages of two different situations at the same time. Example: Working remotely gives her the best of both worlds.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “He is ready to travel at the drop of a hat.”, what does the idiom “At the drop of a hat” mean?
A. practical, realistic, and unpretentious
B. immediately and without hesitation
C. in private or secretly
D. to reveal a secret
Correct Answer: B
“At the drop of a hat” means immediately and without hesitation. Example: He is ready to travel at the drop of a hat.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “A dime a dozen”?
A. very common and not special
B. to remain persistent despite difficulty
C. an unbelievable or absurd story
D. to watch or monitor carefully
Correct Answer: A
“A dime a dozen” means very common and not special. Example: Cheap phone accessories are a dime a dozen.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Your guess is as good as mine”?
A. to risk everything on a single plan or opportunity
B. a practical general guideline rather than an exact rule
C. a request to know what someone is thinking
D. I do not know any more than you do
Correct Answer: D
“Your guess is as good as mine” means I do not know any more than you do. Example: When will the results be announced? Your guess is as good as mine.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “It took me time to wrap my head around the new rules.”, what does the idiom “Wrap your head around” mean?
A. just before it is too late
B. to admit defeat or give up
C. to understand something difficult or complicated
D. to release strong emotions or stress
Correct Answer: C
“Wrap your head around” means to understand something difficult or complicated. Example: It took me time to wrap my head around the new rules.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Up in the air”?
A. a pointless or hopeless search
B. uncertain or not yet decided
C. something very easy to do
D. to show your emotions openly
Correct Answer: B
“Up in the air” means uncertain or not yet decided. Example: Our travel plans are still up in the air.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom means “time passes very quickly”?
A. Time flies
B. Bone of contention
C. Take the bull by the horns
D. Play devil's advocate
Correct Answer: A
“Time flies” means time passes very quickly. Example: Time flies when you are enjoying yourself.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Throw in the towel”?
A. to act without worrying about risk
B. to obstruct or prevent someone's plan
C. to make a bad situation worse
D. to admit defeat or give up
Correct Answer: D
“Throw in the towel” means to admit defeat or give up. Example: After several failed attempts, he refused to throw in the towel.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Through thick and thin”?
A. to obstruct or prevent someone's plan
B. to act without worrying about risk
C. during both good and bad times
D. to admit defeat or give up
Correct Answer: C
“Through thick and thin” means during both good and bad times. Example: They remained friends through thick and thin.