CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Take with a grain of salt”?
A. to waste time on trivial matters during a serious crisis
B. to treat something with skepticism rather than accept it completely
C. to return to the starting point after a failed attempt
D. a practical general guideline rather than an exact rule
Correct Answer: B
“Take with a grain of salt” means to treat something with skepticism rather than accept it completely. Example: Take online rumors with a grain of salt.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “You cannot sit on the fence forever; make a decision.”, what does the idiom “Sit on the fence” mean?
A. to avoid choosing between two sides
B. to have neither profit nor loss
C. just before it is too late
D. to release strong emotions or stress
Correct Answer: A
“Sit on the fence” means to avoid choosing between two sides. Example: You cannot sit on the fence forever; make a decision.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “See eye to eye”?
A. to sound familiar
B. a pointless or hopeless search
C. time passes very quickly
D. to agree fully
Correct Answer: D
“See eye to eye” means to agree fully. Example: The two managers do not always see eye to eye.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom means “to risk everything on a single plan or opportunity”?
A. No pain, no gain
B. The last straw
C. Put all your eggs in one basket
D. Take to task
Correct Answer: C
“Put all your eggs in one basket” means to risk everything on a single plan or opportunity. Example: Do not put all your eggs in one basket by investing in only one company.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Out of the blue”?
A. to show your emotions openly
B. suddenly and unexpectedly
C. in private or secretly
D. something very easy to do
Correct Answer: B
“Out of the blue” means suddenly and unexpectedly. Example: He called me out of the blue.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “Let us make sure everyone is on the same page.”, what does the idiom “On the same page” mean?
A. to have the same understanding or agreement
B. to make a bad situation worse
C. to deliberately ignore something wrong or unpleasant
D. to avoid saying what one really means
Correct Answer: A
“On the same page” means to have the same understanding or agreement. Example: Let us make sure everyone is on the same page.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “No pain, no gain”?
A. to exaggerate a small problem
B. to watch or monitor carefully
C. in the same difficult situation
D. success requires effort and sacrifice
Correct Answer: D
“No pain, no gain” means success requires effort and sacrifice. Example: Keep practicing; no pain, no gain.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Miss the boat”?
A. to accept the unpleasant consequences of one's actions
B. a request to know what someone is thinking
C. to lose an opportunity by being too late
D. to refuse further responsibility for someone or something
Correct Answer: C
“Miss the boat” means to lose an opportunity by being too late. Example: Apply now or you may miss the boat.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “Please keep an eye on my bag.”, what does the idiom “Keep an eye on” mean?
A. in a few words; briefly
B. to watch or monitor carefully
C. to show your emotions openly
D. in the same difficult situation
Correct Answer: B
“Keep an eye on” means to watch or monitor carefully. Example: Please keep an eye on my bag.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Jump on the bandwagon”?
A. to join a popular trend or activity
B. to become difficult or impossible to control
C. fully attentive and ready to listen
D. very weak, worn out, or near failure
Correct Answer: A
“Jump on the bandwagon” means to join a popular trend or activity. Example: Many companies jumped on the bandwagon after the product became successful.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom means “in trouble or facing criticism”?
A. It takes two to tango
B. A white elephant
C. Leave no stone unturned
D. In hot water
Correct Answer: D
“In hot water” means in trouble or facing criticism. Example: He is in hot water for missing the deadline.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Go the extra mile”?
A. a subject that causes disagreement or argument
B. to manage expenses with the available income
C. to make more effort than is expected
D. to avoid saying what one really means
Correct Answer: C
“Go the extra mile” means to make more effort than is expected. Example: The teacher went the extra mile to help weak students.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “He got cold feet before the interview.”, what does the idiom “Get cold feet” mean?
A. to criticize or scold someone for a fault
B. to become nervous and back out of something
C. to take attention or credit away from someone
D. alert, competent, and quick to understand or act
Correct Answer: B
“Get cold feet” means to become nervous and back out of something. Example: He got cold feet before the interview.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Cut corners”?
A. to do something cheaply or carelessly by skipping proper steps
B. to have just enough money to cover basic expenses
C. to take on more work or responsibility than one can handle
D. a costly possession or project that is useless or burdensome
Correct Answer: A
“Cut corners” means to do something cheaply or carelessly by skipping proper steps. Example: The contractor cut corners and used poor materials.
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Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “By the skin of your teeth”?
A. to get directly to the main point
B. to join a popular trend or activity
C. to make more effort than is expected
D. only just; by a very narrow margin
Correct Answer: D
“By the skin of your teeth” means only just; by a very narrow margin. Example: He passed the exam by the skin of his teeth.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “Do not burn bridges when leaving your old job.”, what does the idiom “Burn bridges” mean?
A. a very small amount compared with what is needed
B. the advantages of two different situations at the same time
C. to destroy relationships or options in a way that makes return difficult
D. a costly possession or project that is useless or burdensome
Correct Answer: C
“Burn bridges” means to destroy relationships or options in a way that makes return difficult. Example: Do not burn bridges when leaving your old job.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Back to square one”?
A. both sides are responsible for a situation or conflict
B. to return to the starting point after a failed attempt
C. to begin behaving in a better or more responsible way
D. a friend who is loyal only when things are going well
Correct Answer: B
“Back to square one” means to return to the starting point after a failed attempt. Example: The plan failed, so we are back to square one.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom means “a lot of anger or excitement about a trivial matter”?
A. A storm in a teacup
B. Cost an arm and a leg
C. Show the white feather
D. Leave no stone unturned
Correct Answer: A
“A storm in a teacup” means a lot of anger or excitement about a trivial matter. Example: The argument over seating was just a storm in a teacup.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Barking up the wrong tree”?
A. someone dependent on others cannot be overly selective
B. what people do matters more than what they say
C. to postpone an invitation or plan until another time
D. pursuing the wrong course or blaming the wrong person
Correct Answer: D
“Barking up the wrong tree” means pursuing the wrong course or blaming the wrong person. Example: If you think I broke the window, you are barking up the wrong tree.
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Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Add fuel to the fire”?
A. to spoil someone's enjoyment or enthusiasm
B. to begin a journey or leave
C. to make a bad situation worse
D. free from responsibility, blame, or difficulty
Correct Answer: C
“Add fuel to the fire” means to make a bad situation worse. Example: His rude remarks added fuel to the fire.