CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “The ball is in your court”?
A. pursuing the wrong course or blaming the wrong person
B. it is your turn or responsibility to take action
C. someone dependent on others cannot be overly selective
D. to be upset about something that cannot be changed
Correct Answer: B
“The ball is in your court” means it is your turn or responsibility to take action. Example: I have made my offer; now the ball is in your court.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “Do not worry; I was only pulling your leg.”, what does the idiom “Pull someone's leg” mean?
A. to joke with or tease someone
B. to say something embarrassing or inappropriate
C. to behave cowardly or show fear
D. remain cheerful and confident during difficulty
Correct Answer: A
“Pull someone's leg” means to joke with or tease someone. Example: Do not worry; I was only pulling your leg.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “On cloud nine”?
A. good luck
B. very rarely
C. immediately and without hesitation
D. extremely happy
Correct Answer: D
“On cloud nine” means extremely happy. Example: She was on cloud nine after winning the scholarship.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom means “to achieve two objectives with one action”?
A. Bring home the bacon
B. Bite the bullet
C. Kill two birds with one stone
D. Give someone the benefit of the doubt
Correct Answer: C
“Kill two birds with one stone” means to achieve two objectives with one action. Example: By cycling to work, he saves money and exercises, killing two birds with one stone.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Cry over spilt milk”?
A. a person who is greatly loved or cherished
B. to be upset about something that cannot be changed
C. to believe someone may be telling the truth despite uncertainty
D. to have just enough money to cover basic expenses
Correct Answer: B
“Cry over spilt milk” means to be upset about something that cannot be changed. Example: There is no use crying over spilt milk.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “She burned the midnight oil before the final exam.”, what does the idiom “Burn the midnight oil” mean?
A. to work or study late into the night
B. in a hurry to finish before a deadline
C. there is something positive in every difficult situation
D. to make more effort than is expected
Correct Answer: A
“Burn the midnight oil” means to work or study late into the night. Example: She burned the midnight oil before the final exam.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Bite the bullet”?
A. to become nervous and back out of something
B. to stop working on something for the day
C. to work or study late into the night
D. to face a difficult or unpleasant situation bravely
Correct Answer: D
“Bite the bullet” means to face a difficult or unpleasant situation bravely. Example: He decided to bite the bullet and undergo the surgery.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Let the cat out of the bag”?
A. to make every possible effort
B. in trouble or facing criticism
C. to reveal a secret accidentally
D. something very easy to do
Correct Answer: C
“Let the cat out of the bag” means to reveal a secret accidentally. Example: Sara let the cat out of the bag about the gift.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “We have done enough work; let us call it a day.”, what does the idiom “Call it a day” mean?
A. said when the person being discussed unexpectedly appears
B. to stop working on something for the day
C. to face a difficult or unpleasant situation bravely
D. to take attention or credit away from someone
Correct Answer: B
“Call it a day” means to stop working on something for the day. Example: We have done enough work; let us call it a day.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Beat around the bush”?
A. to avoid saying what one really means
B. there is something positive in every difficult situation
C. a person who is greatly loved or cherished
D. to become nervous and back out of something
Correct Answer: A
“Beat around the bush” means to avoid saying what one really means. Example: Stop beating around the bush and answer the question.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom means “to be extremely expensive”?
A. Put all your eggs in one basket
B. Put your foot in your mouth
C. Best of both worlds
D. Cost an arm and a leg
Correct Answer: D
“Cost an arm and a leg” means to be extremely expensive. Example: That new car costs an arm and a leg.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Spill the beans”?
A. immediately and without hesitation
B. to go to bed
C. to reveal a secret
D. in private or secretly
Correct Answer: C
“Spill the beans” means to reveal a secret. Example: Ali spilled the beans about the surprise party.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “He visits us once in a blue moon.”, what does the idiom “Once in a blue moon” mean?
A. to be extremely expensive
B. very rarely
C. something will never happen
D. immediately and without hesitation
Correct Answer: B
“Once in a blue moon” means very rarely. Example: He visits us once in a blue moon.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Under the weather”?
A. feeling slightly ill
B. something very easy to do
C. clearly written or printed
D. immediately and without hesitation
Correct Answer: A
“Under the weather” means feeling slightly ill. Example: I am feeling under the weather today.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Hit the nail on the head”?
A. a person's basic nature is unlikely to change
B. very weak, worn out, or near failure
C. to end a quarrel and make peace
D. to describe or identify something exactly correctly
Correct Answer: D
“Hit the nail on the head” means to describe or identify something exactly correctly. Example: You hit the nail on the head when you said poor planning caused the delay.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “The host told a joke to break the ice.”, what does the idiom “Break the ice” mean?
A. something that seems bad at first but turns out to be beneficial
B. both sides are responsible for a situation or conflict
C. to make people feel more comfortable in a new or awkward situation
D. to waste time on trivial matters during a serious crisis
Correct Answer: C
“Break the ice” means to make people feel more comfortable in a new or awkward situation. Example: The host told a joke to break the ice.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “A piece of cake”?
A. to have no influence or effect
B. something very easy to do
C. the largest part of something
D. to make every possible effort
Correct Answer: B
“A piece of cake” means something very easy to do. Example: The test was a piece of cake for her.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom means “something that seems bad at first but turns out to be beneficial”?
A. A blessing in disguise
B. Play second fiddle
C. Keep the wolf from the door
D. Hit the road
Correct Answer: A
“A blessing in disguise” means something that seems bad at first but turns out to be beneficial. Example: Missing the first bus was a blessing in disguise because I met my old teacher on the next one.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What does “take the bull by the horns” mean?
A. Act without thinking
B. Avoid danger
C. Deal with a difficult problem directly
D. Control an animal
Correct Answer: C
It means confronting a challenge boldly and directly.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What does “speak of the devil” mean?
A. Criticize an absent person
B. Tell a frightening story
C. The person just mentioned has appeared
D. Talk about evil
Correct Answer: C
It is said when someone appears just after being discussed.