CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "keep one's fingers crossed"?
A. something that seems bad at first but turns out beneficial
B. work or study late into the night
C. hope for a favorable outcome
D. become nervous and lose courage
Correct Answer: C
The idiomatic phrase "keep one's fingers crossed" means hope for a favorable outcome. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "in hot water"?
A. a futile search or pursuit
B. in trouble
C. make people feel more relaxed in a social situation
D. honestly and according to the rules
Correct Answer: B
The idiomatic phrase "in hot water" means in trouble. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "give the game away"?
A. accidentally reveal a secret or plan
B. begin behaving in a better way
C. caught between two difficult choices
D. accept the unpleasant consequences of one's actions
Correct Answer: A
The idiomatic phrase "give the game away" means accidentally reveal a secret or plan. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "cross that bridge when one comes to it"?
A. deal with a difficult situation directly
B. avoid coming directly to the point
C. set a limit beyond which one will not go
D. deal with a problem when it actually arises
Correct Answer: D
The idiomatic phrase "cross that bridge when one comes to it" means deal with a problem when it actually arises. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "bring to light"?
A. joke with or tease someone
B. back to the starting point after failure
C. reveal or make known
D. do something cheaply or carelessly by avoiding proper procedures
Correct Answer: C
The idiomatic phrase "bring to light" means reveal or make known. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "break new ground"?
A. extremely happy
B. do something innovative or pioneering
C. at the last possible moment
D. make a poor or embarrassing impression
Correct Answer: B
The idiomatic phrase "break new ground" means do something innovative or pioneering. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "bite off more than one can chew"?
A. take on more responsibility than one can handle
B. understand something
C. readily available or easily accessible
D. regret something that cannot be changed
Correct Answer: A
The idiomatic phrase "bite off more than one can chew" means take on more responsibility than one can handle. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "bark up the wrong tree"?
A. hope for a favorable outcome
B. in a state of confusion or disorder
C. unrealistic dreams or plans
D. pursue the wrong course or blame the wrong person
Correct Answer: D
The idiomatic phrase "bark up the wrong tree" means pursue the wrong course or blame the wrong person. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "at loggerheads"?
A. in trouble
B. great excitement about a trivial matter
C. in strong disagreement
D. win or succeed
Correct Answer: C
The idiomatic phrase "at loggerheads" means in strong disagreement. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "with flying colors"?
A. accidentally reveal a secret or plan
B. very successfully
C. a person who feels uncomfortable in unfamiliar surroundings
D. speak plainly and directly
Correct Answer: B
The idiomatic phrase "with flying colors" means very successfully. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "wear one's heart on one's sleeve"?
A. show emotions openly
B. deal with a problem when it actually arises
C. very different from
D. very rapidly
Correct Answer: A
The idiomatic phrase "wear one's heart on one's sleeve" means show emotions openly. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "up in arms"?
A. reveal or make known
B. a subject or issue causing disagreement
C. generally or on the whole
D. very angry and protesting
Correct Answer: D
The idiomatic phrase "up in arms" means very angry and protesting. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "under the weather"?
A. do something innovative or pioneering
B. something that seems bad at first but turns out beneficial
C. slightly ill
D. work or study late into the night
Correct Answer: C
The idiomatic phrase "under the weather" means slightly ill. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "turn a deaf ear"?
A. take on more responsibility than one can handle
B. refuse to listen
C. a futile search or pursuit
D. make people feel more relaxed in a social situation
Correct Answer: B
The idiomatic phrase "turn a deaf ear" means refuse to listen. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "through thick and thin"?
A. during both good and bad times
B. pursue the wrong course or blame the wrong person
C. begin behaving in a better way
D. caught between two difficult choices
Correct Answer: A
The idiomatic phrase "through thick and thin" means during both good and bad times. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "the last straw"?
A. in strong disagreement
B. deal with a difficult situation directly
C. avoid coming directly to the point
D. the final problem that makes a situation unbearable
Correct Answer: D
The idiomatic phrase "the last straw" means the final problem that makes a situation unbearable. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "take with a grain of salt"?
A. very successfully
B. joke with or tease someone
C. treat something with skepticism
D. back to the starting point after failure
Correct Answer: C
The idiomatic phrase "take with a grain of salt" means treat something with skepticism. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "spill the beans"?
A. show emotions openly
B. reveal a secret
C. extremely happy
D. at the last possible moment
Correct Answer: B
The idiomatic phrase "spill the beans" means reveal a secret. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "sit on the fence"?
A. avoid choosing between alternatives
B. very angry and protesting
C. understand something
D. readily available or easily accessible
Correct Answer: A
The idiomatic phrase "sit on the fence" means avoid choosing between alternatives. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "see eye to eye"?
A. slightly ill
B. hope for a favorable outcome
C. in a state of confusion or disorder
D. agree completely
Correct Answer: D
The idiomatic phrase "see eye to eye" means agree completely. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.