CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct meaning of the idiomatic phrase "give a wide berth".
A. people of similar character or interests
B. be extremely busy
C. avoid or keep well away from
D. suspect that something is wrong
Correct Answer: C
"give a wide berth" is an idiomatic expression meaning avoid or keep well away from.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct meaning of the idiomatic phrase "cut to the quick".
A. irrelevant to the matter being discussed
B. hurt someone's feelings deeply
C. be involved in many activities, often interfering
D. show cowardice
Correct Answer: B
"cut to the quick" is an idiomatic expression meaning hurt someone's feelings deeply.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct meaning of the idiomatic phrase "come rain or shine".
A. regardless of circumstances
B. an easy and pleasant situation
C. deteriorate badly
D. escape from danger or punishment
Correct Answer: A
"come rain or shine" is an idiomatic expression meaning regardless of circumstances.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct meaning of the idiomatic phrase "bring home to".
A. suffer the main force or impact of something
B. speak angrily and frankly to someone
C. make someone's distress worse
D. make someone realize clearly
Correct Answer: D
"bring home to" is an idiomatic expression meaning make someone realize clearly.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct meaning of the idiomatic phrase "break a lance with".
A. with all one's belongings
B. from one place or person to another without success
C. enter into an argument or contest with
D. perform well when facing a difficult challenge
Correct Answer: C
"break a lance with" is an idiomatic expression meaning enter into an argument or contest with.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct meaning of the idiomatic phrase "blue blood".
A. completely puzzled or distressed about what to do
B. aristocratic birth
C. an achievement to be proud of
D. ordinary members of an organization
Correct Answer: B
"blue blood" is an idiomatic expression meaning aristocratic birth.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct meaning of the idiomatic phrase "black sheep".
A. a disreputable member of a family or group
B. in a state of bitter hostility
C. admit that something one said was wrong
D. rain very heavily
Correct Answer: A
"black sheep" is an idiomatic expression meaning a disreputable member of a family or group.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct meaning of the idiomatic phrase "below the belt".
A. unable to know what to do or say
B. a person who prevents others using something they do not use themselves
C. take a firm stand
D. unfair or improper
Correct Answer: D
"below the belt" is an idiomatic expression meaning unfair or improper.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct meaning of the idiomatic phrase "at cross purposes".
A. a person who is especially loved or valued
B. a rule or law that exists formally but is no longer enforced
C. misunderstanding each other's intentions
D. calm a difficult or tense situation
Correct Answer: C
"at cross purposes" is an idiomatic expression meaning misunderstanding each other's intentions.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct meaning of the idiomatic phrase "at arm's length".
A. a private reason or selfish motive for involvement
B. at a distance, especially to avoid close involvement
C. insincere expressions of sorrow
D. careful about small amounts but wasteful about larger ones
Correct Answer: B
"at arm's length" is an idiomatic expression meaning at a distance, especially to avoid close involvement.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct meaning of the idiomatic phrase "all at sea".
A. confused and uncertain
B. make a bad situation worse
C. meet with disaster or failure
D. pay an excessively high price
Correct Answer: A
"all at sea" is an idiomatic expression meaning confused and uncertain.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct meaning of the idiomatic phrase "above board".
A. avoid or keep well away from
B. offer something valuable to people unable to appreciate it
C. something supposedly secret but widely known
D. honest and open
Correct Answer: D
"above board" is an idiomatic expression meaning honest and open.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct meaning of the idiomatic phrase "a snake in the grass".
A. hurt someone's feelings deeply
B. by any possible means
C. a secretly treacherous person
D. in a risky or delicate situation
Correct Answer: C
"a snake in the grass" is an idiomatic expression meaning a secretly treacherous person.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct meaning of the idiomatic phrase "a man of letters".
A. regardless of circumstances
B. a scholar or literary person
C. remain silent
D. occasionally or intermittently
Correct Answer: B
"a man of letters" is an idiomatic expression meaning a scholar or literary person.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct meaning of the idiomatic phrase "a hard nut to crack".
A. a difficult problem or person to deal with
B. make someone realize clearly
C. end a quarrel and make peace
D. make every possible effort
Correct Answer: A
"a hard nut to crack" is an idiomatic expression meaning a difficult problem or person to deal with.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct meaning of the idiomatic phrase "a close shave".
A. enter into an argument or contest with
B. boast about one's own achievements
C. make a compromise
D. a narrow escape from danger
Correct Answer: D
"a close shave" is an idiomatic expression meaning a narrow escape from danger.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct meaning of the idiomatic phrase "worth one's salt".
A. aristocratic birth
B. people of similar character or interests
C. competent and deserving of one's position
D. confess fully
Correct Answer: C
"worth one's salt" is an idiomatic expression meaning competent and deserving of one's position.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct meaning of the idiomatic phrase "whole nine yards".
A. a disreputable member of a family or group
B. everything possible or available
C. irrelevant to the matter being discussed
D. the largest part
Correct Answer: B
"whole nine yards" is an idiomatic expression meaning everything possible or available.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct meaning of the idiomatic phrase "white elephant".
A. a costly possession that is difficult or useless to maintain
B. unfair or improper
C. an easy and pleasant situation
D. understand the procedures or details of a task
Correct Answer: A
"white elephant" is an idiomatic expression meaning a costly possession that is difficult or useless to maintain.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct meaning of the idiomatic phrase "weather the storm".
A. misunderstanding each other's intentions
B. suffer the main force or impact of something
C. achieve two aims with one action
D. survive a difficult period
Correct Answer: D
"weather the storm" is an idiomatic expression meaning survive a difficult period.