CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct meaning of the idiomatic phrase "pour oil on troubled waters".
A. take attention or credit away from someone
B. a scholar or literary person
C. calm a difficult or tense situation
D. end a quarrel and make peace
Correct Answer: C
"pour oil on troubled waters" is an idiomatic expression meaning calm a difficult or tense situation.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct meaning of the idiomatic phrase "penny wise and pound foolish".
A. insist on formal behavior
B. careful about small amounts but wasteful about larger ones
C. a difficult problem or person to deal with
D. boast about one's own achievements
Correct Answer: B
"penny wise and pound foolish" is an idiomatic expression meaning careful about small amounts but wasteful about larger ones.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct meaning of the idiomatic phrase "pay through the nose".
A. pay an excessively high price
B. pretended dislike of something one cannot obtain
C. a narrow escape from danger
D. people of similar character or interests
Correct Answer: A
"pay through the nose" is an idiomatic expression meaning pay an excessively high price.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct meaning of the idiomatic phrase "open secret".
A. suspect that something is wrong
B. competent and deserving of one's position
C. irrelevant to the matter being discussed
D. something supposedly secret but widely known
Correct Answer: D
"open secret" is an idiomatic expression meaning something supposedly secret but widely known.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct meaning of the idiomatic phrase "on thin ice".
A. show cowardice
B. everything possible or available
C. in a risky or delicate situation
D. an easy and pleasant situation
Correct Answer: C
"on thin ice" is an idiomatic expression meaning in a risky or delicate situation.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct meaning of the idiomatic phrase "off and on".
A. escape from danger or punishment
B. occasionally or intermittently
C. a costly possession that is difficult or useless to maintain
D. suffer the main force or impact of something
Correct Answer: B
"off and on" is an idiomatic expression meaning occasionally or intermittently.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct meaning of the idiomatic phrase "move heaven and earth".
A. make every possible effort
B. make someone's distress worse
C. survive a difficult period
D. with all one's belongings
Correct Answer: A
"move heaven and earth" is an idiomatic expression meaning make every possible effort.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct meaning of the idiomatic phrase "meet someone halfway".
A. perform well when facing a difficult challenge
B. a past matter that is no longer important
C. completely puzzled or distressed about what to do
D. make a compromise
Correct Answer: D
"meet someone halfway" is an idiomatic expression meaning make a compromise.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct meaning of the idiomatic phrase "make a clean breast of".
A. ordinary members of an organization
B. discuss private disputes publicly
C. confess fully
D. in a state of bitter hostility
Correct Answer: C
"make a clean breast of" is an idiomatic expression meaning confess fully.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct meaning of the idiomatic phrase "lion's share".
A. rain very heavily
B. the largest part
C. reverse a situation to gain advantage
D. unable to know what to do or say
Correct Answer: B
"lion's share" is an idiomatic expression meaning the largest part.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct meaning of the idiomatic phrase "know the ropes".
A. understand the procedures or details of a task
B. take a firm stand
C. with all possible effort and determination
D. a person who is especially loved or valued
Correct Answer: A
"know the ropes" is an idiomatic expression meaning understand the procedures or details of a task.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct meaning of the idiomatic phrase "kill two birds with one stone".
A. calm a difficult or tense situation
B. admit defeat and stop trying
C. a private reason or selfish motive for involvement
D. achieve two aims with one action
Correct Answer: D
"kill two birds with one stone" is an idiomatic expression meaning achieve two aims with one action.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct meaning of the idiomatic phrase "keep the wolf from the door".
A. careful about small amounts but wasteful about larger ones
B. discourage enthusiasm
C. have enough money to avoid hunger or serious poverty
D. make a bad situation worse
Correct Answer: C
"keep the wolf from the door" is an idiomatic expression meaning have enough money to avoid hunger or serious poverty.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct meaning of the idiomatic phrase "in the same boat".
A. pay an excessively high price
B. in the same difficult situation
C. the advantages and disadvantages
D. avoid or keep well away from
Correct Answer: B
"in the same boat" is an idiomatic expression meaning in the same difficult situation.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct meaning of the idiomatic phrase "in high spirits".
A. very cheerful
B. something supposedly secret but widely known
C. run away
D. hurt someone's feelings deeply
Correct Answer: A
"in high spirits" is an idiomatic expression meaning very cheerful.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct meaning of the idiomatic phrase "in cold blood".
A. in a risky or delicate situation
B. leave without permission
C. regardless of circumstances
D. deliberately and without emotion
Correct Answer: D
"in cold blood" is an idiomatic expression meaning deliberately and without emotion.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct meaning of the idiomatic phrase "in a nutshell".
A. occasionally or intermittently
B. take attention or credit away from someone
C. in a few words
D. make someone realize clearly
Correct Answer: C
"in a nutshell" is an idiomatic expression meaning in a few words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct meaning of the idiomatic phrase "hold one's tongue".
A. make every possible effort
B. remain silent
C. insist on formal behavior
D. enter into an argument or contest with
Correct Answer: B
"hold one's tongue" is an idiomatic expression meaning remain silent.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct meaning of the idiomatic phrase "have one's hands full".
A. be extremely busy
B. make a compromise
C. pretended dislike of something one cannot obtain
D. aristocratic birth
Correct Answer: A
"have one's hands full" is an idiomatic expression meaning be extremely busy.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct meaning of the idiomatic phrase "have a finger in every pie".
A. confess fully
B. suspect that something is wrong
C. a disreputable member of a family or group
D. be involved in many activities, often interfering
Correct Answer: D
"have a finger in every pie" is an idiomatic expression meaning be involved in many activities, often interfering.