Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “For keeps”?
A. to experience complete silence
B. extremely thin
C. by a very small margin
D. permanently or seriously
Correct Answer: D
“For keeps” means permanently or seriously. Example: This time the change appears to be for keeps. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “something worth thinking about carefully”?
A. Food for thought
B. Blood, sweat and tears
C. Daylight robbery
D. Get a second wind
Correct Answer: A
“Food for thought” means something worth thinking about carefully. Example: The report provides plenty of food for thought. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Feast or famine”?
A. to attract a lot of attention or make a strong impression
B. a situation with either too much or too little and nothing in between
C. the most important matters should be dealt with before others
D. to act cleverly so as to achieve a desired result
Correct Answer: B
“Feast or famine” means a situation with either too much or too little and nothing in between. Example: Freelance work can be feast or famine. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Dog-eat-dog”?
A. sad or discouraged
B. to work extremely hard
C. fiercely competitive and ruthless
D. temporarily given low priority
Correct Answer: C
“Dog-eat-dog” means fiercely competitive and ruthless. Example: The industry has become a dog-eat-dog environment. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “He is a dead ringer for his father.”, what is the meaning of “Dead ringer”?
A. other situations often seem better than one's own
B. a person or thing widely mocked or ridiculed
C. while acting under strong emotion without enough thought
D. a person who looks almost exactly like another
Correct Answer: D
“Dead ringer” means a person who looks almost exactly like another. Example: He is a dead ringer for his father. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Cross to bear”?
A. a difficult responsibility or problem one must endure
B. in an uncertain state while awaiting a decision
C. to defeat or weaken someone or something severely
D. not allowed to be entered, used, or discussed
Correct Answer: A
“Cross to bear” means a difficult responsibility or problem one must endure. Example: Caring for the old property became his cross to bear. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to criticize or scold someone severely”?
A. On top of things
B. Chew someone out
C. Fed up to the back teeth
D. Go under
Correct Answer: B
“Chew someone out” means to criticize or scold someone severely. Example: The supervisor chewed him out for missing the deadline. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Catch-22”?
A. to return to the original position or situation after changes
B. to act cleverly so as to achieve a desired result
C. a situation in which contradictory rules make a solution impossible
D. to respond to someone with sudden anger or criticism
Correct Answer: C
“Catch-22” means a situation in which contradictory rules make a solution impossible. Example: He faced a Catch-22: experience was required for jobs, but he needed a job to gain experience. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “a dangerously or extremely fast speed”?
A. Cut someone down to size
B. Goody two-shoes
C. Caught off guard
D. Breakneck speed
Correct Answer: D
“Breakneck speed” means a dangerously or extremely fast speed. Example: The car raced down the road at breakneck speed. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Between a rock and a hard place”?
A. forced to choose between two difficult options
B. to reveal one's deepest thoughts and feelings
C. to pursue unrealistic or impossible goals
D. to make brief contact to exchange information
Correct Answer: A
“Between a rock and a hard place” means forced to choose between two difficult options. Example: The manager was caught between a rock and a hard place. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Baker's dozen”?
A. completely and beyond doubt
B. thirteen items
C. smiling very broadly
D. very busy and active
Correct Answer: B
“Baker's dozen” means thirteen items. Example: The shopkeeper gave us a baker's dozen of rolls. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “The neglected worker felt he was living a dog's life.”, what is the meaning of “A dog's life”?
A. the lowest possible level or point
B. to keep something secret or hidden
C. a very unhappy or difficult life
D. beyond one's ability, status, or level
Correct Answer: C
“A dog's life” means a very unhappy or difficult life. Example: The neglected worker felt he was living a dog's life. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Yellow streak”?
A. someone finally understands something
B. something very easy to do
C. without preparation or planning
D. a tendency toward cowardice
Correct Answer: D
“Yellow streak” means a tendency toward cowardice. Example: His refusal to act under pressure revealed a yellow streak. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “very gentle and unlikely to harm anyone”?
A. Wouldn't hurt a fly
B. Head in the clouds
C. Caught off guard
D. Hang one's hat on
Correct Answer: A
“Wouldn't hurt a fly” means very gentle and unlikely to harm anyone. Example: Despite his size, he would not hurt a fly. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Work wonders”?
A. one suddenly feels disappointed, worried, or discouraged
B. to produce very good or surprising results
C. a completely different situation with new conditions
D. to state rules firmly and demand obedience
Correct Answer: B
“Work wonders” means to produce very good or surprising results. Example: A short break can work wonders for concentration. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Whole ball of wax”?
A. to organize everything properly before acting
B. following a correct or promising course
C. the whole of something; everything involved
D. put into a difficult situation without preparation
Correct Answer: C
“Whole ball of wax” means the whole of something; everything involved. Example: The contract covers salaries, travel, equipment—the whole ball of wax. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “By noon, the event was well and truly underway.”, what is the meaning of “Well and truly”?
A. very busy and active
B. something worth thinking about carefully
C. immediately and without hesitation
D. completely and beyond doubt
Correct Answer: D
“Well and truly” means completely and beyond doubt. Example: By noon, the event was well and truly underway. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Walk all over someone”?
A. to treat someone badly because they do not resist
B. an experience that reveals surprising facts or changes understanding
C. the most powerful or important person in a group
D. with understanding gained after an event has happened
Correct Answer: A
“Walk all over someone” means to treat someone badly because they do not resist. Example: Do not let people walk all over you. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to feel extremely happy”?
A. Break a sweat
B. Walk on air
C. Blood, sweat and tears
D. Fall into place
Correct Answer: B
“Walk on air” means to feel extremely happy. Example: He was walking on air after receiving the promotion. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Up to speed”?
A. the most powerful or important person in a group
B. unlimited authority or freedom to spend or act
C. fully informed or performing at the required level
D. put into a difficult situation without preparation
Correct Answer: C
“Up to speed” means fully informed or performing at the required level. Example: The new employee was quickly brought up to speed. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.