Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “He still carries a torch for his childhood friend.”, what is the meaning of “Carry a torch for”?
A. to watch or pressure someone very closely
B. to ruin someone's plans, chances, or position
C. to make brief contact to exchange information
D. to continue having romantic feelings for someone
Correct Answer: D
“Carry a torch for” means to continue having romantic feelings for someone. Example: He still carries a torch for his childhood friend. 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 “Calm before the storm”?
A. a quiet period before serious activity or trouble
B. to flee from danger or an unpleasant situation
C. to relax or avoid excessive effort or worry
D. every possible method, including clever or questionable ones
Correct Answer: A
“Calm before the storm” means a quiet period before serious activity or trouble. Example: The silence before the announcement felt like the calm before the storm. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “by a very small margin”?
A. As old as the hills
B. By a whisker
C. Know something by heart
D. Pull no punches
Correct Answer: B
“By a whisker” means by a very small margin. Example: She missed the top position by a whisker. 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 “Butter someone up”?
A. not comparable because one is much better or worse
B. to become deeply involved in an interesting task
C. to flatter someone in order to gain a favor
D. to be unintentionally neglected or missed by a system
Correct Answer: C
“Butter someone up” means to flatter someone in order to gain a favor. Example: He tried to butter up the interviewer with excessive praise. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to destroy someone's happy but unrealistic belief”?
A. Off one's chest
B. Devil is in the details
C. In plain English
D. Burst someone's bubble
Correct Answer: D
“Burst someone's bubble” means to destroy someone's happy but unrealistic belief. Example: I hate to burst your bubble, but the offer is not guaranteed. 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 “Brush something under the carpet”?
A. to hide or ignore an embarrassing problem
B. provided free of charge by a business
C. to think creatively in an unconventional way
D. in very good health and physical condition
Correct Answer: A
“Brush something under the carpet” means to hide or ignore an embarrassing problem. Example: The inquiry refused to brush the complaint under the carpet. 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 “Bring someone to their knees”?
A. fully informed or performing at the required level
B. to defeat or weaken someone or something severely
C. to accept a situation and adapt without resistance
D. to treat someone badly because they do not resist
Correct Answer: B
“Bring someone to their knees” means to defeat or weaken someone or something severely. Example: The prolonged crisis brought several firms to their knees. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “New funding breathed new life into the research program.”, what is the meaning of “Breathe new life into”?
A. directly from personal experience or the original source
B. put into a difficult situation without preparation
C. to make something active, successful, or interesting again
D. a person who looks almost exactly like another
Correct Answer: C
“Breathe new life into” means to make something active, successful, or interesting again. Example: New funding breathed new life into the research program. 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 “Breathe down someone's neck”?
A. involved in something too difficult to manage
B. extremely irritated or close to losing patience
C. good value or benefit for the money spent
D. to watch or pressure someone very closely
Correct Answer: D
“Breathe down someone's neck” means to watch or pressure someone very closely. Example: The manager was breathing down the team's neck before the deadline. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to do something in a new and different way”?
A. Break the mould
B. Out of one's league
C. Lose face
D. In over one's head
Correct Answer: A
“Break the mould” means to do something in a new and different way. Example: The young administrator broke the mould with an innovative system. 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 “Blood, sweat and tears”?
A. to occur briefly as a thought
B. very hard physical or emotional effort
C. to wait patiently without taking action
D. something difficult to request or achieve
Correct Answer: B
“Blood, sweat and tears” means very hard physical or emotional effort. Example: The project succeeded through years of blood, sweat and tears. 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 “Blind leading the blind”?
A. to reveal one's deepest thoughts and feelings
B. to interpret or apply rules less strictly
C. an inexperienced person guiding another inexperienced person
D. to continue having romantic feelings for someone
Correct Answer: C
“Blind leading the blind” means an inexperienced person guiding another inexperienced person. Example: Neither understood the system; it was the blind leading the blind. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “No department should be given a blank cheque without oversight.”, what is the meaning of “Blank cheque”?
A. with understanding gained after an event has happened
B. to give one's opinion, even if not requested
C. to think creatively in an unconventional way
D. unlimited authority or freedom to spend or act
Correct Answer: D
“Blank cheque” means unlimited authority or freedom to spend or act. Example: No department should be given a blank cheque without oversight. 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 “Bite one's tongue”?
A. to stop oneself from saying something
B. to face a very difficult struggle
C. following a correct or promising course
D. very gentle and unlikely to harm anyone
Correct Answer: A
“Bite one's tongue” means to stop oneself from saying something. Example: She bit her tongue rather than argue with the examiner. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “the overall situation rather than small details”?
A. All hell breaks loose
B. Big picture
C. All over the map
D. Have a blast
Correct Answer: B
“Big picture” means the overall situation rather than small details. Example: Do not lose sight of the big picture while checking minor errors. 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 “Beside the point”?
A. a particular area or neighborhood
B. to begin performing confidently and effectively
C. irrelevant to the main issue
D. in simple and clear language
Correct Answer: C
“Beside the point” means irrelevant to the main issue. Example: Whether he was tired is beside the point; the deadline was clear. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to interpret or apply rules less strictly”?
A. At a premium
B. Between a rock and a hard place
C. Face up to
D. Bend the rules
Correct Answer: D
“Bend the rules” means to interpret or apply rules less strictly. Example: Officials must not bend the rules for favored applicants. 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 “Bells and whistles”?
A. extra attractive features that are not essential
B. to give permission for something to proceed
C. an inexperienced person guiding another inexperienced person
D. final success after being doubted or mocked
Correct Answer: A
“Bells and whistles” means extra attractive features that are not essential. Example: The software has many bells and whistles but lacks stability. 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 “Beat someone to the punch”?
A. a situation in which contradictory rules make a solution impossible
B. to act before someone else can do the same thing
C. to talk to someone at length, often about a problem
D. to understand the mood and reactions of people present
Correct Answer: B
“Beat someone to the punch” means to act before someone else can do the same thing. Example: Our competitor beat us to the punch and launched first. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “Months of preparation finally bore fruit.”, what is the meaning of “Bear fruit”?
A. certainly; with permission or without hesitation
B. to keep something secret or hidden
C. to produce successful or useful results
D. to pursue unrealistic or impossible goals
Correct Answer: C
“Bear fruit” means to produce successful or useful results. Example: Months of preparation finally bore fruit. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.