Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Every dog has its day”?
A. to remain uncertain and capable of turning either way
B. to declare one's beliefs or intentions openly and firmly
C. everyone gets a chance for success at some time
D. to want two incompatible advantages at the same time
Correct Answer: C
“Every dog has its day” means everyone gets a chance for success at some time. Example: Do not lose hope; every dog has its day. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to send someone a short written message”?
A. Fall on deaf ears
B. Drop someone a line
C. Win laurels
D. Go bananas
Correct Answer: B
“Drop someone a line” means to send someone a short written message. Example: Drop me a line when you reach Lahore. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Down and out”?
A. without money, employment, or hope
B. exactly at the stated time
C. the principle of equal retaliation
D. to break a promise
Correct Answer: A
“Down and out” means without money, employment, or hope. Example: The charity assists people who are down and out. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “very similar in character or behavior”?
A. Throw down the gauntlet
B. Put words in someone's mouth
C. Come hell or high water
D. Cut from the same cloth
Correct Answer: D
“Cut from the same cloth” means very similar in character or behavior. Example: The two dishonest partners were cut from the same cloth. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Come clean”?
A. a near success is still a failure
B. slightly ill or not feeling well
C. to admit the truth about something
D. to be nervous, tense, or irritable
Correct Answer: C
“Come clean” means to admit the truth about something. Example: The employee finally came clean about the mistake. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Change one's tune”?
A. to make a bold or important decision after hesitation
B. to change one's opinion or manner, especially under pressure
C. to flatter or support people who are gaining power
D. to hope for good luck or a favorable result
Correct Answer: B
“Change one's tune” means to change one's opinion or manner, especially under pressure. Example: He changed his tune when confronted with the evidence. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “The bright headline caught my eye.”, what is the meaning of “Catch someone's eye”?
A. to attract someone's attention
B. to break a promise
C. to exaggerate greatly
D. to drive away very fast
Correct Answer: A
“Catch someone's eye” means to attract someone's attention. Example: The bright headline caught my eye. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “By a hair's breadth”?
A. exactly at the stated time
B. more importantly than anything else
C. to spend or contribute money
D. by a very small margin
Correct Answer: D
“By a hair's breadth” means by a very small margin. Example: He missed the top position by a hair's breadth. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to drive away very fast”?
A. Pull a fast one
B. Lend an ear
C. Burn rubber
D. No strings attached
Correct Answer: C
“Burn rubber” means to drive away very fast. Example: The car burned rubber as soon as the light turned green. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Bring home the truth”?
A. careful about small amounts but wasteful about large ones
B. to make the reality of something clear and forceful
C. too many people controlling a task can ruin it
D. to do something as fully or completely as possible
Correct Answer: B
“Bring home the truth” means to make the reality of something clear and forceful. Example: The accident brought home the truth about road safety. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Break the bank”?
A. to cost more money than one can afford
B. to give someone little attention, sympathy, or consideration
C. the crucial moment when an important action begins
D. to remain prepared for possible trouble or action
Correct Answer: A
“Break the bank” means to cost more money than one can afford. Example: A short local trip will not break the bank. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “The careless message blew the agent's cover.”, what is the meaning of “Blow one's cover”?
A. to risk everything in an attempt to succeed
B. to fail badly or suffer an unexpected fall
C. to prepare for trouble or a difficult situation
D. to reveal someone's hidden identity or secret role
Correct Answer: D
“Blow one's cover” means to reveal someone's hidden identity or secret role. Example: The careless message blew the agent's cover. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Be snowed under”?
A. in serious difficulty and likely to fail
B. to think carefully about something before deciding
C. to have too much work to do
D. to have many responsibilities or tasks
Correct Answer: C
“Be snowed under” means to have too much work to do. Example: The office is snowed under with applications. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to be nervous, tense, or irritable”?
A. Foot the bill
B. Be on edge
C. All in a day's work
D. Keep something at bay
Correct Answer: B
“Be on edge” means to be nervous, tense, or irritable. Example: Everyone was on edge while waiting for the decision. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Bad hair day”?
A. a day when many things seem to go wrong
B. to manage to survive financially or cope with difficulties
C. to change one's opinion or manner, especially under pressure
D. to accept an insult or bad treatment without resistance
Correct Answer: A
“Bad hair day” means a day when many things seem to go wrong. Example: After missing the bus and losing his wallet, he was having a bad hair day. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “a person who gives unwanted advice to someone doing a task”?
A. Burn rubber
B. Much ado about nothing
C. Go back on one's word
D. Backseat driver
Correct Answer: D
“Backseat driver” means a person who gives unwanted advice to someone doing a task. Example: Stop being a backseat driver and let me finish the work. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Add up”?
A. to reveal private information or secrets
B. to be nervous, tense, or irritable
C. to make sense or appear reasonable
D. to suffer a final and decisive defeat
Correct Answer: C
“Add up” means to make sense or appear reasonable. Example: His explanation simply does not add up. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “A wolf in sheep's clothing”?
A. to stop or destroy a plan, hope, or activity
B. a dangerous or dishonest person pretending to be harmless
C. to deal with a difficult situation requiring careful balance
D. to flatter or support people who are gaining power
Correct Answer: B
“A wolf in sheep's clothing” means a dangerous or dishonest person pretending to be harmless. Example: The friendly fraudster was a wolf in sheep's clothing. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “She avoids unnecessary spending because a penny saved is a penny earned.”, what is the meaning of “A penny saved is a penny earned”?
A. money saved is as valuable as money earned
B. to have more important matters to deal with
C. to work or study late into the night
D. to reject something because one considers it inferior
Correct Answer: A
“A penny saved is a penny earned” means money saved is as valuable as money earned. Example: She avoids unnecessary spending because a penny saved is a penny earned. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “A frog in one's throat”?
A. to try deliberately to attract or win a particular person
B. to decide the result or give one side the advantage
C. to leave someone responsible for a problem or blame
D. temporary difficulty in speaking because the throat is dry or irritated
Correct Answer: D
“A frog in one's throat” means temporary difficulty in speaking because the throat is dry or irritated. Example: He cleared his throat because he had a frog in it. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.