Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “a person with good qualities that are not yet polished or obvious”?
A. Throw someone a lifeline
B. Sell like hot cakes
C. A diamond in the rough
D. Burn the midnight candle
Correct Answer: C
“A diamond in the rough” means a person with good qualities that are not yet polished or obvious. Example: The new recruit is a diamond in the rough. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “A couch potato”?
A. to leave someone responsible for a problem or blame
B. a person who spends a lot of time sitting and watching television
C. to decide the result or give one side the advantage
D. to delay a decision until one has had time to think
Correct Answer: B
“A couch potato” means a person who spends a lot of time sitting and watching television. Example: He became a couch potato during the holidays. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “A chip off the old block”?
A. a person very similar in character to a parent
B. to declare one's beliefs or intentions openly and firmly
C. to reveal someone's hidden identity or secret role
D. to pretend to be confident despite fear or difficulty
Correct Answer: A
“A chip off the old block” means a person very similar in character to a parent. Example: The young lawyer is a chip off the old block. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “He behaved like a bull in a china shop during the negotiations.”, what is the meaning of “A bull in a china shop”?
A. to admit that one was wrong after being proved mistaken
B. to stop support for or bring an activity to an end
C. to make the reality of something clear and forceful
D. a clumsy person who causes damage or trouble in a delicate situation
Correct Answer: D
“A bull in a china shop” means a clumsy person who causes damage or trouble in a delicate situation. Example: He behaved like a bull in a china shop during the negotiations. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Water under the bridge”?
A. to stay alert for new information or changes
B. to take responsibility temporarily while others are absent
C. a past event that is no longer important
D. to have more important matters to deal with
Correct Answer: C
“Water under the bridge” means a past event that is no longer important. Example: The old dispute is water under the bridge now. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to act very carefully to avoid upsetting someone”?
A. Read someone like a book
B. Walk on eggshells
C. A chip off the old block
D. Plough a lonely furrow
Correct Answer: B
“Walk on eggshells” means to act very carefully to avoid upsetting someone. Example: Staff felt they were walking on eggshells around the angry manager. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Turn up one's nose at”?
A. to reject something because one considers it inferior
B. the final event that causes failure or destruction
C. the least undesirable option in an unfavorable situation
D. a great deal of fuss over something unimportant
Correct Answer: A
“Turn up one's nose at” means to reject something because one considers it inferior. Example: Do not turn up your nose at an entry-level opportunity. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to reduce the intensity or unpleasantness of something”?
A. Curry favour
B. Don't count your chickens before they hatch
C. Come hell or high water
D. Take the edge off
Correct Answer: D
“Take the edge off” means to reduce the intensity or unpleasantness of something. Example: A short break took the edge off his fatigue. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Rule the roost”?
A. an incompetent person often blames equipment or circumstances for failure
B. to wait and observe how a situation develops before acting
C. to be the person who controls a group or situation
D. to buy or accept something without examining it properly
Correct Answer: C
“Rule the roost” means to be the person who controls a group or situation. Example: In that department, the senior clerk rules the roost. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Put paid to”?
A. to flatter or support people who are gaining power
B. to stop or destroy a plan, hope, or activity
C. to do something as fully or completely as possible
D. to stop an unsuccessful activity before losing even more
Correct Answer: B
“Put paid to” means to stop or destroy a plan, hope, or activity. Example: Heavy rain put paid to the outdoor event. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “With video evidence, it looked like an open-and-shut case.”, what is the meaning of “Open-and-shut case”?
A. a case that is easy to decide because the facts are clear
B. to hide one's real difficulties and maintain an outward image
C. with very little chance of success and relying mainly on hope
D. to take a risk by supporting an unpopular idea or person
Correct Answer: A
“Open-and-shut case” means a case that is easy to decide because the facts are clear. Example: With video evidence, it looked like an open-and-shut case. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “On borrowed time”?
A. not something one enjoys or feels comfortable with
B. to give someone little attention, sympathy, or consideration
C. to have more important matters to deal with
D. continuing longer than expected before an inevitable end
Correct Answer: D
“On borrowed time” means continuing longer than expected before an inevitable end. Example: The failing machine is running on borrowed time. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “not something one enjoys or feels comfortable with”?
A. On top of the world
B. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link
C. Not one's scene
D. Make one's blood run cold
Correct Answer: C
“Not one's scene” means not something one enjoys or feels comfortable with. Example: Large formal parties are not really my scene. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Much ado about nothing”?
A. to remain prepared for possible trouble or action
B. a great deal of fuss over something unimportant
C. to take responsibility temporarily while others are absent
D. the final event that causes failure or destruction
Correct Answer: B
“Much ado about nothing” means a great deal of fuss over something unimportant. Example: The controversy turned out to be much ado about nothing. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Make hay while the sun shines”?
A. to take advantage of a favorable opportunity while it lasts
B. to be the first to accuse or condemn another person
C. to go out and celebrate in a lively way
D. to try deliberately to attract or win a particular person
Correct Answer: A
“Make hay while the sun shines” means to take advantage of a favorable opportunity while it lasts. Example: Applications are open now, so make hay while the sun shines. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “The commander advised the troops to keep their powder dry.”, what is the meaning of “Keep one's powder dry”?
A. to reveal a secret or true intention unintentionally
B. every part of a place, including hidden areas
C. to forget past disagreements and forgive one another
D. to remain prepared for possible trouble or action
Correct Answer: D
“Keep one's powder dry” means to remain prepared for possible trouble or action. Example: The commander advised the troops to keep their powder dry. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Have one's cake and eat it too”?
A. to return to the simplest and most important principles
B. to solve a very difficult problem by decisive action
C. to want two incompatible advantages at the same time
D. too many people controlling a task can ruin it
Correct Answer: C
“Have one's cake and eat it too” means to want two incompatible advantages at the same time. Example: He wants lower taxes and more services, but cannot have his cake and eat it too. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to make the best possible impression”?
A. A miss is as good as a mile
B. Put one's best foot forward
C. Bite the dust
D. Hold one's breath
Correct Answer: B
“Put one's best foot forward” means to make the best possible impression. Example: Put your best foot forward in the interview. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Keep up appearances”?
A. to hide one's real difficulties and maintain an outward image
B. to go out and celebrate in a lively way
C. temporary difficulty in speaking because the throat is dry or irritated
D. to stop an unsuccessful activity before losing even more
Correct Answer: A
“Keep up appearances” means to hide one's real difficulties and maintain an outward image. Example: Though deeply in debt, the family tried to keep up appearances. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to damage someone's reputation so that everything they do is judged negatively”?
A. Keep one's head above water
B. Off colour
C. Have a bee in one's bonnet
D. Give a dog a bad name
Correct Answer: D
“Give a dog a bad name” means to damage someone's reputation so that everything they do is judged negatively. Example: Once you give a dog a bad name, people interpret every mistake against him. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.