Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Green thumb”?
A. an important or influential person
B. exactly at the stated time
C. natural skill in growing plants
D. to perform much better than someone
Correct Answer: C
“Green thumb” means natural skill in growing plants. Example: Her beautiful garden shows that she has a green thumb. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to be too difficult for someone to understand”?
A. Run like clockwork
B. Go over someone's head
C. A wolf in sheep's clothing
D. Run rings around
Correct Answer: B
“Go over someone's head” means to be too difficult for someone to understand. Example: The technical explanation went over my head. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Go out on a limb”?
A. to take a risk by supporting an unpopular idea or person
B. to go out and celebrate in a lively way
C. a person who gives unwanted advice to someone doing a task
D. to begin a serious task and commit oneself to it
Correct Answer: A
“Go out on a limb” means to take a risk by supporting an unpopular idea or person. Example: She went out on a limb to defend the reform. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to suddenly begin discussing a different subject”?
A. Add up
B. Touch bottom
C. Take up the cudgels for
D. Go off at a tangent
Correct Answer: D
“Go off at a tangent” means to suddenly begin discussing a different subject. Example: The speaker went off at a tangent and forgot the main issue. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Go for broke”?
A. a great deal of fuss over something unimportant
B. family relationships are often stronger than other relationships
C. to risk everything in an attempt to succeed
D. to have all the advantages in a situation
Correct Answer: C
“Go for broke” means to risk everything in an attempt to succeed. Example: With one chance left, the candidate decided to go for broke. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Go bananas”?
A. a near success is still a failure
B. to become extremely excited, angry, or irrational
C. to accept a difficult or unpleasant reality
D. to regard someone or something as inferior
Correct Answer: B
“Go bananas” means to become extremely excited, angry, or irrational. Example: The crowd went bananas when the team scored. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “The suspect gave the police the slip.”, what is the meaning of “Give someone the slip”?
A. to escape from someone following or watching you
B. to have all the advantages in a situation
C. to understand someone's thoughts or intentions very easily
D. to be the dominant decision-maker in a relationship
Correct Answer: A
“Give someone the slip” means to escape from someone following or watching you. Example: The suspect gave the police the slip. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Give the game away”?
A. a past event that is no longer important
B. to seek approval by flattering or pleasing someone
C. money saved is as valuable as money earned
D. to reveal a secret or true intention unintentionally
Correct Answer: D
“Give the game away” means to reveal a secret or true intention unintentionally. Example: His nervous expression gave the game away. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to receive an unfair or disadvantageous outcome”?
A. Too many cooks spoil the broth
B. Run rings around
C. Get the short end of the stick
D. Take the plunge
Correct Answer: C
“Get the short end of the stick” means to receive an unfair or disadvantageous outcome. Example: Junior workers got the short end of the stick in the new policy. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Get one's act together”?
A. to think carefully about something before deciding
B. to organize oneself and start behaving effectively
C. to have too much work to do
D. to remain proud and confident in difficulty
Correct Answer: B
“Get one's act together” means to organize oneself and start behaving effectively. Example: You need to get your act together before the final exam. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Get a foot in the door”?
A. to gain an initial opportunity that may lead to greater success
B. a person or thing one is very pleased or relieved to see
C. to delay a decision until one has had time to think
D. to reject, abandon, or refuse to help someone or something
Correct Answer: A
“Get a foot in the door” means to gain an initial opportunity that may lead to greater success. Example: An internship can help graduates get a foot in the door. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “The department agreed to foot the bill for the repairs.”, what is the meaning of “Foot the bill”?
A. to cause surprise, shock, or disapproval
B. to make the best possible impression
C. slightly ill or not feeling well
D. to pay the cost of something
Correct Answer: D
“Foot the bill” means to pay the cost of something. Example: The department agreed to foot the bill for the repairs. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Fish in troubled waters”?
A. to solve a very difficult problem by decisive action
B. considered too low or unworthy for one's status
C. to take advantage of a confused or difficult situation
D. to become confident and comfortable in a new situation
Correct Answer: C
“Fish in troubled waters” means to take advantage of a confused or difficult situation. Example: Some traders tried to fish in troubled waters during the shortage. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “more importantly than anything else”?
A. Pull the plug
B. First and foremost
C. Too many cooks spoil the broth
D. Put one's hand to the plough
Correct Answer: B
“First and foremost” means more importantly than anything else. Example: First and foremost, candidates must read the question carefully. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Find one's feet”?
A. to become confident and comfortable in a new situation
B. to deal with a difficult situation requiring careful balance
C. to make the reality of something clear and forceful
D. careful about small amounts but wasteful about large ones
Correct Answer: A
“Find one's feet” means to become confident and comfortable in a new situation. Example: It took the new officer a month to find his feet. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to experience financial difficulty”?
A. Show one's hand
B. Have many irons in the fire
C. Hang up one's boots
D. Feel the pinch
Correct Answer: D
“Feel the pinch” means to experience financial difficulty. Example: Low-income families are feeling the pinch of rising prices. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Fall on deaf ears”?
A. to regard someone or something as inferior
B. to earn a very large profit quickly
C. to be ignored or not listened to
D. to reduce spending because money is scarce
Correct Answer: C
“Fall on deaf ears” means to be ignored or not listened to. Example: Repeated warnings fell on deaf ears. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Face value”?
A. every part of a place, including hidden areas
B. the apparent or stated value without deeper examination
C. continuing longer than expected before an inevitable end
D. the final event that causes failure or destruction
Correct Answer: B
“Face value” means the apparent or stated value without deeper examination. Example: Do not take every political promise at face value. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “He predicted failure but later had to eat crow.”, what is the meaning of “Eat crow”?
A. to admit that one was wrong after being proved mistaken
B. to do something as fully or completely as possible
C. to take advantage of a favorable opportunity while it lasts
D. to hide one's real difficulties and maintain an outward image
Correct Answer: A
“Eat crow” means to admit that one was wrong after being proved mistaken. Example: He predicted failure but later had to eat crow. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Draw first blood”?
A. to pretend to be confident despite fear or difficulty
B. to begin a serious task and commit oneself to it
C. to want two incompatible advantages at the same time
D. to gain the first advantage in a contest or conflict
Correct Answer: D
“Draw first blood” means to gain the first advantage in a contest or conflict. Example: The opposition drew first blood by winning the opening debate. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.