Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “A backup generator saved the day during the outage.”, what is the meaning of “Save the day”?
A. to undertake a dangerous or difficult task that others avoid
B. to achieve a series of easy victories or successes
C. something common, expected, or required at a particular time
D. to prevent failure or solve a serious problem at the last moment
Correct Answer: D
“Save the day” means to prevent failure or solve a serious problem at the last moment. Example: A backup generator saved the day during the outage. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Run short of”?
A. to have too little of something
B. to punish or hold someone responsible
C. through spoken communication rather than writing
D. to lose approval, status, or reputation
Correct Answer: A
“Run short of” means to have too little of something. Example: The hospital ran short of essential supplies. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to give someone the necessary information”?
A. A dead end
B. Put someone in the picture
C. Fair play
D. In a blue funk
Correct Answer: B
“Put someone in the picture” means to give someone the necessary information. Example: Please put the new officer in the picture before the meeting. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Play into someone's hands”?
A. to take a risk in the hope of success
B. to cooperate in thinking about or solving a problem
C. to act in a way that helps an opponent
D. from a very short distance or in close contact
Correct Answer: C
“Play into someone's hands” means to act in a way that helps an opponent. Example: Responding angrily would only play into their hands. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Out of the woods”?
A. an obstacle that prevents progress
B. to exclude or ignore someone
C. out of favor with someone
D. free from danger or difficulty
Correct Answer: D
“Out of the woods” means free from danger or difficulty. Example: The economy is improving, but it is not yet out of the woods. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “On no account should confidential data be shared.”, what is the meaning of “On no account”?
A. under no circumstances
B. an awkward or troublesome situation
C. to reach an agreement
D. to sound convincing or believable
Correct Answer: A
“On no account” means under no circumstances. Example: On no account should confidential data be shared. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Off the beaten track”?
A. out of favor with or in conflict with someone or something
B. away from the usual or commonly chosen route or method
C. a situation in which success may fail at the last moment
D. to behave as if one is more important than others
Correct Answer: B
“Off the beaten track” means away from the usual or commonly chosen route or method. Example: The researcher chose a topic off the beaten track. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to speak openly and directly about something”?
A. Bring to a head
B. Have a soft corner for
C. Make no bones about
D. Scratch the surface
Correct Answer: C
“Make no bones about” means to speak openly and directly about something. Example: She made no bones about opposing the proposal. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Keep the wolf at bay”?
A. a person who refuses to believe something without proof
B. to lose emotional control or collapse under pressure
C. to cooperate in thinking about or solving a problem
D. to prevent hunger, poverty, or danger from becoming serious
Correct Answer: D
“Keep the wolf at bay” means to prevent hunger, poverty, or danger from becoming serious. Example: Temporary work helped the family keep the wolf at bay. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “In the good books of”?
A. favored or approved by someone
B. to eat a great deal
C. having nothing particular to do
D. an embarrassing or shameful secret
Correct Answer: A
“In the good books of” means favored or approved by someone. Example: Consistent performance kept her in the good books of the supervisor. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “He was in a blue funk before the viva.”, what is the meaning of “In a blue funk”?
A. for the purpose or benefit of something
B. in a state of fear or depression
C. to infer the truth from available facts
D. to stop working or to die
Correct Answer: B
“In a blue funk” means in a state of fear or depression. Example: He was in a blue funk before the viva. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Hold one's own”?
A. having lost or spent money because of something
B. to react in an extremely angry or emotional way
C. to maintain one's position or perform well against others
D. to take a risk in the hope of success
Correct Answer: C
“Hold one's own” means to maintain one's position or perform well against others. Example: The new debater held her own against experienced opponents. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to have good intentions”?
A. Make a beeline for
B. Carry all before one
C. Out of the woods
D. Have one's heart in the right place
Correct Answer: D
“Have one's heart in the right place” means to have good intentions. Example: He sometimes makes mistakes, but his heart is in the right place. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Have a narrow escape”?
A. to barely avoid danger or failure
B. deeply involved or overwhelmed by something
C. to organize one's own affairs properly
D. to maintain interest, activity, or discussion
Correct Answer: A
“Have a narrow escape” means to barely avoid danger or failure. Example: The passengers had a narrow escape when the bus skidded. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Go to the wall”?
A. to finish or deal with something quickly
B. to fail or be destroyed, especially financially
C. to calm a disagreement or tense situation
D. to follow someone's example or guidance
Correct Answer: B
“Go to the wall” means to fail or be destroyed, especially financially. Example: Many small businesses went to the wall during the crisis. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “Nervousness got the better of him during the interview.”, what is the meaning of “Get the better of”?
A. to react in an extremely angry or emotional way
B. to behave as if one is more important than others
C. to defeat or gain an advantage over someone or something
D. for the same reason or in a similar way
Correct Answer: C
“Get the better of” means to defeat or gain an advantage over someone or something. Example: Nervousness got the better of him during the interview. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Fall from grace”?
A. to punish someone without legal authority
B. to exchange angry or argumentative words
C. very similar in character or type
D. to lose approval, status, or reputation
Correct Answer: D
“Fall from grace” means to lose approval, status, or reputation. Example: The once-popular official fell from grace after the scandal. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to accept the truth of a situation”?
A. Face the facts
B. In a blue funk
C. A matter of life and death
D. Keep one's head
Correct Answer: A
“Face the facts” means to accept the truth of a situation. Example: We must face the facts and revise the plan. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Cut someone dead”?
A. an embarrassing or shameful secret
B. to deliberately ignore someone
C. to find faults in something
D. an urgent and important issue
Correct Answer: B
“Cut someone dead” means to deliberately ignore someone. Example: After the quarrel, he cut his former friend dead. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Come to light”?
A. to disappear or change very slowly
B. to make someone understand something clearly
C. to become known or be discovered
D. a secretly treacherous or deceitful person
Correct Answer: C
“Come to light” means to become known or be discovered. Example: Several facts came to light during the inquiry. Exam tip: Remember the core sense of the expression rather than its literal words.