CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Rise to the occasion”?
A. to perform well in a difficult or important situation
B. to admit that what one said was wrong
C. a weak or unstable plan or organization likely to collapse
D. to withdraw or leave quickly, especially after difficulty
Correct Answer: A
“Rise to the occasion” means to perform well in a difficult or important situation. Example: The young player rose to the occasion in the final.
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Idioms
In the sentence “I cannot quite put my finger on what is wrong.”, what does the idiom “Put one's finger on” mean?
A. to reduce someone's confidence, enthusiasm, or advantage
B. to identify the exact cause or problem
C. to become less active or less important
D. to fight or compete with great determination
Correct Answer: B
“Put one's finger on” means to identify the exact cause or problem. Example: I cannot quite put my finger on what is wrong.
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Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Pull strings”?
A. to harm one's own interests through one's actions
B. to refuse to change one's position or opinion
C. to use influence or connections to achieve something
D. to admit that what one said was wrong
Correct Answer: C
“Pull strings” means to use influence or connections to achieve something. Example: He pulled strings to get an early appointment.
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Idioms
Which idiom means “to shift responsibility to someone else”?
A. Chew the fat
B. In high spirits
C. Fly off the handle
D. Pass the buck
Correct Answer: D
“Pass the buck” means to shift responsibility to someone else. Example: Do not pass the buck; take responsibility for the error.
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Idioms
In the sentence “He felt out of his depth in the advanced statistics class.”, what does the idiom “Out of one's depth” mean?
A. in a situation too difficult for one's knowledge or ability
B. to unite in support or defense against criticism or attack
C. a very small amount compared with what is needed
D. to complete the most difficult part of a task
Correct Answer: A
“Out of one's depth” means in a situation too difficult for one's knowledge or ability. Example: He felt out of his depth in the advanced statistics class.
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Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Make one's blood boil”?
A. to want something very much
B. to make someone extremely angry
C. to become increasingly worse
D. as much as one wants
Correct Answer: B
“Make one's blood boil” means to make someone extremely angry. Example: The unfair accusation made my blood boil.
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Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Learn the hard way”?
A. in a difficult situation with few choices
B. to give a severe warning or reprimand
C. to learn through difficult or unpleasant experience
D. to keep changing one's attitude or opinion
Correct Answer: C
“Learn the hard way” means to learn through difficult or unpleasant experience. Example: He learned the hard way that deadlines matter.
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Idioms
In the sentence “It is time to lay our cards on the table.”, what does the idiom “Lay one's cards on the table” mean?
A. to fight or compete with great determination
B. to discuss the most important practical details
C. over a long period of time; eventually
D. to state one's intentions or facts openly
Correct Answer: D
“Lay one's cards on the table” means to state one's intentions or facts openly. Example: It is time to lay our cards on the table.
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Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Keep the ball rolling”?
A. to maintain the progress of an activity or conversation
B. to avoid changing something that is already satisfactory
C. trouble or conflict appears likely to happen soon
D. to perform well in a difficult or important situation
Correct Answer: A
“Keep the ball rolling” means to maintain the progress of an activity or conversation. Example: A follow-up meeting will keep the ball rolling.
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Idioms
Which idiom means “to keep one's plans, ideas, or feelings secret”?
A. Be all thumbs
B. Keep one's cards close to one's chest
C. Show one's true colors
D. Hit the ceiling
Correct Answer: B
“Keep one's cards close to one's chest” means to keep one's plans, ideas, or feelings secret. Example: The negotiator kept his cards close to his chest.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “In one's element”?
A. to take advantage of an opportunity while it lasts
B. to understand or accept something after a period of confusion
C. in a situation one enjoys and is naturally good at
D. to speak plainly and directly, even if the truth is unpleasant
Correct Answer: C
“In one's element” means in a situation one enjoys and is naturally good at. Example: She was in her element while teaching the workshop.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “The boss hit the ceiling when he saw the mistake.”, what does the idiom “Hit the ceiling” mean?
A. unharmed and secure
B. honest, open, and legitimate
C. very calm and composed
D. to become extremely angry
Correct Answer: D
“Hit the ceiling” means to become extremely angry. Example: The boss hit the ceiling when he saw the mistake.
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Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Have one's heart in one's mouth”?
A. to be extremely frightened or anxious
B. to be regarded favorably by someone
C. to do something innovative or pioneering
D. to save money for future difficulties
Correct Answer: A
“Have one's heart in one's mouth” means to be extremely frightened or anxious. Example: I had my heart in my mouth as the car skidded.
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Idioms
Which idiom means “to stop working properly or become chaotic”?
A. Blow hot and cold
B. Go haywire
C. In the doldrums
D. Birds of a feather
Correct Answer: B
“Go haywire” means to stop working properly or become chaotic. Example: The computer system went haywire after the update.
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Idioms
In the sentence “She gave the driver a piece of her mind.”, what does the idiom “Give someone a piece of one's mind” mean?
A. a very small amount compared with what is needed
B. to be common among members of the same family
C. to tell someone angrily what one thinks of their behavior
D. to unite in support or defense against criticism or attack
Correct Answer: C
“Give someone a piece of one's mind” means to tell someone angrily what one thinks of their behavior. Example: She gave the driver a piece of her mind.
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Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Get on someone's nerves”?
A. completely well or healthy again
B. in serious trouble or difficulty
C. to be extremely busy
D. to annoy or irritate someone
Correct Answer: D
“Get on someone's nerves” means to annoy or irritate someone. Example: That constant tapping is getting on my nerves.
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Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Fall foul of”?
A. to get into trouble with a person, rule, or authority
B. to be the person who makes the important decisions
C. to perform well in a difficult or important situation
D. to suffer the main force or worst part of something unpleasant
Correct Answer: A
“Fall foul of” means to get into trouble with a person, rule, or authority. Example: The company fell foul of environmental regulations.
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Idioms
In the sentence “The director dropped a bombshell by announcing his resignation.”, what does the idiom “Drop a bombshell” mean?
A. to boast about one's own achievements
B. to announce shocking or surprising news
C. to shift responsibility to someone else
D. to wait for a long time
Correct Answer: B
“Drop a bombshell” means to announce shocking or surprising news. Example: The director dropped a bombshell by announcing his resignation.
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Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Die in harness”?
A. to annoy or irritate someone greatly
B. to keep changing one's attitude or opinion
C. to continue working until one's death
D. the very early hours after midnight
Correct Answer: C
“Die in harness” means to continue working until one's death. Example: The dedicated teacher died in harness.
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Idioms
Which idiom means “to attend to someone constantly in order to please them”?
A. Lay one's cards on the table
B. Go from bad to worse
C. Call the shots
D. Dance attendance on
Correct Answer: D
“Dance attendance on” means to attend to someone constantly in order to please them. Example: He refused to dance attendance on the visiting official.