CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Work like a dog”?
A. to work extremely hard
B. to compromise with someone
C. to annoy or irritate someone
D. for now; temporarily
Correct Answer: A
“Work like a dog” means to work extremely hard. Example: He worked like a dog to meet the deadline.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “The villagers welcomed the visitors with open arms.”, what does the idiom “With open arms” mean?
A. very calm and composed
B. warmly and enthusiastically
C. very cheerful and lively
D. suddenly and without advance planning
Correct Answer: B
“With open arms” means warmly and enthusiastically. Example: The villagers welcomed the visitors with open arms.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Wet blanket”?
A. to identify the exact cause or problem
B. to pass from one owner to another
C. a person who spoils other people's enjoyment
D. to fail to have the intended effect
Correct Answer: C
“Wet blanket” means a person who spoils other people's enjoyment. Example: Do not be a wet blanket; join the celebration.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom means “wealthy or financially comfortable”?
A. Go to the dogs
B. A needle in a haystack
C. Eat one's words
D. Well off
Correct Answer: D
“Well off” means wealthy or financially comfortable. Example: Her family is quite well off.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “The company managed to weather the storm.”, what does the idiom “Weather the storm” mean?
A. to survive a difficult period or crisis
B. to ignore an unpleasant fact or problem
C. to enrich oneself, especially dishonestly or selfishly
D. to survive with only the basic necessities
Correct Answer: A
“Weather the storm” means to survive a difficult period or crisis. Example: The company managed to weather the storm.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Wash dirty linen in public”?
A. slightly unwell, annoyed, or not feeling one's usual self
B. to discuss private family or organizational problems openly in public
C. a person with a lot of experience in a particular activity
D. to be contrary to one's natural inclination or accepted practice
Correct Answer: B
“Wash dirty linen in public” means to discuss private family or organizational problems openly in public. Example: They should solve the dispute privately instead of washing dirty linen in public.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Up to the mark”?
A. a dishonest or improper way of acting
B. to make a poor or embarrassing impression
C. good enough or meeting the required standard
D. over a long period of time; eventually
Correct Answer: C
“Up to the mark” means good enough or meeting the required standard. Example: His latest work is not up to the mark.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “The keys were right under my nose.”, what does the idiom “Under one's nose” mean?
A. to work hard and make a determined effort
B. to get into trouble or a difficult situation
C. to begin dealing seriously with a difficult problem
D. in an obvious place or very close by
Correct Answer: D
“Under one's nose” means in an obvious place or very close by. Example: The keys were right under my nose.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Turn a deaf ear”?
A. to refuse to listen or pay attention
B. to pass from one owner to another
C. in a difficult situation with few choices
D. to abandon someone in a difficult situation
Correct Answer: A
“Turn a deaf ear” means to refuse to listen or pay attention. Example: The authorities turned a deaf ear to the complaints.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom means “uncertain and risky, with the outcome in doubt”?
A. Put one's finger on
B. Touch and go
C. Leave well enough alone
D. Go haywire
Correct Answer: B
“Touch and go” means uncertain and risky, with the outcome in doubt. Example: For a while, the patient's condition was touch and go.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “To one's heart's content”?
A. in a difficult situation without help
B. to annoy or irritate someone
C. as much as one wants
D. to become independent and self-reliant
Correct Answer: C
“To one's heart's content” means as much as one wants. Example: The children played to their heart's content.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “His negative comments threw cold water on the plan.”, what does the idiom “Throw cold water on” mean?
A. to discuss the most important practical details
B. a person who spoils other people's enjoyment
C. a story that sounds suspicious or unbelievable
D. to discourage an idea or reduce enthusiasm
Correct Answer: D
“Throw cold water on” means to discourage an idea or reduce enthusiasm. Example: His negative comments threw cold water on the plan.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “The writing on the wall”?
A. a clear sign that something bad or unsuccessful is likely to happen
B. to maintain the progress of an activity or conversation
C. to use one's power or influence in an unpleasantly forceful way
D. to reject or dislike something because one thinks it is not good enough
Correct Answer: A
“The writing on the wall” means a clear sign that something bad or unsuccessful is likely to happen. Example: Falling sales were the writing on the wall for the company.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom means “to speak foolishly or without knowing the facts”?
A. Worth one's salt
B. Talk through one's hat
C. Fall foul of
D. Off and on
Correct Answer: B
“Talk through one's hat” means to speak foolishly or without knowing the facts. Example: He is talking through his hat about the new law.
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Idioms
In the sentence “The dishonest dealer took him to the cleaners.”, what does the idiom “Take someone to the cleaners” mean?
A. kept secretly in reserve for possible use
B. when a situation becomes difficult or critical
C. to defeat or financially exploit someone badly
D. to reveal one's real character or intentions
Correct Answer: C
“Take someone to the cleaners” means to defeat or financially exploit someone badly. Example: The dishonest dealer took him to the cleaners.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Take heart”?
A. in serious trouble or difficulty
B. to take a dangerous risk
C. to confess fully and openly
D. to become encouraged or hopeful
Correct Answer: D
“Take heart” means to become encouraged or hopeful. Example: Take heart; your performance is improving.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Take a back seat”?
A. to become less active or less important
B. to fight or compete with great determination
C. to state one's intentions or facts openly
D. to perform many different roles or responsibilities
Correct Answer: A
“Take a back seat” means to become less active or less important. Example: He took a back seat after the new director arrived.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “Despite criticism, she stuck to her guns.”, what does the idiom “Stick to one's guns” mean?
A. working very closely together, often secretly or dishonestly
B. to refuse to change one's position or opinion
C. caught between two equally difficult or unpleasant choices
D. hostility or ill feeling between people or groups
Correct Answer: B
“Stick to one's guns” means to refuse to change one's position or opinion. Example: Despite criticism, she stuck to her guns.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Stand on one's own feet”?
A. to act unfairly or cruelly
B. wealthy or financially comfortable
C. to become independent and self-reliant
D. to announce shocking or surprising news
Correct Answer: C
“Stand on one's own feet” means to become independent and self-reliant. Example: He wants to stand on his own feet after graduation.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom means “very clean and tidy”?
A. Cast pearls before swine
B. Meet halfway
C. At one's fingertips
D. Spick and span
Correct Answer: D
“Spick and span” means very clean and tidy. Example: The office was spick and span before the inspection.