CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Get down to brass tacks”?
A. to discuss the most important practical details
B. forced to choose between two difficult alternatives
C. to abandon someone in a difficult situation
D. to stop working properly or become chaotic
Correct Answer: A
“Get down to brass tacks” means to discuss the most important practical details. Example: After introductions, we got down to brass tacks.
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Idioms
In the sentence “The applicant was sent from pillar to post.”, what does the idiom “From pillar to post” mean?
A. to exhaust oneself by staying busy late at night and early in the morning
B. from one place or person to another without getting help or results
C. to maintain the progress of an activity or conversation
D. a tendency to feel resentful because of a perceived disadvantage or grievance
Correct Answer: B
“From pillar to post” means from one place or person to another without getting help or results. Example: The applicant was sent from pillar to post.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “For the time being”?
A. very calm and composed
B. to bribe someone
C. for now; temporarily
D. overcome with strong emotion
Correct Answer: C
“For the time being” means for now; temporarily. Example: For the time being, we will use the old system.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom means “permanently”?
A. Toe the line
B. A dark horse
C. Cast pearls before swine
D. For good
Correct Answer: D
“For good” means permanently. Example: She has left the city for good.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “He flew off the handle over a minor mistake.”, what does the idiom “Fly off the handle” mean?
A. to suddenly become very angry
B. completely dead or no longer active
C. mutual compromise or exchange
D. to know something extremely well
Correct Answer: A
“Fly off the handle” means to suddenly become very angry. Example: He flew off the handle over a minor mistake.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Fill the bill”?
A. to be very angry and strongly protesting
B. to be suitable for a particular purpose
C. to abandon someone in a difficult situation
D. to reveal one's real character or intentions
Correct Answer: B
“Fill the bill” means to be suitable for a particular purpose. Example: This smaller laptop fills the bill for travel.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Fight tooth and nail”?
A. very close or equal in a competition
B. to refuse to listen or pay attention
C. to fight or compete with great determination
D. to enrich oneself, especially dishonestly or selfishly
Correct Answer: C
“Fight tooth and nail” means to fight or compete with great determination. Example: They fought tooth and nail to protect their rights.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “The official was accused of using public money to feather his nest.”, what does the idiom “Feather one's nest” mean?
A. very close or equal in a competition
B. to fight or compete with great determination
C. to survive a difficult period or crisis
D. to enrich oneself, especially dishonestly or selfishly
Correct Answer: D
“Feather one's nest” means to enrich oneself, especially dishonestly or selfishly. Example: The official was accused of using public money to feather his nest.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Fall flat”?
A. to fail to have the intended effect
B. good enough or meeting the required standard
C. to discourage an idea or reduce enthusiasm
D. to learn through difficult or unpleasant experience
Correct Answer: A
“Fall flat” means to fail to have the intended effect. Example: His joke fell flat and nobody laughed.
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Idioms
Which idiom means “honestly and according to the rules”?
A. Touch and go
B. Fair and square
C. Pass the buck
D. Save for a rainy day
Correct Answer: B
“Fair and square” means honestly and according to the rules. Example: She won the competition fair and square.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Every inch”?
A. a very long time
B. as much as one wants
C. completely or in every respect
D. to lose energy, enthusiasm, or momentum
Correct Answer: C
“Every inch” means completely or in every respect. Example: He looked every inch a professional.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “Their ambitious scheme ended in smoke.”, what does the idiom “End in smoke” mean?
A. to ignore an unpleasant fact or problem
B. forced to choose between two difficult alternatives
C. to state one's intentions or facts openly
D. to come to nothing or fail completely
Correct Answer: D
“End in smoke” means to come to nothing or fail completely. Example: Their ambitious scheme ended in smoke.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Eat one's words”?
A. to admit that what one said was wrong
B. to get into trouble or a difficult situation
C. to speak foolishly or without knowing the facts
D. caught between two equally difficult or unpleasant choices
Correct Answer: A
“Eat one's words” means to admit that what one said was wrong. Example: He said the team would lose, but later had to eat his words.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom means “to admit one's error and apologize”?
A. In cold blood
B. Eat humble pie
C. Go against the grain
D. Drop a bombshell
Correct Answer: B
“Eat humble pie” means to admit one's error and apologize. Example: After accusing him wrongly, she had to eat humble pie.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “The constant noise is driving me up the wall.”, what does the idiom “Drive someone up the wall” mean?
A. in a difficult situation without help
B. to want something very much
C. to annoy or irritate someone greatly
D. to save money for future difficulties
Correct Answer: C
“Drive someone up the wall” means to annoy or irritate someone greatly. Example: The constant noise is driving me up the wall.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Draw a blank”?
A. trouble or conflict appears likely to happen soon
B. to cause trouble or disturb a stable situation
C. at risk or in danger of being lost
D. to fail to remember or find an answer
Correct Answer: D
“Draw a blank” means to fail to remember or find an answer. Example: When asked his password, he drew a blank.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Down in the dumps”?
A. sad or depressed
B. to become discouraged
C. for now; temporarily
D. with all one's belongings
Correct Answer: A
“Down in the dumps” means sad or depressed. Example: She has been down in the dumps since the exam result.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “I have not seen him for donkey's years.”, what does the idiom “Donkey's years” mean?
A. to become independent and self-reliant
B. a very long time
C. wealthy or financially comfortable
D. finally and permanently
Correct Answer: B
“Donkey's years” means a very long time. Example: I have not seen him for donkey's years.
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Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Dog in the manger”?
A. to make a bad situation worse by adding humiliation or further harm
B. to suffer the main force or worst part of something unpleasant
C. someone who prevents others from using something they do not need
D. to discuss private family or organizational problems openly in public
Correct Answer: C
“Dog in the manger” means someone who prevents others from using something they do not need. Example: Do not be a dog in the manger; let someone else use the empty office.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom means “completely dead or no longer active”?
A. Keep body and soul together
B. Go against the grain
C. Die in harness
D. Dead as a doornail
Correct Answer: D
“Dead as a doornail” means completely dead or no longer active. Example: The old battery is dead as a doornail.