CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Cut a sorry figure”?
A. to make a poor or embarrassing impression
B. to identify the exact cause or problem
C. good enough or meeting the required standard
D. to fail to have the intended effect
Correct Answer: A
“Cut a sorry figure” means to make a poor or embarrassing impression. Example: He cut a sorry figure during the debate.
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Idioms
In the sentence “He refused to follow a crooked path to success.”, what does the idiom “Crooked path” mean?
A. to abandon someone in a difficult situation
B. a dishonest or improper way of acting
C. to learn through difficult or unpleasant experience
D. to be suitable for a particular purpose
Correct Answer: B
“Crooked path” means a dishonest or improper way of acting. Example: He refused to follow a crooked path to success.
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Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Crack a joke”?
A. completely well or healthy again
B. to understand something at all
C. to make a humorous remark
D. to admit one's error and apologize
Correct Answer: C
“Crack a joke” means to make a humorous remark. Example: He cracked a joke to lighten the mood.
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Idioms
Which idiom means “to dishonestly alter financial records”?
A. Off one's rocker
B. Birds of a feather
C. Pull strings
D. Cook the books
Correct Answer: D
“Cook the books” means to dishonestly alter financial records. Example: The accountant was accused of cooking the books.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “The city must come to grips with traffic congestion.”, what does the idiom “Come to grips with” mean?
A. to begin dealing seriously with a difficult problem
B. to become less active or less important
C. to come to nothing or fail completely
D. to create a complicated set of new problems
Correct Answer: A
“Come to grips with” means to begin dealing seriously with a difficult problem. Example: The city must come to grips with traffic congestion.
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Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Close ranks”?
A. to take advantage of an opportunity while it lasts
B. to unite in support or defense against criticism or attack
C. a fresh start without past problems or mistakes counting
D. to complete the most difficult part of a task
Correct Answer: B
“Close ranks” means to unite in support or defense against criticism or attack. Example: The team closed ranks after the controversy.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Clean slate”?
A. in a state of low spirits, inactivity, or poor performance
B. criticizing someone for a fault that one also has
C. a fresh start without past problems or mistakes counting
D. a difficult person or problem to understand or solve
Correct Answer: C
“Clean slate” means a fresh start without past problems or mistakes counting. Example: The new year gave him a clean slate.
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Idioms
In the sentence “He has a chip on his shoulder about not being promoted.”, what does the idiom “Chip on one's shoulder” mean?
A. to make a bad situation worse by adding humiliation or further harm
B. to tell someone angrily what one thinks of their behavior
C. slightly unwell, annoyed, or not feeling one's usual self
D. a tendency to feel resentful because of a perceived disadvantage or grievance
Correct Answer: D
“Chip on one's shoulder” means a tendency to feel resentful because of a perceived disadvantage or grievance. Example: He has a chip on his shoulder about not being promoted.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Chew the fat”?
A. to have a long, informal conversation
B. something officially secret but widely known
C. to do something innovative or pioneering
D. people with similar interests or characteristics
Correct Answer: A
“Chew the fat” means to have a long, informal conversation. Example: We sat after dinner chewing the fat.
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Idioms
Which idiom means “to pass from one owner to another”?
A. Learn the hard way
B. Change hands
C. By and large
D. Keep the ball rolling
Correct Answer: B
“Change hands” means to pass from one owner to another. Example: The old house changed hands last month.
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Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Cast pearls before swine”?
A. a person unsuited to a particular role or environment
B. slightly unwell, annoyed, or not feeling one's usual self
C. to offer something valuable to someone unable to appreciate it
D. to be contrary to one's natural inclination or accepted practice
Correct Answer: C
“Cast pearls before swine” means to offer something valuable to someone unable to appreciate it. Example: Explaining fine art to an uninterested crowd felt like casting pearls before swine.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “Selling rice in that farming region would be like carrying coals to Newcastle.”, what does the idiom “Carry coals to Newcastle” mean?
A. to be recovering from an illness or difficult situation
B. a weak or unstable plan or organization likely to collapse
C. to suffer the main force or worst part of something unpleasant
D. to take something to a place where it is already plentiful
Correct Answer: D
“Carry coals to Newcastle” means to take something to a place where it is already plentiful. Example: Selling rice in that farming region would be like carrying coals to Newcastle.
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Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Call a spade a spade”?
A. to speak plainly and directly, even if the truth is unpleasant
B. to take something to a place where it is already plentiful
C. a disreputable or troublesome member of a group or family
D. to be recovering from an illness or difficult situation
Correct Answer: A
“Call a spade a spade” means to speak plainly and directly, even if the truth is unpleasant. Example: She calls a spade a spade and never hides her opinion.
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Idioms
Which idiom means “by any possible means”?
A. Small hours
B. By hook or by crook
C. All in the same breath
D. Hit the ceiling
Correct Answer: B
“By hook or by crook” means by any possible means. Example: He was determined to win by hook or by crook.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “By and large, the new policy has worked well.”, what does the idiom “By and large” mean?
A. to act unfairly or cruelly
B. by any possible means
C. generally or on the whole
D. to work hard and continuously
Correct Answer: C
“By and large” means generally or on the whole. Example: By and large, the new policy has worked well.
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Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Bury one's head in the sand”?
A. a dishonest or improper way of acting
B. to become less active or less important
C. good enough or meeting the required standard
D. to ignore an unpleasant fact or problem
Correct Answer: D
“Bury one's head in the sand” means to ignore an unpleasant fact or problem. Example: We cannot bury our heads in the sand about rising costs.
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Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Burn the candle at both ends”?
A. to exhaust oneself by staying busy late at night and early in the morning
B. to take something to a place where it is already plentiful
C. to understand or accept something after a period of confusion
D. to be the person who makes the important decisions
Correct Answer: A
“Burn the candle at both ends” means to exhaust oneself by staying busy late at night and early in the morning. Example: Working two jobs and studying means she is burning the candle at both ends.
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Idioms
In the sentence “The inquiry brought several irregularities to light.”, what does the idiom “Bring to light” mean?
A. something extremely difficult to find
B. to reveal or make known
C. to dishonestly alter financial records
D. something officially secret but widely known
Correct Answer: B
“Bring to light” means to reveal or make known. Example: The inquiry brought several irregularities to light.
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Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Break new ground”?
A. to shift responsibility to someone else
B. in a difficult or awkward situation
C. to do something innovative or pioneering
D. to announce shocking or surprising news
Correct Answer: C
“Break new ground” means to do something innovative or pioneering. Example: The research breaks new ground in cancer treatment.
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Idioms
Which idiom means “aristocratic or noble birth”?
A. A drop in the ocean
B. Not hold a candle to
C. Get down to brass tacks
D. Blue blood
Correct Answer: D
“Blue blood” means aristocratic or noble birth. Example: The family boasts of blue blood.