CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Blow hot and cold”?
A. to keep changing one's attitude or opinion
B. when a situation becomes difficult or critical
C. to survive a difficult period or crisis
D. to give a severe warning or reprimand
Correct Answer: A
“Blow hot and cold” means to keep changing one's attitude or opinion. Example: The manager keeps blowing hot and cold about the proposal.
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Idioms
In the sentence “He was regarded as the black sheep of the family.”, what does the idiom “Black sheep” mean?
A. a person with a lot of experience in a particular activity
B. a disreputable or troublesome member of a group or family
C. a difficult person or problem to understand or solve
D. in a situation one enjoys and is naturally good at
Correct Answer: B
“Black sheep” means a disreputable or troublesome member of a group or family. Example: He was regarded as the black sheep of the family.
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Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Birds of a feather”?
A. to tolerate an insult without reacting
B. in a state of bitter hostility
C. people with similar interests or characteristics
D. to annoy or irritate someone greatly
Correct Answer: C
“Birds of a feather” means people with similar interests or characteristics. Example: The two friends are birds of a feather.
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Idioms
Which idiom means “overcome with strong emotion”?
A. See the light
B. Rub salt into the wound
C. Toe the line
D. Beside oneself
Correct Answer: D
“Beside oneself” means overcome with strong emotion. Example: She was beside herself with worry.
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Idioms
In the sentence “Running a business is not always a bed of roses.”, what does the idiom “Bed of roses” mean?
A. an easy, comfortable, or pleasant situation
B. to have a long, informal conversation
C. to continue working until one's death
D. to be suitable for a particular purpose
Correct Answer: A
“Bed of roses” means an easy, comfortable, or pleasant situation. Example: Running a business is not always a bed of roses.
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Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Beat a retreat”?
A. to work hard and make a determined effort
B. to withdraw or leave quickly, especially after difficulty
C. to harm one's own interests through one's actions
D. to obey rules or conform to expected standards
Correct Answer: B
“Beat a retreat” means to withdraw or leave quickly, especially after difficulty. Example: When the crowd became angry, the protesters beat a retreat.
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Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Be in someone's good books”?
A. to admit one's error and apologize
B. to identify the exact cause or problem
C. to be regarded favorably by someone
D. deliberately and without emotion or mercy
Correct Answer: C
“Be in someone's good books” means to be regarded favorably by someone. Example: He stayed late to finish the report and is now in the boss's good books.
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Idioms
In the sentence “Small businesses bore the brunt of the recession.”, what does the idiom “Bear the brunt” mean?
A. to speak plainly and directly, even if the truth is unpleasant
B. a tendency to feel resentful because of a perceived disadvantage or grievance
C. in a situation too difficult for one's knowledge or ability
D. to suffer the main force or worst part of something unpleasant
Correct Answer: D
“Bear the brunt” means to suffer the main force or worst part of something unpleasant. Example: Small businesses bore the brunt of the recession.
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Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Bag and baggage”?
A. with all one's belongings
B. to make a humorous remark
C. very cheerful and lively
D. to work extremely hard
Correct Answer: A
“Bag and baggage” means with all one's belongings. Example: He left the city bag and baggage.
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Idioms
Which idiom means “hostility or ill feeling between people or groups”?
A. Cook the books
B. Bad blood
C. Hit below the belt
D. Get on someone's nerves
Correct Answer: B
“Bad blood” means hostility or ill feeling between people or groups. Example: There has been bad blood between the two families for years.
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Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Back against the wall”?
A. slightly unwell, annoyed, or not feeling one's usual self
B. to use influence or connections to achieve something
C. in a difficult situation with very few options
D. to discuss the most important practical details
Correct Answer: C
“Back against the wall” means in a difficult situation with very few options. Example: With his back against the wall, he accepted the offer.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “Thousands of jobs are at stake.”, what does the idiom “At stake” mean?
A. in a difficult situation with very few options
B. to create a complicated set of new problems
C. to harm one's own interests through one's actions
D. at risk or in danger of being lost
Correct Answer: D
“At stake” means at risk or in danger of being lost. Example: Thousands of jobs are at stake.
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Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “At one's wit's end”?
A. so worried or frustrated that one does not know what to do
B. a person whose abilities or chances are little known but may surprise others
C. slightly unwell, annoyed, or not feeling one's usual self
D. in a situation too difficult for one's knowledge or ability
Correct Answer: A
“At one's wit's end” means so worried or frustrated that one does not know what to do. Example: The repeated delays left him at his wit's end.
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Idioms
Which idiom means “readily available or easily accessible”?
A. Fill the bill
B. At one's fingertips
C. Pass the buck
D. Have one's heart in one's mouth
Correct Answer: B
“At one's fingertips” means readily available or easily accessible. Example: With the database, all the information is at her fingertips.
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Idioms
In the sentence “The two departments are at loggerheads over the budget.”, what does the idiom “At loggerheads” mean?
A. to help someone
B. to make a humorous remark
C. in strong disagreement
D. with all one's belongings
Correct Answer: C
“At loggerheads” means in strong disagreement. Example: The two departments are at loggerheads over the budget.
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Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “At a loss”?
A. hostility or ill feeling between people or groups
B. to survive with only the basic necessities
C. to get into trouble or a difficult situation
D. unable to know what to do or say
Correct Answer: D
“At a loss” means unable to know what to do or say. Example: I was at a loss for words after hearing the news.
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Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “As cool as a cucumber”?
A. very calm and composed
B. warmly and enthusiastically
C. a very long time
D. to bribe someone
Correct Answer: A
“As cool as a cucumber” means very calm and composed. Example: She remained as cool as a cucumber during the interview.
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Idioms
In the sentence “Their planned merger was an open secret.”, what does the idiom “An open secret” mean?
A. people with similar interests or characteristics
B. something officially secret but widely known
C. an excellent chance to achieve something
D. to be logical, reasonable, or valid
Correct Answer: B
“An open secret” means something officially secret but widely known. Example: Their planned merger was an open secret.
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Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “All in the same breath”?
A. to discuss private family or organizational problems openly in public
B. a weak or unstable plan or organization likely to collapse
C. at the same time or in immediate succession, often inconsistently
D. in a situation one enjoys and is naturally good at
Correct Answer: C
“All in the same breath” means at the same time or in immediate succession, often inconsistently. Example: He praised the plan and criticized it all in the same breath.
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Idioms
Which idiom means “to make a bad situation worse by adding humiliation or further harm”?
A. Be up in arms
B. As cool as a cucumber
C. Dead as a doornail
D. Add insult to injury
Correct Answer: D
“Add insult to injury” means to make a bad situation worse by adding humiliation or further harm. Example: Charging him a fee after cancelling the service added insult to injury.