CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom means “very different from”?
A. Take with a grain of salt
B. Throw in the towel
C. Throw caution to the wind
D. A far cry from
Correct Answer: D
“A far cry from” means very different from. Example: The new office is a far cry from the old cramped building.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Wild goose chase”?
A. to remain persistent despite difficulty
B. to make every possible effort
C. a pointless or hopeless search
D. something very easy to do
Correct Answer: C
“Wild goose chase” means a pointless or hopeless search. Example: The false address sent us on a wild goose chase.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “He says he will clean his room when pigs fly.”, what does the idiom “When pigs fly” mean?
A. a pointless or hopeless search
B. something will never happen
C. at the last possible moment
D. to fail spectacularly
Correct Answer: B
“When pigs fly” means something will never happen. Example: He says he will clean his room when pigs fly.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Turn a blind eye”?
A. to deliberately ignore something wrong or unpleasant
B. to avoid becoming too close or friendly
C. to make more effort than is expected
D. to join a popular trend or activity
Correct Answer: A
“Turn a blind eye” means to deliberately ignore something wrong or unpleasant. Example: The manager turned a blind eye to repeated lateness.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Throw caution to the wind”?
A. to spoil someone's enjoyment or enthusiasm
B. to have no influence or effect
C. to avoid choosing between two sides
D. to act without worrying about risk
Correct Answer: D
“Throw caution to the wind” means to act without worrying about risk. Example: He threw caution to the wind and invested all his savings.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “She took the bull by the horns and confronted the problem.”, what does the idiom “Take the bull by the horns” mean?
A. a practical general guideline rather than an exact rule
B. to lose an opportunity by being too late
C. to deal with a difficult situation directly and decisively
D. unable to choose between two alternatives and losing both advantages
Correct Answer: C
“Take the bull by the horns” means to deal with a difficult situation directly and decisively. Example: She took the bull by the horns and confronted the problem.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Steal someone's thunder”?
A. in a hurry to finish before a deadline
B. to take attention or credit away from someone
C. to make more effort than is expected
D. not something one likes or is interested in
Correct Answer: B
“Steal someone's thunder” means to take attention or credit away from someone. Example: He stole my thunder by announcing the idea before I could.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom means “a practical general guideline rather than an exact rule”?
A. Rule of thumb
B. Back to square one
C. All ears
D. Under the weather
Correct Answer: A
“Rule of thumb” means a practical general guideline rather than an exact rule. Example: As a rule of thumb, save part of your income every month.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Ring a bell”?
A. very rapidly
B. in private or secretly
C. to rain very heavily
D. to sound familiar
Correct Answer: D
“Ring a bell” means to sound familiar. Example: That name rings a bell, but I cannot remember where I heard it.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Put your foot in your mouth”?
A. to admit defeat or give up
B. to avoid choosing between two sides
C. to say something embarrassing or inappropriate
D. to begin a journey or leave
Correct Answer: C
“Put your foot in your mouth” means to say something embarrassing or inappropriate. Example: I put my foot in my mouth by asking about the surprise.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Pull yourself together”?
A. to start planning again because the first plan failed
B. to calm down and regain control of your emotions
C. unable to choose between two alternatives and losing both advantages
D. to believe someone may be telling the truth despite uncertainty
Correct Answer: B
“Pull yourself together” means to calm down and regain control of your emotions. Example: Pull yourself together before the interview.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “The new assistant is really on the ball.”, what does the idiom “On the ball” mean?
A. alert, competent, and quick to understand or act
B. a person who is greatly loved or cherished
C. to face a difficult or unpleasant situation bravely
D. to stop working on something for the day
Correct Answer: A
“On the ball” means alert, competent, and quick to understand or act. Example: The new assistant is really on the ball.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Off the hook”?
A. to avoid choosing between two sides
B. to admit defeat or give up
C. to joke with or tease someone
D. free from responsibility, blame, or difficulty
Correct Answer: D
“Off the hook” means free from responsibility, blame, or difficulty. Example: The new evidence got him off the hook.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom means “to summarize and omit unnecessary details”?
A. Hit the nail on the head
B. Through thick and thin
C. Make a long story short
D. Take to task
Correct Answer: C
“Make a long story short” means to summarize and omit unnecessary details. Example: To make a long story short, we missed the train.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Keep your chin up”?
A. to avoid choosing between two sides
B. remain cheerful and confident during difficulty
C. to begin a journey or leave
D. to make a bad situation worse
Correct Answer: B
“Keep your chin up” means remain cheerful and confident during difficulty. Example: Keep your chin up; better opportunities will come.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “The car disappeared in the blink of an eye.”, what does the idiom “In the blink of an eye” mean?
A. in a very short time
B. in the same difficult situation
C. to show your emotions openly
D. at the last possible moment
Correct Answer: A
“In the blink of an eye” means in a very short time. Example: The car disappeared in the blink of an eye.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “In black and white”?
A. something will never happen
B. to remain persistent despite difficulty
C. success requires effort and sacrifice
D. clearly written or printed
Correct Answer: D
“In black and white” means clearly written or printed. Example: The terms are there in black and white.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Hit the road”?
A. to joke with or tease someone
B. to avoid choosing between two sides
C. to begin a journey or leave
D. in a state of nervous suspense
Correct Answer: C
“Hit the road” means to begin a journey or leave. Example: It is getting late; we should hit the road.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “The prototype failed, so we must go back to the drawing board.”, what does the idiom “Go back to the drawing board” mean?
A. to accept the unpleasant consequences of one's actions
B. to start planning again because the first plan failed
C. to calm down and regain control of your emotions
D. pursuing the wrong course or blaming the wrong person
Correct Answer: B
“Go back to the drawing board” means to start planning again because the first plan failed. Example: The prototype failed, so we must go back to the drawing board.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Get a taste of your own medicine”?
A. to experience the same unpleasant treatment one has given others
B. a person who feels uncomfortable in an unfamiliar situation
C. living with only enough money or food for immediate needs
D. a lot of anger or excitement about a trivial matter
Correct Answer: A
“Get a taste of your own medicine” means to experience the same unpleasant treatment one has given others. Example: The bully got a taste of his own medicine.