CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom means “to take on more work or responsibility than one can handle”?
A. Burn one's fingers
B. Play devil's advocate
C. Turn over a new leaf
D. Bite off more than you can chew
Correct Answer: D
“Bite off more than you can chew” means to take on more work or responsibility than one can handle. Example: By accepting three projects at once, he bit off more than he could chew.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Best of both worlds”?
A. a practical general guideline rather than an exact rule
B. to do something cheaply or carelessly by skipping proper steps
C. the advantages of two different situations at the same time
D. to waste time on trivial matters during a serious crisis
Correct Answer: C
“Best of both worlds” means the advantages of two different situations at the same time. Example: Working remotely gives her the best of both worlds.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “He is ready to travel at the drop of a hat.”, what does the idiom “At the drop of a hat” mean?
A. practical, realistic, and unpretentious
B. immediately and without hesitation
C. in private or secretly
D. to reveal a secret
Correct Answer: B
“At the drop of a hat” means immediately and without hesitation. Example: He is ready to travel at the drop of a hat.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “A dime a dozen”?
A. very common and not special
B. to remain persistent despite difficulty
C. an unbelievable or absurd story
D. to watch or monitor carefully
Correct Answer: A
“A dime a dozen” means very common and not special. Example: Cheap phone accessories are a dime a dozen.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Your guess is as good as mine”?
A. to risk everything on a single plan or opportunity
B. a practical general guideline rather than an exact rule
C. a request to know what someone is thinking
D. I do not know any more than you do
Correct Answer: D
“Your guess is as good as mine” means I do not know any more than you do. Example: When will the results be announced? Your guess is as good as mine.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “It took me time to wrap my head around the new rules.”, what does the idiom “Wrap your head around” mean?
A. just before it is too late
B. to admit defeat or give up
C. to understand something difficult or complicated
D. to release strong emotions or stress
Correct Answer: C
“Wrap your head around” means to understand something difficult or complicated. Example: It took me time to wrap my head around the new rules.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Up in the air”?
A. a pointless or hopeless search
B. uncertain or not yet decided
C. something very easy to do
D. to show your emotions openly
Correct Answer: B
“Up in the air” means uncertain or not yet decided. Example: Our travel plans are still up in the air.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom means “time passes very quickly”?
A. Time flies
B. Bone of contention
C. Take the bull by the horns
D. Play devil's advocate
Correct Answer: A
“Time flies” means time passes very quickly. Example: Time flies when you are enjoying yourself.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Throw in the towel”?
A. to act without worrying about risk
B. to obstruct or prevent someone's plan
C. to make a bad situation worse
D. to admit defeat or give up
Correct Answer: D
“Throw in the towel” means to admit defeat or give up. Example: After several failed attempts, he refused to throw in the towel.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Through thick and thin”?
A. to obstruct or prevent someone's plan
B. to act without worrying about risk
C. during both good and bad times
D. to admit defeat or give up
Correct Answer: C
“Through thick and thin” means during both good and bad times. Example: They remained friends through thick and thin.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Take with a grain of salt”?
A. to waste time on trivial matters during a serious crisis
B. to treat something with skepticism rather than accept it completely
C. to return to the starting point after a failed attempt
D. a practical general guideline rather than an exact rule
Correct Answer: B
“Take with a grain of salt” means to treat something with skepticism rather than accept it completely. Example: Take online rumors with a grain of salt.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “You cannot sit on the fence forever; make a decision.”, what does the idiom “Sit on the fence” mean?
A. to avoid choosing between two sides
B. to have neither profit nor loss
C. just before it is too late
D. to release strong emotions or stress
Correct Answer: A
“Sit on the fence” means to avoid choosing between two sides. Example: You cannot sit on the fence forever; make a decision.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “See eye to eye”?
A. to sound familiar
B. a pointless or hopeless search
C. time passes very quickly
D. to agree fully
Correct Answer: D
“See eye to eye” means to agree fully. Example: The two managers do not always see eye to eye.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom means “to risk everything on a single plan or opportunity”?
A. No pain, no gain
B. The last straw
C. Put all your eggs in one basket
D. Take to task
Correct Answer: C
“Put all your eggs in one basket” means to risk everything on a single plan or opportunity. Example: Do not put all your eggs in one basket by investing in only one company.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Out of the blue”?
A. to show your emotions openly
B. suddenly and unexpectedly
C. in private or secretly
D. something very easy to do
Correct Answer: B
“Out of the blue” means suddenly and unexpectedly. Example: He called me out of the blue.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “Let us make sure everyone is on the same page.”, what does the idiom “On the same page” mean?
A. to have the same understanding or agreement
B. to make a bad situation worse
C. to deliberately ignore something wrong or unpleasant
D. to avoid saying what one really means
Correct Answer: A
“On the same page” means to have the same understanding or agreement. Example: Let us make sure everyone is on the same page.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “No pain, no gain”?
A. to exaggerate a small problem
B. to watch or monitor carefully
C. in the same difficult situation
D. success requires effort and sacrifice
Correct Answer: D
“No pain, no gain” means success requires effort and sacrifice. Example: Keep practicing; no pain, no gain.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Miss the boat”?
A. to accept the unpleasant consequences of one's actions
B. a request to know what someone is thinking
C. to lose an opportunity by being too late
D. to refuse further responsibility for someone or something
Correct Answer: C
“Miss the boat” means to lose an opportunity by being too late. Example: Apply now or you may miss the boat.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “Please keep an eye on my bag.”, what does the idiom “Keep an eye on” mean?
A. in a few words; briefly
B. to watch or monitor carefully
C. to show your emotions openly
D. in the same difficult situation
Correct Answer: B
“Keep an eye on” means to watch or monitor carefully. Example: Please keep an eye on my bag.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Jump on the bandwagon”?
A. to join a popular trend or activity
B. to become difficult or impossible to control
C. fully attentive and ready to listen
D. very weak, worn out, or near failure
Correct Answer: A
“Jump on the bandwagon” means to join a popular trend or activity. Example: Many companies jumped on the bandwagon after the product became successful.