CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom means “to be extremely expensive”?
A. Put all your eggs in one basket
B. Put your foot in your mouth
C. Best of both worlds
D. Cost an arm and a leg
Correct Answer: D
“Cost an arm and a leg” means to be extremely expensive. Example: That new car costs an arm and a leg.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Spill the beans”?
A. immediately and without hesitation
B. to go to bed
C. to reveal a secret
D. in private or secretly
Correct Answer: C
“Spill the beans” means to reveal a secret. Example: Ali spilled the beans about the surprise party.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “He visits us once in a blue moon.”, what does the idiom “Once in a blue moon” mean?
A. to be extremely expensive
B. very rarely
C. something will never happen
D. immediately and without hesitation
Correct Answer: B
“Once in a blue moon” means very rarely. Example: He visits us once in a blue moon.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Under the weather”?
A. feeling slightly ill
B. something very easy to do
C. clearly written or printed
D. immediately and without hesitation
Correct Answer: A
“Under the weather” means feeling slightly ill. Example: I am feeling under the weather today.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “Hit the nail on the head”?
A. a person's basic nature is unlikely to change
B. very weak, worn out, or near failure
C. to end a quarrel and make peace
D. to describe or identify something exactly correctly
Correct Answer: D
“Hit the nail on the head” means to describe or identify something exactly correctly. Example: You hit the nail on the head when you said poor planning caused the delay.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “The host told a joke to break the ice.”, what does the idiom “Break the ice” mean?
A. something that seems bad at first but turns out to be beneficial
B. both sides are responsible for a situation or conflict
C. to make people feel more comfortable in a new or awkward situation
D. to waste time on trivial matters during a serious crisis
Correct Answer: C
“Break the ice” means to make people feel more comfortable in a new or awkward situation. Example: The host told a joke to break the ice.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom “A piece of cake”?
A. to have no influence or effect
B. something very easy to do
C. the largest part of something
D. to make every possible effort
Correct Answer: B
“A piece of cake” means something very easy to do. Example: The test was a piece of cake for her.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom means “something that seems bad at first but turns out to be beneficial”?
A. A blessing in disguise
B. Play second fiddle
C. Keep the wolf from the door
D. Hit the road
Correct Answer: A
“A blessing in disguise” means something that seems bad at first but turns out to be beneficial. Example: Missing the first bus was a blessing in disguise because I met my old teacher on the next one.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Which sentence correctly uses 'weather the storm'?
A. The company controlled the actual weather.
B. It means collapse immediately.
C. The company reduced costs and managed to weather the storm.
D. It means ignore every problem.
Correct Answer: C
'Weather the storm' means survive a difficult period.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Which sentence correctly uses 'cut to the quick'?
A. The knife cut quickly through paper.
B. The unfair accusation cut him to the quick.
C. It means make someone laugh.
D. It means praise someone warmly.
Correct Answer: B
'Cut to the quick' means hurt someone's feelings deeply.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Which sentence correctly uses 'give a wide berth'?
A. Drivers were advised to give the flooded road a wide berth.
B. Drivers were advised to make the road wider.
C. Drivers were told to park on the road.
D. It means approach the danger closely.
Correct Answer: A
'Give a wide berth' means avoid or stay well away from.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the sentence that correctly uses 'penny wise and pound foolish'.
A. It means saving both pennies and pounds wisely.
B. It describes a person who never wastes any money.
C. It means converting pounds into pennies.
D. Refusing a small repair now may be penny wise and pound foolish if it causes a major breakdown later.
Correct Answer: D
The phrase describes saving small amounts in ways that cause much larger losses later.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct idiomatic use of 'at one's wits' end'.
A. He was at the end of a road called Wits.
B. He knew exactly what to do.
C. After trying every solution, he was at his wits' end.
D. He had just begun thinking.
Correct Answer: C
'At one's wits' end' means completely puzzled or distressed about what to do.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct idiomatic use of 'white elephant'.
A. The authority bought a rare white animal.
B. The unused stadium became a white elephant for the local authority.
C. It means a highly profitable project.
D. It means an inexpensive and useful asset.
Correct Answer: B
A 'white elephant' is a costly possession or project that is difficult to maintain and yields little value.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct idiomatic use of 'move heaven and earth'.
A. They moved heaven and earth to find the missing documents.
B. They physically moved the sky and ground.
C. They made no effort.
D. They postponed the search indefinitely.
Correct Answer: A
'Move heaven and earth' means make every possible effort.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct idiomatic use of 'rise to the occasion'.
A. He climbed onto an occasion.
B. It means he avoided responsibility.
C. It means he arrived late.
D. Despite the pressure, the young officer rose to the occasion.
Correct Answer: D
'Rise to the occasion' means perform well when challenged.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct idiomatic use of 'smell a rat'.
A. The auditor literally searched for an animal.
B. It means he became very hungry.
C. When the figures did not match, the auditor began to smell a rat.
D. It means he trusted everything completely.
Correct Answer: C
'Smell a rat' means suspect dishonesty or something wrong.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct idiomatic use of 'pay through the nose'.
A. He paid money through his nose.
B. Tourists sometimes pay through the nose for food at very expensive resorts.
C. It means pay less than usual.
D. It means refuse to pay anything.
Correct Answer: B
'Pay through the nose' means pay an excessively high price.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct idiomatic use of 'bury the hatchet'.
A. After years of disagreement, the two families finally buried the hatchet.
B. They buried a tool in the garden after an argument.
C. They bought a new hatchet.
D. It means they began a new quarrel.
Correct Answer: A
'Bury the hatchet' means make peace and end a quarrel.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Which sentence correctly uses 'work up'?
A. The speaker worked the audience up on a ladder.
B. The speaker work uped enthusiasm.
C. The speaker worked enthusiasm at up.
D. The speaker worked up considerable enthusiasm in the audience.
Correct Answer: D
'Work up' means develop or arouse gradually.