CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What does the phrasal verb "back out" most commonly mean?
A. mention a topic
B. have a good relationship with
C. withdraw from an agreement or commitment
D. admire or respect
Correct Answer: C
The phrasal verb "back out" most commonly means withdraw from an agreement or commitment. Context can sometimes produce additional meanings.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What does the phrasal verb "account for" most commonly mean?
A. cause something to happen
B. explain or give a reason for
C. discover
D. investigate
Correct Answer: B
The phrasal verb "account for" most commonly means explain or give a reason for. Context can sometimes produce additional meanings.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "wild-goose chase"?
A. a futile search or pursuit
B. readily available or easily accessible
C. regret something that cannot be changed
D. watch or monitor carefully
Correct Answer: A
The idiomatic phrase "wild-goose chase" means a futile search or pursuit. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "turn over a new leaf"?
A. in a state of confusion or disorder
B. unrealistic dreams or plans
C. over a long period of time
D. begin behaving in a better way
Correct Answer: D
The idiomatic phrase "turn over a new leaf" means begin behaving in a better way. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "take the bull by the horns"?
A. great excitement about a trivial matter
B. win or succeed
C. deal with a difficult situation directly
D. in written or printed form
Correct Answer: C
The idiomatic phrase "take the bull by the horns" means deal with a difficult situation directly. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "pull someone's leg"?
A. a person who feels uncomfortable in unfamiliar surroundings
B. joke with or tease someone
C. speak plainly and directly
D. describe or identify something exactly
Correct Answer: B
The idiomatic phrase "pull someone's leg" means joke with or tease someone. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "on cloud nine"?
A. extremely happy
B. very different from
C. very rapidly
D. make more effort than is normally expected
Correct Answer: A
The idiomatic phrase "on cloud nine" means extremely happy. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "make head or tail of"?
A. a subject or issue causing disagreement
B. generally or on the whole
C. choose to believe someone despite uncertainty
D. understand something
Correct Answer: D
The idiomatic phrase "make head or tail of" means understand something. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "keep one's fingers crossed"?
A. something that seems bad at first but turns out beneficial
B. work or study late into the night
C. hope for a favorable outcome
D. become nervous and lose courage
Correct Answer: C
The idiomatic phrase "keep one's fingers crossed" means hope for a favorable outcome. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "in hot water"?
A. a futile search or pursuit
B. in trouble
C. make people feel more relaxed in a social situation
D. honestly and according to the rules
Correct Answer: B
The idiomatic phrase "in hot water" means in trouble. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "give the game away"?
A. accidentally reveal a secret or plan
B. begin behaving in a better way
C. caught between two difficult choices
D. accept the unpleasant consequences of one's actions
Correct Answer: A
The idiomatic phrase "give the game away" means accidentally reveal a secret or plan. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "cross that bridge when one comes to it"?
A. deal with a difficult situation directly
B. avoid coming directly to the point
C. set a limit beyond which one will not go
D. deal with a problem when it actually arises
Correct Answer: D
The idiomatic phrase "cross that bridge when one comes to it" means deal with a problem when it actually arises. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "bring to light"?
A. joke with or tease someone
B. back to the starting point after failure
C. reveal or make known
D. do something cheaply or carelessly by avoiding proper procedures
Correct Answer: C
The idiomatic phrase "bring to light" means reveal or make known. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "break new ground"?
A. extremely happy
B. do something innovative or pioneering
C. at the last possible moment
D. make a poor or embarrassing impression
Correct Answer: B
The idiomatic phrase "break new ground" means do something innovative or pioneering. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "bite off more than one can chew"?
A. take on more responsibility than one can handle
B. understand something
C. readily available or easily accessible
D. regret something that cannot be changed
Correct Answer: A
The idiomatic phrase "bite off more than one can chew" means take on more responsibility than one can handle. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "bark up the wrong tree"?
A. hope for a favorable outcome
B. in a state of confusion or disorder
C. unrealistic dreams or plans
D. pursue the wrong course or blame the wrong person
Correct Answer: D
The idiomatic phrase "bark up the wrong tree" means pursue the wrong course or blame the wrong person. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "at loggerheads"?
A. in trouble
B. great excitement about a trivial matter
C. in strong disagreement
D. win or succeed
Correct Answer: C
The idiomatic phrase "at loggerheads" means in strong disagreement. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "with flying colors"?
A. accidentally reveal a secret or plan
B. very successfully
C. a person who feels uncomfortable in unfamiliar surroundings
D. speak plainly and directly
Correct Answer: B
The idiomatic phrase "with flying colors" means very successfully. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "wear one's heart on one's sleeve"?
A. show emotions openly
B. deal with a problem when it actually arises
C. very different from
D. very rapidly
Correct Answer: A
The idiomatic phrase "wear one's heart on one's sleeve" means show emotions openly. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "up in arms"?
A. reveal or make known
B. a subject or issue causing disagreement
C. generally or on the whole
D. very angry and protesting
Correct Answer: D
The idiomatic phrase "up in arms" means very angry and protesting. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.