CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "under the weather"?
A. do something innovative or pioneering
B. something that seems bad at first but turns out beneficial
C. slightly ill
D. work or study late into the night
Correct Answer: C
The idiomatic phrase "under the weather" means slightly ill. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "turn a deaf ear"?
A. take on more responsibility than one can handle
B. refuse to listen
C. a futile search or pursuit
D. make people feel more relaxed in a social situation
Correct Answer: B
The idiomatic phrase "turn a deaf ear" means refuse to listen. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "through thick and thin"?
A. during both good and bad times
B. pursue the wrong course or blame the wrong person
C. begin behaving in a better way
D. caught between two difficult choices
Correct Answer: A
The idiomatic phrase "through thick and thin" means during both good and bad times. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "the last straw"?
A. in strong disagreement
B. deal with a difficult situation directly
C. avoid coming directly to the point
D. the final problem that makes a situation unbearable
Correct Answer: D
The idiomatic phrase "the last straw" means the final problem that makes a situation unbearable. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "take with a grain of salt"?
A. very successfully
B. joke with or tease someone
C. treat something with skepticism
D. back to the starting point after failure
Correct Answer: C
The idiomatic phrase "take with a grain of salt" means treat something with skepticism. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "spill the beans"?
A. show emotions openly
B. reveal a secret
C. extremely happy
D. at the last possible moment
Correct Answer: B
The idiomatic phrase "spill the beans" means reveal a secret. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "sit on the fence"?
A. avoid choosing between alternatives
B. very angry and protesting
C. understand something
D. readily available or easily accessible
Correct Answer: A
The idiomatic phrase "sit on the fence" means avoid choosing between alternatives. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "see eye to eye"?
A. slightly ill
B. hope for a favorable outcome
C. in a state of confusion or disorder
D. agree completely
Correct Answer: D
The idiomatic phrase "see eye to eye" means agree completely. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "red-letter day"?
A. refuse to listen
B. in trouble
C. a very important or memorable day
D. great excitement about a trivial matter
Correct Answer: C
The idiomatic phrase "red-letter day" means a very important or memorable day. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "read between the lines"?
A. during both good and bad times
B. understand an implied meaning
C. accidentally reveal a secret or plan
D. a person who feels uncomfortable in unfamiliar surroundings
Correct Answer: B
The idiomatic phrase "read between the lines" means understand an implied meaning. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "put the cart before the horse"?
A. do things in the wrong order
B. the final problem that makes a situation unbearable
C. deal with a problem when it actually arises
D. very different from
Correct Answer: A
The idiomatic phrase "put the cart before the horse" means do things in the wrong order. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "play with fire"?
A. treat something with skepticism
B. reveal or make known
C. a subject or issue causing disagreement
D. take a dangerous risk
Correct Answer: D
The idiomatic phrase "play with fire" means take a dangerous risk. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "part and parcel"?
A. reveal a secret
B. do something innovative or pioneering
C. an essential or integral part
D. something that seems bad at first but turns out beneficial
Correct Answer: C
The idiomatic phrase "part and parcel" means an essential or integral part. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "out of the blue"?
A. avoid choosing between alternatives
B. unexpectedly
C. take on more responsibility than one can handle
D. a futile search or pursuit
Correct Answer: B
The idiomatic phrase "out of the blue" means unexpectedly. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "on the spur of the moment"?
A. suddenly and without planning
B. agree completely
C. pursue the wrong course or blame the wrong person
D. begin behaving in a better way
Correct Answer: A
The idiomatic phrase "on the spur of the moment" means suddenly and without planning. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "once in a blue moon"?
A. a very important or memorable day
B. in strong disagreement
C. deal with a difficult situation directly
D. very rarely
Correct Answer: D
The idiomatic phrase "once in a blue moon" means very rarely. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "nip in the bud"?
A. understand an implied meaning
B. very successfully
C. stop something at an early stage
D. joke with or tease someone
Correct Answer: C
The idiomatic phrase "nip in the bud" means stop something at an early stage. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "make a mountain out of a molehill"?
A. do things in the wrong order
B. exaggerate a small problem
C. show emotions openly
D. extremely happy
Correct Answer: B
The idiomatic phrase "make a mountain out of a molehill" means exaggerate a small problem. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "make both ends meet"?
A. manage expenses within one's income
B. take a dangerous risk
C. very angry and protesting
D. understand something
Correct Answer: A
The idiomatic phrase "make both ends meet" means manage expenses within one's income. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "leave no stone unturned"?
A. an essential or integral part
B. slightly ill
C. hope for a favorable outcome
D. make every possible effort
Correct Answer: D
The idiomatic phrase "leave no stone unturned" means make every possible effort. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.