CELSA - Combined English Language Skills Assessment Idiomatic Expressions Questions and Answers

Question 1

A manager notices her team is avoiding the most critical issue during a project meeting.
Instead, they are discussing minor, unrelated details.
Which idiomatic expression best describes the team's behavior?

Accepted Answer

Beating around the bush

Answer

Hitting the nail on the head

Answer

Spilling the beans

Answer

Jumping on the bandwagon

Question 2

After weeks of negotiation, a company made a final offer to a candidate and is now waiting for their decision. A colleague asks for an update. Which sentence correctly uses an idiom to describe the situation?

Accepted Answer

We've made our final offer, so the ball is in his court now.

Answer

We're waiting for his reply; the early bird gets the worm.

Answer

It's time for him to face the music and make a choice.

Answer

He needs to get a head start on the paperwork.

Question 3

The phrase 'to bite the bullet' means to:

Accepted Answer

endure a difficult or unpleasant situation with courage.

Answer

interrupt someone while they are speaking.

Answer

eat something very quickly and without chewing.

Answer

reveal a secret accidentally.

Question 4

Which of the following sentences uses the idiom 'cut corners' correctly?

Accepted Answer

The students who cut corners on their research paper received poor grades because the work was substandard.

Answer

To finish the cake on time, he had to cut corners of the decorative paper.

Answer

The driver decided to cut corners to get through the city traffic faster.

Answer

She was so hungry she decided to cut corners of the sandwich first.

Question 5

A company launched a new social media marketing campaign that quickly became very popular. Soon after, several competing companies launched very similar campaigns. This is an example of the competitors...

Accepted Answer

jumping on the bandwagon.

Answer

calling the shots.

Answer

going back to the drawing board.

Answer

keeping their eyes on the ball.

Question 6

If someone asks you to 'spill the beans,' what are they asking you to do?

Accepted Answer

Reveal secret information.

Answer

Pay for a meal.

Answer

Clean up a mess.

Answer

Start a new project.

A manager notices her team is avoiding the most critical issue during a project meeting.Instead, they are discussing minor, unrelated details.Which idiomatic expression best describes the team's behavior?

A manager notices her team is avoiding the most critical issue during a project meeting.
Instead, they are discussing minor, unrelated details.
Which idiomatic expression best describes the team's behavior?