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To get a band score of 9 on the IELTS exam, you must use a range of vocabulary and idioms to show the examiner that you can use various idiomatic expressions. Using idioms for IELTS speaking and writing section helps you showcase your English knowledge better and score high. Idioms add variety to your speech, making it sound more natural.
For that reason, idioms for IELTS should be used properly and in the appropriate context as using them incorrectly can lower your score. This article contains a list of useful idioms for IELTS, questions with answers showcasing how you can use idioms wisely in your answers to impress the examiner and some tips on how you can learn more idioms for your IELTS Speaking exam more effectively.
Table of Contents
- What is an Idiom?
- Idioms for IELTS Speaking
- IELTS Speaking idioms for band 9
- Idioms for IELTS Tips
- Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How can idioms be used for IELTS Speaking?
A. Idioms help you express your ideas better and add colours to your answers. For the IELTS Speaking section, you can use various idioms wherever necessary; however, inadequate use of them may also lead you to lose some of your scores on the Speaking section of the IELTS test. Below are some tips on how you can use idioms for IELTS Speaking wisely:
- Understand their meaning: If you do not know the meaning of a particular idiom, better use a simple word or phrase rather than use the idiom incorrectly. For the correct usage of the idiom, make sure you understand its meaning correctly.
- Use them appropriately: Choose idioms that are relevant to the topic you are discussing. Don't force an idiom into your answer just because you know it.
- Don't overuse them: Using too many idioms can make your speech sound unnatural or forced. Use them sparingly and only when they add value to your answer.
- Practice using them in context: The best way to learn how to use idioms is to practice using them in context. Try to use them in your everyday conversations and writing.
- Be confident: If you are not sure whether to use an idiom, it is better to err on the side of caution and not use it. However, if you are confident that you know how to use it correctly, go ahead and use it.
Q. What are some examples of correct and incorrect usage of idioms for IELTS speaking?
A. Here are some useful examples that describe the correct and incorrect usages of some idioms in IELTS Speaking test:
-
Idiom: "Feeling under the Weather"
Incorrect use: "I'm feeling a bit under the weather because I ate too much pizza last night."
Correct use: "I'm feeling a bit under the weather because I caught a cold."
Explanation: "Under the weather" is typically used to describe feeling unwell, not just feeling full.
-
Idiom: "Break the Ice"
Incorrect use: "I broke the ice when I spilled coffee on my new white shirt."
Correct use: "To break the ice at the business meeting, I asked everyone to share a funny story about their weekend."
Explanation: "Break the ice" is typically used to describe an intentional action to reduce tension and start conversation and not a literal accident.
-
Idiom: "On Cloud Nine"
Incorrect use: "After getting promoted, Sarah was on cloud nine for weeks."
Correct use: "The plane flew on cloud nine during the storm."
Explanation: "On cloud nine" idiom is typically used to describe a state of extreme happiness following good news, not being on actual clouds.
-
Idiom: "Cost an arm and a leg"
Incorrect use: "That luxury car costs an arm and a leg - I could never afford it."
Correct use: "The accident cost him an arm and a leg."
Explanation: "Cost an arm and a leg" idiom is typically used to describe something with a high monetary value, not an actual injury.
What is an Idiom?
An idiom is a phrase or expression with no literal meaning - the meaning differs when you read each word. For example, the phrase - "on top of the world." When you got accepted to your dream university, you might say, “I was on top of the world when I got accepted into my dream university”. This does not mean you’re on top of the world; the idiomatic meaning is, “I was pleased when I got into my dream University. We often use idioms or phrasal verbs to express ourselves better in English.
Q. Give a few examples of idioms with meanings.
A. Here are a few examples of idioms with their meanings:
- Break a leg: Good luck.
- Hit the books: To study hard.
- Under the weather: Feeling sick.
- Spill the beans: To reveal a secret.
- Let the cat out of the bag: To reveal a secret accidentally.
- Kick the bucket: To die.
- It's raining cats and dogs: It's raining heavily.
- Once in a blue moon: Rarely.
- Bite the bullet: To face a difficult situation.
- Cost an arm and a leg: To be very expensive.
Q. Which are some of the most used idioms in daily life?
A. Some of the most commonly used idioms in daily life with their meanings are given below:
- Piece of cake: Easy
- Pull someone's leg: To joke with someone
- Hit the road: To start a journey
- Early bird catches the worm: The person who starts early has an advantage
- A blessing in disguise: Something good that initially seems bad
- A dime a dozen: Very common and inexpensive
- A drop in the bucket: A very small amount
- A hot potato: A controversial or difficult issue
- A penny for your thoughts: What are you thinking?
- A snowball's chance in hell: No chance at all
- A wolf in sheep's clothing: Someone who pretends to be good but is actually evil
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Idioms for IELTS Speaking
Using idioms in the correct context is important for clarity and understanding. Idioms have specific meanings that are not obvious from individual words. So, using them correctly makes sure that your intended message is well received by the examiner. Here's an explanation of how these idioms can help you score a higher band score in the IELTS speaking section.
| Idioms for IELTS Speaking: Explanation and Usage | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| IDIOM |
EXPLANATION |
EXAMPLE |
CONTEXT |
| Break the ice |
To initiate a conversation in the social gathering. |
"At the start of the meeting, Sam told a funny joke to break the ice and made everyone feel more comfortable" |
Used in social settings to help ease tension and start a conversation. |
| Read between the lines |
To realise the underlying meaning of something that is not explicitly stated. |
“He said he could afford it, but reading between the lines, I don't think he has enough money.” |
To find meanings that are intended but that are not directly expressed in something said. |
| Hit the nail on the head |
To do or say something exactly right or true. |
“She hit the nail on the head with her proposal at yesterday's staff meeting.” |
when someone has made an accurate or precise statement or guess. |
| Get the message across |
To successfully communicate a message to someone. |
"The manager tried to get the message across that the project had to be completed by Friday." |
Useful for making one's meaning or intent known or understood. |
| Light at the end of the tunnel |
Signs of improvement in a situation that has been bad for a long time or after a difficult period. |
"After months of hard work, I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel." |
To talk about overcoming challenges. |
| Caught red-handed |
Caught in the act of doing something wrong. |
"The police caught the thief red-handed, who was trying to steal a car." |
Indicate that someone has been caught doing something wrong or illegal. |
| Face the music |
To confront or accept unpleasant consequences of one’s actions. |
"After cheating on the exam, John had to face the music and accept his punishment." |
Useful for discussing consequences. |
| Once in a Blue Moon |
Something that happens rarely. |
"Once in a blue moon, he cleans his room" |
Useful for discussing the rarity of a situation. |
| Cry Over Spilt Milk |
To be upset or worried about something that happened cannot be changed. |
"You've broken the glass now; it's no use crying over spilt milk!" |
To grieve over something that cannot be altered. |
| Bookworm |
Refers to someone who reads a lot. |
"She is such a bookworm! She seems to have a new book every time I see her" |
Useful for describing someone who reads a lot. |
| Hit the books |
To study seriously. |
“She has an exam tomorrow, she needs to hit the books tonight.” |
Useful for discussing study habits and preparation. |
| Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day |
Great achievements take time. |
"Just as Rome was not built in one day, he is not going to get 9 band score in the IELTS exam by studying for just one day. |
Useful for emphasising that important work takes time and should not be rushed. |
| Ace a test |
To do exceptionally well on an exam |
John happily aced his science exam |
To explain where someone performs exceptionally well on an assessment. |
| Pass with flying colours. |
To pass with a high score. |
"John was able to pass the driving test with flying colours." |
To indicate a good success at passing the test. |
By the book |
Do it exactly according to the rules. |
"He took his work very seriously and did things by the book.” |
To talk about rule-following and precision. |
| Put your nose to the grindstone |
Work hard for a long time |
"He kept his nose to the grindstone all the semester and got the results he wanted.” |
To highlight hard work. |
| Pull an all-nighter |
To stay up all night studying or working. |
"I had to pull an all-nighter to get my presentation made." |
Useful when staying up late at night to finish a task. |
| Drag your feet |
To Procrastinate or delay. |
"If you drag your feet on your assignments, you'll never get them done." |
Useful for talking about procrastination and time management. |
| Make the cut |
To meet the required standard. |
"Out of 100 applicants, only 10 made the cut." |
Use to mean qualify for meeting standards. |
| Kill Two Birds With One Stone |
Solving two problems with one action. |
"Walking to work kills two birds with one stone. It saves money and give physical exercise." |
To achieve two things with only one action/ |
| Blow off steam |
Do something to relieve stress or tension. |
"After a long day at work, she goes for a run to blow off steam." |
Useful for discussing stress relief methods. |
| To be at the end of your rope |
Running out of patience |
"My neighbour was at the end of her rope with her kids." |
Useful for describing feeling desperate in a difficult situation & do not know how to handle it. |
| On the same page |
Agree or have a shared understanding. |
"It's important that everyone in the team is on the same page." |
Highlights the importance of communication and agreement in teamwork. |
| Back to basics |
To go back to simpler methods |
"The team needs to go back to basics and revisit the core principles." |
Returning to fundamentals of something. |
| Day and Night |
All the time. |
"They were working day and night to prepare for the competition." |
For discussing your preparation strategy. |
IELTS Speaking Idioms for Band 9
Although IDP describes fluency and coherence as the two most important attributes on which your response is assessed on the IELTS Speaking test. Usage of good vocabulary, idioms and discourse markers make your answer sound way better. Check out some sample questions and answers below to learn how you can use idioms for IELTS Speaking to score an IELTS band score 9.
Question 1: Tell me about your first day at college.
Sample Answer: On the first day of college, I was anxious about meeting new people. To break the ice and start some conversation, I shared a funny incident from my trip to the campus. It was about how I almost got lost and ended up being late for my first lecture.
Question 2: What do you think is the key to successful team management?
Sample Answer: In my view, the essence of successful team management lies in understanding and assigning roles that fit each team member's strengths. The manager of our student project hit the nail on the head when she delegated tasks that aligned perfectly with our individual skills and interests. This not only boosted our productivity but also our overall enthusiasm for the project.
Question 3: Do you have any bad habit?
Sample Answer: Unfortunatel, yes. I procrastinate my work. There was one time in my college when I delayed too much on a group project. My teammates were not happy with me and I had to face the music during our project review.
Question 4: Did you like reading when you were a child?
Sample Answer: Yes. I was a complete bookworm growing up. My favourite pastime was delving deep into books about dragons and exciting adventures. This love for reading sparked a lifelong passion for literature.
Question 5: Do you have any regrets?
Sample Answer: Last year, I was supposed to present my product at a major conference in Germany, but I fell under the weather the day before with the severe flu. It was devastating because I had prepared extensively and was excited about the trip.
Question 6: Are you a good friend?
Sample Answer: Yes, I think so. Last month, My best friend was about to make a rash decision to buy an expensive bike impulsively. I told him to hold his horses and think it over carefully. Later, he thanked me for urging him to reconsider, realising it wasn't the right financial decision at that moment.
Idioms for IELTS Speaking Tips
Here are a few tips on the use of idioms in your IELTS Speaking test.
- Practice Regularly: You should have a good preparation strategy. Try practicing using idioms in everyday English while conversing with others. Make a habit of learning and practicing new idioms.
- Context is Key: You should use idioms in the right context to avoid misunderstanding and misuse. Enhance vocabulary.
- Moderation: Do not overuse idioms to impress the examiner. Let the idioms flow naturally in the conversation.
- Relevance: Use idioms that are fitting to the topic you are talking about. You must be thorough in knowing how and where they can be used. You cannot just use these idioms anywhere in your response to hope score better.
Idioms for IELTS Speaking FAQs
Q. How do I boost my band score in the IELTS speaking module?
Answer: To get a band score of 7 and higher, you must practice speaking English every day and use different words and phrases. Practice pronouncing difficult words by listening to native speakers. Do not use filler words like”aah”, “umm”. Use a variety of sentence structures grammatically correct. Additionally, speak related to the topic.
Q. How many idioms should I use in the IELTS speaking test?
Answer: There is no fixed number, but it is important not to overuse them Use idioms moderately and only when they fir naturally in a conversation. Aim to use 1-2 idioms on a relevant topic throughout your responses. Focus on quality over quantity.
Q. Can using idioms improve my IELTS speaking score?
Answer: Yes, idioms can aid in improving your score for lexical resource, i.e., one of the assessment criteria you will be assessed on. You can use idioms to show your ability to use language naturally and appropriately. However, they should be used accurately to contribute positively to your score.
Q.What if I use an idiom incorrectly?
Answer: Using idioms incorrectly will affect your score as it could confuse the examiner regarding the relevance to the response. It is essential to fully understand the idioms you are using and make sure they are related to the topic of discussion.
Q. Are idioms necessary for scoring Band 7 or higher?
Answer: While it is not strictly necessary, using idioms appropriately can certainly enhance your answers, contributing to achieving a higher band, especially in the lexical resource criterion of the speaking test.
Q. Can idioms be used in all parts of the IELTS speaking test?
Answer: Yes, idioms can be effectively used in all parts of IELTS speaking, from the introduction and interview to the long-turn and the discussion phases. Use the relevant idioms to the topic of each part to keep your language appropriate.
Q. Is it OK to use idioms in IELTS writing?
Answer: Yes, using idioms in IELTS writing is OK, but you should use them accurately. Here are a few points to consider:
- Make sure the idioms are related to the topic and make sense in your writing.
- Use idioms correctly and in the right context.
- Avoid overusing them, as it can make your writing seem less formal.
Q. How to memorize English idioms?
Answer: Firstly, you must listen to or read a new phrase or expression. To enhance your vocabulary with idioms and phrases, you must actively know how to pronounce them. Once you know any idiom - know its meaning; in which context it can be used; and examples. Then, keep revising those idioms to aid memorization.
Q. How do we identify idioms?
Answer: Idioms are expressions that mean something different from what the individual words actually mean. For example, “I have a lot on my plate” means “I am very busy.” Phrases are just groups of words that make up an idiom.
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