Do you remember your grandma using local idioms while telling you an interesting story? Those idioms in our local languages are poles apart from English idioms that play a key part in cracking the lexical vocabulary section in the IELTS exam. In the IELTS test, idioms have a distinctive role because they can assist you in exhibiting your grasp of English.
Idioms enhance communication in both the speaking and writing sections, making your responses more natural and fluent. Using idiomatic expressions, you can elevate your language, impress examiners, and boost your IELTS score. So if you’re aiming for a high IELTS score, idioms can help you achieve it. Read about idioms, what they are, and learn essential idioms to increase your score.
What is an Idiom?
An idiom is a phrase or expression with a meaning different from the literal meaning of its words. It’s a figurative language element that conveys a particular idea or sentiment unique to a culture or language. Idioms add colour and personality to communication, making conversations more engaging and expressive.
For example, when someone says, “I was over the moon when I saw my results,” they don’t mean they were literally above the moon. It actually means they were very happy about their results. We use idioms a lot in everyday conversations without even realizing them because we grew up hearing them. For language learners, mastering idioms is essential for achieving fluency and sounding more like a native speaker. But you need to learn how to use them correctly, so you don’t sound strange.
What are Phrasal Verbs?
Phrasal verbs are combinations of a verb and a preposition or adverb that together, create a new meaning different from the original verb. For instance, “give up” means to stop trying. They are common in English and essential for language proficiency, adding richness to both formal and informal conversations.
Phrasal verbs can be separable or inseparable. In separable phrasal verbs, the object can come between the verb and the particle, e.g., “turn off the lights” or “turn the lights off.” In inseparable phrasal verbs, the object must follow the particle, e.g., “look after the kids” (not “look the kids after”). Understanding phrasal verbs helps you sound more natural in English. For instance, instead of saying “continue,” you might use “carry on,” which gives your speech a more relaxed tone.
Common Idioms You Need to Know for IELTS
Here are some commonly used idioms for the IELTS exam, along with their meanings and examples which can add depth to your communication. Mastering everyday idioms can enhance your fluency and make your responses sound more natural.
| Idioms | Meaning | Example |
| Break the ice | Make people feel more comfortable | “To break the ice, the host made a joke at the beginning of the meeting.” |
| Piece of cake | Something very easy | “This exam was a piece of cake compared to the last one.” |
| A blessing in disguise | A good thing that seemed bad at first | “Losing that job was a blessing in disguise; I found a better one soon after.” |
| Burn the midnight oil | Work late into the night | “I had to burn the midnight oil to finish my assignment.” |
| On cloud nine | Very happy | “She’s been on cloud nine since getting the promotion.” |
| A hot potato | Something very controversial | “Discrimination and rap are hot potatoes in India these days.” |
| Let the cat out of the bag | Reveal a secret unintentionally | “She let the cat out of the bag at the surprise party.” |
| Miss the boat | Miss an opportunity | “I missed the boat on investing in that company.” |
| Costs an arm and a leg | Very expensive | “The new phone costs an arm and a leg.” |
| Under the weather | Feeling sick | “I’m feeling a bit under the weather today.” |
| Once in a blue moon | Something that happens very rarely | “We only see him once in a blue moon.” |
| Burn bridges | Destroy relationships | “Don’t burn bridges with your colleagues; you might need their help later.” |
| Find my feet | to become comfortable doing something | “Moving to a new city was difficult at first, but I soon found my feet.” |
| Sit on the fence | to be undecided | “I am still sitting on the fence on that matter. I’ll have to ponder upon it.” |
| Beat around the bush | Avoiding the main topic or matter. | “Let’s stop beating about the bush and discuss this matter” |
Advanced Idioms for Achieving a Higher Band Score
Using more complex idioms can elevate your language skills and impress examiners. These idioms add depth to your essays and speaking responses, helping you achieve a higher band score. Take a look at some Advanced Idioms that can elevate your performance.
| Idioms | Meaning | Example |
| The ball is in your court | It’s your decision or responsibility | “I’ve done my part; now the ball is in your court.” |
| Barking up the wrong tree | Pursuing a mistaken or misguided course | “If you think I’m responsible for the mistake, you’re barking up the wrong tree.” |
| Bite off more than you can chew | Take on more than one can handle | “He bit off more than he could chew with all those assignments.” |
| Jump on the bandwagon | Join a popular trend or activity | “Everyone is jumping on the bandwagon of this new diet.” |
| Kill two birds with one stone | Achieve two things with one action | “I killed two birds with one stone by picking up dinner and visiting a friend on the way.” |
| Throw in the towel | Give up or quit | “After trying several times, he finally threw in the towel.” |
| Cry over spilt milk | Complaining about a loss from the past. | “You didn’t qualify because you didn’t learn IELTS idioms for speaking. Now, don’t cry over spilt milk.” |
| Hit the nail on the head | To accurately identify the main point of a matter. | “During the meeting, she hit the nail on the head by pointing out the exact issue.” |
| Spill the beans | Reveal secret information | “He accidentally spilled the beans about the surprise party.” |
| Down in the dumps | Feeling unhappy or depressed | ” She was down in the dumps after hearing about the demise of her grandfather.” |
| Steal someone’s thunder | Take credit for someone else’s idea | “He stole my thunder by presenting the idea I had shared with him.” |
| Through thick and thin | In good times and in bad | “They’ve been friends through thick and thin.” |
| By the skin of your teeth | Just barely | “He passed the exam by the skin of his teeth.” |
| Bite the bullet | Face a difficult situation bravely | “Due to a financial crisis, he had to bite the bullet to run his family.” |
| On the ball | Be active and aware of things | “Our staff is really on the ball to get projects done on time.” |
The Importance of Using Idioms Correctly in IELTS
Now that you are aware of what idioms are, the next thing is to master the use of idioms for IELTS. Using idioms in IELTS can significantly improve your score, but they must be used correctly. In both writing and speaking, idioms should sound natural and fit the context. When employing idioms, it’s important to keep in mind that your message shouldn’t come across as jargon or forced.
Use these with extreme care, and only when necessary. Misusing or overusing idioms can confuse the examiner and reduce your score. For example, saying “a piece of cake” when discussing something challenging would be incorrect. Adding an idiom at the right time with the correct context in a sentence is the best way to pass the section on idiomatic vocabulary.
Want a helpful tip? Using idioms in a speaking test provides you with the chance to impress examiners and get you a good speaking score. But remember, idioms are typically informal so adding too much of them to the writing test is not a good idea.
To avoid mistakes, practice with IELTS sample questions, create flashcards with the idioms, its meaning and an example sentence, and explore idiom-focused language apps. These tools help reinforce your knowledge and ensure you can apply idioms accurately during the test. For in-depth learning, specialized courses designed to help learners excel in idiom usage and overall IELTS preparation. It can help you master idioms and improve your overall IELTS performance.
Sample Question Answers
These examples demonstrate how to effectively incorporate idioms into your speaking test answers, making your responses sound more natural and fluent.
Q: Why did you choose to study your current subject?
Answer: I’ve always been passionate about technology, and I realized early on that it’s the future. My love for computers started in school when I built my first website. I guess you could say I was bitten by the bug and decided to pursue computer science. It’s been challenging, but I’m enjoying every step of the journey.
Q: Talk about a time when you had to make a difficult decision.
Answer: Sometime back, I had to decide whether to accept a job offer in a different city. On the one hand, the new job offered a higher salary and better opportunities for growth. But on the other hand, it meant moving away from my friends and family. In the end, I decided to take the plunge and accept the job. It was a tough decision, but I’ve never regretted it.
Q: How do you usually spend your weekends?
Answer: On weekends, I like to unwind after a busy week. I often catch up with friends or go hiking. If I feel too tired, I’ll hit the sack early and just relax. I think it’s important to find a balance between staying active and recharging my energy.
Conclusion
It is clear that using idioms in your IELTS speaking test can significantly improve your band score. Using idioms effectively demonstrates not only a strong vocabulary but also a deeper understanding of language skills and its cultural nuances.
Incorporating idioms into your daily practice can significantly boost both confidence and fluency in speaking. So, try to integrate them into your daily conversations, even if it’s just with friends or family. Consistent learning and regular practice will ensure you’re well-prepared for the exam. To enhance your skills further, explore the resources by La Forêt Education designed to help you excel in IELTS preparation.
Remember, the key is to make it a habit. The more you use idioms, the more comfortable and confident you’ll become. So, don’t be afraid to experiment, have fun with language.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to memorize English idioms?
Here are some several tricks that might be useful:
- Don’t memorize idiomatic phrases but try using them in different sentences and situations.
- Apprehend the context of an idiom rather than cramming up its meaning.
- Read extensively, make notes and revise.
- Interact with native English speakers to learn idioms in a natural context.
- Visually create a picture or story around an idiom to remember them easily like a mind map or flashcards
- Use Language Learning Apps and Websites.
What are the idioms used in IELTS?
No, there are no specific idioms to use. You can use a variety of idioms for speaking based on the topic you are speaking. To be on the safer side, you can practice some idioms that can be used in common IELTS topics. Here are some of the common idioms that one can use: Once in a blue moon, Down to earth, Better late than never, a piece of cake, Ignorance is bliss etc.
Is it good to use idioms in IELTS writing?
Idioms should generally be avoided in IELTS writing, as they are considered too informal for the academic tone required. The IELTS writing section expects clear and formal language. However, idioms are highly encouraged in the speaking section, where a more conversational tone is allowed. Focus on using them appropriately to enhance your speaking performance.
