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IDIOMS FOR IELTS SPEAKING

Idioms used in IELTS can help to increase your score in the test. However, there are
important things you should know about them.
Nhng t bi m di y cc bn ch nh. Idioms have a double-faced sword (con
dao hai li)
V d: Hes dressed up like a dogs dinner. Cu ny rt d conflict Nosebleeds (chy
mu mi y ^^)
Bi nu bn c qua, bn cn word-for-word thinking in Vietnamese th rt d hiu lm
Anh ta n mc nh con ch i n ti ^^ Nhng cu ny mang ngha Anh ta n mc bnh
bao c y! ^^
Ni dung di y mnh ly t ieltsbuddy.com v son theo mt danh mc cho cc bn
d hc
For example, we can say:
"Im over the moon that I got a band 7.5 in IELTS".
Obviously you cant take the words over the moon literally. It does not mean the person is
standing over the moon!
The phrase is used when someone wants to express that they are incredibly happy about
something that has happened.

This is one of the criteria for achieving a band 7 in IELTS speaking for lexical resource
(vocabulary):

Uses some less common and idiomatic vocabulary

This means that the examiner will be trained to spot if you use this type of vocabulary. They
are much less common in formal or academic writing, so they are not mentioned in the
writing band descriptors.
For example, if your general use of lexis throughout the test tends to be at a band 6 level, the
examiner will not give you a 7 just because you fit over the moon in somewhere!
-

Using idioms at the right time (ng lc) and in the right context (ng ch)is also quite
difficult to learn. Native speakers use them very naturally and in exactly the right context

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because they have obviously been brought up with the language and they dont have to think
about it.

Those that can use them well in the test have not usually studied a book and learned them but
have picked them up through experience, maybe from some time abroad or just from being
quite a good speaker of English.
However, that is not to say you should not study them, but it depends on your situation
(da vo tnh hung).
You need to work on improving your general vocabulary (for example try practicing the
academic word list and collocations) and improving your fluency and grammar.
570 Academic Words
http://www.mediafire.com/download/wyym6e901ad6859/Academic+Word+List.pdf
Oxfords collocation Dictionary
https://www.mediafire.com/folder/urey6ygbxp0hrr7,n410pnsm5zc8kts/shared

Common Idioms List

Set 1
Common Idioms

Definitions

It cost me an arm and a leg to take my trip to

Australia.

Very expensive

I was over the moon when he asked me to marry

him.

Extremely pleased or happy

You are taking your IELTS test next week?? Arent Doing or starting something too early
you jumping the gun. Youve only just started
studying.
He comes round to see me once in a blue moon.

Happening very rarely

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Hes got a chip on his shoulder.

Feeling inferior or having a grievance

about something

I reckon getting a band 7 in IELTS will be a piece Very easy

of cake! Im very good at English.
The money sent by comic relief to help poverty in A very small part of something much
Africa is just a drop in the ocean. They need far bigger
more than this.
Getting a low score the first time I took IELTS
Something positive that isnt recognized
was a blessing in disguise. It forced me to study until later
extremely hard so I got a much better score the next
time.
We have to actually do something about global
warming. Actions speak louder than words.

Its better to actually do something

rather than just talking about it

I bumped into Jenny in town the other day. It's a

small world.

Meeting someone you would not have

expected to

Idioms Practice - Test yourself on these first 10 phrases

Set 2
Common Idioms

Definitions

Oh well, I got 5.5 in IELTS again.Back to the

drawing board!

When an attempt to do something fails

and it's time to start all over again using
different methods

I hate my job so much I cant bare going to work, Having two very bad choices.
but if I quit I dont think I can get another job. Im
really stuck / caught between a rock and a hard (note: stuck/caught can be omitted)
place.

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I have to bite my tongue so I dont say what I

really think of him!

Wanting to say something but stopping

yourself.

Come on, cut to the chase. We havent got all day! Leave out all the unnecessary details and
just get to the point
Are you putting all of your savings into that
Putting all of ones resources into one
company? Dont put all your eggs in one basket. possibility
Try not to worry about it. Every cloud has a silver Believing that every bad situation has a
lining.
positive side / eventually leads to
something good
It was difficult when I moved to another country
but I eventuallyfound my feet.

To become comfortable in what you are

doing

My parents are very fixed in their ways. They

wont start using the internet.

Not wanting to change from the normal

ways of doing things

I think he got up on the wrong side of the bed

this morning. He is in a terrible mood.

To refer to someone who is having a bad

day

My mother will always go the extra mile to help

people.

Doing much more than is required when

doing something

Go to the Idiom practice exercise for these 10 words

Set 3
Common Idioms

Definitions

I think youve hit the nail on the head. Thats the Say exactly the right thing
reason he didnt get the job.

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Todays going so badly. If its not one thing, its

the other.

When everything seems to be going

wrong

I just said it in the heat of the moment. I was

angry. I know I shouldnt have.

Saying or doing something suddenly

without thinking about it

Keep an eye on him. I think he may cheat in the

exam.

Watch someone or something carefully

Have you heard? John down the road has kicked

the bucket.

Died

I dont want to argue with him again. Its better

to let sleeping dogs lie.

Avoid a conflict

I told him what gift you have bought him for his
Tell someone something that you were
birthday. Sorry, I didnt mean to let the cat out of not supposed to
the bag.
Dont tell her what you really think of her if shes
helping you with your English! Dont bite the
hand that feeds you.

Hurt or upset someone who is helping

you

Im not sure which party he is going to vote for.

Hes sitting on the fence.

Not making a firm decision between

different choices

Everything she does is very over the top. She cant Excessive
just have a few drinks se has to get really drunk.
View these 10 idioms in use and practice them
Set 4
Common Idioms

Definitions

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Lets keep studying for IELTS.Practice makes

perfect.

Continuously doing something to

improve

Dont get upset about what he said. Hes

just pulling your leg.

Joking around

Sorry but I think Ill take a rain checkon that.

To decline an offer that you will take up

later

As a rule of thumb, I dont study at weekends. I

spend the time with my family.

Principal that is strictly adhered / kept

to

I can smell a rat. He said he has a PhD but he cant To sense that something is not right
even remember which university he studied at.
Shes the spitting image of her mother.

To look exactly like someone else

The ball's in your court now. What are you going Telling someone it's now their turn to
to do?
make a decision
Unfortunately I think hell be studying for
For a very long time
IELTS until the cows come home. His English is
very poor.
It was all tongue-in-cheek. He didnt really mean
what he said.

Something said in humour rather than

seriously

Shes feeling under the weathertoday so she wont Unwell

be going to work.
Go to idioms exercises for Set 4 words
Set 5
Common Idioms

Definitions

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We've had some big disagreements over the years, but Things from the past that are not
its all water under the bridge now. We get on fine. important anymore
You are what you eat so its better to have a healthy If you eat bad food, youll be unhealthy,
diet.
if you eat good food, youll be healthy
You cant judge a book by its cover. I need to get to The belief that outside appearances do
know him before I decide what he is like.
not reveal what someone or something is
really like
We're really working against the clock now. We
must hurry.

Not having enough time to do something

Why are we bothering? We'reflogging a dead horse. Attempting to continue with something
Our online business is making no money, so we
that is finished / over
should move on and do something else.
I bent over backwards to help him. I hope he
appreciates it.

Doing all you can to help someone

So you have the IELTS test today??Break a leg.

Good luck

Ok, I'm playing devil's advocatehere, but if

marijuana is legalized, isn't it more likely young
people will smoke it?

To put forward a side in an argument

that may not be your own in order to
show the counter-argument / ensure all
sides are discussed

Hold your horses! We haven't won anything yet.

Telling someone who is getting ahead of

themselves to wait / be patient

She is driving me up the wall. She won't stop talking.

Annoying or irritating somebody

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PRACTICE

a blessing in disguise
a drop in the ocean
a piece of cake
actions speak louder than words
an arm and a leg
chip on his shoulder
it's a small world
jumping the gun
once in a blue moon
over the moon
_______________________________________________

Idioms Practice Exercise 1

1. Getting my car fixed is going to cost me
completely blown, but I have no choice. I need it for work.

as the engine has

2. The flu I had a few weeks ago which prevented me from going on holiday with my friends
was
cost them a lot of money.

. They had a terrible time. Everything went wrong and it

3. I was in a caf in Italy and amazingly I saw Paul from down the road in
there.
4. Jan is finally getting a chance to go on her trip of a life time, a holiday to Australia! She
was

when I spoke to her.

5. 3 pounds may seem like

much we'd have thousands.

but if everyone contributed that

6. The government keeps talking about reducing poverty but what do they ever do about it?
Nothing!

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7. I've got a promotion at work, but all John did was make a joke about it. He has a
real

. I think he is just jealous.

8. The interview for that new job was

easy questions.

. They asked me really

9. The new Martin Scorsese film is out at the cinema. A film that comes out that I really enjoy and
want to see happens

, so I'll definitely go and see it.

10. He was
he has found out he can't get a grant.

when he gave up his job to start university. Now

back to the drawing board

between a rock and a hard place
bite your tongue
cut to the chase
every cloud has a silver lining
find your feet
fixed in his/her ways
get up on the wrong side of the bed
go the extra mile
put all your eggs in one basket
_______________________________________________

Idiom Practice Exercise 2

1. Can you
not?
2. Don't be so grumpy with me! Did you
3. He's very
Conservative party his whole life.

and tell us if we are going to lose our jobs or

?
. He'll never vote Labour. He's voted for the

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4. I know everything seems very bad at the moment but

I'm sure something good will come out of it.

5. I know you shouldn't

but I'm going to sell all my stocks
and shares and purchase an off-plan property in Spain. I'm sure it will be fine.
6. I was
in that meeting. I really wanted to tell him that
his idea was no good but you can't say that to the boss.
7. It doesn't look like this strategy to improve the company's profits is working, so
it's

8. Jane really
yesterday. I only asked her to pick the kids
up from school, but she took them home, helped with their homework and put them to bed.
9. She's
. Her marriage isn't working so she's very
unhappy at home, but if she moves out and leaves him her family will blame her and won't talk to
her.
10. The job might seem confusing at first as there are a lot of different departments you need to
work with but you'll soon

practice makes perfect

pulling your leg
rule of thumb
smell a rat
take a rain check
the ball's in your court
the spitting image
till the cows come home
tongue-in-cheek
under the weather
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Idioms Exercises - Practice 4

1. Wow the painting is

of you. Who drew it?

2. I'm a bit busy so I'll

3. I've been a bit
I ate.
4. Are you

, but thanks for inviting me.

since last night. I think it may have been something

? I don't believe you really did that.

5. The police
when he said he wasn't involved in the crime. Someone
fitting his description had been seen in the area.
6. Don't worry if you can't do it yet. Keep trying.
7. The
arguments!

in our house is not to talk about politics it always ends in

8. The TV programme was a

serious.
9. I've told him how angry I am, so
10. We'll be waiting
again.

look at American culture. It wasn't that

now. We'll see what he does.

for England to win the football World Cup

bend over backwards

break a leg
drive someone up the wall
flogging a dead horse
hold your horses
playing devil's advocate
water under the bridge
working against the clock

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you are what you eat

you can't judge a book by its cover

_______________________________________________

Idiom Practice Exercises - Practice 5

1. We'll be
an hour left.

to get this finished. It's 4pm so we only have

2.
team.

mate! I'm sure you'll do well. You're easily the best

3. I agree with you really. I'm just

those who disagree with you may say.

so you know what

4. Please, don't worry about what you said anymore. It's all
. I know you were just feeling upset at the time.
5. Stop trying to get back with your ex-girlfriend. You're
There is no love between you anymore.

6. I thought John was an idiot when I first saw him just because of the way he dressed.
But

he's a really good bloke.

7. My doctor always says

weight. It's very true as I have a poor diet.
8. The government is
They know the electorate needs to believe in them.
9. My younger brother really
everything I say.

when I go to see him about my

before the election to appear united.

. He argues and disagrees with

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10. I think you should

start your own business. You need more experience.

! You aren't ready yet to quit and

bend over backwards

break a leg
drive someone up the wall
flogging a dead horse
hold your horses
playing devil's advocate
water under the bridge
working against the clock
you are what you eat
you can't judge a book by its cover

_______________________________________________

Idiom Practice Exercises - Practice 5

1. We'll be
an hour left.
2.
team.

to get this finished. It's 4pm so we only have

mate! I'm sure you'll do well. You're easily the best

3. I agree with you really. I'm just

those who disagree with you may say.

so you know what

4. Please, don't worry about what you said anymore. It's all
. I know you were just feeling upset at the time.
5. Stop trying to get back with your ex-girlfriend. You're
There is no love between you anymore.

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6. I thought John was an idiot when I first saw him just because of the way he dressed.
But

he's a really good bloke.

7. My doctor always says

weight. It's very true as I have a poor diet.
8. The government is
They know the electorate needs to believe in them.
9. My younger brother really
everything I say.
10. I think you should
start your own business. You need more experience.

when I go to see him about my

before the election to appear united.

. He argues and disagrees with

! You aren't ready yet to quit and

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