1. What is an Idiom?

A group of words establish by usage as having a meaning not deducible from those of the individual words. A
form of expression natural to a language, person or group of people. However, the meaning of idiom is different
from the literal meaning of those words.

2. The importance of idioms in IELTS Speaking

Idiom helps your sentences become more concise but contains a broad meaning. In IELTS Speaking, one of the
criteria for the examiner to consider giving you a higher score is if you use a few less common words and
idioms.

3. 50 common idioms in IELTS Speaking

Below are 50 common idioms. The word list includes specific meanings and examples to help you understand
clearly and apply effectively.

Idiom Meaning For example

My dream is to become a successful businessman

at all costs By all means
and I will work hard for it AT ALL COSTS

be out of your I am used to teach General English but I was OUT OF

In an awkward/difficult situation
depth MY DEPTH when I had to teach Academic English

explore all Consider directions/steps to avoid We need to EXPLORE ALL AVENUES before doing
avenues problems/bad consequences something that is not very safe to a large number of
people in order to minimize unfavorable
 consequences.”

Let's face it. You won't be able to achieve 7.0 IELTS

let's face it Face/accept reality/truth
if you do not work hard

My friend never likes using smartphones. She's so

behind the times Outdated, out of date
BEHIND THE TIMES.

He has not submitted his thesis so he's IN DEEP

in deep water In a dangerous/difficult situation
WATER.

put yourself in
Try putting yourself in someone If you PUT YOURSELF IN MY SHOES, you would
somebody's
else's position/situation understand why I made that decision.
shoes

to be up in arms
Angry, upset about something She has been UP IN ARMS about the rent increase.
about something

He said it is a difficult problem, but I don't agree. It

as easy as pie Very easy, as easy as pie
seems as easy as pie to me!

be sick and tired I'm sick and tired of doing nothing but work. Let's go
I hate (I can't stand it)
of out tonight and have fun.

bend over Trying very hard (sometimes too He bent over backwards to please his new wife, but
backwards hard) she never seemed satisfied.
 That sounds like a good deal, but I'd like to sleep on
sleep on it Think (before deciding)
it before I give you my final decision.

I have to borrow some money from my Dad. Right

broke. broke Out of money
now, I'm broke.

change one's I was planning to work late tonight, but I changed

Change your mind
mind my mind. I'll do extra work on the weekend instead.

Cut it out! Stop doing something bad That noise is really annoying. Cut it out!

drop someone a It was good to meet you . Drop me a line when you
Send a letter or email to someone
line have time.

figure something I don't understand how to do this problem. Take a

Understand what the problem is
out look at it. Maybe you can figure it out.

fill in for Doing for someone when they are While I was away from the store, my brother filled in
someone absent for me.

Have you seen Joe recently? I haven't seen him in

print ages For a long time
ages.

give someone a
Help I want to move this desk. Can you give me a hand?
hand

hit the hay Go to bed It's after 12 o'clock. I think it's time to hit the hay.
 Our business is really improving. We've been in the
in the black Profitable, profitable
black all year.

Business is really going poorly these days. We've

in the red Loss of money, loss
been in the red for the past three months.

I got to the drugstore just in the nick of time. I really

in the nick of time A little more, one more moment
need this medicine!

keep one's chin I know things have been difficult for you recently,
Be brave and carry on
up but keep your chin up. It will get better soon.

know something If you get lost, just ask me for directions. I know this
Know something very well
like the back of part of town like the back of my hand.
your hand

Have you been to the new movie theater? No, only

once in a while Sometimes, once in a while see movies once in a while.

I'll meet you at 9 o'clock sharp. If you're late, we'll

Sharp Exactly that time
be in trouble!

Don't judge an He doesn't look very intelligent, but you can't judge
Don't judge a
object/event/person based on a book by its cover.
book by its cover
appearance alone
miss the boat =
If you miss the boat, it means you are too late to get
to miss an Missed opportunity
an opportunity in my company.
opportunity

I'm feeling under the weather – I think I'm getting a

feeling under the
Feeling unwell, not feeling well cold.
weather

I'll leave no stone unturned until I find out the

leave no stone Do everything to achieve your
reason.
unturned goal

I think you hit the nail on the head when you said
hit the nail on the Guess correctly, hit the right that what's lacking in our company is a feeling of
head point, speak correctly... confidence.

I'm sitting on the fence with my girlfriend when we

sit on the fence Hesitate
went shopping!

Taking having something for He took her help for granted without saying thank
take for granted granted makes you not you.
appreciate it when you have it

Getting a band 6.5 in the speaking test will be a

A piece of cake Easy
piece of cake.

Blew me away When something “blows you The new technology blew me away.
 away,” it means it's really
surprising

once in a blue I used to see him all the time, but now he just visits
Rarely
moon me once in a blue moon.

Run of the mill Normally Apple phones are very run of the mill these days.

Your best friend, your soulmate,

Soulmate My husband is not just my lover, he's my soulmate.
your soulmate

Down in the
Sad I was really down in the dumps after my dog died.
dumps

I'd love to buy a Lamborghini supercar, but it costs

cost an arm and a Very expensive
an arm and a leg.
leg

The class will start at 8:00 am on the dot, so don't be

on the dot At a precise moment in time
late!

Moving to a new city was difficult at first, but I soon

Find my feet Feel comfortable doing anything found my feet.

read my/your/his An idea or thought that is known I was surprised he knew what I was planning, like he
mind to someone else could read my mind.
 My parents are quite traditional and set in their
Set in their ways Don't want to change ways.

Well, it was nice chatting with you, but it's time for
Finish a job for the day, or in the
call it a day me to call it a day.
evening

I was over the moon when I passed my speaking

Over the moon Extremely satisfied and happy
test.

Despite terrorism, Obama still kept calm, and told

chill out Relax, calm down
his staff to chill out, and got back to work.

(to be) fed up

Bored with Be careful, I think the boss is fed up with us today
with