Top Idioms for IELTS Speaking to Boost Your Score
Table of Contents
If you are aiming for a high IELTS speaking score, idioms can help you achieve it! Read about idioms and what they are, learn common idioms for IELTS speaking and follow our tips and tricks to use them in this part of the test.
1. The IELTS Speaking Test
Full IELTS test takes approximately 12-14 minutes and consists of 3 parts. The examiner will guide you through the IELTS speaking section in 3 parts:
IELTS Speaking Part 1: Answer questions about you and topics you know
IELTS Speaking Part 2: Prepare and present a cue card monologue (LINK to article)
IELTS Speaking Part 3: Answer more complex questions about the monologue topic
The examiner is marking your speaking ability using the following criteria:
- Fluency & Coherence
- Lexical Resource
- Grammatical range and accuracy
- Pronunciation
Let’s focus on lexical resource; using varied IELTS vocabulary. The marking criteria at Band 7 states that the candidate:
Uses some less common and idiomatic vocabulary and shows some awareness of style and collocation, with some inappropriate choices (IELTS.org)
By including idiomatic language, you can increase your score for this marking criteria.
2. What is an idiom?
An idiom is a phrase or expression that often has a non-literal definition. In other words, the meaning cannot always be understood by just reading the phrase. For example, if your friend arrived to see you ‘out of the blue,’ this describes an event that is unexpected, a complete surprise. You may have similar expressions in your native language or they could be completely different.
Reading idioms in context can help you to understand their meaning. Natives will commonly use idioms without thinking. As an English learner you need to learn them in context and as part of a sentence or example. Using idioms can broaden your vocabulary also help improve your IELTS speaking score.
Some phrasal verbs can also form part of idiomatic language. The phrase doesn’t always say exactly what it means and can have several meanings.
Example
Pick up your clothes and tidy your room. (To physically lift or move something)
Can you pick me up from the airport? (Go somewhere to collect somebody, usually in the car)
To score a score of 7 or above, you should include some idioms and phrasal verbs. Let’s take a look at some Common IELTS Idioms You Should Know.
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3. Common IELTS Speaking Idioms You Should Know
Here is a list of some useful and common idioms for IELTS speaking:
| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| A breath of fresh air | Someone or something that is new and different in a positive way | My new colleague is a breath of fresh air. He really makes the office a better place. |
| A drop in the ocean | A small amount compared to what is needed | Recycling can help the planet but it is a drop in the ocean. |
| A white lie | A lie which is not serious, often to protect someone’s feelings | He told a little white lie to avoid going to the party. |
| Brush up on | To improve your knowledge of something learned in the past but forgotten | I am going to brush up on my French before we go on holiday. |
| Brought up | Raised or developed (by parents) | I was brought up by my mother |
| Down to earth | Someone who is sensible and practical. | Despite being rich and famous, she is really down to earth. |
| Get on somebody’s nerves | To annoy someone a lot | My brother really gets on my nerves. |
| Go round in circles | To keep doing the same thing without progress | This argument is going round in circles. |
| Keep a low profile | Avoid attracting attention to yourself | The politician has been keeping a low profile since the newspaper published the story. |
| Keep a straight face | Try to stop laughing or smiling. | I was trying to keep a straight face when the teacher fell over. |
| Keep track of | Continue to know or monitor something (e.g. time) | Make sure you keep track of the time so we are not late for the train. |
| Keep your fingers crossed | To hope that something will happen | He is keeping his fingers crossed that he will get the job. |
| Keep your head above water | To only be able to pay for the essentials, with financial difficulty | She was hardly able to keep her head above water during the recession. |
| Learn by heart | To memorise something | My son had learnt all the capital cities by heart. |
| Make ends meet | To have enough money to pay for the things you need | When she lost her job, it was difficult to make ends meet. |
| Out of the blue | Something happened unexpectedly | My friend came to visit out of the blue. |
| Over the moon | To be very happy about something | When I found I had passed the IELTS exam, I was over the moon! |
| Take a back seat | To not take the main responsibility for a task | She decided to take a back and let somebody else lead the project. |
| Tip of the iceberg | A small part of a much bigger problem/issue. | The flooding is bad but it is just the tip of the iceberg – we are expecting a lot more damage. |
Ok, so what is the best way to learn difficult IELTS idioms? Context is key.
- Hear it (or read it) – listen to native English speakers and pay attention to the context of the new phrase
- Visualise it – imagine the phrase as an image in your mind
- Write it down – record new phrases and expressions in context
- Use it – Try using the expression in an example that is true for you
These steps will help you integrate idioms into your everyday English or IELTS writing. Beware! Many idioms are informal so should not be used in a formal context.
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5. FAQs
Are idioms allowed in IELTS Speaking?
Yes! The more naturally you use idioms and phrasal verbs, the higher score you will achieve. Be careful you don’t overuse them, sound natural and use phrases you feel confident about.
How do I use idioms in IELTS Speaking?
In IELTS Speaking Parts 1 & 3 you have to answer questions spontaneously. Listen carefully to the question and use appropriate idioms and vocabulary. For Speaking Part 2 (The Monologue) you have some time to prepare. Make a note of a few idioms related to the topic or some you can use in general.
Will using idioms improve my IELTS score?
Absolutely! If you use idiomatic language correctly you will score more highly in Lexical Resource. To get an IELTS Band Score of 7 or higher, the examiner will expect to hear some examples of idiomatic language.
More questions about the IELTS Speaking test? Don’t forget to follow the complete series for IELTS blog– all the tips, tricks, sample questions and advice you need to prepare and tasks to complete to practise your skills.
