Are you getting ready for your IELTS exam, but feeling overwhelmed? Don’t fret – English idioms can help take the edge off! Idiomatic expressions are used in everyday conversation and tend to add color and humor to a language. They are very useful for adding variety to your spoken English and demonstrating an advanced level of vocab.
While some might seem difficult, once mastered they will be sure to brighten up any piece of writing or spoken communication. To help get you started on your journey of mastering the top 50 popular idioms in English that you can use when preparing for your IELTS exam. Read on to find out more!
Idioms in English for IELTS
Related: 500 Idioms and Meaning
- “A PIECE OF CAKE”:
Meaning: something is easy to do.
- “ADD FUEL TO THE FIRE”:
Means: someone is making a situation worse.
- “AN ARM AND A LEG”:
Meaning: something is very expensive.
- “BAD BLOOD”:
Meaning: there is ill feeling between two people or groups.
- “BARKING UP THE WRONG TREE”:
Meaning: someone is chasing the wrong goal.
- “BEAT AROUND THE BUSH”:
Meaning: to avoid talking about something directly.
- “BITE OFF MORE THAN YOU CAN CHEW”:
Meaning: to take on more than you can handle.
- “BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER”:
Meaning: family relationships are stronger than other relationships.
- “BRING HOME THE BACON”:
Meaning: to earn a living, especially by working hard.
- “CALL IT A DAY” -:
Meaning: to stop working on something for the rest of the day.
- “CAT GOT YOUR TONGUE?”:
Meaning: why are you not saying anything?
- “COST AN ARM AND A LEG”:
Meaning: be very expensive.
- “CRY OVER SPILT MILK”:
Meaning: to worry about something that cannot be changed.
- “CUT CORNERS”:
Meaning: to do something in a cheaper or easier way, even if it is not the best way.
- “DEVIL’S ADVOCATE”:
Meaning: someone who takes the opposing view, just for the sake of argument.
- “DON’T COUNT YOUR CHICKENS BEFORE THEY HATCH”:
Meaning: don’t make plans that depend on something that might not happen.
- “EASY PEASY LEMON SQUEEZEY”:
Meaning: very easy to do.
- “FACE THE MUSIC”:
Meaning: accept the consequences of your actions.
- “FLESH AND BLOOD”:
Meaning: human beings, especially in relation to their emotions or frailties.
- “GET YOUR DUCKS IN A ROW”:
Meaning: to get everything organized and ready.
- “GO THE EXTRA MILE”:
Meaning: to do more than what is required.
- “HANG IN THERE”:
Meaning: to persevere through difficult times.
- “HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD”:
Meaning: to do or say something that is exactly right.
- “I’M ALL EARS”:
Meaning: I’m listening!
- “IN A NUTSHELL”:
Meaning: in a few words, in summary.
- “KILL TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE”:
Meaning: to achieve two things at the same time.
- “LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG”:
Meaning: to reveal a secret.
- “ONCE IN A BLUE MOON”:
Meaning: very rare, only happening occasionally.
- “PULL SOMEONE’S LEG”:
Meaning: to tease someone.
- “REINVENT THE WHEEL”:
Meaning: to waste time by doing something that has already been done.
- “RING A BELL”:
Meaning: to sound familiar.
- “SEEING IS BELIEVING”:
Meaning: you will only believe it when you see it with your own eyes.
- “SHOOT THE BREEZE”:
Meaning: to chat idly about nothing in particular.
- “SPEAK OF THE DEVIL”:
Meaning: to talk about someone and then have that person appear.
- “THE APPLE OF MY EYE”:
Meaning: a cherished person or thing.
- “THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM”:
Meaning: an important issue that everyone is aware of but no one wants to discuss.
- “THE MORE, THE MERRIER”:
Meaning: the more people there are, the happier we will be.
- “THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS A FREE LUNCH”:
Meaning: nothing comes for free.
- “THROW IN THE TOWEL”:
Meaning: to give up, to quit.
- “TIME WILL TELL”:
Meaning: only time will show whether something is true or not.
- “TO ERR IS HUMAN”:
Meaning: everyone makes mistakes.
- “UNDER THE WEATHER”:
Meaning: not feeling well, usually due to illness.
- “WHEN PIGS FLY”:
Meaning: something will never happen.
- “YOU CAN’T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER”:
Meaning: you can’t make assumptions about something based on its appearance.
- “YOU CAN’T TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS”:
Meaning: it’s difficult to change someone’s habits.
- “YOUR GUESS IS AS GOOD AS MINE”:
Meaning: I have no idea.
- “ADD FUEL TO THE FIRE”:
Meaning: to make a bad situation worse.
- “BAD BLOOD”:
Meaning: hostility or resentment between people.
- “BALL IS IN YOUR COURT”:
Meaning: it’s up to you to make the next move.
- “BEAT AROUND THE BUSH”:
Meaning: to avoid talking about something directly.
Related: 50 Idiomatic Expressions Examples Meaning
Popular Idioms in English (IELTs) – Infographics
Download these infographics in PDF, Here.
