If you’re learning English and want to do well in your IELTS speaking exam, using idioms can help you sound more natural, like a native speaker. Idioms are special phrases that don’t mean exactly what they say.

For example, if someone says “it’s raining cats and dogs,” they don’t really mean that animals are falling from the sky—they just mean it’s raining really hard! Isn’t that fun?

In this article, we’ll learn about some of the most common idioms that can make your IELTS speaking score better. But don’t worry, you don’t need to memorize too many. Just knowing a few and using them correctly can make a big difference!

What Are Idioms?

Idioms are phrases that have a special meaning different from the words themselves. They are used a lot by native English speakers, but sometimes they can be tricky because you can’t always understand them just by looking at the words.

For example:

Bite the Bullet
Meaning: Do something difficult or unpleasant.
Example: “I don’t like studying for hours, but I had to bite the bullet and finish my homework.”

A Piece of Cake
Meaning: Something that is easy.
Example: “The math test was a piece of cake!”

Kill Two Birds With One Stone
Meaning: Solve two problems at once.
Example: “I did my homework and cleaned my room at the same time. I killed two birds with one stone.”

Let the Cat Out of the Bag
Meaning: Tell a secret by accident.
Example: “Oops! I let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party.”

Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Basket
Meaning: Don’t rely on just one thing; have a backup plan.
Example: “You should apply to more than one school. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.”

Once in a Blue Moon
Meaning: Something that happens rarely.
Example: “I eat fast food once in a blue moon.”

Burn the Midnight Oil
Meaning: Stay up late working.
Example: “I had to burn the midnight oil to finish my project.”

At the Drop of a Hat
Meaning: Do something immediately.
Example: “My friend is always ready to help at the drop of a hat.”

Cry Over Spilt Milk
Meaning: Don’t worry about something that’s already happened.
Example: “It’s okay if you made a mistake. Don’t cry over spilt milk.”

You Can’t Judge a Book by Its Cover
Meaning: Don’t judge someone or something just by how they look.
Example: “She may seem shy, but you can’t judge a book by its cover.”

Don’t Count Your Chickens Before They Hatch
Meaning: Don’t assume something will happen before it does.
Example: “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch. We haven’t won the game yet!”

Go the Extra Mile
Meaning: Do more than is expected.
Example: “I always try to go the extra mile in my homework.”

Up in the Air
Meaning: Uncertain or undecided.
Example: “The plans for the weekend are still up in the air because we haven’t decided where to go yet.”

Throw in the Towel
Meaning: To give up.
Example: “I’m not going to throw in the towel on my studies.”

Cross That Bridge When You Come To It
Meaning: Deal with a problem when it happens, not before.
Example: “We don’t need to worry about that now. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”

When in Rome
Meaning: Follow the customs of the place you’re in.
Example: “When in Rome, do as the Romans do!”

Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day
Meaning: Big things take time.
Example: “Learning English takes time—Rome wasn’t built in a day!”

Hit the Nail on the Head
Meaning: To say something exactly right.
Example: “You hit the nail on the head with your answer.”

Break the Ice
Meaning: To start a conversation in a friendly way.
Example: “We played a game to break the ice at the party.”

Spill the Beans
Meaning: To reveal a secret.
Example: “Don’t spill the beans about the surprise gift!”

How to Practice Using Idioms

It’s important to practice using idioms the right way. A fun and effective way to practice is by listening to native speakers and engaging in conversations. You can also use language exchange partners or online tools for extra practice.

Tips for Using Idioms in IELTS

Don’t Use Too Many: While idioms can make you sound more natural, using too many might confuse the listener. Stick to a few idioms and use them when it feels right.

Understand Their Meanings: Make sure you know exactly what an idiom means before you use it. Using an idiom incorrectly can hurt your score.

Practice with Friends: The more you practice, the more natural you’ll sound. Try speaking with friends to perfect your pronunciation and usage.

Listen to Native Speakers: Watch English TV shows, movies, or YouTube videos. Pay attention to how native speakers use idioms in everyday conversations.

Use Idioms Appropriately: Make sure the idioms you use fit the context of the conversation. Using an idiom that doesn’t match the situation might come off as forced or awkward.

Combine Idioms with Other Language Skills: Practice using idioms while working on other aspects of language, such as grammar and vocabulary, to create more fluent and natural speech.

Record Yourself: Record your speaking practice to identify how naturally you use idioms. Listen to the recordings to spot any errors and work on improving your usage.

Ready to Nail Your IELTS Speaking?

Idioms are fun and make your English sound more natural, but you don’t need to use too many to do well on the IELTS speaking exam.

Choose a few that you like, understand them well, and practice using them in sentences.

Tools like ELSA Speak can help you get better at using idioms and improve your overall English-speaking skills.

You can practice vocabulary building with our app, designed to help you speak English with more clarity and confidence.

ELSA Speak provides interactive exercises to expand your vocabulary and improve your pronunciation.

The app can help you recognize patterns in your speech and offer feedback, so you know exactly where to improve. With consistent practice, you’ll notice a significant change in the way you communicate, both verbally and in writing.

Start practicing today, and soon you’ll notice a big improvement in how you communicate!

More english tips here.