List of useful idioms for IELTS with meaning

 

List of useful idioms for IELTS with meaning

1. A Penny for Your Thoughts  – ask someone who is being very quiet about, what is on their mind.
==> For several minutes they sat silently, then finally she looked at him and said, “A penny for your thoughts, Walter.”

 

 

2. Against the clock – do something as fast as possible and try to finish it before a certain time.
==>With her term paper due on Monday, she was racing against the clock to finish it

 

3. Lend an ear – to listen carefully and in a friendly way to someone
==> If you have any problems, go to Claire. She’ll always lend a sympathetic ear.

 

4. on cloud nine – very happy; deliriously happy
==>She just bought her first new car and she’s on cloud nine.

 

5. bushed – tired.
==>I am totally bushed after staying up so late.

 

6. hard feelings  –  the emotion of being upset or offended.
==>I am sorry I have to fire you. No hard feelings, okay? 

 

7.  hit the hay – go to bed
==> It’s  12 o’clock. I think it’s time to hit the hay.

 

8.  be sick to death of something/doing something  – to be angry and bored because something unpleasant has been happening for too long
==>I’m sick to death of doing nothing but work. Let’s go out tonight and have fun.

 

9. (come) rain or shine – means something will happen regardless of any difficulties.
==>I will be on time for the class, rain or shine. Come rain or shine, she is always smiling. 

 

10. be all ears – eager and ready to listen
==>I’m all ears, waiting to hear your latest excuse for not getting this job done!

 

11. in the nick of time – not too late, but very close
==>I got to the drugstore just in the nick of time. It’s a good thing because I really need this medicine!

 

12. fresh/cleanout of something –  have sold or used up the last of something
==>I have to go buy some more milk. It seems we’re fresh out now.

 

13. have/get mixed feelings about something – to be uncertain about something
==> I have mixed feelings about my trip to England. I love the people, but the climate upsets me.

 

14. Give it one’s best shot – do the best that one can
==>This test question is really tough! I’ll give it my best shot, and I’ll get some marks for doing my best.

 

15. In deep water – in difficulty; in trouble or a dangerous situation
==>He has not submitted his dissertation so he’s in deep water.

 

16. next to nothing – to cost very little
==>I went to the new discount store and bought these new shoes for only five dollars. That’s next to nothing!

 

17. To be up in arms about something – upset or angry about something.
==> She has been up in arms about the rent increase.

 

18. Put yourself in somebody’s shoes – imagine that you are in somebody’s position in order to understand his/her feelings
==> If you put yourself in my shoes, you would understand why I made that decision

 

19. At all costs  – do everything you can to achieve/succeed something
==> My dream is to become a successful businessman and I will work hard for it at all costs

 

20. Explore all avenues – investigate every possible means to find a solution to a given problem or to achieve the desired outcome.

=  We need to explore all avenues before doing something that is not very safe to a great number of people in order to minimize unfavorable consequences

 

21. On the ball – active and aware of things
==>Our staff is really on the ball to get projects done on time.

 

22. Throw in the towel – Give up on something
==>I’ve spent too much time on this project to throw in the towel now.

 

23. Down to earth – practical and realistic; Back to reality
==> It’s time we were brought down to earth to figure out a difficult situation, and offer a good solution.

 

24. Full of beans  –  A person who is lively, active and healthy.
==> I really enjoy being with my best friend because he is always full of beans.

 

25. Get a head start – Start before all others.
==>This year we’ll get a head start on the competition by running more advertisements.

 

 

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?? Aren’t you jumping the gun. You’ve only just started studying.	Doing or starting something too early
He comes round to see me once in a blue moon.	Happening very rarely
He’s 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 of cake! I’m very good at English.	Very easy
The money sent by comic relief to help poverty in Africa is just a drop in the ocean. They need far more than this.	A very small part of something much bigger
Getting a low score the first time I took IELTS was a blessing in disguise. It forced me to study extremely hard so I got a much better score the next time.	Something positive that isn’t recognized until later
We have to actually do something about global warming. Actions speak louder than words.	It’s 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 common idioms

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 can’t bare going to work, but if I quit I don’t think I can get another job. I’m really stuck / caught between a rock and a hard place.	Having two very bad choices. (note: stuck/caught can be omitted)
I have to bite my tongue so I don’t say what I really think of him!	Wanting to say something but stopping yourself.
Come on, cut to the chase. We haven’t got all day!	Leave out all the unnecessary details and just get to the point
Are you putting all of your savings into that company? Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.	Putting all of ones resources into one possibility
Try not to worry about it. Every cloud has a silver lining.	Believing that every bad situation has a positive side / eventually leads to something good
It was difficult when I moved to another country but I eventually found my feet.	To become comfortable in what you are doing
My parents are very fixed in their ways. They won’t 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 you’ve hit the nail on the head. That’s the reason he didn’t get the job.	Say exactly the right thing
Today’s going so badly. If it’s not one thing, it’s 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 shouldn’t 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 don’t want to argue with him again. It’s better to let sleeping dogs lie.	Avoid a conflict
I told him what gift you have bought him for his birthday. Sorry, I didn’t mean to let the cat out of the bag.	Tell someone something that you were not supposed to
Don’t tell her what you really think of her if she’s helping you with your English! Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.	Hurt or upset someone who is helping you
I’m not sure which party he is going to vote for. He’s sitting on the fence.	Not making a firm decision between different choices
Everything she does is very over the top. She can’t just have a few drinks – se has to get really drunk.	Excessive

View these 10 idioms in use and practice them

Set 4

Common Idioms	Definitions
Let’s keep studying for IELTS. Practice makes perfect.	Continuously doing something to improve
Don’t get upset about what he said. He’s just pulling your leg.	Joking around
Sorry but I think I’ll take a rain check on that.	To decline an offer that you will take up later
As a rule of thumb, I don’t 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 can’t even remember which university he studied at.	To sense that something is not right
She’s the spitting image of her mother.	To look exactly like someone else
The ball's in your court now. What are you going to do?	Telling someone it's now their turn to make a decision
Unfortunately I think he’ll be studying for IELTS until the cows come home. His English is very poor.	For a very long time
It was all tongue-in-cheek. He didn’t really mean what he said.	Something said in humour rather than seriously
She’s feeling under the weather today so she won’t be going to work.	Unwell

Go to idioms exercises for Set 4 words

Set 5

Common Idioms	Definitions
We've had some big disagreements over the years, but it’s all water under the bridge now. We get on fine.	Things from the past that are not important anymore
You are what you eat so it’s better to have a healthy diet.	If you eat bad food, you’ll be unhealthy, if you eat good food, you’ll be healthy
You can’t judge a book by its cover. I need to get to know him before I decide what he is like.	The belief that outside appearances do 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're flogging a dead horse. Our online business is making no money, so we should move on and do something else.	Attempting to continue with something that is finished / over
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 advocate here, 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

 

In their advertising, businesses nowadays usually emphasise that their products are new in some way.

Why is this? Do you think it is a positive or negative development?