Using idioms naturally and appropriately can help you score Band 7 or above in IELTS Speaking. However, it's crucial to understand that idioms alone won't guarantee a high score - you need to use them correctly within the context of excellent overall performance.
️ Important: The Four Assessment Criteria
It is worth mentioning that the use of idioms can increase the band score; however, students need to keep in mind that they need to develop their answers as per the assessment criteria.
Students need to keep in mind the following parameters:
- • Fluency and Coherence
- • Grammatical Range and Accuracy
- • Lexical Resources
- • Pronunciation
️ If any idiom is used inappropriately, it is going to decrease and not increase your band score.
Here's a comprehensive list of high-quality idioms (Band 7+) organised by topic and function, with meanings and example sentences:
1. Expressing Happiness or Excitement
| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| On cloud nine | Extremely happy | I was on cloud nine when I got my first job offer. |
| Over the moon | Very happy | She was over the moon about her IELTS results. |
| In high spirits | Feeling cheerful | Everyone was in high spirits during the festival. |
| Jump for joy | Feel great delight | I jumped for joy when I passed my driving test. |
2. Talking About Challenges or Hard Work
| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Burn the midnight oil | Work late into the night | I had to burn the midnight oil to finish my project on time. |
| Go the extra mile | Make a special effort | Teachers often go the extra mile to help their students. |
| A tough nut to crack | A difficult problem or person | IELTS writing can be a tough nut to crack for many learners. |
| Bite the bullet | Face something unpleasant bravely | I decided to bite the bullet and retake the exam. |
3. Expressing Opinions or Ideas
| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| In my book | In my opinion | In my book, education is the key to success. |
| From my point of view | According to my perspective | From my point of view, social media has more benefits than drawbacks. |
| A blessing in disguise | Something good that seems bad at first | Losing that job was a blessing in disguise it pushed me to start my own business. |
4. Talking About Work or Study
| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Hit the books | Study hard | I need to hit the books before my final exams. |
| Pull your weight | Do your fair share of work | Everyone in the team has to pull their weight. |
| Learn the ropes | Learn how to do a job | It took me a few weeks to learn the ropes at my new job. |
| Call it a day | Stop working for now | Let's call it a day and continue tomorrow. |
5. Talking About Life and Society
| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| The ball is in your court | It's your decision now | I've done my part; now the ball is in your court. |
| A double-edged sword | Something with both advantages and disadvantages | Technology is a double-edged sword in modern life. |
| Rome wasn't built in a day | Great things take time | Fluency in English takes time Rome wasn't built in a day. |
| Actions speak louder than words | What people do matters more than what they say | Instead of making promises, actions speak louder than words. |
Bonus: Idioms to Impress the Examiner
| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| The icing on the cake | Something that makes a good situation even better | Getting a scholarship was the icing on the cake. |
| Once in a blue moon | Very rarely | I eat junk food only once in a blue moon. |
| Costs an arm and a leg | Very expensive | Buying a house in the city costs an arm and a leg. |
| Break the ice | Start a friendly conversation | The teacher told a joke to break the ice. |
Pro Tips for Using Idioms Effectively:
- • Use idioms naturally Don't force them into your answers
- • Context is key Make sure the idiom fits the topic perfectly
- • Quality over quantity 2-3 well-placed idioms are better than 10 misused ones
- • Practice pronunciation Say idioms out loud until they sound natural
- • Don't rely only on idioms Remember all four assessment criteria
Conclusion
Using idioms appropriately and naturally is an excellent way to showcase your lexical resources and boost your IELTS Speaking score to Band 7 or above. However, remember that idioms are just one component of successful speaking performance.
Focus on developing all four assessment criteria: fluency and coherence, grammatical range and accuracy, lexical resources, and pronunciation. When combined with proper idiom usage, you'll be well on your way to achieving your target band score!
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