{"id":24723,"date":"2024-10-10T20:07:18","date_gmt":"2024-10-11T03:07:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/?p=24723"},"modified":"2024-10-10T20:07:22","modified_gmt":"2024-10-11T03:07:22","slug":"idioms-for-ielts-vocabulary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/idioms-for-ielts-vocabulary\/","title":{"rendered":"Idioms for IELTS Vocabulary"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"words-head\" id=\"words-1124881839\"><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-5017566440575750\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-5017566440575750\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"3340569236\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Idioms for IELTS Vocabulary<\/mark><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Idioms are an important part of the English language, especially when you&#8217;re preparing for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/category\/ielts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">IELTS exam<\/a>. Using <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/category\/idioms\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">idioms<\/a> in the right context can improve your performance in the Speaking and Writing sections, while also helping you understand informal expressions that may appear in Listening and Reading sections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s a comprehensive list of 200+ idioms to boost your IELTS vocabulary. Practice these idioms regularly to make them a natural part of your communication skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Idioms for IELTS Speaking<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>These idioms are commonly used in everyday conversations. They can help you sound more natural and fluent when speaking in the IELTS Speaking section.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table  class=\" table table-hover\" ><thead><tr><th><strong>Idiom<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Meaning<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Example<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>A piece of cake<\/td><td>Something very easy<\/td><td>The IELTS Speaking test was a piece of cake.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Break the ice<\/td><td>To initiate conversation in a social setting<\/td><td>I told a joke to break the ice at the party.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Hit the sack<\/td><td>Go to bed<\/td><td>I\u2019m so tired; I think I\u2019ll hit the sack early tonight.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>A blessing in disguise<\/td><td>Something good that isn\u2019t recognized at first<\/td><td>Losing that job was a blessing in disguise.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Burn the midnight oil<\/td><td>To work late into the night<\/td><td>She\u2019s been burning the midnight oil to finish her project.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>A dime a dozen<\/td><td>Something common and of no particular value<\/td><td>Reality shows are a dime a dozen nowadays.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Once in a blue moon<\/td><td>Rarely<\/td><td>We go out to eat once in a blue moon.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Under the weather<\/td><td>To feel unwell<\/td><td>I couldn\u2019t attend the meeting because I was feeling under the weather.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Barking up the wrong tree<\/td><td>To make a wrong assumption<\/td><td>If you think I\u2019m the one who broke it, you\u2019re barking up the wrong tree.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Bite the bullet<\/td><td>To do something unpleasant or difficult<\/td><td>He had to bite the bullet and face his fears.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Hit the nail on the head<\/td><td>To say exactly the right thing<\/td><td>You hit the nail on the head with your suggestion.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Let the cat out of the bag<\/td><td>To reveal a secret<\/td><td>She accidentally let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>The ball is in your court<\/td><td>It\u2019s your responsibility to take action<\/td><td>I&#8217;ve done my part, now the ball is in your court.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Costs an arm and a leg<\/td><td>Very expensive<\/td><td>The new phone costs an arm and a leg.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Cross that bridge when you come to it<\/td><td>Deal with a problem when it arises<\/td><td>Let\u2019s not worry about the problem now; we\u2019ll cross that bridge when we come to it.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Call it a day<\/td><td>To stop working for the day<\/td><td>After a long meeting, we decided to call it a day.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Give someone the cold shoulder<\/td><td>To ignore someone<\/td><td>He gave me the cold shoulder at the party yesterday.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Keep your chin up<\/td><td>Stay positive<\/td><td>Even though you lost, keep your chin up!<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>On the ball<\/td><td>To be alert and prepared<\/td><td>He\u2019s really on the ball and knows what\u2019s going on.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Out of the blue<\/td><td>Unexpectedly<\/td><td>She showed up out of the blue after not speaking to me for years.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Pull someone\u2019s leg<\/td><td>To joke or tease someone<\/td><td>Don\u2019t worry, I\u2019m just pulling your leg.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>A slap on the wrist<\/td><td>A mild punishment<\/td><td>He only got a slap on the wrist for breaking the rules.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>The last straw<\/td><td>The final problem in a series of problems<\/td><td>His rude remark was the last straw; I\u2019ve had enough!<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Spill the beans<\/td><td>To reveal a secret<\/td><td>She spilled the beans about the surprise party.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Sit on the fence<\/td><td>To be undecided<\/td><td>He\u2019s sitting on the fence about whether to accept the job offer.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Jump the gun<\/td><td>To do something prematurely<\/td><td>Don\u2019t jump the gun and start the project before planning properly.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Cut to the chase<\/td><td>To get to the point<\/td><td>Let\u2019s cut to the chase and talk about what\u2019s really important.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Bend over backwards<\/td><td>To make a great effort<\/td><td>She bent over backwards to help her friend move.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Burn bridges<\/td><td>To destroy relationships<\/td><td>Leaving the company without notice might burn bridges with your manager.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Go the extra mile<\/td><td>To make a special effort<\/td><td>He went the extra mile to ensure the success of the event.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>In the same boat<\/td><td>In the same situation<\/td><td>We\u2019re all in the same boat when it comes to preparing for exams.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>By the skin of your teeth<\/td><td>Narrowly or barely<\/td><td>He passed the driving test by the skin of his teeth.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>The elephant in the room<\/td><td>An obvious problem everyone is ignoring<\/td><td>We need to discuss the elephant in the room, which is our financial issues.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Once in a lifetime<\/td><td>Very rare opportunity<\/td><td>Traveling to Japan was a once in a lifetime experience for me.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Cry over spilled milk<\/td><td>To waste time worrying about something that\u2019s already happened<\/td><td>There\u2019s no use crying over spilled milk.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Be in hot water<\/td><td>To be in trouble<\/td><td>He\u2019s in hot water after missing the project deadline.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>A penny for your thoughts<\/td><td>Asking someone what they are thinking<\/td><td>You\u2019ve been quiet for a while. A penny for your thoughts?<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Get cold feet<\/td><td>To become nervous or afraid to do something<\/td><td>He got cold feet before his wedding.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Be on cloud nine<\/td><td>To be extremely happy<\/td><td>She\u2019s been on cloud nine since she got the job offer.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Go down in flames<\/td><td>To fail spectacularly<\/td><td>His business went down in flames after just one year.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>A drop in the ocean<\/td><td>A small part of something much bigger<\/td><td>The money he donated was just a drop in the ocean compared to what was needed.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Hit the road<\/td><td>To leave or start a journey<\/td><td>It\u2019s time to hit the road and start our vacation.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Blow off steam<\/td><td>To release anger or stress<\/td><td>I go for a run to blow off steam after a stressful day.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Kill two birds with one stone<\/td><td>To achieve two things with one action<\/td><td>By studying on the train, I can kill two birds with one stone.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>On thin ice<\/td><td>In a risky or precarious situation<\/td><td>He\u2019s on thin ice with his boss after coming late to work again.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>The icing on the cake<\/td><td>Something that makes a good situation even better<\/td><td>Getting a promotion was the icing on the cake after a successful year.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Take with a grain of salt<\/td><td>To not take something too seriously<\/td><td>You should take his advice with a grain of salt.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>A fish out of water<\/td><td>To feel uncomfortable in a situation<\/td><td>He felt like a fish out of water at the formal dinner.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Back to square one<\/td><td>To start over from the beginning<\/td><td>The project failed, so we\u2019re back to square one.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Steal someone\u2019s thunder<\/td><td>To take attention away from someone else\u2019s achievement<\/td><td>She stole my thunder by announcing her promotion at my party.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Walk on eggshells<\/td><td>To be very careful in dealing with someone<\/td><td>He has been walking on eggshells around his boss lately.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Idioms for IELTS Writing<\/mark><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>For IELTS Writing, you need to express ideas more formally and clearly. These idioms are helpful for discussing complex topics or giving a structured argument.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table  class=\" table table-hover\" ><thead><tr><th><strong>Idiom<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Meaning<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Example<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>A blessing in disguise<\/td><td>Something good that isn&#8217;t recognized initially<\/td><td>Losing that job was a blessing in disguise as it led me to a better career.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Actions speak louder than words<\/td><td>What people do is more important than what they say<\/td><td>Actions speak louder than words, so the government must implement policies to support their promises.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Add fuel to the fire<\/td><td>To worsen an already bad situation<\/td><td>Ignoring climate change will only add fuel to the fire.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>At the drop of a hat<\/td><td>Immediately, without hesitation<\/td><td>In today\u2019s fast-paced world, people often move jobs at the drop of a hat.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Back to the drawing board<\/td><td>To start over from the beginning<\/td><td>The plan didn\u2019t work out, so it\u2019s back to the drawing board.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Barking up the wrong tree<\/td><td>To make a wrong assumption<\/td><td>Blaming teachers for low exam results is barking up the wrong tree.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Beat around the bush<\/td><td>To avoid talking about the main issue<\/td><td>The government needs to stop beating around the bush and address unemployment directly.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Behind the times<\/td><td>Out of date<\/td><td>Some educational methods are behind the times and need to be modernized.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Bite the bullet<\/td><td>To do something difficult or unpleasant<\/td><td>It\u2019s time for the government to bite the bullet and tackle the housing crisis.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Burn the midnight oil<\/td><td>To work late into the night<\/td><td>Students often burn the midnight oil before exams to improve their scores.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>By and large<\/td><td>Generally, for the most part<\/td><td>By and large, technology has improved our quality of life.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Call it a day<\/td><td>To stop doing something for the day<\/td><td>After analyzing the data, the research team decided to call it a day.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Cut corners<\/td><td>To do something in a cheap or easy way<\/td><td>Cutting corners in construction leads to unsafe buildings.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Face the music<\/td><td>To confront the consequences<\/td><td>The company must face the music after their environmental violations were revealed.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Far cry from<\/td><td>Very different from<\/td><td>The current education system is a far cry from what is needed in the digital age.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Few and far between<\/td><td>Scarce, rare<\/td><td>Job opportunities in rural areas are few and far between.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Food for thought<\/td><td>Something to think seriously about<\/td><td>The increasing pollution levels provide food for thought for policy makers.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Get the ball rolling<\/td><td>To start something<\/td><td>It\u2019s time for international organizations to get the ball rolling on climate change action.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Go hand in hand<\/td><td>To be closely related<\/td><td>Economic development and environmental protection must go hand in hand.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Go the extra mile<\/td><td>To make a special effort<\/td><td>Teachers often go the extra mile to ensure their students succeed.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Hit the nail on the head<\/td><td>To describe a situation accurately<\/td><td>The essay hit the nail on the head when discussing the causes of inequality.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>In the long run<\/td><td>Over a long period of time<\/td><td>In the long run, investing in renewable energy will save money.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>In the same boat<\/td><td>In the same difficult situation<\/td><td>Developing countries are in the same boat when it comes to climate change.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Jump on the bandwagon<\/td><td>To follow a trend<\/td><td>Many companies are jumping on the bandwagon of sustainability to improve their image.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Keep an eye on<\/td><td>To monitor closely<\/td><td>Governments need to keep an eye on inflation to avoid economic instability.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Learn the ropes<\/td><td>To learn how to do something properly<\/td><td>New employees need time to learn the ropes before they can contribute effectively.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Make ends meet<\/td><td>To earn just enough to survive<\/td><td>Many people are struggling to make ends meet due to rising living costs.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Miss the boat<\/td><td>To miss an opportunity<\/td><td>The government missed the boat by not investing in renewable energy earlier.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>On the same page<\/td><td>To be in agreement<\/td><td>Governments need to be on the same page to tackle global issues like climate change.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>On the fence<\/td><td>To be undecided<\/td><td>Many voters are still on the fence about which candidate to support.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Out of the blue<\/td><td>Unexpectedly<\/td><td>The decision to cut funding came out of the blue, surprising many organizations.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Out of the question<\/td><td>Impossible or not allowed<\/td><td>Reducing greenhouse gas emissions without international cooperation is out of the question.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Play devil\u2019s advocate<\/td><td>To argue the opposite side for the sake of argument<\/td><td>To play devil\u2019s advocate, one might argue that economic growth should take priority over environmental concerns.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Put the cart before the horse<\/td><td>To do things in the wrong order<\/td><td>Building more roads without improving public transport is putting the cart before the horse.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Read between the lines<\/td><td>To understand the hidden meaning<\/td><td>It\u2019s important to read between the lines when interpreting political statements.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Run-of-the-mill<\/td><td>Ordinary, not special<\/td><td>The proposal was run-of-the-mill and failed to impress the committee.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>See eye to eye<\/td><td>To agree fully<\/td><td>The two countries finally saw eye to eye on trade policies.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Set the record straight<\/td><td>To correct a misunderstanding<\/td><td>The company issued a statement to set the record straight about its environmental impact.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Shoot for the stars<\/td><td>To aim for something extremely ambitious<\/td><td>Countries need to shoot for the stars in terms of reducing carbon emissions.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Sit on the fence<\/td><td>To be undecided<\/td><td>The government is sitting on the fence regarding new labor laws.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Sleep on it<\/td><td>To take time to think about something<\/td><td>I\u2019ll sleep on it and make a decision in the morning.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Steer clear of<\/td><td>To avoid something<\/td><td>Investors should steer clear of industries with high environmental risks.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Take the bull by the horns<\/td><td>To confront a problem head-on<\/td><td>The government needs to take the bull by the horns and address the housing shortage.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>The ball is in your court<\/td><td>It\u2019s your responsibility to act next<\/td><td>Now that you have all the information, the ball is in your court.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>The tip of the iceberg<\/td><td>A small part of a larger problem<\/td><td>The recent data breach is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to cybersecurity issues.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Throw in the towel<\/td><td>To give up<\/td><td>The company threw in the towel after failing to meet its financial targets.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Time flies<\/td><td>Time passes quickly<\/td><td>Time flies when preparing for the IELTS exam, so start early.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Turn a blind eye<\/td><td>To ignore something intentionally<\/td><td>Governments often turn a blind eye to environmental violations by large corporations.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Under the weather<\/td><td>To feel unwell<\/td><td>Many employees took the day off because they were feeling under the weather.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Up in the air<\/td><td>Uncertain<\/td><td>The outcome of the election is still up in the air.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Water under the bridge<\/td><td>Something that is in the past and no longer important<\/td><td>The disagreement is water under the bridge now.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Work against the clock<\/td><td>To be in a hurry to meet a deadline<\/td><td>We are working against the clock to finish the project on time.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Your guess is as good as mine<\/td><td>To have no idea<\/td><td>As to when the pandemic will end, your guess is as good as mine.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Idioms for IELTS Listening<\/mark><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In IELTS Listening, it is common to hear idioms that are part of everyday language. Being familiar with these will help you understand spoken English more effectively.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table  class=\" table table-hover\" ><thead><tr><th><strong>Idiom<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Meaning<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Example<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>A piece of cake<\/td><td>Something very easy<\/td><td>The test was a piece of cake; I finished it in no time.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Break the ice<\/td><td>To initiate conversation in a social setting<\/td><td>To break the ice, she started talking about the weather.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Hit the nail on the head<\/td><td>To describe something accurately<\/td><td>You\u2019ve hit the nail on the head by identifying the problem.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>On cloud nine<\/td><td>Extremely happy<\/td><td>She was on cloud nine after winning the competition.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Once in a blue moon<\/td><td>Very rarely<\/td><td>I see him only once in a blue moon.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>A blessing in disguise<\/td><td>Something good that seems bad at first<\/td><td>Losing that job was a blessing in disguise as it led to better opportunities.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Under the weather<\/td><td>Feeling sick<\/td><td>I didn\u2019t go to work today because I was feeling under the weather.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Let the cat out of the bag<\/td><td>To reveal a secret unintentionally<\/td><td>She let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Call it a day<\/td><td>To stop working for the day<\/td><td>Let\u2019s call it a day and continue tomorrow.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>All ears<\/td><td>Eager to listen<\/td><td>I\u2019m all ears; tell me what happened!<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Back to square one<\/td><td>To start something over again<\/td><td>After the plan failed, we were back to square one.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Bend over backwards<\/td><td>To go out of your way to help someone<\/td><td>She bent over backwards to make sure the guests felt comfortable.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Bite off more than you can chew<\/td><td>To take on more responsibility than you can manage<\/td><td>He bit off more than he could chew when he agreed to complete the project alone.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Break the bank<\/td><td>To cost a lot of money<\/td><td>Buying that car would break the bank, so I\u2019ll pass.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Burn the midnight oil<\/td><td>To work late into the night<\/td><td>He\u2019s been burning the midnight oil to finish the project.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>By the skin of your teeth<\/td><td>Barely making it<\/td><td>He passed the exam by the skin of his teeth.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Come rain or shine<\/td><td>No matter what happens<\/td><td>I\u2019ll be there, come rain or shine.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Cost an arm and a leg<\/td><td>To be very expensive<\/td><td>The new smartphone costs an arm and a leg.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Cry over spilt milk<\/td><td>To complain about something that cannot be undone<\/td><td>There\u2019s no use crying over spilt milk; just move on.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Cut corners<\/td><td>To do something cheaply or hastily<\/td><td>Don\u2019t cut corners when preparing for the exam.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Drive someone up the wall<\/td><td>To annoy someone<\/td><td>His constant humming drives me up the wall.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Face the music<\/td><td>To confront the consequences of one\u2019s actions<\/td><td>He had to face the music after his mistake was revealed.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Go the extra mile<\/td><td>To do more than what is required<\/td><td>She always goes the extra mile to help her students succeed.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Hit the books<\/td><td>To study hard<\/td><td>It\u2019s time to hit the books if you want to pass your exams.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>In the nick of time<\/td><td>Just in time<\/td><td>We arrived in the nick of time for the movie.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Jump on the bandwagon<\/td><td>To follow a popular trend<\/td><td>He jumped on the bandwagon and started investing in cryptocurrencies.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Keep an eye on<\/td><td>To watch or monitor something closely<\/td><td>Can you keep an eye on my bag while I\u2019m away?<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Let sleeping dogs lie<\/td><td>To avoid stirring up trouble<\/td><td>Let\u2019s not bring up the argument again; let sleeping dogs lie.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>On the ball<\/td><td>To be alert and quick to respond<\/td><td>You need to be on the ball during the presentation.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Out of the blue<\/td><td>Something unexpected<\/td><td>The news came out of the blue, surprising everyone.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Pull someone\u2019s leg<\/td><td>To joke with someone<\/td><td>Don\u2019t take him seriously; he\u2019s just pulling your leg.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Rain on someone\u2019s parade<\/td><td>To spoil someone\u2019s plans<\/td><td>She didn\u2019t want to rain on his parade, but the party was canceled.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>See eye to eye<\/td><td>To agree with someone<\/td><td>They rarely see eye to eye on important decisions.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Take it with a grain of salt<\/td><td>To not take something too seriously<\/td><td>Take his advice with a grain of salt; he tends to exaggerate.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>The ball is in your court<\/td><td>It\u2019s your responsibility to act next<\/td><td>I\u2019ve done my part; now the ball is in your court.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Through thick and thin<\/td><td>To support someone in all situations<\/td><td>She has stood by him through thick and thin.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Turn a blind eye<\/td><td>To ignore something intentionally<\/td><td>The manager turned a blind eye to the employee\u2019s mistakes.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Up in the air<\/td><td>Uncertain<\/td><td>Our vacation plans are still up in the air.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Water under the bridge<\/td><td>Something in the past that is no longer important<\/td><td>The argument is water under the bridge now.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>When pigs fly<\/td><td>Something that will never happen<\/td><td>He\u2019ll apologize when pigs fly!<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Wild goose chase<\/td><td>A futile search<\/td><td>They sent us on a wild goose chase looking for a nonexistent address.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Bark up the wrong tree<\/td><td>To make a wrong assumption<\/td><td>If you think I\u2019m to blame, you\u2019re barking up the wrong tree.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Burn bridges<\/td><td>To destroy relationships through actions<\/td><td>Be careful not to burn bridges when leaving your job.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Caught between a rock and a hard place<\/td><td>To be faced with two difficult choices<\/td><td>She was caught between a rock and a hard place when choosing between two job offers.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Don\u2019t count your chickens before they hatch<\/td><td>Don\u2019t assume something will happen before it does<\/td><td>Don\u2019t count your chickens before they hatch; wait for the final results.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Every cloud has a silver lining<\/td><td>There is something good in every bad situation<\/td><td>Though the project failed, every cloud has a silver lining, and we learned valuable lessons.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Fish out of water<\/td><td>To feel out of place<\/td><td>He felt like a fish out of water during his first day at the new office.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Get out of hand<\/td><td>To become uncontrollable<\/td><td>The situation got out of hand after the protest turned violent.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>In hot water<\/td><td>To be in trouble<\/td><td>He found himself in hot water after missing the deadline.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>It takes two to tango<\/td><td>Both parties involved in a situation are responsible<\/td><td>The argument got worse because it takes two to tango.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Let the chips fall where they may<\/td><td>To let things happen as they will<\/td><td>I\u2019ve made my decision, and now I\u2019ll let the chips fall where they may.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Make a long story short<\/td><td>To summarize<\/td><td>To make a long story short, they decided to cancel the project.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Idioms for IELTS Reading<\/mark><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In IELTS Reading, idioms may appear in different passages, especially those dealing with social and cultural topics. Understanding these will help you interpret the meaning more accurately.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table  class=\" table table-hover\" ><thead><tr><th><strong>Idiom<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Meaning<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Example<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>A blessing in disguise<\/td><td>Something good that seems bad at first<\/td><td>Losing that job was a blessing in disguise; it led to a better opportunity.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>A drop in the ocean<\/td><td>A very small part of something much bigger<\/td><td>His efforts were just a drop in the ocean compared to what was needed.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>A far cry from<\/td><td>Very different from<\/td><td>This new car is a far cry from the old one I used to drive.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Actions speak louder than words<\/td><td>What someone does is more important than what they say<\/td><td>He keeps promising to help, but actions speak louder than words.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Add fuel to the fire<\/td><td>To make a bad situation worse<\/td><td>His comments only added fuel to the fire during the argument.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>All in the same boat<\/td><td>In the same difficult situation<\/td><td>We\u2019re all in the same boat, so let\u2019s work together.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>At the drop of a hat<\/td><td>Without any hesitation; immediately<\/td><td>She\u2019s always ready to help at the drop of a hat.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Back to the drawing board<\/td><td>To start something again from the beginning<\/td><td>The plan didn\u2019t work, so it\u2019s back to the drawing board.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Barking up the wrong tree<\/td><td>To make a wrong assumption<\/td><td>If you think I\u2019m to blame, you\u2019re barking up the wrong tree.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Beat around the bush<\/td><td>To avoid talking about what\u2019s important<\/td><td>Stop beating around the bush and tell me what\u2019s wrong.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Better late than never<\/td><td>It\u2019s better to do something late than not at all<\/td><td>He finally apologized, better late than never.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Bite the bullet<\/td><td>To face a difficult situation bravely<\/td><td>You\u2019ll just have to bite the bullet and finish the job.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Break the ice<\/td><td>To initiate conversation in a social setting<\/td><td>She told a joke to break the ice at the meeting.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Burn the midnight oil<\/td><td>To work late into the night<\/td><td>He\u2019s been burning the midnight oil preparing for his exams.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Caught between a rock and a hard place<\/td><td>To be faced with two difficult choices<\/td><td>She was caught between a rock and a hard place when deciding between two jobs.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Cross that bridge when you come to it<\/td><td>Deal with a problem if and when it happens<\/td><td>Don\u2019t worry about the presentation now; we\u2019ll cross that bridge when we come to it.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Cry over spilt milk<\/td><td>To complain about something that can\u2019t be undone<\/td><td>There\u2019s no use crying over spilt milk; it\u2019s time to move on.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Curiosity killed the cat<\/td><td>Being too curious can lead to trouble<\/td><td>She found out too much, and as they say, curiosity killed the cat.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Cut to the chase<\/td><td>To get to the point without wasting time<\/td><td>Let\u2019s cut to the chase\u2014what\u2019s the real issue here?<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Don\u2019t count your chickens before they hatch<\/td><td>Don\u2019t assume success before it happens<\/td><td>She\u2019s already planning her victory speech, but she shouldn\u2019t count her chickens before they hatch.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Don\u2019t judge a book by its cover<\/td><td>Don\u2019t form an opinion based on appearance<\/td><td>He looks unfriendly, but don\u2019t judge a book by its cover.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Every cloud has a silver lining<\/td><td>There is something good in every bad situation<\/td><td>After losing her job, she realized every cloud has a silver lining.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Far-fetched<\/td><td>Something that is hard to believe<\/td><td>His explanation sounded far-fetched to everyone in the room.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Go the extra mile<\/td><td>To do more than what is required<\/td><td>She always goes the extra mile for her clients.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Hit the nail on the head<\/td><td>To describe something exactly<\/td><td>You\u2019ve hit the nail on the head with your analysis of the problem.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>In the same boat<\/td><td>In the same difficult situation<\/td><td>We\u2019re all in the same boat when it comes to meeting the deadline.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>It\u2019s a small world<\/td><td>Used when you encounter someone you know unexpectedly<\/td><td>I ran into an old friend in Paris; it\u2019s a small world.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Jump on the bandwagon<\/td><td>To join others in doing something trendy<\/td><td>He jumped on the bandwagon and started investing in stocks.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Keep your chin up<\/td><td>To remain positive in a tough situation<\/td><td>Even though the situation is difficult, keep your chin up.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Kill two birds with one stone<\/td><td>To achieve two things with a single action<\/td><td>By taking this course, you can kill two birds with one stone\u2014improve your skills and get a promotion.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Leave no stone unturned<\/td><td>To do everything possible to achieve something<\/td><td>We\u2019ll leave no stone unturned in our search for the missing document.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Let the cat out of the bag<\/td><td>To reveal a secret unintentionally<\/td><td>She let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Make a mountain out of a molehill<\/td><td>To exaggerate a minor issue<\/td><td>Don\u2019t make a mountain out of a molehill; it\u2019s just a small mistake.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Miss the boat<\/td><td>To miss an opportunity<\/td><td>He missed the boat when he didn\u2019t apply for the job on time.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Once in a blue moon<\/td><td>Very rarely<\/td><td>I only see him once in a blue moon.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Out of the blue<\/td><td>Something unexpected<\/td><td>The news came out of the blue and shocked everyone.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Put all your eggs in one basket<\/td><td>To rely on one thing for success<\/td><td>Don\u2019t put all your eggs in one basket\u2014diversify your investments.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Read between the lines<\/td><td>To understand something that isn\u2019t said directly<\/td><td>You need to read between the lines to understand the hidden message.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Run of the mill<\/td><td>Ordinary or average<\/td><td>The restaurant was just run of the mill, nothing special.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Save for a rainy day<\/td><td>To save money for a future need<\/td><td>It\u2019s important to save for a rainy day in case of emergencies.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>The ball is in your court<\/td><td>It\u2019s your responsibility to take action next<\/td><td>I\u2019ve done my part; now the ball is in your court.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>The best of both worlds<\/td><td>A situation where you can enjoy the advantages of two things<\/td><td>She has the best of both worlds, working part-time and spending time with her family.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>The tip of the iceberg<\/td><td>A small part of a larger problem<\/td><td>The recent complaints are just the tip of the iceberg.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>There\u2019s no place like home<\/td><td>Home is the best place to be<\/td><td>After traveling for months, I realized there\u2019s no place like home.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Throw in the towel<\/td><td>To give up<\/td><td>He threw in the towel after realizing he couldn\u2019t win the race.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Turn a blind eye<\/td><td>To ignore something on purpose<\/td><td>The manager turned a blind eye to the employee\u2019s mistakes.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Under the weather<\/td><td>Feeling sick<\/td><td>I didn\u2019t go to work because I was feeling under the weather.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>When pigs fly<\/td><td>Something that will never happen<\/td><td>He\u2019ll apologize when pigs fly!<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Wild goose chase<\/td><td>A futile search<\/td><td>They sent us on a wild goose chase looking for a nonexistent address.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>With flying colors<\/td><td>To succeed brilliantly<\/td><td>She passed the exam with flying colors.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Your guess is as good as mine<\/td><td>To say that you don\u2019t know<\/td><td>I don\u2019t know what\u2019s going on; your guess is as good as mine.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These idioms can be a powerful tool for improving your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/useful-tips-for-every-section-of-the-ielts-exam\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">IELTS score<\/a>, particularly in the Speaking and Writing sections, where showcasing a range of vocabulary and natural expressions can lead to higher band scores. Incorporate these idioms into your daily practice, and you\u2019ll notice a boost in both your fluency and comprehension.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.users.wordsdaily\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Download the Words of the day<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"549\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Idioms-for-IELTS-Vocabulary-Wordscoach.com_-549x1024.png\" alt=\"Idioms for IELTS Vocabulary - Wordscoach.com\" class=\"wp-image-24727\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Idioms-for-IELTS-Vocabulary-Wordscoach.com_-549x1024.png 549w, https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Idioms-for-IELTS-Vocabulary-Wordscoach.com_-161x300.png 161w, https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Idioms-for-IELTS-Vocabulary-Wordscoach.com_-768x1434.png 768w, https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Idioms-for-IELTS-Vocabulary-Wordscoach.com_-823x1536.png 823w, https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Idioms-for-IELTS-Vocabulary-Wordscoach.com_-1097x2048.png 1097w, https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Idioms-for-IELTS-Vocabulary-Wordscoach.com_-150x280.png 150w, https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Idioms-for-IELTS-Vocabulary-Wordscoach.com_.png 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 549px) 100vw, 549px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Explore 200+ essential idioms for IELTS vocabulary to enhance your IELTS preparation. Master idioms for IELTS Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking sections to boost your score.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":24727,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45,81],"tags":[21087],"class_list":["post-24723","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ielts","category-idioms","tag-idioms-for-ielts-vocabulary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24723","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24723"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24723\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24727"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24723"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24723"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24723"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}