If you dream of achieving a Band 9 in the IELTS Speaking Test, vocabulary alone isn’t enough. You need to sound fluent, natural, and confident — like a native English speaker.
That’s where idioms come in. Idioms are short, colorful expressions that make your answers sound more real, engaging, and expressive. When used correctly, they show examiners that you can use natural English phrases just like a native speaker.
For example:
Question: How do you relax after studying?
Answer: I usually take a walk and listen to music. It helps me keep my chin up and stay positive.
Here, “keep my chin up” instantly makes your answer sound authentic and fluent — exactly what IELTS examiners love!
So, let’s learn 50+ useful idioms for IELTS Speaking with meanings and examples. And you can start using today.
50+ Useful Idioms for IELTS Speaking
Each idiom below is short, simple, and perfect for both casual conversation and IELTS Speaking answers.
| Idiom | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Break a leg | Good luck | Before my IELTS exam, my best friend said, “Break a leg!” and it really made me feel confident. |
| Hit the books | To study very hard | I usually relax on weekends, but before exams, I really have to hit the books all day long. |
| A piece of cake | Something very easy | The listening test was a piece of cake because I practiced a lot beforehand. |
| Once in a blue moon | Something that happens rarely | I only watch movies once in a blue moon because I’m usually busy studying. |
| Under the weather | Feeling sick or unwell | I was a bit under the weather on my speaking test day, but I still performed well. |
| Costs an arm and a leg | Very expensive | The IELTS registration fee costs an arm and a leg, but it’s worth it. |
| The ball is in your court | It’s your turn to make a decision | I’ve done my part of the project; now the ball is in your court. |
| Burn the midnight oil | To study or work late at night | I had to burn the midnight oil for weeks before my final exams. |
| A blessing in disguise | Something good that seemed bad at first | Losing my job was a blessing in disguise; it pushed me to study abroad. |
| Call it a day | Stop working for the day | After hours of practice, I finally called it a day and went to sleep. |
| Beat around the bush | Avoiding the main topic | Stop beating around the bush and tell me what you really think about my presentation. |
| Hit the nail on the head | To be exactly right | When my teacher said I needed to improve my grammar, she hit the nail on the head. |
| A hot potato | A controversial topic | Immigration is a hot potato issue during the IELTS discussion section. |
| In hot water | In trouble | I was in hot water after forgetting my passport on test day. |
| Let the cat out of the bag | Reveal a secret | My friend let the cat out of the bag about my IELTS result before I did. |
| On cloud nine | Extremely happy | When I got Band 8 in IELTS, I was on cloud nine for a week. |
| Bite the bullet | Face a difficult situation bravely | I hate interviews, but I had to bite the bullet and do it for my dream job. |
| Pull someone’s leg | To joke or tease someone | I thought he failed the test, but he was just pulling my leg. |
| The icing on the cake | Something that makes a good situation even better | Getting Band 8 was great, but receiving a scholarship was the icing on the cake. |
| Cry over spilled milk | Worry about something that has already happened | I made a mistake in writing, but there’s no point crying over spilled milk. |
| Cut corners | Do something cheaply or badly | Don’t cut corners when preparing for IELTS — quality practice matters. |
| Actions speak louder than words | What you do is more important than what you say | Instead of promising to study, he actually did — actions speak louder than words. |
| At the drop of a hat | Without hesitation | I would join an English-speaking club at the drop of a hat. |
| Bend over backwards | Try very hard to help someone | My teacher bent over backwards to help me improve my pronunciation. |
| Break the ice | Make people feel comfortable in a new situation | I told a funny story to break the ice during my speaking test. |
| By the book | Follow the rules strictly | The examiner conducts the IELTS test completely by the book. |
| Face the music | Accept the consequences | I didn’t prepare enough, so I had to face the music when my score came. |
| Get a taste of your own medicine | Receive the same bad treatment you gave others | He used to interrupt everyone, but now he’s getting a taste of his own medicine. |
| Give the benefit of the doubt | Believe someone without proof | My teacher gave me the benefit of the doubt and accepted my late homework. |
| In the same boat | In the same difficult situation | Most of my classmates are in the same boat, preparing for IELTS. |
| Jump the gun | Do something too soon | I jumped the gun and booked my test before I was fully prepared. |
| Keep an eye on | Watch carefully | I keep an eye on my grammar mistakes while writing essays. |
| Let sleeping dogs lie | Avoid restarting an old argument | I didn’t mention that topic again; it’s better to let sleeping dogs lie. |
| Miss the boat | Miss an opportunity | I missed the boat by not applying for the scholarship on time. |
| On the same page | Agree with someone | My study partner and I are on the same page about our goals. |
| Play it by ear | Decide what to do as things happen | I didn’t plan my speech; I just played it by ear. |
| Put all your eggs in one basket | Relying on one thing completely | Don’t put all your eggs in one basket — apply to more than one university. |
| Rome wasn’t built in a day | Important things take time | Learning fluent English takes time — remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day. |
| Speak of the devil | When the person you were talking about appears | Speak of the devil — we were just talking about you! |
| Take with a grain of salt | Don’t take something too seriously | Take his advice with a grain of salt; he’s not an IELTS expert. |
| The best of both worlds | Enjoying two benefits at once | Working while studying gives me the best of both worlds. |
| Time flies | Time passes quickly | Time flies when you’re doing a mock speaking test. |
| To get cold feet | Feel nervous before something important | I got cold feet just before entering the exam room. |
| To make ends meet | To earn enough money to survive | I’m doing part-time work to make ends meet while studying abroad. |
| To be over the moon | Extremely happy | I was over the moon when I received my visa approval. |
| To be all ears | To listen carefully | When my teacher gives feedback, I’m all ears. |
| To turn a blind eye | Ignore something wrong | Some students turn a blind eye to plagiarism, which is risky. |
| To twist someone’s arm | Persuade someone | My friend twisted my arm to join the English club. |
| Under one’s nose | Very close but unnoticed | I lost my pencil and it was right under my nose. |
| When pigs fly | Something that will never happen | He’ll stop using social media when pigs fly! |
| You can’t judge a book by its cover | Don’t judge people by appearance | My examiner looked strict, but she was very kind — you can’t judge a book by its cover. |
How to Use Idioms Naturally in IELTS Speaking
Here are a few quick tips:
- Don’t memorize randomly. Use idioms in answers where they fit naturally.
- Use familiar idioms. If you’re unsure of meaning or pronunciation, avoid using them.
- Practice in mock tests. Record yourself using 2–3 idioms in each answer.
- Stay natural. Forced idioms can sound awkward to examiners.
Example:
Question: “How do you spend your weekends?”
Answer: “I usually relax with friends. But when exams are near, I hit the books and burn the midnight oil to prepare.”
Using idioms effectively can transform your IELTS Speaking score. It shows not just your language ability but also your comfort and confidence in English.
Practice them regularly, use them naturally, and soon you’ll sound like a Band 9 speaker!