In each language, there are different ways to explain things, ideas, and feelings. All the people use their languages to describe what they want to convey & each language has a different set of phrases and idioms that have some special meaning in their country. In English, we use idioms and phrases to express things that are just a different way of saying things. It helps in the reduction of sentences, one can use a fewer number of words when they use these idioms and phrases. So, the same thing can be now explained in fewer words.
But what actually are these idioms and phrases?
Let’s learn this.
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What are Idioms and Phrases?
An Idiom is a phrase or an expression that has no literal meaning. It is an expression or a saying that has a figurative meaning which cannot be directly understood by reading every word.
For example, you might hear someone say, “I was over the moon when I got admission to my favourite college.” The literal meaning of this could be “I was extremely happy when I got admission to my favourite college.”
A phrase, on the other hand, is a compound verb where a verb is combined with an adverb or a preposition. These phrasal verbs often have idiomatic meanings which cannot be understood by just reading what each word means.
For example, someone might ask you to pick them up while on the way to someplace; which literally means that they have asked you to give them a lift while you’re on your way to that place.
Now that we have understood what these idioms and phrases mean, let’s move on to learn how important they are for IELTS.
Also Read: Important General Words for IELTS Writing Task 2 and Its Synonyms: How & Why are They Important?
Are Idioms and Phrases in English Useful for IELTS?
While you’re preparing for your IELTS exam, it is important for you to learn a variety of English idioms as well as phrases to have a good impact on your examiner. He’ll get an idea of how good your language is. And along with this, it’ll be easy for you to clear your exam successfully without any difficulties.
One should learn a variety of idioms and phrases to sound more like a native user of that language. When these are used in the correct context, they’ll help you to get 100% marks in your exams. And thus, it becomes even more important to learn them.
Now let’s move on to learn about some of the common idioms and phrases for the IELTS exam.
Also Read: Synonyms for IELTS Writing Task 2: Enhance Your IELTS Writing Score
Idioms and Phrases for IELTS
Out of the blue – Something that happened unexpectedly
Example – Yesterday, out of the blue, he asked me to marry him!
In the red – To owe money, to not have money
Example – Sorry, I can’t afford it, I’m in the red.
Give someone the green light – To give permission
For example – I was given the green light to start this new project.
A white lie – To tell a lie that is not very serious
Example – I don’t think you should get in trouble for telling a white lie.
Green with envy – To be jealous/envious
Example – She was green with envy when she saw my diamond ring.
Some More English Idioms and Phrases
Day and night – Continually working without stopping
Example – I was studying day and night for my IELTS test.
Drop out – To leave without finishing
Example – She dropped out of the course because it was too hard.
Learn by heart – To memorize
Example – I learned all my idioms by heart.
Pass with flying colours – To pass a test with a high grade
Example – I really hope I pass with flying colours.
Bookworm – Someone who reads a lot
Example – When I was younger, I was a bookworm, I just loved reading.
Brought up – Raised/developed
Example – I was brought up in the country.
Common Idioms and Phrases for IELTS
Child’s play – Very easy to do
Example – Learning how to play the guitar was child’s play, I could do it easily.
Like a kid in a candy store – Very excited about something
Example – When I arrived in the city I was like a kid in a candy store, there was so much to see and do.
To follow in someone’s footsteps – To achieve the same things that someone else did
Example – I followed in my mother’s footsteps and became a teacher.
To run in the family – Qualities that are similar in family members
Example – We are all good at maths, it runs in the family.
Idioms and Phrases in English
Under the weather – Feeling unwell
Eg – I’m feeling a bit under the weather. I hope I don’t have COVID.
As sick as a dog – Feeling very ill
Eg – I was as sick as a dog last night.
On the mend – Recovering, getting better
Eg – My mother was very sick but now she’s on the mend.
Kick the bucket – To die
Eg – My father was so sick I thought he might kick the bucket.
To show promise – To indicate possible success
Eg – The new vaccine is showing promise.
Practice makes perfect – To continuously improve by practising
Eg – My teacher said that practice makes perfect, so I need to practice more.
Idioms and Phrases
Break a leg – To wish someone good luck
Eg – I hope you do really well, break a leg!
Driving me up the wall – Something that annoys you
Eg – Waiting for my results is really driving me up the wall.
Better late than never – It’s better to do something late than not to try it
Eg – I didn’t know how to drive till I was 30, but better late than never.
Blind as a bat – Can’t see, bad eyesight
Eg – I’m as blind as a bat, I really need my reading glasses.
Also Read: Which Tense to Use in IELTS Writing Task 2? Know about Which Tense to Use and When to Use It
Conclusion
Till now, you have only scratched the surface ( looked at something very briefly ) and there are “n” number of idioms as well as phrases to learn for your next IELTS exam. And one piece of advice which you can follow is to notice and talk more with the native speakers to have an idea of how they converse while using this language. And while you’re doing this, don’t shy away from asking the meaning of the term that you do not understand because that’s only going to help you learn something new in life.
The above article here presents all the important yet common idioms that you can use in your next exam. Thus, they are going to be a great help to you.
Hopefully, you find this erudition useful and if you have any apprehensions, feel unengaged to elucidate below and let us know.
Also, don’t forget to check out our other blogs.
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