22 Common Idioms in IELTS Speaking (Part 2/5)
bump into – to meet someone by chance
I bumped into my old friends at the seminar for education officials
A drop in the ocean – every small part of something much bigger.
==>Just learning idioms is a drop in the ocean when it comes to preparing for the speaking test.
work flat out – work very hard
The employees have been working flat out to get the job finished ahead of the deadline.
The in thing – something fashionable.
The new iPhone is really the in thing at the moment.
make a fuss over – overly care for someone/something
Whenever they visit Grandma she makes a fuss over the children.
Run of the mill – average, ordinary
Apple phones are very run of the mill these days.
far-fetched – usually refers to an idea, choice, decision, plan that may be unusual, probably not a good choice.
The government‘s choice for the new Defense Secretary seemed pretty far fetched to the opposition party.
ace – to do well. Usually used relating to a test, competition, something with a score, or a clear winner or loser.
He aced the history test. He is an ace pitcher/batter/tennis player.
A hot potato – a controversial topic.
Abortion and capital punishment are hot potatoes in my country at the moment.
Get a kick out of (something) – to get excitement or pleasure from an event or thought.
I really get a kick out of seeing the crazy things carried on motorbikes sometimes.
bent out of shape – often used to admonish others not to be too upset.
Don‘t get all bent out of shape about the way they drive over here!
Give (lend) somebody a hand – to give some forms of assistance with a task
Could you give me a hand with this shipment?
Sit on the fence – to be undecided.
I haven‘t made my mind up about that issue, I‘ll have to sit on the fence.
A piece of cake – very easy.
Getting a band 6 in the speaking test will be a piece of cake.
hit the books – to study, usually intensively
I will sit the IELTS test next week. That‘s why I have been hitting the books all day long.
16. Soul mate – someone you trust very deeply
∙ My husband is not just my lover, he‘s my soul mate.
broke – usually financial related, have no money, can also generally reference a state
I can‘t afford to go on holiday – I‘m (flat) broke.
(Go) back to the drawing board – to start planning something again because the first plan failed
Our plan didn‘t work out, so it‘s back to the drawing board.
Go the extra mile – To make an extra effort; do more than usual
You had better not forget 8 leadership attributes that make you go the extra mile.
crash course – a quick lesson
We need a crash course in idioms for this IELTS program.
up-to-the-minute – the very latest or most recent
Now we‘re going live to our reporter in Washington for up-to-the-minute news on the crisis.
On the go – busy
I feel as though we always need to be on the go because life‘s too short to be idle!
