20 Useful Idioms to Help you Get Band 8.0+ for IELTS Speaking (Part 5/5)
Hear on the grapevine - This idiom means ‘to hear rumors‘ about something or someone.
I heard on the grapevine that she was pregnant, but I don‘t know anything more.
Hit the nail on the head - To be right about something
Mike hit the nail on the head when he said most people can use a computer withou knowing how it works.
In the heat of the moment - say or do it without thinking because you are very angry or excited
She doesn‘t hate you. She just said that in the heat of the moment.
It takes two to tango - both people involved in a bad situation are responsible for it
She blames Tracy for stealing her husband. ‗Well, it takes two to tango.‘
Get/jump on the bandwagon - Join a popular trend or activity.
You jump on the bandwagon when all your friends begin eating at a new popular restaurant.
Keep something at bay - Keep something away
She fought to keep her unhappiness at bay.
Kill two birds with one stone - to accomplish two different things at the same time.
I killed two birds with one stone and saw some old friends while I was in Leeds visiting my parents.
Last straw - The final problem in a series of problems.
This is the last straw. I‘m calling the police.
Let sleeping dogs lie - to not talk about things which have caused problems in the past, or to not try to change a situation because you might cause problems
Jane knew she should report the accident but decided to let sleeping dogs lie.
Let the cat out of the bag - To reveal a secret or a surprise, often without an intention to do so
It‘s a secret. Try not to let the cat out of the bag.
Not playing with a full deck - Someone who lacks intelligence.
Jim‘s a nice guy, but with some of the foolish things he does, I wonder if he‘s not playing with a full deck.
Far cry from - Very different from
What you did was a far cry from what you said you were going to do.
Give the benefit of the doubt - to decide you will believe someone or something
I didn‘t know whether his story was true or not, but I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Pull the wool over someone’s eyes - Deceive someone into thinking well of them.
You can‘t pull the wool over my eyes. I know what‘s going on.
See eye to eye - two (or more people) agree on something.
My father and I see eye to eye on most things.
Take with a grain of salt - Consider something to be not completely true or right
I‘ve read the article, which I take with a grain of salt.
Taste of your own medicine - Means that something happens to you, or is done to you that you have done to someone else
Tom talks way too much – but last night he met someone who talked even more than he does, and he got frustrated. He finally got a taste of his own medicine.
Whole nine yards - Everything, the entire amount, as far as possible
When I was little, my family always had lots of pets – dogs, cats,hamsters, fish, rabbits – the whole nine yards.
Wouldn’t be caught dead - Would never like to do something
My father wouldn‘t have been caught dead in a white suit.
At the drop of a hat - immediately; instantly
If you need help, just call on me. I can come at the drop of a hat.
