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IELTS Speaking Idioms: Meanings, Examples & Score Tips

Ram Prasad Sharma

15 min read

Last updated on 29 Jul 2026

Summarise blog with AI

Idiomatic language is highly expected and rewarded in the IELTS Speaking test, but using them incorrectly can actually lower your score.

This article will teach you how to use IELTS Speaking idioms naturally to boost your lexical resource score.

What are Idioms in IELTS Speaking?

An idiom is a phrase where the meaning is different from the individual words it is made of. For example, saying something costs an arm and a leg means it is very expensive.

Examiners in the IELTS Speaking test look for such expressions. They want the candidate to sound like a natural English speaker.

Comparison Table: Formal, Informal, and Natural Conversational Expressions

Formal Phrase (Preferred for Writing)	Informal Idiom (Avoid in IELTS)	Natural Expressions (Best for Speaking)
I am very busy.	I'm snowed under.	I have a lot on my plate.
It is very expensive.	It costs a bomb.	It costs an arm and a leg.
I forgot the information.	My mind went blank.	It slipped my mind.

How Idioms Affect Your IELTS Speaking Band Score

The IELTS Speaking test is graded on four equally important criteria:

Fluency & Coherence (FC)

Measures how smoothly and logically you communicate your ideas without unnecessary hesitation.

Lexical Resource (LR)

This is where idioms matter — examiners assess the range and appropriateness of your vocabulary choices.

Grammar Range & Accuracy (GRA)

Evaluates the variety and correctness of grammatical structures used throughout your responses.

Pronunciation (P)

Assesses how clearly and naturally you produce sounds, stress, and intonation in spoken English.

To score a Band 7 or higher in the Lexical Resource category, the official IELTS guidelines state that a candidate must "use some less common and idiomatic vocabulary."

From the Examiner's Desk: Candidates commonly lose marks because they use 'memorized' idioms in the wrong place. If you say "I am over the moon" with a flat, robotic voice, it sounds unnatural.

Finest IELTS Speaking Idioms with Meanings and Examples

About Happiness:

Over the moon (Extremely happy or delighted)
Example: I was over the moon when I passed my entrance exam on the first try.
On cloud nine (Perfect happiness)
Example: She was on cloud nine after getting her dream job.
In high spirits (Lively, happy and cheerful)
Example: We are generally in high spirits during festivals.

About Work & Study

Learn the ropes (Learn the basic tricks)
Example: It took me a few weeks to learn the ropes at my new office.
Hit the books (To study hard)
Example: I need to hit the books for my exams next week.
Burn the midnight oil (To study or work late into the night)
Example: He had to burn the midnight oil to finish the project on time.

About Success

A piece of cake (Very easy)
Example: The English test was a piece of cake.
Hit the nail on the head (Describe something exactly or correctly)
Example: You hit the nail on the head when you said we need better public transportation for traffic management.
Go the extra mile (To do more than what is expected)
Example: Our primary teacher always went the extra mile to help us understand.

About Challenges

Under the weather (Slightly sick or unwell)
Example: I stayed home because I felt a bit under the weather.
A tough nut to crack (A difficult problem or person)
Example: Solving traffic congestion in the city is indeed a tough nut to crack.
Miss the boat (To miss an opportunity)
Example: I missed the boat because I didn't apply in time for the scholarship.

About Relationships

Get along well (Have a good relationship)
Example: I get along well with most of my colleagues.
See eye to eye (To agree with someone)
Example: My brother and I don't see eye to eye on politics.
Keep in touch (To maintain contact)
Example: Social media helps us keep in touch with our childhood friends.

About Money

Cost an arm and a leg (Cost a lot)
Example: Buying a house in a metropolis costs an arm and a leg.
Save for a rainy day (Save money for future)
Example: It is wise to save some salary for a rainy day.
Tighten your belt (Be frugal and spend less)
Example: We need to tighten our belts as prices are rising.

About Time

Better late than never (Better to do than not to do at all)
Example: He finally joined us for the party, better late than never.
Once in a blue moon (Very rarely)
Example: I only go to cinemas once in a blue moon.
Around the clock (Consistently, regularly)
Example: Hospitals operate around the clock to help patients.

Topic-Wise IELTS Speaking Idioms

Here's a list of some natural topic-specific idioms you can use during your test:

Education: Pass with flying colours (To pass with high marks). She passed her university exams with flying colours.
Technology: Cutting-edge (Highly advanced). My city is adopting cutting-edge technologies for public safety.
Environment: A drop in the ocean (A very small amount). Recycling one plastic bottle is like a drop in the ocean.
Health: As fit as a fiddle (In perfect health). My grandfather exercises daily and is as fit as a fiddle.
Travel: Off the beaten track (A place not visited by many). I prefer checking places that are off the beaten track.
Food: Not my cup of tea (Not something you enjoy). Spicy food is really not my cup of tea.
Work: Call it a day (Stop working for the day). Due to bad weather, the workers decided to call it a day early.
Hobbies: Take up (Start a new hobby). I recently decided to take up photography.
Family: Flesh and blood (A close relative). We have to help him. After all, he is our flesh and blood.
Social Media: Caught my eye (Attracted my attention). An interesting travel video caught my eye on Instagram last week.

IELTS Speaking Idioms for Band 7, 8 & 9

Band 6 Usage

Uses basic idioms but makes grammatical errors when using them. The tone feels copied.

Band 7 Usage

Uses a range of idioms accurately, but might occasionally use one in a slightly awkward situation.

Band 8–9 Usage

Idioms are easily combined into natural conversation. The examiner barely notices them because they fit the flow perfectly.

Good vs. Bad Usage

Bad (Copied Band 6 style): I love my school. It is a piece of cake to study there and the teacher is over the moon every day. (Unnatural context)

Good (Natural Band 8 style): To be frank, my entrance exam wasn't exactly a piece of cake, but I managed to pass with flying colours because I worked hard.

How to Use Idioms Naturally in IELTS Speaking

Remember these rules for using idioms like a native speaker:

Understand Meaning Properly

Never use an idiom if you do not know its complete meaning.

Avoid Memorising Random Idioms

Learn idioms from context, not from random lists.

Use Only Relevant Idioms

If the topic is about buildings, do not force an idiom about money into your answer.

Match Tone and Context

Keep your voice expressive and lively.

Practice Pronunciation

Focus also on pronunciation alongside idioms.

Use Idioms Sparingly

Excessive use of idioms does not sound natural.

Focus on Fluency First

Flow of communication is important. Do not stop midway just to think of an idiom.

Common Mistakes When Using Idioms in IELTS Speaking

Avoid these traps to improve your score:

Overusing idioms in every sentence

Using an idiom in every sentence sounds like copying someone.

Forcing idioms into answers

When in doubt, use simple and straight words rather than forcing an idiom.

Using memorized answers

Avoid memorized answers. Examiners easily detect such templates.

Incorrect grammar in idioms

Beware of incorrect grammar in idioms. For example, it is 'cost an arm and a leg' and not 'cost an arm and legs.'

Sample IELTS Speaking Answers Using Idioms

Part I: Interview

Part 1

Question: Do you enjoy your current job?

✦ Sample Answer

I definitely do. It took me a while to learn the ropes when I first started, but now I get along well with my team and find the work satisfying.

Part II: Cue Card

Part 2

Question: Describe a time when you were busy

✦ Sample Answer

Last year, I had to prepare for my final graduation thesis. I had a lot on my plate because I was also working part-time. I had to burn the midnight oil to complete everything, but the hard work was worth it because I passed with flying colours.

Part III: Discussion

Part 3

Question: Is it important for governments to invest in environmental protection?

✦ Sample Answer

Absolutely. Individual efforts like recycling are great, but without strong government policies, individual actions are just a drop in the ocean. We need systemic changes to address climate issues.

Daily Practice Tips to Improve Idiom Usage

Learn idioms by topic

Grouping idioms by subject (e.g. health, environment, travel) makes them easier to remember and use.

Watch English interviews and podcasts

Listen to how native speakers naturally insert idioms into casual conversations.

Record your speaking

Record your sample cue card answers on your smartphone. Listen back and check if your idioms sound natural.

Use flashcards

Have the idiom on the front and a natural example sentence on the back.

Most Common IELTS Speaking Idiom List

Education & Study

IDIOM	MEANING	EXAMPLE SENTENCE
Burn the midnight oil	Study or work late into the night	I burnt the midnight to complete my graduation thesis on time.
Pass with flying colours	Pass with high marks	He passed the difficult accounts exam with flying colours.
Learn the ropes	Learn the basic tricks	It took me a while to learn the ropes at the university.
Hit the books	Study hard	She needs to hit the book for her exams in two weeks.
By leaps and bounds	Very rapidly	Her academic performance has improved by leaps and bounds this year.
Know inside out	Understand completely	Our professor knows the history of architecture inside out.

Work & Career

IDIOM	MEANING	EXAMPLE SENTENCE
Go the extra mile	Do more than what is required	She always goes the extra mile to achieve success.
Call it a day	Stop working for the day	We decided to call it a day after working for eight hours.
Work against the clock	Work hurriedly	The team is working against the clock for the new campaign.
Think outside the box	Think creatively	For good business, you need to think outside the box very often.
Have a lot on one's plate	Be extremely busy	I currently have a lot on my plate because of my job and studies.
Get the ball rolling	Start an activity or a project	Let us get the ball rolling by scheduling our first team meeting.

Leisure, Hobbies & Art

IDIOM	MEANING	EXAMPLE SENTENCE
Not my cup of tea	Not something I enjoy	Watching horror movies is not my cup of tea.
Recharge one's batteries	Rest or recover energy and strength	I love spending weekends in nature to recharge my batteries.
Blow off steam	Release stress through activity	Running after work helps me blow off steam and clear my mind.
Keep in the loop	Keep informed	I don't follow football closely, but my brother keeps me in the loop.
Catch one's eye	Attract someone's attention	A breathtaking oil painting at the gallery caught my eye.
Get a kick out of	Enjoy immensely	I really get a kick out of learning new words and ideas.

Family, Friends & Society

IDIOM	MEANING	EXAMPLE SENTENCE
See eye to eye	Agree completely	My parents and I do not always see eye to eye on politics.
Keep in touch	Maintain communication	Social media makes it easy to keep in touch with old friends.
Clear the air	Resolve an argument or tension	We had some misunderstanding, but the chat helped clear the air.
Like two peas in a pod	Two people who are very similar	My twin cousins are like two peas in a pod in character.
Drift apart	Slowly lose contact and closeness	After moving to different cities, we began to drift apart.
Speak the same language	Share similar ideas or opinions	My roommate and I speak the same language when it comes to technology.

Technology & Science

IDIOM	MEANING	EXAMPLE SENTENCE
State-of-the-art	High-tech, advanced	The university just opened a state-of-the-art computer laboratory.
At the cutting edge	At the forefront of innovation or development	The local tech company is at the cutting edge of renewable energy research.
A double-edged sword	Something with both benefits and drawbacks.	Social media is a double-edged sword because it connects, but also distracts us.
The tech-savvy	Well-informed and skilled in modern technology	Tech-savvy teenagers adapt to new software much faster than adults do.
Ahead of its time	Too advanced for the current era	The electric car model built in the 90s was ahead of its time.
No rocket science	Simple and easy to understand	Using a smartphone for information is no rocket science.

Travel, Places & Environment

IDIOM	MEANING	EXAMPLE SENTENCE
Off the beaten track	A place not visited by many	I love visiting places that are completely off the beaten track.
Hit the road	Start a journey	We decided to hit the road by dawn.
The hustle and bustle	Noise and excitement of a big city	I sometimes need to escape the hustle and bustle of metro life.
Travel light	Travel with very little luggage or baggage	I enjoy traveling light.
Call a place home	Consider a specific location as your home	I lived in Chennai for five years, and I truly call it home now.
Make a detour	Take a longer route to visit a place	On our way to the capital, we made a detour to see a historic castle.

Shopping, Money & Economy

IDIOM	MEANING	EXAMPLE SENTENCE
Break the bank	Cost more than one can afford	A laptop can be bought these days without having to break the bank.
Pay through the nose	Pay a very high price for something	Tourists often pay through their nose for souvenirs.
Tighten one's belt	Spend less or be frugal	Due to inflation, many families are forced to tighten their belts.
A rip-off	Something that is hugely overpriced	Charging 200 rupees for a water bottle at the festival is a total rip-off.
Shop around	Compare prices at different shops before buying	It is wise to shop around before purchasing expensive items.
Cost a fortune	Be extremely expensive	Maintaining a luxury sports car can cost a fortune annually.

Health & Mindset

IDIOM	MEANING	EXAMPLE SENTENCE
Under the weather	Slightly sick, ill, or exhausted	I woke up feeling a bit under the weather today.
Back on one's feet	Recovered from illness or financial setback	After the flu for a week, I am back on my feet.
As fit as a fiddle	In excellent health condition	My father exercises daily, and is as fit as a fiddle.
In high spirits	Very happy, lively, and optimistic	The entire team was in high spirits after winning the championship.
Peace of mind	A feeling of freedom from worry.	Having health insurance gives me great peace of mind.
Down in the dumps	Unhappy or depressed	He has been a bit down the dumps since he failed the driving test.

How Alfa IELTS Help You Improve IELTS Speaking

Mastering idioms requires dedicated practice and real-time correction. Alfa IELTS provides an interactive platform to build your fluency, vocabulary, and overall confidence.

Topic-specific Vocabulary Tracking

Learn high-level phrases designed on current IELTS trends.

Natural Phrase Recommendations

Learn instantly about alternatives to replace dry, textbook language with nature expressions.

Advanced Speaking Evaluation

Train yourself to produce a speech delivery that matches Band 8+ expectations.

Practice IELTS Speaking with AI-powered feedback, pronunciation analysis, and band score prediction on Alfa IELTS.

Practice Now

Also Read: IELTS Line Graph: Structure, Vocabulary, Sample & Band 9 Tips

Final Words:

Using idioms effectively is about integrating natural, conversational English expressions into your answers smoothly when required. Focus more on clarity, fluency, and proper pronunciation over forcing idioms into your answers. Regular speaking practice will help you build this character over time.

FAQs

Q1. Are Idioms Important in IELTS Speaking?

Yes. They are vital if you want to achieve a Band 7, 8, or 9 in the Lexical Resource category.

Q2. How Many Idioms Should I Use in IELTS Speaking?

Quality is better than quantity. Aim for 1 or 2 natural idiomatic expressions per section (Part 1, 2, and 3).

Q3. Can Idioms Improve My IELTS Band Score?

Yes, but only if used correctly. Proper usage boosts your Lexical Resource mark, while forced or incorrect usage will lower it.

Q4. Should I Memorize Idioms for IELTS?

Do not memorize them as a list. Memorize them inside full example sentences so you understand their contextual flow.

Q5. Can Overusing Idioms Lower My Score?

Yes. Overuse sounds highly unnatural and copied, which affects your Fluency and Coherence score.

Q6. Are Idioms Useful in IELTS Writing?

No. Idioms are informal conversational tools. Avoid using them in IELTS Writing Task 1 and Task 2.

Start practicing IELTS Speaking with Alfa IELTS and improve your fluency, vocabulary, pronunciation, and band score with AI-powered feedback.

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Ram Prasad Sharma

Author

Ram Prasad Sharma is a seasoned English language educator and content specialist with a strong background in academic writing, reporting, and translation. With a long-standing experience as an IELTS and PTE trainer since 2008, he takes special care and interest in crafting clear, analytical, and reader-driven content.

His professional journey includes diplomatic work involving research, reporting, and cross-cultural communication, which enriche...

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