IELTS Speaking Idioms List with Examples (2026)
IELTS Speaking idioms by topic with natural example lines for Parts 1, 2 and 3. Use B2-C1 idioms carefully so Lexical Resource and Fluency go up, not down.
Use idioms only when they fit
Idioms can support Lexical Resource when they sound natural and precise. They hurt your score when they are forced, half-remembered, or used in the wrong situation. Examiners listen for flexible, accurate language, not a memorised list.
A wrong or awkward idiom often damages Fluency as well: you pause, self-correct, or restart mid-sentence. One clear mid-level phrase used correctly beats three flashy idioms used badly.
Risky
Forced idiom
I am on cloud nine about public transport because buses are ubiquitous.
- •Register mismatch
- •Meaning slightly off
- •Sounds memorised
Safer
Natural idiom
I am still on the fence about remote work. It saves time, but I miss face-to-face chat.
- •Fits the opinion topic
- •Clear meaning
- •Easy to extend with reasons
How to introduce idioms naturally
Do not drop an idiom into the first sentence for effect. Build a normal answer first, then use one familiar idiom where it carries real meaning. Aim for zero to two idioms per long answer, not one in every sentence.
- 1Answer the question plainlyGive a clear stance or fact in everyday English so the examiner already understands you.
- 2Add a reason or exampleExtend with because, for example, or a short personal detail before any figurative language.
- 3Use one familiar idiom if it fitsChoose an idiom you have practised aloud. Prefer B2-C1 conversational phrases over slang or literary metaphors.
- 4Paraphrase or explain lightlyIf the idiom is slightly unusual, follow with a plain clause: "it is a double-edged sword, meaning it helps and hurts."
- 5Keep going without spotlighting itDo not announce "let me use an idiom." Continue with a contrast, result, or wrap-up so Fluency stays smooth.
- Practise each idiom in a full spoken sentence, not as a flashcard definition only
- Record yourself and delete any idiom that makes you hesitate
- Pair idioms with collocations (see the Band 7 collocations guide)
- In Part 1, keep idioms light and everyday; save more abstract ones for Part 3
1. Opinion, agreement, disagreement
These work well when you need a soft stance, a clear contrast, or a thoughtful reaction in Part 3 discussions.
| Idiom | Meaning | Example speaking line | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| on the fence | undecided | I am still on the fence about whether cities should ban cars completely. | Part 3 |
| see eye to eye | agree fully | My parents and I do not always see eye to eye on career choices. | Part 1 / 3 |
| food for thought | something worth thinking about | That documentary gave me food for thought about plastic waste. | Part 2 / 3 |
| a double-edged sword | has both benefits and drawbacks | Social media is a double-edged sword for teenagers. | Part 3 |
| take something with a pinch of salt | not believe it fully | I take online reviews with a pinch of salt because some are fake. | Part 1 / 3 |
| play devil's advocate | argue the opposite side to test an idea | Let me play devil's advocate: free public transport still needs funding. | Part 3 |
| common ground | shared agreement or interest | We found common ground on education even if we disagree on taxes. | Part 3 |
2. Likes, preferences, habits
Useful for Part 1 hobbies and routines, and for Part 2 talks about things you enjoy doing regularly.
| Idiom | Meaning | Example speaking line | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| once in a blue moon | very rarely | I only eat fast food once in a blue moon. | Part 1 |
| look forward to | feel happy about something coming | I look forward to Sunday mornings because I can sleep in. | Part 1 / 2 |
| get the hang of | learn how to do something | It took me a month to get the hang of cooking for myself. | Part 1 / 2 |
| worth a shot | worth trying | Learning Spanish online seemed worth a shot, so I signed up. | Part 1 / 2 |
| grow on someone | become more likeable over time | Jazz grew on me after I started going to live shows. | Part 1 / 2 |
| in my element | doing something you are good at and enjoy | I am in my element when I am teaching kids art. | Part 2 |
| a creature of habit | someone who likes fixed routines | I am a creature of habit: same coffee shop, same seat. | Part 1 |
3. Change, trends, time
Strong for questions about how life, cities, or technology have changed, and for comparing past and present.
| Idiom | Meaning | Example speaking line | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| catch up with | reach the same level or update yourself | I need the weekend to catch up with friends and emails. | Part 1 / 2 |
| keep up with | stay informed or not fall behind | It is hard to keep up with every new phone model. | Part 1 / 3 |
| over the years | as time has passed | Over the years, my city has become much more crowded. | Part 1 / 3 |
| in the long run | over a long period | In the long run, remote work may change how cities grow. | Part 3 |
| ahead of its time | very advanced for when it appeared | That library design felt ahead of its time ten years ago. | Part 2 / 3 |
| a thing of the past | no longer common | Cash is almost a thing of the past in my neighbourhood. | Part 1 / 3 |
| turn over a new leaf | start behaving better | After failing one exam, I turned over a new leaf and planned my week. | Part 2 |
4. Work, study, pressure
Use carefully: a little figurative language is fine, but do not stack study idioms in every sentence or you will sound scripted.
| Idiom | Meaning | Example speaking line | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| hit the books | study hard | Before finals, I hit the books every evening after dinner. | Part 1 / 2 |
| burn the midnight oil | work or study late into the night | I burned the midnight oil before my last presentation, but I try not to do that often. | Part 2 |
| under pressure | stressed by deadlines or expectations | I work better under a little pressure, but too much makes me freeze. | Part 1 / 3 |
| go the extra mile | do more than expected | My teacher always goes the extra mile with feedback. | Part 2 / 3 |
| keep me on my toes | keep me alert / challenge me | Customer service keeps me on my toes because every call is different. | Part 1 / 2 |
| learn the ropes | learn how a job or system works | It took a few weeks to learn the ropes in my first internship. | Part 1 / 2 |
| call it a day | stop working for now | When I am tired, I call it a day rather than force another hour. | Part 1 |
5. People, relationships, personality
Helpful for Part 2 descriptions of people and for Part 3 talk about friendship, family, or social skills.
| Idiom | Meaning | Example speaking line | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| break the ice | make people feel comfortable at the start | A shared joke helped break the ice at the team dinner. | Part 2 / 3 |
| get along with | have a good relationship | I get along with most classmates, even if we are very different. | Part 1 / 2 |
| a people person | someone who enjoys being with others | My sister is a people person, so she loves hospitality work. | Part 1 / 2 |
| wear your heart on your sleeve | show feelings openly | He wears his heart on his sleeve, which makes him easy to trust. | Part 2 |
| hit it off | become friends quickly | We hit it off on the first day of university. | Part 2 |
| keep to yourself | be private / not socialise much | I used to keep to myself, but clubs helped me open up. | Part 1 / 2 |
| have a lot in common | share interests or traits | We have a lot in common, especially music and travel. | Part 1 / 2 |
6. Problems, solutions, difficulty
Useful when you explain challenges, partial progress, or why a small issue is really a larger one.
| Idiom | Meaning | Example speaking line | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| a blessing in disguise | something bad that later helps you | Failing that interview was a blessing in disguise; I found a better role. | Part 2 / 3 |
| the tip of the iceberg | a small visible part of a bigger problem | Late trains are just the tip of the iceberg in our transport system. | Part 3 |
| under the weather | feeling slightly ill | I stayed home yesterday because I was under the weather. | Part 1 |
| get to the bottom of | find the real cause | Managers need to get to the bottom of why staff keep leaving. | Part 3 |
| easier said than done | sounds simple but is hard | Cutting plastic use is easier said than done in a busy city. | Part 3 |
| make ends meet | have enough money for basics | Some graduates struggle to make ends meet in big cities. | Part 3 |
| light at the end of the tunnel | hope that a hard period will end | After months of revision, I finally saw light at the end of the tunnel. | Part 2 |
7. City life, travel, technology
Optional bank for hometown, holiday, and digital-life questions. Keep register conversational, not slangy.
| Idiom | Meaning | Example speaking line | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| cost an arm and a leg | be very expensive | Rent in the centre costs an arm and a leg now. | Part 1 / 3 |
| off the beaten track | away from tourist crowds | I prefer destinations that are off the beaten track. | Part 1 / 2 |
| get around | travel from place to place | It is easy to get around by metro in my city. | Part 1 |
| stuck in a rut | bored by the same routine | I felt stuck in a rut, so I booked a weekend trip. | Part 2 |
| plug and play | easy to start using with little setup | Some apps are almost plug and play, which helps older users. | Part 3 |
| information overload | too much information to process | News apps can cause information overload if you check them all day. | Part 1 / 3 |
| on the go | while busy / moving around | I listen to podcasts on the go when I commute. | Part 1 |
Idioms to avoid or use sparingly
Some phrases are overused in memorised answers, sound childish, or belong to the wrong register. Examiners hear them often and they rarely raise your band.
| Phrase | Why it is weak in IELTS Speaking | Safer alternative |
|---|---|---|
| every coin has two sides | Cliché; often starts a scripted Part 3 answer | It is a double-edged sword / There are clear pros and cons |
| as we all know | Filler that adds no content | State the fact directly |
| it is raining cats and dogs | Childish and overused in textbooks | It is pouring / There is a heavy downpour |
| at the end of the day (every answer) | Fine once; weak if repeated as a habit | Overall / In the long run / What matters most is… |
| kill two birds with one stone (forced) | Often shoehorned into unrelated answers | Only use when one action truly solves two needs |
| piece of cake (for hard topics) | Can sound dismissive or inaccurate | It was manageable / It was not as hard as I expected |
| slang or crude idioms | Wrong register for a formal interview | Stick to B2-C1 conversational English |
Practice routine
Link idiom practice to real Speaking tasks so the language stays flexible under time pressure. Combine short drills with full mock answers.
- Pick one category per day and say each example line aloud twice, then invent your own line.
- Record a Part 1 set on hobbies or hometown using at most one idiom.
- Do a Part 2 cue card and allow one idiom only if it fits a feeling, change, or challenge.
- Answer two Part 3 questions using opinion or problem idioms, then paraphrase without the idiom.
- Review with the speaking parts guide and the Band 7 collocations guide so idioms sit next to solid chunks.
- Speaking practice - Timed prompts and feedback loops for Parts 1-3
- Speaking Parts 1-3 - Structure, timing, and what each part rewards
- Speaking collocations Band 7 - Natural word pairs that support idioms
- Vocabulary and paraphrase - Idea banks so you do not rely on idioms alone
FAQ
Do I need idioms for Band 7 in Speaking?+
No. Band 7 Lexical Resource rewards flexible, precise vocabulary and paraphrase. Idioms help only when they are natural and accurate. Clear collocations often help more.
How many idioms should I use in the test?+
Zero is fine. One or two well-placed idioms across the whole interview is enough. Never force one into every answer.
Are idioms better for Part 1, 2, or 3?+
Everyday ones fit Part 1 and Part 2. More abstract phrases such as a double-edged sword or the tip of the iceberg fit Part 3 discussions better.
What if I forget the exact wording mid-answer?+
Drop the idiom and paraphrase in plain English. Fluency recovery scores better than a long silence while you search for a fixed phrase.
Should I memorise this whole list?+
No. Choose a small set you can pronounce and extend. Practise them inside full answers on /practice/speaking, then recycle them across related topics.