Professional Documents
Culture Documents
What Is On Their Mind. For Several Minutes They Sat Silently, Then Finally She Looked at Him and Said, "A Penny For Your Thoughts, Walter."
What Is On Their Mind. For Several Minutes They Sat Silently, Then Finally She Looked at Him and Said, "A Penny For Your Thoughts, Walter."
IELTS Speaking Actual tests September - December 2020 with suggested answers-Ebook
$18 $37
Written by professional IELTS teachers to help candidates on the big day
4.5 rating
Buy Now
5. bushed – tired.
==>I am totally bushed after staying up so late.
8. be sick to death of something/doing something – to
be angry and bored because something unpleasant has been happening for too long
==>I’m sick to death of doing nothing but work. Let’s go out tonight and have
fun.
9. (come) rain or shine – means something will happen regardless of any difficulties.
==>I will be on time for the class, rain or shine. Come rain or shine, she is
always smiling.
= We need to explore all avenues before doing something that is not very safe
to a great number of people in order to minimize unfavourable consequences
21. On the ball – active and aware of things
==>Our staff is really on the ball to get projects done on time.
Don’t count your chickens before the eggs have hatched
Meaning: Do not plan something as the event may not occur.
Example: Don’t count your chickens before the eggs have hatched as the deal may
not
happen.
It takes two to tango
Meaning: Two or more people could be involved in a situation.
Example: It takes two to tango, so there are more people involved in the problem
in the firm than you think.
Your guess is as good as mine
Meaning: A person does not know the answer
Example: Your guess is as good as mine as to where they both went last night.
See eye to eye
Meaning: To agree with someone else on a subject.
Example: We see eye to eye on how to progress the matter further.
A picture paints a thousand words
Meaning: To make a presentation to visually show what you want to do or achieve.
Example: The picture painted a thousand words of how he thought the firm
should develop.
Catch someone off guard
Meaning: To catch someone by surprise
Example: He was caught off guard when they asked him to be the new chairman.
Hear it on the grapevine
Meaning: To hear rumours about a person or an event which may or may not
have happened.
Example: She heard it on the grapevine that he had been promoted.
Get down to business
Meaning: To get the meeting started properly
Example: As every member of the team is now here, we can get down to business
and start the meeting.
Back to square one
Meaning: To go back to the beginning and start again.
Example: The project was not good enough. We need to go back to square one
and start again.
Fifty fifty
Meaning: To divide something equally ie to divide in half
Example: Divide the cakes fifty fifty
Go the extra mile
Meaning: To do more than is expected of you
Example: He went the extra mile to ensure everything was finished on time.
On the same page
Meaning: Two people are in agreement about a situation.
Example: We are on the same page as to how to take the situation forward now.
Don’t rock the boat
Meaning: Do not cause a problem or make an issue
Example: Don’t rock the boat about the costs of the project.
Don’t upset the apple cart
Meaning: Rather like don’t rock the boat, do not make a fuss.
Example Don’t upset the apple card by making a scene.
The sky’s the limit
Meaning: A person can achieve anything they want.
Example: The sky’s the limit, work hard and you will progress to the top of the firm.
The elephant in the room
Meaning: This relates to an obvious issue that is not being talked about
Example: Talk about the elephant in the room and deal with the major issue
that needs to be discussed now.
Take the bull by the horns
Meaning: Similar to the elephant in the room. Deal with the problem.
Example: Take the bull by the horns, you must sort out the major problems.
In the black
Meaning: The business is earning money and making a profit.
Example: Finally, the business is in the black as we have had a good year and made
more profits than we thought we would make.
In the red
Meaning: The business is not making any profit and so is losing money.
Example: The business is in the red as they expanded too quickly and
their overheads are too high.
Read between the lines
Meaning: To understand something that may not be entirely clear
Example: Read between the lines, work out what is not being said at the meeting and
sort out the problem.
Uphill battle
Meaning: There are many obstacles to sort out before we achieve what we want.
Example: There is an uphill battle to win the contract.
No time to lose
Meaning: Something must be finished very soon
Example: He has no time to lose as his project is due in first thing tomorrow morning.
Word and mouth:
Meaning: News which spreads very fast as people tell other people the same news.
Example: The news spread by word and mouth that the new hotel was very
successful.
Throw in the towel
Meaning: To give up, leave or quit
Example: He threw in the towel and left his job as he was unhappy.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder
Meaning: Being away for a while from someone or something makes you
miss/appreciate that person or situation.
Example: Absence made his heart grow fonder and he realised he missed her
terribly.
A watch pot never boils
Meaning: A situation or event can take far longer than expected. Don’t keep
watching for developments.
Example: A watch pot never boils when you are waiting for something to cook
more quickly.
Better late than never
Meaning: It is better to finish something no matter how long it takes to do.
Example: He finally finished the paper. Better late than never as it was due last
month.
Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.
Meaning: Finish what needs to be finished today rather than tomorrow.
Example: Don’t put off until tomorrow – finish the project today.
Good things come to those who wait
Meaning: Be patient. Good will come out of the situation.
Example: Good things come to those who wait. Your promotion will come soon.
Birds of a feather
Meaning: People who are like minded often spend more time together.
Example: Those two are birds of a feather. No wonder they meet so often.
There is no time like the present
Meaning: Do what you want to do now. Do not put off until tomorrow.
Example: There is no time like the present. You need to finish your project and you
have the time to finish it now.
If it ain’t broke don’t fix it
Meaning: If something is already or still working, leave it as it is as it is still working.
Example: If it ain’t broke don’t fix it, the car still works so do not buy a new one.
There is no such thing as a free lunch
Meaning: Everything has a hidden cost.
Example: There is no such thing as a free lunch. He wants you to invest in his
Company.
Practice makes perfect
Meaning: Keep practising and you will become better at it.
Example: You will become a great tennis player. Practice makes perfect.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do
Meaning: When you are doing something new, act like others do in that situation.
Example: Try eating English food when in England. When in Rome, do as the
Romans do.
Laughter is the spice of life, laugh on (also known as laughter is the best medicine)
Meaning: Laughing can help us get through a difficult time in our lives.
Example: Laughter is the spice of life, laugh on and we will help cheer you up.
Don’t judge a book by its cover
Meaning: Do not be quick to judge a person or a book – you might like the
person more than you think you will/you may enjoy the book more than you expected.
Example: Don’t judge a book by its cover. The book is excellent and I recommend
that you try reading it again.
Honesty is the best policy
Meaning: Telling the truth is always the better option.
Example: Honesty is the best policy. Tell your manager you made a mistake.
Examples
Put all your eggs in one basket- put all your money or effort into
one thing.
I haven’t made my mind up about that issue, I’ll have to sit on the
fence.
What are the common idioms that you can use in your IELTS Speaking?
Of course, you are expected to make use of idioms that are common but effective too. Pick only the
best.
Do not use idioms that may confuse. Even if they are trendy or sound fashionable.
For instance:
I couldn’t stop my friend. I had to bite my tongue. I didn’t say anything.
“Bite my tongue” is an idiom here and it means that you have stopped yourself from saying
something. You wanted to say but you have intentionally stopped yourself from saying that thing.
Similarly, you should not say, “He put all the eggs into one basket.” (which would mean putting all
the resources into one possibility). It may look a little weird.
Common Idioms For IELTS speaking
1 Piece of cake - A task that is very easy for you.
2 The last straw - The difficulty that ultimately makes the situation worse or unbearable.
3 Go down in flames - To fail in a surprisingly manner.
4 Run like the wind - To run very fast.
5 Through thick and thin - Experiencing good and bad times.
6 Time is money - You say time is money when you want to describe the importance of working
more efficiently.
7 Cutting corners - Trying to save money or time, by not performing duty or the given task.
8 Devil’s advocate - Offering an alternative viewpoint, taking the side of the counter-argument.
9 Feeling under the weather - When you feel under the weather, you do not feel well. Or you feel
sick.
10 Fit as a fiddle - If someone is fit as a fiddle, he/she is doing well or healthy.
11 Giving the benefit of the doubt - To believe a story that may not be true, to believe a story even if
there is no enough proof to support it.
12 A blessing in disguise - Something that is good for you. You thought it was bad but it has
benefited you a lot, made you happy.
13 Beat around the bush - Try to avoid sharing true feelings, taking more time to say something,
saying something that is not what you want to say, avoid sharing feelings because it is
uncomfortable.
14 Don’t judge a book by its cover - It is not good to judge just by considering the initial appearance.
15 Let someone off the hook - To let go someone, to not punish or hold someone responsible for
something.
16 No pain, no gain - If you work hard, you will succeed. If you do not work hard you will not get
good results.
17 Once in a blue moon - Something that rarely happens.
18 Clouds on the horizon - You say clouds on the horizon when you want to say that the trouble is
coming on the way.
19 Giving cold shoulder - To ignore someone.
20 A wild goose chase - Doing something that may seem impossible, meaningless or pointless.
21 Hitting the nail on the head - To do something as exactly as you want or told.
22 Going extra mile - Doing something that is more than required.
23 You are what you eat - You say you are what you eat to show the importance of food. If you eat
good food, you will be healthy. But if you eat bad food you will fall ill.
24 To be buzzing - To be excited or happy about something.
25 To be down in the dumps - To be sad.
Lots of people have great business ideas but do nothing about them.
Actions speak louder than words, just do it.
1. Put all your eggs in one basket– put all your money or effort
into one thing.
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. You should apply to lots of
different universities.
1. The in thing– Something fashionable.
Moving to a new city was difficult as first, but I soon found my feet.
I haven’t made my mind up about that issue, I’ll have to sit on the
fence.
Absence made his heart grow fonder and he realised he missed her
terribly.
A watch pot never boils when you are waiting for something to cook
more quickly.
He finally finished the paper. Better late than never as it was due
last month.
1. Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today–
Finish what needs to be finished today rather than tomorrow.
Good things come to those who wait. Your promotion will come
soon.
There is no time like the present. You need to finish your project and
you have the time to finish it now.
If it ain’t broke don’t fix it, the car still works so do not buy a new
one.
1. The sky’s the limit– A person can achieve anything they want.
The sky’s the limit, work hard and you will progress to the top of the
firm.
Talk about the elephant in the room and deal with the major issue
that needs to be discussed now.
Take the bull by the horns, you must sort out the major problems.
Read between the lines, work out what is not being said at the
meeting and sort out the problem.
41. Word and mouth– News which spreads very fast as people tell
other people the same news.
The news spread by word and mouth that the new hotel was very
successful
1.Fresh as a daisy
My sister has been travelling for almost 24 hours, and she’s still as fresh as a daisy.
2.Couch potato
My uncle is such a couch potato! He often spends his Saturdays watching American
football on TV.
3.Full of beans
My 6 year old nephew is full of beans! He has more energy than three adults.
Hey, Sue, I think your neighbour is a bad egg. He has these scary looking guys in
black leather hanging around his place all the time.
5.Down to earth
My aunt Karen is so down to earth. She can figure out any difficult situation, and offer
a good solution.
6.Party pooper
Listen, my friend, I’m so sorry to be a party pooper, but I have to study for my IELTS
speaking exam tomorrow.
7.Eager beaver
Well, my friend, the ball’s in your court. I’ll wait for your decision.
Give up.
I’ve spent too much time on this project to throw in the towel now.
Let’s get up early tomorrow to get a head start on our drive to Toronto.
11.Get a second wind
After having a coffee and a sandwich, he got his second wind, and finished painting
the kitchen.
I think I jumped the gun by buying my friends James and Susan a wedding gift. They
just called off their engagement.
This test question is really tough! I’ll give it my best shot, and I’ll get some marks for
doing my best.
Our department receptionist is really on the ball when it comes to fielding calls from
annoyed students.