Idiomatic Vocabulary For Ielts Speaking PDF Free

Knowledge comes from learning.
Wisdom comes from living

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IDIOMS FOR IELTS SPEAKING
- Idioms used in IELTS can help to increase your score in the test. However, there are
important things you should know about them.
Những từ bôi đậm dưới đây các bạn chú ý nhé. Idioms have a double-faced sword (con
dao hai lưỡi)
Ví dụ: He’s dressed up like a dog’s dinner. Câu này rất dễ conflict  Nosebleeds (chảy
máu mũi đấy ^^)
Bởi nếu bạn đọc qua, bạn còn word-for-word thinking in Vietnamese thì rất dễ hiểu lầm
‘Anh ta ăn mặc như con chó đi ăn tối ^^’  Nhưng câu này mang nghĩa ‘Anh ta ăn mặc bảnh
bao cơ đấy! ^^ ’
Nội dung dưới đây mính lấy từ ieltsbuddy.com và soạn theo một danh mục cho các bạn
dễ học
For example, we can say:

"I’m over the moon that I got a band 7.5 in IELTS".
Obviously you can’t take the words ‘over the moon’ literally. It does not mean the person is
standing over the moon!
The phrase is used when someone wants to express that they are incredibly happy about
something that has happened.
- This is one of the criteria for achieving a band 7 in IELTS speaking for lexical resource
(vocabulary):
-
 Uses some less common and idiomatic vocabulary
This means that the examiner will be trained to spot if you use this type of vocabulary. They
are much less common in formal or academic writing, so they are not mentioned in the
writing band descriptors.
For example, if your general use of lexis throughout the test tends to be at a band 6 level, the
examiner will not give you a 7 just because you fit ‘over the moon’ in somewhere!
- Using idioms at the right time (đúng lúc) and in the right context (đúng chỗ)is also quite
difficult to learn. Native speakers use them very naturally and in exactly the right context
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DANANG 2015 1
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Knowledge comes from learning. Wisdom comes from living
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because they have obviously been brought up with the language and they don’t have to think
about it.
- Those that can use them well in the test have not usually studied a book and learned them but
have picked them up through experience, maybe from some time abroad or just from being
quite a good speaker of English.
However, that is not to say you should not study them, but it depends on your situation
(dựa vào tình huống).
You need to work on improving your general vocabulary (for example try practicing the
academic word list and collocations) and improving your fluency and grammar.
 570 Academic Words

http://www.mediafire.com/download/wyym6e901ad6859/Academic+Word+List.pdf
 Oxford’s collocation Dictionary

https://www.mediafire.com/folder/urey6ygbxp0hrr7,n410pnsm5zc8kts/shared
Common Idioms List

Set 1
Common Idioms Definitions
It cost me an arm and a leg to take my trip to Very expensive

Australia.
I was over the moon when he asked me to marry Extremely pleased or happy
him.
You are taking your IELTS test next week?? Aren’t Doing or starting something too early
you jumping the gun. You’ve only just started
studying.
He comes round to see me once in a blue moon. Happening very rarely

DANANG 2015 2
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He’s got a chip on his shoulder. Feeling inferior or having a grievance

about something
I reckon getting a band 7 in IELTS will be a piece Very easy

of cake! I’m very good at English.
The money sent by comic relief to help poverty in A very small part of something much
Africa is just a drop in the ocean. They need far bigger
more than this.
Getting a low score the first time I took IELTS Something positive that isn’t recognized
was a blessing in disguise. It forced me to study until later
extremely hard so I got a much better score the next
time.
We have to actually do something about global It’s better to actually do something

warming. Actions speak louder than words. rather than just talking about it
I bumped into Jenny in town the other day. It's a Meeting someone you would not have
small world. expected to
Idioms Practice - Test yourself on these first 10 phrases

Set 2
Oh well, I got 5.5 in IELTS again.Back to the When an attempt to do something fails
drawing board! and it's time to start all over again using
different methods
I hate my job so much I can’t bare going to work, Having two very bad choices.
but if I quit I don’t think I can get another job. I’m
really stuck / caught between a rock and a hard (note: stuck/caught can be omitted)
place.

DANANG 2015 3
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I have to bite my tongue so I don’t say what I Wanting to say something but stopping
really think of him! yourself.
Come on, cut to the chase. We haven’t got all day! Leave out all the unnecessary details and
just get to the point
Are you putting all of your savings into that Putting all of ones resources into one
company? Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. possibility
Try not to worry about it. Every cloud has a silver Believing that every bad situation has a
lining. positive side / eventually leads to
something good
It was difficult when I moved to another country To become comfortable in what you are
but I eventuallyfound my feet. doing
My parents are very fixed in their ways. They Not wanting to change from the normal
won’t start using the internet. ways of doing things
I think he got up on the wrong side of the bed To refer to someone who is having a bad
this morning. He is in a terrible mood. day
My mother will always go the extra mile to help Doing much more than is required when
people. doing something
Go to the Idiom practice exercise for these 10 words

Set 3
I think you’ve hit the nail on the head. That’s the Say exactly the right thing
reason he didn’t get the job.

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Today’s going so badly. If it’s not one thing, it’s When everything seems to be going
the other. wrong
I just said it in the heat of the moment. I was Saying or doing something suddenly
angry. I know I shouldn’t have. without thinking about it
Keep an eye on him. I think he may cheat in the Watch someone or something carefully
exam.
Have you heard? John down the road has kicked Died
the bucket.
I don’t want to argue with him again. It’s better Avoid a conflict
to let sleeping dogs lie.
I told him what gift you have bought him for his Tell someone something that you were
birthday. Sorry, I didn’t mean to let the cat out of not supposed to
the bag.
Don’t tell her what you really think of her if she’s Hurt or upset someone who is helping
helping you with your English! Don’t bite the you
hand that feeds you.
I’m not sure which party he is going to vote for. Not making a firm decision between
He’s sitting on the fence. different choices
Everything she does is very over the top. She can’t Excessive
just have a few drinks – se has to get really drunk.
View these 10 idioms in use and practice them

Set 4

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Let’s keep studying for IELTS.Practice makes Continuously doing something to

perfect. improve
Don’t get upset about what he said. He’s Joking around

just pulling your leg.
Sorry but I think I’ll take a rain checkon that. To decline an offer that you will take up
later
As a rule of thumb, I don’t study at weekends. I Principal that is strictly adhered / kept
spend the time with my family. to
I can smell a rat. He said he has a PhD but he can’t To sense that something is not right
even remember which university he studied at.
She’s the spitting image of her mother. To look exactly like someone else
The ball's in your court now. What are you going Telling someone it's now their turn to
to do? make a decision
Unfortunately I think he’ll be studying for For a very long time

IELTS until the cows come home. His English is
very poor.
It was all tongue-in-cheek. He didn’t really mean Something said in humour rather than
what he said. seriously
She’s feeling under the weathertoday so she won’t Unwell

be going to work.
Go to idioms exercises for Set 4 words

Set 5

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We've had some big disagreements over the years, but Things from the past that are not
it’s all water under the bridge now. We get on fine. important anymore
You are what you eat so it’s better to have a healthy If you eat bad food, you’ll be unhealthy,
diet. if you eat good food, you’ll be healthy
You can’t judge a book by its cover. I need to get to The belief that outside appearances do
know him before I decide what he is like. not reveal what someone or something is
really like
We're really working against the clock now. We Not having enough time to do something
must hurry.
Why are we bothering? We'reflogging a dead horse. Attempting to continue with something
Our online business is making no money, so we that is finished / over
should move on and do something else.
I bent over backwards to help him. I hope he Doing all you can to help someone
appreciates it.
So you have the IELTS test today??Break a leg. Good luck
Ok, I'm playing devil's advocatehere, but if To put forward a side in an argument
marijuana is legalized, isn't it more likely young that may not be your own in order to
people will smoke it? show the counter-argument / ensure all
sides are discussed
Hold your horses! We haven't won anything yet. Telling someone who is getting ahead of
themselves to wait / be patient
Annoying or irritating somebody

She is driving me up the wall. She won't stop talking.

DANANG 2015 7
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PRACTICE
 a blessing in disguise
 a drop in the ocean
 a piece of cake
 actions speak louder than words
 an arm and a leg
 chip on his shoulder
 it's a small world
 jumping the gun
 once in a blue moon
 over the moon
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Idioms Practice Exercise 1
1. Getting my car fixed is going to cost me as the engine has

completely blown, but I have no choice. I need it for work.
2. The flu I had a few weeks ago which prevented me from going on holiday with my friends
was . They had a terrible time. Everything went wrong and it
cost them a lot of money.
3. I was in a café in Italy and amazingly I saw Paul from down the road in
there.
4. Jan is finally getting a chance to go on her trip of a life time, a holiday to Australia! She
was when I spoke to her.
5. 3 pounds may seem like but if everyone contributed that

much we'd have thousands.
6. The government keeps talking about reducing poverty but what do they ever do about it?
Nothing! .

DANANG 2015 8
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7. I've got a promotion at work, but all John did was make a joke about it. He has a
real . I think he is just jealous.
8. The interview for that new job was . They asked me really
easy questions.
9. The new Martin Scorsese film is out at the cinema. A film that comes out that I really enjoy and
want to see happens , so I'll definitely go and see it.
10. He was when he gave up his job to start university. Now

he has found out he can't get a grant.
 back to the drawing board

 between a rock and a hard place
 bite your tongue
 cut to the chase
 every cloud has a silver lining
 find your feet
 fixed in his/her ways
 get up on the wrong side of the bed
 go the extra mile
 put all your eggs in one basket
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Idiom Practice Exercise 2
1. Can you and tell us if we are going to lose our jobs or

not?
2. Don't be so grumpy with me! Did you ?
3. He's very . He'll never vote Labour. He's voted for the
Conservative party his whole life.

DANANG 2015 9
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4. I know everything seems very bad at the moment but .

I'm sure something good will come out of it.
5. I know you shouldn't but I'm going to sell all my stocks

and shares and purchase an off-plan property in Spain. I'm sure it will be fine.
6. I was in that meeting. I really wanted to tell him that

his idea was no good but you can't say that to the boss.
7. It doesn't look like this strategy to improve the company's profits is working, so
it's !
8. Jane really yesterday. I only asked her to pick the kids

up from school, but she took them home, helped with their homework and put them to bed.
9. She's . Her marriage isn't working so she's very

unhappy at home, but if she moves out and leaves him her family will blame her and won't talk to
her.
10. The job might seem confusing at first as there are a lot of different departments you need to
work with but you'll soon
 practice makes perfect

 pulling your leg
 rule of thumb
 smell a rat
 take a rain check
 the ball's in your court
 the spitting image
 till the cows come home
 tongue-in-cheek
 under the weather
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Idioms Exercises - Practice 4
1. Wow – the painting is of you. Who drew it?
2. I'm a bit busy so I'll , but thanks for inviting me.
3. I've been a bit since last night. I think it may have been something
I ate.
4. Are you ? I don't believe you really did that.
5. The police when he said he wasn't involved in the crime. Someone

fitting his description had been seen in the area.
6. Don't worry if you can't do it yet. Keep trying. .
7. The in our house is not to talk about politics – it always ends in

arguments!
8. The TV programme was a look at American culture. It wasn't that

serious.
9. I've told him how angry I am, so now. We'll see what he does.
10. We'll be waiting for England to win the football World Cup
again.
 bend over backwards

 break a leg
 drive someone up the wall
 flogging a dead horse
 hold your horses
 playing devil's advocate
 water under the bridge
 working against the clock

DANANG 2015 11
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 you are what you eat

 you can't judge a book by its cover
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Idiom Practice Exercises - Practice 5
1. We'll be to get this finished. It's 4pm so we only have

an hour left.
2. mate! I'm sure you'll do well. You're easily the best

team.
3. I agree with you really. I'm just so you know what

those who disagree with you may say.
4. Please, don't worry about what you said anymore. It's all
. I know you were just feeling upset at the time.
5. Stop trying to get back with your ex-girlfriend. You're .

There is no love between you anymore.
6. I thought John was an idiot when I first saw him just because of the way he dressed.
But – he's a really good bloke.
7. My doctor always says when I go to see him about my

weight. It's very true as I have a poor diet.
8. The government is before the election to appear united.

They know the electorate needs to believe in them.
9. My younger brother really . He argues and disagrees with

everything I say.

DANANG 2015 12
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10. I think you should ! You aren't ready yet to quit and
start your own business. You need more experience.

bend over backwards
 break a leg
 drive someone up the wall
 flogging a dead horse
 hold your horses
 playing devil's advocate
 water under the bridge
 working against the clock
 you are what you eat
 you can't judge a book by its cover
_______________________________________________
Idiom Practice Exercises - Practice 5
1. We'll be to get this finished. It's 4pm so we only have

an hour left.
2. mate! I'm sure you'll do well. You're easily the best

team.
3. I agree with you really. I'm just so you know what

those who disagree with you may say.
4. Please, don't worry about what you said anymore. It's all
. I know you were just feeling upset at the time.
5. Stop trying to get back with your ex-girlfriend. You're .

There is no love between you anymore.

DANANG 2015 13
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6. I thought John was an idiot when I first saw him just because of the way he dressed.
But – he's a really good bloke.
7. My doctor always says when I go to see him about my

weight. It's very true as I have a poor diet.
8. The government is before the election to appear united.

They know the electorate needs to believe in them.
9. My younger brother really . He argues and disagrees with

everything I say.
10. I think you should ! You aren't ready yet to quit and
start your own business. You need more experience.

DANANG 2015 14

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Knowledge comes from learning.

Wisdom comes from living

For example, we can say:

NGUYỄN KHẮC THỨC

 570 Academic Words

 Oxford’s collocation Dictionary

Common Idioms List

Common Idioms Definitions

It cost me an arm and a leg to take my trip to Very expensive

He comes round to see me once in a blue moon. Happening very rarely

NGUYỄN KHẮC THỨC

He’s got a chip on his shoulder. Feeling inferior or having a grievance

I reckon getting a band 7 in IELTS will be a piece Very easy

We have to actually do something about global It’s better to actually do something

Idioms Practice - Test yourself on these first 10 phrases

Common Idioms Definitions

NGUYỄN KHẮC THỨC

Go to the Idiom practice exercise for these 10 words

Common Idioms Definitions

NGUYỄN KHẮC THỨC

View these 10 idioms in use and practice them

Common Idioms Definitions

NGUYỄN KHẮC THỨC

Let’s keep studying for IELTS.Practice makes Continuously doing something to

Don’t get upset about what he said. He’s Joking around

Unfortunately I think he’ll be studying for For a very long time

She’s feeling under the weathertoday so she won’t Unwell

Go to idioms exercises for Set 4 words

Common Idioms Definitions

NGUYỄN KHẮC THỨC

So you have the IELTS test today??Break a leg. Good luck

Annoying or irritating somebody

NGUYỄN KHẮC THỨC

Idioms Practice Exercise 1

1. Getting my car fixed is going to cost me as the engine has

5. 3 pounds may seem like but if everyone contributed that

NGUYỄN KHẮC THỨC

10. He was when he gave up his job to start university. Now

 back to the drawing board

Idiom Practice Exercise 2

1. Can you and tell us if we are going to lose our jobs or

2. Don't be so grumpy with me! Did you ?

NGUYỄN KHẮC THỨC

4. I know everything seems very bad at the moment but .

5. I know you shouldn't but I'm going to sell all my stocks

6. I was in that meeting. I really wanted to tell him that

8. Jane really yesterday. I only asked her to pick the kids

9. She's . Her marriage isn't working so she's very

 practice makes perfect

NGUYỄN KHẮC THỨC

Idioms Exercises - Practice 4

1. Wow – the painting is of you. Who drew it?

2. I'm a bit busy so I'll , but thanks for inviting me.

4. Are you ? I don't believe you really did that.

5. The police when he said he wasn't involved in the crime. Someone

6. Don't worry if you can't do it yet. Keep trying. .

7. The in our house is not to talk about politics – it always ends in

8. The TV programme was a look at American culture. It wasn't that

 bend over backwards

NGUYỄN KHẮC THỨC

 you are what you eat

Idiom Practice Exercises - Practice 5

1. We'll be to get this finished. It's 4pm so we only have