Bleeding Heart - Idiom of the Day for IELTS Speaking & Writing
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Get familiar with the idiom of the day ‘Bleeding Heart’ and learn its meaning and band 8+ strategies to use it naturally in the IELTS Speaking & Writing sections. Boost Lexical Resource score by showcasing critical tone or emotional viewpoints.
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Learning idioms like ‘Bleeding Heart’ enriches your understanding of the English language, especially for your Lexical Resource score. Using expressions adds variety and a natural flow to your language while attempting the IELTS Speaking & Writing, showcasing a higher level of fluency and vocabulary mastery to the examiners.
Also, there is a need to understand the meaning of the idiom thoroughly while learning how to use it in appropriate contexts. Along with this, practicing regularly would help to use the idiom in various contexts. With band 8+ techniques and focused practice, gaining confidence could become easier for you.
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What is the Meaning of the Idiom ‘Bleeding Heart’?
As you prepare yourself by learning new IELTS Vocabulary words, it is important for you to ensure that you understand the definition and its usage within the appropriate context. This will help you sound more native, which is important for scoring a higher band score of 8+. The table below shows the meaning, synonyms, collocations, and example sentences for the idiom, ‘bleeding heart’.
Topic |
Description |
Bleeding Heart |
Idiom |
Definition |
A soft-hearted person, who feels pity towards everyone. |
Synonyms |
Overly sympathetic, sentimental, soft-hearted, overly emotional. |
Collocation (With verb) |
Be a bleeding heart / Call someone a bleeding heart / Labeled as a bleeding heart |
Example |
“Bob is such a bleeding heart. No cause is too far out for him.”
“Many view the new team leader as bleeding hearts with unrealistic goals.” |
Grab the Vocabulary for IELTS (Essential words for popular topics in IELTS) and take a step towards your desired band score of 8+.
How to Use ‘Bleeding Heart’ in IELTS Speaking & Writing?
Mastering the use of the idiom ‘Bleeding Heart’ would give you a better command of English and help you in raising your IELTS Band Score to band 8+. Achieving this depth of understanding does not come from just learning the idioms. Knowing when and where to apply idioms is fundamental to using them appropriately. Below are some of the strategies which can guide you to use the idiom in the speaking and writing sections.
- To boost your band score, it should never only be centered around memorization of the definition of the idiom. Instead, focus on how the idioms can be used in sentences since every single one has a specific context in which it would work best.
- You risk sounding mechanical if you use an idiom too many times as you would sound repetitive which will lower the effectiveness of your responses. This will in turn impact your score, so it is best to aim for precision and balance.
- You can try making sentences as you attempt to write in the IELTS Writing section so that you become aware as to how you can use the idiom. It should support your ideas and strengthen your argument.
- Record yourself speaking while using the idiom so that you can listen back to the recording and note the difficulties you are facing. This would also help you to pinpoint the areas of improvement and note the number of times you are using the idioms.
- There must not be any abruption as you try to fit the idiom in sentences. This can affect the logical arrangement of ideas and the flow might be affected which would result in getting a lower band score in the parameter of coherence and cohesion.
- Make sentences using the idiom so that you are practising the different topics from the IELTS Grammar.
Check out the video to learn the top IELTS Speaking Idioms for Band 9.
Exercises for the Idiom ‘Bleeding Heart’
EXERCISE 1: Choose the suitable idiom to complete the sentence below.
1 He only voted for the tax increase because he’s ______________. He really believes all of that extra money is going to help the homeless.“
- head over heels in love
- a bleeding heart
- hit the nail right on the head
- her head in the clouds
2 “She won the competition because she ______________ when she clearly points out the wrong process followed by the competitor.”
- bit the bullet
- hit the nail right on the head
- a piece of cake
- under the weather
3 “Even after being confident, he couldn’t handle the pressure and ______________ before the deadline.”
- threw in the towel
- went the extra mile
- hit the books
- kept his chin up
4 “Ronnie asked her to join us for skydiving but she said that this sport is just ______________.”
- not her cup of tea
- walk in the park
- in hot water
- up in the air
5 “You must focus on your task rather than daydreaming the entire day. You always have ______________.”
- a hard nut to crack
- a chip on your shoulder
- your head in the clouds
- second thoughts
EXERCISE 2: Match each idiom to its correct meaning.
Idiom |
Meaning |
1. A bleeding heart |
A. To stop trying; to quit |
2. Bite the bullet |
B. To act despite fear or pain |
3. In hot water |
C. A person overly sympathetic |
4. Throw in the towel |
D. To be in trouble |
EXERCISE 3: Attempt the speaking cue card topic and try to use this idiom in your speech.
Describe a person you admire.
You should say:
- who the person is
- what he or she is like
- and why you admire him or her.
Answer to the Exercise for the Idiom ‘Bleeding Heart’
Great work! Did you attempt all the questions? Were you able to speak on the cue card? Let’s look at the answers to compare them with yours and check if you could find the right ones. Incorporate this idiom in different questions to ace the IELTS Exam.
EXERCISE 1
1. B |
2. B |
3. A |
4. A |
5. C |
EXERCISE 2
1. C |
3. D |
2. B |
4. A |
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With consistent practice, you will learn the idiom easily and incorporate the same in your answer naturally. Understanding the meaning along with its usage would make your answer stand out. Also, you will get the confidence to attempt any questions for the IELTS Speaking & Writing sections without worrying. So, continue the progress and take a step towards achieving your desired band scores.
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