Common Idioms to Boost Your IELTS Score – Topic: Deception

When preparing for the IELTS Speaking and Writing test, many students struggle to make their responses sound natural and fluent. One of the most effective ways to stand out is by using idiomatic expressions appropriately. Idioms not only enrich your vocabulary but also show examiners that you can use English creatively, just like a native speaker.

This blog focuses on idioms related to deception, expressions you can use when talking about dishonesty, secrets, lies, or situations where people are not completely truthful. Such idioms often appear in everyday conversations, and by mastering them, you will be able to give more vivid and engaging answers in the  IELTS Speaking test. We’ll cover the meanings, examples, and IELTS Speaking usage of these idioms, followed by short exercises to help you practice. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to use them in Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 of the Speaking test.

Useful Idioms on Deception

• Blow the whistle on (someone/something): Report dishonest or illegal activity.
  Ex: The employee blew the whistle on his company’s corruption.
• Cover your tracks: Hide or destroy evidence of what you’ve done.
  Ex: He covered his tracks by deleting all his emails.
• Be economical with the truth: Avoid telling the whole truth.
  Ex: The politician was economical with the truth about the budget.
• Give the game away: Accidentally reveal a secret.
  Ex: Her smile gave the game away about the surprise party.
• Go behind someone’s back: Do something secretly without permission.
  Ex: He went behind my back and told the manager.
• Go through the motions: Do something without effort or enthusiasm.
  Ex: She was just going through the motions at work.
• A hidden agenda: A secret aim behind one’s actions.
  Ex: The meeting had a hidden agenda of budget cuts.
• Keep something under your hat: Keep something secret.
  Ex: I’ll tell you the plan, but keep it under your hat.
• Lead someone up the garden path: Deceive someone by making them believe something untrue.
  Ex: He led me up the garden path with his false promises.
• Lie through your teeth: Tell obvious lies without shame.
  Ex: She lied through her teeth during the interview.
• On the fiddle (UK): Get money dishonestly.
  Ex: The accountant was caught on the fiddle.
• Pull someone’s leg: Tease or joke by telling an untrue story.
  Ex: Don’t worry, I’m just pulling your leg.
• Sweep something under the carpet (UK): Hide or ignore a problem.
  Ex: The company tried to sweep the issue under the carpet.
• A white lie: A harmless lie, often told to avoid hurting feelings.
  Ex: I told a white lie when I said I liked the dish.

How to Use These Idioms in IELTS Speaking?

Using idioms naturally in your IELTS Speaking test can help you show fluency and a wide vocabulary range. However, avoid overusing them and pick the right context. Check the following examples in IELTS Speaking Part 1, Part 2, and IELTS Speaking Part 3.  

• Part 1 (Everyday Life):
  Q: Do you ever lie to your friends?
  A: Well, sometimes I tell a white lie if I don’t want to hurt their feelings.

• Part 2 (Cue Card – Describe a time when someone lied to you):
  A: Once, my colleague really led me up the garden path. He promised to help with the project but didn’t do anything in the end.

• Part 3 (Discussion):
  Q: Do you think honesty is important in politics?
  A: Absolutely, but unfortunately, many politicians tend to be economical with the truth.

Tip: Use idioms only when they fit naturally into your response. Forced usage can sound awkward and lower your score.

Exercises

Exercise 1 – Fill in the Blanks

Choose the best answer.

1. He told his boss he was sick, but he was really just __________.
   a) going through the motions b) pulling her leg c) covering his tracks
2. The politician was clearly __________ when he denied receiving the money.
   a) lying through his teeth b) giving the game away c) blowing the whistle

Exercise 2 – Match Idioms with Situations

1. She said she loved the gift, even though she didn’t. → ___
2. The manager was secretly planning to cut jobs. → ___

A. a hidden agenda
B. a white lie

Exercise 3 – Correct the Idioms

1. Please keep it under your carpet. → __________________
2. He’s good at hiding evidence; he always covers his hat. → __________________

Exercise 4 – Complete the Sentences

1. The journalist __________ on the illegal business.
2. I almost __________ when I believed his silly story.

Exercise 5 – Categorize the Idioms

Put these idioms into the correct groups: blow the whistle on, a white lie, cover your tracks, lie through your teeth

• Telling the truth: 1 __________
• Lying: 1 __________
• Hiding the truth: 1 __________

Answer Key

Exercise 1: 1 b) pulling her leg 2 a) lying through his teeth
Exercise 2: 1 B. a white lie 2 A. a hidden agenda
Exercise 3: 1 keep it under your hat 2 covers his tracks
Exercise 4: 1 blew the whistle 2 fell for it when he was pulling my leg
Exercise 5: Telling the truth – blow the whistle on | Lying – lie through your teeth | Hiding the truth – cover your tracks | White lie – a white lie

Your Turn!

Have you ever told a white lie or caught someone lying through their teeth? Try using these idioms in your own sentences to practice for IELTS Speaking.

To summarize, =mastering idioms related to deception will not only expand your vocabulary but also make your IELTS Speaking responses more dynamic and expressive. Remember, examiners don’t expect you to use idioms in every sentence, but when you include them naturally and in the right context, it demonstrates fluency, accuracy, and confidence. To score higher, practice weaving idioms like “lie through your teeth”, “blow the whistle”, or “a white lie” into your answers whenever you talk about honesty, secrecy, or hidden intentions. The more comfortable you become with these expressions, the more authentic and impactful your speech will sound on test day.

If you’re aiming for a higher band score, make sure to practice idioms in context and check out the IELTS Exam Preparation Tips for Band Score of 8+ to further enhance your vocabulary and overall test performance.

Also Check: 

• 21+ Tips On How to Improve Your IELTS Writing Band Score
• IELTS Exam Preparation Tips for Band Score of 8+
• IELTS Writing Task 1 Connectors
• 10 Useful IELTS Speaking Tips to Impress the Examiner
• Useful Idioms for IELTS Speaking to Score Band 8.0+