Common Idioms List for IELTS Speaking

Prity Mallick

9 min read

Updated On Apr 23, 2025

Want to boost your IELTS Speaking score to band 8+? Explore the strategies and learn the Common Idioms List for IELTS Speaking and familiarise yourself with the words and its context in a sentence to achieve your desired band scores in the IELTS Exam.

Why is Using Common Idioms List for IELTS Speaking Important?
Strategies to Use Common Idioms List for IELTS Speaking to Achieve a Band 8+
List of Common Idioms List for IELTS Speaking - Set 1
List of Common Idioms List for IELTS Speaking - Set 2
List of Common Idioms List for IELTS Speaking - Set 3

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In the IELTS Speaking test, fluency is one of the main components where the candidate must also seem natural, confident, and expressive. Some of the best ways to show off one's vocabulary to the examiner are through the proper use of Common Idioms List for IELTS Speaking. This can boost your score to Band 8 or higher. Remember that the main goal is to sound like a natural English speaker where these idioms must be used in context appropriately.

By getting familiarized with all common idioms which have been divided up into 3 sets, you will be able to to maximize your IELTS Band Score. However, it is crucial to use a few strategies on how to incorporate these Common Idioms List for IELTS Speaking. By practising on a regular basis, you will be able to ace the exam with a higher band score of 8+.

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Why is Using Common Idioms List for IELTS Speaking Important?

To achieve Band 7 or higher in the IELTS Exam, not only fluency but also a natural way of speaking is required. Perhaps one of the best ways to sound more like a native and add coherence to your answers is the usage of common English idioms. The following are some of the important factors which you must consider as you prepare with the Common Idioms List for IELTS Speaking.

By using the common idioms as you speak, you will improve your good public speaking skills.
Anticipate contextual English word choices so that you can showcase your ability to use the words appropriately.
Handles speaking tasks with speech that is more agile and flexible.
Idioms are assessed for the criteria on Fluency and Lexical Resource which are being analyzed in the IELTS Speaking test.
Everyday expressions like such common idioms show the examiner that you can handle everyday English with ease.

Strategies to Use Common Idioms List for IELTS Speaking to Achieve a Band 8+

One can't just keep talking in order to get a Band 8 or higher in the IELTS Speaking test. To achieve a higher score, one has to be natural, verbally powerful, and have a good command the language. As you are learning the Common Idioms List for IELTS Speaking, you can utilize a few strategies to use these words in order to ace the test.

Try not to memorize these words or phrases and use these words naturally. Use idioms only if they fit the context in which you can use the word in a sentence which will amplify what you are trying to say.
Group idioms into different themes so that when a particular question type comes up in IELTS, you will eventually use the appropriate word.
You can learn the idioms on a regular basis and use them in personal examples. Use idiomatic phrases when you are recalling on an experience or expressing an opinion so that a personal voice can be felt. You can use them in the IELTS Speaking Part 2.
Remember that overuse of these idioms can affect your band scores. Overuse of these Common Idioms List for IELTS Speaking may sound unnatural or even distract attention from the core message being expressed.
These idioms would help with your fluency which will help you with the IELTS Pronunciation Guide where you would also need to speak them aloud. Use examples of answers according to the idioms and record yourself attempting questions. Listen back to that recording again which will improve your delivery.
By using idioms in the Speaking Part, you can showcase the emotions which will enhance your speaking skills.
Get familiar with the IELTS Grammar where you can use these idioms in different sentence structures.

Want to ace the IELTS Speaking exam with a band 8+? Check out IELTS Speaking Practice Test: Preparation Tips, Practice Test Topics, Reference Material

List of Common Idioms List for IELTS Speaking - Set 1

Let's check out the Common Idioms List for IELTS Speaking - Set 1 which has been given in the table below.

Eat The Humble Pie – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS Speaking.	In A Pickle – Idiom For IELTS Speaking
Play To The Gallery – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS Speaking	The Last Straw – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS Speaking
Bone Of Contention – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS Speaking	Cut Corners – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS Speaking
Knock One’s Socks Off – Idiom For IELTS Speaking	Get The Picture – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS Speaking
Go Round In Circles – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS Speaking.	Out Of The Blue – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS Speaking
Out Of Sorts – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS Speaking	Look Like A Million Dollars – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS Speaking.
Jump For Joy – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS Speaking	To See Eye To Eye – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS Speaking
Let Yourself Go – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS Speaking.	To Hit The Book – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS Speaking
Hang By A Thread – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS Speaking	The Gift Of The Gab – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS Speaking.
Keep One’s Feet On The Ground – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS Speaking	A Piece Of Cake – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS Speaking

List of Common Idioms List for IELTS Speaking - Set 2

The table below suggest the Common Idioms List for IELTS Speaking - Set 2 :

Idiom: Safe And Sound	Idiom: Get Your Head Around
Idiom: Under The Weather	Idiom: As Fit As A Fiddle
Idiom: Forty Winks	Idiom: Cut From The Same Cloth
Idiom: Spoon-Feed Someone	Idiom: Until The Cows Come Home
Idiom: Balancing Act	Idiom: Pie In The Sky
Idiom: Accidentally On Purpose	Idiom – Cut Class
Idiom – As Easy As ABC	Idiom – Put One’s Cards On The Table
Idiom – At All Costs	Idiom – Play Ace
Idiom - Bare Your Heart	Idiom – Down The Road
Idiom – Buckle Down	Idiom - Hard Nut To Crack
Idiom: Put Your Feet Up	Idiom: Put Body And Soul Into
Idiom: Running On Fumes	Idiom: Blow Somebody Away
Idiom: Get Out Of Hand	Idiom: Pound The Pavement
Idiom: Leave No Stone Unturned	Idiom: Put Yourself Together
Idiom: Add Insult To Injury	Idiom: Break The Ice
Idiom: Go The Extra Mile	Idiom: Play It By Ear

List of Common Idioms List for IELTS Speaking - Set 3

Here are some of the Common Idioms List for IELTS Speaking - Set 3 as given in the table below :

It Takes Two To Tango – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS	Stir Up A Hornet’s Nest – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS
Fall From Grace – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS	Snug As A Bug In A Rug – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS
Crack The Books – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS	Keep One’s Nose To The Grindstone – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS
Be The Spitting Image Of Someone – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS	Home Away From Home – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS
Fair-Weather Friend – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS	In The Prime Of Life – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS
Throw Money Down The Drain – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS	Cash-Flow Problem – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS
Take One’s Bow – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS	Pay Through The Nose – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS
Have Chemistry – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS	Hit And Run – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS
Bull In A China Shop – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS	Beauty Is In The Eye Of The Beholder – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS
Bark Is Worse Than One’s Bite – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS	Eyes In The Back Of One’s Head – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS
A Leopard Cannot Change His Spots – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS	Crocodile Tears – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS
Make A Mountain Out Of A Molehill – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS	Look A Gift Horse In The Mouth – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS
More Than Meets The Eyes – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS	Out On A Limb – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS
Head Over Heels In Love – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS	Head In The Clouds – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS
Bleeding Heart – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS	Ten Food Idioms That Are Right Under Your Nose To Help Score Band 8.0+
Hit The Nail Right On The Head – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS	One Horse Town – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS
Cool One’s Heels – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS	Any Port In A Storm – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS
Wear Heart On Sleeve – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS	So Far So Good – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS
Time After Time – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS	Breathe Your Last – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS
Through And Through – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS	Fight Like Cat And Dog – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS
Donkey Work – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS	Blue-Sky Thinking – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS
Down At Heel – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS	Dress To Kill – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS
Run In The Family – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS	Reinvent The Wheel – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS
Name In Lights – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS	Castles In The Air – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS
Blood, Sweat And Tears – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS	Made My Hair Stand On End – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS
Be Back To Square One – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS Speaking	Sit On The Fence – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS
The Name Of The Game – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS	A Loose Cannon – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS
Look Out For Number One – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS	Be Two Of A Kind – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS
Be Flying High – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS	Be All Things To All Men – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS
Win Hands Down – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS	Be Taken Aback – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS
Take The Wind Out Of Someone’s Sails – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS	Live Out Of A Suitcase – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS
Be No Spring Chicken – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS	Live In A Dream World – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS
Tough It Out – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS	Raise Your Game – Idiom Of The Day
Be On Thin Ice – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS	Upset The Applecart – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS
Run Out Of Patience – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS	Have A Sinking Feeling – Idiom Of The Day
Not Lose Sleep Over – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS	Go Out Like A Light – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS
Done To A Turn – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS	The Silent Majority – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS
Second-Class Citizen – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS	Public Enemy Number One – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS
A Self-Made Man – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS	Stuck In A Rut – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS Speaking
Be Your Bread And Butter – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS	Bear Fruit – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS
Have Egg On Your Face – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS	Down And Outs – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS
On A Knife Edge – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS	At A Push – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS
Cut Things Fine – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS	Go All Out – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS
Worth One’s Salt – Idiom Of The Day	Once In A Blue Moon

Using idioms will give an impression of fluency and confidence to your arguments concerning daily routines, or childhood memories or world issues, and that is precisely what the examiner is looking for. Ready for some practice? Pick five idioms from the list and incorporate them into your next Speaking mock test. Remember, learning to speak like a native is a journey, and every step counts.

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