🗣️ Everyday Idioms to Sound Natural in IELTS Speaking

Using idioms in the IELTS Speaking test can make you sound more fluent and confident — but only if they’re used correctly. This guide offers safe, natural, and everyday idioms that are commonly used in casual conversation and appropriate for IELTS Part 1, 2, and 3.

✅ Why Use Idioms in IELTS Speaking?

• ✔️ Shows fluency and natural expression
• ✔️ Boosts your Lexical Resource score
• ✔️ Helps you sound less robotic or memorized

📌 Important Rule

Only use idioms if you fully understand them and can use them naturally. Forced or incorrect use can lower your score.

🧠 10 Everyday Idioms You Can Safely Use

1. Once in a blue moon – very rarely
   “I go to the cinema once in a blue moon — I prefer watching movies at home.”
2. Piece of cake – very easy
   “That IELTS mock test was a piece of cake — I finished it early.”
3. Hit the books – start studying seriously
   “I’ve got my IELTS next week, so I need to hit the books tonight.”
4. In hot water – in trouble
   “He forgot his homework again and now he’s in hot water with the teacher.”
5. Under the weather – feeling sick
   “I wasn’t very talkative that day — I was feeling under the weather.”
6. Over the moon – extremely happy
   “I was over the moon when I got my results — I passed all sections.”
7. A tough nut to crack – difficult person or problem
   “Time management is a tough nut to crack for many students.”
8. Cost an arm and a leg – very expensive
   “That new iPhone cost an arm and a leg — I’ll wait for the price to drop.”
9. Break the ice – start a conversation
   “I told a funny story to break the ice during the interview.”
10. On the same page – agree with someone
    “I think we’re on the same page about working remotely — it’s more efficient.”

🧪 Practice Activity

Try answering the following questions using one idiom from above:

• What do you do when you feel stressed?
• Have you ever faced a difficult decision?
• Tell me about a time you were very happy.

🎯 Final Tips

• ✔️ Use no more than 1–2 idioms per answer to avoid sounding unnatural
• ✔️ Practice using them in mock tests or conversations
• ✔️ Replace simple phrases with idioms only when appropriate
• ✔️ Avoid slang or idioms you don’t fully understand

These idioms are common in everyday English and safe to use in IELTS if used naturally. Practice them in context, and you'll sound more fluent, confident, and ready for Band 7+ speaking.

See also next Topic-Based Collocations for IELTS – Education, Health, Environment

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