At higher bands, the examiner listens for less common and idiomatic language used naturally. So many candidates memorise lists of idioms and push one into every answer. The result is the opposite of what they want: an idiom in the wrong place, or an outdated one, makes speech sound artificial.
15 idioms that still sound natural
| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| a piece of cake | very easy | The first part of the test was a piece of cake. |
| hit the books | start studying hard | I need to hit the books this weekend. |
| get the hang of | learn how to do something | It took me a month to get the hang of it. |
| once in a blue moon | very rarely | I eat fast food once in a blue moon. |
| under the weather | a little ill | I was a bit under the weather that day. |
| cost an arm and a leg | be very expensive | Flights in summer cost an arm and a leg. |
| the best of both worlds | the benefits of two options | Working from home gives me the best of both worlds. |
| on the same page | in agreement | My team wasn't on the same page at first. |
| a blessing in disguise | something bad that turns out well | Failing that test was a blessing in disguise. |
| take it with a pinch of salt | not fully believe it | I take online reviews with a pinch of salt. |
| call it a day | stop working for now | After six hours we decided to call it a day. |
| in the long run | eventually, over time | Cooking at home saves money in the long run. |
| have a lot on my plate | be very busy | I've got a lot on my plate this month. |
| go the extra mile | make an extra effort | Good teachers always go the extra mile. |
| keep an eye on | watch, monitor | I try to keep an eye on my screen time. |
Idioms to avoid
- It's raining cats and dogs: in every textbook, but rarely heard in real conversation.
- As cool as a cucumber, every cloud has a silver lining: dated, and they give away that you memorised them.
- Kick the bucket: a crude joke about death, completely wrong for an exam.
How to use one in an answer
Do you enjoy cooking?
I do, though I have to admit it took me a while to get the hang of it. At first even rice was a disaster, but now I can make a decent dinner without thinking, and it's much cheaper in the long run than ordering food.
Reading is not enough: speak
In IELTS Buddy an AI examiner talks to you as in the real test and gives an estimated band on all 4 criteria. 3 mock tests are free.
Rules
- One or two per answer at most. An idiom in every sentence sounds memorised.
- Fit the context. Use "a piece of cake" only for something that really is easy.
- Fit the grammar. "I got the hang of it", "I've got a lot on my plate": adapt the idiom to your sentence.
- If in doubt, leave it out. A natural collocation beats a wrong idiom.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get band 7 without idioms?
Yes. Band 7 rewards less common words and phrases, but they do not have to be idioms. Natural collocations meet the same requirement.
Which idioms should I avoid?
Outdated textbook ones such as "raining cats and dogs" and "as cool as a cucumber". And do not use an idiom whose meaning you are not completely sure of.
Reading is not enough: speak
In IELTS Buddy an AI examiner talks to you as in the real test and gives an estimated band on all 4 criteria. 3 mock tests are free.
