Native speakers often use idioms in everyday conversations. When you use them correctly and naturally, it shows the examiner that you’re comfortable with real-world English.

For example: Instead of saying “I was very happy,” you could say “I was on cloud nine.”

Here are some useful idioms that are great for IELTS Speaking (Band 7+), along with their meanings and example sentences:

• • A blessing in disguise
    A thing or a situation that appears bad at first but ends up being good
    Losing that job was a blessing in disguise — I found a much better one later.
  • Hit the nail on the head
    To describe something exactly right
    My father is a very wise and intelligent man; if I ask him for an advice, he would always hit the nail on the head.
  • Cost an arm and a leg
    Very expensive
    I wanted to buy the new iphone, but my parents refused, because for them, it would cost and arm and a leg.
  • Bite the bullet
    To do something unpleasant but necessary
    I was fed-up studying so much for the exam, but I had to bite the bullet because I wanted a scholarship for my tertiary education.
  • Let the cat out of the bag
    To accidentally reveal a secret
    My sister is very bad at keeping secrets; she is usually the first one to let the cat out of the bag.
  • Break the ice
    To make people feel more comfortable in a social setting
    There was a pin drop silence in the conference room, so I had to crack a joke to break the ice. After that, everyone got comfortable.
  • Burn the midnight oil
    To stay up late working
    In order to crack the IELTS in the first attempt, I had to burn the midnight oil.
  • A piece of cake
    Something very easy
    The test was not at all difficult; it was just a piece of cake for me.
  • Under the weather
    Feeling sick
    I couldn’t attend the party because I was under the weather.
  • Once in a blue moon
    Very rarely
    I am not very fond of eating out. I dine at a restaurant only once in a blue moon.
  • Call it a day
    Stop working for the day
    I was so tired working since dawn that I had to call it a day before lunch.
  • The ball is in your court
    It’s your decision or responsibility now
    I tried to help him with the toughest questions for the exam, but now the ball is in his court.
  • On cloud nine
    Extremely happy/ deliriously happy
    After winning the first prize in the competition, she was on cloud nine.
  • Back to the drawing board
    Start over from the beginning
    After failing the test, my friend had to get back to the drawing board.
  • Actions speak louder than words
    What people do is more important than what they say
    My father has always emphasized on deeds; his actions speak louder than words.