Go Round in Circles – Idiom Meaning, Examples & Usage for IELTS

Understanding idioms like "go round in circles" can significantly improve your  ELTS Speaking and Writing scores. These expressions help you sound more fluent and natural, showing your grasp of native-level English. In this blog, we’ll dive deep into this common idiom, its usage, examples, and practice exercises to help you use it effectively in your IELTS responses.

What Does “Go Round in Circles” Mean?

The idiom "go round in circles" means to make no progress in a discussion, task, or argument—even though you keep talking or working on it. This phrase is often used when a conversation or a project seems repetitive and doesn’t lead to a productive outcome. It’s useful in IELTS Speaking when you want to describe situations where no solution or progress is made.

Example Sentences Using “Go Round in Circles”

Here are some common examples of how the idiom is used in everyday situations:

• “The discussion is going round in circles. We need to find another way to deal with this problem.”
  (Meaning: The conversation isn't moving forward or leading to a resolution.)
• “If you want to gain a high score for this assignment, you need a clear plan. Don’t make your project go round in circles.”
  (Meaning: Without a structured plan, the project will be unproductive.)
• “No matter how much I try, our business still goes round in circles.”
  (Meaning: The business efforts are ineffective and show no progress.)
• “They argued for hours, but the conversation just went round in circles.”
  (Meaning: Despite the discussion, no clear solution was reached.)

When to Use This Idiom in IELTS Speaking?

You can use “go round in circles” in various contexts, especially when discussing problems, teamwork, or challenges. Here are a few example responses:

IELTS Speaking Part 2 – Cue Card Example:

Describe a time you faced a difficult challenge at work or school.
“Last year, our group project went round in circles for a week because no one could agree on the topic. Finally, I took the lead and created a draft to move things forward.”

IELTS Speaking Part 3 – Discussion Question:

Do you think group discussions are always effective?
“Not always. Sometimes, they go round in circles when people don't listen to each other or when there’s no one to guide the conversation.”

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