Have A Sinking Feeling Idiom: Meaning, Origin, Usage & Exercises

Language has a unique way of capturing emotions through expressions like idioms. One such powerful yet common idiom in IELTS Speaking is ‘have a sinking feeling’. Unlike simple words such as ‘fear’ or ‘anxiety’, the idiom paints a mental picture of a person metaphorically ‘sinking’ inside, which makes the emotion far more relatable. Therefore, understanding this idiom not only enhances everyday communication but also strengthens writing, especially for IELTS learners aiming for higher band scores.

In this blog post, we will explore the meaning, origin, and usage of the idiom ‘have a sinking feeling’ and provide examples from the IELTS exam.

Have A Sinking Feeling Idiom: Meaning

To ‘have a sinking feeling’ means to experience a sudden sense of dread, disappointment, or fear that something negative is going to happen. In simpler terms, it means to have a strong inner feeling that something bad is about to occur.

The ‘sinking’ part metaphorically represents the emotional drop in one’s heart or stomach when anticipating bad news. Overall, the idiom conveys foreboding, apprehension, and anticipatory worry.

Origin of Have A Sinking Feeling Idiom

The idiom, have a sinking feeling, originates from the metaphorical use of the word sinking. In literature from the 18th and 19th centuries, writers often described emotions in physical terms — the heart sinking, the spirit sinking, or a sinking sensation in the body. The phrase gained popularity in English novels of the 1800s and is still used widely today.

One of the earliest records of this imagery can be found in Gothic novels, where characters frequently experienced “sinking feelings” when confronted with danger or uncertainty. Over time, the idiom was adopted into everyday language to describe common human fears and disappointments.

Have A Sinking Feeling Idiom Usage

Given below are some example sentences that show how the ‘have a sinking feeling’ idiom can be used appropriately for a higher IELTS band score. 

• I had a sinking feeling when the policeman stood at my front door.
• When Jane’s husband told her that he had to go to Germany for a week, she already had a sinking feeling about his trip.
• Willy has a sinking feeling when his wife asks him about this girl.
• As soon as she realized she had left her phone in the taxi, she had a sinking feeling she would never get it back.
• The manager had a sinking feeling when the client asked for last-minute changes right before the deadline.
• He had a sinking feeling during the exam when he saw a question from the chapter he had skipped.

Have A Sinking Feeling Idiom: Synonyms and Related Phrases

In the table below, you will find a few words and useful idioms for IELTS Speaking to score band 8.0+ related to the idiom ‘have a sinking feeling’. 

Have A Sinking Feeling Idiom: Detailed Usage in IELTS Contexts

The following examples will help you to understand the way in which you can naturally and organically utilize it in various contexts during the IELTS Speaking exam.

IELTS Speaking Part 2

• Cue Card Topic: Describe a time when you felt worried about something.
• Answer Excerpt: “I had a sinking feeling the moment my teacher announced a surprise test. Since I hadn’t revised the previous chapter, I immediately knew I would struggle. That anxious intuition turned out to be correct because I couldn’t answer half the questions.”

IELTS Speaking Part 3

• Question: Do you think people should always trust their intuition?
• Answer: “Not always. Sometimes intuition, such as having a sinking feeling, can help us avoid danger or prepare for disappointment. However, relying too much on intuition without facts may lead to wrong decisions.”

Have A Sinking Feeling Idiom: Practice Exercise

The exercises given below are designed to help you improve your understanding and use of the idiom 'have a sinking feeling', ensuring that you can use it correctly in a variety of situations.

1 What does ‘have a sinking feeling’ usually indicate?

A Excitement about a future event

B A strong sense of dread or fear

C Confidence about success

D Happiness after a surprise

2 In which situation is the idiom most appropriate?

A You suddenly remember you forgot your passport on the way to the airport.

B You receive a promotion letter. 

C You buy your favorite dessert at a café.

D You meet an old friend after years.

3 The idiom ‘have a sinking feeling’ conveys an emotion that is:

A Positive

B Neutral

C Negative

D Indifferent

4Which sentence uses the idiom correctly?

A I had a sinking feeling that my team would perform well in the match.

B They had a sinking feeling when they won the lottery.

C He had a sinking feeling while celebrating his success.

D She had a sinking feeling that her application might be rejected.

5 You are about to check your exam results online, but suddenly you have a sinking feeling. What does this most likely mean?

A You are excited about passing.

B You are optimistic about the outcome.

C You are worried that the result may not be good.

D You are confident about scoring high.

6 Which of the following sentences uses ‘have a sinking feeling’ incorrectly?

A He had a sinking feeling of excitement when his favorite team scored the winning goal.

B She had a sinking feeling that she had forgotten her passport at home.

C As soon as the plane shook violently, I had a sinking feeling something was wrong. 

D I had a sinking feeling when I realized my wallet was missing on the bus.

Have A Sinking Feeling Idiom: Answer Key for Practice Exercise

1 B

2 A

3 C

4 D

5 C

6 A

In conclusion, the idiom ‘have a sinking feeling’ captures one of the most universal human experiences, the anticipation of something going wrong. Mastering idioms like this can enhance both the fluency and lexical resource scores, provided they are used naturally and in the right context. So, next time you feel anxious about an uncertain outcome, you will know exactly how to express it idiomatically: ‘I had a sinking feeling’.

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