It Takes Two to Tango - Idiom of the Day for IELTS Speaking & Writing

The idiom, ‘It Takes Two to Tango’, can add variety to your vocabulary usage for both the IELTS Speaking & Writing sections. In order to use such idiomatic expressions naturally and appropriately, you need to know how to use them in context. Incorporating such idioms can provide a personal touch to your answer, which will help you express opinions in a flexible, nuanced way.

To ace the IELTS Exam, it is vital to learn the idiom by using a few tricks in place. In this way, you will not only learn the meaning but also the collocations, synonyms, and how to create sentences since idioms have a fixed structure. Diligent practice can level up your preparation to achieve your desired band score.

What is the Meaning of the Idiom ‘It Takes Two to Tango’?

In the IELTS Speaking and Writing sections, you will be assessed based on your ability to express complex ideas in a natural way. To use this IELTS Vocabulary effectively, you need to learn what it means and how to use it in sentences. With this idiom, you can add depth, precision, and fluency to your answers. 

The table highlights the essential information related to the idiom ‘It Takes Two To Tango’ to get familiar with the meaning, common collocations, related synonyms, and usage in context.

Strategies to Incorporate ‘It Takes Two to Tango’ in IELTS Speaking & Writing

Before you start using the idiom ‘It Takes Two to Tango’ in your sentences, you need to also understand how to utilize it. With this, you will be able to connect your ideas smoothly while aiming to achieve a higher IELTS Band Score. Get familiar with the strategies so that your response can be fluent, coherent, and also show variety. Dive into these tricks so that you know how to incorporate the idiom ‘It Takes Two To Tango’ into your preparation. 

• Even though you learn a new idiom, try not to overuse it in your answers. It would make your answer sound very redundant.
• Instead of simply memorizing the idioms, the best way to remember them is to practice them actively while going through various IELTS sample questions. This activity would help enhance your ability to grasp the meaning and use it based on the context.
• For the IELTS Writing section, you need to first observe the tone in which you are providing your answers. This is because the choice of idioms plays a huge role in making your answer formal or casual.
• Categorize the idioms learnt into specific topics so that you would be familiar with the ones based on their topic. 
• Maintain a notebook with idioms and vocabulary terms along with their meanings, example sentences, and relevant contexts in which each idiom is most commonly used. 
• Make sure to record your speaking responses as you dive into the mock IELTS Speaking tests. Replay it and evaluate your pronunciation, pacing, and the extent to which the idioms can seamlessly blend into your expressions.
• As you dive into different sample answers, try to identify the idioms used and also critically analyze the context. This will help you understand how naturally idioms flow in your IELTS performance.
• Create different sentence structures with the idiom so that your band scores for IELTS Grammar would be enhanced.

Check out the video to learn the top IELTS Speaking Idioms for Band 9.

Exercises for the Idiom ‘It Takes Two To Tango’

1 The manager warned us that if we hurried with the report, there would be mistakes; however, we tried to __________.

1. beat around the bush

2. burn the midnight oil

3. cut corners

4. pull their leg

2 After months of struggling with the business, they finally decided to __________ and close the shop.

1. throw in the towel

2. rub everyone the wrong way

3. let the cat out of the bag

4. cost an arm and a leg

3 They’re both responsible for the delay; not just the vendor. Remember, __________.

1. it takes two to tango

2. don’t cry over spilled milk

3. barking up the wrong tree

4. let the cat out of the bag

4 She’s feeling a bit __________ today, so she stayed home from work.

1. under the weather

2. over the moon

3. up in the air

4. in hot water

Conflict in the workplace is almost never a situation created by one person alone because it takes two to tango. Misunderstanding, ego clashes, and bad teamwork sometimes occur. There are times when, rather than working through the issue, some workers tend to beat around the bush, which unfortunately worsens the misunderstanding. Others try to pull strings and get ahead, or they attempt to blame it on others. These come back to bite you with long-term losses, as you lose respect and credibility among colleagues in the end.

Describe a time when you had a disagreement with someone.

You should say:

• who the person was
• what the disagreement was about
• how you resolved it
• explain what you learned from the experience.

Answer to the Exercise for the Idiom ‘It Takes Two To Tango’

Did you attempt the exercises? Now, let’s go through the answers and compare them with yours to see whether you managed to get the meaning correctly. Remember to take note of all the errors you make and work on them dearly.

EXERCISE 1

EXERCISE 2

As you aim to get a band 8+ in the IELTS Speaking & Writing sections, you will be assessed based on your accuracy, fluency, and naturalness in your responses. It is important for you to understand the nuances of English expressions. Therefore, keep learning new idioms such as ‘It Takes Two To Tango’ while using them effectively, appropriately, and strategically. Remember that every idiom takes you closer to your goal of achieving a band 8+.

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Also Check: 

• Five Ways to Improve Your Vocabulary
• 1200 Common Words in IELTS Listening
• IELTS Vocabulary Words List for Band 8 or 9
• How to Build Vocabulary for the IELTS Exam: Practical Tips
• IELTS Exam Preparation Tips for Band Score of 8+