Top 10 Best Idioms for IELTS Speaking You Can Use for Cue Cards

Tap to Read ➤ Learn the top 10 useful idioms to use in your IELTS speaking test. Improve your score by using these common English idioms correctly in your responses to cue card topics.

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 video. Kick off your IELTS speaking prep by learning idioms! They make your English sound more natural. Here are the top 10 idioms to use for cue cards.

Number 1 1. Let the cat out of the bag - reveal a secret. "I accidentally let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party."

Number 2 2. Costs an arm and a leg - very expensive. "Concert tickets cost an arm and a leg these days."

Number 3 3. A piece of cake - very easy. "The exam was a piece of cake for me."

Number 4 4. Break a leg - wish someone good luck. "Break a leg on your presentation today!"

Number 5 5. Hit the nail on the head - say something accurate. "You hit the nail on the head with that guess.""

Number 6 6. Hard pill to swallow - difficult truth to accept. "Losing my job was a hard pill to swallow."

Number 7 7. "Beating around the bush" which means avoiding the main topic. "Stop beating around the bush and just tell me what happened."

Number 8 8. "Barking up the wrong tree" means you're being mistaken or pursuing the wrong approach. "I was barking up the wrong tree by looking for my keys there."

Number 9 9. "Back to the drawing board" means you have to start over or rethink an approach. "It's back to the drawing board after that failed business idea."."

Number 10 10. Kill two birds with one stone - accomplish two things at once. "I killed two birds with one stone by going to the store and bank in one trip."

There you have it! The top 10 idioms to use in your IELTS speaking test. Practice using them daily as it’ll really help your score better.