Check out other Idioms
Blue Sky Thinking Idiom: Meaning, Origin, Usage & Exercises
The sky, as we know, is an open expanse stretching endlessly. That limitless vision is the inspiration behind the idiom ‘blue sky thinking’. It refers to imaginative, creative ideas that are unconstrained by practicality or limitations. In today’s world of innovation, entrepreneurship, and education, this idiom is particularly powerful. This blog explores the meaning, origin, context, and usage of the expression ‘blue sky thinking’, one of the useful idioms for IELTS Speaking to score band 8.0+, providing exercises and examples to help reinforce the lessons learned. Blue Sky Thinking Idiom: Meaning The idiom ‘blue sky thinking’ means creative, original, and visionary...
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Bull in a China Shop Idiom: Meaning, Origin, Usage & Exercises
Imagine a large bull, wild and uncontrolled, entering a fragile china shop filled with porcelain dishes, cups, and delicate glass items. The destruction would be inevitable. This vivid mental image is the foundation of the idiom ‘bull in a china shop’, used to describe someone clumsy, reckless, or insensitive in delicate situations. In this blog post, we will explore the meaning, origin, and usage of the idiom ‘bull in a china shop’, one of the common idioms in IELTS Speaking, and take up exercises to cement your understanding. Bull in a China Shop Idiom: Meaning The idiom ‘bull in a china...
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Bosom Friend Idiom: Meaning, Origin, Usage & Exercises
Friendship has always been one of the most cherished aspects of human life. While many English idioms describe friends, few capture the depth of intimacy and trust like ‘bosom friend’. This expression highlights a rare connection; someone you confide in, trust wholeheartedly, and share life’s most personal experiences with. Mastering useful idioms for IELTS Speaking to score band 8.0+ like this one, can give your language a sophisticated edge in the IELTS exam. In this blog, we will explore the meaning, origin, and usage of the idiom ‘bosom friend’ and provide examples from IELTS. Bosom Friend Idiom: Meaning The idiom ‘bosom friend’...
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Safe and Sound Idiom: Meaning, Origin, Usage & Exercises
Some idioms endure because they capture something timeless about human experience. The idiom ‘safe and sound is one such phrase. Whether we talk about arriving home after a long trip, surviving a crisis, or completing a risky venture, this idiom offers a comforting sense of closure. In this blog, we will explore the meaning, origin, and usage of the idiom ‘safe and sound’, one of the useful idioms for IELTS Speaking to score band 8.0+, and provide examples from the IELTS exam. Safe and Sound Idiom: Meaning The meaning of the idiom ‘safe and sound’ is to be unharmed, unhurt, and...
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Stir Up A Hornet’s Nest Idiom: Meaning, Origin, Usage & Exercises
Imagine throwing a stone at a hornet’s nest intentionally, followed by the hornets attacking you. The idiom ‘stir up a hornet’s nest’ brings up quite a literal image into our minds, warning that some actions will provoke a fierce backlash. This blog explores the meaning, origin, and IELTS-specific usage of the 'stir up a hornet’s nest’, a common idiom in IELTS Speaking, along with exercises to help you understand it better. Stir Up A Hornet’s Nest Idiom: Meaning The idiom ‘stir up a hornet’s nest’ means to do or say something that provokes strong trouble, anger, controversy, or trouble from other...
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Jumping the Gun Idiom: Meaning, Origin, Usage & Exercises
In life, people often act before the right moment - submitting assignments too early, speaking without full knowledge, or making decisions without proper preparation. English captures this impulsive tendency through the vivid idiom ‘jumping the gun’. Rooted in the world of sports, this phrase, one of the useful idioms for IELTS Speaking to score band 8.0+, has expanded into everyday English, symbolizing impatience, eagerness, or premature action. Therefore, mastering such idioms enhances fluency, strengthens vocabulary, and demonstrates natural command of the language in the IELTS exam. This blog explores the meaning, origin, context, and usage of the expression ‘jumping the gun’,...
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Hold Your Horses Idiom: Meaning, Origin, Usage & Exercises
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where someone is rushing ahead, making a decision too quickly, or getting overly excited about something? It is a common human tendency to act impulsively. In such moments, ‘hold your horses’ is a timeless piece of advice we often turn to, an idiom from the common idioms list for IELTS Speaking that perfectly captures the need to slow down and exercise patience. This blog examines the meaning, history, context, and application of the idiom 'hold your horses,' accompanied by examples and exercises to reinforce the learning. Hold Your Horses Idiom: Meaning The idiom ‘hold...
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Be Back to Square One Idiom: Meaning, Origin, Usage & Exercises
Have you ever worked tirelessly on a project, only to have a single misstep or external factor completely derail your progress? The common English idiom, ‘be back to square one’, perfectly expressed that feeling of defeat, of having to wipe the slate clean and begin all over again. For anyone who has had to deal with a major obstacle, this phrase speaks to them, an admission that a new beginning has come about because it was needed. This blog will discuss the meaning, history, usage, synonyms, IELTS-specific applications of the idiom ‘be back to square one’, and exercises to help...
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Put Your Feet up Idiom: Meaning, Origin, Usage & Exercises
In today’s fast-paced and stressful world, relaxation is often overlooked. The English idiom ‘put your feet up’ beautifully captures the essence of rest, leisure, and recovery after hard work. In this blog post, we will explore the meaning, origin, and usage of the idiom ‘put your feet up, and provide examples for the IELTS exam. Put Your Feet Up Idiom: Meaning The idiom ‘put your feet up’ means to relax, rest, or take a break after exertion, usually by sitting or lying down in comfort. It often implies enjoying a moment of leisure after hard work. The expression is metaphorical. You...
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Running on Fumes Idiom: Meaning, Origin, Usage & Exercises
The idiom ‘running on fumes’ is an expression that vividly portrays continued effort despite exhaustion, whether physical, mental, or emotional. Just as a car that is almost out of fuel might struggle to move forward, a person who is ‘running on fumes’ is barely keeping themselves going. Mastering this idiom, one of the powerful yet common idioms in the IELTS Speaking test, will enrich your vocabulary and demonstrate fluency, especially during the speaking tasks. In this blog post, we will explore the meaning, origin, and usage of the idiom ‘running on fumes’ and provide examples from the IELTS exam. Running on...
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Put Body and Soul into Idiom: Meaning, Origin, Usage & Exercises
Idioms often add color and intensity to conversations. One such powerful and common idiom in IELTS Speaking is ‘put body and soul into’, which paints a vivid picture of complete dedication and wholehearted involvement. This expression signifies investing one’s entire energy, passion, and emotional strength into a task. This blog explores the meaning, origin, and IELTS-specific usage of the 'put body and soul into something' idiom, along with exercises to solidify your understanding. Put Body and Soul Into Idiom: Meaning The idiom ‘put body and soul into' means to devote all of one’s energy, passion, and determination into a task or activity....
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Reinvent the Wheel Idiom: Meaning, Origin, Usage & Exercises
The wheel, one of humanity’s greatest inventions, symbolizes efficiency and progress. To ‘reinvent’ it, therefore, suggests doing unnecessary work or repeating something that has already been done effectively. As a result, the idiom ‘reinvent the wheel’ expresses the futility of doing something that has already been done more vividly. This blog will unpack the meaning, historical roots, varied contexts of use, synonyms, IELTS-specific applications of the idiom ‘reinvent the wheel’, and exercises to help you use it naturally and appropriately and boost your IELTS vocabulary score. Reinvent the Wheel Idiom: Meaning The idiom ‘reinvent the wheel’ means: To waste time or effort...
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Castles in the Air Idiom: Meaning, Origin, Usage & Exercises
When people dream about things that are nearly impossible or have little chance of being achieved, they are said to be building ‘castles in the air’. The phrase remains popular in literature, speeches, and even academic discussions because it beautifully captures the concept of chasing illusions. In this blog post, we will explore the meaning, origin, and usage of the idiom ‘castles in the air’ and provide examples from the IELTS exam. Castles in the Air Idiom: Meaning The idiom ‘castles in the air’ means having unrealistic plans, ideas, or hopes that are unlikely to materialize. It reflects ambition without practicality...
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Make One's Hair Stand on End Idiom: Meaning, Origin, Usage & Exercises
Usually, when we watch a horror movie, especially one with jump scares, we become scared and can feel our hair stand on end or get goosebumps. The idiom ‘make one’s hair stand on end’ captures that feeling perfectly. It conjures a chilling mental image. This blog explores the meaning, origin, and IELTS-specific usage of the 'make one’s hair stand on end’, a common idiom in IELTS Speaking, along with exercises to help you understand it better. Make One's Hair Stand on End Idiom: Meaning The idiom ‘make one’s hair stand on end’ means ‘to feel extremely frightened, horrified, or shocked, often...
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Tough It Out Idiom: Meaning, Origin, Usage & Exercises
Life is rarely smooth sailing. From academic challenges to personal hardships, we often face situations that test our strength and patience. In English, one powerful idiom that captures the essence of enduring difficult situations with resilience is ‘tough it out’. So, upgrade your word and expression list with the latest IELTS Speaking vocabulary to boost your score and sound natural. In this blog post, we will explore the meaning, origin, and usage of the idiom ‘tough it out’ and provide examples from the IELTS exam. Tough It Out Idiom: Meaning The idiom ‘tough it out’ means to endure hardship, discomfort, or challenges...
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Upset the Applecart Idiom: Meaning, Origin, Usage & Exercises
Have you ever been in a situation where you were doing something the right way and were almost going to complete it, but suddenly it all went wrong? The idiom ‘upset the applecart’ or ‘topple your applecart’ defines such a situation perfectly. It paints a picture of unexpected disruption and can be used to describe unpredictable situations or challenges in IELTS Speaking. In this blog post, we will explore the meaning, origin, and usage of the idiom ‘upset the applecart’, and provide practice exercises to master it appropriately. Upset the Applecart Idiom: Meaning The idiom ‘upset the applecart’ means to spoil...
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Be on Thin Ice Idiom: Meaning, Origin, Usage & Exercises
Imagine walking on a thin layer of ice that can crack with any wrong move and how dangerous the situation can be. It is literally what the idiom ‘be on thin ice’ means or expresses. So, while describing a danger or a risky situation for IELTS, you can definitely use this idiom to add more depth, making your answers more precise and impactful. In this blog post, we will explore the meaning, origin, and usage of the idiom ‘be on thin ice’, one of the common idioms in IELTS Speaking, and take up exercises to cement your understanding. Be on Thin...
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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...
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Don’t Spare the Horses Idiom: Meaning, Origin, Usage & Exercises
In the high-speed world of urgent tasks and immediate results, there is an idiom that perfectly captures the demand for urgency and speed, ‘don’t spare the horses’. It may sound like something from an old western or a historical drama, but its figurative meaning is just as relevant in modern workplaces, emergency situations, and even IELTS Speaking tests. In this blog post, we will explore the meaning, origin, and usage of the idiom ‘don’t spare the horses’, and provide examples. Don’t Spare the Horses Idiom: Meaning The idiom ‘don’t spare the horses’ means to act or proceed with maximum speed or effort, without holding...
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Bottom of the Barrel Idiom: Meaning, Origin, Usage & Exercises
Imagine rushing to the flash sale you were waiting for the whole year or reaching out in the cookie jar for your favourite, only to find your most desired item sold or only crumbs left at the bottom. The idiom, bottom of the barrel, describes exactly that feeling. In this blog post, we will explore the meaning, origin, and usage of the idiom ‘bottom of the barrel’ and provide examples from the IELTS exam. Bottom of the Barrel Idiom: Meaning The idiom ‘bottom of the barrel’ refers to the worst or least desirable people or things in a group. In simpler...
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