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Idioms used in IELTS can help to increase your score in the test. However, there are
important things you should know about them.
Nhng t bi m di y cc bn ch nh. Idioms have a double-faced sword (con
dao hai li)
V d: Hes dressed up like a dogs dinner. Cu ny rt d conflict Nosebleeds (chy
mu mi y ^^)
Bi nu bn c qua, bn cn word-for-word thinking in Vietnamese th rt d hiu lm
Anh ta n mc nh con ch i n ti ^^ Nhng cu ny mang ngha Anh ta n mc bnh
bao c y! ^^
Ni dung di y mnh ly t ieltsbuddy.com v son theo mt danh mc cho cc bn
d hc
For example, we can say:
"Im over the moon that I got a band 7.5 in IELTS".
Obviously you cant take the words over the moon literally. It does not mean the person is
standing over the moon!
The phrase is used when someone wants to express that they are incredibly happy about
something that has happened.
This is one of the criteria for achieving a band 7 in IELTS speaking for lexical resource
(vocabulary):
Using idioms at the right time (ng lc) and in the right context (ng ch)is also quite
difficult to learn. Native speakers use them very naturally and in exactly the right context
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because they have obviously been brought up with the language and they dont have to think
about it.
Those that can use them well in the test have not usually studied a book and learned them but
have picked them up through experience, maybe from some time abroad or just from being
quite a good speaker of English.
However, that is not to say you should not study them, but it depends on your situation
(da vo tnh hung).
You need to work on improving your general vocabulary (for example try practicing the
academic word list and collocations) and improving your fluency and grammar.
570 Academic Words
http://www.mediafire.com/download/wyym6e901ad6859/Academic+Word+List.pdf
Oxfords collocation Dictionary
https://www.mediafire.com/folder/urey6ygbxp0hrr7,n410pnsm5zc8kts/shared
Definitions
Very expensive
You are taking your IELTS test next week?? Arent Doing or starting something too early
you jumping the gun. Youve only just started
studying.
He comes round to see me once in a blue moon.
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Definitions
I hate my job so much I cant bare going to work, Having two very bad choices.
but if I quit I dont think I can get another job. Im
really stuck / caught between a rock and a hard (note: stuck/caught can be omitted)
place.
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Come on, cut to the chase. We havent got all day! Leave out all the unnecessary details and
just get to the point
Are you putting all of your savings into that
Putting all of ones resources into one
company? Dont put all your eggs in one basket. possibility
Try not to worry about it. Every cloud has a silver Believing that every bad situation has a
lining.
positive side / eventually leads to
something good
It was difficult when I moved to another country
but I eventuallyfound my feet.
Definitions
I think youve hit the nail on the head. Thats the Say exactly the right thing
reason he didnt get the job.
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Died
Avoid a conflict
I told him what gift you have bought him for his
Tell someone something that you were
birthday. Sorry, I didnt mean to let the cat out of not supposed to
the bag.
Dont tell her what you really think of her if shes
helping you with your English! Dont bite the
hand that feeds you.
Everything she does is very over the top. She cant Excessive
just have a few drinks se has to get really drunk.
View these 10 idioms in use and practice them
Set 4
Common Idioms
Definitions
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Joking around
I can smell a rat. He said he has a PhD but he cant To sense that something is not right
even remember which university he studied at.
Shes the spitting image of her mother.
The ball's in your court now. What are you going Telling someone it's now their turn to
to do?
make a decision
Unfortunately I think hell be studying for
For a very long time
IELTS until the cows come home. His English is
very poor.
It was all tongue-in-cheek. He didnt really mean
what he said.
Definitions
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We've had some big disagreements over the years, but Things from the past that are not
its all water under the bridge now. We get on fine. important anymore
You are what you eat so its better to have a healthy If you eat bad food, youll be unhealthy,
diet.
if you eat good food, youll be healthy
You cant judge a book by its cover. I need to get to The belief that outside appearances do
know him before I decide what he is like.
not reveal what someone or something is
really like
We're really working against the clock now. We
must hurry.
Why are we bothering? We'reflogging a dead horse. Attempting to continue with something
Our online business is making no money, so we
that is finished / over
should move on and do something else.
I bent over backwards to help him. I hope he
appreciates it.
Good luck
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PRACTICE
a blessing in disguise
a drop in the ocean
a piece of cake
actions speak louder than words
an arm and a leg
chip on his shoulder
it's a small world
jumping the gun
once in a blue moon
over the moon
_______________________________________________
2. The flu I had a few weeks ago which prevented me from going on holiday with my friends
was
cost them a lot of money.
3. I was in a caf in Italy and amazingly I saw Paul from down the road in
there.
4. Jan is finally getting a chance to go on her trip of a life time, a holiday to Australia! She
was
6. The government keeps talking about reducing poverty but what do they ever do about it?
Nothing!
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7. I've got a promotion at work, but all John did was make a joke about it. He has a
real
9. The new Martin Scorsese film is out at the cinema. A film that comes out that I really enjoy and
want to see happens
10. He was
he has found out he can't get a grant.
?
. He'll never vote Labour. He's voted for the
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8. Jane really
yesterday. I only asked her to pick the kids
up from school, but she took them home, helped with their homework and put them to bed.
9. She's
. Her marriage isn't working so she's very
unhappy at home, but if she moves out and leaves him her family will blame her and won't talk to
her.
10. The job might seem confusing at first as there are a lot of different departments you need to
work with but you'll soon
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5. The police
when he said he wasn't involved in the crime. Someone
fitting his description had been seen in the area.
6. Don't worry if you can't do it yet. Keep trying.
7. The
arguments!
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_______________________________________________
2.
team.
4. Please, don't worry about what you said anymore. It's all
. I know you were just feeling upset at the time.
5. Stop trying to get back with your ex-girlfriend. You're
There is no love between you anymore.
6. I thought John was an idiot when I first saw him just because of the way he dressed.
But
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_______________________________________________
4. Please, don't worry about what you said anymore. It's all
. I know you were just feeling upset at the time.
5. Stop trying to get back with your ex-girlfriend. You're
There is no love between you anymore.
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6. I thought John was an idiot when I first saw him just because of the way he dressed.
But
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