Commonly used Idioms & Phrasal Verbs for Conversations

Learning idioms and phrasal verbs can greatly enhance your language proficiency and help you express yourself more fluently in the IELTS General Speaking test. Here are some idioms and phrasal verbs that are commonly used and can be helpful for the test:

Here are the idioms and phrasal verbs along with their meanings and example usages:

1. “A piece of cake”
   Meaning: Something very easy.
   Example: Passing the driving test was a piece of cake for him because he had been practicing for months.
2. “Hit the nail on the head”
   Meaning: To describe exactly what is causing a situation or problem.
   Example: My friend hit the nail on the head when he said that poor communication was the root cause of the issue.
3. “Cost an arm and a leg”
   Meaning: Something very expensive.
   Example: Buying a new smartphone these days can cost an arm and a leg, especially if you go for the latest model.
4. “Bite the bullet”
   Meaning: To bravely face a difficult situation.
   Example: Despite her fear of public speaking, she decided to bite the bullet and deliver the presentation to the large audience.
5. “Once in a blue moon”
   Meaning: Something that happens very rarely.
   Example: I only see my childhood friends once in a blue moon since we all live in different cities now.
6. “Break the ice”
   Meaning: To initiate conversation in a social situation.
   Example: Playing a game together helped break the ice at the company’s annual picnic.
7. “Under the weather”
   Meaning: Feeling unwell or sick.
   Example: I had to call in sick to work today because I’m feeling under the weather and need to rest.
8. “Keep an eye on”
   Meaning: To watch or monitor closely.
   Example: Can you keep an eye on my suitcase while I go buy some snacks at the airport?
9. “Jump on the bandwagon”
   Meaning: To join a popular trend or activity.
   Example: Many companies are jumping on the bandwagon and incorporating sustainability practices into their operations.
10. “Turn a blind eye”
    Meaning: To ignore or pretend not to notice something.
    Example: The teacher decided to turn a blind eye to the student’s cheating during the exam.

Phrasal Verbs:

1. “Come across”
   Meaning: To find or encounter something by chance.
   Example: While cleaning out the attic, I came across some old photographs from my grandparents’ wedding.
2. “Look forward to”
   Meaning: To anticipate with pleasure.
   Example: I’m looking forward to the weekend so I can relax and spend time with my family.
3. “Put off”
   Meaning: To postpone or delay something.
   Example: Don’t put off studying for the exam until the last minute; start preparing now.
4. “Bring up”
   Meaning: To raise a topic or issue for discussion.
   Example: During the meeting, I brought up the idea of implementing a recycling program in the office.
5. “Take up”
   Meaning: To start a new hobby or activity.
   Example: I decided to take up yoga to help reduce stress and improve my flexibility.
6. “Get along with”
   Meaning: To have a good relationship with someone.
   Example: Despite their differences, my siblings and I get along with each other quite well.
7. “Run out of”
   Meaning: To have no more of something left.
   Example: We’ve run out of milk, so I need to go to the grocery store to buy some more.
8. “Give up”
   Meaning: To stop doing something or surrender.
   Example: Don’t give up on your dreams, even if it takes time and effort to achieve them.
9. “Put up with”
   Meaning: To tolerate or endure something unpleasant.
   Example: I can’t put up with the noise from the construction site next door any longer.
10. “Go over”
    Meaning: To review or examine something carefully.
    Example: Let’s go over the details of the project one more time before we present it to the client.

By incorporating these idioms and phrasal verbs into your speaking responses, you can demonstrate a higher level of language proficiency and make your speech more engaging and natural. However, it’s important to use them appropriately and in context to avoid confusion. Practice using them in sentences and conversations to become more comfortable with their usage.