Easy IELTS Learning

A list of idioms to help your IELTS Speaking Exam

📌 Fresh as a daisy
Someone who is lively and attractive, in a clean, fresh way.
My sister has been travelling for almost 24 hours, and she’s still as fresh as a daisy.

📌 Couch potato
Spending too much time on the internet or watching TV.
My uncle is such a couch potato! He often spends his Saturdays watching American football on TV.

📌Full of beans
A person who is lively, active and healthy.
My 6 year old nephew is full of beans! He has more energy than three adults.

📌 A bad egg
Someone who is untrustworthy.
Hey, Sue, I think your neighbour is a bad egg. He has these scary looking guys in black leather hanging around his place all the time.

📌 Down to earth
Someone who is practical and realistic.
My aunt Karen is so down to earth. She can figure out any difficult situation, and offer a good solution.

📌 Party pooper
A person who is gloomy, and having no fun at a social gathering.
Listen, my friend, I’m so sorry to be a party pooper, but I have to study for my IELTS speaking exam tomorrow.

📌 Eager beaver
A person who is hardworking and enthusiastic.
My colleague drives me crazy! She is such an eager beaver that she always volunteers for overtime.

📌 Ball in your court
It’s your decision or responsibility to do something now.
Well, my friend, the ball’s in your court. I’ll wait for your decision.

📌 Throw in the towel
Give up.
I’ve spent too much time on this project to throw in the towel now.

📌 Get a head start
Start before all others.
Let’s get up early tomorrow to get a head start on our drive to Toronto.

📌 Get a second wind
Have a burst of energy after tiring.
After having a coffee and a sandwich, he got his second wind, and finished painting the kitchen.

📌 Jump the gun
Start too early.
I think I jumped the gun by buying my friends James and Susan a wedding gift. They just called off their engagement.

📌 Give it my best shot
Try your hardest.
This test question is really tough! I’ll give it my best shot, and I’ll get some marks for doing my best.

📌 On the ball
Ready and able.
Our department receptionist is really on the ball when it comes to fielding calls from annoyed students.

Vocabulary list