Think about how you might use idioms to make your speaking or essay more compelling. While you might may have learned what an idiom is it is still imperative to be cautious with how it is used. Nearly every idiom can nevertheless be harmful for your IELTS band score if not selected well and effectively used.

In picking an idiom, it is essential to accurately know its meaning. Even more important is to, selectthe ones that are suitable for the given context. In the Academic Writing task, it would be unwise to use informal idioms such as those in the class of “daily-life idioms”. A different aspect to consider is the theme or topic question you are answering. What idea would you like to emphasize or highlight? It is only when you can inject an idiom adequately into a particular part of your speech or perhaps an essay that idioms should be utilized. 

How you use these well-chosen idioms is another significant factor. The solution goes back to a test of simpleness and genuineness. Use an idiom to expand upon an idea as opposed to further complicating it, or worse, making it more vague. Also, be natural, and do not use a range of idioms as if the task is to showcase how many idioms you know.  Remember, a natural conversation isn’t scripted.

Along with these instructions on appropriately using idioms, here are a selection of idioms which you can use in a number of topics under the IELTS Speaking and IELTS Writing tasks. Note that they all fall under the same category which is of “ambition and determination”. They can be used to respond to the personal questions in IELTS Speaking part 1, the two-minute talk in IELTS Speaking part 2, and the discussion in IELTS Speaking part 3. Then finally, you can include them in writing an opinion essay ( IELTS Writing task 2) as well. So, try using idioms as you talk about ambition and your dreams: At all costs; Beyond your wildest dreams; Explore all avenues; Go the extra mile