How to Memorize Idioms for IELTS Speaking Effectively

Is it hard to find the best idioms to suit your IELTS speaking test situations? Do you find it difficult to recollect the right synonyms while you attend the IELTS speaking test? You have got our backs. You are at the right place where your struggles will be addressed in no time!

Introduction

IELTS is the internationally recognized language test that assesses your ability to speak English with confidence and ease. Your proficiency in the English language will be tested on all four levels, which include speaking, reading, writing, and listening.

IELTS test scores reflect your grip over the English language. Memorizing English idioms to blend with the smooth flow of your communication is not an easy cup of tea. This is a regular part of daily language users. You have to include the idioms in your daily speech.

If you wish to obtain good scores for your IELTS speaking test, you need to include the idioms in your speaking test. This will not only enhance your speaking test scores but also help you to impress the examiner. Speak like a pro using idioms in your speech!

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The presence of idioms in your speech aids you in sounding like a native language user. Your use of idioms directly indicates your fluency and efficiency in handling the English language.

Your band score will skyrocket once you use idioms in your speech instead of speaking in plain language. Here are the best strategies, techniques, and suggestions to help you memorize idioms while using the English language.

Idioms might sometimes confuse you. Sometimes it will amuse you! Finding the right context to use the idioms may sound challenging, but it is the most rewarding task. Make your communication more meaningful, engaging, and interesting with the use of idioms in speech.

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Why Are Idioms Important for IELTS Speaking?

While attending the IELTS speaking test, idioms can impact your lexical resource score. Idioms in a speech suggest:

• Command over language
• The grip on the natural flow of language
• Enhances the fluency
• Expresses ideas effectively
• Sounds raw and simple.
• Shows language proficiency
• Sounds natural and effective.

Understanding the nature of the idioms will improve your language skills. You sound more like a native speaker when you incorporate idioms in your speech. You can express your ideas and thoughts more engagingly while you include idioms while you take the IELTS speaking test.

Your speech will automatically sound more interesting, idiomatic, and engaging. But if you use it incorrectly, it will affect the natural flow of the language.

The incorrect use of idioms will confuse the listeners. You have to know the limits of where and when to use idioms appropriately. Incorrect use of idioms is a terrible threat to your IELTS scores. Likewise, the overuse of idioms also destroys the context and meaning of the speech.

You have to be very careful while using idioms. Your use of idioms should be contextual and precise. Knowing the nature and meaning of the idioms is very essential. Here are some common idioms in English along with their meanings:

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Challenges in Memorizing Idioms

While you use idioms in your speech, many users often struggle to memorize and associate the meaning of the idioms with the idioms. Recalling idioms is not always easy. You have to practice it to gain perfection and clarity. Here is a list of a few challenges that you may face while handling idioms.

Know the meaning of the idioms figuratively

The meanings of the idioms are often indirect to the exact word meanings. It is difficult to grasp the real meaning of the idioms without proper practice.

Know what to prioritize

There are zillions of idioms in English. Know what, where, and when to prioritize and choose idioms. While attending the IELTS speaking test, you should know which idioms shall be used based on the context.

Say no to stress!

You may forget the right idioms to use in particular contexts if you are under stress and pressure. Calm yourself while attending the test.

Use idioms appropriately

You have to be very careful while handling idioms. Using idioms unnecessarily in a situation makes the speech more robotic.

Lack of Confidence

Make sure that you are confident enough while dealing with idioms. You may forget the real meaning of the idioms and misplace them in speech if you have less confidence while attending the test.

These are the common issues that you encounter while you use idioms in your speech. You can improve your test scores by understanding the real cause and working on it to gain confidence and knowledge to use idioms in your speech.

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Proven Strategies to Memorize Idioms Effectively

While attending the IELTS speaking test, you should learn the strategies and methodologies to effectively communicate using idioms. Here are the strategies that will help you to memorize the idioms to use contextually. Next time, when you take the IELTS speaking test, you can use the following methodologies to improve the test scores.

Contextual learning of idioms

Simply by hearting the idioms will not help you. If you wish to effectively use idioms in your speaking test, you need to know the context to use them appropriately.

For instance, instead of simply memorizing the idiom “hold your horses,” try to use it in a context where you talk about the need for slowing down and carefully revisiting your decisions.

Create stories with idioms

Connect idioms with stories to create new insights about them. So that you can recall the story thread and aptly use the idioms.

For instance:

Fiza found a ray of sunshine amidst her being under the weather; she decided to hit the ground running and complete the assigned tasks.

Carefully associating the idioms with real-life situations can help you a lot to memorize them well.

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Group idioms by themes

Categorizing idioms based on various themes will help you memorize idioms more effectively. Based on the IELTS topics, you can categorize the idioms and recall them based on the topics.

Grouping idioms on the basis of education, health, nature, animals, technology, etc., is common.

Idioms based on education

• Hit the books—to believe in actions and study hard seriously.
• Learn the ropes—start learning something new from the basics.
• Ace a test—excel in a test with good scores.
• Brainstorm—to think about it deeply and to generate new and innovative ideas.
• Pull an all-nighter—stay up all night, and work hard on something.

Idioms based on nature

• A drop in the ocean—an insignificant amount.
• A bolt from the blue—unexpected news.
• A ray of hope—to get a positive push while things go bad.
• A rolling stone gathers no moss—to move with the flow or changing situations without burdening oneself.
• A storm is brewing—something intense is going to happen.
• A sight for sore eyes—to see someone after a long time

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Idioms based on health

• Under the weather—fallen sick.
• Fit as a fiddle—in good health condition.
• An apple a day keeps the doctor away, maintains a healthy lifestyle, and keeps you away from diseases.
• As right as rain—to be physically fit
• On the mend—slowly recovering from illness.
• Hit the gym—to work out.

Use visual aids

Learn to use the visual aids to memorize idioms more effectively. Visually appealing images and flashcards are associated with the images to sharpen your memory.

• See the light—to know the truth.
• Paint a picture—to describe things vividly.
• Out of the picture—not present or involved
• See eye to eye—get a clear picture.
• Eye-opener: realization of the truth

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Practice with real-life scenarios

Associating idioms with real-life situations helps you in understanding the idioms in a better way. Make use of the mirror practice, mock interviews, and daily conversations to practice idioms. This will help you to get more clarity about the context and the idioms you are supposed to use.

• Hang in there—to stay strong.
• Break a leg—wishing good luck.
• Beat around the bush—come straight to the main points.
• A piece of cake—too easy.
• Kill two birds with one stone—done with two tasks at a time.

Use spaced repetitions

Spaced repetitions will help you to revisit the idioms and retain them in your memory. Revisit idioms to create a long-lasting impression in your memory. This is the most effective memory technique to understand the context and use it effectively.

Tips for Using Idioms in IELTS Speaking

While inculcating idioms in your speech while taking the IELTS speaking test, you need to know the basic strategies to emphasize your command of language.

• Use idioms sparingly

Your response may sound unnatural if you forcefully overload idioms while speaking. Never sounds artificial. The idioms should be used appropriately.

• Ensure correct usage

While using idioms, make sure that you are not using them inappropriately or offensively. You have to use it to suit the situation. Understand the context before deciding on which idioms to use.

• Practice pronunciation

Know the meaning and pronunciation of idioms and use them. Otherwise, you will confuse the examiner. Mispronunciation is a common mistake that test takers often commit. Learn the correct pronunciation of each idiom before using it in context.

• Record and Review

Listen to your response and find the errors in the speech. Correct yourself by practising in front of the mirror. Record and review your progress.

Once you review your progress, make sure that you make the necessary corrections in your responses.

• Get Feedback

Practice in front of your guide and mentors to get apt feedback for your improvements. Trust the process and try to overcome the challenges with confidence.

Getting feedback will improve your performance potential. Befriend the native speakers and initiate conversations with them to get yourself corrected of the mistakes. Understand the language barrier and work up on it by taking the essential guidance.

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Common Mistakes to Avoid

While using idioms, people may tend to commit common mistakes. Some of the common mistakes are being addressed here to give you proper guidance on the fundamental principles while using idioms in your IELTS speaking tests.

• Inappropriate use of idioms
• Using idioms without understanding the meaning
• Lack of knowledge about the nature of the idioms
• Overusing idioms
• Complicating sentences with idioms
• Least bothered about the apt pronunciation of idioms
• Forgetting to vary vocabulary to avoid repetition
• Using idioms in a confusing way
• Handling idioms without knowing the proper meaning
• Using more than 3 idioms in responses
• Repetition of the same idioms in all the responses
• Lack of understanding of the features of each idiom
• Mispronunciation of idioms

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Conclusion

Strategic and systematic learning is the key to tackling idioms. Idioms are part of your rich vocabulary. Understanding the essence of the idioms will help you to sound like a professional speaker.

The use of idioms can surprise the examiner and make you stand out. Constant practice is the key to obtaining better band scores. Based on the meaning and features of the idioms, you can use them to enrich your answers. Connecting it with real-life scenarios can make you memorize the idioms more effectively.

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Learn to use idioms in appropriate situations by making the listener feel the depth of your response. Learn with proper guidance to make your speaking test as easy as ABC!