Have Chemistry  – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS

Speaking.
Definition: 

 Bark Is Worse Than One’s Bite – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS
 Bull In A China Shop – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS
 Beauty Is In The Eye Of The Beholder – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS
 Eyes In The Back Of One’s Head – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS
 A Leopard Cannot Change His Spots – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS
to feel a strong attraction, to get along very well from the start; usually refers to an
inner feeling people have about someone they’ve just meet

Example:

“We had strong chemistry right away.”

“We dated a few times, but there was no chemistry”

Exercise: 

1. Choose the suitable idiom to complete the sentence below.

“At the first time I met her, I knew that we _________________ “
A. took a bow
B. throwing money down the drain
C. hit and run
D. had chemistry
2. Describe your best friend. Try to use this idiom in your speech. You should say:
– Who he or she is
– When you met him or her at the first time
– What he or she looks like
And explain why he or she became your best friend
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Word Set 1
Phrasal Verb Meaning

hang out spend time relaxing (informal)

Meet someone after a period of time and find out

catch up with
what they have been doing

cut down/back on Reduce

give (something) up Quit / stop doing it

Stop eating something (permanently or for a long

cut out
time)

find out Discover

get along/on Like each other

fall out Argue and be on bad terms with someone

clean up Tidy / Clean

come across Find something unexpectedly

 
IELTS - English Phrasal Verbs in Use
What do you normally do at the weekends?

I usually just hang out with my friends. We’ll go to the cinema or something.

Unfortunately I don’t get the chance to catch up with them often as we are all so
busy with work.

Do you have a healthy lifestyle?

I don’t think I really do.  Something I definitely need to do is cut down on the
amount I smoke, or even give it up completely. I would also like to cut out red
meat from my diet. I’ve read that both of those are unhealthy. I found out recently
that my father has cancer, and he smoked a lot when he was younger.

Do you like the place where you live?

Yes, I live with some college friends. There are several of us in the house so it is
crowded, but we get along well so we have not had any serious problems. I fell
out with one guy who lived there because he played his music too loud, but he has
moved out now.

Do you like to collect things?

Not anymore, but the other day I was cleaning up my room when I came
across an old album of football stickers. I used to collect them when I was younger.

Word Set 2
Phrasal Verb Meaning

hand (something) in Submit

get away with Do something without being noticed or

(something) punished

keep up with Continue at the same rate

end up To become eventually; turn out to be

fall behind To fail to keep up a pace; lag behind.

drop out Quit a class, school, university etc

Think about something that happened in the

look back on
past

put forward Suggest or state the case for something

 catch up with Reach the same level

pull out of To stop being a part of something

Phrasal Verb Exercises - Examples in Context

Were you a good student when you were at school?

I’m afraid I wasn’t if I’m honest. Often I didn’t hand in my homework, and I always
felt I could get away with it because my teacher wasn’t strict. But because of this I
couldn’t keep up with the course work and I ended up falling behind.  Eventually
I had to drop out of the school.

So no, I wasn’t really a good student.  When I look back on my childhood, I wish
I’d done things differently really as it meant I had to work harder to achieve things
later on in life.

Do you think the growth in multinational corporations is a positive

development?

I’m not sure it is such a good thing. Many people put forward arguments in favour
it, claiming it has helped developing countries by creating jobs for local people as
many of these companies have moved their manufacturing abroad. They then claim
that the economic development in these countries will catch up with developed
countries.

However, there is no real evidence that this is the case as most the profit flows back
to the companies, not the people, and as soon as it becomes cheaper to
manufacture in a different country, the companies will pull out of the country they
are in and move to the more profitable one. So I don’t think there is any real long-
term benefit.

Word Set 3
Phrasal Verb Get Meaning

get somethingacross/over Make understandable or communicate

get around To have mobility

get away To go on holiday / vacation

get back at someone To get revenge

 get back into Become interested in something again

To have just enough of something such as

get by
money or knowledge

Start doing something seriously or with a lot

get down to
of effort

Recover from something, like an illness or a

get over something
problem

get round tosomething To find time to do something

get through To survive something

get together Social meeting

get up Get out of bed

 
Phrasal Verb Activities
Here you'll find more phrasal verb activities for words that you can potentially use in
your speaking for IELTS.

Firstly, take a look at the sentences below - the phrasal verbs are highlighted.

Do you know what they all mean?

1. My friend was so sick after the accident I thought she would not survive, but
she pulled through.

2. I’m usually worn out by the end of the week because I’m studying for IELTS
and working as well.

3. My wife and I split up after I moved abroad because we were so far apart. It
didn't work out.

4. Greece is considering pulling out of the Euro in order to avoid collapse.

5. I’m not sure what I will end up doing with my life. I can’t decide on a career
path.

6. I’m going to carry on studying IELTS till I get the score I need – I’m not giving
up!

7. I need to work out whether I can afford to study abroad.

 8. I’m disagreeing with my partner over the business but I’m sure
we’ll sort it out.

9. Personally, I think we should do away with school uniforms. Students should

wear what they like.

10. The effects of the drug still haven’t worn off – I feel very drowsy.
 

Now you can test yourself in the phrasal verb quiz below.

______________________________________________________

 
Phrasal Verb Activities - Quiz Four
 

Drag and drop the box on the right underneath the box on the left that you think
means the same thing.

If it is wrong, it will show up in red. You will then need to drag it back and try again
(this quiz may not work on mobile devices)

Wear out
Wear off
Split up
Pull through
Pull out of
Sort out
Work out
Do away with
Carry on
End up
disappear
find a solution
near death recovery
terminate or end
become eventually
continue
end of a relationship
 stop being a part of
exhaust / tire
calculate

What are idioms? 

An idiom is a group of words or phrase that through common usage has a

meaning that is not clear from the words themselves.

Save
For example, ‘It’s raining cats and dogs’ means that it’s raining heavily, but
if we look at the words it seems like dogs and cats are falling from the sky.

Confused? Let’s look at another example.

 Save
If someone is ‘High as a kite’, it doesn’t actually mean they are flying, it
means that they are on drugs.

To really understand what they mean we have to understand two words-

literal and metaphorical.

Literal means the normal or usual meaning of a word.

Metaphorical describes words that are used as symbols for something

else. It is the opposite of literal.

So ‘high’ literally means located above the earth’s surface, but

metaphorically means you have taken drugs and are feeling their effects.

Therefore, you cannot understand the meaning of idioms by just looking at

the words. You have to find out what the metaphor actually means.

If you think about your own native language I’m sure you can think of a few
idioms you use all the time.

Should I use them in the writing or speaking test? 

Idioms are used informally most of time and should therefore not be used
in the writing test.
Spoken English is normally much less formal than academic written
English, so it is fine to use them in the speaking test.

How can they increase my score?

Save
The picture above shows part of the band descriptors for speaking. The 3
bands of above are 7, 8 and 9. As you can see, using idioms, even with
some inappropriate choices, is typical of a band 7 candidate. By using them
skillfully, with only occasional inaccuracies you are likely to get an 8 in this
category. Rarely students use them perfectly and this is typical of someone
who reaches a 9.

Should I just memorise lots of them?

Absolutely not! This is one of the most common mistakes in the IELTS
speaking test. Lots of students think that simply learning lots of idioms and
then using them in the test will help them get a high score. In fact, the
opposite is true. Examiners are trained to spot people trying to use idioms
that are inappropriate.
It all depends on the context and if you don’t use them correctly, they will
sound very forced and unnatural.

How do I use them effectively? 

You should only use idioms if you have heard how they are used in context
and you are 100% sure you are using them in the correct way. This may
sound harsh, but it is better than losing marks.

Common Idioms 

Below are some common idioms that I have heard students use correctly in
the IELTS speaking test. If you have never heard any of them before, try to
find more examples of how they are used and then practice using them
when you are practicing speaking. Also, understanding where they originate
from can help you remember them.

If you can, have a native speaker or English teacher listen to you and tell
you if you are using them correctly.

Most of these are ways to describe something, someone or how you feel.
These tend to be easier to use because you can substitute the description
you would normally use for the idiom.

Over the moon– to be extremely pleased or happy.

I was over the moon when I passed my speaking test.

Once in a blue moon– happens very rarely.

A student will get a 9 in the IELTS writing test once in a blue moon. 

A piece of cake– very easy.

Getting a band 6 in the speaking test will be a piece of cake.

A drop in the ocean– a very small part of something much bigger.

Just learning idioms is a drop in the ocean when it comes to preparing for
the speaking test.

Actions speak louder than words– it is better to actually do something

than just talk about it.

Lots of people have great business ideas but do nothing about

them. Actions speak louder than words, just do it.

Back to the drawing board– when you attempted to do something but

failed and have to try again.

I got 4.5 in reading! Oh well, back to the drawing board.

Put all your eggs in one basket- put all your money or effort into one thing.

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. You should apply to lots of different
universities.

The in thing– something fashionable.

The new iPhone is really the in thing at the moment.

The real McCoy– genuine or not fake.

I don’t think her new handbag is the real McCoy.

Off the top of my head– saying something without thinking first.

Off the top of my head, I’d say about 2 or 3.

Run of the mill– average, ordinary

Apple phones are very run of the mill these days.

Soul mate– someone you trust very deeply.

My husband is not just my lover, he’s my soul mate.

Down in the dumps– sad.

I was really down in the dumps after my dog died.

Found my feet– to become comfortable doing something.

Moving to a new city was difficult as first, but I soon found my feet.

Set in their ways– not wanting to change.

My parents are quite traditional and set in their ways.

Go the extra mile– do much more than is required.

I decided to go the extra mile and move to England to really perfect my

English.

A hot potato– a controversial topic.

Abortion and capital punishment are hot potatoes in my country at the

moment.

Miss the boat– miss an opportunity.

I sent my application in late and I think I missed the boat. 

Costs an arm and a leg– really expensive.

Those shoes must have cost an arm and a leg.

Sit on the fence– to be undecided.

I haven’t made my mind up about that issue, I’ll have to sit on the fence.

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.