{"page":"\u003clink rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https://lessonplanet.com/assets/packs/css/resources-572d6a42.css\" /\u003e\n\u003clink rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https://lessonplanet.com/assets/packs/css/lp_boclips_stylesheets-f4d0de30.css\" media=\"all\" /\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-title='4 Idioms to Not Say on the IELTS Speaking Exam' data-url='/boclips/videos/634e545856e7975f892f9a7c' data-video-url='/boclips/videos/634e545856e7975f892f9a7c' id='bo_player_modal'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='boclips-resource-page modal-dialog panel-container'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='react-notifications-root'\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-header'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-type'\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fai fa-regular fa-circle-play'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\nVideo\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch1 class='rp-title' id='video-title'\u003e\n4 Idioms to Not Say on the IELTS Speaking Exam\n\u003c/h1\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-actions'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='mr-1'\u003e\n\u003ca class=\"btn btn-success\" data-posthog-event=\"Signup: LP Signup Activity\" data-posthog-location=\"body_link_boclips\" data-remote=\"true\" href=\"/subscription/new\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGet Free Access\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e for 10 Days\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e!\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-body'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-info'\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-label='Hide resource details' class='rp-hide-info' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u0026times;\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ci aria-label='Expand resource details' class='rp-expand-info fai fa-solid fa-up-right-and-down-left-from-center' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003ci aria-label='Compress resource details' class='rp-compress-info fai fa-solid fa-down-left-and-up-right-to-center' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-rating'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='resource-pool'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='pool-label'\u003ePublisher:\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003cspan class='pool-name'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='text'\u003e\u003ca data-publisher-id=\"30356011\" href=\"/search?publisher_ids%5B%5D=30356011\"\u003eCurated Video\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-description'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='short-description'\u003eToday you’ll learn 4 idioms not to say on the IELTS Speaking Exam, and learn higher-scoring phrases to use instead.The fact is, in order to score a 7 or higher on the Speaking Exam, you must be communicating more like a native speaker....\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003cspan class='full-description hide'\u003eToday you’ll learn 4 idioms not to say on the IELTS Speaking Exam, and learn higher-scoring phrases to use instead.\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eThe fact is, in order to score a 7 or higher on the Speaking Exam, you must be communicating more like a native speaker. \u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eNative speakers use slang and idioms in our natural communication, so you must try and fit some of these phrases in to score highly in Vocabulary.\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eHaving said that, don’t use a phrase that you are very uncomfortable with, or it will sound awkward and forced. Thus, choose 2-3 phrases that you like, that you identify with, and practice using those.\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eThere are some idioms, however, that would not lead to a higher vocabulary score. Four of these are outlined below, along with phrases you should replace them with.\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003e#1 Cost an arm and a leg\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eThis is too common among students. Therefore, it will not help you stand out in front of the examiner.\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eInstead, say:\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003ePricey / spendy / a luxury item / a splurge\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003e#2 Feel blue\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eThis is cheesy, and is not really used today.\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eInstead, say:\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eBummed / in a funk\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003e#3 Burn the midnight oil\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eThis idiom sounds old, and is not a modern way to communicate the idea of ‘working all night.’\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eInstead, say:\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003ePull an all-nighter / put one’s nose to the grindstone\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003e#4 Piece of cake\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eAll students know this one!\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eInstead, say:\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eA cinch / brainless / not rocket science\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eChoose 2-3 of these phrases, put them in your vocabulary notebook, and practice using them in your own IELTS answers!\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='action-container flex justify-between'\u003e\n\u003cbutton aria-expanded='false' aria-label='Read more description' class='rp-full-description' type='button'\u003e\n\u003ci class='fai fa-solid fa-align-left'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003cspan id='read_more'\u003eRead More\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/button\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-report'\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-labelledby='resource-details-heading' class='rp-info-section'\u003e\n\u003ch2 class='title' id='resource-details-heading'\u003eResource Details\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-resource-details clearfix'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eCurator Rating\u003c/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003e\u003cspan class=\"star-rating\" aria-label=\"4.0 out of 5 stars\" role=\"img\"\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-solid fa-star text-action\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-solid fa-star text-action\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-solid fa-star text-action\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-solid fa-star text-action\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-regular fa-star text-action\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt class=\"educator-rating-title\"\u003eEducator Rating\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"educator-rating-details\" data-path=\"/educator_ratings/rrp_data?resourceable_id=155175\u0026amp;resourceable_type=Boclips%3A%3AVideoMetadata\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"not-yet-rated\"\u003eNot yet Rated\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eMedia Length\u003c/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003e4:05\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eGrade\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd title=\"Grade\"\u003e9th - Higher Ed\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eSubjects\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ca href=\"/search?grade_ids%5B%5D=259\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=255\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=256\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=257\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=258\u0026amp;search_tab_id=1\u0026amp;subject_ids%5B%5D=358379\"\u003eSocial Studies \u0026amp; History\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/dd\u003e\u003cdd class=\"text-muted\"\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-solid fa-lock mr5\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e3 more...\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eMedia Type\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ca href=\"/search?grade_ids%5B%5D=259\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=255\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=256\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=257\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=258\u0026amp;search_tab_id=2\u0026amp;type_ids%5B%5D=4543647\"\u003eInstructional Videos\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eSource:\u003c/dt\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='preview-source' data-animation='true' data-boundary='.rp-info' data-container='.rp-resource-details' data-html='false' data-title='The IELTS Energy and All Ears English podcasts have over 77 million downloads worldwide, and IELTS Energy is ranked in the top 20 for Language Learning podcasts in Brazil. 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