Useful Idioms for IELTS

to miss the boat

to be too slow to take advantage of an opportunity

to play devils advocate

to argue the opposite, just for the sake of argument

to play something by ear

to plan something in an improvised way (instead of planning ahead). deciding what to do as the plan develops

to pull someones leg

to playfully deceive someone

to rain on someones parade

to spoil something

to rock the boat

to do or say something that could cause a problem or disturbance

to save something for a rainy day

to save something (usually money) for when you need it

to see eye to eye

to agree

to shed light on something

to reveal information about or to clarify something

to sit on the fence

to avoid making a decision or choice

to sit tight

refrain from taking action or changing one's mind

to smell a rat

to begin to suspect trickery or deception

to spill the beans

give away a secret

to steal someones thunder

to take attention or praise away from someone else's accomplishments by outdoing them with your own

to stick to ones guns

to refuse to change your opinions or beliefs about something

to take something with a pinch of salt

to not take something too seriously

to take the mickey

to make fun of

to throw caution to the wind

take a risk

to twist someones arm

to convince someone to do what you want

to wrap your head around something

to find a way to understand or accept

under the weather

slightly unwell or in low spirits

up in the air

still to be settled

we will cross that bridge when we come to it

an expression that means you will not worry about a possible future problem but will deal with it, if it happens

when pigs fly

something that will never happen.

whole nine yards

the entire thing, all of something

you can say that again

used to express emphatic agreement

you cant have your cake and eat it too

you can't have everything

you cant judge a book by its cover

don't judge what's on the outside

you live and you learn

you learn from your mistakes