Touchstone Educational IELTS Training Institute Chandigarh

English Idioms: A Fun and Fascinating Dive into Expression

English Idioms: A Fun and Fascinating Dive into Expression

Have you ever been caught off guard when someone says, “It’s raining cats and dogs”? Or perhaps you’ve wondered why people say, “Break a leg” to wish someone good luck? Welcome to the world of English idioms! English is a language that never fails to surprise with its idiosyncrasies. Among its linguistic wonders are the fun and quirky idioms that bring a dash of humor and playfulness to everyday conversations. In this blog, we’ll embark on an exciting journey to explore a delightful collection of whimsical idiomatic expressions that will leave you grinning from ear to ear. 

 

  1. “Hold your horses”: This idiom means to be patient or to wait. It originated from the practice of riders needing to hold their horses back to control their speed or impatience.
  2. “Let the cat out of the bag”: This idiom refers to revealing a secret or information that was meant to be kept hidden. 
  3. “Barking up the wrong tree”: When someone is barking up the wrong tree, they are pursuing a mistaken or incorrect course of action or directing their efforts in the wrong direction. 
  4. “Kick the bucket”: This idiom means to die or pass away. It is often linked to the idea of someone standing on a bucket and then kicking it away to hang themselves, thus ending their life.
  5. “Piece of cake”: When something is described as a piece of cake, it means that it is very easy or simple. 
  6. “Break the ice”: This idiom means to initiate or start a conversation or interaction in a situation where there may be tension or awkwardness. It is believed to have originated from the practice of ships breaking through ice to clear a path for navigation.
  7. “Cat got your tongue?”: When someone uses this idiom, they are asking why the person is not speaking or remaining silent. It is often associated with the idea of being speechless or unable to find words.
  8. “Let sleeping dogs lie”: This idiom advises against disturbing or provoking a situation or issue that is currently calm or inactive to avoid potential problems or conflicts. It suggests leaving things as they are to maintain peace.
  9. “When pigs fly”: This idiom is used to express that something is highly unlikely or will never happen. The image of pigs flying is considered impossible, emphasizing the improbability of the mentioned event or scenario.
  10. “Cost an arm and a leg”: When something is said to cost an arm and a leg, it means it is very expensive. The idiom emphasizes the high price or significant cost of something, often used in a figurative sense rather than a literal one.

 

English idioms are like little treasures that add a playful twist to our language. Exploring the fun and quirky idioms showcased in this blog reveals the imaginative nature of English speakers and the richness of our communication. So, the next time you encounter one of these whimsical expressions, embrace the joy they bring and join in the linguistic merriment that makes English truly delightful.

 

Join Touchstone or call us at 0172 5000060 to discover fun ways to learn English!

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Listening

The IELTS Listening test consists of four recordings (four parts) from native English speakers with ten (10) questions in each recording (part).

Recording 1: an everyday social conversation between two people

Recording 2: a monologue set in an everyday social context

Recording 3: an educational conversation with upto four people

Recording 4: a monologue on an academic subject

Listening test scores will be based on your ability to understand the main ideas,
factual information, opinions, attitude and purpose of the speaker and your ability
to follow the development of ideas.

No. of questions: 40 Marks:

each question is worth one (1) mark

Total time: 30 minutes (+ 2 minutes review time )

Speaking

The IELTS Speaking test assesses your pronunciation, grammar, accuracy, fluency and lexical resources while speaking English. There are three (3) parts to this test, with each part fulfilling a specific function in terms of task input, interaction pattern and the test taker’s output.

Part 1: Introduction & Interview This part includes general questions about the test taker like residence, work,family, interests, etc.

Part 2: Long Run Cue cards are shared on a particular topic and one (1) minute will be given to prepare to speak for upto two (2) minutes on the topic.

Part 3: Discussion This part gives you the opportunity to discuss the topic from the cue card in further detail, in a more general and abstract way

Total time: 11-14 minutes

Reading

The IELTS Reading test is designed to test a wide range of reading skills including reading for skimming, details, gist, understanding arguments and writer’s opinions,attitude and purpose

IELTS Academic Reading – It includes three (3) reading passages (with a variety of questions) ranging from descriptive and factual to discursive and analytical. These passages are of general interest dealing with interesting and recognizably appropriate issues, with at least one passage containing a detailed logical argument

Note: The reading texts may contain non-verbal materials as well like graphs, diagrams or illustrations.

IELTS General Reading – It includes three (3) daily passages (with 2-3 short texts in the first passage, 2 texts in the second passage and 1 long text in the third passage), based on an English-speaking environment, from notices, newspapers, magazines or advertisements.

Reading passage 1: texts based on social survival, like advertisements, notices and timetables

Reading passage 2: texts based on workplace survival, like contracts, job descriptions, staff development & training material

Reading passage 3: texts based on general reading, involving more extended prose and a complex structure.

No. of questions: 40

Marks: each question is worth one (1) mark

Total time: 60 minutes (no additional transfer time)

Note: Please note that the question types in the Listening & Reading sections can include multiple choice answers, true or false answers, matching information/headings or sentence, table & flow-chart completion.

Listening

The IELTS Listening test consists of four recordings (four parts) from native English speakers with ten (10) questions in each recording (part).

Recording 1: an everyday social conversation between two people

Recording 2: a monologue set in an everyday social context

Recording 3: an educational conversation with upto four people

Recording 4: a monologue on an academic subject

Listening test scores will be based on your ability to understand the main ideas,
factual information, opinions, attitude and purpose of the speaker and your ability
to follow the development of ideas.

No. of questions: 40 Marks:

each question is worth one (1) mark

Total time: 30 minutes (+10 minutes transfer time)