Weather is a Part 1 classic, and it is where examiners hear "raining cats and dogs" most. Describe the weather with natural phrases ("chucking it down", "a cold snap"), then use weather idioms about life, like "a storm in a teacup", when they fit.
The labels tell you how each one lands with a listener. Natural idioms are safe in any Speaking part. Informal ones suit relaxed Part 1 and Part 2 answers. Overused ones are correct but examiners hear them constantly, so use them once at most. Avoid means dated, slang or a cliché that sounds memorised. None of these belong in Writing Task 2.
14 idioms
raining very heavily
It was raining cats and dogs all day.
The textbook example of an idiom nobody under seventy says. "It was pouring" is natural.
raining very heavily (British)
It's been chucking it down since this morning.
What British people actually say. Casual.
a short period of very cold weather
There was a cold snap in January and the pipes froze.
Natural and precise.
whatever happens, whatever the weather
My father walks the dog every morning, come rain or shine.
Natural and useful for habits.
a quiet period before trouble or activity
The office is quiet now, but it's the calm before the storm.
Natural, slightly dramatic.
survive a difficult period
Many small shops couldn't weather the storm during the recession.
Strong in Part 3.
a lot of fuss about something unimportant (British)
The argument over seating was a storm in a teacup.
Natural British English.
politely decline now and suggest another time
Can I take a rain check on dinner? I'm exhausted.
More American but widely used.
a very angry expression (British)
He came in with a face like thunder.
Vivid and natural.
someone or something new and refreshing
Our new teacher was a breath of fresh air.
Very natural.
make people feel relaxed at first meeting
We played a quick game to break the ice.
Natural and common.
take attention or praise from someone
My brother announced his engagement at my birthday party and stole my thunder.
Natural and lively.
bad things tend to happen together (British)
First my phone broke, then my laptop; it never rains but it pours.
Familiar saying. Fine once in a story.
a person or thing that makes others happy
My little niece is a ray of sunshine.
Warm and natural.
Part 1
Here is a sample answer we wrote to show how a few of these idioms fit into natural speech. Notice that it uses only a handful, spread out, with plain English around them.
It's hot for most of the year, but the monsoon is the interesting part. For about two months it's chucking it down almost every afternoon, and the roads flood quite quickly. My grandfather still goes for his evening walk come rain or shine, which amazes me. Personally I like the short winter best; we sometimes get a cold snap in January, and it's the only time anyone wears a jacket.
We recommend avoiding it. It is the textbook idiom, it sounds dated, and examiners hear it constantly. "It was pouring" or the British "chucking it down" is far more natural.
No. Many of the most useful ones describe life: "break the ice", "a storm in a teacup" and "weather the storm" can appear in answers about people, work or the economy.
No. Idioms belong in Speaking. Writing Task 2 is a formal essay, so idioms and contractions make it sound too casual. Use precise, neutral vocabulary there instead.
One or two, only where they fit what you want to say. Forced idioms sound memorised and can lower your score. On this page, be careful with "raining cats and dogs", "it never rains but it pours": examiners hear them often or they sound dated.
Keep going
More idiom themes:
Practise them on real questions:
Written by Fizza Butool Zaidi and Ali Zaidi. Lexical Resource is one of the four Speaking criteria in the public IELTS scoring guide on ielts.org. BandLadder is not affiliated with IELTS, the British Council or IDP, and no list of idioms guarantees a band score.
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