What does idiomatic language mean in IELTS speaking?
The word idiomatic appears in the Lexical resource column of the speaking descriptors at bands 7, 8 and 9. That is where the advice to 'use idioms' comes from. Read the exact wording, though, and you will see it never asks for a number of idioms.
Notice three things. Idiomatic items sit next to collocation and style. Band 8 asks for skilful use, and band 9 asks for accurate idiomatic language, not idioms. BandLadder's reading: idiomatic means saying something the way a fluent speaker naturally would, with words that belong together. A colourful idiom is only one small part of that.
The ielts.org article on idioms in the speaking test makes the same link: it groups idioms with phrasal verbs, says collocation matters when you use idiomatic language, and warns against overusing idioms or choosing ones that sound forced. For how the same wording works in essays, see IELTS Lexical Resource band 7.
Idioms vs collocations: what counts as idiomatic language
| Type | Examples | How often it fits a spoken answer |
|---|---|---|
| Collocation | a sharp drop, make a decision, a quiet weekend | Almost every answer |
| Phrasal verb | put it off, end up, run out of | Very often, especially in Parts 1 and 2 |
| Fixed spoken phrase | it depends on, to be fair, the thing is | Often, in moderation |
| Figurative idiom | on the fence, the last straw, a long shot | Now and then, when it matches your meaning |
| Proverb or saying | the early bird catches the worm | Rarely: it sounds like a quotation, not your view |
BandLadder grouping. All five rows are idiomatic language; most learners only mean the bottom two.
Should you use idioms in IELTS speaking?
An idiom can support a higher Lexical resource score only when it passes three tests at once: it means exactly what you mean, it suits the topic and tone, and it comes out smoothly. Miss the first two and it becomes an inappropriacy, the descriptors' word for a choice that does not fit; miss the third and it becomes hesitation.
When idioms help, and when they hurt
| Idioms tend to help when… | Idioms tend to hurt when… |
|---|---|
| The meaning matches your story exactly | The meaning contradicts what you go on to say |
| The tone fits: light topic, light idiom | A jokey idiom lands on a sad or serious topic |
| It arrives mid-sentence, without a pause | You pause, then stress it as if announcing it |
| You use the idiom's usual grammar (on the fence about something) | The words or grammar are slightly off (on the fence that…) |
| It is one natural phrase in a long answer | Three idioms are stacked into two sentences |
Fluency suffers too. Pausing to hunt for a prepared idiom is hesitation to find words, and band 8 Fluency and coherence says most hesitation should be about content (Speaking band descriptors, p. 2).
IELTS speaking idioms examples: forced vs natural
Yes, for me jigsaw puzzles are a piece of cakecontradicts. Every cloud has a silver liningwrong meaning, so when I am bored I do one and kill two birds with one stonestacked, because I relax and I also train my brain.
- → If puzzles are effortless, how do they train your brain? The first idiom undercuts the answer.
- → The silver lining saying is about bad events having a good side; boredom is not a disaster.
- → Three idioms in two sentences: the examiner hears a list, not a person.
I do, mostly in winter. I usually end up doingphrasal verb one on a wet Sundaycollocation, and once I start I find it hard to put downfixed phrase. The sky pieces drive me madidiom that fits, though, because they're all the same shade of bluecollocation.
- → Only one figurative idiom, and it describes a real, specific annoyance.
- → Most of the idiomatic quality comes from word partnerships a fluent speaker would use without thinking.
The ferry back from the island was delayed by fogcollocation, so we had about four hours to killidiomatic. We sat in the harbour café, which was fine at first, but when it shut at six and we were left on a bench in the drizzle, that was the last strawidiom earns its place. My brother started looking upphrasal verb hotels on his phone.
- → 'The last straw' works because the story builds up small problems first: the idiom names the final one.
- → Remove the idiom and the answer is still idiomatic. That is the point.
✗ Learning to drive was a piece of cake for me. It took me two years and three tests.
✓ Learning to drive took me ages. I needed three attempts at the test.
The idiom says 'easy'; the facts say 'hard'. Meaning beats colour.
✗ My grandfather popped his clogs last spring, and the whole family was heartbroken.
✓ My grandfather passed away last spring, and the whole family was heartbroken.
A joking idiom on a sad topic is a style error, exactly what 'awareness of style' is about.
✗ I'm on the fence that people should still write letters by hand.
✓ I'm on the fence about whether people still need to write letters by hand.
The idiom takes 'about', not a that-clause. Idioms have fixed grammar, like collocations.
How to use idioms in IELTS speaking naturally
BandLadder's method
- 1
Build collocations first. For each common topic (home, work, weather, travel), note the word partners you need: a long wait, heavy fog, a tight budget. This is where most idiomatic quality comes from.
- 2
Learn idioms from sentences. Take an idiom only from something you heard or read in context. Write down the whole sentence, the words around it, and whether it was joking, neutral or serious.
- 3
Run the three-question test. Does it mean exactly what I mean? Would I say it to a friend about this topic? Can I say it without pausing? Any 'no' means use plain words.
- 4
Let the content invite it. Idioms fit stories, feelings and reactions (Parts 1 and 2) better than analysis (Part 3). Never steer an answer towards a phrase you prepared.
- 5
Listen back for the pause. Record a two-minute answer. If you slow down or stress the idiom as if presenting it, cut it next time.
In Part 3 you are explaining and comparing, so precise collocations carry more weight there than figurative phrases. For more on building longer Part 3 answers, see how to extend Part 3 answers. Practise the method on IELTS cue cards: tell one short story per card and note which idiomatic phrases came out naturally.
BandLadder's AI speaking practice gives you a band for each criterion with feedback, so you can see whether swapping forced idioms for precise phrasing changes your Lexical resource result.
Your turn: is it idiomatic, or is it forced?
Choose the best answer, then reveal it.
- Is “heavy fog” an example of idiomatic language?
- A. Yes: it is a natural collocation
- B. No: only figurative idioms count
- C. No: it is too simple to count
Show answer
Yes: it is a natural collocation
Band 7 links idiomatic items with collocation. 'Thick fog' or 'heavy fog' is how fluent speakers say it; 'strong fog' is not.
- “When my ferry was cancelled, I was on cloud nine, because I missed my cousin's wedding.” What is wrong?
- A. The idiom's meaning contradicts the situation
- B. The idiom is too informal for Part 2
- C. Nothing: it adds colour
Show answer
The idiom's meaning contradicts the situation
'On cloud nine' means delighted. Missing a wedding is a disappointment, so the idiom misleads the listener.
- Part 3: “Do you think people will still keep handwritten letters in the future?” Which opening sounds most natural?
- A. As the saying goes, old habits die hard, and time flies, so letters will vanish.
- B. I doubt many people will write them, but I think they'll hang on to the ones they already have.
- C. Letters are the apple of my eye and the icing on the cake of communication.
Show answer
I doubt many people will write them, but I think they'll hang on to the ones they already have.
'Hang on to' is a natural phrasal verb used precisely. The other options stack sayings that do not fit the meaning.
- Does band 7 Lexical resource require an idiom in every answer?
- A. Yes, at least one per answer
- B. No: it describes 'some ability' alongside collocation and style
- C. Only in Part 2
Show answer
No: it describes 'some ability' alongside collocation and style
The band 7 wording says 'some ability' and pairs it with awareness of style and collocation. There is no quota.
BandLadder questions
Practise it now
Use the method on original BandLadder questions. Attempt them free and see your score.
Questions
FAQ
Can we use idioms in IELTS speaking?+
Yes. Idiomatic items are mentioned in Lexical resource at bands 7 to 9. Use them only when they fit your meaning and the tone of the topic, and you can say them smoothly.
Is it necessary to use idioms in IELTS speaking?+
No. The descriptors ask for idiomatic language, which includes natural collocations and phrasal verbs. You can show it without a single figurative idiom.
How many idioms should I use in IELTS speaking?+
There is no number in the descriptors. BandLadder advice: plan none, and let the occasional idiom come up naturally while you focus on precise word combinations.
What is the difference between idioms and collocations in IELTS?+
A collocation is a natural word partnership, such as heavy fog or make a decision. An idiom has a figurative meaning, such as the last straw. Both count as idiomatic language, and collocations are far more frequent.
Is it ok to use idioms in IELTS speaking?+
Yes, when they fit. A wrong or ill-fitting idiom is an inappropriacy in Lexical resource, and pausing to recall a prepared one can affect Fluency and coherence.
Can I use idioms in IELTS writing?+
The writing descriptors also mention idiomatic items 'when appropriate'. Most figurative idioms are too informal for an essay, while precise collocations suit any task.
Sources
- IELTS Speaking band descriptors (ielts.org PDF): p. 2: Lexical resource bands 7–9 (idiomatic items, style and collocation); Fluency and coherence band 8 (hesitation); p. 4: Lexical resource band 2 (memorised utterances)
- ielts.org, How to use idioms in the IELTS Speaking test: https://ielts.org/news-and-insights/how-to-use-idioms-in-the-ielts-speaking-test (idioms, phrasal verbs and collocation as idiomatic language; avoid overuse and forced idioms)
- IELTS Writing band descriptors (ielts.org PDF): p. 7: Task 2 Lexical resource band 8 (idiomatic items when appropriate)
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