IELTS Idioms
not get a word in edgeways
If you cannot get a word in edgeways in a conversation, you find it difficult to say anything because someone else is talking so much. [BRITISH]
until you are blue in the face
If you say that someone can say or do something until they are blue in the face, you mean that however many times they say or do it, it will have no effect. [INFORMAL]
at the end of your tether
If you are at the end of your tether, you are very upset because you are no longer able to deal with a difficult situation.
give someone the creeps
If someone or something gives you the creeps, they make you feel nervous or frightened. [INFORMAL]
the last/final straw
If you say that something is the last straw or the final straw, you mean it is the latest in a series of bad events and it makes you unable to deal with a situation any longer.
scare someone out of their wits
If something or someone scares you out of your wits, they make you very frightened or worried.
be shaking like a leaf
If someone is shaking like a leaf, their body is shaking a lot, usually because they are very frightened.
get/have cold feet
If you get cold feet or have cold feet about something you have planned to do, you become nervous about it and are not sure that you want to do it.
butterflies in your stomach
If you have butterflies in your stomach, you feel very nervous about something that you have to do.
red tape
Red tape is official rules and documents that seem unnecessary and cause delay.
jump/nearly jump out of your skin
If you jump out of your skin or nearly jump out of your skin, you are suddenly very surprised or shocked by something.
frighten/scare the life out of someone
If someone or something frightens the life out of you or scares the life out of you, they frighten you very much. [INFORMAL]
on edge
If someone is on edge, they are anxious and unable to relax.
a bundle of nerves
If you say that someone is a bundle of nerves, you mean that they are extremely nervous.
Choose the correct idioms:
- Elaine admitted she was ..................... when she had to sing in front of the queen.
- cut out
- a bundle of nerves
- warming up
- She seemed a bit ..................... the whole evening, which I decided was due to work stress.
- cutting down
- on edge
- Get down
- It used to ..................... me when they tried to jump on the moving train.
- cut back
- frighten the life out of
- woke up
- The first time I heard shots I ..................... but now I hardly notice them.
- cut off
- jumped out of my skin
- chalked up
- After dealing with all the ..................... and finally getting approval for the building, our funding has been cut.
- go on
- red tape
- made up
- Now I've qualified as a competitor, I'm starting to feel the ..................... already.
- went off
- butterflies in my stomach
- broken up
- Leaving Ireland wasn't easy and I ..................... about it a couple of times.
- go along
- had cold feet
- clammed up
- I had tried every solution I could think of. I was ..................... .
- cleared away
- at the end of my tether
- Come on
- That statue in my parents' hallway always ..................... .
- went off
- gave me the creeps
- cracked up
- The relationship had been in trouble for a while and Jack's behaviour that night was just ..................... .
- go on
- the final straw
- makes out
- Oh, I'm so glad you're all right! You ..................... .
- cut down
- scared us out of our wits
- make out
- I didn't think about the danger at the time. Afterwards I ..................... .
- going along
- was shaking like a leaf
- get down
- The president can issue orders ..................... , but no one will take any notice.
- cut out
- until he is blue in the face
- make up
- For heaven'ssake, Sue, will you let me ..................... !
- cut off
- get a word in edgeways
- make up