Common Idioms for Expectation IELTS Reading

Common Idioms for Expectation IELTS Reading. There are many idioms used in English daily, whether in a business context, in media, or in social conversations between friends. Idioms help candidates understand IELTS reading passages. This IELTS Reading sample - Common idioms for Expectation contains various complex words and phrases helpful for IELTS preparation. In order to score good marks, use of common IELTS idioms can be undertaken by the candidates.

Topic - Expectation

Exercise 1

Decide if the sentences are true (T) or false (F)

1. If there is calm before the storm, there will be a quiet period before a period of intense activity.

Answer: True
Explanation: This statement is accurate because it predicts a period of silence, which is typically an indication that something unusual is about to happen.

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2. If something comes out of the blue, It doesn’t surprise you.

Answer: false
Explanation: It is untrue. There is always a surprise factor when something does arise out of the blue with no prior contact.

3. If something is par for the course, it’s better than expected.

Answer: false
Explanation: The word has not been utilized in the right way. If something is considered average in this situation, it has not met expectations. Nothing more than what was anticipated has occurred.

4. If something is a long shot, you don’t expect it to be successful.

Answer: True
Explanation: This statement effectively uses it. It denotes a circumstance in which the likelihood of success is extremely slim.

5. If you do not count your chickens before they’re hatched, you don’t make plans for the future.

Answer: True
Explanation: It signifies that you are not yet making preparations for the future since you are unsure about how a specific scenario will turn out.

6. If you feel something in your bones, you feel strongly that you are right about something.

Answer: True
Explanation: This is accurate in terms of what it means to have a strong, intuitive feeling about a potential outcome.

Exercise 2

Choose the best answer to complete the sentences.

1. They offered me the job right out of the _______________ .

1. blue
2. storm
3. sky

Answer: blue
Explanation: In this instance, it indicates that the applicant was caught off guard and presented with a job offer when he or she had not anticipated receiving one.

2. He’s desperate to get the lead part in the play but he doesn’t have a _______________

1. shot
2. off-chance
3. prayer

Answer: prayer
Explanation: In this case, the person greatly wanted the part, but he had no chance of getting it because he wasn't deserving of it. When someone says, "He doesn't have a prayer," it suggests that it will be extremely difficult for them to achieve their goals.

3. It’s _______________ days but the project appears to be developing well.

1. calm
2. early
3. blue

Answer: early
Explanation: Although it is far too early to discuss how it is doing, it appears that the initiative is succeeding.

4. I called on the _______________ -chance and happened to find her at home.

1. off
2. on
3. long

Answer: off
Explanation: This means that he or she contacted in the hopes that she could be open to taking the call. The phrase "on the off-chance" refers to the extremely slim, remote, or improbable potential that something could occur or it could be the case.

5. The classroom was horribly quiet but it was just the lull before the _______________

1. prayer
2. storm
3. coursev

Answer: storm
Explanation: The kids' silence suggests a moment of calm followed by either great activity or unrest.

6. I knew it was a long _______________ but I thought I’d ask for a replacement anyway.

1. chance
2. prayer
3. shot

Answer: shot
Explanation: The person wants to get a replacement. He continued to look for the same because he believed it was worthwhile to try.

Exercise 3

Complete the sentences with the words in the box.

1. A good fisherman knows ___________ his bones when it’s going to rain.

Answer: in
Explanation: Based on intuition an experienced fisherman is believed to be capable of predicting the weather.

2. Wearing black is par ___________ the course at a formal event like this.

Answer: for

Explanation: According to the text, it is considered customary to wear black on occasions.

3. I phoned ___________ the off-chance that you might like to join us.

Answer: on
Explanation: Even if it seems implausible or remote, the caller tried to reach the other person in the hopes that they might want to join them.

4. History has shown that their dreams were just castles ___________ the air.

Answer: in
Explanation: Dreams are just impractical and invariably have little chance of success, as demonstrated by history or earlier occurrences.

5. None of us have a chance ___________ hell of winning the lottery.

Answer: in
Explanation: The subject of the statement doesn't think they have any chance at all of winning the lotto.

6. It’s ___________ the cards that he’ll be the next prime minister.

Answer: on
Explanation: He is considered to be the next prime minister.

7. The peace in the garden was the calm ___________ the storm.

Answer: before
Explanation: It was extremely tranquil in the garden, and the passage implies that there will probably be difficult times or a period of high activity after that.

8. It’s too early ___________ the day to say if this is a good policy.

Answer: in
Explanation: The phrase implies that it would be premature to determine whether or not this policy is effective.

Match idioms 1-6 with situations A-F.

1. Tom wants to pass his driving test before buying a car.
2. The manager thinks the staff are unhappy about something.
3. Business has been good so we should make a profit this year.
4. He suffered a knee injury – as so many tennis players do.
5. You can’t remember where you parked your car at the airport.
6. Arif has entered a golf tournament even though he’s never played before.

1. He has a feeling in his bones.
2. He’s not counting his chickens.
3. He doesn’t have a chance in hell.
4. It’s on the cards.
5. It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack.
6. That’s par for the course.

Answer1: B
Explanation: The phrase here indicates that Tom is refusing to take a call regarding his future since he is unsure of whether he will pass his driving test. As a result, he will only buy an automobile after passing his test.

Answer2: A
Explanation: The term used here indicates that the manager fervently believes that something is wrong with his staff.

Answer3: D
Explanation: The idiom expressly states that, given how well the company has been doing, it is quite possible that a profit will be made this year.

Answer4 : F
Explanation: Recalling your airport parking place is extremely difficult or nearly impossible.

Answer5: E
Explanation: The proverb explains how most tennis players will likely have experienced knee injuries at some point in their careers.

Answer6: C
Explanation: The term serves to emphasize that Arif has never played before and that it is virtually impossible for him to win in this gold competition.

Exercise 5

Reorder the phrases to make sentences. Add punctuation where necessary.

1. you shouldn’t look / as it’s been on the cards / for a long time / so surprised

Answer: You shouldn’t look so surprised as it’s been on the cards for a long time.
Explanation: The line asks the reader to avoid showing astonishment because what happened was expected and likely to happen.

2. to have a prayer / he did not seem / the world title / of regaining

Answer: He did not seem to have a prayer of regaining the world title.
Explanation: It indicates that he has nearly no chance of winning the world title again

3. for doctors who / par for the course / long hours are / are still training

Answer: Long hours are par for the course for doctors who are still training. OR For doctors who are still training, long hours are par for the course.
Explanation: it signifies that doctors in training are expected to have lengthy hours and are part of their curriculum.

4. by phoning the embassy / trying to find you / I admit that / was a bit of a long shot

Answer: I admit that trying to find you by phoning the embassy was a bit of a long shot.
Explanation: The person confessed that it was worth a try to reach out by calling the embassy.

5. more helpers / on the off-chance / I went / that they would need

Answer: I went on the off-chance that they would need more helpers.
Explanation: Even though he didn't think it would be effective, he continued since he thought there was a remote possibility that they could want additional assistance.

6. which side / it’s too early in the day / will win the match / to predict

Answer: It’s too early in the day to predict which side will win the match.
Explanation: It can be way too early to predict the outcome of the game.

7. building / the afternoon / they spent / castles in the air

Answer: They spent the afternoon building castles in the air.
Explanation: The phrase implies that they spend the entire afternoon coming up with irrational plans and aspirations that they know won't work.

8. in my bones / will be fine / that everything / I sense

Answer: I sense in my bones that everything will be fine.
Explanation: the person believes or rather predicts that everything will go fine.

Exercise 6

Match the underlined words and phrases in sentences 1-8 with an idiom with the same meaning A-H.

1. A new hospital is likely to happen, and so is a children’s clinic.
2. It’s still only the beginning, so it’s difficult to say whether the business will be successful or not.
3. I need to locate a specific document in this pile of papers. It’s extremely difficult to find.
4. I know you probably can’t help me but I thought I’d ask just in case there’s a possibility.
5. I’m sure he’s going to propose to her – I am convinced!
6. He hasn’t got any possibility of succeeding.
7. I think their order will be for 200 boxes but I don’t want to change our plans until that’s confirmed.
8. The report described our plans as unrealistic and ambitious.

A.castles in the air
B.a snowball’s chance in hell
C.like looking for a needle in a haystack
D.feel it in my bones
E.early days
F.on the cards
G.on the off-chance
H.count your chickens before they’re hatched

Answer:
Answer1: on the cards
Explanation: A hospital and a clinic will most likely will be built in the future

Answer2: early days
Explanation: It is way too early to discuss if the business will be successful or not

Answer3: like looking for a needle in a haystack
Explanation: it was a tough task to search for a specific document in the pile of papers

Answer4: on the off chance
Explanation: the statement explains with the idiom of a slight possibility of being helped even when he mostly didn’t expect it

Answer5: feel it in my bones
Explanation: the idiom means that the person believes he will most likely propose to her

Answer6: a snowball’s chance in hell
Explanation: it means there is almost no chance of succeeding

Answer7: count your chickens before they’re hatched
Explanation: Even though they believe they are going to get 200 boxes, its best not to predict until it is confirmed

Answer8: castles in the air
Explanation: the report confirmed it to be unsuccessful and unrealistic.