Common Idioms for Help and Encouragement IELTS Reading

Common Idioms for Help and Encouragement IELTS Reading is the Reading topic. There are many idioms used in English daily, whether in a business context, in media, or in social conversations between friends. In order to answer IELTS writing and reading sections, the candidates must learn different types of idioms. A variety of IELTS idioms falls under the category of ‘Help’ and ‘Encouragement’. These idioms are focused on the IELTS Reading section. Candidates will find different types of questions as they do in the IELTS reading section. In order to score good marks, use of common IELTS idioms can be undertaken by the candidates.

Topic: Help and Encouragement

Exercise 1:
Complete the sentences with the words in the box

1. I phoned to give you a pat __________ the back for saving the situation.
2. Let’s put our heads __________ and think of some people who could help.
3. As we’re both __________ the same boat, it might be sensible to work together.
4. Most parents bend __________ backwards to treat their children equally.
5. Jane took us __________ her wing and showed us around.
6. I try to think positively and keep my chin __________.

1. I phoned to give you a pat __________ the back for saving the situation.

Answer: On
Explanation: By giving someone a pat on the back, you are recognizing their good deeds. Patting oneself on the back is congratulating the individual for using his foresight to escape a sticky circumstance right here in the sentence.

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2. Let’s put our heads __________ and think of some people who could help.

Answer: together
Explanation: Put your heads together is a saying that refers to brainstorming and cooperating to find a solution to an issue. Put our heads together is a phrase that refers to teamwork and asking for assistance.

3. As we’re both __________ the same boat, it might be sensible to work together.

Answer: in
Explanation: In the same boat refers to when two or more persons are dealing with the same unfavorable circumstance. This expression is used in the given statement to suggest that if two persons are dealing with the same kind of issue, they should collaborate to find a solution.

4. Most parents bend __________ backwards to treat their children equally.

Answer: over
Explanation: Bend over backward is the expression for making a great effort to please someone, even if it hurts and inconveniences you. The word "bend over backward" in the sentence refers to the parents' efforts to treat each of their children equally by giving them an equal amount of love, facilities, anger, learning, etc., even if doing so means sacrificing their own comfort, happiness, or tranquility.

5. Jane took us __________ her wing and showed us around.

Answer: under
Explanation: This expression derives from the proverb "take someone under your wings," which indicates to take care of, correct, safeguard, and assist someone. In the preceding phrase, Jane led those individuals under her direction and paved the road for them by lending a hand and giving them the resources they required.

6. I try to think positively and keep my chin __________.

Answer: up
Explanation: This expression is derived from the proverb "keep your chin up," which suggests that no matter how difficult things become, you must constantly approach challenges and issues with optimism, joy, and a grin. Maintaining a straight back indicates that one is approaching challenges with an optimistic outlook and a smile.

Exercise 2:

Choose the best answer to complete the sentences.

1. There is usually a fair amount of __________ and take in a trading relationship.

1. pat
2. give
3. hand

Answer: b
Explanation: Giving and receiving indicates that no one is perfect in a relationship. Someone must be lacking at both ends. However, there must be a reciprocal exchange of feelings and things for a relationship to be successful. The expression "give and take" is used in the example sentence to suggest that even in a trading connection, both parties are engaged in the mutual sharing of their products and services with one another to make their partnership more fruitful.

2. They want to negotiate and we’re very willing to __________ them halfway.

1. meet
2. bend
3. hold

Answer: a
Explanation: The expression "meet someone halfway" refers to adopting a portion of someone's beliefs and viewpoints in order to come to a mutually agreeable solution. It simply refers to haggling with someone. The idiom is used in the example sentence to mean that both sides must agree to a contract by accepting a portion of one another's offer.

3. Hannah was happy to __________ a hand in practical ways if she could.

1. pat
2. lend
3. take

Answer: b
Explanation: To lend a hand is to offer assistance to someone who is struggling. In the example sentence, the expression "lend a hand" is used to express Hannah's willingness to assist someone in any manner she can.

4. For most of the afternoon, Mum had been __________ Cyril’s praises.

1. giving
2. putting
3. singing

Answer: c
Explanation: The expression is derived from the idiom "sing someone's praise," which refers to enthusiastically praising someone whose actions have had a significant impact on you. As stated in the previous sentence, Mum used to spend the whole of the afternoon praising Cyril.

5. I want to be __________ for my kids because my dad wasn’t for me.

1. there
2. together
3. over

Answer: a
Explanation: The expression is derived from the word "be there for someone," which refers to providing support when someone needs it. In the example phrase, the individual tries to be a support system for his child but holds them back because of the lack of his father in his life as a support system.

6. The government finds it easiest to __________ the other way regarding this issue.

1. look
2. bend
3. keep

Answer: a
Explanation: Looking the other way refers to willfully ignoring anything negative happening as opposed to stopping and dealing with it. The idiom is used to suggest in the example sentence that the government prefers to ignore negative events rather than deal with them since doing so is the simplest course of action.

Exercise 3:
Answer the questions.

1. If you take someone under your wing, do you ignore or help them?

Answer: help them
Explanation: Taking someone under your wing refers to supporting, advising, and directing someone as they move forward. Thus, by taking someone under your wing, you are truly doing them a favor.

2. If you keep your chin up, are you being cheerful or miserable?

Answer: cheerful
Explanation: Keep your chin up refers to maintaining an optimistic outlook even under the most trying circumstances. So even when you're going through the most difficult time of your life, by maintaining a positive attitude, you are being happy.

3. If you give someone a pat on the back, should they be pleased or offended?

Answer: pleased
Explanation: Giving someone a pat on the back conveys your happiness and satisfaction with their good judgment and selflessness during trying circumstances. Therefore, if you offer someone a pat on the back, they should feel happy rather than hurt.

4. If you bend over backward, are you ignoring someone or trying to help them?

Answer: trying to help them
Explanation: bend over backwards refers to making an effort to appease someone, even if doing so costs you great difficulty. So, by putting forth extra effort, you are attempting to assist them.

5. If someone lends you a hand, are you being helpful, or are they being helpful to you?

Answer: they are being helpful to you
Explanation: Giving someone your support and practical assistance during a difficult moment is referred to as lending a hand. Therefore, when someone helps you out, it signifies they are doing everything they can to aid.

6. If you hold someone’s hand in a difficult situation, do you need help or do you give help?

Answer: give help
Explanation: Holding someone's hand entails providing them with support during trying moments. Therefore, by holding someone's hand in a trying circumstance, you are assisting them.

Exercise 4:
Reorder the phrases to make sentences. Add punctuation where necessary.

1. women candidates / bends over backwards / to attract / the party

Answer: The party bends over backward to attract women candidates.
Explanation: bend over backward is a metaphor for continuously attempting to make someone happy by handling problems on your own. The idiom in this statement indicates that the party is making an effort to win over female candidates to join their team despite all of their difficulties.

2. learn that / girls and boys / give and take / there must be / in all relationships

Answer: Girls and boys learn that there must be a given and take in all relationships.
Explanation: For a relationship to be healthy, there must be a reciprocal exchange of feelings, thoughts, and objects. The idiom is used in the example sentence to suggest that both girls and boys need to value sharing in a relationship.

3. lend a hand with / the whole family / the harvest / has to

Answer: The whole family has to lend a hand with the harvest.
Explanation:To offer a hand is to participate in someone else's task-solving process. The usage of this particular idiom in the sentence suggests that everyone in the family must share in the agricultural work and lend a hand to one another during the harvest season.

4. they must / sensible decision / in order to reach a / put their heads together

Answer: They must put their heads together in order to reach a sensible decision.
Explanation: Putting your heads together refers to working together to solve an issue by using collective thought. The idiom in the given sentence means that everyone must brainstorm as a group rather than acting separately in order to come to a sensible solution.

5. for you/you know/be there / I’ll always

Answer: You know I’ll always be there for you.
Explanation: Being there for someone entails supporting that person and being there for them in all circumstances. The phrase in the sentence means that he will always be there for that person, whether it's a good or bad scenario.

6. choose to / what should we / look the other way / do if our elected representatives

Answer: What should we do if our elected representatives choose to look the other way?
Explanation: Look the other way refers to avoiding any unpleasant persons and circumstances. The idiom is used in this statement to describe what the average person can do if our elected officials choose to ignore our problems rather than address and solve them.

Exercise 5:
Match idioms 1-8 with definitions A-H.

1. Keep your chin up. I’m sure everything will be alright in the end.
2. If we put our heads together, we’ll come up with a solution.
3. You must have made a good impression on the manager – he was singing your praises!
4. The trouble is, so many of us look the other way when we realize there’s a problem.
5. I know how you feel. I’m in the same boat as you.
6. His parents bend over backward for him but they get no thanks.
7. I’ll do what I can for him just now but I can’t hold his hand forever.
8. My husband has been a tower of strength throughout this ordeal.

1. do everything possible to help
2. in an identical situation
3. stay optimistic
4. support him
5. being complimentary about you
6. deliberately ignore the situation
7. someone who is helpful and supportive
8. work as a team

Answer 1: C - stay optimistic
Explanation: Keeping your chin up entails remaining upbeat throughout challenging circumstances. The idiom is used to imply that you should always be upbeat in the sentence supplied. By maintaining a cheerful attitude, everything will work out.

Answer 2: H - work as a team
Explanation: Putting your heads together refers to cooperating as a team. This idiom is used in the provided sentence to suggest that you will undoubtedly find a solution to your problem if you think critically and collaborate with others.

Answer 3: E - being complimentary about you
Explanation: Singing someone's praises suggests you're happy with them and you keep cheering them on. The phrase in the example sentence indicates that the management is happy with the employee's performance since he is continually complimenting him.

Answer 4: F - deliberately ignore the situation
Explanation: When someone chooses to overlook a negative situation rather than dealing with it, they are said to be looking the other way. The idiom is used to show that most individuals prefer to avoid the issue rather than deal with it in the example sentence.

Answer 5: B - in an identical situation
Explanation: To be "in the same boat" is to have the same circumstances. People who are going through the same kinds of circumstances can feel each other's agony, according to the meaning of the idiom used in the preceding statement.

Answer 6: A - do everything possible to help
Explanation: Bend over backwards refers to going above and beyond to please and aid someone, even if doing so hurts you terribly. The term is used to show that his parents tried everything to make him happy but received nothing in return, not even a thank-you.

Answer 7: D - support him
Explanation: To hold someone's hand is to encourage and assist them in their most trying circumstances. The idiom in the sentence indicates that, while I can assist and help him now through his difficult times, I cannot do so for the rest of his life.

Answer 8: G - someone who is helpful and supportive
Explanation: Being a pillar of strength or a tower of strength for someone during a trying time in their life. In the example sentence, the idiom is used to show that the woman's spouse has been a steady source of support for her during her difficult time in life.

Exercise 6

Use sentences A-H to answer questions 1-8.

1. Who was a kind and supportive mother?
2. Who likes to find a compromise?
3. Who was given a generous welcome?
4. Who found someone to help him?
5. Who is rather pleased with what he has done?
6. Who was a kind and supportive father?
7. Who is managing to remain cheerful?
8. Who thinks that other people have similar problems?

Answer 1: G, Maria was a pillar of strength when her children had so many problems.
Explanation: Being a pillar of strength entails offering assistance to those who are going through difficult circumstances. As stated, Maria is a tower of strength for her children, which indicates that during their trying times, Maria served as a source of support for them.

Answer 2: B, Smith, and Burnet’s policy with customers who complain is to try to meet them halfway.
Explanation: Meeting someone halfway is accepting a portion of their negotiating position. In the example sentence, the idiom is used in the sense that Smith and Brunet accept some of their customers' demands and engage in negotiation with them.

Answer 3: E Sven returned from New York singing the praises of American hospitality.
Explanation: Singing someone's praises entails jubilantly applauding them. The idiom is used in the example sentence to show that Sven is enthusiastically praising American hospitality ever since he returned from New York.

Answer 4: C, Mr. Chang took Ewen under his wing and treated him like a son.
Explanation:Being someone's mentor or his guiding light is what it means to take someone under your wing. In the example sentence, this idiom denotes that Mr. Chang adopts Ewen as his own son and cares for, supports, and helps him as if he were his own son.

Answer 5: A Rakesh gave himself a pat on the back for finishing early.
Explanation: Giving someone a pat on the back denotes appreciation for an outstanding effort. The phrase is used in the example sentence to indicate that Mr. Rakesh feels quite proud of himself for completing the assignment early.

Answer 6: Manuelle held his son’s hand throughout his marriage break-up.
Explanation: To hold someone's hand is to stand with them during their difficult times. In the example sentence, the idiom shows that even though Manuelle was going through the most difficult time of his life—the dissolution of his marriage—he didn't abandon his kid and continued to support and help him.

Answer 7: F Sasha hasn’t found a job yet, but she’s keeping her chin up.
Explanation: Being optimistic even during the most trying time in your life is what it means to keep your chin up. In the example sentence, the idiom is used to show that Sasha is still cheery and maintains an optimistic outlook on life despite her inability to obtain employment despite her best efforts.

Answer 8: D Lisa told herself there were plenty of girls in the same boat as her.
Explanation: "In the same boat" refers to the fact that many other people are dealing with the same issue as you. The phrase in the example sentence suggests that Lisa is attempting to relax by reminding herself that many girls experience the same phase as she does.