Common Idioms for IELTS Speaking Topic - Hard Nut to Crack

The IELTS Speaking test measures how well you can use idiomatic language. Idioms help the candidate to build vocabulary and help to improve the score. In order to answer IELTS speaking and reading sections, the candidates must learn different types of idioms. This particular idiom will help you understand its literal meaning and how you can use it in IELTS speaking.

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Topic: Common Idioms for IELTS Speaking Topic - Hard Nut to Crack

• Hard Nut to Crack

Origin: This idiom was first introduced in the 1700s. In the US there were some colonists who were trying to achieve a French Fortress in 1745. Benjamin used the accompanying words in the letter; "fortified towns are hard nuts to crack, and your teeth have not been accustomed to it." Nonetheless, new Englanders were able to capture the fortress, and thus it was proved that there are a few nuts that are much easier to be cracked.

Meaning: A difficult problem or a person. This metaphorical idiom refers to hard-shelled nuts like walnuts.

Examples:

1. Kyra seems a hard nut to track because Neal had been trying to get her number but she is just ignoring him.
2. There are a few chapters in mathematics that are a hard nut to crack.
3. NCB has been trying since last night but the criminal is a hard nut to crack. They may have to use the third degree to get him to speak.

Exercise 1:

Food Idioms Quiz

Choose the best meaning for the following idiom: A hard nut to crack

1. food difficult to digest
2. A difficult problem
3. Stale food

Answer: B

Example: 1. The science assignment is a hard nut to crack as the diagrams are really complicated.

Also, check:

2. The murder case is a hard nut to crack as the murders didn’t leave a single piece of evidence.

Exercise 2:

Try this multiple-choice quiz to check your understanding of idioms based on food and foods.

1. I just found out Anne has a ______ in the oven. I wonder if it’s a boy or a girl.

a) bun
b) big cheese
c) bad egg

Answer: A

Explanation: The idiom Bun in the oven means that the woman in the context is pregnant or is going to have a baby. So here Anne is pregnant that is why this expression is used.

2. Do you want to hear a ______ joke?

a) cheese
b) cheesy
c) cheeser

Answer: B

Explanation: The term cheesy is referred to something that is obviously joking or over-the-top. It can be funny, irritating, or even uncomfortable and embarrassing to hear someone say something super cheesy.

3. The wine that I bought for dinner is the ______ of the crop.

a) dairy
b) milk
c) cream

Answer: C

Explanation: The cream of the crop idiom refers to the best, A-listers. Cream of the crop means the best in the particular field.

4. Sausage rolls aren’t my ______ I’m sorry to say.

a) drop of coffee
b) mug of milk
c) cup of tea

Answer: C

Explanation: Cup of tea means something that someone prefers or likes. It is usually used in a negative statement such as used above.

5. We had to ______ the men before they would come swimming with us.

a) cucumber
b) carrot
c) egg

Answer: C

Explanation: Egg on someone means to provoke them to do something. This expression is actually a variant of ‘edge’, to edge someone forward.

6. When I go to the gym early I’m full of ______ for the rest of the day.

a) soup
b) beans
c) pasta

Answer: B

Explanation: This idiom full of beans means to be full of energy and life. So here it means that after coming from the gym the speaker is full of energy for the rest of the day.

7. Mike wants to learn to shave because he grew some ______ fuzz on his chin.

a) plum
b) peach
c) kiwi

Answer: B

Explanation: Peach fuzz is fine, light hair which usually refers to the first appearance of facial hair on an adolescent

8. If you put all of your ______ in one basket, you might not get into any university.

a) chips
b) eggs
c) cookies

Answer: B

Explanation: This idiom suggests that one should not focus all forces and resources in one direction as one could lose everything.

9. We’re taking dance lessons in hopes of ______ things up in our relationship.

a) spilling
b) spicing
c) buttering

Answer: B

Explanation: This expression means to add excitement to a speech, story, or performance.

Exercise 3:

Choose the suitable idiom to complete the sentence below.

“A problem at work this week will turn out to be ___________________”

1. breathe my last
2. any port in a storm
3. So far so good
4. a hard nut to crack

Answer: D

Explanation: This idiom is often used for a problem that seems almost impossible to solve. That is why option D is the correct answer here.