Common Idioms for IELTS Topic Hit The Nail Right On The Head

The IELTS Speaking test measures how well you can use idiomatic language. IELTS 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 used in IELTS. This particular idiom will help you understand its literal meaning and how you can use it in IELTS speaking.

Check: Get 10 Free IELTS Sample Papers

Check: Register for IELTS Coaching - Join for Free Trial Class Now

The IELTS speaking section can be well prepared with the help of different kinds of idioms. This particular IELTS speaking idiom ‘Hit The Nail Right On The Head’ consists of exercises that will help the candidates to understand the correct usage of this idiom in a conversation.

Common Idioms for IELTS Topic Hit The Nail Right On The Head

Meaning: The idiom means be accurately right about something

Example:

1. “Rob doesn’t say much, but every now and then he hits the nail right on the head.”
2. I knew they would find the criminal. They always hit the nail right on the head.

Exercise:

Choose the suitable idiom to complete the sentence below.

1. “Mike ______________________ when he said most people can use a computer without knowing how it works.”

1. head over heels in love
2. eyes in the back of their head
3. hit the nail right on the head
4. her head in the clouds

Answer: C

Explanation: The idiom hit the nail on the head means to do or say exactly the right thing.

Read More IELTS Idioms Samples

2. Describe a photograph you have taken yourself which you particularly like. Try to use this idiom in your speech. You should say:

– What the picture shows

– When you took it

– Why you took it

And explain why you particularly like this photograph

Check: Get 10 Free IELTS Sample Papers

Check: Register for IELTS Coaching - Join for Free Trial Class Now

Answer: When I decided to go on a solo trip I took a tripod with me so that I don’t have to ask other people to click pictures of me. When I went to see the Taj Mahal I was intrigued by the beauty of it and wanted to capture every moment I spent there. I placed the tripod at a position that the entire Taj Mahal was in the frame with me. When I looked at the pictures I felt like hitting the nail on the head.

A few More Similar Idioms for IELTS Speaking

• One Horse Town

Meaning: A small and unimportant place, a small and unremarkable town that is typically regarded as dull or boring

Example:

1. I can't wait to get out of this boring, one-horse town!
2. I can not spend a day in that one-horse town.

Exercise:

Choose the suitable idiom to complete the sentence below.

1. “He hates his job in a _____________ and dreams of escaping the monotony and heading out to more sophisticated climes.“

1. stirred up a hornet’s nest
2. a bleeding heart
3. one-horse town
4. snug as a bug in a rug

Answer: D

Explanation: The idiom used in the sentence indicates that the person hates the job and wants to escape the small and unimportant town to more sophisticated climes.

Check: Get 10 Free IELTS Sample Papers

Check: Register for IELTS Coaching - Join for Free Trial Class Now

2. Describe a journey you went on. Try to use this idiom in your speech. You should say:

You should say:

where you went

why you go to this particular place

what you did and with whom

Answer: I went on a road trip with my family and we got lost. It started to get dark so my father decided to stay the night in the nearby town. When we checked into a motel I was just so disappointed. Everything was so unhygienic and improper. And I told my father that I cannot spend another moment in this one-horse town. But then he made me understand that there is no town or anything in the range of 45 miles so we need to stay here only. So I did but that was the most horrible experience of my life.

• Cool One’s Heels

Meaning: to remain calm and in place, to be kept waiting

Example:

1. We had to cool our heels when the release of our music album got pushed back.
2. They cooled their heels at the table for almost an hour before the waiter appeared.

Check: Get 10 Free IELTS Sample Papers

Check: Register for IELTS Coaching - Join for Free Trial Class Now

Exercise:

Choose the suitable idiom to complete the sentence below.

1. Fans of the band were forced to _________________ outside the theater for 90 minutes.

1. stirred up a hornet’s nest
2. cool their heels
3. one-horse town
4. snug as a bug in a rug

Answer: B

Explanation: The idiom used to describe that the fans of the band had to wait a really long time. Thus the idiom used accurately describes the situation.

2. Describe a time when you waited for something or someone. Try to use this idiom in your speech. You should say:

who or what you waited for

when and how long you waited for the person or thing

where you waited

and explain why you waited for the person or thing.

Answer: A year ago I was traveling with my friends to Mumbai. We had to reach the airport in 2 hours and one of my friends got really late. First, we had to pick her up but she wasn’t even ready then she forgot her phone charger so we had to go back to pick it up. Fortunately, we reached the airport just 5 minutes before the reporting time. We were so relieved that we did not miss our flights.