Common Idioms for IELTS Topic - Trouble
The IELTS Idioms make the conversation or a sentence more interesting and attractive. In English, phrasal verbs and idioms are commonly used. To answer IELTS speaking and reading sections, the candidates must learn different types of idioms. The evaluation of IELTS speaking concentrates on the criteria of how well the candidates use idiomatic language. And when you are a beginner in language learning you must be very careful to use them in your sentences.
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Topic: Common Idioms for IELTS Topic - Trouble
Exercise 1
Complete the sentences with the words in the box
| fly | block | circle | trouble | goal | leg | foot| head |
- He put his ____________ in it by asking if she was going to marry Craig.
- I’m in over my ____________ with debt just now.
- The cost of the solution is the biggest stumbling ____________
- I haven’t got a ____________ to stand on because I have no witnesses.
- So often with many health problems, a vicious ____________ is established.
- The suspect scored an own ____________ by making a phone call that the police recorded.
- If you post that picture on the Internet you’re asking for ____________
- The ____________ in the ointment was that the sound system was not powerful enough.
Answer 1: foot
Explanation: The idiom “Put his foot in it” means to embarrass someone.
Answer 2: head
Explanation: The idiom “over my head” means in a very difficult situation.
Answer 3: block
Explanation: The idiom “stumbling block” means a problem that causes hindrance.
Answer 4: leg
Explanation: The idiom “leg to stand” means unable to prove the claim.
Also, check:
Answer 5: circle
Explanation: The idiom “vicious circle” means a trouble that causes more troubles, hence making the problem bigger.
Answer 6: goal
Explanation: The idiom “an own goal” means an advantage that is actually causing trouble to you.
Answer 7: trouble
Explanation: The idiom “be asking for trouble” means behaving a certain way that likely causes more trouble.
Answer 8: fly
Explanation: The idiom “a/the fly in the ointment” means preventing a difficult situation to be happy one.
Exercise 2
Answer the questions.
- Does a fly in the ointment lead to or prevent a successful outcome?
- Isa stumbling block something that stops or helps you from reaching your goals?
- Are teething troubles temporary or permanent problems?
- If you are in something over your head, are you able or unable to cope with a situation?
- Is a person usually pleased or offended if you put your foot in it when you say something to them?
- Does a vicious circle usually have a definite good outcome or not?
Answer 1: prevent
Explanation: The idiom “a/the fly in the ointment” means preventing a difficult situation to be happy one.
Answer 2: stops
Explanation: The idiom “stumbling block” means a problem that causes hindrance.
Answer 3: temporary
Explanation: The idiom “teething troubles” means problems in a very early stage.
Answer 4: unable
Explanation: The idiom “over my head” means in a very difficult situation.
Answer 5: offended
Explanation: The idiom “Put his foot in it” means to embarrass someone.
Answer 6: not
Explanation: The idiom “vicious circle” means a trouble that causes more troubles, hence making the problem bigger.
Exercise 3
Complete the sentences. Choose the correct idioms.
- I really don’t think you should attempt all that in one day. You’re putting your foot in it. / It’s biting off more than you can chew. / It’s a stumbling block.
- I’m sure things will improve. Everyone has a fly in the ointment / a vicious circle / teething problems when they first start a new job.
- I can’t get a teaching job without a qualification and I can’t get a qualification without some teaching experience. It’s a Catch 22 situation. / a stumbling block. / an own goal.
- I really didn’t have a leg to stand on / put my foot in it /was in over my head when I asked her how her husband was. I didn’t realise they’d separated.
- I wouldn’t leave one bad situation to go into another, even worse one. It’ll be a fly in the ointment, /putting your foot in it. / going from the frying pan into the fire.
- The only stumbling block / vicious circle / teething troubles to my chances of getting a promotion is my lack of experience in the field.
Answer 1: It’s biting off more than you can chew.
Explanation: The idiom “bite off more than you can chew” means too big or too difficult for you.
Answer 2: teething problems
Explanation: The idiom “teething troubles” means problems in a very early stage.
Answer 3: a Catch 22 situation
Explanation: The idiom “a Catch 22” means a difficult situation wherein one thing cannot happen until another thing has happened.
Answer 4: put my foot in it
Explanation: The idiom “Put foot in it” means to embarrass someone.
Answer 5: going from the frying pan into the fire
Explanation: The idiom “out of the frying pan into the fire or from the frying pan into the fire” means removed from a bad or difficult situation.
Answer 6: stumbling block
Explanation: The idiom “stumbling block” means a problem that causes hindrance.
Exercise 4
Correct the idioms in these sentences.
- I found myself in a ridiculous Circle 22 situation.
- It’s a vicious round because the fear gets worse each time she sees a cat, and now she’s afraid of the fear itself.
- This job is really too difficult for US now – we’re in up to our legs.
- I scored my own goal when I told my boss I didn’t really need a pay rise.
- The block in the ointment is the fact that you really need a fast broadband Internet connection to play these games properly.
- You might have bitten off more trouble than you can chew with this project.
- Restaurants inevitably suffer tooth troubles when they are establishing themselves.
- Letting a child near a can of spray paint is just asking for troubles.
Answer 1: Catch 22 situation
Explanation: The idiom “a Catch 22” means a difficult situation wherein one thing cannot happen until another thing has happened.
Answer 2: a vicious circle
Explanation: The idiom “vicious circle” means a trouble that causes more troubles, hence making the problem bigger.
Answer 3: in over our heads
Explanation: The idiom “in over our heads” means in a situation where you have no skills.
Answer 4: an own goal
Explanation: The idiom “an own goal” means scoring in own goal post.
Answer 5: fly in the ointment
Explanation: The idiom “a/the fly in the ointment” means preventing a difficult situation to be happy one.
Answer 6: bitten off more than you can chew
Explanation: The idiom “bite off more than you can chew” means too big or too difficult for you.
Answer 7: teething troubles
Explanation: The idiom “teething troubles” means problems in a very early stage.
Answer 8: asking for trouble
Explanation: The idiom “asking for trouble” means an act to incur trouble or problems.
Exercise 5
Complete the sentences with idioms from this unit, changing the verb forms if necessary.
- A politician can score __________ if a publicity photo makes him look ridiculous.
- After some initial __________ , the business began to do well.
- Having finally left one bad relationship, she jumped __________
- You don’t have a formal contract with the company so I’m afraid you haven’t really got __________.
- Leaving valuable possessions in a car is asking __________
- Here is a ten-point guide to help you avoid putting __________ when you meet your girlfriend’s father.
Answer 1: an own goal
Explanation: The idiom “an own goal” means scoring in own goal post.
Answer 2: teething troubles/problems
Explanation: The idiom “teething troubles” means problems in a very early stage.
Answer 3: out of/from the frying pan into the fire
Explanation: The idiom “out of the frying pan into the fire or from the frying pan into the fire” means removed from a bad or difficult situation.
Answer 4: a leg to stand on
Explanation: The idiom “leg to stand” means unable to prove the claim.
Answer 5: for trouble
Explanation: The idiom “for trouble” means difficult situations.
Answer 6: your foot in it
Explanation: The idiom “Put his foot in it” means to embarrass someone.
Exercise 6
Complete the table. Put the idioms in the correct groups.
| a stumbling block | a Catch 22 | a vicious circle | the fly in the ointment | an own goal bite off more than you can chew | put your foot in it in over your head | not have a leg to stand on | out of the frying pan into the fire |
| causing difficulty | 1 _________________________________________ 2 _________________________________________ 3 _________________________________________ 4 _________________________________________ 5 _________________________________________ |
| a difficulty situation | 1 _________________________________________ 2 _________________________________________ 3 _________________________________________ 4 _________________________________________ 5 _________________________________________ |
| causing difficulty | Answer 1: a stumbling block Answer 2: the fly in the ointment Answer 3: an own goal Answer 4: bite off more than you can chew Answer 5: put your foot in it |
| a difficult situation | Answer 1: a Catch 22 Answer 2: a vicious circle Answer 3: in over your head Answer 4: not have a leg to stand on Answer 5: out of the frying pan into the fire |
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