Common Idioms for Progress IELTS Reading

Candidates need to learn different types of idioms to properly answer IELTS writing and reading sections. There is a wide range of idioms found under the term ‘Progress’. This idiom is focused on the IELTS Reading section. Candidates will find different types of questions as they do in the IELTS reading section. In order to have proficiency over the usage of idioms candidates can IELTS Reading practice papers and later appear for a mock test to know their mistakes.

Topic: Progress

Exercise 1

Complete the sentences with the words in the box

1. I was bored and my career was in the ______________
2. Yoga for children is something that seems to be gaining ______________
3. He has had no success with this idea. I think he’s flogging a dead ______________
4. At least this result tells us that we’re on the right ______________
5. If we want this plan to succeed we must get our ______________ together right now.
6. The building development has been put on ______________because of financial problems.

Answer1: doldrums

Explanation: If any person or organization etc is in the doldrums, then they are not successful and aren't making progress.

Answer 2: ground

Explanation: If someone gains ground, they make progress and become more powerful or important.

Answer 3:horse

Explanation: “flogging a dead horse” means one is continuously wasting their time on a particular thing, which is difficult to achieve.

Answer 4: track

Explanation: ”moving on a right track” means that one is moving on a successful track.

Answer 5: act

Explanation: If someone gets their act together, it means that one has organized effectively so that one can deal successfully.

Answer 6: hold

Explanation: a hold” means that one has decided not to do it until a later time.

Exercise2

Choose the best definition for each sentence.

1. He’s on a roll.

1. making progress and having success
2. getting confused

Answer1: making progress and having success

Explanation: ”on a roll” means that you are making a lot of success having a great journey.

2. Video conferencing is gaining ground in the workplace.

1. becoming less popular
2. becoming more popular

Answer2: becoming more popular

Explanation: “Gaining ground” means something is becoming more powerful and making progress.

3. Could you read my draft essay and tell me if I’m on the right track?

1. developing it in the right way
2. got everything right first time

Answer 3: developing it in the right way

Explanation: ”moving on a right track” means that one is moving on a successful track and making progress

4. We’re going round in circles on this issue.

1. coming to a conclusion
2. not making any progress

Answer 4: not making any progress

Explanation: Here,”round in circles” means that one has not achieved much as they are repeatedly dealing with the same issue.

5. I’m struggling to get to grips with this equipment.

1. can’t hold it correctly
2. don’t understand it properly

Answer 5: don’t understand it properly

Explanation: “getting a grip” indicates that one is continuously making an effort to start understanding and dealing with problems.

6. After a lot of research we came to the conclusion that we’d been barking up the wrong tree.

1. misunderstanding the situation
2. doing too much work

Answer6: misunderstanding the situation

Explanation: “barking up the wrong tree” means that if someone is barking up the wrong tree then they are not following the correct path as their beliefs are wrong.

Exercise3

Match sentence halves 1-6 with A-F to make complete sentences.

Answer 1: B

Explanation: Here,” flogging a dead horse” means one is continuously wasting their time on a particular thing, which is very difficult to achieve.

Answer 2: E

Explanation: “Light at the end of the tunnel” implies that there is a ray of hope to tackle the problem.

Answer 3: A

Explanation: “putting hold on a while” means that one has decided not to do it until a later time.

Answer 4: C

Explanation: ”round in circles” indicates that one has not achieved much as they are repeatedly dealing with the same issue.

Answer 5: F

Explanation: The idiom, “in the pipeline” indicates that something has been already made.

Answer 6: D

Explanation: “make headway” that you are moving successfully towards your path, which you were trying to achieve.

Exercise 4

Choose the best answer to complete the sentences.

1. It appears that the police are beginning to ___________ in the investigation.

1. get to grips
2. bark up the wrong tree
3. make headway

Answer 1: make headways

Explanation: The correct sentence which can be used here is “make headways” it means you are moving successfully towards your path, which you were trying to achieve.

2. We had to put our lives ___________ until we were both healthy again.

1. on hold
2. in the doldrums
3. on a roll

Answer 2: on hold

Explanation: “on hold” means that one has decided not to do it until a later time.

3. As these new ideas ___________ attitudes started to change.

1. went round in circles
2. got on a roll
3. gained

Answer 3: gained

Explanation: gained attitudes here means similar to “gaining ground” , one is becoming successful and is making progress in his/her life.

4. I wish you would stop wasting time and ___________

1. lose ground
2. get your act together
3. go round in circles

Answer 4: get your act together

Explanation: “get your act together” means that one has organized themselves very effectively in dealing with things.

5. Your book needs a bit of editing but I think you’re ___________

1. on the right track
2. in the pipeline
3. barking up the wrong tree

Answer 5: on the right track

Explanation: ”moving on the right track” means that one is moving on a track to achieve success.

6. We are genuinely looking forward to the changes that are ___________

1. in the pipeline
2. getting to grips
3. going round in circles

Answer 6: in the pipeline

Explanation: The idiom, “in the pipeline” indicates that something has been already planned or created.

Exercise5

Replace the underlined words in sentences 1-8 with idioms A-H.

1. We may as well stop trying to achieve victory on this issue – we’re just wasting time.
2. You need to organize yourself and start studying for your final exams.
3. It’s been a difficult project but I feel that we are progressing, at last.
4. I’m afraid plans for an extension have to be postponed until we have enough money.
5. Things are still financially difficult for the company but we can see the possibility of success, at least.
6. Plans for a new tourist information office are in development, as well as a new shopping centre.
7. The detectives admit that they’ve been following the wrong tree for some time.
8. The industry has been suffering a period of inactivity with sales down 15 per cent on last year.

1. in the pipeline
2. in the doldrums
3. barking up the wrong tree
4. flogging a dead horse
5. see light at the end of the tunnel
6. get your act together
7. put on hold
8. making headway

Answer 1: D

Explanation: “flogging a dead horse” means one is continuously wasting their time on a particular thing, which is difficult to achieve.

Answer 2: F

Explanation: “get your act together” means that one has organized themselves very effective in dealing with things.

Answer 3: H

Explanation: “making headways” means you are moving successfully towards your path, which you were trying to achieve.

Answer 4: G

Explanation: “ put on hold” indicates that one has decided not to do it until a later time.

Answer 5: E

Explanation: “Light at the end of the tunnel” implies that there is a ray of hope coming to face the problems and tackle them.

Answer 6: A

Explanation: “in the pipeline” means that something has been already planned or decided.

Answer 7: C

Explanation: Here, “barking up the wrong tree” means that if someone is barking up the wrong tree then they are following the wrong path.

Answer 8: A

Explanation:  If something is in the doldrums, then it means that they are not successful and aren't making progress.

Exercise6

Correct the idioms in these sentences.

1. We have taken action to put the industry back on the right side of the track.
2. There are nearly 350 new hospital schemes going through the pipeline.
3. People feel hopeless. They don’t see any light at the end of the pipeline.
4. The decision to buy the car was on a roll until we could sell our old one.
5. This new evidence suggests that we may be barking up a dead tree.
6. As a company, we are trying hard to put our act together on customer service.
7. Many of these firms are losing grips to new web-based businesses.
8. I was busy trying to get to hold with the new database.

Answer 1: on the right track

Explanation: word “side” should be removed to make the idiom meaningful

Answer 2: in the pipeline

Explanation: words “going through” should be replaced by “in” to make the idiom meaningful

Answer 3: light at the end of the tunnel

Explanation: word ” tunnel” should be replaced by “pipelines'' to make the idiom meaningful.

Answer 4: on hold

Explanation: words, “ a roll” should be replaced by “hold” to make the idiom meaningful.

Answer 5: be barking up the wrong tree

Explanation: word, “dead” should be replaced by “wrong” to make the idiom meaningful.

Answer 6: get our act together

Explanation: word, ”put” should be replaced by “get” to make the idiom meaningful.

Answer 7: losing ground

Explanation: word, “grips” should be replaced by “grounds” to make the idiom meaningful.

Answer 8: get to grips

Explanation: word, “hold” should be replaced by “grips” to make the idiom meaningful.