Common Idioms For Starting and Stopping IELTS Reading

Common Idioms For Starting and Stopping IELTS Reading contains 6 exercises. The exercise questions include complete the sentence with correct word, match the idioms and their meanings, complete the sentence by choosing the best suited word, match the idioms with situations, correct the idioms in the sentence, choose the appropriate idiom, and complete the table.
Common Idioms For Starting and Stopping IELTS Reading assesses candidates on their reading abilities in English language. Candidates willing to achieve a high IELTS Score need to be proficient in vocabulary and use of idioms. In order to excel in IELTS Reading section candidates need to enhance their knowledge in the use of idioms. Candidates need to undertake effective preparation in learning idioms for IELTS to improve their English language skills.

Topic - Starting and Stopping

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

1. Evans set the _________ rolling with a £1 million donation to the charity.

Answer: Ball
Idiom. Set the ball rolling
Explanation: Evans made the first amount for charity and now others will join in.

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2. The family has agreed to turn over a new _________ in their relations with each other.

Answer: Leaf
Idiom. Turn over a new leaf
Explanation: The family has decided to forget the past and begin anew with their relationship with each other.

3. We need someone who is fully trained so that they can hit the _________ running.

Answer: Ground
Idiom. Hit the ground running
Explanation: The speaker is in need of someone who can start on something with vigour and energy.

4. This is worrying – we need to knock this idea on the _________ very quickly.

Answer: Head
Idiom. Knock this idea on the head
Explanation: As indicated, the idea is not appreciated so it needs to come to a stop.

5. The negotiations ground to a _________ when the foreign minister walked out.

Answer: Halt
Idiom. Ground to a halt
Explanation: The negotiations came to an end as the minister left the venue.

6. When the students start getting nervous you must nip it in the _________ .

Answer: Bud
Idiom. Nip it in the bud
Explanation: The students must stop being nervous so they should resolve the issue before it gets worse.

7. The walking group decided to call it a _________ when the rain turned to snow.

Answer: Day
Idiom. Call it a day
Explanation: Because of snow the group decided to stop walking and ends its activities for the day.

8. If you really mean _________, you’ll need to buy some better gardening tools.

Answer: Business
Idiom. Mean business
Explanation: If the person is serious about gardening, to start they’ll have to get better equipment.

Exercise 2

Match idioms 1-6 with a word or phrase A-F with the same meaning.

1. I think it’s time to set the ball rolling.
2. This kind of behaviour needs to be nipped in the bud.
3. You should turn over a new leaf. You might surprise yourself.
4. Is the green light flashing? Then we’re in business.
5. ‘Enough is enough!’ said the children’s exasperated mother.
6. Sometimes it’s quicker just to do the whole job from scratch.

1. from the beginning
2. off to a good start
3. stopped quickly
4. start
5. behave better
6. it’s time to stop

1. Answer: D

Idiom. Set the ball rolling

Explanation: It means to start on something or begin

2. Answer: C

Idiom. Nipped in the bud

Explanation: It means to stop something prematurely before it becomes big

3. Answer: E

Idiom. Turn over a new leaf

Explanation: If their behaviour before was unsatisfactory, they can start fresh and behave properly from now on.

4. Answer: B

Idiom. Green light flashing

Explanation: Green indicates start, as is the same case with traffic lights.

5. Answer: F

Idiom. Enough is enough

Explanation: It is time to put a stop to what is happening.

6. Answer: A

Idiom. From scratch

Explanation: To start doing something from the beginning.

Exercise 3

Complete the sentences. Choose the best answers.

1. The traffic was so bad that our car ground to a halt / nipped it in the bud / cut our losses.

Answer: Ground to a halt
Explanation: As there was a lot of traffic, the car had to be stopped.

2. After ten hours’ studying, I decided to hit the ground running / set the ball rolling / call it a day.

Answer: Call it a day
Explanation: The person decided to stop studying for the day after committing 10 hours to it already.

3. Henry’s a changed person. He must have called it quits / been in business / turned over a new leaf.

Answer: Turned over a new leaf
Explanation: Henry has decided to behave better and be a good person.

4. This situation has gone on too long. I think it’s time we knocked it on the head / hit the ground running / ground to a halt.

Answer: Knocked it on the head
Explanation: The ongoing situation is showing bad results, so it is time to stop.

5. We need someone who can start the job immediately and nip it in the bud / hit the ground running / call it quits.

Answer: Hit the ground running
Explanation: Some who can start doing the job with enthusiasm are needed.

6. I forgot to save the file, and I’ve lost all the work I did today. I’ve got to turn over a new leaf / start in business / start from scratch.

Answer: Start from scratch
Explanation:The file wasn't saved in the computer, so the speaker has to start working on it from the beginning.

Exercise 4

Match idioms 1-6 with situations A-F.

Bob has decided to retire as manager.

Many of these students have never studied English before.

The team were amazing when they came back for the second half and won the match easily.

The series was getting boring so the producers decided to end it.

We unpacked the new PC and installed the software.

You should accept your failures and concentrate on your successes.

1. They hit the ground running.
2. They have to start from scratch.
3. He is going to call it a day.
4. You must cut your losses.
5. They knocked it on the head.
6. We got it up and running.

1. Answer: C

Idiom.call it a day

Explanation: Bob is retiring and today is his last day working.

2. Answer: B

Idiom. Start from scratch

Explanation:The students have not learned English before, so they have to do it from the beginning.

3. Answer: A

Idiom. Hit the ground running

Explanation: The team was full of energy and performed very well when they came for the second part and even won the match.

4. Answer: E

Idiom. Knocked it on the head

Explanation: As the series was boring, the producers decided to stop the show.

5. Answer: F

Idiom. Up and running

Explanation: They have started the PC and it can now be used.

6. Answer: D

Idiom. Cut your losses

Explanation: Because the venture ended in failure, you have to stop spending time and energy on it and just stop. Instead focus on what you are successful at.

Exercise 5

Correct the idioms in these sentences.

1. I was exhausted, ready to call it the day, go home and fall asleep.

Answer: Call it a day
Explanation: The speaker is tired and would like to stop work for the day, go home and sleep.

2. If you want a lift to the city centre, you’re starting in business because that’s exactly where I’m going.

Answer: You’re in business
Explanation: The speaker is starting to go to the city centre and can drop off the listener.

3. The existing software was no longer usable and had to be rewritten from the scratch.

Answer: From scratch
Explanation: The software cannot be used anymore, so they have to start from the beginning and rewrite it.

4. There came a point when I had to say enough is quits and the discussion had to stop.

Answer: Enough is enough
Explanation: The speaker did not want to carry on and stopped the ongoing discussion.

5. Shall I stay and finish my degree or cut my losses and go travelling?

Answer: Cut my losses
Explanation: The speaker is pondering on whether they should continue with their course or drop out and use that money to go travelling.

6. I’ll make films for one more year and then I’m going to keep it quits.

Answer: Call it quits
Explanation: The person is saying they will stop making films after this year.

7. The first stage of our advertising campaign is now up and turning.

Answer: Up and running
Explanation: The advertising campaign has started with its first stage.

8. The best way to stop an argument is to hit it in the bud.

Answer: Nip it in the bud
Explanation: The argument can be stopped before it gets worse if you end it in its initial stage itself.

Exercise 6

Choose the most appropriate thing to say A-F in each situation.

1. We’re up and running.
2. We need to nip this in the bud.
3. Let’s start from scratch.
4. It’s grinding to a halt.
5. I’m going to call it a day.
6. I’ll start the ball rolling.

1. You’ve been working long hours. You think it’s time to go home.

Answer: E
Idiom. Call it a day
Explanation: The person has been working for most of the day so it's time to stop and go home now.

2. You’ve noticed a lot of negative behaviour in your workplace lately. You don’t want it to continue.

Answer: B
Idiom. Nip it in the bud
Explanation: The people at work are showing negative behaviour and have to be stopped before it gets worse.

3. You want to start an activity that you hope everyone will join in with.

Answer: F
Idiom. Ball rolling
Explanation: For everyone to enjoy, first an activity is needed, so the speaker is saying he/she will start.

4. Your new business has started and is functioning successfully.

Answer: A
Idiom. Up and running
Explanation: The new business has started and is going well.

5. Development on something that is slowing down will soon stop completely.

Answer: D
Idiom. Grounding to halt
Explanation: The development of something is being stopped, it is slowly being ceased.

6. You want to create something completely new, rather than improve what you already have.

Answer: C
Idiom. Start from scratch
Explanation: Instead of working on what is already there. The intention is to start something new.

Exercise 7

Complete the table with idioms from this unit.

Answer: