Common Idioms for Topic Involvement and Interest IELTS Reading

Idioms are a part of IELTS reading preparation. In IELTS Reading, candidates come across a variety of passages that are suitable for candidates pursuing undergraduate or postgraduate education abroad. Idioms are often found in those IELTS reading passages, and understanding those helps the test-takers answer IELTS reading questions correctly. This topic contains a wide range of exercises and phrases for candidates to know.

Idioms for Topic Involvement and Interest 

Exercise 1:

Complete the best answer to complete the sentences.

1. Come to our arts and crafts evening and try your ________ at something different.

1. nose
2. heart
3. hand

Answer: c hand
Explanation: The phrase "try your hand at something" is used in this context to suggest that you should try something out to see if you are any good at it. The phrase conveys the same meaning. So, C is the best choice.

2. Don’t stick your ________ into matters that don’t concern you.

1. ears
2. nose
3. hand

Answer: b nose
Explanation: The idiom employed here The expression "poke your nose into something or put your nose into something" refers to interfering with matters that are unrelated to one's own interests. The phrase conveys the same meaning. Therefore, choice B is the right one.

3. Everyone stayed late yesterday – we’re up to our ________ in work at the office.

1. hearts
2. ears
3. noses

Answer: b ears
Explanation: The idiom employed here The phrase "up to your ears" refers to being overly occupied or immersed in something. It might refer to being at work or in a bad circumstance. The phrase conveys the same meaning. Therefore, choice B is the right one.

4. The rebuilding of the church organ was a real labour of ________.

1. love
2. heart
3. business

Answer: a love
Explanation: The phrase "a labor of love" is used in this context, which suggests you do something because you enjoy it or passionately believe it is worthwhile. The phrase conveys the same meaning. Therefore, choice A is the right one.

5. The new committee at the sports club are making lots of changes and they really mean ________.

1. heart
2. labour
3. business

Answer: c business
Explanation: The expression "mean business" is used here to signify If you are serious and committed to your work, you are showing that you mean business. The phrase conveys the same meaning. So, C is the best choice.

6. We believe that the judge is fair and has no ________ to grind.

1. axe
2. bandwagon
3. appetite

Answer: a axe
Explanation: The idiom "having an axe to grind" is used in this context to describe someone who has strong opinions about something, frequently because they feel they have been treated unfairly or because they wish to gain an advantage. The phrase conveys the same meaning. Therefore, choice A is the right one.

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Exercise 2

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

Answer:

Question 1:

Answer: D
Explanation: When someone jumps on the bandwagon, they do so because they believe the activity will succeed or is currently popular.

Question 2:

Answer: C
Explanation: If you steer clear of someone or something, you do it on purpose.

Question 3:

Answer: B
Explanation: A labor of love is anything you do because you like it or think it's vital.

Question 4:

Answer: E
Explanation: When someone keeps a low profile, they refrain from acting in ways that will make them stand out.

Question 5:

Answer: F
Explanation: Despite the fact that it is not your cup of tea, you have a genuine interest in or excitement about anything.

Question 6:

Answer: A
Explanation: If someone is seen in the picture, they are related to the subject you are talking about.

Exercise 3:

Decide if the following sentences are true (T) or (F).

1. If you have an axe to grind, you have certain attitudes that are based on personal experience.

Answer: TRUE
Explanation: When someone has a vendetta against anything, they generally do so because they feel they have been treated unfairly or because they wish to gain an advantage. The statement has the same meaning here. So, the statement is TRUE.

2. If you jump on the bandwagon, you don’t want to follow others in becoming involved in an activity.

Answer: FALSE
Explanation: When someone joins the bandwagon, they impulsively engage in a particular activity because it is likely to be successful or is currently in style. Here, the statement has a different meaning. So, the statement is FALSE.

3. If you steer clear of something, you want to get involved.

Answer: FALSE
Explanation: You purposefully avoid someone or something if you steer clear of them. Here, the statement has a different meaning. So, the statement is FALSE.

4. If you are up to your ears in something, you are very busy or involved.

Answer: TRUE
Explanation: You are highly occupied with it or are thoroughly immersed in it if you are up to your ears at work or in a bad scenario. The statement has the same meaning here. So, the statement is TRUE.

5. If someone is a nosey parker, they want to know more information than they need.

Answer: TRUE
Explanation: The definition of a nosy parker is someone who is very curious about other people. The statement has the same meaning here. So, the statement is TRUE.

6. If you keep a low profile, you want to become visibly involved in something.

Answer: FALSE
Explanation: When someone maintains a low profile, they refrain from acting in ways that will draw attention to themselves. Here, the statement has a different meaning. So, the statement is FALSE.

Exercise 4:

Read the sentences and choose the best explanation.

1. His heart isn’t really in it.

1. He hates it.
2. He isn’t completely happy with it.

Answer: b He isn’t completely happy with it.
Explanation: This indicates that the individual is not entirely content with what they are doing.

2. I’m going to try my hand at pottery.

1. I’m going to see what it’s like.
2. I’m not going to continue doing it.

Answer: a I’m going to see what it’s like.
Explanation: The idiom here indicates that the speaker will test out her pottery-making skills to see how it turns out.

3. It really sounds as if he means business.

1. I think he’s serious about it.
2. I don’t think he’s serious about it.

Answer: a I think he’s serious about it.
Explanation: A person who "means business" is serious about what they are thinking.

4. I made this card myself. It was a real labour of love.

1. It didn’t take long
2. I worked very hard at it.

Answer: b I worked very hard at it.
Explanation: The phrase "labor of love" is used to describe how hard the author worked on the project.

5. I don’t want to poke my nose into your business.

1. I respect your privacy.
2. I want to be involved.

Answer: a I respect your privacy.
Explanation: Respecting someone's privacy involves not prying means.

6. I’d steer clear of that issue, if I were you.

1. I’d get involved.
2. I would avoid it.

Answer: b I would avoid it.
Explanation: Avoiding any problem entails doing so for a valid cause.

Exercise 5:

Replace the underlined words with the correct idioms in the box.

Pat: Hi, George. How are you?

George: Hi, Pat. I’ve been 1 very busy for the last few months. We’ve taken on a lot of new clients. One of our : main competitors, has been expanding rapidly. It’s clear that they 2 are really serious about succeeding. So my boss has decided to 3 follow the trend and start expanding too. I don’t 4 have a problem about the extra work, but we just don’t have enough staff to deal with it all.

Pat: You should ask for a promotion.

George: I would, but then they’d expect me to work even longer hours! So I’m going to 5 avoid that. Anyway, I’ve : been thinking about a career change. I’m beginning to think that software development is 6 not something I enjoy.

Question 1.

Answer: up to my ears
Explanation: Up to my ears denotes intense involvement in and tremendous busyness with something.

Question 2.

Answer: mean business
Explanation: The expression "mean business" denotes a person's extreme seriousness about the topic at hand.

Question 3.

Answer: jump on the bandwagon
Explanation: Getting involved in a venture because it has a good chance of success is referred to as jumping on the bandwagon.

Question 4.

Answer: have an axe to grind
Explanation: A person who has an issue with anything is said to have an axe to grind because they believe they are not being treated fairly or because they stand to gain from it.

Question 5.

Answer: steer clear of
Explanation: Avoiding something out of some reason is what is meant by steering clear of it.

Question 6.

Answer: not really my cup of tea
Explanation: Not my cup of tea denotes a person's lack of interest in the topic at hand.

Exercise 6:

Correct the idioms in these sentences.

1. I’m going to steer a low profile and hope nobody asks me to volunteer for anything at the committee meeting.

Answer: keep a low profile
Explanation: When someone keeps a low profile, they refrain from acting in ways that will make them stand out.

2. You certainly look like you mean to do business with your rubber gloves and apron on!

Answer: mean business
Explanation: If you are doing what you are doing because you mean business, you are serious and committed.

3. I wish people wouldn’t poke their sticks into my business.

Answer: poke their noses into
Explanation: Someone is meddling with something when they stick their nose into something that doesn't concern them.

4. I think I’ll just jump on the picture and start my diet with the rest of you.

Answer: jump on the bandwagon
Explanation: When someone joins a trend or an activity because it is anticipated to be successful, they are said to have "jumped the bandwagon."

5. It’s probably best to jump clear of the city centre during the rush hour.

Answer: steer clear of
Explanation: If you steer clear of someone or something, you do it on purpose.

6. I’ve decided I’m going to try my heart at DIY and redecorate my room.

Answer: try my hand
Explanation: When you give anything a shot, you're testing your abilities to see if you can pull it off.

7. My trip to America the previous year had whetted my nose for foreign travel.

Answer: whetted mv appetite
Explanation: You want something when something piques your interest in it.

8. It’s amazing how much information a serious nosy profile can find out.

Answer: nosy parker
Explanation: An excessively curious person is referred to as a nosy parker.

Exercise 7:

Complete the sentences with idioms from this unit, changing the verb and pronoun forms if necessary.

1. Writing this book has been a great pleasure, a true _____________.

Answer: labour of love
Explanation: A labor of love is anything you do because you like it or think it's vital.

2. He arrived at precisely nine o’clock, wearing workmen’s boots and carrying his tool kit, so we knew he _____________

Answer: meant business
Explanation: If you are doing what you are doing because you mean business, you are serious and committed.

3. She did nothing to draw attention to herself, trying to _____________

Answer: keep a low profile
Explanation: When someone keeps a low profile, they refrain from acting in ways that will make them stand out.

4. I always try to write the same amount about each of the political parties – I don’t _____________

Answer: have an axe to grind
Explanation: When someone has an axe to grind, it's usually because they feel they've been treated unfairly or they want to gain an advantage.

5. If you want people to respect you, don’t _____________ their private affairs.

Answer: poke/stick your nose into
Explanation: Someone is meddling with something when they stick their nose into something that doesn't concern them.

6. In the interview with Sir Allan, I _____________ any questions relating to the court case.

Answer: steered clear of
Explanation: If you steer clear of someone or something, you do it on purpose.

7. After advertising six vacancies, they are now _____________ in applications forms.

Answer: up to their ears
Explanation: If you are immersed in work or an uncomfortable situation, you are deeply engaged in it or extremely preoccupied with it.

8. _____________ at deep sea fishing or take a course in scuba diving. Beginners welcome!

Answer: Try your hand
Explanation: When you give anything a shot, you're testing your abilities to see if you can pull it off.