Common Idioms For Work IELTS Speaking

Common Idioms for Work IELTS Speaking can help candidates with a number of phrases or expressions that they can use in their IELTS Speaking assessment. Idioms and phrases play a critical role while a test-taker appears for either of the sections in the IELTS examination. In order to score good marks, use of common IELTS idioms can be undertaken by the candidates. Candidates appearing for IELTS speaking must learn how to use them appropriately in their assessments.

Common Idioms For Work - IELTS Speaking

1. Put a stake in the ground

Explanation: Taking the first step
Example: As a team leader, I have to put a stake in the ground

2. Pull the Plug

Explanation: stop the project
Example: Our manager said, Let’s Pull the Plug

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3. Reality checks

Explanation: To know the ground reality of the situation
Example: Let’s do some reality checks with our employees

4. Rally the troops

Explanation: To motivate people in the group to attain more productivity.
Example: The company meeting was organized to rally the troops

5. shape up or ship out

Explanation: A person needs to show better performance or might lose the job.
Example: The team leader asked his new member to shape up or ship out

6. Stuck in the rat race

Explanation: Not able to change this boring routine
Example: The new government project bidding is bogus, we are stuck in the rat race

7. Step up to the plate

Explanation: Taking potential responsibility
Example: The CEO asked me to step up to the plate for the new project

8. Belt-tightening

Explanation: To reduce expenses.
Example: During the global pandemic, our company had to do some belt-tightening

9. Bite the bullet

Explanation: To take a very difficult decision due to the arisen situation.
Example: As many client’s projects got dissolved, the company had to bite the bullet and initiate layoffs

10. Keep their eye on the prize

Explanation: Focusing on the result by not paying attention to small hurdles.
Example: Working overtime is tough, but I asked my team to keep their eye on the prize

11. Fringe benefits

Explanation: Additional things an employee receives other than the salary.
Example: My employer offers me more fringe benefits like commute, food & snacks, medical benefits.

12. On top of trends

Explanation: being up to date on industry topics.
Example: My company always allows me to be on top of trends related to our industry.

13. Flexible working hours

Explanation: Employees select their working schedule.
Example: Though we do not have flexible working hours, the working environment is very optimistic.

14. Red tape

Explanation: Mandatory strict rules to be followed.
Example: Due to an increase in job scams and fraudulent job offers, my employer has very stringent red tape.

15. Passing the buck

Explanation: Blaming others
Example: The team I am working with always gets involved in passing the buck.

16. Brownie points

Explanation: Credit based on a person’s good deed
Example: Our company rewards brownie points to the best performing employee every month

17. Climb the corporate ladder

Explanation: Promotions within a company.
Example: This job will certainly help me to climb the corporate ladder.

18. Slave driver

Explanation: Making others work very hard.
Example: My co-employees always call my boss a slave driver

19. Lot on my plate

Explanation: Too much
Example: Nowadays I have a lot on my plate and am unable to relax.

20. Not rocket science

Explanation: It’s not difficult
Example: My job is not rocket science, I can do it easily.

21. A mover and shaker

Explanation: Important & well known to all
Example: I am a mover and shaker in the entire company.

22. Get the ball rolling

Explanation: get started instantly
Example: Always our manager tells us to get the ball rolling

23. Up to speed

Explanation: up to date on all info
Example: As I am a new joiner, my teammate helped me to get up to speed on all the accounts.

24. Back to the drawing board

Explanation: To start again
Example: When our project was a failure, our manager asked us to proceed back to the drawing board.

25. Burn the midnight oil

Explanation: work overtime
Example: Sometimes due to tight deadlines, we used to burn the midnight oil.

26. Think outside the box

Explanation: beyond something normal
Example: Normally don’t take ideas from the past, try to think outside the box.

27. On the same page.

Explanation: everyone is up to date regarding all the information
Example: I created a WhatsApp group so that every team member will be on the same page.

Model Answers: Common Idioms Work - IELTS Speaking

Q 1. Tell us about your regular working day.

Answer: I am an early bird, so I get up at 4 in the morning. I go jogging every morning for about an hour. Then take a cold shower followed by a healthy breakfast to ensure lots of energy to be productive the whole day. I take the public commute to work and the whole day is fully packed.

Q 2. Tell me something about your job that you wish to change.

Answer. Well, I am a very passionate content writer who contributes articles and marketing materials to industry-leading clients. I don’t feel stress as I enjoy my job. If there were something I could change, I think that would be to buy my own space and equip more advanced gadgets to support my work progress. Working in an optimistic environment will certainly improvise your potential.