Idioms are essential for excelling in the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Mastering idioms is crucial for excelling in the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). This article aims to simplify idioms for TOEFL preparation by providing clear explanations of their meanings and effective techniques for mastering them.
By enhancing your idiomatic understanding, you'll be equipped to perform well across all TOEFL exam sections, including speaking, reading, and writing. Let us get a better view of how idiom works from this article.
Table of Content
What are Idioms?
Idioms are figurative expressions in language that carry meanings beyond the literal interpretation of their words. They often convey a concept, idea, or sentiment concisely and vividly. Idioms are integral to effective communication in English, adding depth, nuance, and color to expressions.
Examples of Common Idioms:
Here are some examples of idioms along with their meanings:
- "Break the ice": Initiate a conversation to make people comfortable.
Example: "I tried to break the ice with my new colleagues by telling a joke."
- "Piece of cake": Something that is very easy to do or accomplish.
Example: "The exam was a piece of cake compared to what I expected."
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Why Are Idioms Important for the TOEFL?
While idioms aren't a primary focus of the TOEFL exam, they still hold significance in your preparation. Even though you might not encounter them frequently during the test, unfamiliar idioms can impede your understanding of passages or questions, potentially affecting your score. Hence, it's beneficial to allocate some study time to grasp how idioms are utilized in TOEFL contexts and to familiarize yourself with common ones.
Additionally, integrating idioms into your Speaking or Writing responses can demonstrate a higher level of English proficiency to graders, potentially enhancing your scores and making your language sound more native-like. Therefore, while not a central aspect, understanding and utilizing idioms effectively can positively impact your TOEFL performance.
Idioms in Different TOEFL Sections
Understanding how idioms are assessed on the TOEFL helps you anticipate what to encounter during the exam. In all TOEFL sections, it's crucial to note that direct questions about idioms won't be posed. You won't find a Reading question asking for the definition of an idiom like "feeling blue" or a Speaking prompt requesting you to describe an experience related to an idiom like "butterflies in your stomach."
TOEFL incorporates idioms within written passages or audio materials, albeit not as central elements. Comprehending these idioms aids in contextualizing the passages and facilitates better understanding of the content being discussed.
Now, let's look into how idioms are specifically integrated and tested within each TOEFL section.
1. TOEFL Listening Section
In this section, idioms may appear in dialogues or lectures. You won’t be directly asked to explain idioms, but recognizing them will help you understand the context better.
| Idiom | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Break the ice | To initiate a conversation or interaction in a friendly manner. |
| Catch someone's eye | To attract someone's attention. |
| Jump on the bandwagon | To join or support a popular trend or activity. |
| Miss the boat | To miss an opportunity. |
| Ring a bell | To sound familiar or remind someone of something. |
| Hit the nail on the head | To describe precisely or accurately the main point or issue. |
| Barking up the wrong tree | To pursue a mistaken or misguided course of action. |
| Cost an arm and a leg | Something that is very expensive. |
| Don't cry over spilled milk | To worry about something that has already happened and cannot be changed. |
| It's a piece of cake | Something that is very easy to do or accomplish. |
| Let the cat out of the bag | To reveal a secret. |
| Under the weather | To feel ill or not well. |
| Spill the beans | To disclose a secret or reveal information. |
| Get cold feet | To become nervous or hesitant about doing something. |
| Hit the hay | To go to bed or go to sleep. |
| A drop in the bucket | A very small amount compared to what is needed or expected. |
| All in the same boat | In the same situation or predicament. |
| Devil's advocate | Someone who argues against something, not because they disagree, but to provoke debate. |
| In the dark | Unaware or uninformed about something. |
| Tip of the iceberg | A small, visible part of a larger problem or issue. |
| On the same page | To have a shared understanding or agreement. |
| Read between the lines | To infer or understand the hidden meaning in a text. |
| Take with a grain of salt | To be skeptical or not fully believe something. |
| Hear it through the grapevine | To hear rumors or information indirectly, often through gossip. |
| Hold your horses | To wait or be patient. |
Also Read: TOEFL Listening Section: Structure, Question Types, Tips & More
2. TOEFL Speaking Section
Using idioms in the speaking section can demonstrate your fluency and proficiency. When used naturally, idioms make your responses sound more conversational and native-like.
| Idiom | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Bite the bullet | To face a difficult situation with courage. |
| Cut to the chase | To get to the point without wasting time. |
| Give the benefit of the doubt | To believe someone's statement without proof. |
| Kick the bucket | To die. |
| Pull someone's leg | To tease or joke with someone in a playful manner. |
| Scratch someone's back | To do something nice for someone expecting a favor in return. |
| See eye to eye | To agree or have the same opinion as someone. |
| Sit on the fence | To be undecided or neutral about an issue. |
| Speak of the devil | When the person you have just been talking about arrives. |
| Put all your eggs in one basket | To risk everything on a single venture. |
| Raining cats and dogs | Raining heavily. |
| Ring a bell | To sound familiar or remind someone of something. |
| Rub someone the wrong way | To annoy or irritate someone. |
| Rule of thumb | A practical or approximate guide or principle. |
| See the light at the end of the tunnel | To see signs of improvement or relief after a difficult period. |
| Show one's true colors | To reveal one's true intentions or character. |
| Sit on the fence | To be undecided or neutral about an issue. |
| Spill the beans | To disclose a secret or reveal information. |
| Steal someone's thunder | To take attention or credit away from someone else's achievement. |
| Take with a grain of salt | To be skeptical or not fully believe something. |
| The ball is in your court | It is up to you to make the next decision or take action. |
| The devil is in the details | The important or crucial elements are hidden or contained in the details. |
| Throw in the towel | To give up or surrender. |
| Time flies when you're having fun | Time seems to pass quickly when you're enjoying yourself. |
| Turn a blind eye | To ignore or pretend not to notice something. |
Also Read: Latest TOEFL Speaking Topics 2024: Sample Questions & Answers
3. TOEFL Reading Section
Idioms can appear in reading passages. Understanding them helps you interpret the passage's meaning and answer questions correctly.
| Idiom | Meaning |
|---|---|
| A blessing in disguise | Something that initially seems bad but turns out to be beneficial. |
| Add insult to injury | To make a bad situation worse. |
| In the heat of the moment | Impulsively or without careful thought. |
| Keep an eye on | To watch or monitor closely. |
| To kill two birds with one stone | To accomplish two tasks with a single action. |
| Back to the drawing board | To start over or rethink a plan after a failure. |
| Beat around the bush | To avoid addressing an issue directly. |
| Bite off more than one can chew | To take on more responsibility or work than one can handle. |
| Break a leg | A phrase used to wish someone good luck, especially before a performance. |
| Call it a day | To decide to stop working or end an activity for the day. |
| Clear the air | To resolve a misunderstanding or tension by discussing it openly. |
| Cry over spilled milk | To worry about something that has already happened and cannot be changed. |
| Cut to the chase | To get to the point without wasting time. |
| Hit the nail on the head | To describe precisely or accurately the main point or issue. |
| Hit the hay | To go to bed or go to sleep. |
| Go the extra mile | To make additional effort or go above and beyond what is required. |
| Hear it through the grapevine | To hear rumors or information indirectly, often through gossip. |
| Hold your horses | To wait or be patient. |
| In the same boat | In the same situation or predicament. |
| It's not rocket science | Something that is not difficult to understand or figure out. |
| Leave no stone unturned | To search or investigate thoroughly and exhaustively. |
| Miss the boat | To miss an opportunity. |
| Off the top of one's head | To speak or answer without much thought or preparation. |
| Once in a blue moon | Something that happens very rarely. |
| Over the moon | Extremely happy or delighted |
4. TOEFL Writing Section
In the writing section, using idioms sparingly but effectively can elevate your essay. Make sure they fit naturally into the context and avoid overuse, which can make your writing sound forced.
| Idiom | Meaning |
|---|---|
| A dime a dozen | Something that is common or easy to find. |
| All ears | Eager and attentive to listen. |
| Cut corners | To take shortcuts or do something in a quick and easy way, often sacrificing quality. |
| Don't put all your eggs in one basket | To not risk everything on a single venture. |
| Have a chip on one's shoulder | To be easily offended or hold a grudge. |
| Let the cat out of the bag | To reveal a secret. |
| Leave no stone unturned | To search or investigate thoroughly and exhaustively. |
| Miss the boat | To miss an opportunity. |
| Off the top of one's head | To speak or answer without much thought or preparation. |
| Once in a blue moon | Something that happens very rarely. |
| Pay through the nose | To pay an excessive or exorbitant amount for something. |
| Piece of cake | Something that is very easy to do or accomplish. |
| Pull someone's leg | To tease or joke with someone in a playful manner. |
| Ring a bell | To sound familiar or remind someone of something. |
| Rule of thumb | A practical or approximate guide or principle. |
| See the light at the end of the tunnel | To see signs of improvement or relief after a difficult period. |
| Show one's true colors | To reveal one's true intentions or character. |
| Sit on the fence | To be undecided or neutral about an issue. |
| Spill the beans | To disclose a secret or reveal information. |
| Steal someone's thunder | To take attention or credit away from someone else's achievement. |
| Take with a grain of salt | To be skeptical or not fully believe something. |
| The ball is in your court | It is up to you to make the next decision or take action. |
| The devil is in the details | The important or crucial elements are hidden or contained in the details. |
| Throw in the towel | To give up or surrender. |
| Time flies when you're having fun | Time seems to pass quickly when you're enjoying yourself. |
Also Read: TOEFL Writing Templates- 2024 (Updated)
37 Idioms You Should Know for the TOEFL
| Idiom | Definition | Sample Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| A short fuse | A quick temper. | Don’t get the coach mad; he has a very short fuse. |
| Beat around the bush | To avoid the main topic/not speak directly. | Stop beating around the bush and tell me why you’re here. |
| Be on your toes | Be ready/prepared. | A fire can happen at any moment, so firemen always need to be on their toes. |
| Breeze though something | To do something quickly and easily. | Don’t worry about the math homework; I’m sure you’ll breeze through it. |
| Butterflies in your stomach | To feel nervous. | Tom always got butterflies in his stomach before giving a speech. |
| Costs an arm and a leg | Is very expensive. | That new purse of hers costs an arm and a leg. |
| Couch potato | Someone who is lazy. | You need to stop being such a couch potato and start joining me at the gym. |
| Cut corners | To do something badly to save time or money. | The architect cut corners on the bridge’s construction, which is why it eventually collapsed. |
| Cut someone some slack | To go easy on someone. | I heard Rachel’s dad is sick, so we should cut her some slack on this group project. |
| Feeling blue | Feeling sad or depressed. | Erika’s been feeling blue every since her boyfriend broke up with her. |
| Finding a needle in a haystack | Virtually impossible to find. | These days, finding a job that doesn’t require experience is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. |
| Get some shut eye | Sleep. | I have a big exam tomorrow, so I need to get some shut eye. |
| Go the extra mile | Put in extra effort. | Kelsey has the highest grades in our class since she always goes the extra mile with homework assignments. |
| Hang in there | Be patient. | I know it’s hard waiting for the exam results, but you just need to hang in there. |
| Hard up | Lack money. | Ellie knew I was hard up, so she paid for my coffee. |
| Have a bone to pick | Have something to argue about. | I have a bone to pick with the girl who stole my boyfriend from me. |
| Jump on the bandwagon | To join something that’s popular. | I’ve decided to jump on the bandwagon and listen to that new band everyone is talking about. |
| Let’s get this show on the road! | Let’s get started! | We have everything packed for the road trip, so let’s get this show on the road! |
| Let the cat out of the bag | To tell a secret. | The surprise party was ruined when my little brother let the cat out of the bag and told our mom about it. |
| Lose your marbles | To be crazy. (Often said as a joke.) | Mrs. Thompson wants all this homework finished tomorrow? She must have lost her marbles! |
| Make a long story short | To quickly get to the point. | To make a long story short, my neighbor found my lost dog near the park. |
| Make your blood run cold | Frighten. | That new horror movie made my blood run cold. |
| Once in a blue moon | Something that happens very rarely. | Only once in a blue moon will Mr. Smith let us get out of class early. |
| On the fence | To not have made a decision or formed an opinion yet. | I’m on the fence as to whether this new law is a good idea. |
| Piece of cake | Something easy to do. | The math homework has only three questions, so finishing it will be a piece of cake. |
| Pulling one’s leg | To joke with someone. | You didn’t really believe that, did you? I was just pulling your leg. |
| Put your foot in your mouth | Say something you shouldn’t have. | The husband put his foot in his mouth when he told his wife her dress was ugly. |
| Raining cats and dogs | Raining very hard. | You absolutely need an umbrella; it’s raining cats and dogs out there! |
| Read between the lines | To detect a meaning that’s implied but not stated outright. | Reading between the lines of this poem you wrote her, it seems as though you like Elizabeth. |
| Run into someone | Meet someone unexpectedly. | I ran into my old kindergarten teacher at the grocery store today. |
| Sweating bullets | To be very nervous. | Alan was sweating bullets when he asked the girl he liked to the dance. |
| Tag along | Accompany. | I told my little sister she could tag along when we go to the beach. |
| Take a rain check | Postpone a plan. | I have the flu, so I’ll need to take a rain check on going to the club. |
| Take it easy | Relax. | This summer, all I’m going to do is take it easy. |
| Take with a grain of salt | Don’t take too seriously. | My father doesn’t know anything about cars, so take any advice he gives you about fixing your engine with a grain of salt. |
| Test the waters | Try something out. | If you’re not sure if you want to join the club, you can test the waters by just going to the first meeting. |
| Way to go! | Good job! | You got 100% on your chemistry test? Way to go! |
Tips on How to Recognize and Interpret Idioms in Different Contexts
Recognizing and interpreting idioms in different contexts can be challenging, but with practice and some tips, you can improve your skills. Here are some tips to help you:
- Familiarize Yourself with Common Idioms: Start by learning commonly used idioms in English. There are numerous resources available online, including lists, books, and educational websites, where you can find idioms and their meanings.
- Study Idioms in Context: Understand how idioms are used in sentences and conversations. Pay attention to the context in which they are used, as this can provide clues to their meanings.
- Consider Literal vs. Figurative Meanings: Remember that idioms often have figurative meanings that may differ from their literal interpretations. For example, "raining cats and dogs" doesn't mean that animals are falling from the sky, but rather that it's raining heavily.
- Analyze Surrounding Words and Phrases: Look at the words and phrases surrounding the idiom. Sometimes, the context can help you infer the meaning of the idiom, even if you're not familiar with it.
- Listen and Read Widely: Expose yourself to a variety of English materials, such as books, articles, movies, and TV shows. Pay attention to how idioms are used in different contexts and how they contribute to the overall meaning of the text or conversation.
- Keep a Vocabulary Journal: Record new idioms that you come across in your reading or listening activities. Write down their meanings and try to use them in your own sentences to reinforce your understanding.
How to Study Idioms for the TOEFL
To ensure that idiom definitions stick in your memory, there are effective study methods to employ:
1. Flashcards
Utilize the waterfall method, which involves creating flashcards for each idiom and sorting them into "Know It" and "Struggled" piles based on your familiarity with their definitions. Continuously review the "Struggled" pile until all idioms are mastered, then progress back up the waterfall, reinforcing learning.
2. Reading
Engage with English magazines and novels, where idioms are commonly used in real-world contexts. While not as targeted as flashcards, encountering idioms during reading enhances understanding of their usage.
3. Watching TV or Listening to the Radio
Idioms are frequently employed in everyday speech, making TV shows and radio programs valuable resources for learning. Actively listen for idiomatic expressions and observe how they're used in conversation, which is beneficial practice for recognizing them in audio clips on the TOEFL.
4. Use Idiom Dictionaries and Online Resources
Numerous online tools provide idiom definitions and examples. Familiarize yourself with idioms frequently used in everyday speech and TOEFL-related contexts.
5. Practice with TOEFL Mock Tests
Use TOEFL mock tests and practice papers to identify idioms in reading passages, listening exercises, and prompts. The more you practice, the easier it becomes to recognize and understand idioms on the actual exam.
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Conclusion
Although idioms may not be a central focus, their usage can significantly impact your performance across various sections of the test. By familiarizing yourself with common idioms and practicing their usage, you’ll be able to tackle TOEFL tasks with greater confidence and comprehension.