1. Fall In Love With Somebody
Meaning: To gradually develop romantic feelings for someone
Example: I think I’m falling in love with my best friend. What should I do?
More Examples:
→ Many people believe you can’t force yourself to fall in love with someone; it either happens naturally or it doesn’t.
→ In the novel, the protagonist falls in love with a woman he initially disliked, showing how unpredictable emotions can be.
IELTS Speaking Part 2 (Describe a couple you know):
“My grandparents first met when they were teenagers, and they gradually fell in love with each other over several years of friendship.”
2. Love At First Sight
Meaning: Instant romantic attraction upon first meeting someone
Example: My wife and I met at a party. It was love at first sight.
More Examples:
→ While some people believe in love at first sight, others argue that true love requires time to develop.
→ The film portrays a classic story of love at first sight between two strangers on a train.
IELTS Speaking Part 3 (Discussion about relationships):
“I’m somewhat skeptical about love at first sight. In my opinion, genuine connections usually require time and shared experiences to develop properly.”
3. Be An Item
Meaning: To be in a romantic relationship with someone
Example: I didn’t know Chris and Sue were an item. They didn’t even look at each other at dinner.
More Examples:
→ The paparazzi have been trying to confirm whether the two celebrities are an item.
→ They’ve been an item for nearly five years now, and everyone expects an engagement soon.
IELTS Speaking Part 1 (Talking about friends):
“Two of my closest friends have been an item since university, and it’s wonderful to see how well they complement each other.”
4. Match Made In Heaven
Meaning: Two people who are perfectly suited for each other
Example: “Do you think Matt and Amanda will get married?” – “I hope they will. They’re a match made in heaven.”
More Examples:
→ My parents were a match made in heaven – they shared the same values, interests, and sense of humour for over 40 years.
→ Everyone at the wedding agreed that the couple were a match made in heaven.
IELTS Speaking Part 2 (Describe a successful marriage):
“My aunt and uncle are truly a match made in heaven. They’ve been together for thirty years and still finish each other’s sentences.”
5. Be Head Over Heels (In Love)
Meaning: To be completely and deeply in love with someone
Example: Look at them. They’re head over heels in love with each other.
More Examples:
→ He’s head over heels in love with his new girlfriend; he talks about her constantly.
→ Despite being married for decades, they remain head over heels in love.
IELTS Speaking Part 3 (Modern relationships):
“While young couples often fall head over heels in love quickly, maintaining that level of devotion over many years requires genuine commitment.”
6. Be Lovey-Dovey
Meaning: Excessively affectionate and romantic in public (often annoyingly so)
Example: I don’t want to go out with Jenny and David. They’re so lovey-dovey, I just can’t stand it.
More Examples:
→ The restaurant was full of lovey-dovey couples holding hands across the table.
→ Some people enjoy being lovey-dovey in public, while others prefer to keep their affection private.
IELTS Speaking Part 1 (Social habits):
“In my culture, people tend to be less lovey-dovey in public compared to Western countries, as we value discretion in displaying affection.”
7. Blinded By Love
Meaning: Unable to see someone’s faults because you love them so much
Example: She is so blinded by love that she can’t see him for who he truly is. He is not a good person, he is rude and disrespectful to everyone around him, including her.
More Examples:
→ Her friends warned her about his behaviour, but she was completely blinded by love.
→ Being blinded by love can sometimes lead people to ignore serious problems in a relationship.
IELTS Speaking Part 3 (Advice for young people):
“Young people should be careful not to become blinded by love, as this can prevent them from recognising unhealthy relationship patterns.”
8. Blind Date
Meaning: A social meeting arranged by others between two people who have not met before
Example: My sister keeps organising blind dates for me. She’d just love to fix me up with someone.
More Examples:
→ I was quite nervous before my first blind date, but we ended up getting along really well.
→ Many people now use dating apps instead of going on blind dates arranged by friends.
IELTS Speaking Part 2 (Describe a memorable event):
“I’d like to talk about a blind date I went on last year. Initially, I was reluctant, but my friend convinced me to give it a try.”
9. Tie The Knot
Meaning: To get married
Example: “When are you and Jenny going to tie the knot?” – “This year, but we haven’t set a date yet.”
More Examples:
→ After dating for seven years, they finally decided to tie the knot.
→ More couples nowadays choose to tie the knot later in life, prioritising careers and financial stability first.
IELTS Writing Task 2 (Marriage trends):
“In recent decades, the age at which people tie the knot has increased significantly in many developed nations.”
10. Love Rat
Meaning: A person who is unfaithful to their partner in a relationship
Example: Don’t even think about asking Jane out. How could you look your wife in the eye? Don’t be a love rat.
More Examples:
→ The tabloids love exposing celebrities who turn out to be love rats.
→ Being a love rat can destroy not only your relationship but also your reputation among friends and family.
IELTS Speaking Part 3 (Trust in relationships):
“Trust is the foundation of any healthy relationship. Those who behave like love rats often struggle to maintain meaningful connections.”
🗣️ How to Use These in IELTS Speaking
| Idiom | When to Use | Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall in love with | Describing your own/others’ feelings | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Love at first sight | Discussing beliefs about love | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Be an item | Talking about couples you know | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Match made in heaven | Complimenting a relationship | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Head over heels | Emphasizing deep love | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Lovey-dovey | Describing public affection | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Blinded by love | Warning about relationships | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Blind date | Personal experiences | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Tie the knot | Marriage discussions | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Love rat | Negative relationship behaviours | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
📝 Sample IELTS Speaking Part 2 Answer
Describe a couple you know who have a happy relationship:
“I’d like to talk about my cousin Maria and her husband David, who are truly a match made in heaven. They first met at university and, according to Maria, it wasn’t exactly love at first sight – they were just friends for about two years before they started seeing each other differently.
Gradually, they fell in love with each other and have been together for over twelve years now. After dating for five years, they decided to tie the knot in a beautiful beach ceremony.
What makes their relationship special is that even after all these years, they’re not overly lovey-dovey in public, but you can tell they’re still head over heels in love by how they look at each other and support one another.
I think the secret to their happiness is that they’re not blinded by love – they see each other’s flaws clearly but accept them completely. They’ve built their relationship on trust and friendship, which I believe is why it works so well.”