10 People Idioms and Phrases to Enrich Your IELTS Speaking and Writing

Using idiomatic expressions can make your English sound more natural and engaging, which is especially useful for IELTS Speaking and Writing. Here are ten idioms with examples and tips on usage:

1. Born optimist
   Meaning: Someone who naturally sees the positive side of things.
   Example: I admire Jamal because he always sees the sunny side of life. He’s a born optimist.
   Usage Tip: This idiom is great for describing personality in speaking tasks or character in essays. For example, when describing someone who inspires others in Task 2.

2. Culture vulture
   Meaning: Someone who loves art, music, and cultural activities.
   Example: John spends most of his weekends reading books or attending art exhibitions. He’s a real culture vulture.
   Usage Tip: Use in IELTS Speaking when discussing hobbies or lifestyle. It shows varied vocabulary and a natural way to describe interests.

3. Eager beaver
   Meaning: Someone who works hard and is enthusiastic about tasks.
   Example: She always does her English grammar homework and even asks for extra exercises on the weekend. What an eager beaver!
   Usage Tip: Can be used in essays when highlighting determination, dedication, or motivation. It adds personality and flair to descriptions.

4. Early bird
   Meaning: Someone who wakes up early or starts tasks ahead of time.
   Example: In her senior years, when she finally had the luxurious freedom to sleep in, Delores became an early bird and got up every morning at 5:00 am.
   Usage Tip: Perfect for describing habits in IELTS Speaking, especially when talking about routines or productivity.

5. Earth mother
   Meaning: A nurturing, caring woman who looks after others.
   Example: Even as a young girl, Ida showed herself to be an earth mother. She always helped her mother to look after her younger brothers and sisters.
   Usage Tip: Can describe caring personalities or family-oriented characters in essays or speaking tasks.

6. Family man
   Meaning: A man devoted to his family.
   Example: Since the birth of his twins, Harvey has become a family man. He spends all of his spare time with his children.
   Usage Tip: Use in IELTS Speaking to describe someone’s lifestyle, values, or priorities. It conveys understanding of social roles.

7. Go-getter
   Meaning: Someone who is ambitious and determined to achieve goals.
   Example: It isn’t surprising that Isaac has made it to the top of the corporate world. He was always someone who went after what he wanted, a real go-getter.
   Usage Tip: Excellent for describing proactive individuals in essays, especially when giving examples of success stories.

8. Good egg
   Meaning: A kind and dependable person.
   Example: Marry was the type of person who would have helped anyone – a real good egg.
   Usage Tip: This idiom can humanize characters in IELTS Speaking or Writing, showing emotional intelligence.

9. Jack-of-all-trades
   Meaning: Someone skilled in many different areas.
   Example: From auto repair to hairdressing, Frank can do it all. He is a jack-of-all-trades.
   Usage Tip: Useful in describing versatility or skills, which can come in handy for both essays and speaking tasks.

10. Man of his word / Woman of her word
    Meaning: Someone who keeps promises and is trustworthy.
    Example: You can trust Samuel. He is a man of his word.
    Usage Tip: Perfect for essays or speaking tasks when describing integrity or reliability in people.