15 Smart Idioms for PTE Test Takers (Part 1)

Do you want to optimize your speech and essays for the PTE exam? Use Idiomatic expressions! It’s a great way to demonstrate your linguistic competence without coming off as a show-off.

Below is a list of idioms that native English speakers use every day. Practice using them during your Pearson center classes to enhance your score on the writing and speaking exams!

1. Get out of hand
   When things spiral out of your control, they get out of hand.
   Example:
   Things started getting out of hand when she lost her house keys.


2. Crunch Time The period just before a project’s deadline, when everyone is working their hardest to complete their work.
   Example:
   With her PTE test date just around the corner, it’s crunch time for Sally.


3. Dig in your heels It means to refuse to compromise or change your mind about something.
   Example:
   My brother wanted me to self-study for the PTE exam, but I dug in my heels and enrolled in the best Pearson center in our city.


4. A dime a dozen
   It’s used to refer to something common or average.
   Example:
   Language review packages are a dime a dozen these days, but not all of them can help you pass the PTE exam. Stick to PTE packages instead.
   


5. Get it out of your system
   It’s the act of doing something you wanted to do for a long time.
   Example:
   He wasn’t sure how the teacher would react. However, he needed to get it out of his system. So, he told her about what he saw during the exam.
   


6. Under the weather
   To be sick or unable to go about one’s daily activities.
   Example:
   Sally attended her class at the Pearson center despite feeling under the weather.
   


7. Comfort food
   It refers to food that brings you comfort, makes you feel better, or reminds you of your childhood.
   Example:
   Sadly, the store was out of his comfort food.
   


8. Let the chips fall where they may
   To push through and accomplish something, without regard of its possible consequences.
   Example:
   No matter what happens, I’ll tell the truth in court. Let the chips fall where they may.
   


9. A stone’s throw
   It’s used to describe something that is nearby
   Example:
   The Pearson center was just a stone’s throw away from her condo, so she’s wasn’t in a hurry.
   


10. A catch
    It’s used to describe someone worth having or marrying.
    Example:
    She’s definitely a catch. She’s beautiful, talented, and brilliant.
    


11. Speak of the devil
    It’s an expression spoken when the person you were just talking about suddenly showed up.
    Example:
    “I hope the professor doesn’t come today – oh. Speak of the devil, here he comes now.”
    


12. Bite off more than you can chew
    It’s when you take on something that’s too much for you to deal with.
    Example:
    Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Find PTE packages that’ll go well with your schedule and workload.
    


13. On the ball
    It’s used to describe someone who is doing a great job.
    Example:
    I’m so glad the PTE instructor is always on the ball. I never leave my Pearson center class without learning something new.
    


14. He’s/She’s sitting on the fence
    It’s used to describe someone who can’t make up his/her mind.
    Example:
    Stop sitting on the fence! Make up your mind on who you’re going to support.
    


15. To be bent out of shape
    To be angry, upset, or agitated.
    Example:
    Don’t get all bent out of shape – I’m sure he didn’t mean any harm. It’s just a misunderstanding. 

To learn more useful idioms for the exam, enroll in the JRooz PTE review center in your area! Click here to find out more about their PTE packages.

References:

To learn more useful idioms for the exam, enroll in the JRooz PTE review center in your area! Click here to find out more about their PTE packages.

“Idioms Definition.” TheIdioms.com. Accessed February 07, 2018. http://www.theidioms.com/.

Makkos, Melinda. "50 Popular English Idioms to Sound Like a Native Speaker." MyEnglishTeacher.eu Blog. October 31, 2017. Accessed February 07, 2018. https://www.myenglishteacher.eu/blog/50-popular-english-idioms-and-slang-words/.

Possel, Heiko. "Famous Idioms | Meaning." Smart Words - Advanced Vocabulary. Accessed February 07, 2018. http://www.smart-words.org/quotes-sayings/idioms-meaning.html.

Victoria and Alan. "20 Essential English Idioms for Sounding Like a Native." FluentU English. July 08, 2017. Accessed February 07, 2018. https://www.fluentu.com/blog/english/essential-english-idioms/.