Top 20 Idioms You Must Know for TOEFL iBT® Exam in 2025
"Boost your TOEFL score by mastering Top 20 Idioms You Must Know for TOEFL Exam. Learn their meanings, usage, and how they enhance English fluency."
Key Highlights
Mastering idioms is essential for excelling in the TOEFL exam, as they enhance fluency and demonstrate a strong grasp of natural English. Understanding idiomatic expressions can improve your comprehension and help you sound more native-like in speaking and writing.
Let’s explore the Top 20 Idioms You Must Know for TOEFL Exam to boost your language skills. Learning their meanings, contexts, and correct usage will help you navigate the test with confidence and communicate effectively in English.
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Top 20 Idioms You Must Know for TOEFL
Idioms are crucial components of the English language, often reflecting cultural nuances and adding depth to communication. Mastering idioms is particularly important for excelling in the TOEFL iBT exam, as they demonstrate your understanding of informal language and enhance your ability to comprehend and express ideas fluently. Here are twenty essential TOEFL idioms that every test-taker should be familiar with.
1. Bite the bullet
Meaning: To face a difficult situation bravely.
Usage: Despite the challenges, she decided to bite the bullet and continue with her studies.
2. Hit the books
Meaning: To study intensively.
Usage: I need to hit the books this weekend to prepare for the upcoming TOEFL test.
3. Cutting corners
Meaning: Doing something in the easiest or quickest way, often sacrificing quality.
Usage: He failed the exam because he was always cutting corners instead of studying properly.
4. Piece of cake
Meaning: Something that is very easy to do.
Usage: The listening section of the TOEFL was a piece of cake for her because she listens to English podcasts every day.
5. Ace the test
Meaning: To do extremely well on a test or exam.
Usage: She aced the TOEFL iBT with a score of 110.
6. Cost an arm and a leg
Meaning: To be very expensive.
Usage: Studying abroad can cost an arm and a leg, but it's worth it for the experience.
7. Break the ice
Meaning: To initiate conversation or a social interaction.
Usage: He used a joke to break the ice at the beginning of the interview.
8. Keep an eye on
Meaning: To watch or monitor closely.
Usage: During the exam, make sure to keep an eye on the time so you can finish all the sections.
9. On the same page
Meaning: To have the same understanding or viewpoint.
Usage: It's important for group projects that everyone is on the same page regarding deadlines and responsibilities.
10. Rain or shine
Meaning: Regardless of the weather conditions or difficulties.
Usage: She goes running every morning, rain or shine.
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11. Under the weather
Meaning: Feeling ill or not well.
Usage: He couldn't attend the class because he was feeling under the weather.
12. Once in a blue moon
Meaning: Happening very rarely.
Usage: She has visited her hometown once in a blue moon since she moved abroad.
13. Hit the nail on the head
Meaning: To describe or identify something exactly right.
Usage: The professor hit the nail on the head with her analysis of the literature.
14. A blessing in disguise
Meaning: Something that seems bad or unlucky at first but results in something good.
Usage: Failing the first attempt was a blessing in disguise because it pushed her to study harder.
15. Take it with a grain of salt
Meaning: To not completely believe something or to be skeptical.
Usage: He took his friend's advice with a grain of salt since it wasn't based on personal experience.
16. Throw in the towel
Meaning: To give up or surrender.
Usage: After failing the practice test multiple times, he decided to throw in the towel and seek additional help.
17. Burn the midnight oil
Meaning: To work late into the night.
Usage: She burned the midnight oil to finish her research paper before the deadline.
18. Keep your chin up
Meaning: To remain cheerful and optimistic in a difficult situation.
Usage: Even after receiving disappointing news, she kept her chin up and continued to pursue her goals.
19. Turn a blind eye
Meaning: To ignore something intentionally.
Usage: The teacher decided to turn a blind eye to the student's late assignment because of his consistent good behavior.
20. Jump on the bandwagon
Meaning: To join a popular trend or activity.
Usage: Many students have jumped on the bandwagon of using online study tools to prepare for the TOEFL exam.
I hope this blog on Top 20 Idioms You Must Know for TOEFL Exam has helped you understand their meanings and usage. Mastering these idioms will enhance your fluency, making your responses more natural and effective. Keep practicing, and you'll be well-prepared to tackle the TOEFL exam with confidence!
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