Common IELTS Vocabulary

Amazing: Incredible, Fantastic, Fabulous, Astonishing, Difference: disagreement, inequity, contrast,

1. extraordinary, unbelievable, wonderful 26 dissimilarity, incompatibility
Angry: mad, furious, enraged, excited, wrathful, indi, Do: carry out, finish, , accomplish, achieve, attain
2 aroused, inflamed 27
Answer : reply, respond, retort, acknowledge Dull: Boring, Uninteresting, Monotonous, tiring,
3 28 lifeless
Ask: question, inquire of, seek information from, put a Eager: keen, enthusiastic, involved, interested,
4 question to, request, inquire, query 29
Awful : dreadful, terrible, bad, poor, unpleasant End: stop, finish, terminate, conclude, close,
5 30 discontinuance
Bad: evil, immoral, wicked, corrupt, sinful, harmful, Enjoy: appreciate, delight in, be pleased, indulge in,
6 injurious, unfavourable, inappropriate, unsuitable 31 relish, savour, like
Beautiful: pretty, lovely, handsome, attractive, Explain: elaborate, clarify, define, justify
7 gorgeous, heavenly, radiant, glowing 32
Begin: start, open, launch, initiate, commence, Fair: just, impartial, unbiased, objective,
8 inaugurate, originate 33 unprejudiced, honest
Big: enormous, huge, immense, gigantic, vast, Fall: drop, descend, topple, tumble
9 colossal, large, grand, great, tall, substantial, ample 34
Brave: courageous, fearless, heroic, bold, daring False: untrue, unfounded, erroneous, deceptive,
10 35 groundless, fallacious
Break: fracture, rupture, shatter, smash, wreck, crash, Famous: well-known, renowned, celebrated, famed,
11 demolish 36 eminent, distinguished, noted, notorious
Bright: shining, shiny, brilliant, intelligent, knowing, Fast: quick, rapid, speedy, hasty, snappy,
12 intellectual 37 swiftly, rapidly, quickly, snappily, speedily, hastily
Calm: quiet, peaceful, still, tranquil, mild, serene Fat: stout, fleshy, plump, pudgy, chubby, chunky,
13 38 burly, bulky
Come: approach, advance, near, arrive, reach Fear: fright, dread, terror, dismay, anxiety, scare,
14 39 horror, panic, apprehension
Cool: chilly, cold, frosty, wintry, icy, frigid Fly: soar, hover, wing, flee, glide
15 40
Crooked: bent, twisted, curved, hooked, zigzag Funny: humorous, amusing, droll, comic, comical,
16 (informal) dishonest, illegal, unlawful 41 laughable, silly
Cry: shout, yell, scream, roar, weep, sob, shed tears Get: acquire, obtain, secure, gain, fetch, find, score, accumul
17 42 win, earn, catch, derive,
collect, gather, , pick up
Cut: slice, carve, cleave, slit, chop, crop, reduce, cleave Go: depart, fade, disappear, move, travel, proceed
18 43
Dangerous: hazardous, risky, uncertain, unsafe Good: excellent, fine, wonderful, Superior, Superb,
19 44 splendid, genuine, top-notch, first-rate, beneficial
Dark: shadowy, unlit, gloomy, dim, dusky, shaded, Gross: improper, rude, coarse, indecent, crude, vulgar,
20 sunless, black, dismal, sad 45 extreme, grievous, shameful, obscene, low
Decide: determine, settle, choose, resolve Great: noteworthy, worthy, distinguished, remarkable,
21 46 grand, considerable, powerful, much, mighty
Definite: certain, sure, positive, determined, clear, Happy: pleased, contented, satisfied, delighted,
22 distinct, obvious 47 joyful, cheerful, jubilant, glad, blissful, overjoyed
Delicious: savoury, appetizing, luscious, scrumptious, Hate: despise, loathe, disfavour, dislike, disapprove
23 palatable, delightful, enjoyable, toothsome 48
Describe: portray, characterize, picture, narrate, relate, Have: hold, possess, own, contain, acquire, gain,
24 represent, report, record 49 maintain, believe, bear
Destroy: ruin, demolish, waste, kill, end, extinguish Help: aid, assist, support, encourage, back, serve
25 50
1
 Hide: conceal, cover, mask, cloak, veil Plan: plot, scheme, design, draw, map, diagram,
51. 73. arrangement, method, way
Hurry: rush, run, speed, race, hasten, urge, accelerate, Popular: well-liked, approved, accepted, favorite,
52. bustle 74. celebrated, common, current
Hurt: damage, harm, injure, wound, distress, pain Predicament: dilemma, problem, unpleasant,
53. 75. embarrassing situation.
Idea: thought, concept, conception, notion, Put: place, set, attach, establish, assign, keep, save,
54. understanding, opinion, plan, view, belief 76. set aside, effect, achieve, do, build
Important: necessary, vital, critical, valuable, Quiet: silent, still, soundless, mute, tranquil, peaceful,
55. essential, significant, primary, principal, considerable, 77. calm, restful
famous, distinguished, notable, well-known
Interesting: fascinating, engaging, sharp, keen, Scared — afraid, frightened, alarmed, terrified,
56. intelligent, attractive, inviting, provocative, 78. panicked, fearful, insecure, timid, shy, horrified,
though-provoking, inspiring, involving, exciting, terrorized, shocked, petrified, paralyzed, stunned,
entertaining, absorbing, captivating, , appealing apprehensive
Keep: hold, retain, withhold, preserve, maintain, sustain Say/Tell: Disclose, Reveal, Expose, Narrate, Inform,
57. 79. declare, state, exclaim, announce, advise, explain
Kill: execute, assassinate, murder, destroy, cancel, Show: display, exhibit, present, , explain, reveal,
85. abolish 80. prove, demonstrate, expose
Lazy: idle, inactive, sluggish, lethargic, dull Slow: unhurried, gradual, leisurely, late, behind, slack
59. 81.
Little — tiny, small, miniature, limited, slight, petite Stop: cease, stay, pause, discontinue, conclude,
60. 82. end, finish, quit
Look — gaze, see, glance, watch, survey, study, seek, Story: tale, myth, legend, fable, narrative,
61. search for, peep, glimpse, stare, examine, inspect, 83. chronicle, epic, sage, anecdote
observe, view, witness, perceive, spy, sight, discover,
notice, recognize, explore
Love: like, admire, fancy, care for, cherish, adore, Strange: odd, peculiar, unusual, unfamiliar, uncommon, quee
62. worship, appreciate 84. weird, curious, unique, exclusive, irregular
Make: create, originate, invent, form, construct, design, Take: hold, catch, seize, grasp, capture, acquire, pick,
63. fabricate, manufacture, produce, build, develop, do, 85. choose, select, prefer, remove, steal, lift, rob,
compose, accomplish, earn, gain, obtain, acquire, get purchase, buy, recall, assume, occupy, consume
Mark - label, tag, price, trace, stamp, brand, sign, note, Think: judge, assume, believe, consider,
64. notice, designate 86. contemplate, reflect, mediate

Mischievous: prankish, playful, naughty, sportive Trouble: distress, anxiety, worry, pains, grief,
65. 87. inconvenience, effort

Move: Creep, shuffle, go, rush True: accurate, right, proper, precise, exact, valid,
66. 88. genuine, real, actual, trusty, steady, loyal, dependable,
sincere
Moody: temperamental, changeable, short-tempered, Ugly: hideous, frightful, frightening, shocking, horrible,
67. irritable, touchy 89. unpleasant, monstrous, terrifying, gross, horrid,
unsightly, plain
Neat: clean, orderly, tidy, trim, smart, elegant, Unhappy: miserable, uncomfortable, wretched,
68. well-organized, super, desirable, well-kept, shapely 90. heart-broken, unfortunate, poor, downhearted,
sorrowful, depressed, dejected, melancholy, sad
New: fresh, unique, original, unusual, novel, modern, Use: employ, utilize, exhaust, spend, expend,
69. current, recent 91. consume
Old: ancient, weak, aged, used, worn, ragged, faded, Wrong: incorrect, inaccurate, mistaken, improper,
70. broken-down, former, old-fashioned, outmoded, 92. unsuitable
mature, primitive, traditional, archaic, conventional,
customary, stale, obsolete, extinct
Part: portion, share, piece, section, fraction,
71. fragment
Place: space, area, spot, plot, region, location, situation, position,
72. residence, dwelling, set, site, station, status, state
 Common IELTS Idioms

What is an idiom?
In other words, an idiom is a group of words that creates a specific meaning about a subject. If that group is
separated, the meaning is lost.

1. Fresh as a daisy: Someone who is lively and attractive, in a clean, fresh way. e.g.My sister
has been travelling for almost 24 hours, and she’s still as fresh as a daisy. After a good
night's sleep I'll be as fresh as a daisy.
2. Couch potato: Spending too much time on the internet or watching TV. e.g. My uncle is such
a couch potato! He often spends his Saturdays watching American football on TV. The first
of those is health: we do not want a nation of couch potatoes.
3. Full of beans: A person who is lively, active and healthy. My 6 year old nephew is full of
beans! He has more energy than three adults. Jem was full of beans after a long sleep.
4. Down to earth: Someone who is practical and realistic and approachable. e.g. My aunt Karen
is so down to earth. She can figure out any difficult situation, and offer a good solution.
He's very down-to-earth despite his fame.
5. A hot potato: People talking about a current topic which cannot be agreed upon. e.g. The subject
of Brexit is a hot potato. The abortion issue is a political hot potato in the United States.
6. Once in a blue moon: Something happens extremely rarely. e.g. Once in a blue moon there will be
an eclipse of the sun by the moon. My sister lives in Alaska, so I only see her once in a blue moon.
7. A picture paints a thousand words: a picture conveys information more effectively than words.
E.g. A good presentation should contain more of graphics and less of text, since a picture is worth a
thousand words.
8. On cloud nine, also, on cloud seven: very happy, extremely cheerful, over the moon, thrilled,
delighted, very excited. e.g. She’s been on cloud nine since she heard the news of her engagement. I
felt like I was on cloud 7 when she said that she I loves me a lot.
9. Raining cats and dogs: too much heavy rain, torrential rain, very heavily raining. e.g. It rains cats
and dogs when the Monsoon comes in India. How will you go to play Cricket today? It’s raining cats
and dogs.
10. A piece of cake: very easy task, something easily done, very simple work, effortlessly prepared or
done. e.g. Don’t think that this term’s work will be a piece of cake – you’ll have to study hard to get
good grades. Don’t worry, Sophie – this job interview will be a piece of cake for you.
11. On the same page: Two people are in agreement about a situation. We are on the same page as to
how to take the situation forward now. e.g. Before we begin with the discussion, I want to make
sure that all of us are on the same page. Let us discuss this internally first so that we are on the
same page before we speak to the customer.
12. Good things come to those who wait: Be patient. Good will come out of the situation. e.g. Good
things come to those who wait. Your promotion will come soon.
13. There is no such thing as a free lunch. Everything has a hidden cost. e.g. There is no such thing
as a free lunch. He wants you to invest in his.
14. Don’t judge a book by its cover: Do not be quick to judge a person or a book – you might like the
person more than you think you will/you may enjoy the book more than you expected. e.g. Don’t
judge a book by its cover. The book is excellent and I recommend that you try reading it again.
15. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket: don’t make everything dependent on one thing, don’t put all
your resources into one thin, don’t depend for your success on a single plan. e.g. You’d better
acquire a new skill; don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
16. Cost an arm and a leg: very expensive, costing a lot of money, excessively pricey. e.g. You must
visit that restaurant; the food is really good, and it doesn’t cost you an arm and a leg. “How much
would you pay for luxurious farmhouse by the beach? An arm and a leg?”