Search

What idioms can you use for talking about knowledge

In this article, we will look at some idioms to talk about time.

When someone asks about when you woke up, you might simply say, ‘I woke up early’ or tell them the time, “I woke up at 6 am.” However, this can be done in a different and better way – by using idioms, of course! Using idioms will set you apart from other candidates and help you achieve the band score you are aiming for.

In this article, we will look at some idioms to talk about time:

**1. The crack of dawn.**

Meaning: The very beginning of daylight (dawn).

**Sample prompt:**

Describe an outdoor activity that you enjoy doing.

You should say:

– What the activity is

– Where and when you do it

– How you feel about it

– Whether you would recommend this activity to your friends.

**How the idiom can be used?**

“Earlier, I used to wake up at the crack of dawn to go cycling because it was the best time to do so. There would hardly be any people, and it would be so peaceful.”

**2. The early bird catches the worm.**

Meaning: If you do something in a timely manner, you will succeed.

**Sample prompt:**

Narrate an incident when you completed a task successfully.

You should say:

– What the task was

– How much time it took

– What problems you faced while doing it

– In how much time did you manage to complete it?

**How the idiom can be used?**

“I completely believe in the saying that the early bird catches the worm; therefore, I started searching for flight tickets as soon as the task was assigned.”

**3. A stitch in time saves nine.**

Meaning: If you fix a small problem right away, it will not become a bigger problem later.

**Sample prompt:**

Talk about a job that helps make the world a better place.

You should say:

– What job it is

– How you learned about it

– Why you think it helps so much

– Explain why you think it can make the world a better place.

**How the idiom can be used?**

“With the changing times and the rate at which technology is developing, it is better to follow the proverb ‘a stitch in time saves nine’; otherwise, you will be left behind, and your competitors will easily beat you.”

**4. To buy time.**

Meaning: To postpone an event hoping that the situation will improve.

**Sample prompt:**

Recall and talk about a time when you had to struggle to complete or achieve something.

You should say:

– What was the task at hand

– What kind of problems you faced and overcame

– How long did it take to overcome the problems and complete the task

– What did you learn from the entire episode?

**How the idiom can be used?**

“I tried to buy time to complete the task appropriately, but even that could not be possible as we were already behind the schedule.”

**5. Kill time.**

Meaning: Do something that is not very interesting to pass time.

**Sample prompt:**

Describe a radio or video jockey.

You should say:

– Who is he/she

– What show he/she hosts

– How he/she presents the show

– Talk about why you like/dislike him/her.

**How the idiom can be used?**

“Initially, I came across the show only to kill time while waiting for someone. Now, I am so hooked to the show and the jockey that I keep myself free during that hour to not miss out on the show.”

**6. Call it a day.**

Meaning: To say that a day’s work has been completed.

**Sample prompt:**

Talk about a day at work/school/university that was stressful.

You should say:

– How the day began

– What and how things started going wrong

– Who were the people involved

– Explain why the day was stressful.

**How the idiom can be used?**

“We finally decided to call it a day and start afresh the next morning when we failed to complete it even after the fifth attempt.”

**7. Against the clock.**

Meaning: Doing something against the clock means you are rushed and have very little time to do it.

**Sample prompt:**

When did you last work within a deadline?

You should say:

– What the task was

– How much time it took

– How did you complete it

– Whether you managed to complete the task in a successful manner.

**How the idiom can be used?**

“By the end of the last day, I felt like I was working against the clock as there were so many things yet to be completed and checked.”

**8. Better late than never.**

Meaning: This suggests that it is better to do something late than not do it at all.

**Sample prompt:**

Talk about a book that had a major influence on you.

You should say:

– Which book it was

– How did you come to know about it

– What is the story

– How it has impacted your life.

**How the idiom can be used?**

“When I finally did start reading the book and told my friend about it, he was happy and said, ‘Better late than never.'”

**9. Eleventh hour.**

Meaning: When something happens at the very last minute.

**Sample prompt:**

Talk about a speech that you heard somebody deliver.

You should say:

– Who the speech was given by

– What did the speech talk about

– If you were impressed or not by the speech

– State the reasons as to why you liked/disliked the speech.

**How the idiom can be used?**

“I had other plans, but they got cancelled at the eleventh hour. So my colleagues forced me to accompany them to the speech, which forever changed my perspective towards life.”

**10. In the blink of an eye.**

Meaning: If something happens in the blink of an eye, it happens nearly instantaneously, with hardly enough time to notice it.

**Sample prompt:**

Talk about a family member from whom you learned something useful.

You Should Say:

– What did you learn

– How was it useful to you

– Whether you taught this to someone else

– Explain why it was important for you.

**How the idiom can be used?**

“It was amazing how she disappeared and appeared at another place in the blink of an eye.”

Now, attempt the following exercises to practice what you have learned in this article.

**Vocabulary Exercises:**

Fill in the gaps in the following sentence with idioms from the box.

1. against the clock

2. crack of dawn

3. eleventh hour

– Adam said he was now working ________________ as the deadline had already passed 2 days back.

– At the ______________________, you’ll only see the newspaper vendors and a few milkmen on the streets of the city.

– We had to book our tickets at the ____________ because our schedules weren’t fixed.

Responses

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Share the Post:

Most popular IELTS tips

make-com-test-post-2
The Islamic Arts Biennale, from January 25 to..
An image of a student taking an online test on their laptop. The student should be sitting at a desk, with a focused expression on their face as they answer questions on the computer. The background should feature a clutter-free workspace with a few essential tools such as a calculator, textbooks, and notes. Use neutral, daylight tones for a clean and professional look that speaks to the academic setting.
The 2025 Islamic Arts Biennale, organized by the..
22th June (1) (1)
The IELTS Reading Academic module comprises three passages..
An image of a student taking an online test on their laptop. The student should be sitting at a desk, with a focused expression on their face as they answer questions on the computer. The background should feature a clutter-free workspace with a few essential tools such as a calculator, textbooks, and notes. Use neutral, daylight tones for a clean and professional look that speaks to the academic setting.
Band 7 essay about increasing tax on fast..
An image of a student taking an online test on their laptop. The student should be sitting at a desk, with a focused expression on their face as they answer questions on the computer. The background should feature a clutter-free workspace with a few essential tools such as a calculator, textbooks, and notes. Use neutral, daylight tones for a clean and professional look that speaks to the academic setting.
Recent Exam Question in IELTS Speaking Part 2..
An image of a student taking an online test on their laptop. The student should be sitting at a desk, with a focused expression on their face as they answer questions on the computer. The background should feature a clutter-free workspace with a few essential tools such as a calculator, textbooks, and notes. Use neutral, daylight tones for a clean and professional look that speaks to the academic setting.
Recent IELTS Speaking Topic and Sample Answer –..