IELTS Speaking – Compilation of Idioms on the Topic Place and Building
08 September, 2023IELTS idioms
Continuing the series of compiling idiomatic expressions for IELTS Speaking, in this article, azVocab will introduce the topic of Place and Building. Some candidates have shared that they have very little specialized idiom vocabulary in this topic. So let’s explore the Place and Building topic together with azVocab!
PLACE
azVocab will guide you through idioms related to the Place topic. This is a relatively uncommon topic but has been appearing frequently in recent real IELTS Speaking tests.
| IDIOMS | MEANING | EXAMPLE |
| The land of milk and honey | a country where living conditions are good and people have the opportunity to make a lot of money | Canada was the land of milk and honey – the land of opportunities. |
| Go/get back to nature | to spend time living in a simple way without modern machines, electricity, etc. | My sister really wants to get back to nature, but I like modern technology too much to do that |
| In the sticks | a long way from a town or city | He was sick of living in the sticks and dreamed of spending his life in Ho Chi Minh City. |
| In the middle of nowhere | far away from any towns and cities and where few people live | The campsite was in the middle of nowhere so I couldn’t phone you. |
| Lose one’s bearings | to become lost | It’s very easy to lose your bearings if you are exploring underground caverns. |
| A blot on the landscape | something such as an ugly building that spoils a pleasant view | That building has stayed empty for years, becoming a blot on the landscape. |
| On the town | enjoying yourself by going to places of entertainment in a town or city | I’m exhausted because I had a night on the town last night. |
| A stone’s throw (away/from) | a very short distance | The park is a stone’s throw from my house. |
| Clean as a whistle | something is immaculate | Bob was genuinely amused when he saw that his room was clean as a whistle. |
| Hive of activity | where a lot is happening, and everyone present is busy doing something | When we went to offer help, the kitchen was already a hive of activity. |
| Second to none | the best; better than everything else | The food at Ali’s restaurant is second to none. I love that place! |
| Worth its weight in gold | it is very valuable and useful | We couldn’t run the company without him. He’s worth his weight in gold. |
| All over the place | everywhere; over a great distance or area | Now that we’ve graduated, my college friends are all over the place, and I hardly ever see them. |
| Off the beaten track | in a place where few people go, far from any main roads and towns | I chose that island as a vacation spot because I knew it was off the beaten track and would give me some much-needed solitude. |
| Every nook and cranny | every part of a place | Every nook and cranny of the house was stuffed with souvenirs of their trips abroad. |
| Here, there and everywhere | in many different places; all around | She’s been rushing about here, there, and everywhere, trying to keep everyone happy. |
| On the spot | at that moment or place | My boss grilled me about the mix-up in the report, making me explain the whole thing right there on the spot. |
| One’s stamping/stomping ground(s) | a favorite place where one used to frequent; a location where one used to spend a lot of time | It’s been a long time since I’ve been back to my old stomping ground by the lake! |
| Spick and span | (especially of a place) very clean and tidy | Their house is always spick and span. |
| Be in the boonies/boondocks | to be in a very distant or remote location, often one that lacks modern amenities | That place is way out in the boonies – it’ll take us hours to get there. |
| Roam around | to move or wander in an aimless, ambling, unrestricted manner around (some place or area) | I only had a day in London, so I just spent the time roaming around, trying to get a sense of the city. |
BUILDING
In the IELTS Speaking test, the Building topic is one you might encounter. Therefore, you should be well-prepared with idiomatic expressions to answer questions and achieve the best results.
| IDIOMS | MEANING | EXAMPLE |
| Been to/in the wars | been injured, damaged, decrepit, or appears as such, as one might be who has fought in a war. Can be said of a person or a thing | That house looked as though it had been in the war. |
| No room to swing a cat | the place you are talking about is very small or crowded | Isn’t this place a bit too small? There’s no room to swing a cat in here. |
| Creature comforts | things that make life more pleasant, such as good food and a comfortable place to live | I hate camping because I can’t use my creature comforts. |
| Give sth/sb houseroom (give houseroom to sth/sb) | said when someone strongly dislikes or disapproves of someone or something and wants to | I will not give house room to that table because it is so ugly. |
| Know like the back of my hand | to have very good and detailed knowledge of something | I know this area like the back of my hand. |
| Make oneself at home | to act as if you were at home | I always make myself at home when I visit the in-laws. |
| On the house | something provided free by a business – especially in a bar or restaurant | The club was celebrating its anniversary so the drinks were on the house. |
| A hole in the wall | small place to live, stay or work in | We went for a drink at a little hole in the wall near the university last night. |
| From door to door | traveling to the door of each home in a particular area, typically to sell or obtain something | We went from door to door selling candy bars for the school fundraiser. |
Have you taken notes on Idioms for IELTS in the Place and Building topic for your IELTS Speaking test? After learning these idioms, practicing becomes easier, right? Don’t forget to follow azVocab to stay updated with more helpful IELTS vocabulary articles coming your way!
