Why Idioms Matter in PTE

Idioms demonstrate advanced fluency and natural English usage, boosting your lexical resource and oral/written fluency scores in Speaking and Writing. They help you sound more like a native speaker while showing cultural understanding, though PTE doesn’t test them directly.

Are Idioms Tested Directly in the PTE Exam?

No, PTE does not have specific questions on idioms, but they appear in listening/reading passages, and using them naturally in speaking/writing can improve your scores.

How Many Idioms Should I Use in a PTE Speaking or Writing Task?

In [PTE writing](https://mocko.ai/pte/pte-writing) or speaking, use 1–3 idioms per response naturally; overusing them (especially if forced or incorrect) can lower your score by sounding unnatural.

Can Using Idioms Hurt My PTE Score?

Yes, if misused, overused, or irrelevant to the context, examiners value accuracy and natural flow more than quantity.

What Is the Best Way to Practice Idioms for PTE?

Create sentences, record speaking tasks, integrate them into essays, and practice full mocks on platforms like Mocko.ai for instant AI feedback on natural usage and fluency.

Top 30 Common Idioms for PTE To Score 79+

February 09, 202625 MinutesPTE, Articles

While grammar and vocabulary matter, idioms show that you understand the meaning the way real speakers express it, especially in fast, natural speech.

PTE doesn’t test idioms directly, but they appear constantly in listening and reading passages, and recognizing them can be the difference between a 70+ and a 79+ score. In speaking and writing, using idioms correctly (not randomly) can also make your responses sound more natural and context‑aware.

This list focuses on the 30 idioms you’re most likely to encounter in PTE‑style content, high‑frequency, practical, and easy to apply. No obscure expressions, no textbook clichés. Just the ones that help you understand the message quickly and respond with confidence.

Top Idioms for PTE Categorized with Examples

The problem with using idioms for PTE is that many learners either avoid idioms completely or use them incorrectly, which can hurt clarity, tone, and even content relevance. Here, we have listed the idioms with meanings and examples to help you use them properly:

1. Effort, Success & Challenges

Idiom	Meaning	Example (PTE-relevant)
Go the extra mile	Make an extra effort	“Students who go the extra mile in their preparation often achieve higher scores.”
Burn the midnight oil	Work/study late into the night	“I burned the midnight oil revising for the PTE exam.”
Hit the nail on the head	Be exactly right	“The lecturer hit the nail on the head when she said practice is key to fluency.”
Bite the bullet	Face something unpleasant bravely	“When the speaking task was difficult, I just bit the bullet and kept talking.”
Cost an arm and a leg	Very expensive	“Some PTE preparation courses can cost an arm and a leg.”
Back to the drawing board	Start over after failure	“My first practice essay was weak, so I went back to the drawing board.”

2. Understanding & Agreement

Idiom	Meaning	Example
On the same page	In agreement	“The team needs to be on the same page about the project goals.”
Wrap your head around	Understand something complex	“It took me a while to wrap my head around PTE’s scoring system.”
Hit the nail on the head	(repeated) Be exactly right	—
Get your act together	Organize yourself and perform well	“If you want to pass PTE, you really need to get your act together.”

3. Time, Frequency & Rarity

Idiom	Meaning	Example
Once in a blue moon	Very rarely	“I only go out once in a blue moon because I’m studying for PTE.”
In the long run	Over a long period	“Regular practice will help you in the long run.”
Burn the midnight oil	(repeated)	—

4. Problems & Difficult Situations

Idiom	Meaning	Example
Beat around the bush	Avoid the main topic	“In the speaking test, don’t beat around the bush, just answer directly.”
Cutting corners	Doing something poorly to save time/money	“You can’t cut corners when preparing for PTE.”
To make matters worse	Makes a bad situation even worse	“I missed the bus, and to make matters worse, it started raining.”
A blessing in disguise	Something bad that turns out good	“Failing my first mock test was a blessing in disguise, it motivated me to study harder.”
Throw caution to the wind	Take a risk	“Sometimes you have to throw caution to the wind and speak confidently.”

5. Emotions & Reactions

Idiom	Meaning	Example
Be tickled pink	Extremely pleased	“I was tickled pink when I saw my PTE score.”
Under the weather	Feeling slightly ill	“I was under the weather during my last practice test.”
A piece of cake	Very easy	“The first section was a piece of cake.”
Pull a rabbit out of a hat	Do something impressive unexpectedly	“She pulled a rabbit out of a hat and finished the essay perfectly.”

6. Other High-Utility Idioms

Break the ice → Start a conversation friendly (great for social topics).
No-brainer → Obvious/easy decision.
Take it with a grain of salt → Don’t believe everything fully.
Cry wolf → Raise false alarms.
Skeleton crew → Minimum staff (useful in work-related lectures).
Kill two birds with one stone → Achieve two things at once.
Every cloud has a silver lining → Something good in every bad situation.
Easier said than done → Sounds easy but isn’t.

How to Practice Idioms Effectively for PTE

To get comfortable with idioms for the PTE, you need steady, focused practice. The goal is to use them naturally, not because you memorized a list, but because they fit the context. Here’s the easiest way to build that skill:

1. Create Your Own Sentences

Pick an idiom and write five short PTE‑style sentences using common topics like education, technology, environment, or work.

For example:

Plain: “Hard work leads to success.”
Idiomatic: “If you want to succeed in the long run, you need to go the extra mile and sometimes burn the midnight oil.”

2. Record Yourself Using Them in Speaking Tasks

Add one or two idioms into 1‑minute responses for Describe Image, Re‑tell Lecture, or Answer Short Question. Record yourself, listen back, and check:

Did it sound natural?
Was the pronunciation clear?
Did the idiom actually fit the situation?

3. Use Them in Essays and Summaries

Swap simple sentences for idiomatic ones when it makes sense.

For example:

Plain: “Studying hard is important.”
Idiomatic: “Burning the midnight oil is essential in the long run if you want a high PTE score.”

Use idioms in Summarize Written Text or Write Essay to show range, but keep it to 2–3 per response so it doesn’t feel forced.

4. Watch Native Content and Notice How Idioms Are Used

Watch TED Talks, shows like Friends, or PTE‑focused YouTube channels with subtitles. Pay attention to:

When idioms appear
What situation they’re used in

How the speaker says them

Pause, repeat, and copy the rhythm.

5. Practice in Full Mock Tests and Review Feedback

The fastest improvement comes from using idioms under real exam pressure.

Platforms like Mocko.ai make this easy because:

The mock tests look and feel like the real PTE
You can practice speaking and writing tasks while trying out idioms
You get instant AI feedback showing whether the idiom sounded natural, helped your fluency, or felt out of place
You also get notes on pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, and content relevance

This is why many learners aiming for 79+ or 90+ rely on Mocko, unlimited practice, accurate scoring, and clear guidance on what to fix.

6. Review and Refine

After each practice session, check which idioms worked and which didn’t. If something feels awkward or doesn’t fit the context, drop it and use a simpler option. Over time, you’ll notice your speaking and writing sounding smoother and more natural.

Conclusion

Idioms aren’t something you memorize once and forget; you get better at them by using them in real PTE‑style situations.

Using one or two idioms correctly is far better than stuffing in five that don’t fit. Combine practice methods with regular mock tests on a platform like Mocko, and you’ll see your PTE Speaking and Writing scores improve steadily.