Best Idioms for IELTS Speaking Topic: Business and Work

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Hi guys, this video is going to give you 30 idioms or idiomatic expressions that you can use to help improve your IELTS Speaking skills on the topics of work and business.

I will be explaining the idioms and what they mean, showing you how to pronounce them and helping you use them in your own IELTS Speaking answers.

These will be useful for the following kind of questions:

1. Describe a challenge you had to face.

2. Describe a small successful business.

3. Describe someone you admire.

4. Describe a time you had to work as a member of a team.

5. Describe a creative person you know.

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Idioms covered in this context:

00:00:00 Introduction
0:00:28 Summary of the list of all idioms.
0:04:13 go into business
0:05:05 set up a restaurant
0:05:34 know it back to front
0:06:35 know it inside out
0:07:20 a seasoned worker
0:08:03 be on the ball
0:09:04 take someone on
0:09:54 spread the word/get the word out
0:11:34 make a point of
0:12:35 go the extra mile
0:13:25 word of mouth
0:14:22 reach out to
0:15:10 explore all avenues
0:15:47 get the ball rolling
0:16:52 cost an arm and a leg
0:17:49 have a track record
0:18:30 put it out there
0:19:15 keep an eye on something
0:20:03 to have it cracked
0:20:38 to be in the bag
0:21:20 it turns out that..
0:22:17 to get to the heart of the matter
0:22:33 missed the mark
0:23:07 It was a dead loss.
0:24:18 Let's call it a day.
0:25:15 Let somebody go.
0:25:48 your bread and butter
0:26:51 to go belly up.
0:28:03 be on the right track.
0:28:43 to take off.

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Here's the story (context)

My mate Tom has just gone into business. He has decided to set up a restaurant because this is an industry he knows back to front. He is a seasoned chef and knows cooking inside out. On top of that, he is really on the ball when it comes to management too.

So, he rented a place, fitted it out and took on some staff, Then he decided to start a marketing campaign to spread the word about his place.

Of course, he takes pride on giving great customer service, and always makes a point of going the extra mile, because he knows how powerful word of mouth can be, but he wanted to reach out to new potential customers as well.

He was considering newspaper, blogs, magazines - in fact he explored all avenues and in the end, he chose to advertise on Facebook.

To get the ball rolling, he contracted a consultant who wouldn’t cost him an arm and a leg, because he is on a bit of shoestring budget, right? That guy didn’t have much of a track record, but he was very enthusiastic.

Together they did some market research, created the advert, and put it out there. Then, all they had to do, was just kept an eye on the numbers each day.

At first they thought they had cracked it, it seemed to be in the bag, because so many people were viewing their advert. However, it turned out that no-one was actually going to the restaurant.

Finally Tom got to the heart of the matter. It turns out the consultant didn’t really understand the customers needs, and his advert had missed the mark.

It was a dead loss, and in the end Tom decided to call it a day, and he let the consultant go.

After all, this was his bread and butter, he couldn’t afford for his restaurant to go belly up. So, he invested in a professional marketing company.

Now his restaurant is on the right track and seems to be really taking off.

Well done Tom!

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Remember to study and practice everyday.
Step by step you will improve!

Keith

[obiagelinwaokoro]

Got my resullts today. I had 8.5 in speaking, 7.5 in You sir, were a huge help. Thank you.

[lifestylewithToluOla]

Hello Keith, I bumped into your videos a few weeks before my exams on Feb 13 and listened to them.Your videos were my major preparation for speaking and I scored 7 in speaking..Some of the questions i was asked include:
What work do you do?Where are you from? Do you enjoy your job? Which is more important your work or your colleagues? do you walk?How often do you walk? Do you walk more often now than previously? Do you think its important to work?
Do you travel to the country?
Describe a type of school you went as a child? Was it helpful? something about the teacher what you learnt? Do you still use it?
Different types of school in your city?
Online teaching(pros & cons)?
Do you think technology is often used in schools in your city?
Do lots of people use online teaching?
Should children learn technology?


I tried to write down the questions immediately but i might not have gotten the exact words. Thank you so much for your insightful and helpful videos.

[prabhdeepkaur]

Got my ielts result today and I scored 7.5 in speaking. All thanks to you sir! You're a great teacher 🌻

[nayabnadeem]

I gave ielts exam on 7th of march this month..And I got an overall band 7.My tip for speaking is that be confident.and speak what comes in your mind.Don't think too much.It will be alright.My questions were about home, the things which i would like to chane about the place where i live?Music, hairstyles, national celebrations, why people celebeate birthdays, why national holidays or celebrations are important..
In part 2 I was asked about personal goal which i achieved abd felt proud about it.
Hope this will help you guys..
And in writing tge topic was why more uni students are not choosing a science degree? give causes and solution..

[MyMissmusiclover]

Greetings!
I had my speaking exam yesterday and from the bottom of my heart I'd like to thank you for all the videos !
I watched a video where you mentioned it would be helpful to do a 'mind sweep' and that's exactly what I did and it helped control my nerves.
However, I'll have to reappear for it due the Corona scare. All the exams stand cancelled for now. :(

Just for your information, topics I was asked about :-
Do you work or study ?
What do you like about your course ?
Is it different from what you expected ?
A beautiful scenery
Where can one go in your hometown to look at a beautiful scenery?
Do you like to take photos of the scenery ? Why?

For part 2 I was asked to describe a team I was a part of. It could be work or sport related.

Part 3 was mostly about international relations. I talked about globalization in this section.

I was asked about how international relations can be helpful and if I knew of any such instance where countries are working together.

I was also questioned about leadership and team working skills.
I was asked if leaders are important and what qualities should team members have.

I don't remember much apart from this, hope it helps (:

[Katy.]

I absolutely love the idiom „no great shakes“. Just got to know it the day before yesterday.

[jimme]

I've never met such a good teacher like you before. Thank you so much for your videos, sir.

[PreetsidhuKaur]

Earlier I got 6.5 in IELTS speaking, if in the next exam I get 7 or more then the dedication will goes to you Keith as I learn plethora of things from you thank you.

[sanji]

Thanks to a true gentleman named 'Keith' . I don't know how to thank you enough from the core of my heart. Furthermore, because of your those simple and aesthetic speaking videos, I just got 8 in speaking with a band 7 overall. To be honest, I am not satisfied with my overall band, but i definitely owe you a treat for your speaking guidelines 🙃. Stay Safe! The world needs more and more facilitators like you!

[zaviorhunt]

Thanks sir. I scored 7 band after 2 days of practice. Your channel was really helpful..

[mrudulavasudev]

I love the way you explain, it's really easy to understand. Keep up the good work. Many thanks. 👏🏻

[Genuinehandler]

I decided to go into business with mark as i've fed up with my current job and because of its least earning potential, so i set up a pharmacy with mark who knows about pharmaceutical market from back to front.since my father knows the inside out of the competitive nature in this field, i went to consult him, and he said that being a seasoned pharmacist takes both time and patience, he also said that i should be on the ball for customer needs to establish a strong customer base, then he revealed the importance of taking on someone who's ideal for the position of pharmacy assistants under me.

[virginiaboda]

I really like the way you go through different subjects and your clarity to talk. I am a rather bubbly person and I tend to chat to everyone who unfortunately cross my way lol . Your dialogues seem pretty much to the ones I tend to have, only that mine have far much more mistakes. Hopefully you enlighten me!! Thanks for these videos!

[bizzywizzy]

Thank you for all amazing videos you create. The most charismatic teacher I've ever seen

[bekzatbeknazarov]

I think you are best english teacher
Very kind and funny as well:)))

[allatyunina]

Hi Keith! Thank you for your videos!
I got my results yesterday, for some magical reason Speaking is 8.0!! I am over the moon haha.
I love your channel, you manner of speaking and your sense of humour. You are really cool! It has been a pleasure to study with you, you are kind of a speech model to me, so every time I want to say something I unintentionally think "How would Keith say that?"
I will continue watching your videos every now and then even though IELTS is already over :)
My best wishes!!

[foijulamin]

I got my result on 20th of March.
I've achieved an overall band score of 7.5
with 7.5 on SPEAKING.
Your video tutorials were tremendously helpful.
Thank you very much.

[dilekaydn]

Best english teacher evet .. thanks keith 🙏🏼🤗

[FokhrulIslam-vsld]

🥰Hello my dear handsome grandfather 😎😘😘 ... I am from Bangladesh... I am learning so many kind of things from your videos... and I believe that... you are a SEASONED😉 trainer for us love you from Bangladesh 😘😘😘😘😘😘

[swarnaparanagama]

It's a most important lesson to me. Thank you sir.