Expressions for IELTS Speaking

Expressions for IELTS Speaking

Expressions for IELTS Speaking

Expressing Feelings of Joy & happiness    

• It’s great!                    
• That’s great!               
• It’s wonderful!
• That’s wonderful!                   
• Great! 
• Beautiful!       
• Wonderful!    
• Excellent!       
• Terrific!                      
• What a wonderful day!                      
• I love it!                     
• I’m so happy!             
• Just the thing!             
• That’s exactly the thing that I wanted!          

Disgust           

• It’s terrible!
• It’s awful!       
• Terrible!
• Awful!
• Horrible!         
• How disgusting!         
• I hate it!          
• I can’t stand it!
• It was the worst party (trip, food, day, etc.) in my whole life!          

Indifference  

• It doesn’t make any difference to me.
• It doesn’t matter.        
• It’s all the same to me.
• I don’t care.    
• I couldn’t care less.     
• Suit yourself.  

Approval, praise, admiration          

• You did a great job!   
• It’s great! It’s wonderful!       
• That’s great! I’m so proud of you.      
• Well done!     
• You did it!     
• That’s my boy! / That’s my girl!         

Complaining, annoyance, disapproval       

• I wish you wouldn’t take my books without permission.       
• I thought I told you not to smoke in this room.         
• I thought I asked you to be here by nine o’clock.      
• How many times do I have to tell you to turn off the light when you leave?
• Oh, how could you?   
• You should be ashamed of yourself. 
• Shame on you!           

When someone is bothering / annoying you          

• Leave me alone!         
• Mind your own business, will you?   
• Stop bothering me!    
• Lay off! (slang)          
• Get lost! (slang)         

Anger, annoyance, resentment       

• Why on earth should I do it? 
• Who (the hell) do you think you are?
• How dare you!           
• For heaven’s sake! Oh God!  
• Oh darn! / Oh hell! / Damn! / Damn it!         
• That’s it! / That does it!          

Asking not to get angry       

• Don’t get upset.          
• Calm down.   
• Take it easy.   
• Don’t get mad!
• Cool it. (slang)           

Asking not to worry 

• Don’t worry about it.  
• Don’t worry. Everything will be all right.      
• Calm down.   
• Take it easy.
• Relax. 

Disappointment, complaining about life    

• I feel so disappointed.
• Just my luck.  
• What a day! What a life!        
• Life is hard. Life is unfair.     
• That’s life. What can you do?
• Oh well. That’s the way it goes.         
• So much for (my hopes of getting a promotion at work).     

Sympathizing

• I’m sorry to hear that.
• I know how you feel. 
• That’s too bad.
• Bad luck. / Hard luck.
• Oh dear!         

Encouraging 

• Cheer up!       
• Everything will be all right!   
• It’s not the end of the world!  
• Don’t give up. Hang in there. 
• Don’t worry. You’ll be all right.         

Surprise, disbelief    

• Oh really? / Is that so?           
• That’s amazing!          
• That’s incredible!        
• I’m really surprised that (he said it).  
• No kidding? Are you serious?           
• You must be joking! You’re kidding!
• I can’t believe it.         
• It can’t be true!           

Doubt, uncertainty   

• I’m not (quite) sure about it.  
• Maybe, but I am not sure.      
• I’m not sure. I’m not so sure.  
• I don’t know yet. I have to think about it.      
• I have mixed feelings about it.          
• I doubt it.       

Physical pain

• Ouch! That hurts!       
• My left foot hurts.      
• I have a terrible headache. 
• I have a pain in my chest.