IELTS Vocabulary – Part 124

Chickens Come Home to Roost: The negative consequences of previous actions reveal themselves.

Sentence – I knew not handing in my homework would be a problem sooner or later. I guess my chickens came home to roost.

Child’s Play: A very easy task.

Sentence – Oh please, I’ve been playing guitar for 20 years—that song is child’s play.

Chill Out: Do something that helps them to calm down and relax for a while.

Sentence – Wow, she has really chilled out in retirement—remembers how animated she used to be in the courtroom?

Chin Music: Meaningless talk.

Sentence – Can you guys please be quiet? Your chin music is distracting me from my work.

Chin Up/ Keep Your Chin Up: Cheer up; try to be cheerful and strong.

Sentence – Come on, the project was not a total failure—chin up!

Chip off the Old Block: Someone who resembles a direct ancestor, usually the father.

Sentence – Mike’s automotive repair skills really rival those of his father. He’s a real chip off the old block!

Chomp (Champ) at the Bit: Be eager to do something.

Sentence – The crowd chomped at the bit to see the unveiling of the new building.

Chop Chop: Quickly, without delay.

Sentence – This is a major client, so I need the report done right now, chop chop!

Chop Shop: A shop where stolen cars are disassembled for parts.

Sentence – We’ll never get our car back if the thieves have already taken it to a chop-shop.

Chuck a Wobbly: To act in an emotional way.

Sentence – John chucked a wobbly at work after the boss criticized his report. Needless to say, he won’t be welcome back in the office on Monday.

Fly by the Seat of One’s Pants: To improvise, to make decisions without planning or preparation.

Sentence – I really don’t know how to operate this thing, I’m just flying by the seat of my pants here.

Fly High: Be very successful, especially temporarily.

Sentence – Molly’s been flying high ever since she passed her driver’s test.

Fly Off The Handle: Lose one’s temper suddenly and unexpectedly.

Sentence – It’s a shame the candidate allowed himself to fly off the handle like that during the debate, since it undermines a lot of the really solid arguments he’d been making up to that point.

Follow In Someone’s Footsteps (Tracks): Follow the example laid down by someone else; supplant.

Sentence – My father was an engineer, and I plan to follow in his footsteps and study engineering in college.

Follow Your Heart: Rely on one’s deeper feelings and instincts when making a decision.

Sentence – Follow your heart but don’t let your possessiveness ruin what could turn out to be a great love connection. If you are too needy you may send the wrong signals.

Food for Thought: Something that makes you thinks carefully.

Sentence – Ian Wright also had food for thought as he made a hasty exit from Arsenal’s demoralised dressing room.

For a Song: At very low cost.

Sentence – The property is going for a song because they need to sell it fast.

For Crying Out Loud (excl.): An expression of extreme annoyance.

Sentence – For crying out loud, how many shows about recovering your favorite footstool can a normal person sit through?

For Xyz Reasons: For multiple reasons, not worth specifying individually.

Sentence – Many people don’t like country music for XYZ reasons, but I’ve always really enjoyed it.

Foul Play: Crime, typically murder.

Sentence – That actor actually died of a heart attack—there was no foul play after all.