4 English Idiom Books to Help You achieve High Scores

PREP recommends that you own one of the following 4 English idiom books to ensure that you fully grasp high scores. Because you may not know, native speakers greatly favor using idioms in communication. In addition, idioms are frequently encountered in books, television programs, or movies. Therefore, to enhance your English proficiency, you need to feel confident when using idioms. Take a look at these 4 popular English idiom books right away!

I. Top reputable English idiom books

1. Oxford Dictionary of Idioms

• Targeted users: The Oxford Dictionary of Idioms is a relatively compact English idiom book suitable for all users who want to quickly look up the meanings of idioms.
• Overview of the book's content: The Oxford Dictionary of Idioms is a smaller version of the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary, specifically dedicated to idioms. The idioms are arranged alphabetically and accompanied by English definitions. Some idioms also have notes on their origins, usage contexts, etc. The book also includes an index section that compiles idioms into semantic groups.

• Some limitations:
  • This English idiom book provides very few examples for each idiom, so it cannot be solely relied upon for learning new idioms as readers will not be able to apply them in specific contexts, which is the most important aspect of idioms.
  • The index section only lists the idioms without providing explanations. It is only useful for compilation purposes, and if one wants to use the idioms, they need to look up the meanings again.
• Effective use of the book: The Oxford Dictionary of Idioms is used for quickly looking up new idioms whose meanings are unclear. You can refer to the index section to select idioms that can be used according to semantic groups, but further research is needed to use them accurately, especially in IELTS Speaking.

2. Oxford word skills idioms and phrasal verbs

• Targeted users: Oxford Word Skills Idioms and Phrasal Verbs is an English idiom book suitable for beginners or those who want to learn more about idioms and phrasal verbs, specifically for applying them in IELTS Speaking.
• Overview of the book's content:
  • First chapter: Theory about idioms, phrasal verbs; how to look up idioms in the dictionary (e.g., what word to look up within an idiom phrase);...
  • Subsequent chapters: Introduce idioms, and phrasal verbs used in specific, common situations (e.g., used in the classroom, used in letter writing, used to describe actions, etc.) through sample passages, accompanied by English definitions of the idioms used.
  • All chapters have diverse exercises at different levels of memorization, understanding, and application for immediate practice after learning.

• Some limitations: The sample passages in this English idiom book heavily use idioms and phrasal verbs, making it challenging for beginners to understand the meaning of the passages.
• Effective use of the book: For each chapter in the Oxford Word Skills Idioms and Phrasal Verbs book, read the sample passage to guess the meanings of idioms and phrasal verbs in specific contexts. Then, refer to the compiled definitions to compare. Afterward, reread the sample passage to ensure a complete understanding of the content. Finally, do the exercises to reinforce your knowledge. Take note of useful idioms to use in corresponding topics in IELTS Speaking.

3. Phrasal Verbs & Idioms – Check your English Vocabulary

• Targeted users: Phrasal Verbs & Idioms - Check Your English Vocabulary is an English idiom book suitable for users who already have a foundation and understanding of idioms and phrasal verbs in English and want to practice, improve, and enhance their vocabulary in this area.
• Overview of the book's content: This English idiom book helps you learn phrasal verbs and idioms through completion exercises, providing examples of how they are used. It mainly categorizes idioms and phrasal verbs based on their structures (e.g., idioms using animal-related words, phrasal verbs using the verb "make," etc.).

• Some limitations: Phrasal Verbs & Idioms - Check your English Vocabulary only has very few sections that categorize idioms and phrasal verbs based on specific situations (e.g., used for emphasis, used for responses, etc.). Therefore, this book is not suitable for finding idioms in desired contexts. Additionally, the book may not be suitable for beginners as the exercises are quite complex and require a strong foundation.
• Effective use of the book: Instead of studying mechanically from the beginning to the end of the book, choose a specific verb or topic and complete the accompanying exercises. From the completed sentences, make note of any new idioms and phrasal verbs encountered, and then apply them by creating sentences and writing paragraphs in self-created contexts, applying them to IELTS Speaking. Move on to a new section only when you feel proficient in the current one.

4. Collins work on your idioms

• Targeted users: Collins Work on Your Idioms is an English idiom book suitable for beginners who are starting to learn idioms and are looking for simple idioms based on topics to apply in IELTS Speaking.
• Overview of the book's content: This English idiom book includes over 300 of the most common idioms in English, categorized by topics (e.g., idioms about success and failure, about happiness and suffering, etc.). Each idiom includes the following parts:
• Meaning: Full definitions of each idiom in English.
  • Meaning: Full definitions of each idiom in English.
  • Example: Specific examples are chosen to accurately demonstrate each definition. All idioms are accompanied by at least one example, providing learners with context for learning.
  • Note (if applicable): Additional information about the origin or usage notes of the idiom.

• Some limitations: The exercise section in Collin's Work on Your Idioms is quite simple, and the application part relies heavily on the learner's self-study, so it may not be suitable for those who want to advance their learning.
• Effective use of the book: To effectively use this English idiom book, carefully read the definitions, especially the examples of each idiom. Then proceed to complete the exercises to reinforce your knowledge. Learners can also read through the Appendix section at the end of the book to understand different ways of understanding and learning idioms in English. Finally, make note of useful idioms to use in corresponding topics in IELTS Speaking.

II. Effective Methods of Learning Common Idioms through English Idiom Books

1. Learning Idioms by Topic and Story in English Idiom Books

When idioms are grouped into specific topics and accompanied by stories, the process of memorization becomes easier. This is because there is a meaningful connection between the idioms, allowing us to visualize and create a complete picture. In fact, due to their high level of cohesion, we can even apply them in constructing a story. 

For example, when learning all the conjunctions related to People & Relationships, we can remember how to express love, hate, and connect similar structures. This enables us to easily associate one idiom with others, allowing us to write a simple love story or share our personal experiences.

You can refer to books like "Work on Your Idioms" by Collins or "English Idioms in Use". These books categorize idioms into different topics and provide reference examples, making them easy to remember.

2. Learning Idioms through Association in English Idiom Books

Common idioms in English originate from real-life contexts and are language expressions that carry imagery. Therefore, we can rely on associations from literal meanings to infer the figurative meanings of idioms.

When using this method, you can combine it with illustrations to create visual representations. So when you mention an idiom, the corresponding image will appear, helping you easily associate it with the precise meaning of the expression.

For example, let's take the idiom "break the ice." Literally, it means to "destroy the ice layer." Just imagine the image of breaking a block of ice (you can draw a picture of a person breaking a block of ice in your vocabulary notebook). The block of ice serves as a barrier between two people, and by breaking it, they can see each other. This idiom signifies overcoming initial barriers and feeling more comfortable with each other.

III. Start Your IELTS Journey

This article has provided a detailed review of four popular English idiom books that are highly sought after by English language learners. These books are valuable resources for those preparing for exams such as IELTS, TOEIC, and the national high school English exam. Combined with our expertly designed IELTS courses, you’ll gain access to proven strategies, interactive lessons, and personalized feedback to help you master every section of the exam and achieve your dream band score.

• IELTS online course: Unlock Your IELTS Success Story.