Watching Movies to Prep for Exams

If you’re preparing for TOEFL or IELTS, mastering idioms can substantially enhance your listening, reading, and speaking sections. While idioms aren’t overtly tested, they often appear in audio recordings or written passages. Moreover, using idioms naturally in speaking and writing tasks can demonstrate fluency, range of vocabulary, and a strong command of English.

One of the most enjoyable ways to learn these idioms is through movies—especially well-known films filled with everyday expressions.

 

Movie Idioms and English Exams
Learn idioms by watching movies and TV shows online. | Photo by Andrea Piacquadio

Why Movie Idioms Matter for TOEFL & IELTS

  • Contextual Learning: Hearing idioms in realistic situations makes them easier to understand and remember.

  • Natural Usage: Examiners look for language that sounds natural—idioms help achieve that.

  • Exposure to Different Accents: Movies provide a mix of American, British, and other English varieties.

  • Listening practice: Many movie idioms become audio or comprehension questions in listening sections.

For more on idioms in English tests, see this PrepScholar article on TOEFL idioms.

15 Essential Movie Idioms for Exam-Takers

Here are 15 common English idioms from movies that are both useful in daily life and relevant to TOEFL/IELTS:

Idiom Meaning Example Usage
Break a leg Good luck “Break a leg tomorrow in your interview!”
Hit the nail on the head Exactly right “You hit the nail on the head with that idea.”
Piece of cake Very easy “The task was a piece of cake.”
Cost an arm and a leg Very expensive “That car costs an arm and a leg.”
Blessing in disguise Something that seems bad but turns out good “Losing the job was a blessing in disguise.”
Let the cat out of the bag Reveal a secret accidentally “He let the cat out of the bag about the surprise.”
Burn the midnight oil Study or work late “I burned the midnight oil for the exam.”
Under the weather Feel ill “I’m a bit under the weather today.”
In hot water In trouble “He found himself in hot water at work.”
Once in a blue moon Very rarely “We go to the cinema once in a blue moon.”
Spill the beans Reveal a secret intentionally or unintentionally “Try not to spill the beans about project plans.”
Hit the books Start studying hard “Exams are tomorrow—I really must hit the books.”
Throw in the towel Give up “He didn’t want to throw in the towel yet.”
Keep your fingers crossed Hope for good luck “I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed for your result.”
Back to the drawing board Start over “The first draft failed—back to the drawing board.”

These idioms are widely used in movies and everyday conversations—which makes them ideal for exam context (GeeksforGeeks TOEFL idioms).

How to Learn and Practice Movie Idioms

1. Pick the Right Types of Movies

Choose films with conversational dialogue and clear speech—for example:

  • Forrest Gump – lots of colloquial idioms

  • The Shawshank Redemption – memorable lines like “Get busy living or get busy dying”

  • Legally Blonde – modern, accessible idioms in workplace context

2. Use English Subtitles

Watch with English subtitles to catch idiomatic expressions clearly. Pause and replay the scenes to understand pronunciation and context.

3. Keep an Idiom Journal

Note each idiom, its meaning, an example sentence, and the movie it came from. Regular review helps retention.

4. Practice Speaking and Writing

Use idioms in mock speaking responses or essays. For instance:

“Although the exam seemed tough, studying consistently made it a piece of cake.”

5. Quiz Yourself Regularly

Use flashcards or apps like Anki to review idioms and practice with spaced repetition.

This guide to idioms for IELTS is also helpful: IELTS idioms list.

Using Idioms in the Exam — Best Practices

  • Listening & Reading: Be ready to identify idioms in context. Knowing their meaning helps with comprehension.

  • Speaking: Use idioms sparingly and appropriately—1–2 per response can improve your fluency score.

  • Writing: Suitable in informal essays (e.g. IELTS Task 2), but avoid them in academic or formal content (like TOEFL Integrated Writing).

Avoid clichés or spelling mistakes when using idioms—accuracy matters.

Recommended Study Routine

  1. Choose 10 idioms per week from your movie journal.

  2. Watch the film scenes where those idioms are used.

  3. Write sample sentences in both spoken and written formats.

  4. Create flashcards to reinforce meanings.

  5. Use idioms in speaking practice—simulate exam conditions.

  6. During review, connect idioms to real-life or academic contexts to enhance practicality.

When Not to Use Idioms

  • Avoid in formal written tasks like TOEFL Writing Task 1 or academic essays.

  • Don’t overuse idioms—excess can appear forced or ungrammatical.

  • Use only idioms you understand fully—misuse can harm your score.

Why Idioms Give You an Edge

Understanding and using idioms appropriately can elevate your English from basic to nuanced. Examiners look for fluency, coherence, lexical range, and appropriate register—all of which idioms support when used correctly.

For more TOEFL idiom practice and context, check out this list by PrepScholar.

Final Thoughts

Movie Idioms are a natural, effective way to build your vocabulary and fluency for TOEFL and IELTS. By watching films and actively identifying idioms, you not only boost comprehension but also gain confidence in your everyday English use. Start today: grab your favorite movie, spot an idiom, write it down, and practice saying it aloud to prep for success!

Movie Idioms Blog

Read more about idioms and movies on the blog.