Log in
C1 ADVANCED · VOCABULARY · IDIOMS

Idioms: arguments and discussion

Idioms like a double-edged sword, the tip of the iceberg and play devil's advocate.

Finn the puffin with glasses and a book, your vocabulary teacher
Finn says

At C1, the most useful idioms are the ones that help you discuss ideas. Many of them – a double-edged sword, a vicious circle, the tip of the iceberg – are neutral enough for essays and reports, and they express a complex idea in just a few words. Most idioms are informal: they sound natural when you speak and in informal emails, articles and reviews, but can sound out of place in an essay or a report. Look at the label next to each one.

Describing problems and situations

a double-edged sword
something with both advantages and disadvantages ✍️ Also in essays & reports
Social media is a double-edged sword.
the tip of the iceberg
a small visible part of a much bigger problem ✍️ Also in essays & reports
These complaints are just the tip of the iceberg.
a vicious circle
a situation where one problem causes another, which makes the first worse ✍️ Also in essays & reports
Poverty and poor health create a vicious circle.
a drop in the ocean
an amount too small to make a difference ✍️ Also in essays & reports
The new funding is a drop in the ocean.
the lesser of two evils
the less bad of two bad options ✍️ Also in essays & reports
Raising taxes may be the lesser of two evils.
food for thought
something worth thinking about carefully ✍️ Also in essays & reports
The documentary gave me food for thought.

Talking in a discussion

play devil's advocate
argue the opposite side to test an idea 🗣 Speaking & informal writing
Let me play devil's advocate for a moment.
hit the nail on the head
describe something exactly right 🗣 Speaking & informal writing
I think you've hit the nail on the head.
beat about the bush
avoid saying something directly 🗣 Speaking & informal writing
Stop beating about the bush and tell me.
get the wrong end of the stick
misunderstand something 🗣 Speaking & informal writing
Sorry, I think I got the wrong end of the stick.
a moot point
a question that is open to debate or no longer matters ✍️ Also in essays & reports
Whether it would have worked is a moot point.

Say it with an idiom

The same idea, first in plain English, then with an idiom.

  • Plain: Technology has good and bad sides.With an idiom: Technology is a double-edged sword.Concise and suitable for an essay.
  • Plain: This problem is much bigger than it looks.With an idiom: This is only the tip of the iceberg.A vivid, neutral image.
  • Plain: The money is not enough to change anything.With an idiom: The money is a drop in the ocean.Expresses the idea in few words.
  • Plain: You're exactly right.With an idiom: You've hit the nail on the head.Great for Speaking Part 3 discussions.
Finn the puffin, smiling kindly
Finn's exam tip

In Speaking Part 3, phrases like 'Let me play devil's advocate' or 'You've hit the nail on the head' show you can interact naturally with your partner – which is exactly what the examiner is listening for.

Quick check

Choose the best answer.

← All vocabulary topicsPractise Writing →

🇪🇸 Guía en español: Phrasal verbs para el C1 Advanced: lista con ejemplos →

Practice → Check → Learn → Repeat ↻