Something I noticed on the IELTS rubric is that to achieve a level 9 candidates should use idiomatic language. Conversations between native speakers of English are littered with puns, cliches, slang etc and so candidates who wish to elevate their level in the exam need to be able to use these expressions. Here are lots of examples for students to work out what each means and then they can practice how to use them in conversation.
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Below are a number of examples of each of these parts of speech. Click on the picture to enlarge it and get an example of the content. Click on the label and it will open a folder which contains all of these documents and in many cases, many more that are not illustrated.
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Please note that the contents of these presentations contain language that may be considered offensive to some. The first presentation contains a list of different euphemisms for common 'unspeakable' acts such as the toilet, death and sex. I usually ask the participants to guess how many different euphemisms there are for each. I think the total will surprise you.
A malapropism is the mistaken use of a word in place of a similar-sounding one, often with an amusing effect (e.g. ‘dance a flamingo ’ instead of flamenco ).
A metaphor is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one kind of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between them (as in drowning in money)
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Metaphors 1 contains sayings that can be interpreted in many different ways - there is no one answer.
Oxymorons are where two words or concepts seem to be totally contradictory, and yet can make perfect sense, such as being seriously funny has a special meaning.
A paradox is similar to an oxymoron as a seemingly absurd or contradictory statement or proposition which when investigated may prove to be well founded or true.
​A proverb is folk wisdom or advice expressed through short, pithy sentences. Most proverbs are local, reflecting wisdom, beliefs,
A pun is a joke exploiting the different possible meanings of a word or the fact that there are words which sound alike but have different meanings.
Slang is a type of language consisting of words and phrases that are regarded as very informal, are more common in speech than writing, and are typically restricted to a particular context or group of people.
Superstitions are a widely held but irrational belief in supernatural influences, especially as leading to good or bad luck, or a practice based on such a belief.