IELTS Vocabulary
Backseat Driver: A passenger in a car who gives unwanted advice to the driver is called a backseat driver.
Sentence – John quickly became annoyed at Mary’s tendency to become a backseat driver whenever he drove her somewhere, so he just began to let her drive.
Bad Apple: A discontented, trouble making, or dishonest person.
Sentence – The Colonel glared expectantly at the damp mob, trying to pinpoint the bad apple.
Bad Blood: Enmity or hatred that stems from something in the past.
Sentence – Bad blood remained from the previous weeks tussle and national expectation weighed heavily on everyone’s shoulders.
Bad Egg: Someone who is not to be trusted.
Sentence – That bad egg was recognized by policemen although he disguised himself well.
Bad Taste In One’s Mouth: Unease, a feeling that something unspecified is wrong in a situation.
Sentence – I don’t know, man, the fact that he lied to you just leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
Bag of Tricks: A set of methods or resources.
Sentence – In the whole bag of tricks of 3D depth mapping technology, structured light method take advantage of resolution and speed.
Bail Out: To rescue someone from a bad situation, to shield someone from the consequences of his or her actions.
Sentence – Their will be no “moral hazard” from this bail out because the austerity program being forced on the Greeks and others will be no picnic.
Ball and Chain: 1. One’s spouse (derogatory but often affectionate); 2. an ongoing burden.
Sentence – Of A Shun ‘ nebular ball and chain ‘ it is very good masturbation tool, glacial ‘ diamond stars ‘ make a person faultlessly asphyxial , blood was frozen by him.
Ballpark Figure: A rough estimate.
Sentence – We’ll have to go away and cost this carefully, but as a ballpark figure I’d say that it’ll be about two million dollars.
Banner Year: A year marked by strong successes.
Sentence – Further, she predicted that the division will have another banner year and set a new record in the current fiscal year.
Bang for Your Buck: Value for money.
Sentence – If we choose an affordable resort on this beautiful island, I think we’ll get a lot of bang for the buck.
Bang One’s Head Against the Wall (Against a Brick Wall): Try repeatedly to do something without making progress.
Sentence – I appealed for help but felt I was always banging my head against a wall.
Baptism by Fire: A difficult task given right after one has assumed new responsibilities.
Sentence – It had been a baptism by fire, but she had come through.
Bar Fly (or Barfly): Someone who spends much of his or her time in bars.
Sentence – Shuttleworth cannot particularly act, or sing or anything, but as a top quality barfly he cannot be faulted.
Bare One’s Heart (Soul): To confess one’s deepest secrets.
Sentence – I don’t know Adam that well, so I was surprised that he bared his heart to me.
Bark up the Wrong Tree: Pursue a mistaken approach or belief; be wrong in a course of action.
Sentence – If you think I’ll help you cheat, you’re definitely barking up the wrong tree!
Basket Case: So upset or stunned that one is unable to function; in a hopeless condition.
Sentence – If the unemployment rate doesn’t decrease soon, the country is going to become a financial basket case.
Batten Down the Hatches: Prepare for a storm.
Sentence – My mother-in-law is coming to town this weekend, so I better batten down the hatches.
Be A Barrel of Laughs: To be fun, funny, and pleasant.
Sentence – I always have so much fun when Katie’s around—she’s a barrel of laughs!
