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Table of Contents
Idioms about general reading
- To be a bookworm = to read a lot
John reads all the time, he is definitely a bookworm.
- To be an avid reader = to read a lot
I’m an avid reader, I spend a large part of my weekends reading novels.
- To have your nose in a book = to read a lot
I love relaxing with a book at the weekend, you can usually find me with my nose in a book on Sunday mornings.
- To leaf through a book = to turn the pages quickly and not reading details
I have been leafing through this recipe book, looking for a good recipe for dinner tonight.
- To flip through (a book, magazine, etc…) = to turn the pages quickly and not reading details
I do read magazines, but I tend to just flip through them, without paying too much attention.
Idioms to describe good books
- To be a real gem = to be valuable and highly enjoyable.
(A gem is a precious stone)
I got this crime novel for my birthday and it’s a real gem.
- To be a breath of fresh air = to be refreshing and new
I spend so much time reading grammar books for work, so this new novel I bought is a breath of fresh air.
- To be a real eye-opener = to teach you something new or provide a new perspective on a topic.
This book on how to start a business is great, it’s a real eye-opener.
Idioms to describe exciting books
- To be a real page-turner = to be so engaging and interesting that you can’t stop turning the pages.
This new John Grisham novel is a real page-turner, I can’t put it down!
- To be a rollercoaster ride = to be full of ups and downs, twists and turns in the plot, and unexpected events.
I am a big fan of Lee Child, his novels have the most surprising twists in the plot, and they are always a rollercoaster ride.
- To have you on the edge of your seat = To have you in suspense
The last chapter of this book was so exciting, it had me on the edge of my seat.
- To be a fast-paced novel = to be exciting and have a fast-moving plot
I don’t usually like fast-paced crime novels, but I really enjoyed this one.
Idioms to describe bad books
- To be a heavy read = to be difficult to read, either because it is emotionally heavy or intellectually challenging
This book explains a lot about philosophy, but it’s a really heavy read. I couldn’t finish it.
Recommending a book
Here are four common ways to recommend a book
- I highly recommend it.
- I can’t recommend it enough.
- I strongly recommend it.
- There are no two ways about it, it’s a great book and you should get it.
Quiz
Try to fill in the gaps below with ONE word only, using of the idioms from above.
- My sister is a real ____________; she can finish a novel in one sitting.
- I’m reading a book about economics, but it’s a ___________ read; I have to take breaks to digest the ideas.
- You will always find me with my ________ in a book in my free time.
- I haven’t read this book yet, I only had time to ___________ through it, but it seemed interesting.
- If you like action, this is a ___________ novel that will keep you entertained.
- This book about climate change is a real ___________; I had no idea how serious the situation is.
- I couldn’t put this thriller down; it was a real ___________.
- The final chapters of the book had me on the ___________ of my seat; I couldn’t wait to find out what happened.
See answers
- My sister is a real bookworm; she can finish a novel in one sitting.
- I’m reading a book about economics, but it’s a heavy read; I have to take breaks to digest the ideas.
- You will always find me with my nose in a book in my free time.
- I haven’t read this book yet, I only had time to leaf/flip through it, but it seemed interesting
- If you like action, this is a fast-paced novel that will keep you entertained.
- This book about climate change is a real eye-opener; I had no idea how serious the situation is.
- I couldn’t put this thriller down; it was a real page-turner.
- The final chapters of the book had me on the edge of my seat; I couldn’t wait to find out what happened.
Frequently Asked Questions
Idioms bring your descriptions to life and help you sound more natural—especially in IELTS Speaking. They let you convey more meaning with expressive, native-like phrases.
To be a bookworm – always reading
To be an avid reader – a passionate reader
To have your nose in a book – deeply engrossed in reading
A real page-turner – so engaging you keep reading
A rollercoaster ride – full of dramatic twists
On the edge of your seat – filled with suspense
Use natural recommendation phrases like:
I highly recommend it.
I can’t recommend it enough.
There are no two ways about it, it’s a great book and you should get it.
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