In today’s episode, you’ll learn 4 phrases for blaming someone or taking blame on IELTS Speaking.
Questions often come up about mistakes.
You might need to write a letter complaining about poor service or a problem.
You could definitely talk about mistakes on IELTS Speaking.
Be ready for test day with this impressive vocabulary!
#1: All my fault
If you want to accept responsibilty, you can say, “It was all my fault.”
To blame someone else, you can also use this.
- his fault
- her fault
- their fault
To fill the 2 minutes on Speaking Part 2, share whose fault something was!
- tattle: tell someone that someone else is doing something wrong
If describing your job:
“I don’t want to tattle, but my coworker Denise always breaks the copier.”
We often feel indignation when we’re blamed for something that isn’t our fault.
- indignation: anger or annoyance at something that is perceived as unfair
#2: Point the finger at someone
This means to blame someone.
It’s informal and would be great for Speaking Part 1 and Speaking Part 2.
Don’t point the finger at me! I didn’t do it!
He’s always pointing the finger at everyone else.
We often use this to describe someone who doesn’t accept responsibility for their actions.
It’s almost always collocated in the negative.
“Not to point the finger, but…”
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#3: Pin on
This phrasal verb means to blame.
When something goes wrong, it’s someone’s fault.
You can pin it on someone by blaming them.
“Are you trying to pin this on me?”
“I have a friend who’s always pinning everything on me.”
#4: Throw someone under the bus
This phrase for blaming someone is very idiomatic.
If you are thrown under the bus you are blamed for something.
It’s usually something you would’ve gotten away with if the person who threw you under the bus hadn’t said anything.
“I don’t mean to throw anyone under the bus, but my friend suggested Pinon Cafe and I hated it!”
Where to use on IELTS
On Speaking Part 1, you might be asked about hobbies, restaurants, or how you spend your time.
“I don’t mean to throw anyone under the bus, but my friend suggested Pinot Cafe and I hated it!”
Many questions could come up on IELTS Speaking where this would be useful.
Part 2- Describe a time someone lied to you.
Part 2- Describe a time you made a mistake.
Part 3- When is it acceptable to lie to someone?
Part 3- Do you think making mistakes are always a bad thing?
Takeaway
You might need to describe a problem or negative situation on IELTS.
A great way to share detail is to say who was at fault.
Today’s vocabulary is perfect for doing that in a high level way.
Practice using these to answer practice IELTS Speaking questions.
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What questions do you have from today’s episode?
Please leave a comment below.
