How to Use “Get Out of Hand” in IELTS Writing and Speaking

When preparing for the IELTS exam, mastering a range of idiomatic expressions can give you a significant edge. One such useful idiom is “get out of hand.” This article will deeply explore this phrase, its usage, and its relevance in the IELTS exam. We’ll go through detailed analyses, examples, and practice questions to help you incorporate this idiom into your writing and speaking tasks effectively.

What Does “Get Out of Hand” Mean?

Meaning and Pronunciation

The phrase “get out of hand” is an idiom that means something is becoming difficult to control. It is often used to describe situations that are escalating beyond one’s ability to manage. The pronunciation is straightforward: /ɡet aʊt əv hænd/.

Synonyms and Antonyms

Here are some related words and phrases, complete with their meanings and example sentences to illustrate how they can be used similarly or contrastingly:

1. Spiral out of control (verb): To become increasingly chaotic.

   • “The situation spiraled out of control quickly.”

2. Run amok (phrasal verb): To behave uncontrollably and disruptively.

   • “After the power outage, students ran amok, creating havoc.”

3. Go haywire (phrasal verb): To function erratically or out of control.

   • “The computer system went haywire during the presentation.”

4. Stay in check (verb): To remain under control (antonym).

   • “Despite the chaos around him, he managed to stay in check.”

5. Maintain order (verb): To keep things organized and under control (antonym).

   • “He always tries to maintain order in the office.”

Usage in Context: IELTS Questions

The idiom “get out of hand” is quite frequent in real-life contexts and could be mentioned across various IELTS tasks. An understanding of how to use this phrase effectively can help you convey ideas more clearly and eloquently in both Writing and Speaking sections of the IELTS.

Situation Get Out Of Hand

Pronunciation and Example Sentences

Let’s examine how “get out of hand” can be incorporated into your responses across various sections of the IELTS:

Writing Task 2

1. Topic: Technology and Society

   • Example: “While technology has drastically improved our daily lives, it can sometimes get out of hand, leading to severe privacy concerns.”

2. Topic: Environmental Issues

   • Example: “Deforestation is an urgent problem that might get out of hand if not addressed immediately.”

Speaking Task

1. Part 2: Describe a situation where you handled a difficult task
   • Example: “At my previous job, managing the team often got out of hand, especially during peak seasons. I had to implement strict guidelines to maintain order.”

Frequency and Relevance in IELTS Exam

Popularity in IELTS

The idiom “get out of hand” could be particularly useful in the following IELTS contexts:

• IELTS Writing Task 2: Subjects like environmental challenges, technological impacts, and social issues often provide perfect opportunities to use this idiom.
• IELTS Speaking: Describing past experiences, hypothetical situations, or personal views can benefit from the inclusion of idioms to enhance fluency and coherence.

Practice: Incorporating the Idiom in IELTS Tasks

Writing Task Samples with Usage

1. Topic: Urbanization and Its Effects

   • Example: “Urbanization, if not properly managed, can get out of hand, resulting in severe traffic congestion and housing shortages.”

2. Topic: Childhood and Education

   • Example: “Children’s screen time is something that can easily get out of hand without proper parental supervision.”

Speaking Task Samples with Usage

1. Speaking Part 1: Hobbies and Interests

   • Examiner: “Do you think hobbies are important for relaxation?”
   • Candidate: “Absolutely, but sometimes they can get out of hand if they start to interfere with daily responsibilities.”

2. Speaking Part 3: The Role of Government

   • Examiner: “Do you think governments should intervene in the personal lives of citizens?”
   • Candidate: “Only to a certain extent. Too much intervention can get out of hand and infringe on personal freedoms.”

Combining “Get Out of Hand” with Other Terms

Expanding your vocabulary to seamlessly incorporate “get out of hand” in various contexts is essential. Here are more complex combinations using this idiom:

• Financially get out of hand: “If we don’t budget wisely, our expenses could financially get out of hand.”
• Emotionally get out of hand: “Sometimes, arguments can emotionally get out of hand, damaging relationships.”

Additional Idioms Related to Control and Order

Incorporate these idioms to enrich your IELTS responses:

1. Lose one’s grip:

   • Example: “During the crisis, the leader lost his grip on the situation.”

2. Get/go off track:

   • Example: “Without a clear plan, the project might go off track.”

3. Bring to heel:

   • Example: “The new policies are meant to bring to heel the rising crime rates.”

4. Keep on a tight leash:

   • Example: “Sometimes, children need to be kept on a tight leash to prevent them from getting into trouble.”

5. Have a handle on:

   • Example: “Despite the chaos, she had a good handle on the situation.”

6. Rein in:

   • Example: “The government needs to rein in spending to avoid further debt.”

7. Run wild:

   • Example: “If left unsupervised, children can run wild.”

Conclusion

Mastering idiomatic expressions like “get out of hand” and its alternatives can enhance your lexical resource, coherence, and task response scores in the IELTS exam. Practicing the usage of this idiom in different contexts prepares you to use it effectively in your Writing and Speaking tasks. To further familiarize yourself with idiomatic usage, visit these helpful guides on handling specific IELTS tasks:

• How to Handle IELTS Reading Test
• How to Handle IELTS Writing Task 2
• How to Handle IELTS Reading Passages

Keep practicing, and you’ll find that using idioms like “get out of hand” will soon feel natural, culminating in a higher IELTS score.