Topic Six (1.6): An A to Z of idioms

Topics Icon.png Objectives for this topic

  • to learn some English idioms;
  • to write and role-play conversations using idioms.

Introduction Icon.png Introduction

  • In this topic, you will learn the meaning of various English idioms.

Interact Icon.png Working through your coursebook

Please work through the following sections in your coursebook, completing all listed exercises:

  • Do you know what an idiom is? Read the explanation in the Language tip box at the top of page 22. Because idioms don’t always make sense literally (in other words, idioms don’t mean exactly what the words say), you need to familiarise yourself with the meaning and usage of each idiom. That might seem like a lot of work but it can actually be quite fun, especially when you compare English idioms with idioms from your own or other languages. Can you guess what ‘once in a blue moon’ means?
  • Page 22, Exercise 1 – Read the A to Z of idioms. How many do you know? Can you guess the meaning of the idioms you didn’t know?
  • Page 23, Exercise 2 – Look carefully at what is happening and being said in each picture. Match the four pictures to an idiom from page 22.
  • Page 23, Exercise 3 – Listen to Track 06. You will hear conversations that include the idioms in Exercise 1. Listen and answer the questions. Write out the idioms that you hear and what they mean. If you have a similar idiom in your language, write that next to the English idiom.

LISTEN – Track 06

  • Page 23, Exercise 4 – Explain the idioms in your own words. If you don’t know them, you can ask a family member or friends. You can also look up the meaning. Here is a link to an online idiom dictionary. Links to an external site.
  • Page 23, Exercise 5 – Match the idioms to the explanations.

Review Icon.png Review

  • Choose six idioms you like from the examples on pages 22 and 23 and write six short conversations to include them. If you can, read them out to friends or family and see if they can guess what the idioms mean.

Bridge Icon.png  Support activity for this topic

  • Let's learn the 10 most common English idioms by watching movie clips and TV series. Remember to make a note of these as well as when to use them.

WATCH – Learn English Idioms with TV Series & Movies | 10 Most Common English Idioms (YouTube)

Stretch Icon.png Extension activity for this topic

Using idioms in conversation or written work will help you sound more confident and natural. As you have seen, they do not make any sense if taken literally, so you need to learn their meaning. Complete this quiz on idioms – you will have come across some before but others will be new to you.

PRACTISE – English idioms and phrases (English Explorations) Links to an external site.

Vocabulary.png Vocabulary

  • Review the vocabulary in this lesson and make a note of any words that were new to you. It is good practice to keep a record of new vocabulary in a notebook.
  • If you are ready for a challenge, have a go at the following quiz on idioms on the Education Quizzes website. (You can find the login details here.)

PRACTISE – Idioms (Education Quizzes) Links to an external site.

Download Icon.png Check your answers

  • If you would like to check your answers to the exercises in this topic, please consult this document Download here. The section with the answers is highlighted in yellow.
  • If you would like to access the audioscript(s) for this topic, please click Download here.