How Idioms Work

How Idioms Work is designed for adult learners of English who, despite a good grasp of English, find idiomatic language in their workplace or university confusing or incomprehensible.

This fully photocopiable Resource Book provides clear, literal representations of high-frequency idioms chosen specifically for their lexical value in the world today. Ten eight-page sections comprise activity cards, definitions, reading consolidation (using semi-authentic newspaper articles) and revision activities. It also includes teacher tips and recommendations, 20 suggested activity types, an answer key and templates for devising furhter activity cards.

How Idioms Work is ideal for complementing any skills-based lessons, as well as a general filler to add fun and variety to teaching.

Each section of photocopiable pages is organized as follows:

• a summary of the idioms being covered
• illustrations of the idioms
• written idioms
• definitions of the idioms
• newspaper articles with idioms in use
• revision exercises and a talking point.

Key Features

• High-frequency idioms chosen specifically for their lexical value in the workplace
• Vivid illustrations show literal representation of idioms for high impact and retention
• Ten six-page sections comprising: activity cards, definitions, reading consolidation using simulated newspaper articles, revision activities
• Twenty suggested activity types for exploiting materials
• Resource section containing further background information, answer keys, index and templates for devising more activity cards
• Ideal for complementing functional course books
• Ideal as both fun and purposeful filler activities

Types of activity: picture match, find the definition, matching pairs, memory game, happy families, cloze, guess the idiom, bingo, mime, improvisation, real-life relate, anagrams, make a million, snap, pencil pictures, three in a row, right or wrong?, word chain, hit on a headline

Contents

Tips and recommendations

Part A:
Suggested activities

Part B:
Section 1:

• bite the bullet
• bend someone's ear
• drag your heels
• a finger in every pie
• eat your words
• hit the nail on the head
• draw a line under it
• make a mountain out of a molehill
• keep your hair on
• put all your eggs in one basket
• keep something under wraps
• an uphill struggle
• ruffle someone's feathers
• skate on thin ice
• bury your head in the sand

Section 2:

• sweep something under the carpet
• bang your head against a brick wall
• have a bee in your bonnet
• bend over backwards
• dig your heels in
• back to square one
• a card up your sleeve
• water under the bridge
• get to grips with something
• a spanner in the works
• in the hot seat
• a piece of cake
• break the ice
• get your wires crossed
• on the tip of your tongue

Section 3:

• a chip on your shoulder
• full of hot air
• take the bull by the horns
• pick holes
• sit on the fence
• pay through the nose
• splitting hairs
• get/start the ball rolling
• read between the lines
• left holding the baby
• jump the gun
• put something on the back burner
• over the top (OTT)
• at the eleventh hour
• down in the mouth

Section 4:

• stick your neck out
• throw the baby out with the bathwater
• bite someone's head off
• open a can of worms
• a big fish in a small pond
• a hard nut to crack
• iron/smooth something out
• the wrong end of the stick
• have a bone to pick
• put the cart before the horse
• spill the beans
• cut corners
• draw the line
• play/keep your cards close to your chest
• nail/pin someone down

Section 5:

• heads will roll
• a fish out of water
• stick/poke your nose in
• a knee-jerk reaction
• stick to your guns
• two bites of/at the cherry
• hot under the collar
• take the floor
• a finger on the pulse
• have/get your ducks in a row
• pie in the sky
• hear something on the grapevine
• money for old rope
• let sleeping dogs lie
• go overboard

Section 6:

• pull the wool over someone's eyes
• a moveable feast
• left high and dry
• in at the deep end
• put out feelers
• step out of line
• shoot your mouth off
• pour/throw cold water over something
• swallow a bitter pill
• put your foot in it
• a cold call
• a sting in the tail
• lay your cards on the table
• a storm in a teacup
• from the horse's mouth

Section 7:

• blow the whistle
• it's in the bag
• the last straw
• run it up the flagpole
• paint yourself into the corner
• rise to the bait
• in hot water
• the ball in is someone's court
• grasp the nettle
• in the driving seat
• in a nutshell
• have egg on your face
• in the loop
• the balloon's gone up
• a foot in the door

Section 8:

• nip it in the bud
• a hatchet job
• drive someone up the wall
• a glass ceiling
• eat humble pie
• lose the thread
• turn up the heat
• at the sharp end
• doesn't hold water
• scrape the barrel
• bite your tongue
• strike while the iron is hot
• a thorn in someone's side
• keep your feet on the ground
• off the record

Section 9:

• go down like a lead balloon
• push the envelope
• tie yourself in knots
• the thin end of the wedge
• wide of the mark
• a cock and bull story
• between a rock and a hard place
• pick someone's brains
• sing from the same song sheet
• water off a duck's back
• add fuel to the fire
• the gloves are off
• a shot in the arm
• move the goalposts
• fly by the seat of your pants

Section 10:

• breathe down someone's neck
• a square peg in a round hole
• off the hook
• a fly on the wall
• hit the jackpot
• let the cat out of the bag
• the penny has dropped
• pull the plug
• feather your (own) nest
• pull strings
• wet behind the ears
• jump through hoops
• hit the buffers
• from the frying pan into the fire
• take a leaf out of someone's book

Part C:
Answer key
Templates
Index of idioms