English level: A1

Objective: Trying to understand some frequently used idioms in English writing and speaking.

Introduction

When teaching English abroad, you’ll notice that most students at a high level are quite interested in idioms and would like to know their exact meaning.

You can have a lot of fun translating the idioms word-for-word to the students´ mother tongue, before you give them the meaning and use.

Some idioms have equivalents in the students´ mother tongue.

Activity 1

Give the students this list of idioms and have them translate them literally. Then they should try to find the equivalent idiom in their mother tongue.

-I caught the waiter´s eye.

-I´m up to my ears in work.

-I couldn´t keep a straight face.

-I´ll keep my fingers crossed.

-You ought to let your hair down.

-Don´t lose your head!

-Try not to lose heart.

-I´m pulling your leg.

-He´s a pain in the neck.

-It was on the tip of my tongue.

Activity 2: Produce

Give the students a number of idioms each (2 or 3) and tell them to write a short text (only a few sentences) where each idiom is being used.

Have them read their texts aloud. Comment on their sentences, have a lot of fun, and correct any misunderstandings.

Activity 3: Another practice activity

Tell the students to rearrange the following idioms to fit the definitions alongside.

Activity 4: Fun exercise

Have the students think of some idioms in their own language which can´t be directly be translated into English.