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TEFL Lemon: Free ESL lesson ideas and great content for TEFL teachers

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In big letters, print off the name of the idiom e.g "Hit the nail on the head"

Separately, print off in big letters, the meaning of the idiom.

STEP THREE: stick on walls

Before class starts, take your pictures and text to your classroom. On one wall, stick up your photos. Don't put them in any order.

On a second wall, stick up the names of the idioms, again in random order.

On a third wall, stick up the meanings of the idioms. Make sure that you use large text. You should easily be able to read the text from 3-4m away.
TEFLlemon Tip: Buy some Blu-Tack for sticking up stuff on walls, all schools should get some and you can buy it on Taobao.
STEP FOUR: lead in

Ask your students if they know any English idioms. What do they mean? Where did they first hear these? When can you use them? Do they know any Chinese idioms they can teach you, the teacher?

Don't rush this stage, it's good language practice and will set the stage for your lesson very well.

STEP FIVE: matching activity

Tell your students that on the wall, you have pictures representing eight English idioms. Walk with them and ask them if they can guess any of the idioms from the pictures.

Now tell them that they need to a) match the name of the idiom with the picture and b) the meaning. They should walk around the classroom reading the text and then physcially take the text off the wall and stick it under the right picture. Give them a few mins to do this and go through the answers after.

STEP SIX: role-play

Divide your students into small groups, and then ask each group to pick one photo randomly. This is now 'their' idiom.

They have 10-15 minutes to prepare a short dialogue or roleplay, which must include their chosen idiom. The teacher should move around the room lending help and support where needed.

STEP SEVEN: performance
TEFLlemon Tip: groups will continue to practice their dialogue, totally ignoring other groups' performances, if left together. Just before the performances start, move students around so that groups aren't sat together. This will make it impossible for them to keep practicing, so they actually listen and watch other groups.
Now choose teams to come to the centre to perform their role-play. Watching students should say at the end what the idiom was. Finish off by asking students which idiom they liked the most.

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An amazing way to teach idioms to teens and adults - TEFL Lemon: Free ESL lesson ideas and great content for TEFL teachers

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An amazing way to teach English idioms to teens and adults in TEFL classes. They'll be using many idioms in their speaking.

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"to speak of the devil" A) to have an uncomfortable conversation / B) the person who you were talking about unexpectedly arrives / C) to talk about a person you don't like

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Guess the Idiom Class Challenge | English Language Learning Game | Twinkl ESL

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Her er forskellige bud på waygrounds spil med idiomer.

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Wayground — The world’s most engaging learning platform

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Find and create gamified quizzes, lessons, presentations, and flashcards for students, employees, and everyone else. Get started for free!

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This game replaces the previous game which is now phased out. The old game had the following description:

Games are great for motivating students to learn. By playing our fun educational games, students can practice and review key English vocabulary, grammar and sentences without the boredom which is usually encountered when doing paper-based gap-fill exercises. Play the game below and do not hesitate to share these resources with other learners. This is the philosophy behind our site - www.eslgamesplus.com.

This game is also excellent for classroom teaching. Teachers can engage students in a classroom vocabulary or grammar review. It is suitable for intermediate and advanced esl learners. It can be used to energize a dull class, to review work that was done or simply as a reward for good classroom work. Have fun teaching and learning English!

More Games

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Practice idiomatic expressions using this ESL fun Game.This game is also excellent for classroom teaching. Teachers can engage students in a classroom vocabulary or grammar review. It is suitable for intermediate and advanced esl learners. It can be used to energize a dull class, to review work that was done or simply as a reward for good classroom work.

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The kids and I have been talking about idioms, how they are often used in writing and what the different idioms mean. There are lots of idioms, actually a crazy amount. But I am trying to work thro…

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It's easy as pie.

No, it's a piece of cake.

Or maybe it's impossible to make heads or tails out of them.

Idioms. They're a lot of fun to teach and to learn, and they'll make your students sound more like native speakers and become better listeners, more in tune to colloquial English.

Contents

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere.Click here to get a copy. (Download)

Teaching Idioms Is Teaching Fluency

Colorful language and powerful imagery make idioms a lot of fun for English learners.

It's almost like a code-breaking game, where students must learn that when certain words come together in a phrase, they can mean something very different.

It's important to not only teach the meaning of idioms, but to also teach how to use them correctly and effectively.

When a non-native speaker uses an idiom correctly, he or she will sound very fluent. But, on the other hand, if they bumble the phrase, they will sound the exact opposite.

How to Teach English Idioms for Each Level

Beginners

Some ESL teachers may find that teaching idioms is a waste of time with beginners. They can barely hold their own in a conversation, so why go teaching them confusing expressions that are tough to understand?

There are a few reasons why teaching English idioms to beginners is a good idea.

Firstly, it establishes common ground. All languages have idiomatic expressions, and by going over some in English, they'll be encouraged to examine their own language usage and become more linguistically aware.

But perhaps more importantly, learning English idiomatic expressions is fun!

Beginners have the biggest hurdle to overcome when they first enter an ESL classroom: Learning to understand and to be understood.

And yet we spend a lot of time with beginners going over irregular verbs, memorizing vocabulary and learning basic phrases. Give them-and yourself-a break with a fun, creative lesson on English idiomatic expressions.

When you're teaching English idioms to beginners, the most important thing to remember is to make it fun. Don't sweat the small stuff.

1. Choose a theme

When you're presenting idiomatic expressions to beginners, it's a good idea to pick a theme.

Try choosing a list of 10 idioms in accordance with something like an upcoming holiday (on Halloween, try "green-eyed monster," "going on a witch hunt") or any theme that's of interest to you and your class.

For example, if you've just done a lesson on food words, try making a list of food-related idioms ("You're a peach!" "Easy as pie.")

If you're having a hard time coming up with idioms based on your theme, try this site which groups English idioms by theme for you, so you can pick and choose the ones you'd like to use.

2. Engage students in discovery

When introducing beginners to idioms, it can be fun to have them work in pairs or groups to try to discover what the idioms mean.

Of course, don't get them started empty-handed! Create a matching worksheet with the definitions of the idioms on one side and the idioms themselves on the other.

Have students work together to decide which idiom means which thing. If necessary, you can use translation in the definitions.

The benefit of introducing idioms in this way is that it gets students thinking about how idioms work and maybe even making comparisons in their own languages.

3. Reinforce learning with a game

Once students have figured out which idiom has which meaning, it's time for a game!

A really fun one to play with beginners is Charades. Since the person in front of the class doesn't have to speak, it can be less scary for students to volunteer. Of course, the guessers will have to guess in English!

Place the idioms you've covered into a hat and have students come up one by one to act them out.

Be sure to think ahead if you plan to use this game-you wouldn't want to pick idioms that are impossible to act out and risk frustrating your students.

Intermediate Learners

Intermediate learners may have a handle on some idioms, but not all. This is a great time to expand their idiomatic vocabulary with uses that are interesting to them.

With many students, this will mean involving pop culture like music. If you choose the song correctly, this can be a great opportunity to introduce more idiomatic expressions!

1. Pick an appropriate song

As the teacher, it's important to do your homework before getting underway with any idiomatic expressions activity. You can't just assume any song will have idiomatic expressions in it, as well you know!

Here are a few resources to help you find the right song to use with your class:

Of course, if you have another song in mind, go ahead and use that!

2. Warm up with a listening activity

Get students ready to listen closely by using a musical listening activity to get things rolling. Pick something that you know your class will catch onto fairly quickly so that you can get into the meat of the lesson.

3. Discuss the idioms found and introduce more

This is where you're going to want to actually define the idiomatic expressions in the song.

The best way to do this is by reviewing what an idiomatic expression is with your class and then asking students to identify the expressions themselves.

This sort of guided discovery can help students understand the idioms in the song and find their own definitions, which you can verify with them and correct if needed.

Once your students have uncovered all the idioms in the song, you can take the opportunity to talk about musically-themed idiomatic expressions with your class and encourage them to try to use them.

You can add more idioms to the list from some of the resources listed in the beginners' lesson above.

Give students a list of around 10 or 20 to work with, which you can test either by assigning a writing activity, giving a quiz a few days later or playing some games, like Charades or even a version of Taboo.

In this game, students are allowed to describe the meaning of the idiom, but they can't use any of the words in the expression. Other students must guess the idiom that's being described.

Another option is to use a video activity. We love the Head Over Heels activity, which is a lot of fun to use if you're going to be studying idioms for several classes.

Advanced Learners

By the time you've got a classroom full of advanced learners, idiomatic expressions have likely already been covered. Many idioms have already been acquired, and yet there's still a ways to go.

1. Identify a list of English idioms

First, you'll need to find some idioms that your advanced learners may not have seen before.

These 66 idioms are common in spoken English, but they likely haven't been addressed yet in other classes.

They're a bit rarer than some of the others that may have come up in previous classes, and they're quite varied, meaning that even if some have come up in thematic lessons, others will not have been covered.

In other words, you'll have a fairly good balance between familiar and novel.

Have students scan the list and discuss the idioms they already recognize.

2. Guide students through an idiomatic research project

Either alone or in pairs, ask students to carry out a research project (in English, of course!) on a given idiomatic expression.

Dole out the expressions and let each student know that they'll need to give a 5-10 minute presentation to the class on the expression.

This research project can take several different directions.

It can be interesting to ask advanced learners to find an equivalent of idiomatic expressions in their native tongue and discuss the differences in English.

At an advanced level, it's not necessarily problematic to introduce a few words of the native tongue as a point of comparison.

Of course, if you'd prefer not to introduce other languages into your ESL classroom, you can still ask students to research on the etymology of certain idiomatic expressions.

Guide them towards more extensive dictionaries like the Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, if your students have library access, or the Online Etymology Dictionary if they don't.

Make sure you ask for works cited, especially to keep students from wandering over to Wikipedia for the bulk of their research!

3. Back up your students with extra material

Take advantage of each student's presentation of his or her expression, effectively teaching it to the class, to launch in-class discussions of expressions and idioms.

Allow for two presentations per class day, splitting them up with a discussion or conversation lasting about 20 minutes.

This is the ideal moment to introduce additional information that you'll have uncovered about the expression, including historical information, that you can find online.

Tips for Teaching English Idioms Effectively

Whatever level you're teaching, you can apply these tips to help your students understand idioms better:

Combine idioms with pictures

Provide a picture along with the idiom. This works best if you show an image that humorously illustrates the literal meaning of the idiom. It will make students laugh, but also help them understand or guess what a phrase means.

Idioms are full of colorful imagery, perfect for a flashcard or photo. Show the picture to your students and have them guess the meaning of the idiom.

From there, give examples of when you would use it and how the words and the actual meaning of the idiom are different.

Looking for a good resource? Check out this website for an example of great images to explain the meaning of idioms.

And for some beautiful images depicting idioms, be sure to check out this site.

Provide idioms in context

This way, students can fully understand the meaning. Be sure to provide a sample conversation around it. For example, take the following dialogue featuring the idiom "to be a chicken" when at a local amusement park.

Jack: Ooh, wow. Look at that roller coaster, Jane! It goes upside-down!
Jane: My stomach aches just looking at it. I will not ride that.
Jack: Ah, come on. Don't be a chicken!

Watching videos of native speakers conversing is a great way to give show your students how idioms are used in the real world.

one resource that can help you highlight the usage and context of the various idioms used by your students.

FluentU has hundreds of native English videos like inspirational talks, funny commercials and movie quotes. Search for a phrase or an idiom and you might even find it being used in one of the many videos.

If not, FluentU lets you create flashcard decks so you can dedicate certain decks to common idioms.

Students can also watch videos and spot sayings that they like. With the support of contextual definitions from within the subtitles, students will have no trouble understanding the meaning of each word and phrase.

Your students can use FluentU on their iOS or Android devices, as well as in browsers.

Teach idioms in spoken form, not written

Explain to students how they are conversational, rather than formal. Have students practice the idioms in dialogue to help them understand they're used in spoken colloquial English.

To make it more interactive, you can even break your class into small groups and ask each group to look up two idioms. Dave's ESL Cafe has a great collection of idioms and their meanings for student reference.

Before they look them up, have the students make an educated guess on what the idiom means, and then let them search for the real meaning.

Have students explain the meaning to the rest of the class and use the idiom in a short sample dialogue.

Explain each idiom thoroughly

Don't just hand out a long list of idioms. Be sure to provide a small selection of 5-10 idioms (or less!) and explain each one.

If you provide too many examples, it'll simply turn into an introduction of what an idiom is, rather than how to actually remember the meaning and use one effectively in dialogue.

Be sure to explain too how the individual words have different meanings from the whole idiom phrase. For example, how much does an arm and a leg actually cost? Who knows?

Introduce Amelia Bedelia

No, Amelia! You don't actually throw the tent into the woods!

You don't have to be a kid to adore Amelia Bedelia and her literal mind. She's the perfect teacher for an idiom lesson.

Visit the official website for activities, book excerpts, worksheets and games. While the material is oriented for children, it's also a great way for older students to learn English idioms through a fun and quirky character!

10 English Idioms Worth Teaching

As you can see, there are hundreds of great resources for teaching idioms. Where should you even start? Remember, it's important to provide context around your idioms.

So to get you started, we've listed a few of our favorites with a sample dialogue and some additional teaching tips.

1. A fish out of water

Meaning: to feel awkward or uncomfortable, usually in a new situation

Teaching tips: Start the lesson by talking to your students about feeling awkward. What makes them feel awkward? Give an example of what makes you feel awkward. Then, present the below dialogue.
Sample dialogue:
Sam: Gee, learning to rollerblade isn't easy. I keep falling down!

Sarah: I know, it's so hard! I feel like a fish out of water.

2. To be broke

Meaning: to be out of money, to have no money

Teaching tips: Provide the students with two images. One image should be of a broken item ( such as a broken pencil) and one should be an image of a person with no money ( this is a great one).

Explain how both images mean "to be broke." Then, present the following dialogue and have the students match the correct image to the meaning of the idiom.
Sample dialogue:
Sarah: Would you like to borrow some money?

Sam: That'd be great. I promise, I'll pay you back later.

3. Rule of thumb

Meaning: an unwritten but generally accepted guideline, policy or method of doing something

Teaching tips: Talk with your students about laws of society. Which ones are actual legal laws? Which ones are social norms or generally accepted rules?

Make a list of each. Then, introduce the "rule of thumb" idiom. Practice with the below dialogue.
Sample dialogue:
Sam: These potato chips are so delicious. Want some?

Sarah: Sure, thanks.

Sam: Ooh, sorry! I dropped that handful. Well, it's the 5-second rule. They were on the ground less than 5 seconds, so it's still okay to eat them.

4. Up in the air

Meaning: undecided or indefinite, usually because often because other matters should be decided first

Teaching tips: Present this image, featuring the idiom "up in the air." Talk to the students about what it means, and then present the following dialogue.

Afterward, talk about what your students are currently up in the air about. Then, have them come up with their own sample dialogue.
Sample dialogue:
Sarah: Hey, Sam! Remember, you need to let us know by tomorrow if you're going to go on the class trip with us.

Sarah: I see. Well, let us know. I hope you can come!

5. Devil's advocate

Meaning: to present a counterargument

Teaching tips: After explaining the meaning of this idiom and practicing the following dialogue, present the class with a debate exercise.

Split the class into two groups, and have each side come up with a different argument for the same issue. (Choose an issue you think might be relevant to your students).

Have them debate the issue, using the idiom when appropriate.
Sample dialogue:
Sam: I just can't understand why healthcare is so expensive in the United States. It just doesn't seem right.

Sam: Well, maybe. But it still shouldn't be so expensive.

6. Give someone the cold shoulder

Meaning: to no interest in someone or something, to ignore

Teaching tips: Have the students guess what they think the idiom means. Ask the students if they've ever given someone the cold shoulder. Or, if they've ever received the cold shoulder. Practice with the dialogue below.
Sample dialogue:
Sarah: I ran into Sallie yesterday and we had a nice conversation at the coffee shop, catching up with each other.

Sam: Oh, really? Last time I saw her, she gave me the cold shoulder. I couldn't figure out what I had done to make her angry.

Sarah: Well, it probably doesn't help that you are dating her best friend.

7. Happy camper

Meaning: a person who is happy and cheerful

Teaching tips: Explain the idiom and practice the sample dialogue. Ask your students what makes them happy. Also, practice using the idiom in the negative. Such as, "I'm not a happy camper today."
Sample dialogue:
Sam: Sarah, why are you so happy today?

Sam: Wow, congratulations!

8. Sit tight

Meaning: to stay where you are

Teaching tips: Explain the definition of the idiom and practice the dialogue below. Have the students come up with scenarios where they could use this idiom in context.
Sample dialogue:
Sarah: Sam, are you okay? What happened?!

Sam: I fell down the stairs, and now my leg really hurts.

9. Head over heels (in love)

Meaning: to be really or completely in love with someone

Teaching tips: Show this image explaining the idiom. Talk to the students about being in love. Ask which students are currently in love (guaranteed to elicit a few giggles from your students!). Practice the below dialogue.
Sample dialogue:
Sarah: Sam, what are you writing?

Sam: I'm writing a letter to my new girlfriend.

Sam: I really am. I want to marry her.

10. Get the ball rolling

Meaning: to get started

Teaching tips: Write the idiom on the board in front of the class. Have the students make guesses on what it means. Then, practice the below dialogue and have them guess again.
Sample dialogue:
Sam: Have you started the English class project yet?

Sarah: No, not yet. I need to ask the teacher a few more questions first.

Sarah: Don't worry about me. I'll get it done.

Now, get your idiom ball rolling. And don't beat around the bush!

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere.Click here to get a copy. (Download)

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Easy as Pie: Everything You've Gotta Know to Teach English Idioms Effectively | FluentU English Educator Blog

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Teaching English idioms in ESL class can be a piece of cake given the right methods! Here we've got specific strategies for teaching idioms to all levels of learners, from songs and games to research projects. Find out too about the top ten idioms that your students should know about.

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You can read more about the activity here: 1747987951025_1266178114.pdf p- Page 19

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English Idioms and Quizzes

What is an idiom?

An idiom is a combination of words with a meaning that is different from the meanings of the individual words. It can have a literal meaning (the basic meaning of the words) or an idiomatic meaning (a different meaning than the exact meaning of the words). An idiom does not always follow the normal rules of meaning and grammar.
To sit on the fence can literally mean that one is sitting on a fence.
I sat on the fence and watched the game.
However, the idiomatic meaning of to sit on the fence is to not choose a side regarding some issue.
The politician sat on the fence and would not clearly state his opinion about the issue.

Many English idioms are similar to expressions in other languages. Other idioms come from older phrases which have changed over time.
To hold one's horses means to stop and wait patiently for someone or something. It comes from a time when people rode horses and would have to hold their horses while waiting for someone or something.
"Hold your horses," the man said when his friend started to leave the store.

Other idioms come from such things as sports and may require some special cultural knowledge to understand them.
To cover all of one's bases means to thoroughly prepare for or deal with a situation. It comes from the American game of baseball where you must cover or protect the bases.
I tried to cover all of my bases as I prepared for the job interview.

Structure of Idioms

Most idioms are fixed in their grammatical structure. The expression to sit on the fence cannot become to sit on a fence or to sit on the fences.

Other idioms are the result of a change in grammatical structure and would generally be considered to be incorrect.
To be broken literally means that something is broken.
The lamp is broken so I cannot read my book.
To be broke is grammatically incorrect but it has the idiomatic meaning of to have no money.
I am broke and I cannot go to a movie tonight.

There can also be changes in nouns, pronouns or in the verb tenses.
I sat on the fence and did not give my opinion.
Many people are sitting on the fence and have not made a decision.

Adjectives and adverbs can also be added to an idiomatic phrase.
The politician has been sitting squarely in the middle of the fence since the election.

That is why it is sometimes difficult to find the actual idiomatic expression and then find it in a dictionary of idioms.

What is a phrasal verb?

A phrasal verb is a two-part or three-part verb that consists of a verb plus a particle (adverb or preposition). It can be a combination of a verb and an adverb, a verb and a preposition, or a verb and an adverb and a preposition.

Verb and Adverb (run + around)

Verb and Preposition (run + into)

Verb and Adverb and Preposition (run + around + with)

Transitive Phrasal Verbs

Transitive phrasal verbs need an object.

Separable/Inseparable Phrasal Verbs

If the phrasal verb has an object, sometimes you can separate the phrasal verb and put the object between the verb and the particle.

to pick up (something) or to pick (something) up - to take something that has fallen on the floor or the ground and put it someplace
This is a separable phrasal verb.

Some phrasal verbs with an object cannot be separated. These are inseparable phrasal verbs. You can look into (something) but you cannot look (something) into

Intransitive Phrasal Verbs

Intransitive phrasal verbs do not need an object.

to come up - to rise (used for the sun)
I like to watch the sun come up in the morning.
You cannot come up the sun

Phrasal Nouns

Phrasal nouns are nouns that are made from phrasal verbs.

to hand out (something) or to hand (something) out - to give something of the same kind to several people
The teacher will hand out the papers soon.
We received a handout in our class today.

The phrasal verb is to hand out and the phrasal noun is a handout

Phrasal Adjectives

Phrasal adjectives are adjectives that are made from phrasal verbs.

to go on - to continue
The problem has been going on for many months.
It is an ongoing problem.

The phrasal verb is to go on and the phrasal adjective is ongoing

What is a proverb?

A proverb is a short saying or sentence that is generally known by many people. The saying usually contains words of wisdom, truth or morality that are based on common sense or practical experience. It is often a description of a basic rule of conduct that all people generally follow or should follow. Proverbs can be found in all languages.

money doesn't grow on trees - money is not easy to get and you must work hard for it
The girl's father says that money doesn't grow on trees when the girl asks him for money.

the early bird catches the worm - arriving early gives one an advantage
My boss always comes to work early because he believes that the early bird catches the worm.

the pen is mightier than the sword - writing and ideas are more powerful than the use of force
The pen is mightier than the sword and a good idea will defeat the strongest army.

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Idiom Connection - English Idioms - Phrasal Verbs - Free Idiom Lessons

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Idiom Connection - 11,000 English idioms and phrasal verbs in different categories. 100 most common English idioms. 60 idiom lessons. 200 idiom quizzes!

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by Susan Verner 124,745 views

Try These 7 No-Prep Activities for Teaching Idioms

1. Guessing Game

Write three or four idioms on the board that all touch on one theme (e.g. animals, body parts). Have students work in groups to see if they can guess the meaning of the idioms. Walk around your classroom and check their answers awarding points for any correct definition. Then share the meanings of the idioms with your class and give them an example in context. Move on to another group of idioms around a second theme. Repeat the activity. The first team to reach ten points wins the game.

2. Class Idioms

Keep a running list of idioms in your classroom. As students hear an idiom or come across one in their studies, add it to a list on a bulletin board or poster board in your classroom. Your students can then use this list as a reference during conversation periods or when writing.

3. Idiom Translation

Have each of your students write a dialogue rich with idioms. You may want to encourage students to check online idiom dictionaries as they write. Then, have students exchange papers with a partner. The second student must then rewrite the dialogue eliminating all of the idioms but without changing the meaning of the conversation.

4. Idiom Reverse Translation

Have students choose an original composition and rewrite it using as many idioms as they possibly can. Students can model their stories after any children's book rich with idioms. (If you aren't sure where to start, try any of these books by Fred Gwynn: A Little Pigeon Toad, The King Who Rained, A Chocolate Moose for Dinner.) After rewriting their stories, have students exchange papers and highlight the idioms that their classmates used in the story.

5. The Great Idiom Race

After you have studied idioms and your students have learned several, play a game with your class to see who can use the most idioms. Break your class into two groups: boys and girls or older students and younger students. Give each team a container to keep track of idiom use. (You can also keep a tally in a corner of your classroom.) During class, if a student uses an idiom, put a marble, bean or other counter in that teams container. Watch as the two containers fill faster and faster as the competition heats up. At the end of the semester, see which team has used the most idioms. The other team must then serve them at a pizza party or other celebration.

6. Self Study Quizzes

In classrooms with internet access, let your students work on classroom computers or connect to the wi-fi network via their smart devices. Several web sites offer self study idiom lessons and quizzes. Have your students start with a4esl.org (self study idiom quizzes) and then see where their studies take them.

7. Busy Teacher Resource

Don't forget to check out busyteacher.org for worksheets on idioms. We have idiom exercises perfect for any classroom, all with just a click of the mouse.

P.S. If you enjoyed this article, please help spread it by clicking one of those sharing buttons below. And if you are interested in more, you should follow our Facebook page where we share more about creative, non-boring ways to teach English.

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7 No Prep Activities for Teaching Idioms

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by Susan Verner 124,745 views Write three or four idioms on the board that all touch on one theme (e.g. animals, body parts). Have students work in groups to see if they can guess the meaning of the idioms. Walk around your classroom and check their answers awarding points for any correct definition.

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8 Ways to Practice Idioms in Class - Ellii (formerly ESL Library)

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Idioms are fun, but they can be tricky to remember. Check out our editor’s list of 8 tried-and-true methods for practicing idioms in class.

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CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.4 - Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including determining technical, connotative, and figurative meanings, and analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or tone.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.L.5 - Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.

ELA Standards: Literature

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.4 - Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, distinguishing literal from nonliteral language.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.4 - Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including those that allude to significant characters found in mythology (e.g., Herculean).

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5.4 - Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative language such as metaphors and similes.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.6.4 - Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of a specific word choice on meaning and tone.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.7.4 - Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of rhymes and other repetitions of sounds (e.g., alliteration) on a specific verse or stanza of a poem or section of a story or drama.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.8.4 - Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including analogies or allusions to other texts.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.9-10.4 - Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone (e.g., how the language evokes a sense of time and place; how it sets a formal or informal tone).

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.11-12.4 - Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including words with multiple meanings or language that is particularly fresh, engaging, or beautiful. (Include Shakespeare as well as other authors.)

ELA Standards: Language

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.5 - Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships and nuances in word meanings.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.5a - Explain the meaning of simple similes and metaphors (e.g., as pretty as a picture) in context.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.5b - Recognize and explain the meaning of common idioms, adages, and proverbs.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.5.5a - Interpret figurative language, including similes and metaphors, in context.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.5.5b - Recognize and explain the meaning of common idioms, adages, and proverbs.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.6.5a - Interpret figures of speech (e.g., personification) in context.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.7.5a - Interpret figures of speech (e.g., literary, biblical, and mythological allusions) in context.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.8.5a - Interpret figures of speech (e.g. verbal irony, puns) in context.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.9-10.5a - Interpret figures of speech (e.g., euphemism, oxymoron) in context and analyze their role in the text.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.11-12.5a - Interpret figures of speech (e.g., hyperbole, paradox) in context and analyze their role in the text.

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Common Core Lesson and Unit Plans
Understanding Common Core State Standards

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Idiom Worksheets and Tests | Ereading Worksheets

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CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.4 - Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including determining technical, connotative, and figurative meanings, and analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or tone. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.L.5 - Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.

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841 Idioms English ESL worksheets pdf & doc

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A selection of English ESL idioms printables

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TPT - you need an account but free after

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TPT - you need an account but free after

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Enjoy our FREE idioms worksheet: ALL ABOUT IDIOMS!
This worksheet can be used in a variety of ways:

-Informal assessment of figurative/pragmatic language areas

-Pre/post-test of skills

-Quick homework assignment

-Therapy material

-Teaching tool

-Group activity

& more!
Looking for more figurative language tools? Types of Figurative Language How to Write Figurative Language Goals [with goal bank]
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Idioms Worksheet: Figurative Language FREEBIE

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Enjoy our FREE idioms worksheet: ALL ABOUT IDIOMS! This worksheet can be used in a variety of ways: -Informal assessment of figurative/pragmatic language areas -Pre/post-test of skills -Quick homework assignment -Therapy material -Teaching tool -Group activity & more! Looking for more figurati...