Animal Idioms (1)

1. Look at these seven common idioms which have an animal theme. Read the idioms (on the left)
and match to the meanings (on the right.) Remember that the use of one's is usually replaced with a
different pronoun – Ants in my/your/his/her/their pants.

Ants in one's pants Sex education – the facts of life.

Clam up Can't or won't speak, being shy or quiet.
Cat's got one's tongue Decide not to do something, being fearful.
Cat nap Can't sit still, moving around, nervous, excited.
A frog in one's throat To suddenly become quiet, not wanting to talk.
The birds and the bees A short sleep, taking a nap.
Chicken out Needing to cough/clear your throat, speak strangely.

2. Read through this short paragraph, then read again and fill the gaps with the idioms above.

Once again it is the worst time of year – school speeches. I dread the speech
contest because I always when it is my
turn to take the stage. Last year I got a
just as I started speaking and my voice came out all strange – it was so
embarrassing.
My best friend Annie doesn't make matters any better for me. Whenever
we have to practice the speeches in class and I feel like I have nothing to say, she
always cruelly remarks “What's wrong? ?”
It's easy for Annie – when speech day comes around it's like she has
- she is so excited that she just can't sit
still! Unlike me, I feel like I'm going to
at the last second.
This year the class will be happening in the third period of the day, right
after we've been bored half to death learning about the
in Sex Ed. Honestly, that class is basically an opportunity for a
because the teacher is so clueless!

3. Did you notice any other idioms in the above paragraph? What do the idioms take the stage and
bored half to death mean? (Bored half to death and Bored to death are variations of the same
idiom). If you are not familiar with these idioms, look them up and jot down your findings below.

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 Animal Idioms (1) – Teacher's Guide

1. Look at these seven common idioms which have an animal theme. Read the idioms (on the left)
and match to the meanings (on the right.) Remember that the use of one's is usually replaced with a
different pronoun – Ants in my/your/his/her/their pants.

Ants in one's pants Sex education – the facts of life.

Clam up Can't or won't speak, being shy or quiet.
Cat's got one's tongue Decide not to do something, being fearful.
Cat nap Can't sit still, moving around, nervous, excited.
A frog in one's throat To suddenly become quiet, not wanting to talk.
The birds and the bees A short sleep, taking a nap.
Chicken out Needing to cough/clear your throat, speak strangely.

2. Read through this short paragraph, then read again and fill the gaps with the idioms above.

Once again it is the worst time of year – school speeches. I dread the speech
contest because I always clam up when it is my turn to
take the stage. Last year I got a frog in my throat just as I
started speaking and my voice came out all strange – it was so embarrassing.
My best friend Annie doesn't make matters any better for me. Whenever
we have to practice the speeches in class and I feel like I have nothing to say, she
always cruelly remarks “What's wrong? cat got your tongue ?”
It's easy for Annie – when speech day comes around it's like she has
ants in her pants - she is so excited that she just can't sit still! Unlike
me, I feel like I'm going to chicken out at the last second.
This year the class will be happening in the third period of the day, right
after we've been bored half to death learning about the birds and the bees
in Sex Ed. Honestly, that class is basically an opportunity for a cat nap
because the teacher is so clueless!

iSLCollective.com