Lesson 3 (Week 4):

IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS
The learner demonstrates understanding of ways of determining word
Content Standard
meaning.

The learner transfers learning by using idiomatic expressions in a

Performance
sentence.
Standard

Learning The learner… Codes

Competencies
1) Select an appropriate colloquial or EN7V-I-f-22.2
idiomatic word or expression as a
substitute for another word or expression.

Specific Learning At the end of the lesson, the learners will be able to:
Outcomes 1) identify idioms;
2) give the importance of learning idioms;
3) use the following idioms in a sentence.

INTRODUCTION
Most languages have many idioms, which are commonly used phrases or groups of
words that are used figuratively, not literally. (Literally means it actually happened – it is not
comparison. So, if you say ‘he literally died’ it means that his heart stopped beating and he is
no longer alive.) Idioms get their meaning from the context they are used in. For example, if
you say that a famous tennis player “bites the dust” in a tennis tournament, you don’t mean
that she literally lies on the ground and eats dirt; you mean she is defeated by another player
in that tennis tournament. Idioms can make language more colorful and interesting, but if
they are used too often they no longer used your imagination when you hear them. Also, if a
writer or speaker uses too many idioms together, they become confusing.

PRE-ACTIVITY
Learning Task 1:
What is in the picture?

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 ANALYSIS
Learning Task 2:

Read and analyze the following sentences:

1. He tells his girlfriend that he loves her, but he never actually does anything nice for
her. Someone should teach him that action speaks louder than words.

2. I wanted to intervene when they were yelling at each other, but that would have just
added fuel to the fire.

3. I kept trying to steer the conversation back to his alibi, but he wouldn’t stop beating
around the bush bringing up things totally off-topic.

4. It was raining so hard that our cab was late, and we were late to our reservation at the
restaurant. Turns out everyone who ate there that night got food poisoning. I guess the
bad weather was a blessing in disguise!

5. Is tonight your big performance? Break a leg!

What do you mean by the underlined expressions in each sentence?

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

DISCUSSION
Idioms are phrases which people use in everyday language which do not make sense
literally but we understand what they mean.

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 Why do we have them?

No one really knows why they exist or where they all began, but every culture seems
to have their own idioms or expressions. The English language has so many of them.

The origin of Idioms

Most idioms come from ancient literature or even classic films. Many idioms
originated as quotations from well-known writers such as Shakespeare. Learning the
backgrounds of idioms can help you to remember them.

Idioms should be used in proper situations. They enrich our speech and increase our
vocabulary. The grammar and the vocabulary of the idioms are fixed, and if we change them,
we lose the meaning of the idiom.

IDIOM MEANING EXAMPLE

1. let the cat out of the bag
2. pitch in
3. once in a blue moon
4. straight from the horse’s
mouth
5. up a creek without a
paddle
6. give it a whirl
tell a secret I was trying to keep the party a secret, but
someone went and let the cat out of the bag.
join in or help If we all pitch in, the cleanup shouldn’t take
long.
rarely Once in a blue moon she’d call, but for
months at a time we heard nothing.
directly from the person I know it’s true because I got it straight from
involved the horse’s mouth – Leah told herself.
in a bad or unlucky situation If we don’t get this project done today, we’re
going to be up a creek without a paddle!
to try something Try! Let’s give it a whirl!

7. under the weather feeling sick I was under the weather last week, but I’m
feeling much better now.
8. go the extra mile make an extra effort They’re really helpful. They always go to the
extra mile to help us.

9. hit the hay go to bed I have to get up early for school tomorrow, so
I think I’d better hit the hay.
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10. keep your chin up stay strong Keep your chin up, we’re not lost yet.
 APPLICATION
Learning Task 3:

Write at least one (1) idiom and give its meaning, draw a picture, and use it in a sentence.

IDIOM

MEANING DRAW A PICTURE

USE IDIOM IN A SENTENCE

Learning Task 4:

Learning idioms is important. Why do you think so?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
____________

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 SUMMARY
An idiom is an expression that means something different than the literal meaning of the
words would suggest. We use idioms to express ideas, so we have to learn their meanings,
and when to use them. Each language has its own idioms.
Examples:
 let the cat out of the bag – tell a secret
 pitch in – join in or help
 once in a blue moon – rarely
 straight from the horse’s mouth – directly from the person involved
 up a creek without a paddle – in a bad or unlucky situation
 give it a whirl – to try something
 under the weather – feeling sick
 go the extra mile – make an extra effort
 hit the hay – go to bed
 keep your chin up – stay strong

POST-ACTIVITY
Learning Task 5:

Identify the idiom in each sentence below.

Example: David felt down in the dumps because he did not pass his test.
Answer: down in the dumps

1. Sharon had butterflies in her stomach before the game.

2. My dad blew his stack when he saw my poor grades.
3. Jennifer was a bundle of nerves before her exam.
4. Last night, it was raining cats and dogs.
5. The boxer was as fit as a fiddle.
6. My parents rolled out the red carpet for my sister’s return.
7. There was a lot of red tape when applying for the job.
8. Did you get out on the wrong side of the bed?
9. I’m going to go out on a limb for you.
10. The dog days of summer are starting to wear on me.

Learning Task 6:

Draw a line to match the idiom to its meaning.

IDIOM MEANING

1. You nailed it! a. You got it right.

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 2. This was a piece of cake. b. Please be quiet.

3. He is the apple of my eye. c. He is my favorite person.

4. Button your lip. d. Don’t be in such a hurry.

5. Hold your horses. e. This was really easy.

Learning Task 7:
Create a sentence using the following idiomatic expressions.

PIECE OF CAKE HIT THE HAY

UNDER THE
_____________________________ WEATHER
________________
HOLD YOUR HORSES ________________
_____________________________ ________________
_____________________________
LET THE CAT OUT THE BAG
_____________________________

REFERENCE

Essential English
Worktext in Literature and Language
2017 Edition Enhanced Version