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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 How mammals reproduce – 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 biology class. 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.
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!

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