Idiom List 1

 

Activity 1

 

 

Listening:

 

Directions:  Click on the link below to here the passage.  As you listen, fill in the idioms that you here.  Check your answers when you are finished.

 

 

Click Here to Listen

 

 

                       

I was chosen to come to the United States because of my athletic abilities.  I am a gymnast.  Many say I am the .  However, there was once a time when gymnastics was not my    .  In fact, when I was younger, no matter what gymnastics move I tried to do, I couldn’t .  I would tumble and fall.  My coach would get very angry and say, “I don’t understand why you can’t do this.  It’s a .”  I would have  every time I made a mistake. 

                   Then one day, my mother sat me down.  “You are the ,” she said to me.  Don’t .  Just get back out there and try your best.  I know you can do it.”

                   So, the next day at practice, I, well, , I was great!  My coach was very impressed.  He said he would  and take back everything he said about me.  Now, when I go out to perform my gymnastics routine, I don’t worry about falling.  I’m .

 

Now, check your answers.

 

1.     cream of the crop

2.     cup of tea

3.     cut the mustard

4.     piece of cake

5.     egg on my face

6.     apple of my eye

7.     cry over spilt milk

8.     in a nutshell

9.     eat his words

10. cool as a cucumber

 

 

Meaning from Context:

 

Read each sentence and guess the idioms meaning based on the context.  Check your answers by clicking on the arrows in the drop boxes after each guess.

 

 

1.     My teacher told me I would never pass math class, but I studied every night and got myself a tutor.  I passed the class with a B+ and made my teacher eat his words.   

 

2.      I don’t want you to tell me the long version of the story.  I just want to hear the story in a nutshell.

3.      I love my wife very much.  She is the apple of my eye.

 

4.     I know you feel bad about losing the game, but it is over now.  You can’t cry over spilt milk.  Just do better next time.

 

5.     I tried to roller blade, but I fell over and over again.  I don’t think it was my cup of tea.

 

6.     I thought I’d be nervous during my presentation, but I was cool as a cucumber.

 

7.     Painting a room isn’t that difficult.  Once you do it a couple of times, it becomes a piece of cake.

 

8.     My boss didn’t want to give me the promotion because he was afraid I wouldn’t cut the mustard.  However, I proved I could handle the job just fine. 

 

9.     Scholarships are a true honor; therefore, only the cream of the crop is awarded one.

 

10.  I told all of my friends I could fix up my car, but after I tried, I turned on my car and it sputtered and died.  I had egg all over my face.

 

Matching:

 

cream of the crop

cup of tea

cut the mustard

piece of cake

egg on my face

apple of my eye

cry over spilt milk

in a nutshell

eat his words

cool as a cucumber

 

 

Now that you have guessed the meanings to the words, match the idioms from the list above with the pictures and the situations below.

 

                  1. 

 

 

                     2.

 

 

                    3.

 

                  4. 

 

           5. 

 

 

6.  When I first took on my new job, I didn’t think I could do it.  However, six months after being hired on, I became the top sales executive at the company. 

7.     I would tell you the story with every last detail, but then we’d be here talking for hours.  So let me tell you the short version. 

8.     My math homework is so simple.  It takes me no time at all to do. 

 

9.    I am always so impressed with Susan when she gives presentations.  She never looks nervous and always appears so confident! 

10. My brother always told me I would never be a successful actress, but I just got my first job on a television show!  Looks like he was wrong! 

 

 

Now view your answers:

 

1)     apple of my eye

2)     cream of the crop

3)     cup of tea

4)     cry over spilt milk

5)     egg on his face

6)     cut the mustard

7)     in a nutshell

8)     piece of cake

9)     cool as a cucumber

10)eat his words

 

 

Heather Meloche home page  |  ESL 2011 Activities  | Idiom List 1  

 

Please e-mail me with questions or concerns:  mailto:hsmeloch@oaklandcc.edu