Talking about Idioms in IELTS Practicess

Idioms in IELTS Practice

1. TALKING ABOUT IDIOMS Speaking ACTIVITY

2. What is Figurative Language? Figurative language, also called abstract language or non-literal language, is anything we say where what we mean is not exactly the same as the literal meaning of those words.  For example, when I say I will knock your socks off, I don’t mean that your socks will literally come off of your feet.  I mean that I will impress you.  Figurative language is specific to each language and even to specific groups of people who use that language.  Each culture has its own sayings and expressions that have different meanings to them.

3. The following are all types of figurative language/abstract language: Similes and Metaphors Idioms, also known as figures of speech Hyperbole Sarcasm

4. What is an Idiom in Figurative Language? An idiom is a type of figurative language that is a phrase that people say that is commonly accepted as having a different meaning that the individual words may lead you to believe.  For example, stating that “it’s raining cats and dogs” does not mean that there are literally cats and dogs falling from the sky.  Instead, it means that it is raining heavily.  Many of the idioms in English have roots back to older ways of saying things. Idioms are a form of figurative language and are often not well-understood by  children with language disorders .  While there is no magical age by which children should understand idioms, it is reasonable to generalize that a 5-year-old knows very few idioms and an adult knows (and uses) a ton.  Children should gradually get better at using idioms and should be able to use quite a few idioms in the middle school years and even more in the high school years.

5. Idiom Examples (Figurative Language): Have a seat = Sit down You’re driving me up the wall = you’re annoying me Bend over backwards = Do everything you can Fishy = Weird or Odd Knocked my socks off = Impressed me very much Pulling my leg = Kidding me, making a joke Horsing around = messing around, playing Let the cat out of the bag = Told the secret or let someone know something they weren’t supposed to know

6. Idiom Examples (Figurative Language): Play it by ear = Improvise or make it up as you go Give it a shot = Try to do it That was a piece of cake = That was easy Slipped my mind = I forgot In hot water = In trouble Having second thoughts = Changed your mind Out of the blue = Random or unexpected I’m all ears = I’m listening In the same boat = In the same situation Don’t see eye to eye = Don’t agree Call it a day = Quit doing something for now

7. IDIOMS DISCUSSION Idioms that use anatomy vocabulary : Imagine being a new English learner and being told to  break a leg  or  pick his brain . Idioms that use anatomy can be weird and downright scary, so this lesson is a must for your ESL students.

8. Idioms describing people : This lesson plan focuses on common idioms we use to describe people, including  black sheep  and  gold digger . 

9. Idioms describing food and eating : This lesson teaches idioms like  eat like a bird  and  dig in . Most students love food, so they’ll love this lesson on idioms describing food and eating. 

10. Tell me about last time you got sick! Well, I’ve never been seriously ill, but I can remember last year, I had  taken leave  for 5 days because I was  under the weather . I was walking back home from work and it suddenly started to  rain cats and dogs , so I got wet. The next day when I woke up, I was  a bit   off-color . I still remember  feeling poorly , even I got a headache, a  sore throat ,  chesty cough , and a  blocked nose .  I decided to see Halodoc app to have a personal consultation. The doctor said that I  caught a heavy cold  and suspected as a Covid-19 patient. I had to take a lot of medicines. I was  in charge of   a project presentation at that time, and due to the situation, I   had no choice but  to  phone in sick   and reschedule the presentation until the next week. But thanks God, I was  over the worst of it   and  made a speedy recovery  after 5 days of suffering. Since that time, I have had more awareness on the cleanliness of my personal belongings and still need to remind about the uncertain condition during this Covid-19.

11. Monologue Practice Describe a journey that you remember well. Describe a book or a film that had a strong impact on you. Describe your (or your friend's) illness or injury experience.