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ESL forum > Ask for help > Common Idioms    

Common Idioms



colibrita
United Kingdom

Common Idioms
 
There are just so many idioms, in fact more than you can shake a stick at. I find though that it �s a topic that unfortunately gets so neglected, time constraints I guess. Anyway, I want to compile a short list of frequently used ones, so I was wondering...

Can you tell me one or two that frequently come up in your classes? I don �t mean ones that you planned to introduce and teach, but instead ones that circumstances in the class have led to you teaching. Do you get my drift?

In my case two very common ones are  "kill two birds with one stone" and "straight off (the bat)"

Looking forward to hearing yours...

La Colibrita


27 Apr 2010      





mariannina
Italy

I often say to my school children: "No sweat, no sweet" when don �t work as hard as they should!
Ciao

27 Apr 2010     



Lina Ladybird
Germany

These are the ones I use in my classroom quite regularly:
 
Diane? Diane??? You �re not listening! You �re having your head in the clouds again, aren �t you?
 
The weather is horrible today. It �s raining cats and dogs outside!
 
Don �t try to fool me, my dear kids... I �ve got eyes in the back of my head!!
 
Look at Sandra - she �s a busy bee today, isn �t she??
 
Come on, David, you �re as slow as a snail today! Get a grip, will you?
 
A little bird told me that you haven �t done your homework.
 
Don �t be so nosy... Remember that curiosity killed the cat!
 
Sit still, Julia, please! Have you got a bee in your bonnet??
 
Shhh, be quiet now and listen! Silence is golden, kids!!
 
Don �t listen to George - he �s just green with envy, that �s all...
 
This exercise is not as hard as it seems. I �m sure you can do it! It �s a piece of cake, honestly!
 
What exactly do you want to tell me, Lisa? Just let the cat out of the bag!
 
No, we �re not writing a test today, hehehe! I was only pulling your leg!!
 
Hope it helps...
 
Love - Silke
 

27 Apr 2010     



anaisabel001
Spain

         It �s like water off a duck �s back.

          If at first you don �t succeed, try, try again.

         One can never know too much.

Hope it helps!

27 Apr 2010     



libertybelle
United States

I agree with you. Idioms are really important to understanding a language and its people.
It also gives a great deal of credibility to what you �re saying.

Here are some of mine,

Don �t judge a book by its cover.
On the rebound
Your head �s in the clouds
A taste of your own medicine
Actions speak louder than words
A picture is worth a thousand words
Add fuel to the fire
At the drop of a hat
Break a leg
Don �t cry over spilt milk


Here �s my favorite idiom site!
http://www.idiomsite.com/

L

27 Apr 2010     



apedral
Brazil

 
These are some of the idioms I use in class
 
 
 
I always use : " don�t count the chicks before they are hatched", when my students say that something is very easy..
 
and also : Don �t cry over spilt milk - whem they don �t get a good mark
 
or Don �t put all your eggs in one basket - when they decide to study only for the last test
 
Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining - for them to be more optimistic 
 
 Nothing ventured, nothing gained.- for them to try saying something
 
nobody is perfect  or  You never know what you can do until you try

27 Apr 2010     



inmaaa86
Spain

Thank you for those wonderful idioms friends!

27 Apr 2010     



douglas
United States

"That �s six of one, a half-dozen of the other" --they are both basically the same
 
"That cracks me up" -- it makes me laugh
 
"Hold your horses" -- slow down, be patient

27 Apr 2010     



colibrita
United Kingdom

Thanks everyone for sharing! I really appreciate it! Silke, you definitely need to have "eyes in the back of your head" when teaching kids! LOL
Douglas, my Mum �s always using "it �s six of one..."

Have a lovely Wednesday everyone

Hugs from sunny Barcelona

28 Apr 2010