Objectives of the lesson  Know and identify the idioms.  Appreciate the importance of idioms.  Construct sentences using idioms.

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

There is a problem when you cannot look up individual words in a dictionary and find the meaning. That’s what you usually do with unfamiliar words. With idioms, you must learn the whole group of words. There is a problem when you cannot look up individual words in a dictionary and find the meaning. That’s what you usually do with unfamiliar words. With idioms, you must learn the whole group of words. An idiom is a group of words whose meaning must be known as a whole because it cannot be learned from the meaning of the same words used separately. An idiom is a group of words whose meaning must be known as a whole because it cannot be learned from the meaning of the same words used separately.

Literal vs. Idiomatic Meaning

Example: To sit on the fence Literally means that someone is sitting on a fence. Zayn sat on the fence to see the concert in the park.

Idiomatically means that someone is not making a clear choice regarding some issue. The senator sat on the fence and refused to give his opinion about the war in Iraq.

EXAMPLES Idiomatic Meaning: something or someone cherished above others. Elijah, my fifth grade crush, remained the apple of my eye until the eighth grade, when I fell in love with Eion.

Idiomatic Meaning: A superstitious way to say 'good luck' without saying 'good luck', but rather the opposite. As the woman was about to go on stage her friend told her to break a leg.

To be unable to speak clearly. After her 21st birthday, Nina had a frog in her throat because she stayed out all night singing Karaoke.

Idiomatic Meaning: To study. Meg was dying to go shopping with her friends, but with her English exam the next day, she decided to hit the books instead.

Idiomatic Meaning: To raise your middle finger at someone. If he'd shouted at me like that I'd have flipped him the bird.

Idiomatic Meaning: Someone who reads a lot. Klare is a bookworm, she reads at least five novels a week!

To be raining in great amounts. It was raining cats and dogs by the time I got home.

Someone may be listening. (A warning that you think your conversation is being overheard.) Jill: Did I tell you what I found out about Fred? He— Jane: Shhh! Walls have ears. Don't say anything about our business dealings in here. Walls have ears.

Completely, thoroughly. We fell head over heels in love last year.

Easy, something that is easy to do. Most people think that it's a piece of cake to tie up their shoelaces.

WHY LEARN IDIOMS FOR RECOGNITION?

It is really valuable to recognize idioms when you hear them or read them. Knowledge of idioms is essential for understanding spoken English. People use them all the time instead of more formal ways of expressing themselves. You will hear them often in movies, on TV, in songs, and through people’s everyday language use.

WHY USE THEM?

Idioms add life and vitality to language. Without idioms, language can be correct, but it may be very dull. When you are able to use idioms comfortably in your own speech and writing, then you have achieved a higher level of mastery and fluency in the language.