Exercise 1: Vocabulary
1. To be as cool as a cucumber
Definition: To remain calm and composed, especially in stressful situations.
Example: “Even with all the chaos around her, she was as cool as a cucumber.”
2. To have ants in one’s pants
Definition: To be restless or unable to sit still.
Example: “He couldn’t concentrate during the meeting; he had ants in his pants.”
3. To have a frog in one’s throat
Definition: To have difficulty speaking or a temporary hoarseness in the voice.
Example: “During the presentation, she had a frog in her throat and couldn’t speak clearly.”
4. To have a skeleton in the closet
Definition: To have a hidden or embarrassing secret.
Example: “He seems perfect, but everyone has skeletons in their closet.”
5. To go the way of the dodo
Definition: To become extinct or obsolete.
Example: “With the rise of digital books, printed encyclopedias are going the way of the dodo.”
6. To keep a stiff upper lip
Definition: To remain brave and show no signs of fear or distress in difficult situations.
Example: “Despite the setback, he kept a stiff upper lip and continued working toward his goals.”
7. To have one’s heart in one’s mouth
Definition: To be extremely nervous or anxious.
Example: “As she stepped onto the stage, her heart was in her mouth.”
8. To have a heart of gold
Definition: To be kind, generous, and compassionate.
Example: “She’s always there to help others; she truly has a heart of gold.”
Exercise 2: Dialogue
Sophia: Hey, have you seen Tom lately?
Emily: Yeah, I ran into him yesterday. He’s been as cool as a cucumber despite all the pressure at work.
Sophia: That’s impressive. I heard he’s been working on a big project.
Emily: Yes, and it’s making everyone have ants in their pants with the upcoming deadline.
Sophia: Speaking of which, I have a presentation tomorrow, and I feel like I have a frog in my throat every time I practice it.
Emily: Don’t worry, Sophia. You’ll do great. We all get nervous sometimes.
Sophia: Thanks, Emily. By the way, have you heard about Sarah’s new job?
Emily: No, what’s the news?
Sophia: She finally got a job as a news anchor, but I heard she used to be a pop star! Talk about having a skeleton in the closet.
Emily: Wow, that’s surprising. It’s like she’s going the way of the dodo with her old career.
Sophia: True, but she’s always been the type to keep a stiff upper lip and adapt to new challenges.
Emily: That’s awesome. She must have a heart of gold to switch careers and follow her passion.
Sophia: Absolutely, Emily. And you know what? You also have a heart of gold for being so supportive.
Emily: Thanks, Sophia. It means a lot coming from you.
Exercise 3: Fill in the blanks
Oliver: Hey, Sarah. Did you see the championship game last night?
Sarah: Yes, I watched it, and you wouldn’t believe it, but our team was ________ during the entire match.
Oliver: That’s amazing! I was too nervous to watch; I always get _______ during close games.
Sarah: Well, you missed out on some incredible plays. But speaking of being nervous, I heard you’re giving a presentation tomorrow.
Oliver: Yeah, it’s true. I have to speak in front of the whole company, and I’m already getting ________ just thinking about it.
Sarah: Don’t worry, Oliver. You’ve got this! Just remember to_________ and stay confident.
Oliver: Thanks, Sarah. You always know how to calm my nerves. By the way, have you heard about Mark’s past?
Sarah: Oh, you mean that he used to be a professional magician? Yes, I know all about it. _________ like that is quite surprising, but he’s moved on to other things.
Oliver: It’s true. Magic shows seem to be ________ these days.
Sarah: Exactly, but Mark is always the one to _______ and help out with charity events.
Oliver: That’s wonderful. He truly ______. Thanks for chatting, Sarah.
Sarah: You’re welcome, Oliver. Good luck with your presentation!
Options:
1. as cool as a cucumber
2. ants in my pants
3. a frog in my throat
4. keep a stiff upper lip
5. having a skeleton in the closet
6. going the way of the dodo
7. have a heart of gold
Exercise 4: Discussion
- Create examples using the idioms above.
- If that is too easy, challenge yourself and create a dialogue with each idiom!
- Discuss which idioms you found interesting.
- Are any of the idioms similar or different compared to idioms in your language?
- Discuss where you think each idiom got its meaning.
