Hang in there!

Intermediate (B1) 25 minutes
ESL Idioms Board Game, intermediate B1, gap-fill, sentence practice, group work

ESL Idioms Board Game - Vocabulary: Gap-fill - Group Work

In this free idioms board game, students practice common idioms by using them to complete sentences. Players take it in turns to roll the dice and move their counter along the board. When a player lands on a letter square, the student to their right...

ESL Idioms Board Game - Vocabulary: Gap-fill - Group Work In this free idioms board game, students practice common idioms by using them to complete sentences. Players take it in turns to roll the dice and move their counter along the board. When a player lands on a letter square, the student to their right picks up the sheet and reads the gap-fill sentence that corresponds to the letter and the number they rolled to reach it, using the word BLANK for the missing idiom in the sentence. The player listens to the sentence and then uses one of the idioms shown in the idiom bank on the game board to complete the sentence. If the player answers correctly, they move forward one space. If they answer incorrectly, they move back one space. The first player to reach the finish is the winner.
Online

Well-known English Idioms

Intermediate (B1) 30 minutes
ESL Idioms Worksheet, intermediate B1, matching, guessing, gap-fill, sentence completion, pair work

ESL Idioms Worksheet - Vocabulary Exercises: Matching, Guessing, Sentence Completion, Gap-fill, Short Answers - Speaking Activity - Pair Work

In this useful idioms worksheet, students learn and practice 12 idioms commonly used in the English language. To begin, students match sentence halves together...

ESL Idioms Worksheet - Vocabulary Exercises: Matching, Guessing, Sentence Completion, Gap-fill, Short Answers - Speaking Activity: Asking and Answering Questions - Pair Work In this useful idioms worksheet, students learn and practice 12 idioms commonly used in the English language. To begin, students match sentence halves together that contain well-known English idioms. Next, students guess the meanings of the idioms from the sentences in the first exercise and match them with their correct definitions. After that, students complete sentences with the idioms. In the last exercise, students complete questions with the words shown and write answers in the spaces provided. Students then ask and answer the questions with a partner.
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Baseball Idioms

Upper-intermediate (B2) 25 minutes
ESL Sports Idioms Activity, upper-intermediate B2, baseball idioms, matching, writing sentences

ESL Sports Idioms Activity - Vocabulary: Matching, Writing Sentences - Pair Work

In this insightful sport idioms activity, students learn and practice common baseball idioms that are commonly used in everyday life, especially in business settings. In pairs, students take it in turns to read the numbered sentences on their...

ESL Sports Idioms Activity - Vocabulary: Matching, Writing Sentences - Pair Work In this insightful sport idioms activity, students learn and practice common baseball idioms that are commonly used in everyday life, especially in business settings. In pairs, students take it in turns to read the numbered sentences on their worksheet to their partner who matches the idiom used in each sentence to its correct meaning below the picture on their worksheet. Their partner then writes the corresponding sentence number next to the meaning. Afterwards, students work with their partner and write five new sentences each for the idioms shown on their worksheets. When the students have finished, they read their ten sentences to the class and feedback is given.
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Idiomatic Feelings

Upper-intermediate (B2) 35 minutes
ESL Idiom Games, upper-intermediate B2, feelings idioms, gap-fill, betting, matching

ESL Idiom Games - Vocabulary Exercises: Gap-fill, Betting, Matching, Forming Sentences, Guessing

In these two fun idiom games, students play a betting game where they complete sentences with idioms associated with feelings. Students then create sentences of their own with the idioms which they use in a...

ESL Idiom Games - Vocabulary Exercises: Gap-fill, Betting, Matching, Forming Sentences, Guessing In these two fun idiom games, students play a betting game where they complete sentences with idioms associated with feelings. Students then create sentences of their own with the idioms which they use in a guessing game. To begin, students complete each sentence with one of the idiomatic expressions of feeling shown. Students then bet between one to five points depending on how confident they are with each answer, five being very certain and one being not at all certain. If students guessed the correct idiom, they write the number of points they bet in the 'win' column. If not, they write the number in the 'lose' column. The student with the most points at the end wins. Students then move on to match definitions with the idioms. After that, students choose five idioms and write sentence beginnings that match the idioms to make complete sentences, e.g. Beginning: The film was so scary I... Idiom: was shaking like a leaf. Finally, in pairs, students take it in turns to read each sentence beginning to their partner who tries to guess the idiom that completes the sentence.
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Idioms Bluff

Upper-intermediate (B2) 25 minutes
ESL Idioms Game, upper-intermediate B2, writing definitions, guessing, pair work

ESL Idioms Game - Writing and Vocabulary: Writing Definitions, Guessing - Pair Work

In this imaginative idioms game, students create false definitions for idioms and then play a game where they guess which definition for an idiom is correct. In teams, students begin by creating a second false definition for each idiom on their...

ESL Idioms Game - Writing and Vocabulary: Writing Definitions, Guessing - Pair Work In this imaginative idioms game, students create false definitions for idioms and then play a game where they guess which definition for an idiom is correct. In teams, students begin by creating a second false definition for each idiom on their worksheet. The idiom and correct answer are shown in bold. Teams then take it in turns to read their idioms and three definitions to another team who guesses which definition is correct. If they successfully guess the correct definition, the other team puts a tick next to the idiom. The game continues until all the idioms and definitions have been read out and guessed. The team with the most correct guesses wins the game.
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Idiom Match-Up

Upper-intermediate (B2) 25 minutes
ESL Idioms Board Game, upper-intermediate B2, matching, forming sentences, group and pair work

ESL Idioms Board Game - Vocabulary and Speaking: Matching, Forming Sentences, Freer Practice - Group and Pair Work

In this engaging idioms board game, students match idioms to their definitions and use them in sentences to show they understand the meaning. Team A begins by turning over an idiom card and placing it....

ESL Idioms Board Game - Vocabulary and Speaking: Matching, Forming Sentences, Freer Practice - Group and Pair Work In this engaging idioms board game, students match idioms to their definitions and use them in sentences to show they understand the meaning. Team A begins by turning over an idiom card and placing it in the centre of the game board. Both teams then check their definition cards to see who has the matching definition. The team with the correct definition card places it under the idiom card and then tries to use the idiom correctly in a sentence to demonstrate its meaning. If the team forms an appropriate sentence, they roll the dice and move their counter along the board. If the sentence is incorrect or does not demonstrate the idiom's meaning, the team does not roll the dice. The other team then has one chance to steal the move by giving a suitable sentence using the idiom. If successful, they roll the dice and move their counter instead. Team B then turns over the next idiom card, and so on. The first team to reach the finish wins the game.
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Idiom Showdown

Upper-intermediate (B2) 25 minutes
ESL Idioms Game, upper-intermediate B2, matching idioms to situations, pair work

ESL Idioms Game - Vocabulary and Speaking: Matching, Forming Sentences, Freer Practice - Pair Work

This entertaining idioms game helps students practice using idiomatic expressions in everyday situations. In pairs, students take turns picking up a situation card, e.g. 'Wow, you're so energetic today!...

ESL Idioms Game - Vocabulary and Speaking: Matching, Forming Sentences, Freer Practice - Pair Work This entertaining idioms game helps students practice using idiomatic expressions in everyday situations. In pairs, students take turns picking up a situation card, e.g. 'Wow, you're so energetic today! You've been bouncing around all morning!' The student then looks at the idiom cards in their hand and tries to match one with the situation card, e.g. 'full of beans' and makes a suitable response using the idiom, e.g. 'Oh! I'm always full of beans.' If the idiom card is a correct match and the sentence containing the idiom makes sense, the student keeps the matching cards and puts them to one side, then picks up another idiom card to maintain five cards in their hand. If the student cannot make a correct match or the sentence using the idiom is incorrect, the student returns the situation card to the bottom of the pile and keeps the idiom card. Play then passes to the other student. The student with the most pairs of cards at the end of the game wins.
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Tall Stories

Upper-intermediate (B2) 45 minutes
ESL Idioms Game, upper-intermediate B2, matching, telling stories, guessing, group work

ESL Idioms Game - Vocabulary Exercises: Matching - Speaking: Making Notes, Telling Stories, Asking and Answering Questions, Freer Practice, Guessing - Group Work

In this free idioms game, students use time idioms to tell stories to their classmates who guess whether they are true or not. Students begin by matching sentence....

ESL Idioms Game - Vocabulary Exercises: Matching - Speaking: Making Notes, Telling Stories, Asking and Answering Questions, Freer Practice, Guessing - Group Work In this free idioms game, students use time idioms to tell stories to their classmates who guess whether they are true or not. Students begin by matching sentence halves together to reveal time idioms used in context. Next, students match the time idioms to their definitions. After that, students choose a topic from their worksheet and come up with a story related to the topic. The story can be true or a lie. Once the students have chosen their topic, they circle 'True' or 'Lie' and make notes about their story. Students then take it in turns to briefly tell their story to their group members who guess whether it is true or not. Students must use the idiom shown in bold in their story. Afterwards, group members ask questions to help them determine if the story is true or a lie. Each group member then guesses if the story is true or false and the correct answer is revealed. Storytellers score one point for each student they fooled. Students play several rounds using the topics on their worksheet. The student with the most points at the end of the game wins.
Online

Time Idioms

Upper-intermediate (B2) 45 minutes
ESL Time Idioms Activity, upper-intermediate B2, sentence completion, matching, pair work

ESL Time Idioms Activity - Vocabulary: Sentence Completion, Matching - Pair Work

In this productive time idioms activity, students complete and match sentences that contain idioms using the word time. In pairs, students complete sentences that contain time idioms. Students then cut the parts they wrote into cards, shuffle...

ESL Time Idioms Activity - Vocabulary: Sentence Completion, Matching - Pair Work In this productive time idioms activity, students complete and match sentences that contain idioms using the word time. In pairs, students complete sentences that contain time idioms. Students then cut the parts they wrote into cards, shuffle them, and swap them with another pair. Next, pairs look at their new cards and match them together to make meaningful sentences about the idioms. The pairs who wrote the sentences then check that the cards have been matched correctly. Afterwards, there is a class feedback session. Pairs read each sentence in turn and students are given the meaning of the time idiom. The class then decides on the best sentence that expresses each time idiom.
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Rise to the Occasion

Advanced (C1) 40 minutes
ESL Idioms Game, advanced C1, writing short answers, guessing, group work

ESL Idioms Game - Vocabulary: Writing Short Answers, Guessing - Group Work

Here is a creative idioms game to help students practice the meaning of various idioms. A player from each team goes to the front of the class and sits facing their team. Everyone in the class then answers the first item on their worksheet...

ESL Idioms Game - Vocabulary: Writing Short Answers, Guessing - Group Work Here is a creative idioms game to help students practice the meaning of various idioms. A player from each team goes to the front of the class and sits facing their team. Everyone in the class then answers the first item on their worksheet, i.e. 'something that is a dime a dozen'. The two players at the front then read out or show their answers followed by the team members. Teams score one point for each answer that matches their player's answer. The players then swap with someone from their team and so on. This process is repeated until the worksheet is complete. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins.
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Understanding Idioms

An idiom is an established expression whose meaning cannot always be worked out from its individual words. Learning the expression alongside a situation and an example helps students understand what a speaker means and decide when to use it themselves.

This page has 10 resources across B1, B2 and C1, including games, a worksheet and speaking activities, with two free downloads.

The table pairs idioms with plain-language meanings and examples that make the intended meaning clear.

IdiomMeaningExample
hang in there Keep going during a difficult situation 'I know the course is difficult, but hang in there.'
full of beans Very lively and energetic 'After a good night's sleep, the children were full of beans.'
shake like a leaf Tremble strongly, for example because of fear 'I was shaking like a leaf before my first speech.'
rise to the occasion Respond successfully to a difficult challenge 'Our usual presenter was absent, but Maya rose to the occasion.'
a dime a dozen Very common and not especially valuable or distinctive 'Ideas like that are a dime a dozen; we need something original.'

How to Use Idioms

Start with the intended meaning: Decide what you want to communicate before selecting an idiom. If you mean that someone is energetic, 'full of beans' may fit; it does not simply mean that the person is happy.

Consider the audience and situation: Check an expression's register and regional use before adopting it. 'A dime a dozen' has a particularly American association. Use a plain alternative if the listener may not recognise the expression.

Give enough context: Surround an idiom with details that show why it fits. 'She rose to the occasion and delivered the presentation at short notice' makes the successful response clear.

3-Step Framework for Teaching Idioms

This sequence suits upper-intermediate classes, moving from interpreting examples to creating sentences and responding to situations.

1. Interpret Expressions in Context: Students complete sentences with idioms about feelings and then match the expressions to definitions. Discuss which details in each sentence support the meaning, so students can explain their choices before producing examples themselves.

2. Demonstrate Meaning in a Sentence: Teams match idiom cards to definitions and make a sentence that shows the expression's meaning. A suitable sentence earns a move on the board; an unsuitable one gives the other team a chance. This checks more than recall of a definition and prepares students to choose expressions for a situation.

3. Respond to a Situation: Students match an idiom from their hand to a situation card and make an appropriate response using it. They keep the matching cards only when both the match and sentence work. This brings meaning, wording and context together in a short spoken exchange.

Common Mistakes with Idioms

Replacing words inside an established expression: A synonym does not necessarily preserve an idiom. Incorrect for this idiom: 'She is full of peas.' Correct: 'She is full of beans.' Learn the expression as a phrase rather than replacing individual words.

Leaving the verb unchanged when the time changes: Some idioms contain verbs that change tense normally, even though the expression's core wording stays the same. Incorrect: 'Yesterday, she rise to the occasion.' Correct: 'Yesterday, she rose to the occasion.'

Common Questions About Teaching Idioms

What is a fun game for practicing idioms?

The free board game Hang in there! gives students practice choosing idioms from sentence context. Players listen to a sentence with a missing expression and select an idiom from the board. Correct answers move them forward an extra space, while incorrect answers move them back, making careful listening part of the competition.

What worksheet helps with teaching common idioms?

The worksheet Well-known English Idioms introduces 12 expressions through sentences. Students match sentence halves, infer meanings and check them against definitions before completing sentences with the idioms. They then prepare answers and discuss questions with a partner, giving teachers a progression from interpreting expressions to using them in an exchange.

How can students practice using idioms in speaking?

The free storytelling game Tall Stories gives students a reason to use time idioms in connected speech. After matching expressions with meanings, students prepare a true or invented story containing a specified idiom. Classmates ask questions and judge whether it is true, making the story's details important to the exchange.

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