Directions: Put students in two teams. Cut out the sentences below and place them face down. Have teams take turns picking a card and replacing the words in bold with an idiom. Each correct answer is worth a point. The potential answers are listed below.

 

Sentence Strips

Kate is feeling a little bit sick today.

I made a bad impression and we started our relationship off in a negative way.

Mike is a humble and unpretentious.

I need to talk to someone about something that has been bothering me for a long time.

I tried to make enough money to support myself as a freelancer.

It was a terrible presentation. I was extremely bored.

I had a funny feeling in my stomach before I gave my presentation.

Kim was extremely happy after getting the promotion.

Our customers get more value for money with our products.

I have a tendency to question myself after I make an important decision.

I’m unable to make up my mind about whether to accept the offer.

It’s getting late and I should be getting home. How about we stop working for today?

It’s been a busy couple of months, but now we can finally see signs of a successful conclusion to this project.

Lawrence came into my office and said he needed to talk. He made small talk and avoided talking about what was on his mind until I finally asked him to tell me what was going on.

It sounds like a great idea, but I’m not the one who makes the important decisions around here.

Let’s suspend this project temporarily.

Be patient. Great accomplishments take time and you can’t create something incredible in just one day.

I go to the movies very infrequently.

This isn’t something we need to resolve right now. We’ll deal with it when it becomes necessary, not right now.

I can handle that for you. It is very easy.

He doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Don’t take his advice very seriously.

Why are you asking me about what Kevin thinks? Why don’t you talk to him and get the information directly from the source?

We did everything we possibly could to keep him happy, but he still left the company.

The plan was a complete failure. We have to start over and go back to the planning stage.

When I was in my early 20’s, it was hard for me to make enough money to pay for my expenses and not go into debt.

 

Potential Answers

Kate is feeling a little bit sick today.
Kate is feeling under the weather.

I made a bad impression and we started our relationship off in a negative way.
I made a bad impression and we started off (or got off) on the wrong foot.

Mike is a humble and unpretentious.
Mike is down-to-earth.

I need to talk to someone about something that has been bothering me for a long time.
I need to get something off my chest.

I tried to make enough money to support myself as a freelancer.
I tried to make a living as a freelancer.

It was a terrible presentation. I was extremely bored.
It was a terrible presentation. I was bored to death/tears.

I had a funny feeling in my stomach before I gave my presentation.
I had butterflies in my stomach before I gave my presentation.

Kim was extremely happy after getting the promotion.
Kim was on cloud nine after getting the promotion.
Kim was walking on air after getting the promotion.
Kim was over the moon after getting the promotion.

Our customers get more value for money with our products.
Our customers get more bang for their buck with our products.

I have a tendency to question myself after I make an important decision.
I have a tendency to second guess myself.

I’m unable to make up my mind about whether to accept the offer.
I’m on the fence about whether to accept the offer.

It’s getting late and I should be getting home. How about we stop working for today?
It’s getting late and I should be getting home. How about we call it a day?/Why don’t we call it a day?

It’s been a busy couple of months, but now we can finally see signs of a successful conclusion to this project.
It’s been a busy couple of months, but now we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Lawrence came into my office and said he needed to talk. He made small talk and avoided talking about what was on his mind until I finally asked him to tell me what was going on.
Lawrence came into my office and said he needed to talk. He was beating around the bush until I finally asked him to tell me what was going on.

It sounds like a great idea, but I’m not the one who makes the important decisions around here.
It sounds like a great idea, but I’m not the one who calls the shots around here.

Let’s suspend this project temporarily.
Let’s put this project on hold.
Let’s put this project on the back burner.

Be patient. Great accomplishments take time and you can’t create something incredible in just one day.
Be patient. Rome wasn’t built in a day.

I go to the movies very infrequently.
I go to the movies once in a blue moon.

This isn’t something we need to resolve right now. We’ll deal with it when it becomes necessary, not right now.
This isn’t something we need to resolve right now. We’ll cross that bridge when we get to (or come to) it.

I can handle that for you. It is very easy.
I can handle that for you. It’s a piece of cake.
I can handle that for you. It’s a cinch.
I can handle that for you. It’s a cakewalk.
I can handle that for you. It’s kid stuff.

He doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Don’t take his advice very seriously.
He doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Take his advice with a grain of salt.

Why are you asking me about what Kevin thinks? Why don’t you talk to him and get the information directly from the source?
Why are you asking me about what Kevin thinks? Why don’t you talk to him and get the information straight from the horse’s mouth?

We did everything we possibly could to keep him happy, but he still left the company.
We bent over backwards to keep him happy, but he still left the company.

The plan was a complete failure. We have to start over and go back to the planning stage.
The plan was a complete failure. We have to go back to the drawing board.
The plan was a complete failure. We’re back at square one.

When I was in my early 20’s, it was hard for me to make enough money to pay for my expenses and not go into debt.
When I was in my early 20’s, it was hard for me to make ends meet.