Part 24 Idioms (Money) Infographic & Interactive Game

Take a look at this superb infographic from Grammar.net, study the idioms, then put yourself to the test by playing the game (click on the image below the infographic). If you would like to see the detailed explanations, go here. For more on idioms, go to the index file in Google Docs and scroll down until you see the heading Idioms.

[Infographic provided by Grammar.net]

For more on idioms, use the tag to search.

Wagging the question, tagging the dog

You can tag the dog, but can you wag the question? Watch these two hilarious videos, and my question may become a little clearer. Reading Idioms Part 12 may also help.

UK version:

US version:

The main issue, as you've probably noticed, is that of question tags (in both versions). In the US version, one of the girls constantly mixes up idioms - this is difficult to understand if you don't know the idioms to begin with!

Either or both of these videos can be used with intermediate level upwards (even up to non-native teacher level) - you know your students, you judge. What I'd normally do is to play the video once. Hand out the script. Play the video again. Then, ask them to find and correct the mistakes. Check and explain. Later, discuss the making and correction of mistakes. Are they afraid/embarrassed to make mistakes? Do they feel people might laugh at them? Do they like being corrected by their teachers/peers? What are their most common errors? Why do they keep making them even though they realise it? Elicit methods from the class of  'tricks' they use to help them remember.

A quick explanation on question tags

We add these at the end of sentences to confirm what we are saying; it's like saying, 'Do you agree?' or 'Don't you think so?'. They're the equivalent of, for example, n'est-ce pas? in French and verdad? in Spanish.

The tag comprises of an auxiliary verb (or the verb 'be') and a pronoun:

    We've met before, haven't we?

    She's really gorgeous, isn't she?

Usually, a positive tag follows a negative sentence, and a negative tag follows a positive sentence:

    You don't know where I can find a locksmith, do you?

    You were supposed to be here at five o'clock, weren't you?

Notice that the tag agrees with the verb in the preceding sentence:

    She won't do it, will she? (modal auxiliary 'will')

   They were singing really well, weren't they? (past continuous with the past form of 'be' as a tag)

The verb 'have' sometimes causes confusion. As you may know, the British usually use 'have got' to talk about possession:

    Janet's got a really stunning voice.

We can only use the verb 'have' as a tag in this case.

    Janet's got a really stunning voice, hasn't she?

However, if we use 'have' as the main verb, both 'have' and 'do' are acceptable as tags:

    Janet has a really stunning voice, hasn't she?

    Janet has a really stunning voice, doesn't she?

Note the tag we usually use with 'I am':

    I'm clever, aren't I?

Or you may hear

    I'm clever, ain't I? (non-standard)

SCRIPT (UK VERSION)

Hi! Are we all on the same English course?

Oh yeah, how's it going?

Not bad, but sometimes I have trouble with grammar, isn't it?

Really?

Sometimes I spot on and other times I don't, aren't they?

I'm all right with my grammar; my problem is spilling.

Can't spill to save my loaf!

I have to rely on my spill chock on my compluter!

Well, don't worry about it too much.

I'm sure you'll be treated with a lot of understanding and COMPASSION!

All right!

I've got problems with my spilling not my herring!

She's got trouble with her punctuation, isn't it?

Yeah, sorry.

I sometimes put an explanation mark at the end by MISTAKE!

It's all right for you lot; I've got a very small vocabulary.

What's that like?

It's all right for you lot; I've got a very small vocabulary.

Sometimes I have trouble with my emphaasis.

Your emphaasis?

Yes. In variious different parts of my senteences.

In my job that can cause a lot of awkwordness.

What do you do?

I'm a speech theraapist.

A speech therapist who can't spike prifferly!

I'm surprised your boss hasn't sucked you!

It's all right for you lot; I've got a very small vocabulary.

Can I make a suurgestion?

Why don't you purchaase a dictionary? You'll save yourself a lot of embarraasment.

I know! We could all try studying together, isn't it?

How doesn't next week sounds?

GOOD IDEA!

It's all right for you lot...

SHUT UP!

SCRIPT (US VERSION)

Hey! Aren't we all on the same English course?

Oh yeah, how's it going?

Er, not bad, except that I sometimes have trouble with my grammar, isn't it?

I mean sometimes I perfect but other times I don't, won't they?

You see, I'm all right with my grammar; my problem is spelling.

I can't spell to save my loaf!

Yeah?

Yeah, I have to rely on my spell chock on my compluter!

Well, you know, look at it this way. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't eat it, too. You know what I'm saying?

No, no, not really.

Er...I think that she sometimes has trouble mixing metaphors, aren't she?

Yeah.

Sorry, guys. I'm always crying over spilt chickens before they're hatched.

It's all right for you all; I've got a very small vocabulary.

What's that like?

It's all right for you all; I've got a very small vocabulary.

That's ok. I have problems with my emphaasis.

Your emphaasis?

Yes. My emphaasis. On different parts of the sentances.

In my job that can cause a lot of awkwordness.

What do you do?

I'm a speech theraapist.

A peach therapist that can't spike prifferly!

I'm surprised your boss hasn't sucked you!

It's all right for you all; I've got a very small vocabulary.

Can I make a suurgestion?

Why don't you purchaase a dictionery? You'll save yourself a lot of embarraasment.

I'll tell you what. Why doesn't we all try studying together, isn't it?

How does next week sound, didn't we?

Brave idea!

Fabuulous!

Yeah, You give 'em an inch, it's worth two in the bush.

It's all right for you all...

SHUT UP! Isn't it?

The correct idioms are:

You can lead a horse to water (but you can't make him/it drink):

    You can give someone the opportunity, but you can't force him to take it.

Have one's cake and eat it too:

    To want to have two things which are incompatible.

It's no good/use crying over spilt milk  or There's no point crying over spilt milk:

    It's no use getting upset over something that had happened but that cannot be undone.

Count one's chickens before they hatch:

    To imagine what you'd do with the results of something that hasn't been accomplished yet.

give someone an inch (and they’ll take a mile/yard):

    This refers to people who wants more and more of what is given to them.

a bird in the hand (is worth two in the bush):

    What you definitely have is far better than something which, although it could be better, is not guaranteed.

Related posts:

Idioms Part 2

Idioms Part 12

Idioms Part 17

What's your English?

Ideas for using videos in the classroom

If you need the corrections to the text, email me.

Idioms Part 23 (Food - Pie/Potato) Interactive Game

I can't believe that almost a month has passed since my last idiom activity!

We're still on food; this time we'll take a look at pies & potatoes.

as easy as pie

It means just that - extremely easy. Sometimes, you'll hear 'easy as apple pie': That test we did today was really easy as pie, wasn't it?

eat humble pie

When you eat humble pie, you admit your error and apologize (normally): I was forced to eat humble pie when I mistakenly accused him of stealing my mobile phone; he had one exactly like mine, but mine was in my back pocket the whole time!

have one's finger in the pie

- to be involved in something. Often, you'll hear this version:

have one's fingers in too many pies

This happens when you're involved in so many things that you're unable to do any of them well: My son has his finger in too many pies; I told him to just concentrate on one course instead of having to divide his time among the five he's doing right now.

pie in the sky

This refers to a plan or an idea that is rather far-fetched, and is unlikely to bear fruit: All his ideas had been previously dismissed as pie in the sky until he came up with his brilliant add-on to Twitter.

slice of the pie

To want a slice of the pie is to want a part of what is being shared. This expression is used mainly in the USA; the UK equivalent is slice of the cake: This year's education budget has been reduced dramatically, so each school will have a smaller slice of the pie.

couch potato

Originally, this is used to refer to someone who spends a lot of time on the couch (sofa) watching television, but now, it refers to anyone who leads a sedentary lifestyle: You're such a couch potato! It's about time you start doing something other than sitting in front of your computer screen all day!

drop (someone or something) like a hot potato

- to stop being involved with someone or something due to problems. Sometimes, you will hear 'drop like a hot brick' instead: He was dropped from the team like a hot potato when he was seen with the team manager's daughter.

small potatoes

This expression is used mainly in the US. In the UK, it's more common to hear 'small fry'. 'Small beer' also has the same meaning: something or someone unimportant or insignificant: He acts as though he's a big shot in the company, but, in fact, he's nothing but small potatoes.

meat and potatoes (mainly US)

These are the most important or the most basic parts of something. It's also used as an adjective to refer to someone with ordinary tastes, or something that is very basic:

The meat and potatoes of any computer is the RAM.

Sue gave a meat-and-potatoes explanation of the new camera, but everyone understood.

Now that you've learned these idioms, put your knowledge to the test on this interactive activity. Click the image below to begin. Although it isn't necessary, registration at Purpose Games will allow you to keep track of your scores. Have fun!

Be sure to check out the rest of this series on idioms. Go to the index file and search (ctrl F) for 'Idioms'.

Idioms Part 22 (Food - Nuts) Interactive Game

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

While in the last part of this series on Idioms, we drove you bananas, on this one, we'll drive you nuts! However, there's no sense in getting panicky. Let's take a closer look at some of these nutty idioms!

the nuts and bolts

This refers to the basic detailed practical information on how something works: Be patient. Jane will explain the nuts and bolts of the system to you.

for peanuts

When you buy something for peanuts, you buy it for very little money: My brother bought a new camera, so he sold his old one to me for peanuts.

hard (or tough) nut to crack

You use this expression to talk about someone or something that is difficult to deal with: I've been looking at this problem for days - it sure is one tough nut to crack!

in a nutshell

You say this when you want to sum something up, or you want to express something in a brief and direct way: Well, I won't go into all the details, but to put it in a nutshell, I lost my job.

drive someone nuts

To drive someone nuts is to really annoy someone:  Luigi is driving Samantha nuts, pestering her to go out to dinner with him.

go nuts

To go nuts is to go crazy, wild, excited, etc:

   When Lionel scored the winning goal in the last second of the match, the crowd simply went nuts!

   If we don't do something about those kids out there, we'll go nuts.

nuts about/over

When you're nuts about someone or something, you're very attracted to him or her or extremely enthusiastic about it:

   I listen to opera every now and then, but I don't go nuts over it.

   Edurne is nuts over the new guy in the office.

take/use a sledgehammer to crack a nut

If you imagine using a sledgehammer to crack a nut, you can imagine the situation. It means to use unnecessary force or energy: C'mon, you don't need to call an electrician to change a light bulb! It's like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut!

Now that you've learned all these nutty idioms, you're ready to put your memory to the test. Click on the image above to begin the game. Although it isn't necessary, registration at Purpose Games will allow you to keep track of your scores. Have fun!

Be sure to check out the rest in this series. Go to the index file and search (ctrl F) for 'Idioms'.

Tsunami Disaster in Japan: Idioms Part 21 with interactive game. HELP JAPAN!

One must be indeed cold and heartless not to be affected by the triple calamity of earthquake, tsunami, and threat of nuclear meltdown that hit Japan on Friday 11th March 2011. Why, even the Yakuza, Japan's notorious Mafia gang have been doing their bit to help, giving donations and driving relief supplies into radiation zones without protection. You can read about their humanitarian efforts here.

If you wish to help, click on this list to see a list of organisations accepting donations for Japan.

Still, life has to go on, and the series on idioms is no exception. I thought it would be a good idea to take a short break from food, and introduce you to idioms that you could easily come across in a conversation regarding the current situation in Japan.

an arm and a leg

very expensive: It will cause the Japanese an arm and a leg to rebuild their country after this disaster.

back to square one

This means that you are in the exact same situation you were before you started to do something, i.e., you haven't made any progress. This is similar to

back to the drawing board

When you try to do something and it wasn't successful, and you have to think of something new, you go back to the drawing board: 

When the cooling system broke down, TEPCO resorted to using sea water to try to cool the nuclear fuel rods, but that didn't succeed, so they were back to square one.

They then tried to drop tons of water from helicopters flying above the reactors, but that didn't work very well either, so they had to go back to the drawing board.

bend over backwards

Willing to do anything to help: In spite of having lost all their possessions, they were still bending over backwards to help one another.

bite off more than you can chew

You do this when you take on a task that is way too big and complex for you: The Japanese originally rejected a US offer to help with their nuclear crisis, but they quickly realised that they had bitten off more than they could chew, and ended up accepting the help.

blue moon

a rare occurrence: Having a 9.0 earthquake, a tsunami that created waves more than 10 metres high, and a threat of a nuclear meltdown from a reactor whose cooling system (and the backups) failed, all at the same time is something that happens once in a blue moon.

cross your fingers

You do this to hope something will be all right: Let's cross our fingers and hope that their cooling system hasn't been damaged!

dropping like flies

Falling ill or dying in large numbers very quickly: Due to the lack of medical supplies, clean water, and food, the evacuees were dropping like flies.

every cloud has a silver lining

Even difficult times will lead to better days: They say every cloud has a silver lining, so let's cross our fingers and hope that this disaster will, paradoxically, end the world economical crisis.

everything but the kitchen sink

everything you own: Most people who were directly affected by the tsunami lost everything but the kitchen sink.

field day

an enjoyable day or situation:  The anti-nuclear lobby was having a field day when the Fukushima nuclear reactors started having problems.

go against the grain

to be completely different to what you feel is right or normal: "The idea that the Japanese are acting in some way against the grain in an emergency situation is challenged by columnist Johann Hari in the UK's Independent." (BBC News Magazine)

Good Samaritan

The Good Samaritan helps others in need without expecting compensation: The Yakuza turned Good Samaritan and started delivering relief supplies to the evacuation centres.

If it's not one thing, it's another

A series of thing that go wrong: It's incredible how if it's not one thing, it's another: the tsunami struck half an hour after the 9.0 earthquake, and then the Fukushima crisis began. After 8 days, they're still having aftershocks of great magnitude.

in the same boat

We're in the same boat if we're faced with the same challenges or difficult situation: Everyone is sharing what they have because they are all in the same boat.

keep your chin up

to remain happy in a difficult situation:  It is truly amazing how people manage to keep their chins up in spite of the difficult situation they're facing.

kick the bucket

to die (although it tends to be used more in a humorous situation): In the darkness, the old lady tripped on a bucket, and literally kicked the bucket.

out on a limb

You go out on a limb when you put yourself in a risky situation, or in a situation where you get no support: The 200 or so workers of Fukushima are going out on a limb, risking their lives, to try to put the perilous situation under control.

saved by the bell

to be saved at the last possible moment: She was hanging on the tree, and was saved by the bell when the rescuers appeared out of nowhere.

start from scratch

to start all over again: When all this is over, the Japanese, especially in the North East, have to start their lives from scratch.

Apart from the usual tagging game (click on the image below), you can compose sentences of your own, showing how you've understood the idioms. Post them in the comments section below (click on the pencil icon).

Be sure to check out the rest in this series. Go to the index file and search (ctrl F) for 'Idioms'.

Idioms Part 20 (Food - Fruit) Interactive Game

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

Are all these idioms driving you bananas? I sure hope not! Keep playing these games over and over again, and soon you'll be enjoying the fruits of your labour.

Let's run through the idioms.

bear fruit

When something bears fruit, it means that it has started to yield some success: After slogging day and night at it for a couple of years, his restaurant is, at last, starting to bear fruit.

the fruit/fruits of your labour

These are the benefits you get from something such as hard work: After 50 years of hard work, he can now retire and start enjoying the fruits of his labour.

forbidden fruit

This is something that is desirable because it is illegal or immoral: I don't normally go for these type of films, but since it's been banned, it's become a forbidden fruit for me.

tree is known by its fruit

You judge a person by what he's done: He's told so many lies before that no-one believes him anymore. You know what they say... a tree is known by its fruit.

apple of one's eye

If someone is the apple of your eye, you're extremely fond of that person: He says that he loves all his grandchildren equally, but anyone can see that Akira is the apple of his eye.

upset the apple cart

When you upset the apple cart, you ruin a plan or an event: We were all having such a good time until Tammy upset the apple cart by telling that sick joke.

go bananas

When you go bananas, you feel some strong emotion such as excitement, anger or frustration: Trying to learn all these idioms is making me go bananas!

sour grapes

This expression originates from Aesop's The Fox and The Grapes, and refers to envious behaviour. When you can't get something that someone else has, you pretend that you don't have any interest for it and you say bad things about it: Zahara says she doesn't like my new shoes, but I think it's just a case of sour grapes.

another bite (or a second bite) at the cherry

another chance: He failed his sixth driving test, but he's practising hard now for another bite at the cherry.

rotten apple

This refers to a bad person who influences others so that they become bad, too: Watch out for that tall blond boy over there; he's the rotten apple of the neighbourhood.

lemon

You refer to something you buy as a lemon when it doesn't work satisfactorily: I paid 2,000€ for this car, but after 3 days, I realised that I'd bought myself a lemon.

Okey-dokey, now you're ready to beat the record at the fruit idiom game! Click on the fruit image above to begin the game. Although it isn't necessary, registration at Purpose Games will allow you to keep track of your scores. Have fun!

Be sure to check out the rest in this series. Go to the index file and search (ctrl F) for 'Idioms'.

    

Idioms Part 19 (Food - Fish) Interactive Game

"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime".
Chinese Proverb

Cartoon dedicated to Janet Bianchini & Nik Peachey

So, folks, are you still swimming with me? Or did you keep getting egg on your face? The world's an ocean, and this time we'll work with fish.

sounds fishy

When something sounds fishy to you, you find it hard to believe that it is true: He said he just came back from Jamaica, but it sounded rather fishy to me.

a big fish in a small pond

This refers to someone who is important or powerful only in the company of mediocre people, or in a smaller group, and under different circumstances, they wouldn't be so: Jack behaves like a big shot, but really, being a manager of this small branch, he's just a big fish in a small pond.

a cold fish

refers to someone who is unfriendly: The new girl in the office is a bit of a cold fish, isn't she? I'm not sure if she's shy or arrogant...

drink like a fish

If you drink like a fish, you drink often, and in large quantities.

a fish out of water

When you feel like a fish out of water, you are in an unfamiliar situation, and you feel awkward: I was the only one who didn't speak Chinese at the table, so I felt like a fish out of water.

have bigger/other fish to fry

You use this expression to say that you have more important things to do: I've got to rush off now, John; I've got a lot more fish to fry today.

neither fish nor fowl

This is used to refer to something you cannot categorise easily: We just stood there and stared when that strange animal appeared out of the blue. It was neither fish nor fowl!

there are plenty more fish in the sea

You say this when you want to encourage someone who's just had a bad experience, such as losing a job or breaking up with their partner, and it means that there are more opportunities out there: I didn't know what to say to Suzie when she told me her boyfriend had left her, except that there are plenty more fish in the sea.

a different kettle of fish

This is not to be confused with a fine kettle of fish (see below) and means something that is completely different to what you were previously talking about: Joanne is very loud and boisterous, but her sister, Jenny, is a different kettle of fish!

a fine kettle of fish

Don't confuse this with the above. This is used to talk about a situation that is rather unpleasant: I've got a plane to catch in a couple of hours and I can't find my passport! A fine kettle of fish, this is!

OK, now you're ready to put your knowledge to the test! Click on the image at the beginning of the post to begin. Be sure to check out the rest in this series. Go to the index file and search (ctrl F) for 'Idioms'.

       

Idioms Part 18 (Food - Eggs) Interactive Game

This train of idioms is still moving on...and we're now on Part 18. Look through these before you attempt the game (by clicking on the image at the bottom).

a good egg /a bad egg

a good person or a bad person

can't even boil an egg

This is used to say how bad a person cooks: Rashid does all the cooking at home; his wife can't even boil an egg!

have/get egg on your face

When you have egg on your face, you are embarrassed because you have done something very stupid or committed a silly error:  He was bad-mouthing his company to this man at the party last night, but it turned out that the man is his new boss! Boy, did he have egg on his face!

put all your eggs in one basket

When you're risking everything on just one thing, be it an idea, a plan, or even a person, you're said to be putting all your eggs in one basket: Sam's just inherited quite a sum of money, and she's invested it all in her friend's new company. I told her she shouldn't have put all her eggs in one basket.

chicken-and-egg situation

This is a situation where you don't know which the cause is and which the effect is - which came first? The chicken or the egg?

teach one's grandmother to suck eggs

You do this when you give advice to someone who knows more than you: Can you believe that my 7-year-old son was trying to teach me how to use my new mobile phone? It was a bit like teaching his grandmother to suck eggs!

walk on eggs/eggshells

When you're walking on eggs or on eggshells, it means that you're being very careful, especially because you might hurt someone: We've been walking on eggshells in the office lately because our boss has just lost his wife.

Be sure to check out the rest in this series. Go to the index file and search (ctrl F) for 'Idioms'.

       

Idioms Part 17 (Food - Cakes) Interactive Game

     

This is the 17th in this series of idiom games. A couple of the idioms here have previously appeared in Part 15, so you should know them already!

the icing on the cake
This is used to talk about something that makes a situation, which is already good, even better: I've just found a job, but the fact that it's near my house is just the icing on the cake!

the cherry on the cake
This is not to be confused with the one above, although they are similar. This idiom refers to one final thing which makes something perfect: We were all having such a jolly good time, and when Elaine appeared, that was just the cherry on the cake!

the cake's not worth the candle
This is very often shortened to just 'not worth the candle'. If you're told that what you are doing isn't worth the candle, it means that the results you will get will not be worth the effort you're putting in: If I were you, I'd buy another bike; the repairs won't be worth the candle.

a slice of the cake

To want a slice of the cake is to want a part of what is being shared: Even though all the employees have been promised a cut of the year's astounding profits, they're demanding a larger slice of the cake.

to sell like hot cakes

To sell very rapidly: The new post-mortem John Martyn's album is surprisingly selling like hot cakes!

dropped like a hot cake/potato

'To drop something like a hot potato' is probably more common than '... like a hot cake', but it's useful to know that both expressions exist. When you drop something like that, it means that you're rejecting or are getting rid of something rapidly: When Janet discovered that Tim was an ex-convict, she dropped him like a hot cake.

have your cake and eat it (too)

This is used in situations where there are incompatible alternatives, but you want to have the benefits of all of them: Sam's engaged to Diane, but he's still dating Sharon; he wants to have his cake and eat it too.

a piece of cake

If something is a piece of cake, it means that it is extremely easy: Yesterday's exam was a piece of cake!

Be sure to check out the rest in this series. On the left column, at the top, under 'For Your Browsing Pleasure' click on the '+' symbol beside 'GAMES and QUIZZES', then click on the '+' beside 'Idioms'.

Idioms Part 16 (Food - Bones) Interactive Game

    

This is the 16th in this series. I've classified it under food except that the image I've used as the background of the game isn't exactly very appetising! LoL! Read the explanation of the idioms before trying your hand at the game (click on the image to begin) unless, of course, you think you know them all already.

bone of contention

Imagine two dogs fighting over a bone - that's your bone of contention! We use this idiom to refer to something that is a subject of disagreement or dispute: These islands have long been a bone of contention between the two countries.

close to the bone

When something is close to the bone, it means that, although it is true, it is something that is offensive and people prefer not to think about it: His comments about racism may be too close to the bone for some people. (Macmillan)

cut/trim/pare something to the bone

To cut the bone is to reduce to the bare minimum: In spite of cutting all our expenses to the bone, we still ended up closing the restaurant.

feel/know something in your bones

You use this to express a certainty you feel about something although you have no proof: When he told me he was going out with Jenny, I wasn't surprised at all as I'd felt it in my bones for a long time.

have a bone to pick with someone

When you tell someone that you have a bone to pick with him, it means that you have reason to be annoyed with him: Don't leave yet! I have a bone to pick with you - what did you tell Sarah yesterday?

make no bones about something

When you say what you think, or do as you please, you are said to make no bones: Karen made no bones about the fact that she's dating her boss.

pick over the bones of something

Don't confuse this with having a bone to pick with someone. To pick over the bones of something is to examine it in great detail, especially if it is to find something valuable for yourself: There wasn’t much left of the estate after the lawyers had picked over the bones. (Macmillan)

Be sure to check out the rest in this series. Go to the index file and search (ctrl F) for 'Idioms'.