Match the idiom to the meaning.

Understanding idiomsIdioms are fixed expressions and their meanings have to be learned. For example: It’s raining cats and dogs means that it is raining heavily. You can often find out the meaning of some idioms from their context.

1 Has the cat got your tongue? • • I was very nervous.

2 I had butterflies in my stomach. • • Prices have gone up quickly.

3 Get off my back! • • You are allowed to go ahead with a plan.

4 You have the green light. • • Stop bothering me!

5 Prices have skyrocketed. • • Why are you so quiet?

What do you think someone as right as rain is like? Discuss your answers.

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HowÕs the weather?

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Read the dialogue.

Word BoosterGo to page 8 and learn the words. Then do the activities on page 9.

Match the idioms from the dialogue to the meanings.

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Tom: Hey, Amy. Did you see Grace? She had a face like thunder! What’s the matter with her?

Amy: I think she’s feeling a bit under the weather.

Tom: But you don’t look angry just because you’re feeling sick!

Amy: That’s true. Maybe she’s got wind of what Alice said about her.

Tom: What’s that?

Amy: Alice blamed her for losing the basketball match.

Tom: But everyone knows that’s not true! Alice barked up the wrong tree.

Amy: Yes. Grace only missed that last shot because of the storm outside!

Tom: That roll of thunder was so loud we were all shocked!

Amy: And Alice missed plenty of shots, too. She’s in no position to blame anyone else for losing the game.

Tom: You’re right.

Amy: Look! There’s Mike. He looks like he’s on cloud nine!

Tom: I wonder why he’s so happy.

Amy: It’s because he’s singing at Mr. Jenson’s wedding. He’s been wandering around with his head in the clouds ever since he was asked!

very happy

hear or find out about

angry

sick

in thought or far from real life

look for something in the wrong place

Go to page 8 and learn the words.

Word Booster

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Music Nature People

classical couple flame fog gentleman jazz lady lightning madam opera orchestra shine symphony thunder valentine

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Circle the correct word. Then listen and check your answers.

1 I was so scared that I didn’t move a ( muscle / hair ).

2 If you let the ( dog / cat ) out of the bag, it won’t be a surprise!

3 I’m so excited! Wild ( ox / horses ) couldn’t keep me away from this party!

4 In the movie, the hero’s ( heart / lung ) broke when his wife died.

5 They have to love each other come rain or ( shine / storm ).

Complete the tables using the words given. Write new words on page 10 of your Word Booster.

To find the meaning of idioms, you can make a smart guess, search online or look them up in a dictionary of idioms.

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Ben: How are your sister’s plans for the

(1)( wedding / valentine ) going?

Cathy: Very well, thanks. The only (2)( flame / cloud ) on the horizon is the music.

Ben: What’s the problem?

Cathy: Well, the (3)( bride / couple ) wants to hire a (4)( jazz / symphony ) band, but

my parents want to hire an (5)( orchestra / opera ). There hasn’t been a fight

about it yet, but this might just be the (6)( calm / shine ) before the storm.

Ben: Why don’t they hire both for the wedding and the party after that?

Cathy: What a great (7)( chance / idea )! I’ll see if I can persuade them to do that.

Otherwise this could become a real (8)( storm / thunder ) in a teacup!

Rebecca Smith married Edward Brown on Saturday,

May 2nd. It was a (1) day. They had

the (2) in the woods near the lake. An

(3) played music for the ceremony.

After that they had a big (4) at

Rebecca’s parents’ house. A jazz band played and everyone

danced up a (5) . Later it started to

rain (6) . But it didn’t matter,

everyone was inside celebrating.

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Listen and circle the correct answer.

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Listen and complete the passage.

Work with a classmate. Find five idioms in the dialogue and the passage above. Write them down and discuss what they mean.

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