What are idioms?
Idioms and slang are special words and language used within a culture or a group
People use food, colors, numbers and animals when talking about a situation or a person
Americans use idioms and slang a lot, which makes it hard to understand them
Examples
It’s raining cats and dogs outsideMeaning: It’s raining
very hard outside
How time fliesMeaning: Time has
gone by quickly
Discussion Have you ever watched a movie where the
character used a sentence that didn’t make sense?
Can you think of any situations where you might have heard idioms or slang?
In which situations is it the hardest to understand English?
Common American Idioms
A. Time to hit the books
B. I’m under the weather
C. She twisted my arm
D. The decision is up in the air right now
E. Sit tight, I’ll be back
1. She convinced me
2. The decision is uncertain right now
3. Time to study
4. Wait there, I’ll be back
5. I’m feeling sick
Common American Idioms
A. Time to hit the books
B. I’m under the weather
C. She twisted my arm
D. The decision is up in the air right now
E. Sit tight, I’ll be back
1. She convinced me
2. The decision is uncertain right now
3. Time to study
4. Wait there, I’ll be back
5. I’m feeling sick
Common American Idioms
A. Time to hit the books
B. I’m under the weather
C. She twisted my arm
D. The decision is up in the air right now
E. Sit tight, I’ll be back
1. She convinced me
2. The decision is uncertain right now
3. Time to study
4. Wait there, I’ll be back
5. I’m feeling sick
Common American Idioms
A. Time to hit the books
B. I’m under the weather
C. She twisted my arm
D. The decision is up in the air right now
E. Sit tight, I’ll be back
1. She convinced me
2. The decision is uncertain right now
3. Time to study
4. Wait there, I’ll be back
5. I’m feeling sick
Common American Idioms
A. Time to hit the books
B. I’m under the weather
C. She twisted my arm
D. The decision is up in the air right now
E. Sit tight, I’ll be back
1. She convinced me
2. The decision is uncertain right now
3. Time to study
4. Wait there, I’ll be back
5. I’m feeling sick
Common American Idioms
A. Time to hit the books
B. I’m under the weather
C. She twisted my arm
D. The decision is up in the air right now
E. Sit tight, I’ll be back
1. She convinced me
2. The decision is uncertain right now
3. Time to study
4. Wait there, I’ll be back
5. I’m feeling sick
Idioms with Sweets
Idiom
A. It was a piece of cake!
B. As easy as pie
C. It was like giving candy to a baby
D. She’s one tough cookie
Meaning
Idioms with Sweets
Idiom
A. It was a piece of cake!
B. As easy as pie
C. It was like giving candy to a baby
D. She’s one tough cookie
Meaning
A-C all mean “it was easy!”
D. She is very strong/tough/determined
Idioms with Animals Americans tend to compare things or people
to animals A. She is as quick as a
______
B. I’m so hungry I could eat a_____
C. He’s as sneaky as a_____
D. You have to be as quiet as a _____
E. She’s as busy as a _____
Idioms with Music
Idiom
A. Does that ring a bell?
B. She sounds like a broken record
C. Don’t blow your own horn
Meaning
Idioms with Music
Idiom
A. Does that ring a bell?
B. She sounds like a broken record
C. Don’t blow your own horn
Meaning
1. Does that sound familiar?
Idioms with Music
Idiom
A. Does that ring a bell?
B. She sounds like a broken record
C. Don’t blow your own horn
Meaning
1. Does that sound familiar?
2. She talks about the same thing a lot
Idioms with Music
Idiom
A. Does that ring a bell?
B. She sounds like a broken record
C. Don’t blow your own horn
Meaning
1. Does that sound familiar?
2. She talks about the same thing a lot
3. Don’t be arrogant
Group Work
Do people in Italy use idioms or slang?
Do younger people use different idioms than older people?
List 1-2 idioms in Italian that you like
Differences between American and British English What are some differences that you know
of? Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwbpY4eNOgE
What other differences did you hear?
Other Differences
Britain
Queuing
Jumper
Trolley
Football
Adverts
Garbage/Rubbish
USA
Waiting
Sweater
Cart
Soccer
Commercials
Trash
Discussion
What do you think of accents? Are they hard to understand sometimes?
Are there different accents in Italy? What are some examples?
What accents do you like?
Charades! She’s one tough cookie She is as quick as a
rabbit I’m so hungry I could eat
a horse He’s as sneaky as a fox She’s as busy as a bee Does that ring a bell? She sounds like a broken
record Don’t blow your own horn
Its raining cats and dogs outside
How time flies Time to hit the books I’m under the weather She twisted my arm The decision is up in the air
right now It was a piece of cake As easy as pie It was like giving candy to a
baby