Tag: People

Pour Cold Water

B1 – Intermediate

We usually see people in movies stop whatever they are doing when someone throws water on them. This somehow relates to the phrase “pour cold water” that started out literally and now used more figuratively. When someone talks about an idea or a plan, the other discourages it for some reason.

Learn more about the expression “pour cold water” in the video below.

https://www.theidioms.com/pour-cold-water-on/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What does “pour cold water on something” mean?
  2. What were the things have you done but people discouraged?
  3. Do you regret any of those actions? Why or why not?
  4. What do you do when someone disapproves of your plans?
  5. Do you say your disapproval when someone has a bad idea? Why or why not?

Two Heads Are Better Than One

B1 – Intermediate

There is an old saying that goes “two heads are better than one”. It means that two people thinking together can come up with a better solution to a problem than a single person. It could also be more than two people working together. This phrase was first seen in the Bible and then was published in some books later on.

Let us hear more about the expression “two heads are better than one” in the video below.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What does “two heads are better than one” mean?
  2. Do you prefer working alone or with another person or other people?
  3. What are the pros and cons of working with someone?
  4. Can a person get their goals in life on their own? Why or why not?
  5. What are your experiences when you needed help from others?

Playing with Fire

B1 – Intermediate

We often hear this idiom “playing with fire”. Literally, we know that fire is dangerous and we could get hurt or destroy stuff. Thus, this phrase means doing something risky or dangerous.

We can also relate this to the story in Prometheus. In Greek religion, he is one of the Titans and also called the God of Fire. He disobeyed the Gods and stole fire to give it to humans. This is a good deed but he was still punished by Zeus in the end.

Let us hear more about the expression “playing with fire” in the audio below.

http://www.idioms4you.com/complete-idioms/playing-with-fire.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What does “if you play with fire, you might get burned” mean?
  2. Are you always cautious or do you like doing taking risks? Why is this?
  3. What is the most risky thing you have ever done in your life? Did you end up “getting burned”? Given a chance, would you do it again? Why or why not?
  4. What do you do when you can not achieve your objectives?
  5. What fun activities can we do that are not dangerous at all?

Tie the Knot

B1 – Intermediate

The phrase “tie the knot” is quite known globally which refers to marriage. There are a lot of theories where the origin of this phrase came from but one surely stands out.

Tying the knot comes from centuries-old wedding tradition called the hand-fasting ceremony. In this ancient Celtic practice, the couple literally ties the knots of cloth around their hands binding them together making them one.

Let us hear more about the expression “tie the knot” on the video below.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What does the phrase “tie the knot” mean? What other similar expressions related to marriage do you know of?
  2. How important is marriage in your country?
  3. What are the pros and cons of marriage?
  4. Are there any interesting wedding traditions in your country?
  5. What is the difference between being single and being married?

Loose Cannon

B1 – Intermediate

Have you noticed someone in your circle with mood swings and sudden emotional outbursts? This individual is like a ticking time bomb waiting to go off. It is tough to be around this kind of people.

Let’s watch the video and find out what we call them.

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/english-in-a-minute-loose-cannon/5982410.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What does being a loose cannon mean?
  2. Who is the loose cannon in the video? What did he do?
  3. Do you know anyone who is a loose cannon? How do you deal with him/her?
  4. How can we control our temper?

To Keep Your Cool

B1 – Intermediate

If you keep your cool in a stressful situation, you manage to remain calm and composed. Now, if you lose your cool, then that would be the opposite, you get angry or enraged in difficult circumstances.

Let us hear more about the expression ‘to keep one’s cool’ in the audio below.

http://www.idioms4you.com/complete-idioms/keep-your-cool.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What does “keep one’s cool mean”?
  2. How do you react to difficult situations?
  3. What do you do when you are stressed?
  4. Have you ever lost your cool before? Talk about that situation.
  5. What would you do if someone goes ballistic over something very trivial?

Knock on Wood

B1 – Intermediate

Knock on wood is a superstition for people to literally touch, tap, or knock on wood to bring themselves good luck or avoid bad luck.

There are many stories on where this belief originated but one of the most popular is that spirits and gods live in trees and knocking on the tree trunk is a way to call them to ask them for protection or that they give us good fortune.

Let us know more about the expression ‘knock on wood’ in this lesson below.

https://blog.ed.ted.com/2017/05/18/why-do-we-knock-on-wood/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What does the saying “knock on wood” mean? Do you do this? Why or why not?
  2. What belief that you know gives you good luck?
  3. In your country, what superstition is believed to bring bad luck?
  4. Do you think that someone is just born lucky or unlucky? How?
  5. What’s the difference between being lucky and being hard-working? Which do you prefer to be?

Get Wind of Something

B1 – Intermediate

It happens all the time and in all places too. It could be in the office, school or at a local pub. We may not mean to eavesdrop but we hear things we don’t intend to know. What do we do with the piece of information we unwillingly learned?

Let’s hear more about this expression in this audio.

http://www.idioms4you.com/complete-idioms/get-wind-of.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What does “get wind of something”mean? What situation was mentioned in the audio?
  2. Have you been in a similar situation? What was it about?
  3. Are you good at keeping secrets?
  4. How likely are you going to react when you get wind of an important information?

Shoot Yourself In the Foot

B1 – Intermediate

Some people try hard to be cautious with their words and deeds in order for things to go as planned. No matter how careful we are there are still some moments when we unwittingly make a situation worse for us.

Let’s listen to the audio about the expression “shoot one’s self in the foot”.

http://www.idioms4you.com/complete-idioms/shoot-yourself-in-the-foot.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What does the idiom “shoot yourself in the foot” mean? Do you have a similar expression in your language?
  2. Have you ever shot yourself in the foot? What happened? What did you do to get out of that situation?
  3. What can you do when you ‘shot yourself in the foot’?

Lost Cause

B1 – Intermediate

People always say to never surrender but sometimes there is no reason to try anymore. There are certain things that we need to give up and move on from.

Let us hear more about it in the video.

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/english-in-a-minute-lost-cause/6007555.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What does the idiom “lost cause” mean?
  2. Have you ever given up on something or someone?
  3. What are the signs that says you need to move on?
  4. How do you move forward after a lost cause?
  5. What are the things that you never back down from?