ESL Vocabulary: Idioms, 20 High-Frequency Idioms, Piece of Cake, Break the Ice

What It Is

Idioms are fixed expressions with a non-literal meaning. They can be tricky for ESL learners because they often use words in a different way than their usual meanings. For example, "It's raining cats and dogs" doesn't mean it's actually raining cats and dogs, but rather that it's raining very heavily.

Key Rules

• Idioms are phrases with a non-literal meaning.
• Idioms often use words in a different way than their usual meanings.
• Idioms can be used to add flavor and interest to language.
• Idioms can be used to express emotions or opinions.
• Idioms can be used to describe situations or events.
• Idioms are often used in informal language.
• Idioms can be culturally specific.
• Idioms can be used to create humor or irony.
• Idioms can be used to express sarcasm.
• Idioms can be used to describe food or drink.
• Idioms can be used to describe weather.
• Idioms can be used to describe emotions or feelings.
• Idioms can be used to describe actions or activities.
• Idioms can be used to describe people or places.
• Idioms can be used to describe things or objects.
• Idioms can be used to describe time or schedules.

Common ESL Errors

• Error: "I'm feeling very happy today." Why it happens: Learners may use the literal meaning of the word "happy" instead of the idiomatic expression "in a good mood." Correction: "I'm in a good mood today." (Idiomatic expressions can convey emotions or feelings in a more nuanced way.)
• Error: "The weather is very beautiful today." Why it happens: Learners may use the literal meaning of the word "beautiful" instead of the idiomatic expression "sunny." Correction: "The weather is sunny today." (Idiomatic expressions can convey weather conditions in a more vivid way.)
• Error: "I'm feeling very tired after the party." Why it happens: Learners may use the literal meaning of the word "tired" instead of the idiomatic expression "exhausted." Correction: "I'm exhausted after the party." (Idiomatic expressions can convey emotions or feelings in a more intense way.)

Practice Exercises

1. Fill in the blank: "The new employee was nervous on her first day, but she ____ (break) the ice with her colleagues." Answer: broke Reason: The idiomatic expression "break the ice" means to relax and become more comfortable in a social situation.
2. Fill in the blank: "The cake was a piece of ____ (cake) to eat." Answer: cake Reason: The idiomatic expression "piece of cake" means something that is easy to do.
3. Fill in the blank: "The weather forecast said it would rain cats and dogs, so I ____ (bring) an umbrella." Answer: brought Reason: The idiomatic expression "rain cats and dogs" means to rain very heavily.

Last-Minute Revision

• Irregular verb: go (went, gone)
• Preposition pair: in / on (e.g. "I'm in the mood for pizza" vs. "I'm on a diet")
• Article: a / an (e.g. "a cat" vs. "an apple")
• Pronunciation nuance: th (e.g. "this" vs. "that")
• Idiomatic expression: kick the bucket (to die)
• Idiomatic expression: bend over backwards (to go out of one's way to help someone)
• Idiomatic expression: burn the midnight oil (to work late into the night)
• Idiomatic expression: cut to the chase (to get to the point)
• Idiomatic expression: give someone the cold shoulder (to ignore or show indifference to someone)
• Idiomatic expression: in a nutshell (to summarize or describe something briefly)
• Idiomatic expression: let sleeping dogs lie (to leave something alone and not make a fuss about it)
• Idiomatic expression: make a mountain out of a molehill (to exaggerate or make something seem more important than it is)
• Idiomatic expression: on the same page (to be in agreement or have a shared understanding)
• Idiomatic expression: pull out all the stops (to do something with great effort or enthusiasm)
• Idiomatic expression: take it with a grain of salt (to be skeptical or cautious)
• Idiomatic expression: the pot calling the kettle black (to accuse someone of something that you yourself are guilty of)
• Idiomatic expression: when in Rome (to do as the locals do and follow their customs)