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I can understand idioms in written EnglishIdioms and Phrasal Verbs forms part of the Oxford Word Skills vocabulary series, which helps students learn, practise and revise everyday English words and phrases. In this lesson students learn idioms useful for understanding written English.

Lesson Length 30 mins Aim 1. to present and practise some common written idioms 2. to encourage discussion around and raise awareness of idioms in written English. Preparation You will need a copy of the following worksheet for each student: Activity worksheet: Idioms in written English (from Idioms and Phrasal Verbs page 140)

cut into three parts as shown.

1 LEAD-IN ❚ Write this definition (from the Oxford Learner’s Advanced Dictionary) on the board, or read it aloud to

the students:a group of words whose meaning is different from the meanings of the individual words e.g. ‘let the cat out of the bag’

Which word is it defining? (idiom)

What does ‘let the cat out of the bag’ mean? (to tell a secret by mistake)

❚ Higher-level learners should be familiar with the concept of idioms in English, and will probably know a few, although they might not use them productively. It is, however, very useful for students to recognise them when they encounter them in spoken or written English.

❚ Ask them for examples of idioms in their own language. Can they translate them into English? Do they know the history of any of the idioms?

2 PAIRWORK READING ACTIVITY ❚ This lesson focuses on written idioms used in a variety of text types. Hand out part A of the worksheet

and ask the students to read the different texts. In pairs, can they work out where or in what context they might read texts such as these? For example, text 1 might be from a classified advert in a newspaper. Give them five minute to discuss, then go through their suggestions as a class.

SUGGESTED ANSWERS 1 newspaper classified advert 2 newspaper job section 3 notice in a public place such as a railway station; private property such as an industrial estate 4 estate agent’s window or estate agent’s advert for properties for sale in a newspaper 5 insurance policy 6 a shop 7 a restaurant or café 8 a formal letter 9 a letter of reference

❚ Focus on the phrases in bold (the idioms). In their pairs, can the students work out their meanings? Get them to write definitions for each idiom.

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3 GROUP ACTIVITY ❚ When they’ve finished, ask the pairs to make groups of four and discuss the idioms. As a group, get

them to decide on one definition for each idiom.

❚ Hand out part B of the worksheet. Were any of their definitions correct? Go through them as class and answer any questions the students might have.

4 REVIEW ACTIVITY ❚ Tell the students to put the glossary somewhere they can’t see it (they should not refer to it for the

following two exercises). Hand out part C of the worksheet. Tell the students to complete the first exercise individually. Give them a few minutes for this, then go through the answers as a class.

ANSWERS 1 event 2 right 3 production 4 bounds 5 For 6 convenience 7 under 8 discretion

❚ Ask the students to work in pairs to answer exercise 2. Go through the answers as a class.

ANSWERS 1 or nearest offer 2 Usually a flat or a house, and it means someone has agreed to buy it. 3 Job advertisements. 4 A personal reference or a public notice. 5 giving a tip. 6 on the back of a lorry, van, car, etc.

HOMEWORK ❚ Tell the students to revise the new idioms from the lesson.

EXTRA HELP ❚ Do your students need more practice with idioms? Direct them to Oxford Word Skills Idioms

and Phrasal Verbs Advanced.

❚ Would your students like to know more about the history of English idioms? Direct them to the worksheets for Oxford Word Skills Idioms and Phrasal Verbs Advanced on the website www.oup.com/elt/wordskills.

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FOR SALE £1500 o.n.o.Situations VacantThis area is strictly out of boundsLyncombe Road, 3-bed house, UNDER OFFER

The policyholder must notify us in the event of any change in occupancy. Upon receipt of this notice we reserve the right to amend the terms and conditions of this insurance.

Students will only receive a discount on production of a valid ID card.

There is no service charge and tipping is at your discretion.

We look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.

To whom it may concern I have known Margaret Bond for over ten years, and in that time she …

Styles of language140

Glossary

for sale available for sb to buy; o.n.o./ono = or nearest offer.situations vacant the title of a section in a newspaper where jobs are advertised.out of bounds If a place is out of bounds, you are not allowed to go there.under offer If a house is under offer, sb has agreed to buy it.in the event of sth = if sth happens.reserve the right to do sth = make use of a formal right to do sth if necessary.on production of sth when you show sth.at sb’s discretion according to what sb decides or wishes to do.at your earliest convenience fml = at the earliest suitable time for you.To whom it may concern fml used at the beginning of a notice or document (e.g. a personal reference)

when it is not addressed to a particular person.keep your distance make sure you are not too near sb/sth.

1 Complete the sentences.1 Please notify your local authority in the of any change in your circumstances.2 The management reserves the to refuse admission.3 Passengers will only be allowed on the platform on of a valid ticket.4 You can’t go in there. The sign clearly says ‘out of ’.5 sale: 2008 Ford Mondeo, in excellent condition. £4,000 ono. 6 We look forward to hearing from you at your earliest .7 I believe the apartment for sale is now offer.8 Bail is granted at the of the court.

2 Cover the glossary and answer the questions.1 What does ‘o.n.o.’ mean? 2 What might be ‘under offer’, and what does it mean? 3 What kind of thing would you find under ‘situations vacant’? 4 What would you find written under ‘to whom it may concern’? 5 What might be ‘at your discretion’ in a café or restaurant? 6 Where would you see a ‘keep your distance’ sign?

54 I can understand idioms in written English

4620130 IPV Adv.indb 140 22/11/2010 9:57am

FOR SALE £1500 o.n.o.Situations VacantThis area is strictly out of boundsLyncombe Road, 3-bed house, UNDER OFFER

The policyholder must notify us in the event of any change in occupancy. Upon receipt of this notice we reserve the right to amend the terms and conditions of this insurance.

Students will only receive a discount on production of a valid ID card.

There is no service charge and tipping is at your discretion.

We look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.

To whom it may concern I have known Margaret Bond for over ten years, and in that time she …

Styles of language140

Glossary

for sale available for sb to buy; o.n.o./ono = or nearest offer.situations vacant the title of a section in a newspaper where jobs are advertised.out of bounds If a place is out of bounds, you are not allowed to go there.under offer If a house is under offer, sb has agreed to buy it.in the event of sth = if sth happens.reserve the right to do sth = make use of a formal right to do sth if necessary.on production of sth when you show sth.at sb’s discretion according to what sb decides or wishes to do.at your earliest convenience fml = at the earliest suitable time for you.To whom it may concern fml used at the beginning of a notice or document (e.g. a personal reference)

when it is not addressed to a particular person.keep your distance make sure you are not too near sb/sth.

1 Complete the sentences.1 Please notify your local authority in the of any change in your circumstances.2 The management reserves the to refuse admission.3 Passengers will only be allowed on the platform on of a valid ticket.4 You can’t go in there. The sign clearly says ‘out of ’.5 sale: 2008 Ford Mondeo, in excellent condition. £4,000 ono. 6 We look forward to hearing from you at your earliest .7 I believe the apartment for sale is now offer.8 Bail is granted at the of the court.

2 Cover the glossary and answer the questions.1 What does ‘o.n.o.’ mean? 2 What might be ‘under offer’, and what does it mean? 3 What kind of thing would you find under ‘situations vacant’? 4 What would you find written under ‘to whom it may concern’? 5 What might be ‘at your discretion’ in a café or restaurant? 6 Where would you see a ‘keep your distance’ sign?

54 I can understand idioms in written English

4620130 IPV Adv.indb 140 22/11/2010 9:57am

FOR SALE £1500 o.n.o.Situations VacantThis area is strictly out of boundsLyncombe Road, 3-bed house, UNDER OFFER

The policyholder must notify us in the event of any change in occupancy. Upon receipt of this notice we reserve the right to amend the terms and conditions of this insurance.

Students will only receive a discount on production of a valid ID card.

There is no service charge and tipping is at your discretion.

We look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.

To whom it may concern I have known Margaret Bond for over ten years, and in that time she …

Styles of language140

Glossary

for sale available for sb to buy; o.n.o./ono = or nearest offer.situations vacant the title of a section in a newspaper where jobs are advertised.out of bounds If a place is out of bounds, you are not allowed to go there.under offer If a house is under offer, sb has agreed to buy it.in the event of sth = if sth happens.reserve the right to do sth = make use of a formal right to do sth if necessary.on production of sth when you show sth.at sb’s discretion according to what sb decides or wishes to do.at your earliest convenience fml = at the earliest suitable time for you.To whom it may concern fml used at the beginning of a notice or document (e.g. a personal reference)

when it is not addressed to a particular person.keep your distance make sure you are not too near sb/sth.

1 Complete the sentences.1 Please notify your local authority in the of any change in your circumstances.2 The management reserves the to refuse admission.3 Passengers will only be allowed on the platform on of a valid ticket.4 You can’t go in there. The sign clearly says ‘out of ’.5 sale: 2008 Ford Mondeo, in excellent condition. £4,000 ono. 6 We look forward to hearing from you at your earliest .7 I believe the apartment for sale is now offer.8 Bail is granted at the of the court.

2 Cover the glossary and answer the questions.1 What does ‘o.n.o.’ mean? 2 What might be ‘under offer’, and what does it mean? 3 What kind of thing would you find under ‘situations vacant’? 4 What would you find written under ‘to whom it may concern’? 5 What might be ‘at your discretion’ in a café or restaurant? 6 Where would you see a ‘keep your distance’ sign?

54 I can understand idioms in written English

4620130 IPV Adv.indb 140 22/11/2010 9:57am

Activity worksheet: Idioms in written English

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