Level 09 – Step 07 : Idioms (That explanation makes sense now. He told a joke to break the ice.)
/Level 09 – Step 07 : Idioms (That explanation makes sense now. He told a joke to break the ice.)
🚪 Let’s Begin
/🚪 Let’s Begin
🦉Professor Owl: Today we will learn idioms — short phrases that mean more than their words.
/🦉Professor Owl: Today we will learn idioms — short phrases that mean more than their words.
🐧Igupen: Like “break the ice”? It sounds like breaking real ice, but it means something else.
/🐧Igupen: Like “break the ice”? It sounds like breaking real ice, but it means something else.
🦉Professor Owl: Ho ho. Right.
/🦉Professor Owl: Ho ho. Right.
Idioms are like small treasures: familiar to native speakers, but tricky at first.
/Idioms are like small treasures: familiar to native speakers, but tricky at first.
We’ll look at common idioms, their meanings, and easy examples.
/We’ll look at common idioms, their meanings, and easy examples.
Try to notice them in conversations and stories.
/Try to notice them in conversations and stories.
📚 Lesson
/📚 Lesson
What are idioms?
/What are idioms?
Idioms are phrases whose meanings are not exactly the same as the meanings of the words inside them.
/Idioms are phrases whose meanings are not exactly the same as the meanings of the words inside them.
Idioms make language colorful and natural.
/Idioms make language colorful and natural.
Native speakers use them a lot in everyday talk.
/Native speakers use them a lot in everyday talk.
You don’t always translate idioms word-by-word.
/You don’t always translate idioms word-by-word.
Learn the whole phrase and its meaning.
/Learn the whole phrase and its meaning.
Common idioms for learners (simple meanings)
/Common idioms for learners (simple meanings)
1. makes sense — the idea is clear and easy to understand.
/1. makes sense — the idea is clear and easy to understand.
Example: That explanation makes sense now.
/Example: That explanation makes sense now.
2. break the ice — do something to make people feel relaxed at the start.
/2. break the ice — do something to make people feel relaxed at the start.
Example: He told a joke to break the ice.
/Example: He told a joke to break the ice.
3. a piece of cake — very easy.
/3. a piece of cake — very easy.
4. hit the books — study hard.
/4. hit the books — study hard.
5. under the weather — feel sick or not well.
/5. under the weather — feel sick or not well.
6. spill the beans — reveal a secret.
/6. spill the beans — reveal a secret.
7. hit the road — leave or start a journey.
/7. hit the road — leave or start a journey.
8. beat around the bush — avoid saying something directly.
/8. beat around the bush — avoid saying something directly.
9. once in a blue moon — very rarely.
/9. once in a blue moon — very rarely.
10. call it a day — stop working for now.
/10. call it a day — stop working for now.
How to learn idioms
/How to learn idioms
Learn idioms with an example sentence.
/Learn idioms with an example sentence.
Practice by using them in short, true sentences about your life.
/Practice by using them in short, true sentences about your life.
Remember: idioms often sound informal, so use them in conversations, not always in formal writing.
/Remember: idioms often sound informal, so use them in conversations, not always in formal writing.
🦉Professor Owl’s one-point tip
/🦉Professor Owl’s one-point tip
Think of idioms as single vocabulary words — learn the whole phrase and its meaning, not each word one by one.
/Think of idioms as single vocabulary words — learn the whole phrase and its meaning, not each word one by one.
Quick checks inside the lesson
/Quick checks inside the lesson
Does “a piece of cake” mean a real cake? No — it means something easy.
/Does “a piece of cake” mean a real cake? No — it means something easy.
If someone is “under the weather,” should you offer sympathy? Yes — they may feel sick.
/If someone is “under the weather,” should you offer sympathy? Yes — they may feel sick.
🌼 Sample Sentences
/🌼 Sample Sentences
No.01 That explanation makes sense now.
/No.01 That explanation makes sense now.
No.02 He told a joke to break the ice.
/No.02 He told a joke to break the ice.
No.03 The homework was a piece of cake for Maria.
/No.03 The homework was a piece of cake for Maria.
No.04 I need to hit the books this weekend for the test.
/No.04 I need to hit the books this weekend for the test.
No.05 I’m feeling a bit under the weather today.
/No.05 I’m feeling a bit under the weather today.
No.06 Don’t spill the beans about the surprise party.
/No.06 Don’t spill the beans about the surprise party.
No.07 If we leave now, we can hit the road by noon.
/No.07 If we leave now, we can hit the road by noon.
No.08 Stop beating around the bush and tell me the plan.
/No.08 Stop beating around the bush and tell me the plan.
No.09 I see my cousins once in a blue moon.
/No.09 I see my cousins once in a blue moon.
No.10 Let’s call it a day and finish the rest tomorrow.
/No.10 Let’s call it a day and finish the rest tomorrow.
🎓 Practice exercises
/🎓 Practice exercises
Note: Think first, then check the answers.
/Note: Think first, then check the answers.
Q1: Match the idiom to the meaning: Which idiom means “very easy”? A) hit the books B) a piece of cake C) call it a day
/Q1: Match the idiom to the meaning: Which idiom means “very easy”? A) hit the books B) a piece of cake C) call it a day
Q2: Fill in the blank with the correct idiom: “When I feel sick, I say I am _____.”
/Q2: Fill in the blank with the correct idiom: “When I feel sick, I say I am _____.”
Q3: Rewrite as an idiom sentence: “She studies hard before exams.” (use “hit the books”)
/Q3: Rewrite as an idiom sentence: “She studies hard before exams.” (use “hit the books”)
Q4: Choose the correct idiom: “He told a short story to _____ when everyone felt nervous.” A) hit the road B) break the ice C) spill the beans
/Q4: Choose the correct idiom: “He told a short story to _____ when everyone felt nervous.” A) hit the road B) break the ice C) spill the beans
Q5: True or False: “Spill the beans” means to keep a secret.
/Q5: True or False: “Spill the beans” means to keep a secret.
Q6: Fill in the blank: “We only visit my grandparents _____.” (use “once in a blue moon”)
/Q6: Fill in the blank: “We only visit my grandparents _____.” (use “once in a blue moon”)
Q7: Rewrite using an idiom: “Don’t avoid the question; tell me directly.” (use “beat around the bush”)
/Q7: Rewrite using an idiom: “Don’t avoid the question; tell me directly.” (use “beat around the bush”)
Q8: Multiple choice: Which phrase means “stop working for the rest of the day”? A) make sense B) call it a day C) under the weather
/Q8: Multiple choice: Which phrase means “stop working for the rest of the day”? A) make sense B) call it a day C) under the weather
Q9: Fill in the blank: “After the long drive, we decided to _____ and sleep.” (use “call it a day”)
/Q9: Fill in the blank: “After the long drive, we decided to _____ and sleep.” (use “call it a day”)
Q10: Choose the sentence that correctly uses the idiom “spill the beans”: A) Please don’t spill the beans about her exam scores; it’s private. B) I spilled the beans on the floor; now the beans are dirty.
/Q10: Choose the sentence that correctly uses the idiom “spill the beans”: A) Please don’t spill the beans about her exam scores; it’s private. B) I spilled the beans on the floor; now the beans are dirty.
◆ Answers
/◆ Answers
A1: B
/A1: B
A2: under the weather
/A2: under the weather
A3: She hit the books before the exams.
/A3: She hit the books before the exams.
A4: B
/A4: B
A5: False — it means to reveal a secret.
/A5: False — it means to reveal a secret.
A6: once in a blue moon
/A6: once in a blue moon
A7: Don’t beat around the bush; tell me directly.
/A7: Don’t beat around the bush; tell me directly.
A8: B
/A8: B
A9: call it a day
/A9: call it a day
A10: A
/A10: A
🦉 Closing
/🦉 Closing
🦉Professor Owl: Great listening.
/🦉Professor Owl: Great listening.
Idioms can feel strange at first, but they add life to conversations.
/Idioms can feel strange at first, but they add life to conversations.
Use one or two idioms this week.
/Use one or two idioms this week.
🐧Igupen: I’ll try “break the ice” and “a piece of cake” when I speak with friends.
/🐧Igupen: I’ll try “break the ice” and “a piece of cake” when I speak with friends.
🦉Professor Owl: That’s perfect.
/🦉Professor Owl: That’s perfect.
Keep a small list of idioms you like, and add one new idiom every few days.
/Keep a small list of idioms you like, and add one new idiom every few days.
You’re doing wonderfully — enjoy learning these language treasures.
/You’re doing wonderfully — enjoy learning these language treasures.
