Have a heart of stone

Meaning:

• If you have a heart of stone, you are cold, unfriendly and/or cruel having no sympathy for people.

Example sentence:

She was never willing to help us when we needed her. She never smiled and she was somewhat cruel to everyone around her. However, although she had a heart of stone, it wasn't her fault.


Questions for you to answer:

1. What adjectives would you ascribe to someone who has a heart of stone?
2. Could you think of an idiom with the opposite meaning? 
3. Why do you think people have a heart of stone? 

Carry the ball

Meaning:

• If you carry the ball, you take control of an activity and do what is needed to get a piece of work done. You are considered reliable enough to make sure that a job gets done.

Example sentence: 

I'm afraid Jane can't carry the ball for us. She's too reckless and disorganized. We need someone who knows how to get the job done. 

Questions for you to answer: 

1. Are you the one who always carries the ball in a team? 
2. Who carries the ball in your family?
3. Have you recently met anyone who definitely couldn't carry the ball? Why?
4. What adjectives would you ascribe to someone who always carries the ball? 

Go by the Book

Meaning:

• If you do something by the book, you do it exactly as the rules tell you.

Example sentence:

Your reputation will be discredited if you don't go by the book. If I were you, I'd follow the rules strictly.

Questions for you to answer:

1. Do you always go by the book, or do you sometimes break the rules? 
2. In which situations do you think it's necessary to go by the book? 
3. When did you last regret not going by the book? 
4. What do you think is the origin of the idiom? What 'book' does it probably refer to? 

A step in the right direction

Meaning:

• An action or move that is expected to bring good results.

Example sentence:

Now you have no doubts that hiring him was a step in the right direction, right? You see, he's already brought us some new clients.


Questions for you to answer:

1. Can you remember an action that you doubted at first but that finally turned out to be a step in the right direction?
2. What usually indicates that something might NOT be a step in the right direction?
3. What do you do when something has turned out not to be a step in the right direction?
4. How would you describe a person who always takes a step in the right direction?

There's no smoke without fire

 

Meaning:

• If unpleasant things are said about something or someone, there's probably a reason for it.

Example sentence:

He claims he didn't steal the money but the truth is that there's no smoke without fire. Plus he had already done some nasty things before.



Questions for you to answer:

1. Do you agree with the saying or do you believe in the presumption of innocence (one is considered innocent until proven guilty)?
2. Can you think of situations based on your own experience when the saying proved wrong?
3. Do you think that this particular mental pattern (thinking that there's no smoke without fire) can be destructive? If yes, how?

Knock on wood

Meaning:

• You knock (on) wood when saying something positive or affirmative about someone or something and not wanting that to change.
• You knock on wood when you wish something were true.

Example sentence:

It seems I'm finally going to pass all my exams - knock on wood.


Questions for you to answer:

1. Are you superstitious?
2. Why do you think people touch/knock on wood when they wish something were true? Why not some other kind of material, such as glass, plastic, fabric, etc.?
3. Do you sometimes knock on wood or have you ever seen anybody do so for superstitious reasons?

Leave the field clear for somebody

Meaning:

• If you leave the field clear for somebody, you stop competing with them. This, in consequence, gives them a better chance to succeed.

Example sentence:

I realized it was time to stop competing with Alice. She had always been much better than me so I decided to leave the field clear for her so that she could become the manager.


Questions for you to answer:

1. When did you last think it'd be better to leave the field clear for somebody?
2. In what situations do you think it's better to leave the field clear for somebody? When, on the other hand, is it wise not to?
3. What character features does a person have to have to be able to leave the field clear for somebody easily?
4. How would you characterize somebody who is never willing to clear the field?

Race against time

Meaning:

• If something is a race against time, it is a rush to beat a deadline.
• If you race against time, you hurry to beat a deadline.

Example sentence:

Don't disturb me tonight. I'm in a race against time to finish my project before the deadline.


Questions for you to answer:

1. When did you last have to race against time? Did you finally make it?
2. How do you feel when you are in a race against time? Give as many adjectives as possible.
3. What advice would you give to someone who doesn't want to be in a race against time?
4. In what situations do you usually race against time?

Weed something out

Meaning: 

When you weed something/someone unwanted or undesirable out, you get rid of them. You remove someone or something unwanted or undesirable from a group or collection.

Example sentence:

We must do our best to weed out this kind of immoral behaviour. It can't be tolerated in modern society any more.

Questions for you to answer:

1.      What do you think needs to be weeded out from modern society?

2.      What kind of misbehaviour should be weeded out from schools?

3.      Why do people want to get rid of weed?

4.      Try to come up with as many synonyms for weed out as possible.

Rotten apple spoils the barrel

Meaning:

• A bad person influences everyone he or she comes into contact with, making them bad too.

Example sentence:

This boy is the rotten apple that spoils the barrel. He doesn't do his homework and skips a lot of classes. The other kids think it's all right. Of course, they tend to do the same.


Questions for you to answer:

1. Do you know anyone who is considered the rotten apple that spoils the barrel?
2. What adjectives would you use to describe such a person?
3. In what situations is such a person dangerous?
4. Can you think of situations when a rebellious person can be helpful and beneficial?

Come on in, the water's fine!

Meaning:

• This expression is used to tell someone that an activity is safe, enjoyable, profitable, etc., and to encourage them to participate. It is a way of encouraging someone to begin something.

Example sentence:

I'm sure you'll like it. Don't be afraid. Come on in, the water's fine.


Questions for you to answer:

1. In what situations would you use this idiom?
2. What do you think is the literal meaning of this idiom?
3. Look at the picture. Which boy is saying: Come on in, the water's fine!?
4. What are some other ways of encouraging somebody to participate in something?

Room to swing a cat

Meaning:

• If there is not room to swing a cat in a place, that place is very small.

Example sentence:

Oh dear! This flat is so tiny. There's not enough room to swing a cat! Where will we put all our furniture?



Questions for you to answer:

1. Have you lived in a place where there was not enough room to swing a cat?
2. How do you feel in places where there's not enough room to swing a cat?
3. Would you prefer a tiny place just for yourself to a spacious place that you had to share with your flatmate?

Show one's teeth

 Meaning:

• To act in an angry or threatening manner, to show that you are angry and prepared to defend yourself

Example sentence:

I'm a very calm person but I really had to show my teeth when Martin offended my girlfriend.



Questions for you to answer:

1. Do you often tend to show your teeth? In what situations?
2. How would you describe someone who often shows their teeth?
3. What should one do not to make other people show their teeth?
4. When did you last show your teeth? Why was it and what did you do?
5. What do you think this idiom alludes to?

To learn a/your lesson

Meaning:

• To understand something or learn something useful about life because of an unpleasant experience.

Example sentence:

Did you like our summer job? - Oh, no! I didn't. It was boring and hard work. But I learned a lesson; now I know that it's not easy to earn money and I am grateful to my parents they support me while I study.


Questions for you to answer:

1. Do you think people should go through unpleasant experience and failures? Why/not?
2. When did you last learn a/your lesson?
3. Do you remember a situation when you taught somebody a lesson?

Time to call it a night.

Meaning:

• It's time to quit one's activities for the night.

Example sentence:

Ok guys, it's almost midnight and I'm getting up at five tomorrow. I guess it's time to call it a night and go home.


Questions for you to answer:

1. When you are at a party, at what time do you usually say It's time to call it a night?
2. Do you know people who never say It's time to call it a night and never want to stop partying?
3. Are you an early bird or a night owl?
4. When do you think it's time to call it a night for a 16-year-old teenager? (on school days and at weekends)

Sell somebody on something

Meaning:

• To persuade someone to buy something or give support to an idea.

Example sentence:

You don't need to sell me on the idea that we need a new computer because I know we don't. We bought two laptops last month.


Questions for you to answer:

1. Have you ever been completely sold on an idea?
2. In what professions must people be good at selling others on various ideas?
3. Can you resist when somebody is trying to sell you on an idea?

Crash the gate

Meaning:

• Gain admittance, for example to a party or concert, without being invited or without buying the tickets. 

Example sentence:

I didn't have the tickets for the Rolling Stones concert but I managed to crash the gate and got inside.


Questions for you to answer:

1. Have you ever crashed the gate and got to a concert without paying?
2. Has anyone ever managed to crash the gate and got to a party of yours without being invited?
3. Have you ever been prevented from crashing the gate?

Music to my ears

Meaning:

• This is something pleasing to hear about, a welcome sound to someone; news that someone is pleased to hear.

Example sentence:

Hearing about my son's latest success was music to my ears.


Questions for you to answer:

1. Can you think of a piece of news you recently heard that was music to your ears?
2. What kind of information is generally music to your ears?
3. What kind of music is your favourite?

Be full of beans

 Meaning:

• A person who's full of beans is energetic, vigorously active, and vital.

Example sentence:

I've never seen him tired or bored. He's always full of beans even though he's nearly 80. I don't know how he does it!


Questions for you to answer:

1. When are you usually full of beans?
2. Can you think of a person who's always full of beans?
3. Why do you think small children are always full of beans?
4. How does this idiom refer to be as fresh as a daisy?

Have green fingers

 Meaning:

• If you have green fingers (or a green thumb) you are very good at gardening and looking after flowers and plants, you are good at keeping plants healthy and making them grow.

Example sentence:

I don't know how my mother does it; her garden always looks beautiful and her plants are just gorgeous - unlike me, she must have green fingers.


Questions for you to answer:

1. Would you say you have green fingers?
2. Do you know anybody who has green fingers?
3. Do you believe that people are born with green fingers or that you can learn how to look after plants and your garden?
4. What does 'green' refer to in this idiom?