🟦 Introduction

Hi super-learner! 👋
Have you heard someone say, “It’s raining cats and dogs”?
They didn’t mean real cats and dogs — they meant it’s raining heavily! 🌧️

This is called an idiomatic expression.

In today’s lesson, you’ll learn:

• What idioms are

• Why we use them

• Some common idioms for everyday English

• How to understand and use them correctly

Let’s unlock the world of colorful expressions! 🎨

🟩 Key Concepts and Explanations

1. What is an Idiomatic Expression?

An idiomatic expression is a group of words that means something different from the literal meaning of the individual words.

✅ You cannot understand an idiom just by translating it word-for-word.

Examples:

• “Break the ice” → to start a conversation in a friendly way (not breaking real ice!)

• “Under the weather” → feeling sick (not literally under clouds!)

🎯 Tip:
Idioms make language richer, more fun, and more expressive!

2. Why Do We Use Idioms?

• To express ideas more creatively.

• To make conversations more interesting.

• To sound natural and fluent like native speakers.

3. Common Idiomatic Expressions You Should Know

4. Types of Idioms by Meaning

🟩 Special Notes

a. Important Tips for Using Idioms

🟨 Sample Problem Walkthroughs

Walkthrough 1:

Meaning Check:
“After studying all night, the exam was a piece of cake.”

• Step 1: Find the idiom: “piece of cake”

• Step 2: Recall meaning: very easy

✅ Answer: The exam was very easy.

Walkthrough 2:

Meaning Check:
“When she revealed the secret, she really spilled the beans.”

• Step 1: Find the idiom: “spilled the beans”

• Step 2: Recall meaning: revealed a secret

✅ Answer: She revealed the secret.

🟨 Practice Exercises

✏️ Exercise A: Match the Idiom to Its Meaning

✏️ Exercise B: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences using the correct idiom:

1. I didn’t expect the trip to ___________; it was really expensive.

2. Kwame was feeling ___________ and stayed home.

3. It’s ___________ outside! Don’t forget your umbrella.

4. Sarah made a joke to ___________ at the party.

✏️ Exercise C: Create Your Own Sentences

Use these idioms in your own sentences:

• once in a blue moon

• hit the nail on the head

• spill the beans

✅ Answers and Explanations

Exercise A:

• 1 → B (cost an arm and a leg = very expensive)

• 2 → A (break the ice = start conversation)

• 3 → C (raining cats and dogs = raining heavily)

• 4 → D (under the weather = feeling sick)

Exercise B:

1. cost an arm and a leg

2. under the weather

3. raining cats and dogs

4. break the ice

Exercise C: (Sample answers)

• He visits us once in a blue moon.

• You hit the nail on the head with your answer!

• She spilled the beans about the surprise.

🔁 Recap

Today you learned:

• Idiomatic expressions are groups of words with special meanings.

• You can’t guess an idiom by translating word-by-word.

• Common idioms help you sound more fluent and natural.

• Practice makes you better at using idioms correctly!

👉 Key Tip:
Learn idioms one by one in full sentences and practice speaking with them!

🪞Reflection Prompt

Pick any two idioms from today’s lesson.

• Write a short paragraph using both in a natural way.

🌟 Example:
“Yesterday, it was raining cats and dogs, so I stayed indoors. I used the chance to spill the beans about my secret project to my best friend.”