Idioms That Use Animal Vocabulary - Free ESL Lesson Plan Download

Idioms that use animal vocabulary: Animal idioms are tricky. Your student probably feels like a fish out of water, so kill two birds with one stone – teach them about animal idioms in their English class!

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1. ID4 – Idioms that use animal vocabulary Off2Class lesson plan ESL Lesson Plan © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc.
2. Thank you for downloading your FREE Off2Class lesson plan! This teacher-led lesson plan is designed using the communicative approach - perfect for teaching students online or in any screen-enabled classroom. To access the Teacher Notes and Answer Key, or to assign homework, click here to set up your FREE Off2class account. Don’t forget to join the discussion on Facebook to get access to other great tools for online ESL instruction. © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc.
3. A. I can’t believe that she let the cat out of the bag. It was supposed to be a surprise. B. Mary studied while riding the bicycle at the gym. She was killing two birds with one stone. Guess the meaning of the idiom from the context of the sentence © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc. 3
4. A. He felt like a fish out of water at the fancy restaurant because he wasn’t used to eating such expensive food. B. I wish I could be a fly on the wall in that room. I’m so curious to hear what they are saying. Guess the meaning of the idiom from the context of the sentence © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc. 4
5. A Use an idiom to make a sentence fish out of water let the cat out of the bag fly on the wall kill two birds with one stone B C D © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc. 5
6. To feel like a fish out of water… …means to feel uncomfortable, or outside of one’s comfort zone. Have you ever felt like a fish out of water? © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc. 6
7. Match the idiom with its meaning monkey see, monkey do rat race to completely stop a habit all of a sudden a way of life in which people are in an endless competitive struggle for wealth or power cold turkey learning a process without understanding why it works © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc. 7
8. A rat race is a way of life… …in which people are in an endless competitive struggle for wealth or power. A person in a rat race feels like he/she is working hard, but going nowhere. For example: Working in finance can be a real rat race. Have you ever felt like you were in a rat race? © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc. 8
9. Match the image with the sentence below He quit cold turkey. He got caught up in the rat race and forgot what is truly important. Monkey see, monkey do. A B C © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc. 9
10. the elephant in the room… The elephant in the room is an issue that everyone is aware of, but nobody wants to talk about: For example: The fact that his brother spent a few years in jail was the elephant in the room at every family gathering. Have you ever experienced an elephant in the room? © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc. 10
11. Sometimes we can use animals in reference to people For example: we can say that someone is a chicken if that person is afraid of something. To chicken out means to become too nervous or scared to do something that you were planning to do. Are you a chicken? © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc. 11
12. Sometimes we can use animals in reference to people We can say that someone is a rat if he/she is a sneaky person who informs others of another person’s wrongdoings. To rat someone out means to inform authorities about someone (to tell on someone). We can also say that we smell a rat when we suspect that someone is trying to deceive us. Do you know someone who is a rat? © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc. 12
13. Complete the idiom with the correct animal slow like a… work like a… hawk watch like a… dog snail fly wouldn’t hurt a… What do you think the idioms mean? © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc. 13
14. If you’re slow like a snail, it takes you a long time to do anything. Idioms using animals To watch like a hawk means to watch something or someone very closely. Do you know anyone who is slow like a snail? © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc. 14
15. To work like a dog means to work very hard. Idioms using animals If someone wouldn’t hurt a fly, it means that they are harmless. Do you work like a dog? Do you know someone who wouldn’t hurt a fly? © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc. 15
16. A night owl is a term used to describe a person who is most active at night. Idioms using animals An early bird is a term used to describe a person who is most active in the morning. Are you an early bird or a night owl? © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc. 16
17. 1. I can’t believe that she let the _____ out of the bag. I really trusted her! 2. While we’re in town for the party, we should stop at the post office. We’ll kill two _____ with one stone. 3. He felt like a ______ out of water at his new job. 4. She was a _______ on the wall; nobody even noticed that she was listening. Complete the idiom with an animal bird fly cat fish © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc. 17
18. 5. He stopped eating sugar cold ______. 6. His older brother started smoking, so he started too. _______ see, _______ do. 7. I’m sick of the ______ race. I need to enjoy life! 8. Nobody would talk about the _______ in the room. Complete the idiom with an animal monkey elephant turkey rat © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc. 18
19. 9. It was a hard week. I worked like a _______. I can’t wait to go home and relax. 10. Hurry up. You take so long. You’re slow like a _________. 11. The teacher watched the students like a ______ during the exam to ensure that none of them cheated. Complete the idiom with an animal snail dog hawk © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc. 19
20. 12.Have you heard the expression, “The early _____ catches the worm?” 13.He usually goes to bed as the sun comes up in the morning. He’s a night ______. Complete the idiom with an animal worm owl bird © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc. 20
21. 14.I don’t think that Peter is telling the truth. I smell a ______. 15.Don’t be a ________! Come sky diving with me! Complete the idiom with an animal rat chicken bird © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc. 21
22. 16.Tim moved to the city a few years ago to start a new job in sales. He feels like every day is the same and he’s in a constant competition to sell more products. His life has become a rat race, and he doesn’t know what to do. What can you suggest? 17.Katie volunteered to give a speech at her company banquet. She recently found out that over 500 people would attend and now she is chickening out. What should she do? 18.Lisa just moved to a new country and she really feels like a fish out of water. She doesn’t have any friends, and is having trouble adapting to the new way of life. What should she do? What advice can you give? © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc. 22
23. 19.Marie was planning a surprise party for her husband, Brian, but her friend accidentally let the cat out of the bag. The surprise is ruined. What should Marie do? 20.Kevin has to wake up at 5am every morning to go to work, but he’s a night owl and usually stays awake until 2am. He’s always tired. What do you suggest? 21.Jessica has been working like a dog for over two years and she has never gotten a raise or a promotion. She doesn’t know what to do. Any ideas? 22.Nicole’s parents don’t like her new boyfriend, David. Every time they have dinner together, she feels like there is an elephant in the room. What should she say? What advice can you give? © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc. 23