Lesson 32: Problem points
The lesson looks at typical “problem points” for learners of English – idiomatic expressions with give, go, blue, call, chicken, cloud and phrases such as a long shot, a piece of cake and the icing on
About this lesson
In this lesson you will get to know the most common idiomatic expressions that cause difficulty for students at B1 level. You will learn phrases with the words give, go, blue, call, chicken and cloud, as well as popular expressions such as “a long shot”, “a piece of cake” and “the icing on the cake”. Through a variety of exercises you will consolidate the meaning and use of each expression in context. By the end of the lesson you will be able to use these idioms confidently in conversation and writing.
40 minutes
What you'll learn
- Recognise and understand the meaning of idiomatic expressions with give, go, blue, call, chicken and cloud.
- Correctly use the phrases 'a long shot', 'a shot in the dark', 'a piece of cake' and 'the icing on the cake'.
- Distinguish between the literal and the figurative meaning of the idioms studied.
- Use the new expressions in short sentences and dialogues.
- Recognise the context in which each idiom is appropriate to use.
Lesson vocabulary
- give it a go I've never tried surfing, but I'll give it a go.
- give someone the cold shoulder She gave him the cold shoulder after their argument.
- give way You must give way to pedestrians at the crossing.
- give up Don't give up – you're almost there!
- go ahead Go ahead and start without me.
- go off The alarm went off at six in the morning.
- go through She went through a very difficult time last year.
- a long shot Winning the competition is a long shot, but we'll try.
- a shot in the dark My answer was a complete shot in the dark.
- a piece of cake The exam was a piece of cake – I finished in twenty minutes.
- the icing on the cake Getting a bonus was the icing on the cake after a great year.
- out of the blue He called me out of the blue after five years.
- call it a day We've done enough – let's call it a day.
- chicken out He chickened out of the bungee jump at the last moment.
- every cloud has a silver lining I lost the job, but every cloud has a silver lining – I found a better one.
In other languages: Български