Lesson 13: Idioms and Natural Expressions
Build the skills to understand and use common English idioms and natural expressions in conversations and texts.
About this lesson
In this lesson, you will master a curated selection of idioms and natural expressions used every day by native speakers. You will practise recognising meaning in context, nuances of expression, and appropriate register. The exercises include listening, gap-fill, and dictation activities to consolidate your usage. You will also work with reported speech and passive constructions to convey meaning more precisely in abstract topics and discussions.
40 minutes
What you'll learn
- Recognise common English idioms in real-life contexts
- Use natural expressions accurately and appropriately in both speech and writing
- Distinguish between subtle nuances of meaning and levels of register
- Paraphrase statements using reported speech and/or passive constructions
- Translate idioms into Bulgarian by meaning, preserving the intended sense
Lesson vocabulary
- nuance Idioms are often used to add color and nuance to speech.
- connotation Every word carries its own connotation beyond its literal meaning.
- understatement Saying 'It's a bit chilly' during a snowstorm is a classic understatement.
- exaggeration Idioms like 'cost an arm and a leg' rely on exaggeration to make a point.
- metaphor A plan described as 'dead in the water' uses vivid metaphor.
- collocation We need to make a decision soon — 'make a decision' is a common collocation.
- register Choosing the right register is essential when using idioms in formal writing.
- ambiguity Idioms can create ambiguity if the listener is unfamiliar with their meaning.
- inference Understanding idioms often requires inference from context.
- context Always look for context to understand the meaning of an unfamiliar idiom.
- paraphrase Can you paraphrase 'bite the bullet' in simpler English?
- implication His use of 'dead in the water' carried a strong negative implication.
- redundancy Avoiding redundancy keeps your speech clear and coherent.
- coherence Good use of linking phrases improves the coherence of your argument.
- cohesion Cohesion in writing depends on consistent use of reference words and connectors.