6 Idioms - Class 2

​Idioms Class 2

By Gabriel Contreras

Lesson Plan

Warm-up More idioms
Practice
Reporting
Situations

Call it a day

​Are we on the same page about the order?

A good rule of thumb is to back up your files weekly.

Rule of thumb

On the same page

Let’s call it a day and finish tomorrow.

Cut to the chase

She called me out of the blue last night.

Hang in there—the doctor will see you soon.

Hang in there

Out of the blue

I’ll cut to the chase—we need a refund.

Cut corners

The extra fee was the last straw, so I asked for a refund.

The manager said the coffee is on the house.

On the house

The last straw

Don’t cut corners on safety instructions.

Let's Practice

Multiple Choice

Cafeteria: After practice, he eats a lot. Replace the bold part.

• eats like a bird
• eats like a horse
• pig out
• second to none

Multiple Choice

Lunch: She eats very little at work. Replace the bold part.

• wolf down
• eat like a horse
• eat like a bird
• hit the road

Multiple Choice

Game night: We ate way too much pizza. Replace the bold part.

• pig out
• second to none
• hold your horses
• out of the woods

Multiple Choice

10-min break: He ate his sandwich very fast. Replace the bold part.

• wolfed down his sandwich
• hit the road his sandwich
• get a move on his sandwich
• take five his sandwich

Multiple Choice

Supermarket queue: Don’t rush—I want to check the price. Replace the bold part.

• hold your horses
• hit the road
• get a move on
• in no time

Multiple Choice

Complaint: There’s an obvious problem nobody mentions with the bill. Replace the bold part.

• second to none
• once in a blue moon
• the elephant in the room
• get a move on

Multiple Choice

Pharmacy review: Their service is the best. Replace the bold part.

• second to none
• a dime a dozen
• hit the road
• wolf down

Multiple Choice

Fast-food: I eat burgers very rarely. Replace the bold part.

• once in a blue moon
• in no time
• out of the woods
• pig out

Multiple Choice

Pickup: Your order will be ready very quickly. Replace the bold part.

• at the eleventh hour
• in no time
• second to none
• hold your horses

Multiple Choice

Pickup: Your order will be ready very quickly. Replace the bold part.

• at the eleventh hour
• in no time
• second to none
• hold your horses

Multiple Choice

After paying: We’ve finished—let’s leave now. Replace the bold part.

• hit the road
• get a move on
• take five
• out of the woods

Multiple Choice

Clinic: You’re improving, but you’re not completely safe yet. Replace the bold part.

• get a move on
• hit the road
• not out of the woods yet
• pig out

Multiple Choice

Line is moving: We need to hurry up. Replace the bold part.

• take five
• get a move on
• hit the road
• second to none

Open Ended

Rewrite with an idiom: “He eats a lot after practice.”

Open Ended

Write one sentence with eat like a bird (context: lunch).

Open Ended

Explain in plain English: pig out.

Open Ended

Transform: “He ate his sandwich very fast.” → use wolf down.

Open Ended

Replace naturally: “Don’t rush.” → idiom.

Open Ended

Define in plain English: the elephant in the room.

Open Ended

Paraphrase: “Their service is the best.” → idiom.

Open Ended

Frequency: Write a sentence with once in a blue moon.

Open Ended

Speed: Use in no time in a natural sentence.

Open Ended

Leaving: Use hit the road after paying.

Open Ended

Recovery: Use out of the woods (negative).

Explanation Slide...

Let’s leave now.

Open Ended

Hurry: Use get a move on with “the line is long.”

Match

Match the following

• eat like a horse

• eat like a bird

• pig out

• wolf down

• hold your horses

eat a lot

eat very little

overeat

eat very fast

wait, slow down

• eat a lot

• eat very little

• overeat

• eat very fast

• wait, slow down

Match

Match the following

• the elephant in the room

• second to none

• once in a blue moon

• in no time

• hit the road

obvious problem no one mentions

the best

very rarely

very quickly

leave now

• obvious problem no one mentions

• the best

• very rarely

• very quickly

• leave now

Fluency

Instrucción:
When you want to say… + plain English (no idioms), you say "sentence with the idiom"

​Report - "When you want to say someone... You can say ..."

• eat like a horse → When you want to say someone eats a lot, you say (that) he eats like a horse"

• eat like a bird → When you want to say someone eats very little...

• pig out

• wolf down

• hold your horses

Situations

Let's practice. Read the context and the conditions to develop the conversation

Situation 1

Fast-food rush

• Line is long; you want your friend to hurry.

• You both eat very fast.

• After paying, you leave now.

Situation 2

Supermarket choice

• Item A is the best, Item B appears very rarely on sale.

• You buy both in no time.
  Idioms: second to none · once in a blue moon · in no time

Situation 3

Complaint desk

• There’s an obvious problem on the bill.

• Ask them to wait while you check.

• Close with a positive line if they fix it.
  Idioms: the elephant in the room · hold your horses · out of the woods

Situation 3

Complaint desk

• There’s an obvious problem on the bill.

• Ask them to wait while you check.

• Close with a positive line if they fix it.
  Idioms: the elephant in the room · hold your horses · out of the woods

Situation 4

Clinic follow-up

• Good news, but patient is not fully safe yet.

• Tell them you’ll leave after the prescription.
  Idioms: out of the woods (negativo) · hit the road

Dialog 1

Sam: Sure. I’m starving; when the food comes, I’m going to wolf it down.
Lena: Same here. I’ve got ten minutes before my meeting.
Sam: Drinks are self-serve. I’ll fill them while you pick up the tray.
Lena: Got it. Here we go—careful, it’s hot.
Sam: These are great. Okay, two big bites and… gone. I told you I’d wolf it down.
Lena: Mission accomplished. Receipt’s in the bag.
Sam: Perfect. We’ve paid, we’ve eaten—let’s hit the road before the traffic gets bad.
Lena: Agreed. Text me later about dinner plans.

Fast-food rush

Dos amigos en una fila larga de comida rápida.

Sam: Wow, the line is getting longer by the minute.
Lena: I know… if we want seats, we should get a move on and decide now.
Sam: Burger combo for me. You?
Lena: Chicken sandwich, no mayo. And maybe we split fries?
Sam: Deal. Oh—scan the QR; it’s faster.
Lena: Good call. I’ll pay and you grab a table?

Dialog 2

Ana: Let’s keep it short. If we use the self-checkout, we’ll be done in no time.
Marco: Good plan. Oh, coupons just popped up—extra two dollars off Brand A.
Ana: Even better. Basket’s full—ready?
Marco: Yep. Scan, bag, pay—boom. Told you: in no time.
Ana: And we scored the once in a blue moon deal. Win-win.
Marco: Next stop: bakery?

Supermarket choice

Dos personas comparan marcas en el pasillo.

Ana: So, Brand A or Brand B?
Marco: For quality, Brand A is second to none. It never fails.
Ana: True, but look—Brand B is 40% off. That once in a blue moon sale tag won’t last.
Marco: Hm. We could grab one of each. A for the dinner party, B for everyday.
Ana: I like that. Do we need anything else from this aisle?
Marco: Maybe sparkling water and paper towels.

Dialog 3

Clerk: Thanks. Okay… I see the issue—someone toggled delivery after checkout.
Customer: That explains the two fees.
Manager: Hi there, I’m the manager. We’ve found the glitch. We’ll remove the extra fee and add a 10% courtesy discount.
Customer: I appreciate that.
Manager: Refund is processed; you’ll see it within 3–5 business days.
Clerk: Here’s the corrected invoice.
Customer: Great—looks like we’re out of the woods now. Thanks for fixing it.
Manager: Sorry for the hassle. Anything else we can help with?
Customer: That’s all. Have a good one.

Complaint desk

Cliente y empleado revisan una factura con errores; se suma la gerente.

Customer: Hi—there’s something off on this bill. The delivery fee shows up twice.
Clerk: Let me take a look.
Customer: I don’t want to be difficult, but there’s the elephant in the room here: we paid in-store pickup, not delivery.
Clerk: I hear you. Please hold your horses while I pull up the order details.
Customer: Sure, take your time. I kept the email confirmation.

Dialog 4

Patient: If I feel dizzy?
Doctor: Sit down, hydrate, and call us if it persists. Remember: finish the full course.
Patient: Understood. Prescription is already at the pharmacy?
Doctor: Yes, ready for pickup.
Patient: Perfect. I’ll grab the meds and then hit the road.
Doctor: Sounds good. If the fever returns, call right away.
Patient: Will do. Thanks, doctor.

Clinic follow-up

Médico y paciente tras resultados; luego el paciente se va a la farmacia.

Doctor: Good news—the infection markers are down.
Patient: That’s a relief. So I’m fine now?
Doctor: Much better, but you’re not out of the woods yet. Keep taking the antibiotics for five more days.
Patient: Got it. Any side effects I should watch for?
Doctor: Mild stomach upset is common. Take them with food and keep an eye on any rash.