Sep 21, 2013

Wanderlust: Idioms




This is a nice comedy with several really funny scenes. I used it to introduce and have students practice idioms and idiomatic expressions.

I. Match the idioms and their definitions.


1. No matter

2. Twist someone's arm

3. To be looking for a fight

4. It's the luck of the drawn

5. Just someone's luck

6. It's the same  old story


(   ) This is typical of someone's misfortune

(   ) It makes no difference how

(   ) To persuade someone strongly to do something

(   ) The usual bad or unpleasant situation that is happening now has happened before or in other places.

(   ) You must take things as they come

(   ) To behave in such a way that may provoke an offensive or violent response


II. Watch the segment and complete the blanks with the correct idioms/idiomatic expressions. Make sure you use their correct forms to make them logical.


1. The couple were really ___________________, especially when they decided to talk about how much money they make in a year.

2. It is ______________________________ to have a husband that snores. All her previous boyfriends snored too.

3. It is _________________________. Her husband always farts in the car every time they drive long distances. 

4. ________________________ what they talk about, they always end up fighting.

5. She was so tired that she __________________________ to stop the car and find a place to spend the night.

6. They will spend the night in a hotel they have never heard of.  The will have to stay there anyway, since it is too late to look for another hotel. _____________________.

III. Talk to a partner:

1. What should they have done to stop arguing?

2. What made them happy and what made them angry?

3. Have you ever traveled long distances with someone by car? Does the length of trip make you impatient and fight with the other traveling partners?

4. What could they have done in order not to fight so much?

KEY:


I.

No matter - It makes no difference how

Twist someone's arm - To persuade someone strongly to do something

Be looking for a fight - To behave in such a way that may provoke an offensive or violent response

It's the luck of the drawn - You must take things as they come

Just someone's luck - this is typical of my misfortune

It's the same old story - the usual bad or unpleasant situation that is happening now has happened before or in other places



II. The couple were really looking for a fight, especially when they decided to talk about how much money they make in a year.

It is just her luck to have a husband that snores. All her previous boyfriends snored too.

It is the same old story. Her husband always farts in the car every time they drive long distances. 

No matter what they talk about, they always end up fighting.

She was so tired that she twisted his arm to stop the car and find a place to spend the night.

They will spend the night in a hotel they have never heard of.  The will have to stay there anyway, since it is too late to look for another hotel. It's the luck of the drawn. 




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MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - WANDERLUST



ANSWER KEY:

No matter - It makes no difference how
Twist someone's arm - To persuade someone strongly to do something
Be looking for a fight - To behave in such a way that may provoke an offensive or violent response
It's the luck of the drawn - You must take things as they come
Just my luck - this is typical of my misfortune
It's the same old story - the usual bad or unpleasant situation that is happening now has happened before or in other places.


The couple were really looking for a fight, especially when they decided to talk about how much money they make in a year.

It is just her luck to have a husband that snores. All her previous boyfriends snored too.

It is the same old story. Her husband always farts in the car every time they drive long distances. 

No matter what they talk about, they always end up fighting.

She was so tired that she twisted his arm to stop the car and find a place to spend the night.

They will spend the night in a hotel they have never heard of.  The will have to stay there anyway, since it is too late to look for another hotel. It's the luck of the drawn. 

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey, man, just found out about your awesome blog, and I'm here to congratulate you for it!!!

I find it that a lot of teachers WANT to use videos and movies in classrooms, they just think it's to complicated and stuff....

Videomis said...

Very Nice

Claudio Azevedo said...

Thanks. It is not complicated, but preparing such activities IS time-consuming and most teachers do not have the time to dedicate to it. I hope my blogs can help those teachers.

Anonymous said...

Claudio, this is so true, this kind of lesson plannings are really time consuming and you've been making my classes more and more interesting. Keep up this excellent job of yours. I thank you in the name of all of us, busy teachers who praise for quality classes!

Claudio Azevedo said...

Motivating comments like yours make me keep going. Thanks.

Lilly said...

very informative, I just love this post, keep it up.

Lilly