Natural English
An idiom is a group of words whose meaning is different from the meanings of the individual words. (For example, Let the cat out of the bag does not mean that you literally let a cat out of a bag. It means that you told a secret by mistake.)
Idioms can be difficult to understand because they don’t mean what you think they mean. Using idioms will make your speech sound more natural.
Talk about it
What sports idioms do you know?
Here is a short list of English idioms using language about sports. Do you know these idioms? Check (?) the ones you know.
Can you guess which sport they are connected to?
| to be blindsided | I had no idea that was going to happen. I was blindsided. | |
| to chip in | We are hoping everyone will chip in money for the present for the boss. | |
| the ball is in your court | I have done what I said I’d do and now the ball is in your court. | |
| to hit below the belt | Be careful if you pick a fight with him. He hits below the belt. | |
| to have something under your belt | She already has a couple of good wins under her belt. | |
| to be on the ball | I’m glad you hired her. She’s really on the ball. |
Now watch this video about these idioms and take notes about the meaning of each. When you finish you will answer some questions about each idiom.
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