A selection of English ESL luck idioms, printables

This is a St Patrick’s Day Idioms lesson. Students study idioms connected to luck in context and then match them to their definitions. Finally, they write mini dialogues to practise the idioms.



We have a teacher’s copy (including teacher’s notes) and a student version which you can email to your class for online lessons.



Level:  This is most suited to B1 – C1 level students.



Time:  40 minutes + 



Get the FREE PDF with answer key and teacher notes here...



https://www.tefllessons.com/product/st-patricks-day-idioms/



Try some of our other FREE St Patrick's Day worksheets here...



https://www.tefllessons.com/product/st-patricks-day-speaking-task/



https://www.tefllessons.com/product/st-patricks-day-lesson-a2/



https://www.tefllessons.com/product/st-patricks-day-quiz/



You can access over 70 FREE worksheets and posters on our site when you register as a FREE member. :)

St Patrick's Day Idioms

Match colour idioms with their definitions. Good luck!

Matching Colour Idioms

Use these idioms to talk about telling news or gossips such as 'a little bird told me, according to'. It is fantastic to give opinions and make students write.

Writing activity.  A2 beginner. Good luck!

gossip Idioms

Native English speakers love to slip them into conversations, and you'll come across them often in books, TV series, and movies. To perfect your English, you need to use idioms with confidence and know the difference between "breaking a leg" and "pulling someone's leg."





1. Under the weather

What does it mean? To feel sick or unwell.



How is it used? We, English love, talk about the weather and do it very often, but don't let this common phrase fool you. If someone tells you they are feeling under the weather, your response should be, "I hope you get better," not "Do you want me to leave you my umbrella."



2. The ball is in your court

What does this mean? It's up to you



How do you use it? Now it's your turn to make a move, but this idiom refers more to life than to a sport. If you've got the ball, the decision is yours, and someone is waiting for you to make up your mind.



3. Break a leg

It means to wish someone luck.



How is it used? This idiom is not at all threatening. Often accompanied by a thumbs-up gesture, "Break a leg!" is a way of cheering someone up by wishing them luck. The expression has to do with the bows that theater actors take at the end of the play. If the performance is a success, they will have to bow so much that they might break a leg.



5. Pull someone's leg

It means to make a bad joke.



How is it used? All fans should learn this phrase of practical jokes. "Pull their leg" is similar to "wind someone up." In context: "Relax, I'm just pulling your leg!" or "Wait, are you pulling my leg?".



6. Through thick and thin

It means to be loyal in all circumstances.



How is it used? Often used to refer to family or a partner, "through thick and thin" means that you will support the other person no matter what, in good times and bad.



7. Once in a blue moon

It means rarely



How is it used? This charming phrase is used to describe something that doesn't happen often. Example: "I remember to call my parents from my study abroad trip once in a blue moon." More examples of using idioms at the text you can find here: https://www.wowessays.com/



8. It's the best thing since sliced bread

It means it's very, very good.



How is it used? Sliced bread must have been a revolution in England because since then, it has been used as the definitive reference for all things fabulous. We love it as much as we love tea.



9. Take it with a pinch of salt

It means don't take it too seriously.



How to use: "I heard that elephants can fly now, but Sam often makes up stories, so I take everything he says with a pinch of salt".



10. Go down in flames

It means to fail miserably.



How is it used? This phrase is quite obvious: "That exam went down in flames. I should have learned my English idioms."



11. You can say that again

It means that's true.



How is it used? It is usually exclaimed to say that you agree with something. When a friend says, "Ryan Reynolds is gorgeous!", you can reply, "You can say that again!".



12. Jump on the bandwagon

It means to follow a fashion.



How is it used? When someone starts doing something because it is fashionable or does it just because it looks good. An example related to brunch: "She doesn't even like avocado on toast. She's just jumping on the bandwagon".



13. Hit the sack

It means to go to bed.



How to use it? This idiom is straightforward to learn. I'm exhausted, and it's time for me to hit the sack!".



14. Miss the boat

It means it's too late.



How do you use it? Use it when you miss an opportunity or a deadline. "I forgot to apply for that study abroad program; now I've missed the boat".



15. By the skin of your teeth

What does it mean? Hardly



How do you use it: "Phew, I passed that exam by the skin of my teeth! I hope you pass your exams, but if you only give them by the skin of your teeth, you can use this expression.

15 English idioms everyone should know

Spooky season will make your blood run cold!

In this worksheet I offer you 9 exercises:
1. Halloween Guess Who.
2. Have You Ever Bingo.
3. Extreme Choices.
4. Definitions. 
5. Fear Idioms.
6. Spooky Synonyms.
7. Superstitions Speaking.
8. Name 3 Things.
9. Halloween Menu. 

Halloween Fun + Key

Learn about Saint Patrick's Day (history, symbols, Saint Patrick), Irish customs, Leprechaun, good luck superstitions and idioms related to luck. Appropriate for intermediate learners.

Saint Patrick's Day (Printable + ANSWER KEY)

Quite a sample of English idioms. If you want to show your students the very rudiments of the idiom kingdom, then this might be the way to go. This multiple choice quiz includes a variety of idioms with no common theme, but with a lot of room for pointing out the parallels and differences between English and your mother tongue. Good luck! :) 

Idioms - multiple choice quiz

This is a St Patrick’s Day Idioms lesson. Students study idioms connected to luck in context and then match them to their definitions. Finally, they write mini dialogues to practise the idioms.


We have a teacher’s copy (including teacher’s notes) and a student version which you can email to your class for online lessons.


Level: This is most suited to B1 – C1 level students.


Time: 40 minutes + 


Get the FREE PDF with answer key and teacher notes here:


https://tefllessons.com/product/idioms-related-to-luck/


Try some of our other FREE St Patrick's Day worksheets here:


https://tefllessons.com/product/st-patricks-day-speaking-task/


https://tefllessons.com/product/st-patricks-day-lesson-a2/


https://tefllessons.com/product/st-patricks-day-quiz/


You can access over 100 FREE worksheets and posters on our site when you register as a FREE member. :)

St Patrick's Day Idiom | Idiom related to Luck

A story set about a girl named Tina who is supposed to be jinxed and is hence, alienated and ridiculed. There are reflective questions, word meanings, idioms and a small passage to insert adverbs, adjectives etc. to make the passage more interesting. There is a true and false activity too as well as a partial key. Finally, they are few quotes on bad luck, karma and attitudes for a reflective discussion in the class. l Hope you can find some use for it. Thank you! :)

JINXED A HALLOWEEN STORY.

Culture, intercultural communication, cross-cultural communication

Adjectives to describe feelings, emotions

Adjectives to describe personality and character

Adjectives: Gradable / Non-gradable adjectives

Articles: Definite or indefinite article (a, an or the)

BE + infinitive structures (e.g. he was to become famous)

Clauses of contrast (e.g.  although, while)

Clauses of purpose (e.g. in order to, so that, so as to)

Clauses of reason (e.g. because, because of, due to, as, since)

Cleft sentences (e.g. It's Joey we're looking for)

Comparison: Comparative adjectives and structures

Comparison: Superlative adjectives and structures

Conditional 2 (second conditional) - would

Conditionals: Conditional phrases (e.g. unless, provided that, as long as)

Conjunctions (aka connectives, e.g. and, but, or, so, then)

Contractions (shortened forms, e.g. don't, aren't, etc.)

Determiners (words that can come before nouns)

Formal and informal English (politeness or colloquial language)

Future perfect continuous (progressive) tense

Future perfect simple and continuous (progressive) tense

Future phrases (e.g. be about to, bound to, likely to, due to, set to + INF)

Homonyms (two words with the same pronunciation - homophones and homographs)

It as preparatory subject (e.g. it's raining, it's nice of you to)

Linking verbs (aka copulas, e.g. I am a student)

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how to accuse somebody of something in English

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how to make, accept and refuse offers in English

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Nouns: Collective nouns (team, class, family, committee)

Nouns: Proper nouns (names of people, cities, companies)

Oxymorons (phrases with words of contradictory meaning, e.g. living dead)

Participles: Past participle (e.g. HAVING DONE)

Participles: Present participle (e.g. DOING)

Parts of Speech (aka word classes, e.g. nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs)

Past perfect continuous (progressive) tense

Phonetics (pronunciation, IPA, phonetic symbols)

Plural nouns: regular plurals with S ending

Prefixes (e.g. A, UN, IM, DIS, MIS, EN, etc. )

Prepositions vs adverbs (e.g. before me, saw him before.)

Prepositions: Double prepositions (e.g. out of)

Prepositions: Participle prepositions (e.g. pending, concerning)

Prepositions: Phrase prepositions (e.g. by means of)

Present perfect continuous (progressive) tense

Present perfect simple or present continuous tense

Present simple tense: S for third person singular verbs

Present simple vs continuous (progressive) tense

Pronouns: EACH OTHER, ONE ANOTHER (reciprocal pronouns)

Pronouns: Possessive pronouns (e.g. my, mine)

Pronouns: Reflexive pronouns (e.g. myself, yourself))

Pronouns: SOMEBODY, ANYBODY, EVERYBODY, NO ONE, NOTHING, etc.

Pronouns: THIS, THAT, THESE, THOSE (demonstratives)

Pronouns: YOU and THEY to talk about people in general

Quantifiers (e.g. some, many, much, any, few, little)

Questions: WH questions (open-ended questions)

Reported speech: reported questions (indirect questions)

There is / there are / there was / there were / there will be, etc.

Verbs: Transitive or intransitive verbs (words that can or cannot stand with objects)

Working with Paragraphs: ordering, titling

Role play, miming, drama activity or improv game

Pictionary (picture dictionary) or picture matching

Writing an opinion essay (persuasive essay)

Learners who are Pre-A1 have just begun learning English and will first learn how to:<ul><li>Say the letters in the alphabet and numbers</li><li>Say hello, talk about names and age</li><li>Name the colors and dates, express likes and dislikes</li></ul>

Absolute beginners who have begun to learn the letters and numbers

Learners taking the A1 Elementary exam should be able to:<ul><li>Introduce themselves and ask and answer questions about personal details such as where he/she lives, things he/she has, people he/she knows.</li><li>Communicate using very basic phrases as long as the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.</li><li>Main grammar points to know: common adjectives & adverbs of frequency, going to, how much/how many, imperatives, I'd like, 's – possessive, common prepositions of place and time, present simple & continuous, there is/are</li></ul>

A very basic tourist level, which is enough for buying food and a bus ticket

Learners taking the A2 Pre-intermediate exam should be able to:<ul><li>Understand sentences and frequently used expressions (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment).</li><li>Complete tasks that are routine and exchange information about familiar matters.</li><li>Describe matters of immediate need in simple terms.</li><li>Main grammar points to know: countable/uncountable nouns, adverbs of frequency, future will/going to, much/many, present perfect, past simple, past continuous, common phrasal verbs, common modals: can/should</li></ul>

A tourist who can do basic conversations about the past, present and future

Learners taking the B1 Intermediate exam should be able to:<ul><li>Understand points regarding family, work, school or leisure-related topics.</li><li>Deal with most travel situations in areas where the language is spoken.</li><li>Create simple texts on topics of personal interest.</li><li>Describe experiences, events, dreams, and ambitions, as well as opinions or plans in brief.</li><li>Main grammar points to know: question tags, intensifiers: too/enough, future tenses, past tenses, modals, conditionals, wh-questions in the past</li></ul>

Learners who can deal with both familiar and routine situations, in friendly and work contexts

Learners taking the B2 Upper-intermediate exam should be able to:<ul><li>Understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialization.</li><li>Interact with fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without difficulty for either party.</li><li>Produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain an opinion on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.</li><li>Main grammar points to know: perfect tenses, mixed conditionals, modals in the present, phrasal verbs, reported speech, wish, relative clauses</li></ul>

The level where you can be a tour guide for your foreign friends and talk about a lot of topics, even abstract ones, with ease and fluency

Learners taking the C1 Advanced exam should be able to: Express ideas fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions. Use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes. Understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts. Produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects, using linking phrases (=words that connect ideas between sentences). Main grammar points to know: inversion, mixed conditionals, modals in the past, all passive forms, phrasal verbs (all patterns), wish/if only for regrets

Learners who can smoothly communicate in every walk of life, read long texts and write well

Learners taking the C2 Proficient exam should be able to:<ul><li>Understand almost everything read or heard with ease.</li><li>Summarize information from a variety of sources into a coherent presentation.</li><li>Express themselves using precise meaning in complex scenarios.</li><li>Can express him/herself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in the most complex situations</li></ul>

Get here and you are ready to study in English at university

9 Luck idioms, English ESL worksheets pdf & doc