Idiom
IDIOM is an expression whose meaning cannot be understood by knowing the words
that form it. Example: At first I believed his story but then I realized he was pulling
leg.
my leg Pulling my leg is an idiom that means “teasing me” or “trying to fool me”.
Have groups select an idiom and explain the idiom to the class in a two act play
1. Act out a situation where the idiom might be stated
2. Act out the literal (exact) meaning of the idiom
Example: for pulling my leg, tug on someone’s leg
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth
By counting teeth you can tell the age of a horse. If someone gives you a horse don’t look in
its mouth and count the teeth. When given something don't be ungrateful.
Hit the hay
Mattresses were once stuffed with hay or straw, so when one was hitting the hay they were
on their way to bed, thus 'hit the hay' or go to bed.
Know the ropes
To 'know the ropes' means you understand how something works. Due to the fact that
sailors had to know which ropes raised certain sails at sea.
Like a chicken with its head cut off
Poultry twitch and sometimes run around after decapitation. This idiom which means doing
a lot but not getting anything done or 'in a frenzy'
Loose Cannon
This idiom originated when ships were damaged due to unsecured cannons rolling around
on deck. Today, the term can mean you aren’t sure how someone will act.
Mad As A Hatter
"Mad As A Hatter: refers to mercury nitrate that was used by hat makers to make fur pelts
softer and suitable for hat use. After years of mercury exposure it would make the user quite
mentally unstable. So it means a person is insane.
Mum's the word
The humming sound made when a mouth is closed. Used by Shakespeare in Henry VI, Part
2. 'Seal up your lips and give no words but mum'. It means say nothing.
Not playing with a full deck
If your 'not playing with a full deck' then you are stupid. This comes from lacking the
required intelligence, as a card game being played with a missing card.
Pull the Wool Over His Eyes
Dates back to 1839, meaning "to deceive". "Wool" refers to a powdered wig, such as men
used to wear. Pulling down the wool wig would temporarily blind the person wearing it.
Pull out all the stops
This idiom meaning to put a maximum of effort into a certain activity, is a term first coined
by organists. It refers to pulling out all the stop levers in an organ, which results in the
maximum volume from the organ.
Saved by the bell
This term which means saved at the last possible moment derives from when people were
buried with a bell above ground and a string in their coffin. This was just in case someone
happened to be buried alive, they could ring the bell to notify others. This term is also used
during boxing matches when one boxer is saved by the round bell preventing a knock out.