You can’t choose your family

Student A
Here you have six sets of two questions. Ask the first question of each set to your partner. If they
don’t understand the expression in bold, ask them the second question, which contains the definition.

1. Are you named after another member of your family? Were you given your name because
an older member of the family has/had the same name? Do any specific names run in your
family?
2. Are you the spitting image of another member of your family? Do you look almost exactly
the same as another member of your family? If so, who?
3. Are you the black sheep of your family? Are you the one member of your family who is
different to all the others? If not, who is?
4. Do you often fall out with members of your family? Do you argue of fight with members of
your family? If so, who?
5. Do you want to follow in your parents’ footsteps? Do you want to do the same job as your
parents? Why? Why not?
6. They say that blood is thicker than water. Do you agree? Do you think that family is the
most important thing?

Student B
Here you have six sets of two questions. Ask the first question of each set to your partner. If they
don’t understand the expression in bold, ask them the second question, which contains the definition.

1. Do any specific names/characteristics run in your family? Are there any specific
names/characteristics that are passed down from generation to generation?
2. Are you and any member of your family like chalk and cheese? Are you and any member of
your family completely different?
3. Are you and any member of your family like two peas in a pod? Are you and any member of
your family exactly the same in looks and personality?
4. Who is the main breadwinner in your house? Who brings home the bacon? Who supports
the family financially?
5. Who do you get on like a house on fire with in your family? Who do you have a fantastic
relationship with?
6. Who do you take after in your family? Which parent have you inherited the most
characteristics from?
Worksheet
Definition Match

Match the expressions on the left with the definitions on the right

1. Take after sb a. Your name was inspired by an older

2. Get on like a house on fire member of the family
3. The breadwinner/bring home the bacon b. Completely different to sb
4. Like two peas in a pod c. Completely different to everyone else in
5. Like chalk and cheese the family
6. Run in the family d. To look exactly the same as sb
7. Blood is thicker than water e. To have a great relationship with sb
8. Follow in your parents’ footsteps f. The one who supports the family
9. Fall out with sb financially
10. The black sheep of the family g. Family is the most important thing
11. The spitting image of sb h. To argue/fight with sb
12. Be named after sb i. Extremely similar in personality
j. Do the same job as your parents
k. To inherit personality/appearance from
a parent.
l. When a characteristic is passed down
through many generations.

Personalise

Complete these sentences so that they’re true for you.

1. My ____________ is the breadwinner in my house because________________________.

2. Me and my ______________ are like two peas in a pod because_______________________.
3. I often fall out with my ___________________ over ______________________.
4. I’m named after ____________________________.
5. I think I take after my ___________________ in my personality and my _________________
when it comes to my looks.
6. __________________ am/is the black sheep of my family because ____________________.
7. Me and my ___________________are like chalk and cheese because __________________.
8. I get on with ____________ like a house on fire because __________________________.
9. ____________________ runs in my family.
10. I would/wouldn’t like to follow in my Mum/Dad/parents’ footsteps because
_________________________________.
11. People tell me that I’m the spitting image of ___________________________________.
12. I agree/disagree that blood is thicker than water because___________________________.