Happiness Day (Idioms)

Exercise 1: Read the example sentences below, and try to guess the meaning of the phrases.

on cloud nine have a whale of a time

Suzie’s been on cloud nine since she got offered a place We went to Disneyland while we were on holidays and
in Havard. I’m delighted for her. had a whale of a time. You should go.

on top of the world in one’s element

Dan: How did you feel after you won?
Sam: I had trained my whole life for that race, so I was
on top of the world.
over the moon
Jim asked me to marry him on Sunday, and I’m over
the moon! I can’t wait to plan the wedding.
tickled pink
Andre: Was Anne happy with her present?
Jackie: Yeah, she was tickled pink.
Helen is in her element in university, she loves her
course and she’s doing very well in her exams.
thrilled to bits/pieces
Matt: Joe must be very happy with his new car.
Greg: Yeah, he’s thrilled to bits!
full of the joys of spring
Maria: He was walking down the street, full of the joys
of spring.
David: I wonder why he’s so happy.

Exercise 2: Cover the examples above. Can you remember the missing words from the idioms?

1. I was ______________ to bits/pieces when I heard I’d won first prize.

2. Philippe was in his ______________, DJing at the party last night. The crowd loved his tunes too.
3. Rebecca is full of the joys of ______________ these days. I wonder has she got a new boyfriend.
4. He has just got married to a lovely guy and his business is thriving. He’s on top of the ______________.
5. Kasim is having a ______________ of a time in Crete. He doesn’t want to come home.
6. My brother just got offered an amazing job with Google. He’s ______________ pink.
7. Sara just found out that she’s pregnant. She’s on cloud ______________. They’ve been trying for ages.
8. I was ______________ the moon when I discovered I’d won the lottery, but it’s true what they say about
money not buying happiness.

Exercise 3: Let’s practise!

Work with your partner and write three or four mini dialogues using some of the expressions you have
learnt. See the example below:

A: Tom was given a pay rise in work.

B: That’s fantastic. He must be over the moon!

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 Teacher’s Notes
Lesson: Happiness Day (Idioms) Level: B1 – C1 Time: 30 minutes +

Preparation:
Try our other celebration day
- Print/display the handout.
lessons for more practice!
Teaching Method:
Step 1:
- Put students into pairs and display/give them exercise 1.
- The students must read the example sentences and try to guess the meaning of each phrase from the
contexts. Depending on level, you may wish to pre-teach wonder, delighted and train.
- Elicit their ideas and be prepared to explain the meaning of the phrases, giving further examples
where required.
Step 2:
- Move on to exercise 2, and ask the students to work individually, completing the idioms with the
missing words. Depending on level, you may wish to check understanding of DJing, crowd, tunes,
thriving and pregnant.
- Go through the answers together as a class.
Step 3:
- Students work with a partner or in a small group and write three or four mini-dialogues using some
of the expressions they have learnt.
- Go through the example as a class explaining any new vocabulary.
- Monitor, giving correction where required.
- Students read their mini dialogues aloud for the class.

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