Argie V.

Barraca BEED-4 Field Study 1

MLG COLLEE OF LEARNING INC.

BRGY. ATABAY HILONGOS, LEYTE

STUDY GUIDE IN ENGLISH 6

LESSON 4: Idiomatic Expressions

I. Objectives:
 Recognizes idiomatic expressions used in sentences
 Infer the meaning of idiomatic expressions using context clues, affixes, roots and other
strategies
Reference:
1. Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELC) EN6V-Ia-12.3.1
2. Curriculum Guide – English 6
3. English Arts I. 2000. pp 80, 81, 99, 100, 148, 149.

II. Explore:

 Your mother said, “Bring an umbrella

with you. It is raining cats and dogs
outside.”

 Does this mean that when Ian went

home, cats and dogs fell from the sky?

 Dianne joined a singing contest and her

mother said, “Break a leg honey! You
can do this!”

 Does this mean that Dianne had to

break her leg on the stage?

Questions:
1. Do you think that these phrases mean their literal meaning?
________________________________________________________________________
2. Can you tell the meaning of these phrases?
________________________________________________________________________
3. Do you know what are they called?
________________________________________________________________________

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III. FIRMING UP

Idiomatic
Definition Expressions
An idiom is an expression that takes on a figurative meaning when certain words are combined,
which is different from the literal definition of the individual words. In other words, idioms don't
mean exactly what the words mean. They have, however, a hidden meaning.
We can infer the meaning of idiomatic expressions through the help of:
a. Context Clues
b. Affixes
c. Roots and other strategies

A.  Context Clues
Figure out what the idiomatic expression spic and span mean.

She’s always cleaning because she likes her home to be spic and span.

What do you think the idiomatic expression “spic and span” mean?  Now, I would like
you to think about the other words in the sentence? What clue words can you find?  If
your answer is   always cleaning   then, you are correct. 
Following the clue words, you can now figure out that spic and span mean something
that is totally clean or tidy.

Here is another sentence for you to read.

She has just returned from her vacation but is feeling under the weather and has a
 sore throat and running nose.

Suppose you want to figure out the meaning of the idiomatic expression “under the
weather” in the sentence. What will you do? Look carefully at the sentence. Now focus
on what clues in the sentence tell you:
-has a sore throat and running nose.
So, the idiom “under the weather” must mean ill.
 This is how to find meaning of idiomatic expression using context clue/s.
 You can get the meaning of the expression by reading the words in the same sentence.

B. Affixes
Affixes are letters or syllables added before or after a root word. If they are
added before the root word, they are called prefixes. If they are found after the root
word, they are called suffixes. A root word is also called a base word. 
For example, the word unhappy has the prefix un and the root word is happy. For the
word thoughtful, the root word is thought and the suffix is ful.
Example:
Father seems very unpredictable about his surprise for mother’s birthday. He’s
a bit of loose cannon.

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By looking at the sentence, you can see that the word unpredictable) is a word
with an affix which is an inference of the idiomatic expression “loose cannon”.

C. Roots and other strategies

Read the sentence below and understand further how to figure out the meaning of
idiomatic expression using the root words.
“They say that the old lady living in the house at the end road has evil eye, if
she catches you in her gaze, you’ll be malevolently cursed.”
Now learners, focus on the underlined word.  What is it? Can you tell that word
has root word? If your answer is yes, you’re right because the underlined word is the
word with a root word. To get the meaning of the idiomatic expression, find first the
meaning of the root word of the underlined word.
The word malevolently has a root word.”mal” which means bad. Therefore, the
meaning of the idiom “evil eye” is “to inflict harm or misfortune.” From the example
given, we can conclude that a root word will help us to infer the meaning of the
idiomatic expression. 

Summary of Ideas:
Using Context Clues 
The context of a word is made up of the punctuation marks, words, sentences, and
paragraphs that surround it.  A word’s context can give you clues about its meaning.
How to use context clues?
It gives hints to help define a difficult or unusual word. The clue may appear within the
same sentence as the word to which it refers, or it may follow in a preceding sentence.
How important affixes and roots are?
Affixes and root words are most essential strategy for unlocking the meaning of
new words available to pupils. These common affixes may be memorized through the
use of the list.
Figurative language is a language that communicates meaning beyond the literal
meaning of the words.  Use context clues to figure out the meanings of idioms, slang,
and figurative language. 

For additional inputs kindly access the links below::

 Idiomatic Expressions - MELC Based - YouTube
 100+ Useful Idiomatic Expressions from A-Z with Examples • 7ESL

IV. Deepen
Activity 1:

Directions: Read each sentence. The underlined group of words is an idiom. Choose the best
meaning. Write your answer on your activity notebook.
1. Whenever Rene is under the weather, he gets plenty of rest and takes plenty of vitamins.
A. out in the rain B. ill C. exercising D. below the weather
2. We planned a surprise party for grandmother, but William spilled the beans and spoiled
    it.
A. revealed the secret B. stopped the party
C. threw beans to surprise Grandmother at the party. D. planted some beans

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3. Marlon’s jokes wear thin after you’ve heard them ten times.
A. become strong B. become funny
C. become boring D. remain thin
4. Although Ester did well in the spelling quiz, she tripped up when she came to the word
   giraffe.
A. fell on the floor B. made a choice
C. spoke quietly D. made a mistake
5. The movie was so funny, it really had made us in stitches.
A. laughing hard B. sewing
C. watching eagerly D. listening attentively

Activity 2:
Directions: Read each sentence below. Use the affixes in the sentence to infer the
meaning of the idiomatic expression. Choose the correct meaning of every idiom inside
the box and write them on the space provided before each item.
A. You should not talk.
B. I enjoyed two different opportunities at the same time.
C. They were given free as paid by the donor.
D. They could not agree with each other.
E. It seldom takes place.

_________________1. You should listen silently to your elders whenever they are
saying something important. You should hold your tongue.
_________________2. By being a school paper adviser, I luckily visited different places
during the National Schools Press Conference. Indeed, I had the best of both worlds.
_________________3. The neighbors angrily talked in front of the barangay captain.
They did not see eye to eye with each other.
________________ 4. We rarely go on vacation. This happens only once in a blue moon.
________________ 5. During the community quarantine, our barangay captain told us
that sacks of rice were on the house.

Activity 3:
Directions: Read and analyze the sentences. Copy the words in the word box with their
definition below to make each sentence correct. Write your answer on the space
provided in each item.
watchful disapprove
wellness expensive
patiently

1. Teachers are (watch carefully) ______________ of their pupils during the final
examination. They keep an eye on them to avoid cheating.
2. I hate having to stand in long lines because I can’t hold my horse. But still I am here
(able to remain calm) ______________ waiting!
3. His new job has given him (state of being healthy) ______________. So, he has now a
new lease of life
4. My teacher turn down my excuse letter for being late. She (refuse to grant a request)
it ______________.
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5. Yikes! This shirt costs an arm and leg. So (it is extremely expensive) ____________.

V. TRANSFER OF LEARNING
I. Directions: Use context clues to determine the meaning of the underlined idioms.
Encircle the letter of the correct answer.
      1.  I was so upset about my bad grade that I had to listen to the music to blow off
steam. 
A. sing and dance B. calm down C. go for a run D. boil water
      2.  I didn’t have any good options, and I felt like I was stuck between a rock and a
hard
place.
A. in a mountain B. with a soft pillow
           C. with two bad options D. with two good options
3.   I wanted to quit the Soccer team, but my father convinced me not to throw in the
towel yet.
A. take a shower B. dry off C. wash my clothes D. quit
      4.   I did my homework in a flash so that I could watch as much TV as possible.
A. brightly B. loudly C.slowly D. quickly
5.Before Mary performed in a concert, she had butterflies in her stomach.
A. nervous B. sad C. happy D.joyful

II. Directions: Read the following sentences. The italicized words are idiomatic expressions.
Infer their meaning using affixes. Encircle the letter that corresponds to your answer.
1. She was carelessly sewing the dress. It was indeed a run-of-the-mill job. 
A. pulp mill
B. difficult and challenging
C. regular and ordinary
D. incautious
2. Our neighbor readily picks a fight with someone.
A. avoids a fight
B. looks for an opportunity to quarrel
C. helps solves a conflict
D. prepares a fight
3. She hurriedly finished the report because it was already the 11th hour.
A. almost very close to midnight
B. last chance before time is up
C. time when nobody is around
D. time after the deadline
4.  I frequently tell my friend to make herself at home when she comes over.
A. act like her home is my home
B. help clean the house
C. build her own house
D. buy a new home
5. We frankly told her to come out in the open regarding her feelings for her
new friends.
A. honestly disclose
B. open her mind
C. tell everyone
D. to show her true feelings
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III. Directions: Infer the meaning of the idiomatic expression from the sentences using
roots. Encircle the letter of your answer.
1. The bank has confirmed the loan agreement, so it’s a done deal.”
A. untruthful statement B. everything has been decided
C. something even worse is going to happen D. unconfirmed agreement
2. Being in a state of insufferable pain for months is a fate worse than death itself.
    A. a disappointing defeat B. something unfair
    C. too extreme to bear, its intolerable D. bearable health condition
3. He was a complete novice in foreign affairs. He was a greenhorn!
    A. expert B. inexperience
    C. inflexible D. flexible
4. We need some able-and-ready volunteers who are capable to set-up chairs in the
meeting
hall.
    A. men who are healthy and have the ability to do anything.
    B. men who are not capable of doing something
    C. some who flatters and bowl down
    D. someone who is unwilling to help
5. I would like to excuse myself for my abdominal behavior at the party last week. I am 
afraid I lost my temper and said something that was very offensive.
    A. causing someone to feel deeply hurt, upset or angry
    B. act performed in order to stop something
    C. changing one’s opinion
    D. unpleasant behavior and actions