IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS

AND
CONTEXT CLUES
Expectations:
A. differentiate sentences with idiomatic
expressions and context clues;
B. identify the meaning of idiomatic
expressions in a sentence; and
C. infer idiomatic expressions in a sentence
using context clues.
IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS are phrases that
do not mean exactly what they say. These are
type of informal language that have a meaning
different from the meaning of the words in the
expressions.
Example:

It's a piece of cake - it is easy

Our English class is a piece of cake.
It’s raining cats and dogs – it is raining hard
a
It rained cats and dogs last typhoon Ulysses.
Break a leg- good luck
Break a leg on your contest.
Example:

Hit the sack- go to sleep

No pain, no gain You have to work for what you
want
a
That's the last straw My patience has run out
Example:

Hit the sack- go to sleep

No pain, no gain You have to work for what you
want
a
That's the last straw My patience has run out
Identify the idiomatic expressions in the sentence.
1. Trust me, I have a million and one ideas I can share during
the conference.
2. I’ll eat breakfast on the fly and meet you at 7.
3. I’m late for my appointment. Put the pedal to the metal!
4. Your brother cannot help you today. He had one too many.
5. When you speak to someone, hit the nail on the head.
CONTEXT CLUES are words in the sentences that
help you figure out
the meaning of a difficult word that you do not know.
In this lesson, you will learn the difference between
the idiomatic expressions
and the context clues, their meanings and infer the
idiomatic expressions in a
sentence using context clues.
FIVE TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES
1. Definition/ Explanation Clues- sometimes a
word’s or phrase’s meaning is explained immediately
after its use. Clues to definition include “that is,”
commas, dashes, and parentheses.
Example:
The submarine, is a ship that can travel under the
surface of the ocean.
FIVE TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES
1. Definition/ Explanation Clues- sometimes a
word’s or phrase’s meaning is explained immediately
after its use. Clues to definition include “that is,”
commas, dashes, and parentheses.
Example:
The submarine, is a ship that can travel under the
surface of the ocean.
FIVE TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES
2. Example Clues- sometimes when a reader finds a
new word, an example might be found nearby that
helps to explain its meaning. Words like including,
such as, and for example, point out example clues.

Example:
The river was full of toxic materials such as cleaning
agents from factories and pesticides from the
nearby farms.
FIVE TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES
3. Synonym Restatement Clues- may appear in the
same sentence as the unknown word because it
repeats an idea expressed in familiar words nearby.
Synonyms are words with the same meaning.
Example:
After watching the Front Row, I felt compassion or
pity forthe children in Masbate.
FIVE TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES
4. Contrast/ Antonym Clues- are words or phrases
that provide the opposite meaning of an unknown
word. Words like “although,” “however,” and “but”
may signal contrast clues.
Example:
Although Francia felt bitter and dejected, most
members of their group were cheerful.
FIVE TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES
5. Mood/ Tone Clues- the author sets a mood, and
the meaning of the unknown word must harmonize
with the mood.

Example:
I’d rather stay here and wait, than go into that dark
room..
 Identify the meaning of the underlined words or
context clues used in the sentence.

1. I was so upset when my mother scolded me that I

had to lock my room to blow off steam.

A. boil water B. calm down

C. open the roof D. run away
 Identify the meaning of the underlined words or
context clues used in the sentence.

2. It’s a mixed emotion seeing my father for the first

time.

A. different feelings B. angry

C. overwhelmed D. sad
 Identify the meaning of the underlined words or
context clues used in the sentence.

3. They are living in opulent comfort that they don’t

need to worry about tomorrow.

A. easy go lucky B. economizer

C. poor D. wealthy
 Identify the meaning of the underlined words or
context clues used in the sentence.

4. A group of men searching for the missing plane

had a perilous journey across the mountains.

A. easy B. safe
C. dangerous D. harmless
 Identify the meaning of the underlined words or
context clues used in the sentence.

5. My friends and I were dreaming of scrumptious

food while having a picnic.

A. delicious B. expensive
C. unsavory D. distasteful
Assignment:
Answer the Google Form in the classroom.