With our students returning home soon after months in the U.S., their language skills have likely improved drastically.
Idioms and humor are often the last to be learned when picking up a new language, and they are often intertwined.
How many idioms does your exchange student know? And which ones do you need to teach before they go home?
Americans will often say things such as, “It’s raining cats and dogs!” or “When pigs fly,” or even, “Put a sock in it.” To another American, this makes perfect sense. To a non-native English speaker, we have some explaining to do…
Of course, idioms in any language and culture cannot be taken too literally. But, we can have some fun with them.
Here are 10 American idioms to teach your exchange student:
10. Beat around the bush
Definition: To not be direct or straightforward about something
Example: “Stop beating around the bush and just tell me what you think about my outfit.”
*Culture note: This idiom is particularly American as American culture claims one of the most direct communication styles.
9. Give me a hand
Definition: To help someone out with something
Example: “Hey, Phil, can you give me a hand with the homework later today?”
8. Play it by ear
Definition: To not plan and instead see how things go; take things a step at a time
Example: “I have a busy morning running errands, so is it ok if we play our afternoon plans by ear?”
*Culture note: Not to be confused with “playing by ear,” which means playing an instrument without reading music.
7. Under the weather
Definition: To be sick
Example: “I won’t be able to make the dinner party tonight because I’m feeling a little under the weather.”
*Culture note: Although Americans tend to be very direct, talking about the details of how sick we are is one thing we (and many others) don’t want to be as forthcoming about, so we use this idiom instead.
6. Break a leg
Definition: Good luck (especially before a performance)
Example: “Break a leg with your big show tonight– I’m sure you’ll do great!”
5. Up my alley
Definition: to match someone’s interests
Example: “Wow, that movie sounds totally up my alley, I love mysteries.”
4. Call it a day
Definition: To stop doing an activity because you’re tired or because you think you’ve done enough
Example: “We’ve been working on this project since early this morning, let’s just call it a day.”
*Culture note: The Japanese have a similar saying– “Otsukaresamadesu.” However, the meaning and connotation of idioms certainly vary across cultures/languages.
3. Bite the bullet
Definition: To decide to do something that you don’t want to do
Example: “I might need to bite the bullet and finally buy a new laptop for school.”
2. Get out of hand
Definition: To get out of control
Example: “I tried to babysit yesterday, but the kids got so out of hand and I didn’t know what to do.”
1. Spill the beans
Definition: To confess information that you have been holding on to
Example: “Spill the beans, Julie, I want to know what happened at the school dance.”
Idioms can be a fun and light-hearted way to cap off your exchange student’s English-learning adventure in the U.S. What idioms has your exchange student already picked up this year? What new ones can you introduce? I also encourage you to ask your exchange student if they have any fun idioms from their native language/culture.
Feel free to share any other idioms that we’re forgetting (or idioms from other languages that you learned) in the comments!
