Idioms: likes and dislikes

This ESL worksheet is dedicated to idioms and expressions used to express likes and dislikes. Students will learn and practise 14 expressions to express their preferences.

The first 7 idioms (e.g. it’s not my cup of tea, it’s my go-to, I can’t get enough of) are introduced through a dialogue about food preferences. Students match the expressions to their meanings, and then create a similar dialogue about their own food, cuisine, and restaurant preferences. Next, students paraphrase 6 sentences using a suitable expression and then are asked to change the sentences in order to make them true for them.

The next group of expressions (e.g. music to my ears, rub me the wrong way, is right up my alley, I’m not sold on) are introduced through 7 sentences. Students work out the meaning of the expressions from context and match them to their definitions. Next, students complete a short dialogue with 5 of the expressions they’ve just seen.

The last 2 activities are focused on speaking. First, students interview each other and complete a table with preferences about different activities and areas of life. Finally, they are asked to role-play a situation where 2 friends need to agree on a plan for the weekend.

For additional speaking practice, you can use the conversation cards.