Idioms: memory

This ESL worksheet is dedicated to 12 idioms that are used to talk about memory, remembering and forgetting things. It includes plenty of communicative activities so that students can learn and practise them.

The first activity introduces 6 idioms (e.g. refresh my memory, rack my brains, slip my mind, by heart ) through short dialogues. Students work out the meaning of the idioms and match them to their definitions. To practise the target vocabulary, students are given 3 sentences to complete with their own ideas and use as conversation starters. Next, students are given 6 sentences, each including 1 idiom. They work out the meaning of each idiom and replace it with a phrase given (take a trip down memory lane, have a memory like an elephant, for old times’ sake). As a communicative activity, students choose the correct idiom to complete 3 questions and discuss the questions in pairs or small groups. After that students complete a practice task where they need to replace part of 4 sentences given with the correct idiom. The last 2 activities are speaking activities: first students are given 2 questions to discuss and then they are asked to share their memories related to different events. This ESL worksheet, together with the conversation cards can be used in various classes in order to practise these memory-related idioms. It would work great as an addition to lessons about memory, childhood, etc.