Idioms: intuition and perception
Worksheet overview
This ESL worksheet is dedicated to idioms and expressions used to talk about intuition and perception. Students will learn and practise 12 idioms.
The first group of idioms (to put one’s finger on it, something feels/is off, don’t add up, have a hunch, there is more to it than meets the eye) are introduced through a short dialogue. Students match the idioms to their definitions and then complete a multiple-choice exercise.
Next, students look at 4 short dialogues, each including one idiom (to have a sinking feeling, inner voice, to trust your gut, to feel something in your bones). After matching the idioms to their definitions, students practise by matching the 2 halves of 4 sentences. Next, they complete 4 sentences with their own ideas.
After that students look at the last group of intuition and perception-related idioms (to read the room, to read someone’s mind, to read between the lines). They complete the idiom, looking at the definitions given. Then, they complete a gap-fill activity.
The rest of the activities are focused on speaking. First, students look at a few statements and say whether they are true for them or not. Next, they are given talking points that they can use to start a conversation. Finally, they are given 3 photos and are asked to describe them, using suitable idioms from this lesson.
For more speaking practice, you can use the conversation cards.