Idioms: positivity, optimism and hope

This worksheet is dedicated to 12 idioms that are used when expressing hope, positivity and optimism, as well as encouragement. It includes plenty of communicative activities so that students can learn and practise them. You can combine it with the worksheet “Idioms: gratitude“.

Some of the idioms included in the worksheet are silver lining, blessing in disguise, get your hopes up, the sky is the limit, on the bright side. The idioms are introduced through 3 short dialogues, each containing 4 idioms. Students read each dialogue and match the idioms to their definitions. After that there are 2 activities to practise – a multiple-choice exercise and sentences which students need to rephrase, using the correct idiom.

The last 2 activities are speaking activities: First students discuss 3 statements. After that students are asked to create a short dialogue based on 1 of 4 situations given.

This ESL worksheet, together with the conversation cards can be used in various classes in order to practise these positivity-related idioms. It would work great as an addition to lessons about feelings, psychology, emotional well-being, mental health etc.