Idioms: talents, skills, and abilities
Worksheet overview
This ESL worksheet is dedicated to idioms and expressions used when talking about talents, skills, and abilities. Students will learn and practise 12 idioms.
The first group of idioms (e.g. a magic touch, to play to one’s strengths, to be born for something, can’t do something to save one’s life) are introduced through a short dialogue.
Students work out the meanings of the idioms and match them to their definitions. To practise, they paraphrase 6 sentences, using the correct idiom. After that they are given 5 questions to discuss, and an idiom to use in each answer they give.
Next, students take a look at 6 short dialogues that contain the rest of the idioms (e.g. have two left feet, have green fingers, a hidden talent, jack of all trades, have a knack for). To practise them, students first complete a multiple-choice exercise, and then complete 6 sentences with their own ideas. Finally, students are given a few debate questions related to skills and abilities.
For more speaking practice, you can use the conversation cards.
