Idioms: the summer

This ESL worksheet is dedicated to 12 idioms that are used when talking about the summer, the beach and hot weather.

The first activity introduces 6 idioms (beat the heat, off the beaten track, catch some rays, soak up the sun, on a shoestring budget, sun-worshipper). Students work out their meaning from the sentences given and then match the idioms to their meanings. As a practice exercise, students complete 5 different questions with 1 word and then start a conversation using the questions. With the next activity, students learn 6 more idioms (Indian summer, the dog days of summer, a scorcher, a touch of the sun, summer fling, burned to a crisp) choosing the correct meaning of the idiom out of the alternatives given. To practise, students answer 2 “have you ever” questions and give more examples about their experiences.

The last 2 activities are speaking activities. In the first one, students complete 5 statements with the correct idiom and then discuss the statements. Then they tell their partner about their last summer, their plans for the next summer, their best summer so far and their dream summer.

This ESL worksheet, together with the conversation cards can be used in various classes in order to practise these summer-related idioms. The worksheet will work great in a combination with a lesson about the summer, holidays, travelling, the beach and hot weather.