Body Language Idioms

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Body Language Idioms

Level: Intermediate

Teacher's notes:

Print out the list of the body idioms.
Cut them into strips and one to each student in your class.
Tell your students to stand up and mingle with others in the class.
As they are doing so, they should try to get the other students to guess the meaning of their body idioms.
They can do this is by explaining the idiom, miming or saying synonyms or antonyms for the idioms. You could do one as an example. Explain that they cannot say the idiom.
After this go over the meanings of the idioms; clarify ones which the students may not be sure of.
After this put the students into pairs with the sentences below and ask the students to try to clarify the meanings of the idioms using the sentences.
Go over the meanings with the whole group.
Ask the students to practice some of the idioms by asking the questions below. To follow up the students could make their own questions using the target language to ask the group.

Body language

To turn your back on someone	To put your heads together
To play it by ear	To raise your eyebrows
To give the thumbs up	To twist your arm
To risk your neck	To put your foot in it
To split hairs	To think on my feet

1. The CEO was very particular about the details of the agreement; he split hairs over every issue.

2. Her mother turned her back on her once she decided to marry the man that her mother hated.

3. She raised her eyebrows at the suggestion of the merger; everyone was surprised.

4. He really put his foot in it when he mentioned the bad deal in front of the boss who had organized the deal.

5. She really risked her neck when she made that suggestion. Everyone was against her but she managed to change their minds.

6. I never know what is going to happen in my job; I always have to think on my feet.

7. When John asked me for a drink I said no but he really twisted my arm.

8. The CEO gave the thumbs up to the new project; we started it the following day.

9. Initially we had no ideas for the new project but then we put our heads together and came up with some possibilities.

10. John asked me what my plans were for the weekend. I wasn't sure so I told him that I was going to play it by ear.

Now ask your partner these questions:

1. Do you like to plan your weekends or do you like to play them by ear?

2. Do you like to work in a team and brainstorm ideas i.e. put your heads together or do you like to work alone?

3. Do you prefer it when everyone agrees with you or do you like it when you make suggestions or comments which raise eye brows?

4. Do you like to think on your feet?

5. Do you know someone who likes to split hairs?

6. When was the last time that you put your foot down about something?