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Chapter 2: Emotions

Emotions

A. Read the idioms and their meanings:

  1. On cloud nine / Over the moon / Go bananas = Happy

Free A young girl embraces a paper crescent moon with a serene smile amidst cotton clouds in a studio setting. Stock Photo

CC BY: Monstera Production

 

2. As white as a sheet / Shake in her boots / Shake like a leaf = Fear, anxiety

image

CC BY: Deagreez

 

3. At each other’s throats / Up in arms / Drive me nuts / Blow a fuse = Angry

Free A man and woman having a heated argument indoors, surrounded by plants. Stock Photo
CC BY: Timur Weber

B. Find the idioms in the paragraph:

After receiving the good news about his wife’s recovery, Niko was on cloud nine. He was so happy that he couldn’t stop smiling. But as he started getting the bills from the hospital after each visit, he was as white as a sheet. After the bill of the last visit, he started to shake like a leaf. The insurance was driving him nuts with their inconsistent responses. He’d be at someone’s throat if the insurance guys were there, not on the phone. By the end of the day, he was about to blow a fuse, but luckily a supervisor at the insurance company was able to give him concrete answers that gave him some relief. 

 

C. Let’s watch a cool video about these idioms and more:

 

D. Match the idiom with its correct meaning:

Idiom

Meaning

1. On cloud nine / Over the moon

A. upset

2. Shake like a leaf / As white as a sheet

B.  delighted

3. At each other’s throats / Blow a fuse

C. nervous or scared

 

 

 

F. Write your own sentences using these idioms.

1. On cloud nine / Over the moon

2. Shake like a leaf / As white as a sheet

3. At each other’s throats / Blow a fuse

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Answers:  1. B 2. C 3. A 

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Idioms in English for High Intermediate Level Copyright © by Lake Washington Institute of Technology is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.