Here’s another training worksheet for C2 students preparing to take the C2 Proficiency exam. Students guess the meaning of some common idioms and expressions, attempt to recall them, then put them into practice in conversation. Download the handout below:
Tag: vocabulary
C2 Expressions: Brain, Face, Head, Wits, Mind

This is a vocab lesson plan based on an exercise from the Expert Proficiency Course book. It expands a short exercise from the book out into a full activity with exam practice and a speaking task. Students learn expressions with the words brain, face, head and wits and put them into practice in a key word transformation exercise and a discussion activity. Download the handout with key below:
Expert Proficiency Coursebook page 74
Sentence Completion
Complete the expressions in the sentences with brain, face, head, or mind.
- I couldn’t tell you the exact figure off the top of my …… but I think we sold about 10,000 units last year.
- The neighbour just called to say they’ve found our cat, that’s a load off my ……
- She was at her …… end trying to figure out how to control her 14 year-old son.
- He presented the new model to the shareholders but she’s the real …… behind it.
- We were lucky enough to come …… to …… with a Bengal tiger.
- I have to admit, it never crossed my …… to ask Brian for help with the artwork, but it turns out he’s brilliant!
- If they don’t turn that music down, I’m going to go over there and give them a piece of my ……
- He’s insufferable these days, all the money and praise has clearly gone to his ……
- My laptop has a …… of its own, it shuts down whenever it wants.
- The students struggled to keep a straight …… while the teacher was having difficulty playing the video.
- That part of town is a bit dodgy, you need to keep your …… about you if you go there.
- Trying to get the boys to tidy their bedrooms I always feel like I’m banging my …… against a brick wall.
- The boss had to think of a way to break his promise without losing ……
- In order to save …… the company recalled all the faulty products and gave their customers full refunds.
- I’ve been racking my …… all night trying to remember my PIN number but I just can’t.
Become arrogant after success From memory A relief Thinking really hard Very stressed, not know what to do Be within touching distance Suffer damage to one’s reputation/social standing Tell sb off/reprimand | Wasting my time, actions have no effect Maintain one’s reputation Occurred to me The person who thought of an idea Seem capable of thought and independent action Not laugh/show signs of amusement Be alert/keep an eye out |
Practice
Complete the sentences with one of the expressions.
- I’ve been trying really hard to remember where I left my keys.
BRAIN
I’ve …………………..………….. to remember where I left my keys.
- Being embarrassed in front of other teenagers of the same age can be devastating for teenagers.
FACE
It can be devastating for teenagers ……………………..……………..….. Group.
- It’s vital that you be careful, don’t reveal any unnecessary information in the meeting.
WITS
It’s vital that you ……………………..……………..….. any information slip in the meeting.
- I can’t think of any examples right now from memory but I’m sure there are loads.
TOP
I can’t recall any examples off ……………………..……………..….. in no doubt that there are loads.
- Steve Jobs was the one who came up with the idea of the Ipod.
BRAINS
Steve Jobs ……………………..……………..….. the Ipod.
- “Don’t let money change you!” said the old rapper to the newbies.
HEADS
The old rapper advised the newbies …………………………………………………..
- My car stereo does whatever it likes, there’s no controlling it.
MIND
My car stereo ……………………………………………….., there’s no controlling it.
Conversation
Complete the questions with one of the expressions, then answer the questions with a partner.
- What sort of things do politicians and celebrities tend to do to …… face after a scandal? Does it usually work?
- If your neighbours are keeping you up, do you tend to ……. them a piece of your mind? Or grin and bear it?
- Think of a time when you struggled to ……. a straight face in a serious situation. Did you manage it?
- Can you think of a time when you lost ……. in front of your peers when you were a teenager? Can you laugh about it now?
- Are you good at remembering names, figures and dates ……. the top of your head? Or do you often need to look them up?
- Do you need to ……. your brain to put names to faces? Are there any things you struggle to remember?
- Do the brains ……. the biggest inventions always get the credit? Can you think of any examples of people who didn’t get the credit they deserved?
- What are you most stressed about at the moment? If you could wave a magic wand and make one of your problems disappear, what would be the biggest ……. off your mind?
- Are you someone who tends to have your wits ……. you when you’re walking down the street? Or do you have your head in the clouds?
- Do any of your electronic devices/appliances have minds of their …….? What sort of things do they do?
- Do people tend to do what you ask them to? Or is it sometimes like ……. your head against a brick wall? Give some examples?
- Have your parents ever been ….. their wits end with your, or one of your sibling’s behaviour? Why? What did they do?
- What’s the best way to stop praise or money ……. to a person’s head? Do you think it’s inevitable?
- Have you ever received help or advice from an unexpected source? Had it ever ……. your mind to turn to that particular person?
KEY – SENTENCE COMPLETION + DEFINITION MATCH
- HEAD – B
- MIND – C
- WITS – E
- BRAINS – L
- FACE TO FACE – F
- MIND – K
- MIND – H
- HEAD – A
- MIND – M
- FACE – N
- WITS – O
- HEAD – I
- FACE – G
- FACE – J
- BRAIN – D
KEY – KEY WORD TRANSFORMATIONS
- BEEN RACKING MY BRAIN // TRYING
- TO LOSE FACE IN FRONT OF THEIR // PEER
- HAVE YOUR WITS ABOUT YOU, // DO NOT LET
- THE TOP OF MY HEAD // BUT I AM
- WAS THE BRAINS // BEHIND
- NOT TO LET MONEY // GO TO THEIR HEADS
- HAS A MIND // OF ITS OWN
KEY – CONVERSATION QUESTIONS
- SAVE
- GIVE
- KEEP
- FACE
- OFF
- RACK
- BEHIND
- LOAD
- ABOUT
- OWN
- BANGING
- AT
- GOING
- CROSSED
C1/C2: The Life of a Celeb – Fame Vocabulary

This is a vocabulary lesson plan for C1/C2 students on the topic of fame and celebrities. Students read a text on the pros and cons of fame, examine some advanced expressions on the topic, then put them into practice in a Cambridge-style exercise, a discussion and a debate. Download the handout below, you’ll find the key for the key word transformations on page 3:
Part 1: Pre-reading
- What type of people do you think want to be famous?
- What do you think are some of the most common pros and cons of fame?
- What is the stereotypical story of the life of a child star?
- What advice would you give to someone who still wants to be famous despite the cons?
Part 2: Reading
Read the text.
Does it mention anything you discussed in part 1?
The life of a celeb isn’t all a bed of roses, you know. It really is a double-edged sword and it’s difficult to know if the pros outweigh the cons. Being in the limelight 24/7 can’t be good for your mental health. Being under constant scrutiny, having every aspect of your life dissected by the tabloids, it’s enough to drive you round the bend. It’s no wonder so many child stars go off the rails in such a spectacular fashion. They get their big breaks and rise to fame at such a young age then burn out in a blaze of glory for all to see. Keeping your feet on the ground is no mean feat when you’re surrounded by so many hangers-on blowing smoke up your backside. It must be so easy to let the fame go to your head and start thinking you’re the best thing since sliced bread. Then, if things take a turn for the worse, the fall from grace can be precipitous.
It’s not all doom and gloom however, being in the public eye does have its perks. For one thing you get to lead a glamorous lifestyle; on the guestlist for every event, endorsed by all the biggest brands, it’s ironic that some of the richest people in the world hardly have to pay for anything. Designers and companies bend over backwards to get those publicity shots of you decked out in their latest products. But brands and products aren’t the only ones that can benefit by association with a megastar; some A-listers choose to use their platforms to raise awareness of various issues and campaigns, drawing their followers’ attention to the plights of various disenfranchised groups around the world.
So, have you still got your heart set on making a name for yourself in the world of show business? If so, be warned, you’ve got to learn to take the rough with the smooth. And should you happen to make it to the top, against all odds, enjoy your time in the sun, make the most of your 15 minutes of fame, because they might be over in the blink of an eye.
Read the text again.
Answer the questions.
- What drawbacks of fame does it mention?
- What effect can becoming famous have on your psyche/character?
- What are some of the perks of fame?
- What advice does the writer give to wannabe celebs?
Part 3 – Language Focus
Look at the underlined expressions.
Discuss the meaning with your partner.
- How familiar are the expressions to you? Mark them with:
- A tick if you’ve heard them before.
- A wavy line if they ring a bell.
- A cross if they’re completely new to you.
- A tick if you’ve heard them before.
Memory test:
The life of a celeb isn’t all a …… of roses, you know. It really is a double-…….. sword and it’s difficult to know if the pros ……… the cons. Being in the l……… 24/7 can’t be good for your mental health. Being …….. constant scrutiny, having every aspect of your life dissected by the t………, it’s enough to drive you r…….. the b…….. It’s no …….. so many child stars go off the …….. in such a spectacular fashion. They get their big …….. and r……. to fame at such a young age then burn ……. in a blaze of glory for all to see. Keeping your feet on the …….. is no m……. feat when you’re surrounded by so many h……..-on blowing s……… up your b……… It must be so easy to let the fame go to your ……. and start thinking you’re the best thing since s…….. b…….. Then, if things take a ……. for the worse, the fall from ……… can be p………..
It’s not all d…… and g……. however, being in the …….. eye does have its perks. For one thing you get to ……. a glamorous lifestyle; …… the guestlist for every event, endorsed by all the biggest brands, it’s ironic that some of the richest people in the world hardly have to pay for anything. Designers and companies bend over b……… to get those publicity shots of you d……. out in their latest products. But brands and products aren’t the only ones that can benefit by association with a m……..; some A-l……… choose to use their p…….. to …….. awareness of various issues and campaigns, ……… their followers’ attention to the p…….. of various dis………….. groups around the world.
So, have you still got your …….. set on making a ……. for yourself in the world of ……..business? If so, be w…….., you’ve got to learn to take the r…….. with the s………. And should you happen to make it to the ……, against all o……., enjoy your time in the sun, make the most of your ……. minutes of fame, because they might be over in the …….. of an eye.
Key Word Transformations
- My agent showed me some of the articles that had appeared in the papers.
ATTENTION
My agent…………………………………………. some of the articles that had appeared in the papers.
- It’s hard for newly famous celebrities to continue to act in a sensible and practical way.
FEET
Newly famous celebrities struggle ……………………………………………………………..
- The life of a famous dancer isn’t always good.
BED
The life of a famous dancer………………………………………………………………….
- He moved to New York to become famous in the art world.
NAME
He moved to New York with the intention ………………………………………………… the art world.
- She wants to be an actress more than anything else in the world.
HEART
She …………………………………………………………………………… an actress.
- He aims to make more people aware of the difficulties the indigenous population are facing.
RAISE
His objective is ………………………………………………………….. of the indigenous population.
Part 4 – Discussion
- Would you like to be famous?
- How well do you think you would cope with being famous?
- Do you think that the pros of fame outweigh the cons?
- Overall, do you think celebrities have a positive or a negative impact on society?
- Why do you think so many celebrities tend to suffer from addiction problems or poor mental health?
- If you had to choose images of celebrities to illustrate the pros and cons of fame, whose image would you choose and why?
- How do you think fame and show business have changed in your lifetime? How do you think it will change in the future?
Debate topic: Celebrities have a positive effect on society
KEY
Key Word Transformations
- My agent showed me some of the articles that had appeared in the papers.
ATTENTION
My agent DREW MY ATTENTION // TO some of the articles that had appeared in the papers.
- It’s hard for newly famous celebrities to continue to act in a sensible and practical way.
FEET
Newly famous celebrities struggle TO KEEP THEIR FEET // ON THE GROUND.
- The life of a famous dancer isn’t always good.
BED
The life of a famous dancer ISN’T ALL A BED // OF ROSES.
- He moved to New York to become famous in the art world.
NAME
He moved to New York with the intention OF MAKING A NAME FOR HIMSELF IN the art world.
- She wants to be an actress more than anything else in the world.
HEART
She HAS (GOT) HER HEART SET // ON BECOMING an actress.
- He aims to make more people aware of the difficulties the indigenous population are facing.
RAISE
His objective is TO RAISE AWARENESS // OF THE PLIGHT of the indigenous population.
C2 Proficiency: Use of English Worksheet & Conversation

This is a lesson plan for students preparing to take the C2 Proficiency exam. Students look at some typical phrasal verbs, collocations and dependent prepositions that often come up in the exam and put them into practice in conversation. Download the handout, key and accompanying slides below:
Here is a link to a quizziz game you can use for spaced repetition:
https://quizizz.com/admin/quiz/635960fbd051f0001d04ea21?source=quiz_share
Procedure
First of all students have to choose from two prepositions to complete the phrasal verbs so that it fits the context of the sentence. Then have them match the phrasal verbs to the definitions in the box below. You could then have students test each other, one says a definition, the other has to recall the phrasal verb.
Show students slide 2 of the presentation and instruct them to turn their handouts over and attempt to recall the missing words in the questions from memory. In this exercise they are required to recall the verb, rather than the preposition. Once they have completed the exercise, have them ask and answer the questions in pairs or small groups and then share any funny/interesting discoveries in open class.
Students then repeat the process for the dependent prepositions. However, in this case, rather than matching definitions, they match synonyms of the collocations to transform the sentence. I most cases they are direct synonyms that fit the same grammatical pattern but in a couple of cases they will need to make changes to the sentence, instruct them to check carefully if the synonym fits.
Slide 4-5 have a similar gapped questions task to the first one for students to complete in pairs. The final exercise contains more expressions and phrasal verbs with prepositions. Have students complete the exercise in pairs, then after checking in open class, have students come up with gapped questions for their classmates to complete. Tell them that their questions must be open-ended and designed to spark conversation, for example:
Are there any things that you’ve done so many times that you can now do ….. auto-pilot?
Feel free to post any of your students’ questions in the comments! Let me know how it goes!
117 C1 Phrasal Verbs: Study Sheet
This is a self-study resource for C1 students. Full credit to breakoutenglish.com for the list of phrasal verbs:
https://breakoutenglish.com/advanced-cae/phrasal-verbs/
All I’ve done is put each one in context with a sentence or two, then made a quizlet set with the prepositions removed. Download the handout below:
At the end of the handout I’ve added a QR code to the quizlet set so that students can access it easily.
117 C1 Phrasal Verbs
https://breakoutenglish.com/advanced-cae/phrasal-verbs/
- They’ve made their demands and they’re not going to back down. – stop demanding something
- My car always breaks down when I don’t have enough money to get it repaired. – stop working
- They broke/split up last year but then they got back together. – to end; to separate (a marriage / a relationship / etc.)
- My parents died when I was very young so my grandma brought me up. – raise/educate/care for (a child)
- I bumped/ran into an old friend from uni in the street. – to meet someone unexpectedly
- The situation calls for calm negotiations and cool heads from everyone involved. – demand / request
- They’ve had to call off the match due to bad weather. – cancel (an event)
- I’m just going to carry on working on my presentation, but let me know if you need anything. – continue
- The new hairstyle has really caught on with teenagers in my town. catch on – to become popular (an idea or a style);
- I kept dropping hints about what I wanted for my birthday but my wife didn’t catch on. – to understand/realise after a long time
- I bought him a pint to try to cheer him up – make happier
- I came across my old school books while I was clearing out the attic. – find by chance
- He came into quite a lot of money when his grandparents passed away. come into (money) – inherit
- Come round after school and we’ll work on the science project together. – come to your house
- I’ve come up with a great idea for our Halloween costumes. – think of and suggest an idea
- The topic of a pay rise came up in my meeting with the boss. – be mentioned, arise or appear (in class / an exam / a meeting)
- Don’t be late! Everyone is counting on you. – to rely on
- My New Year’s resolution is to cut down on fast food.– reduce the amount you consume
- Sorry, the call got cut off when we went through a tunnel. – separate / isolate / interrupt
- My doctor has told me I need to cut out all processed meats from my diet. – stop doing / eating something
- The child was struggling to do up his shoelaces. We’re doing up our house this summer. – fasten, button up clothes; repair, redecorate or modernize a building or room
- We all dressed up as monsters for Halloween.– put on different clothes in order to disguise yourself
- My Dad dropped by on his way home to work to say hello. – to visit informally or unexpectedly
- He also came to drop off my Christmas presents. The taxi dropped us off outside the airport. – to take something (or someone) to a place and leave it there
- He didn’t enjoy the economics degree course and dropped out after 6 months. – stop taking part in (a competition, a university, etc.)
- We got lost and ended up in a completely different town. We were supposed to go out clubbing but we ended up staying in. – an end result of something planned or unplanned
- She fell for him the moment she met him. – fall in love with
- She fell out with her younger sister over who was going to look after grandma at Christmas. – argue and stop being friendly with someone
- Yesterday she found out that she passed her law degree. – discover
- I wrote them an email to follow up my complaint from the previous day. – find out more about something; take further action
- I get along/on really well with all my teachers. – have a good relationship with
- We just want to get away for the weekend and have some peace and quiet. – go on a short holiday/break
- He stole €10 from his mum’s purse and got away with it, she blamed his brother. – not be punished for doing something
- I don’t earn much but it’s enough to get by. – manage to survive / live
- Stop chatting and get on with your work! – start or continue doing something (especially work)
- It took him a long time to get over her, I think he still loves her. – recover after the end of a relationship with someone
- I’m still getting over a nasty cold but I should be fine in a couple of days. – recover from
- I get together with my old uni friends every 6 months or so. – meet (usually for social reasons)
- I’m cleaning out my garage this weekend, I’m going to get rid of so much old stuff. – eliminate/discard
- He accidently gave away the surprise birthday party to the birthday girl, what an idiot! – reveal
- Hey! That’s my bag! Give it back – return
- Don’t forget to give/hand in your essays at the end of the class. – submit (homework, etc.)
- The kids wouldn’t stop asking for an ice cream so I finally gave in and let them have one. – agree to something you do not want to
- The rotting fruit was giving off a nasty smell. (a smell) – produce and send into the air
- The receptionist gave out all the most important information to the guests. – announce or broadcast information
- They’re giving/handing out free samples of delicious cheese at the supermarket. – distribute to a group of people
- The sudoku puzzle was too difficult so I gave up and read a book instead. – to stop trying to do something (often because it is too difficult)
- A: We should decorate the kitchen. B: Yeah, I’d go along with that. – support an idea or agree with someone’s opinion
- The milk has gone off, we’ll have to buy some more. A bomb went off outside the airport, luckily nobody was hurt. – explode; become bad (food)
- The poker game went on for hours and hours. – to continue
- Have you heard? Charlie is going out with Kathy. – have a romantic relationship with someone
- My Dad’s threatening to take away my car keys if I don’t tidy my room but I don’t think he will go through with it. – complete a promise or plan
- My best friend from primary school and I grew apart over the years and now we hardly speak. – get distant from someone, like a friend
- When I grow up, I want to be a firefighter. – slowly become an adult
- We hung around outside the concert hall for 2 hours after the show trying to get an autograph. – to wait or spend time somewhere, doing nothing
- I’m just going to hang out with my friends tonight. – spend time relaxing (informal)
- Don’t leave your shirts on the floor, you need to hang them up. She finished the call and then hung up. – to hang clothes or an object on a hook or line; to end a phone call
- Go down this street and then head for the big church, your hotel is right next door to it. – go towards
- My shyness always holds me back in social situations. – prevent someone from making progress
- We need to hurry up! Our train leaves in five minutes. – do something more quickly
- Just keep on walking this way and you’ll get to the station in no time. – to continue
- Where were you on Saturday? I really needed your help and you let me down. – disappoint
- The police decided to let the kids off with a warning because it was their first offence. – give someone a lighter punishment than they expected (or not punish at all)
- I can’t come out, I need to look after my baby brother. – take care of
- I hate it when people look down on those who are less fortunate than them. – feel superior to
- I’ve been looking for a flat for 2 months but haven’t found one I like yet. – try to find
- I’m really looking forward to Christmas this year. – feel happy about something that is going to happen
- The police are looking into the case of the missing dog. – investigate
- I had never heard of my Dad’s favorite footballer, I had to look him up on wikipedia. – find information about (e.g. a word in a dictionary)
- I’ve always looked up to my mum, she’s very resilient. – admire and respect
- They gave us free tickets to a different show to make up for the cancellation. – compensate for
- They fell out over something stupid but now they’ve made up. – become friends again
- He’s always making up ridiculous stories and excuses for why he’s late. (something) – invent (stories, excuses)
- Ok, thanks for that report Jon, now let’s move on to Sarah’s presentation. – change to a different job, activity or place
- I moved out of my parents house when I was 18. – stop living in a house or flat
- He was so dehydrated that he passed out and woke up in the back of an ambulance. – lose consciousness
- When are you going to pay back the money you owe me? – return money
- Don’t worry, my parents are going to pay for dinner. – purchase
- They’ve finally managed to pay off the mortgage on the house. She got into Oxford University, all of her hard work has paid off! – finish paying for something; have a positive result from hard work
- Mum, it’s raining really hard, can you come and pick me up from the train station? – meet / collect someone (e.g. at the station / from school)
- At the end of the presentation our boss pointed out several obvious mistakes we had made. – to draw attention to something or someone
- Vicky! Come and put away your toys before you have dinner. – put something back in the correct place
- I’m going to the dentist tomorrow, I’ve been putting it off for months. – postpone
- They put on a big show to raise money for charity. (an event/a show) – organize an event
- Put your coat on, it’s cold outside. (clothes /make up) – place something on your body
- I put on quite a lot of weight during lockdown. (weight) – increase (weight)
- The firefighters were finally able to put the fire out. – extinguish (e.g. fire)
- My uncle can put us up for a couple of nights while we’re in London. (for the night) – accommodate
- Put your hand up if you have any questions. (your hand) – lift into the air
- I’m not going to put up with anymore lateness from those kids. – tolerate
- The car rental company tried to rip us off but I was having none of it. – charge someone too much for something
- We ran out of petrol in the middle of nowhere, it was terrifying. – use up (e.g. money, petrol, time)
- We had to set off at 4am, it was horrible. – start a journey
- We set up the company in 1995 and it’s still going strong to this day. – establish / start (e.g. a company)
- Dan! Stop showing off and pass us the ball, we’re losing 4-0. – try to impress people by telling or showing them what you are capable of
- They’ve had to shut down 5 stores in the area because sales have dropped. – to close
- We need to sort out accommodation for our trip to Paris. – arrange or order by classes or categories; find a solution
- BBC stands for the British Broadcasting Corporation. – to represent
- His ginger hair really makes him stand out from the rest of the boys in his class. – be easy to see because of being different
- I’d say I take after my Dad in my looks and my Mum in my personality. (someone) – resemble a member of your family in appearance, behaviour or character
- Please take your feet off the seat, your shoes are very dirty. – to remove from a surface or your body (clothes)
- Our plane takes off at 9pm. – leave the ground (e.g. a plane)
- She’s taken on a lot of extra responsibilities in her new job. – attempt something new; employ
- A new manager has taken over the department. – take control of
- I took to ice-skating really quickly and now I’ve signed up for weekly classes.– start to like, especially after only a short time
- I first took up volleyball when I was in secondary school. – start doing (a hobby)
- The teacher told us off for being late. – speak angrily to someone who has done something wrong
- I’ve decided to throw away my old sofa, unless you want it. – get rid of something you do not need any more
- The weather on the mountain got really bad so we had to turn back. – return towards the place you started from
- They’ve turned down our offer for the house, they want more money. – reject or refuse
- On a full moon he turns into a werewolf! They’ve turned my favourite restaurant into a Burger King! – to transform
- Don’t forget to turn/switch off the lights when you leave. – to disconnect (e.g. a computer)
- He switched/turned on the TV and sat down to watch the match. – to connect (e.g. the TV)
- Our bus didn’t turn up for 2 hours. – arrive, usually unexpectedly, early or late
- He always uses up all the toilet roll and doesn’t replace it. – finish a supply of something
- I’ve completely worn out my old football boots, I need to get some new ones. – to use something until it becomes unusable
- I work out 3 times a week at the gym. The students struggled to work out the complicated equations. The police couldn’t work out how the burglars got into the house. – think about and find a solution; do exercise
– Quizlet set
C1/C2: Animal Idioms

This is a vocabulary and conversation lesson for C1/C2 students. Students look at 18 animal idioms and put them into practice in conversation and an optional writing exercise. Download the handouts below:
Students first recall the names of some animals, then have a chance to share animal idioms they already know.
Then they must use the 16 animals from exercise 1 to complete the different animal expressions.
Keep the conversation questions hidden from students until after they’ve completed the first gap-fill.
Then have them recall the expressions by filling in the gaps in the questions. They can then ask and answer the questions in pairs or small groups.
I designed this task for use with a C2 Proficiency preparation group so I added on a writing task, an article, for them to do as homework.
C2 Proficiency: Key Word Transformation Training #2

This is an exam preparation activity for students taking the C2 Proficiency exam. Students learn some fixed expressions that may come up in part 4 of the reading and use of English paper and also practice their paraphrasing skills. Download the handout below:
I recommend using my first key word transformation training exercise first.
Use the first 12 slides of this quizlet set to test students’ memories of the fixed expressions from the first training activity. You could then give them this doc of 15 of the key word transformations as homework or spaced repetition at a later date:
Then hand out the new worksheet. First students work in pairs to paraphrase the expressions in bold and come up with notes to help them remember the expressions; this could involve taking a note of a dependent preposition or a verb pattern (gerund/infinitive). Monitor and check students’ understanding of the expressions. Then students turn the paper over and attempt to recall the expressions with the help of the key words. Finally, students recall prepositions from the expressions as these can often trip students up. Also, the second point in a key word transformation question can often come down to a dependent preposition.
You could use this quizziz game to test their memory of the prepositions at a later date.
Student Handout
Version 1
Look at the expressions in bold. Discuss the meaning with your partner and make notes to help you remember them.
- The film fell short of my expectations I’m afraid.
Meaning………………………………………………………………………………. Notes ………………………….
- Tickets are probably sold out but there’s no harm in calling to check.
Meaning………………………………………………………………………………. Notes ………………………….
- My son took absolutely no notice of my advice and spent all his birthday money on video games.
Meaning………………………………………………………………………………. Notes ………………………….
- It seems that there’s little prospect that they will be able to win the championship now.
Meaning………………………………………………………………………………. Notes ………………………….
- It was a really interesting lecture that gave us food for thought.
Meaning………………………………………………………………………………. Notes ………………………….
- His injury had a serious effect on his ability to earn a living.
Meaning………………………………………………………………………………. Notes ………………………….
- Giles can be relied on to help out if you’re in a spot of bother.
Meaning………………………………………………………………………………. Notes ………………………….
- It never occurred to me to ask Jenny for help with the car, I didn’t know she was an engineer.
Meaning………………………………………………………………………………. Notes ………………………….
- He was given a life sentence for murder.
Meaning………………………………………………………………………………. Notes ………………………….
- Sadly, her career has always taken priority over her family.
Meaning………………………………………………………………………………. Notes ………………………….
- The printer is apt to disconnect from the wifi network, it has a mind of its own.
Meaning………………………………………………………………………………. Notes ………………………….
- The specials menu is subject to change on a daily basis.
Meaning………………………………………………………………………………. Notes ………………………….
- Julia’s command of German is extraordinary, she nailed the presentation.
Meaning………………………………………………………………………………. Notes ………………………….
- For the first month of membership you will be exempt from paying delivery fees.
Meaning………………………………………………………………………………. Notes ………………………….
- In the winter months it’s cold beyond belief so bring warm clothes.
Meaning………………………………………………………………………………. Notes ………………………….
- Let’s go out! I’m in the mood for dancing tonight.
Meaning………………………………………………………………………………. Notes ………………………….
- The audience showed their disapproval of the comedian’s routine by booing loudly.
Meaning………………………………………………………………………………. Notes ………………………….
- Martin has his hands full now that his wife has given birth to twins.
Meaning………………………………………………………………………………. Notes ………………………….
- Thank you so much for the loan. I have every intention of paying you back ASAP.
Meaning………………………………………………………………………………. Notes ………………………….
- You’re putting your life in jeopardy every time you drink and drive.
Meaning………………………………………………………………………………. Notes ………………………….
- By the look of his facial expression, I’d say that he didn’t take your criticism well.
Meaning………………………………………………………………………………. Notes ………………………….
Version 2
Now look at version 2. Work with a partner, try to recall the expressions using the key words to help you.
- The film wasn’t as good as I thought it would be (SHORT) I’m afraid.
……………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………….
- Tickets are probably sold out but we might as well call (HARM) to check.
……………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………….
- My son completely ignored (NOTICE) my advice and spent all his birthday money on video games.
……………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………….
- It seems that there’s not much chance that (PROSPECT) they will be able to win the championship now.
……………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………….
- It was a really interesting lecture that made us think (FOOD).
……………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………….
- His injury seriously affected (EFFECT) his ability to earn a living.
……………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………….
- Giles will always (RELIED) help out if you’re in a spot of bother.
……………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………….
- I never thought of asking (OCCURRED) Jenny for help with the car, I didn’t know she was an engineer.
……………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………….
- He was sent to prison for the rest of his life for (SENTENCE) murder.
……………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………….
- Sadly, her career has always been more important to her than (PRIORITY) her family.
……………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………….
- The printer has a tendency to (APT) disconnect from the wifi network, it has a mind of its own.
……………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………….
- The specials menu can sometimes change (SUBJECT) on a daily basis.
……………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………….
- Julia speaks German extraordinarily well (COMMAND), she did the presentation very well. (N…)
……………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………….
- For the first month of membership you won’t have to pay (EXEMPT) delivery fees.
……………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………….
- In the winter months it’s so cold you wouldn’t believe it (BEYOND) so bring warm clothes.
……………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………….
- Let’s go out! I feel like dancing (MOOD) tonight.
……………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………….
- The audience complained about (DISAPPROVAL) the comedian’s routine by booing loudly.
……………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………….
- Martin is very busy (HANDS) now that his wife had the (BIRTH) twins.
……………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………….
- Thank you so much for the loan. I will definitely pay (EVERY) you back ASAP.
……………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………….
- You’re endangering your life (JEOPARDY) every time you drink and drive.
……………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………….
- If you look at (BY) his facial expression, I’d say that he didn’t take your criticism well.
……………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………….
Preposition Check
The second point in a key word transformation can often come down to the preposition. Can you remember the prepositions in these expressions?
- The film fell short ….. my expectations I’m afraid.
- Tickets are probably sold out but there’s no harm ….. calling to check.
- My son took absolutely no notice ….. my advice and spent all his birthday money on video games.
- It was a really interesting lecture that gave us food ….. thought.
- His injury had a serious effect ….. his ability to earn a living.
- Giles can be relied ….. to help out if you’re in a spot of bother.
- It never occurred ….. me to ask Jenny for help with the car, I didn’t know she was an engineer.
- He was given a life sentence ….. murder.
- Sadly, her career has always taken priority ….. her family.
- The printer is apt ….. disconnect from the wifi network, it has a mind of its own.
- The specials menu is subject ….. change on a daily basis.
- Julia’s command ….. German is extraordinary, she nailed the presentation.
- For the first month of membership you will be exempt ….. paying delivery fees.
- In the winter months it’s cold ……… belief so bring warm clothes.
- Let’s go out! I’m ….. the mood ….. dancing tonight.
- The audience showed their disapproval ….. the comedian’s routine by booing loudly.
- Martin has his hands full now that his wife has given birth ….. twins.
- Thank you so much for the loan. I have every intention ….. paying you back ASAP.
- You’re putting your life ….. jeopardy every time you drink and drive.
- ….. the look of his facial expression, I’d say that he didn’t take your criticism well.
C2 Proficiency: Key Word Transformation Training
In this lesson plan students preparing for the C2 Proficiency exam develop their understanding of some key fixed expressions that often come up in part 4 of the use of English. Download the handout and homework exercise below:
You may want to use this quizlet set for spaced repetition of the expressions.
Procedure
Students read the expressions in bold and discuss the meaning with their partner. Encourage them to paraphrase the expression and make any notes on the grammar that might be relevant: specific prepositions, verb patterns that may follow it (gerund/infinitive etc.)
Students then flip the paper over and attempt to remember the expressions using the key words as prompts. They can check their answers by looking back at page 1. Ask students which expressions they struggled the most to recall.
Have students ask and answer the discussion questions in small groups.
Set the key word transformation worksheet for homework. You’ll find the answers in the quizlet set.
C1/C2: Complaining & Criticising

This is a lesson plan in which high level students get to grips with functional language and expressions used for complaining and criticising. Download the handout below:
Procedure
I recommend having your students complete the excellent lesson plan from the Macmillan Pragmatics page before using this lesson plan as it gives a great insight into language used for introducing and couching criticism.
Once you’ve done that, give out the handout and have students start to tackle the dialogue between Bob and his boss. Students should try to paraphrase the expressions and discuss their use.
Further idiomatic expressions and structures are then listed, have students discuss them in pairs and field any questions and doubts they may have.
Students then complete a controlled practice activity:
Complete the sentences with one word:
- You could at least call to let us know you’re running late.
- If you will keep leaving the heating on, you can’t complain about the gas bill.
- Your work has not been up to scratch for some time now and you really need to pull your finger out.
- I resent having to listen to your complaints every morning.
- The onus is on you to apologise to her, you were way out of line.
- You could/might/should have told me you were sick this morning, now there’s no time to organise a substitution.
- You had better knuckle down and start making an effort in this relationship, otherwise I’m gone.
- I don’t mean to throw Dave under the bus but it was his responsibility to lock up after the show.
Now have students roleplay the scenarios and write up a dialogue for their favourite.
Set the writing task for homework, point out that the tone should be firm but friendly and informal. Encourage the use of as many expressions as possible.
B1/B2: First Class 2021
This is a guest post by online language tutor and ELT writer Ned Widdows. Ideal for the first class back after Christmas, it is a B1-B2 lesson with reading, vocabulary and speaking, asking learners to reflect on their experiences of 2020 and to look forward to the year ahead.
Download the teacher’s notes and student handout below:
Warmer
Write New Year’s Eve on the board / in the chat and ask students to share:
- 5 words connected with New Year (in general)
- 5 words connected with New Year 2021
Optional: share this image and ask students to describe what they see.
Briefly discuss how Christmas and New Year this year have been affected by the pandemic.
Procedure:
A – D on Student’s Handout is self-explanatory.
Optional ideas:
- Dictate the questions in A.
- Check the pronunciation of some of the trickier vocabulary in B, e.g. /ˌpɪktʃəˈresk/ /pəˈreɪd/
- Get learners to write new sentences with the verb patterns in C, e.g. I’m trying to learn how to play chess at the moment; She misses spending time with her cousins; etc.
- Share a link for a padlet and ask learners to post their texts on it. They can read each other’s and see what they have in common.