Why Your Adult ESL Students Need Idioms…Even If You Think They Don’t

I was sitting in my graduate program class, getting my M.Ed. in TESL while teaching full-time, when one of my international student classmates got visibly frustrated.

“Why does he use so many idioms?” she whispered. “I can’t follow what he’s saying.”

I’d never noticed. Our professor seemed pretty straightforward to me. But once she pointed it out, I couldn’t stop paying attention. I spent the rest of that class counting idioms instead of focusing on the actual content.

By the end? I was shocked. I don’t remember the exact number, but it was WAY more than I ever would have guessed. And this was in an academic setting, in a graduate-level education course. If professors were using that many idioms in formal teaching contexts, imagine how many show up in casual conversation, movies, news, heck, just plain everyday life.

That class changed how I taught. I became self-conscious about my own idiom use (spoiler: I use a lot of them). I began cutting back and speaking more directly, and I started teaching idioms to my IEP students whenever I could squeeze them in.

Here’s what surprised me…I thought I’d have to sell students on learning idioms. Like, convince them this was worth their time when they were already drowning in vocabulary, grammar, and everything else.

They ate it up. Even my low beginners loved learning idioms.

And that made total sense because jeesh, idioms are everywhere. If your students don’t understand them, they’re constantly missing pieces of what people are saying and writing. That’s frustrating and isolating.

So let’s talk about how to teach idioms effectively to your IEP students.

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Why Idioms Matter More Than You Think

Your IEP students are preparing for university. They’re going to encounter idioms constantly:

In lectures when professors say things like “let’s circle back to this” or “that’s the elephant in the room”
In textbook readings that include phrases like “tip of the iceberg” or “across the board”
In conversations with classmates who casually say “I’m swamped” or “let’s touch base later”
In emails from professors who write “let me know if you need to pick my brain” or “we’ll play it by ear”

Even if your students never actively use idioms themselves, they need to understand them. Without that understanding, they’re always going to be playing catch-up, trying to figure out what people mean, and missing context.

And here’s the thing about idioms…they’re hard to learn. Way harder than regular vocabulary.

With regular vocabulary, you can often guess meaning from context or look it up in a dictionary. Idioms don’t work that way. Kick the bucket has nothing to do with kicking or buckets. Spill the beans isn’t about beans. Break a leg doesn’t mean you want someone to get injured.

The literal meanings are useless, which makes idioms particularly challenging for language learners.

But when students DO understand idioms? They feel more confident and sound more natural. They can follow conversations and readings more easily. It’s worth the effort.

The Problem with Teaching Idioms

After that eye-opening graduate class, I went out and bought an idiom dictionary. I figured if I was going to teach idioms seriously, I needed a resource.

The book was THICK. Like, intimidatingly thick. And it probably didn’t even include all the idioms in English.

I opened it, felt completely overwhelmed, and honestly? I barely used it. It was just too much. Too many idioms, organized in ways that didn’t help me figure out which ones to teach or when to teach them.

I squeezed idioms into my IEP classes when I could, but it was never systematic. The schedule was packed, I didn’t have good materials, and back then I didn’t know how to create my own teaching resources.

Looking back, I wish I’d had what I have now: themed idiom packs that group expressions by relevant topics. Instead of trying to tackle that overwhelming dictionary, I could have focused on idioms that connected to what students were already learning about like seasons, holidays, goals, and even more abstract ideas like conflict and honesty.

Years later, after I’d learned to create teaching materials, that’s exactly what I’ve made. The themed approach solves the problem I struggled with back then…how do you choose which idioms to teach when there are hundreds of them?

The answer? You don’t try to teach them all. You teach strategically.

You focus on idioms that are:

common and widely used
relevant to your students’ lives and goals
connected to themes or contexts they’re already learning about

When idioms are connected to a theme, students can:

see patterns in how idioms are used
connect new expressions to familiar contexts
remember them more easily because they’re grouped logically
apply them in relevant situations

How to Teach Idioms Without Overwhelming Everyone

Okay, so you’re convinced idioms matter. Now what?

Start With Context

Never teach an idiom in isolation. Always show it being used in a realistic situation.

Instead of just saying “hit the nail on the head means to be exactly right,” give them a scenario:

“During the team discussion, Zuley’s suggestion solved the problem perfectly. She really hit the nail on the head with her idea.”

Then ask follow-up questions: “Can you think of a time when someone in your group hit the nail on the head with their suggestion?”

Or try: “Finding a place to live in this city can cost an arm and a leg, especially downtown. What are some things in your country that cost an arm and a leg?”

Context makes idioms memorable. When students see how an idiom fits into a real sentence and can practice using it themselves, it sticks.

Make It Interactive

Worksheets are great for practice and reinforcement. Students need that written work to solidify their understanding. But don’t stop there. Add some interactive activities that get students using idioms out loud.

Try role plays where students must incorporate specific idioms. Give them scenarios:

Job interview scenario: “You’re trying to impress the interviewer. Use ‘go the extra mile’ when answering this question: Tell me about a time you went above and beyond at work.”

Giving advice scenario: “Your friend is nervous about their presentation tomorrow. Use break a leg in your encouragement.”

Explaining a decision scenario: “You and a friend are discussing a tough choice you had to make. Use ‘bite the bullet’ to explain how you handled it.”

Students will laugh. They’ll probably mess up. They’ll definitely have to think on their feet. And all that’s good because that’s learning.

You can also play “I have…Who has…?” with idioms. Each student has a card with an idiom and someone else’s definition. One student says, “I have the idiom ‘staycation.’ Who has the idiom that means to pack only essential items for a trip?” The student with “travel light” responds, and the game continues.

These activities lower anxiety and make idioms feel less intimidating.

Use Visuals

I know this sounds basic, but visuals really help with idioms because the expressions are so abstract.

Flashcards with images work great. For “kitchen table issues,” show a table piled with symbols for healthcare, inflation, and childcare, you know, all the everyday concerns families discuss.

Themed posters around your classroom reinforce idioms without you having to do anything. During your vacation unit? Put up posters with “hit the road,” “soak up the sun,” “off the beaten path.”

Digital presentations that pair idioms with images can introduce a whole set at once. I have a Halloween Idioms presentation in my TpT store that does exactly this—shows the idiom, an image, and the definition all together.

When students can see a representation of the idiom, even an abstract one, it becomes more concrete and easier to remember.

Practice Regularly

The “Idiom of the Day” approach works surprisingly well. Start each class by introducing one idiom. Use it yourself throughout the lesson. Encourage students to use it in their sentences or discussions.

Set up daily challenges: “Use at least three idioms we’ve learned in your conversations today.”

The more students encounter and use idioms, the more natural they become. Regular, repeated exposure is key.

Connect to Themes That Matter Right Now

This is where themed idioms really shine.

If it’s summer, teach summer idioms. Students are talking about their vacation plans anyway, so give them expressions like “walking through soup,” “no day at the beach,” and “sweat bullets.”

Election year? Perfect time for political idioms like “throw your hat in the ring,” “toe the party line,” and “sling mud.” Your students are hearing these in the news all the time. Help them understand what they mean.

Working on a unit about goals or motivation? Teach idioms related to success, effort, and perseverance. These connect naturally to what students are already thinking about.

When idioms tie into current themes, students see immediate relevance. Instead of trying to learn random expressions for some theoretical future use, they’re learning language they need right now.

Activities That Work

Here are some things I’ve done that students responded well to:

Idiom Hunts Give students song lyrics, movie clips, or news articles and have them identify the idioms. Don’t make them search blindly. Provide the materials so they’re finding specific idioms in context, not looking for a needle in a haystack.

Story Creation Give students a set of idioms and have them create a story or dialogue using all of them. This forces them to think about meaning and usage. Some students will write. Others might prefer to perform. Both ways work.

Idiom Journals Have students keep a running journal of idioms they encounter. Have them write the idiom, the context where they saw/heard it, what it means, and their own example sentence. Regular review of these journals helps prevent idioms from slipping their minds.

Real-World Application Assign students to watch a specific TV show episode or YouTube video and identify idioms used. Discuss in class what they found and what the idioms meant in context. This shows them how pervasive idioms are in authentic English.

Beyond the Classroom

Your students need exposure to idioms outside your class too. Here’s what you can encourage:

Watch English media. Recommend specific TV shows, YouTube channels, or podcasts that use idioms naturally. Sitcoms are particularly idiom-heavy.

Explore cultural origins. Have students research where certain idioms come from. Why do we say “break a leg”? What’s the story behind “cost an arm and a leg”? This cultural exploration makes idioms more interesting and memorable.

Follow social media accounts. There are accounts dedicated to teaching idioms. Students can see daily examples, take quizzes, participate in discussions.

Read widely. Novels, news articles, blog posts…all include idioms. The more students read authentic English, the more idioms they’ll encounter in context.

A Word About Levels

I mentioned that even my low beginners enjoyed learning idioms, and that might surprise you. Shouldn’t beginners focus on basic vocabulary first?

Here’s what I found: you can teach idioms at any level if you adjust your approach.

For beginners, stick to very common, simple idioms used in everyday contexts.

“a piece of cake.”
“break the ice.”
“hit the books.”

These are accessible and useful.

For intermediate students, expand to more varied idioms and start including some that are more abstract or culturally specific.

For advanced students, teach idioms that show up in academic or professional contexts. These students need to understand expressions professors and colleagues will use.

The key is choosing appropriate idioms for the level and providing enough context and practice.

Why I Eventually Created Themed Idiom Resources

Remember that overwhelming idiom dictionary I bought years ago? I never figured out how to use it effectively. But the need didn’t go away. I knew idioms mattered. I knew my students needed them. I just didn’t have a practical way to teach them systematically.

Years later, after I’d learned to create teaching materials, I finally made what I wish I’d had back then: themed idiom packs. I grouped idioms by topics my students cared about, such as:

advice
honesty & lies
annoyances
health
weather
clothing

Each pack includes context, practice activities, and ways to use the idioms in real situations. I made them because I needed them years ago and never had them.

You can find these in my TpT store if you want ready-made materials that make teaching idioms easier. But the approach works regardless of whether you use my resources or create your own: group idioms thematically, teach them in context, practice regularly, and connect them to students’ current needs.

The Bottom Line

Idioms aren’t just fun additions to your curriculum. They’re essential for helping your IEP students understand English as it’s used in the real world.

Native speakers use idioms constantly without thinking about it. If your students don’t understand them, they’re missing significant chunks of meaning in lectures, readings, conversations, and media.

Teaching idioms doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Focus on common expressions, group them by theme, teach them in context, practice regularly, and make it interactive. Your students will surprise you with how much they enjoy learning idioms and how quickly they start using them.

That’s it from me. See you in the next post!