Reading is one of the core foundations for learning a language. Reading helps ESL learners develop a wide range of vocabulary, and see grammatically correct sentences in context. It’s also no secret that a high level of literacy usually translates to a higher level of academic success.

According to EC English, “Books and other authentic texts are rich in idiomatic language that so much of the English language is based on”.

Studies have shown that reading has immense benefits for youth, and these benefits may start as early as before children can even read. Reading is one way teens can spend less time looking at screens. Reading also translates into a multitude of benefits, including brain health and empathy. 

As such, as ESL teachers, we want to introduce the development of reading skills and habits to ESL learners at a young age. Thus, we should make reading as much fun as possible – which finally comes down to the selection of books we recommend or incorporate in our lessons.

On this list, you’ll find 10 must-read book for elementary and middle-school ESL students.

How to Choose a Book for Young Learners to Read

When selecting books for young learners, have specific learning goals for improving their overall fluency, and opt for books that use contemporary English. Books that use modern English will help your ESL students far more than books that use antiquated forms of English, even if these books are classics.

One of the challenges choosing books for ESL learners is that proficiency level does not correlate with age. Indeed, many young learners have a stronger command of English than many adults do, so when choosing books for reading, consider the content and context of the book in addition to the level.

Storybooks are great choices because they are stories children can get into, and they contain large amounts of dialog that children can absorb and emulate in their English language learning development.

If your ESL students are young, you want to select texts with themes that resonate with younger audiences, and that challenge them at their level of reading comprehension.

5 Must-Read Books for Young ESL Learners

Oxford Picture Dictionary: Content Areas for Kids

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Oxford’s Picture Dictionary teaches vocabulary to young ESL learners across several subjects including math, science and social studies, using illustrations and visuals. The picture dictionary includes vocabulary cards, as well as reading and writing practice. There is also an audio CD for listening and repeating dictionary words using correct pronunciation.

This is an excellent book for ESL teachers to use with young learners in the classroom, or for parents to use at home with their children.

The Cat in the Hat

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The story of a tall cat with a red and white striped hat who enters the lives of two young children and causes a great deal of mischief while their mother is away.

This perennial classic from the famed children’s author Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel) is great for teaching early ESL students rhyming through simplistic dialog. The Cat in the Hat is an excellent choice because it helps teach students different word families as well as phonics, which is important in the early years of learning a new language.

Because many of the books are often set in fantastical make-believe worlds, books from Dr. Seuss achieve impressive results of transcending cultural barriers that may cause students to have trouble understanding many other English books.

Where the Wild Things Are

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Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak is a classic that has been helping school children learn to read for over 50 years. The book follows the story of a boy named Max who sails to a wild jungle setting inhabited by monstrous creatures known as the wild things.

The book is flush with deeply detailed illustrations and is only 338 words in length, ensuring that young ESL students will not be overwhelmed with words they may have trouble understanding.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

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The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle is an elementary picture book which differs from the previous two on our list in that the text doesn’t follow a rhyming scheme.

Instead, this story is about a caterpillar that hatches and begins to consume everything it comes across. After feasting on too much and becoming sick, the caterpillar goes into its cocoon and then hatches into a magnificent looking butterfly.

The book is great for teaching students a wide variety of vocabulary from numbers to food types. For teachers who are responsible for developing their own lesson plans, the book has many lessons and activities that have been developed around it in the nearly 50 years since it was released.

Let’s Go, Let’s Begin: Level 1: Student’s Book

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Let’s Go, Let’s Begin: Level 1: Student’s Book is part of the Let’s Go! series, and is designed to give children opportunities to learn English in fun, interactive ways such as through song and dance, colorful activities, work sheets, listening tests, communication games and pair work.

The focus of this book is primarily on phonics, grammar, and learning the alphabet. There is also a student website to extend learning opportunities for young learners.

How to Choose a Book for Middle School ESL Learners

Choose Fiction over Non-fiction

One of the most important decisions to make is deciding what types of books middle school ESL learners should be reading. We recommend fiction books over non-fiction books. Although reading in general enhances connectivity of the brain and heightens empathy, teens who read fiction have potentially more pronounced benefits. New brain research by University of Southern California scientists shows that reading stories is a universal experience that may result in people feeling greater empathy for each other, regardless of cultural origins and differences.

Exposure to narrative storytelling can have a widespread effect on triggering better self-awareness and empathy for others, regardless of the language or origin of the person being exposed to it.

University of Southern California

Choose Books that Match the Language Level and Interests

It is important to choose books that middle school ESL learners will be able to read without having to look up too many words per page. Overly complex reading for ESL learners will likely negate much of the appeal of the book itself, if they must frequently look up words and their meanings. So, we want to select books that appeal to the interest of this ESL age group, and at the same time, are written using simplistic language.

Choose Books that Have a Movie Version

Books with an accompanying movie version can be motivating for middle school ESL students to read. Firstly, they may already be interested in or enjoyed watching the movie, so reading the book will likely pique their interest further.

As well, reading books that have a movie version enable readers to compare the similarities and differences between the book and the movie. This can add an interesting element to the reading experience, as middle school ESL learners anticipate the plot sequence and twists, depending on whether they read the book before or after watching the movie.

Buy Both Book and Audiobook Versions

There are several ways audiobooks can aid students who struggle with reading, and for middle school ESL learners, audiobooks can add to these benefits by giving students opportunities to connect the written word and spoken word. It helps them connect between what they read and how it is spoken, improving both reading and listening skills.

6 Must-Read Books for Middle School ESL Students

Lord of the Flies

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Lord of the Flies by William Golding is a classic novel and has been taught in schools across the globe for decades. The story is about a group of young boys who become stranded on an island after a plane crash. An attempt to govern themselves is made as the boys find themselves slowly being overcome with primal tendencies.

One of the greatest challenges for ESL learners of all ages is being able to explain or describe details when speaking or responding to questions. This book exposes middle school ESL learners to descriptive language and can help them learn how to use descriptive language in their communication.

Get the Lord of the flies audiobook here.

Holes (Holes Series)

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Holes by Louis Sachar is about a boy who has been sent to a juvenile correction camp. At the camp, the wards require the inmates to dig holes all day every day for character building purposes. The boys, however, soon realize that there are ulterior reasons the warden of the camp wants them to dig the holes.

This book exposes middle school ESL learners to natural flowing conversations amongst fictional characters who are also teens and pre-teens.

Get the Holes audiobook here.

Wonder

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Wonders by R.J. Palacio is about a boy who was born with a facial difference. He wants nothing more than to be treated as an ordinary kid—but his new classmates can’t get past his extraordinary face.

The book begins from the boy’s point of view, but soon switches to include his classmates, his sister, her boyfriend, and others. These perspectives converge in a portrait of one community’s struggle with empathy, compassion, and acceptance.

Wonder is an excellent book that touches upon the concepts of the culture of bullying, empathy, friendship, courage, and hope. All of these concepts are not only important to address with middle school learners, but also help ESL learners in this cohort identify with cultural concepts in the English-speaking world. Middle school ESL learners may indeed relate to the protagonist in this New York Times bestseller.

“Wonder is the best kids’ book of the year,” said Emily Bazelon, senior editor at Slate.com and author of “Sticks and Stones: Defeating the Culture of Bullying and Rediscovering the Power of Character and Empathy”. In a world where bullying amongst young people is an epidemic, this is a refreshing new narrative full of heart and hope.

R.J. Palacio has called her debut novel “a meditation on kindness” —indeed, every reader will come away with a greater appreciation for the simple courage of friendship. Auggie is a hero to root for, a diamond in the rough who proves that you can’t blend in when you were born to stand out.

Get the Wonder audiobook here.

The Language of Flowers: A Novel

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The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh is about a girl who spent her childhood in foster care, and, as a result, is unable to get close to others. Her only connection to the world is through flowers and their meanings. She realizes her gift for helping others through the flowers she chooses for them.

However, the story takes a left turn when an unexpected encounter with a mysterious stranger awakens her to what she might be missing in her life. At this point, she must decide if it’s worth risking everything for a second chance at happiness.

This book introduces themes such as abandonment, rejection, coping with and overcoming struggles. What makes this book even more interesting to read is that the protagonist is taken in by a woman who teaches her the language of flowers, and what each flower means. It is through these teachings that she can start positively communicating.

Crush (Graphic Novel)

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The graphic novel Crush is the third book from Svetlana Chmakova’s award-winning Berrybrook Middle School series.

The main character Jorge is big and tough-looking like a bully – but in fact, he is soft and gentle and a friend you want to have. He has a crush on Jazmine, who is already dating someone else. After she breaks up with her boyfriend, can Jorge grasp the opportunity? Jorge has to face various challenges, from tensions with his best two friends to a hacked social media account

Svetlana Chmakova describes the everyday middle-school drama. She created a captivating story which almost any middle-school kid can relate with – at least, that’s what the fans of this book series say.

Crush (and the other graphic novel from this series) are a great choice to read for teen ESL students. The story is a lot of fun (if you like drama) and the Manga-inspired style is likeable. Most important, readers will learn the everyday language of teens, which will help them strengthen their conversation skills.

Are you looking for textbooks, grammar books and dictionaries? Check our list.

“Take out your notebooks: You will be taking dictation!”

What child likes to hear this sentence at school? … Exactly. Dictations are indeed indispensable for learning spelling. But they are unpopular.

There are less boring variants, such as the running dictation – and another variant, the sneaking dictation.

What exactly is meant by these exercises, why are they so great, and how do you implement them for your ESL classroom? In this article, I’ll explain everything in detail.

What is Running Dictation?

In normal dictation, the teacher reads out individual words or an entire text sentence by sentence; the students have to write everything down, making as few mistakes as possible.

In running dictation, the text is printed out and hung up or placed somewhere in the classroom. The children must now go one at a time to the sheet, memorize a passage of text, and then write it down at their place.

Each student may go to the text sheet as many times as they like until they have finished writing the entire text and possibly even correcting it themselves.

“Go” can mean walk or run – the teacher can set any minimum or maximum speed for movement. You could even post the text at the other end of the hall or in the yard and have the students run there and back each time. This would then be “race dictation.”

You could even make a competition out of it: Whoever makes the fewest mistakes and finishes the fastest wins.

You can use this dictation for ESL lessons as well as for any language lessons.

The running dictation is more appropriate for teens; younger children probably have a hard time concentrating on writing between racing phases. The sneaking dictation might be the better option then.

What is Sneaking Dictation?

A sneaking dictation is the same as a running dictation in terms of the procedure – only with a limited moving pace.

The rule for everyone is that it must be quiet in the classroom. No one is allowed to make loud noises; neither while sneaking nor by talking to the others.

Benefits of Running Dictation

Creeping dictation has several advantages over the regular version:

Independent work

Since all children can read the correct text, they can correct mistakes themselves. Thus, they learn to work independently and conscientiously – and the teacher has “time off”.

Incorporates physical activity

The children do not have to sit still for long. This accommodates children with a great urge to move.

More fun

Running dictation doesn’t feel like dictation, but almost like a sports exercise.

Likewise, some children may be less afraid of it than of regular dictation: they can read difficult passages several times and compare them with their text; each child can go at his or her own pace.

Focus (Sneaking dictation)

Especially the sneaking dictation helps to train students staying focused. Being quiet and working in peace is part of the game, and not a forced rule of behavior.

Also check out our free ESL writing worksheets.

How to Conduct a Running or Sneaking Dictation

Want to try it out with your students? Here’s how it works.

(Except for the moving speed, you perform both types of dictation the same way.)

Prepare and attach the texts

Create the sheets with the words, sentences, or whole texts to be written. Print them out or write them on small cards.

Tip: Laminate the sheets or cards, then you can use them again and again, save paper and protect the environment.

Now hang up the texts in the classroom or in another place. Or lay them down. Important: Put the texts somewhere so no one can read them from their seats; otherwise these children would have an advantage over the others.

If you put the texts outside the classroom, make sure that your students do not disturb the other classes. It is best to consult with your colleagues.

Each text can probably be seen by a maximum of three to four people at a time, so you will likely need to hang each text several times, in different places around the room. Otherwise, there could be a scramble in front of the sheets and concentration would be lost.

You can either copy the entire text several times, or divide the text passages onto individual sheets or small cards. In the latter case, the children would have to go to different stations depending on what they are writing.

The children read through the text

Now allow each child to read through the text or all the words at their own time and get an overview.

You may need to divide this class into several groups and have them come to the sheets one at a time. It is important that during this time no one starts writing yet and gets a head start.

The children write … and go … and write.

Now all the students start writing. If the dictation consists of individual words or passages (and not a coherent text), they can decide for themselves in which order they want to write the passages.

As needed, each child now walks (sneaks, runs) independently to the sheets and back to the square and finishes writing the entire dictation.

If you intend to make it a little more difficult, you can limit the time or the number of passages allowed.

The children hand in the dictation

When a student has completely copied the text, they should check it again independently; to do this, they can go back to the text sheets and compare the spellings.

Thereafter, everyone hands in the dictation, as usual.

Browse our full archive of ESL activity ideas and materials.

ESL teachers are often in a quest of activities that will target a specific language skill and make the students’ experience more interactive and, thus, fun and meaningful.

I often find myself struggling to select and implement convenient speaking exercises. On the one hand, I want these to work and enhance my students’ speaking skills, but I also care if students feel motivated and comfortable doing the exercises.

Considering that fluency in speaking relies on communication, which is the most important part of speaking, it is vital to provide exercises through which students can communicate as naturally as possible.

One of the most effective speaking exercises in ESL lessons are the information gap activities. These rely on asking questions and investigating which is among the best ways to obtain, interpret and use information while communicating.

What Is an Information Gap Activity?

In a nutshell, information gap activities are drills that are commonly used in task-based learning and are most often performed in pairs, although more students can participate. In the basic pair format, one of the students looks at one information compilation while their partner looks at another one. 

Both information clusters are related, and students miss the information they need to complete a task or solve a problem, so they have to talk and exchange the information given.

Information gap activities are beneficial as they make students ask questions and provide answers in an authentic, real-life fashion while talking about a cinema program that they want to attend in the evening or scheduling a tennis match or a coffee meeting together.

Information gaps can help your students become successful as speakers, as they would be able to collect and give information in different contexts, used in everyday situations. 

I like most about this type of activity because it involves students only, while teachers only give instructions, demonstrate and monitor if the activity is done correctly. 

This way, there is a higher interaction between students, and they become active participators in the learning process, which is a big step toward becoming confident, successful speakers of English.

Next to the effective information gap activities in task-based learning and teaching, which focuses on having students communicate and use language as a tool for information exchange and problem-solving, are the opinion gap activities.

Also read: 15 tips to limit teacher talk time during lessons.

10 Great Information Gap Activities for ESL Lessons

Now, let’s take a look at my list of the 10 Great Information Gap Activities for ESL Lessons that you can use in your classroom.

1. 20 Questions 

Level: Intermediate and above

Divide students into pairs or small groups of 3-4 students. Pick a topic on which you will base your questions, like animals, food, famous people from history, etc.

Write these on paper slips and close them. One student picks a slip of paper and keeps it a secret. The other students ask a maximum of 20 “yes” or “no” questions until they guess what the secret paper slip holds.

2. Drawing Dictation 

Level: Intermediate and above

Divide students into pairs. Instruct students that their task is to draw a simple image; e.g., their “dream beach house” or “tree house” without their partner looking at the drawing.

Next, tell them to describe the image to their partner, who should follow the description and ask questions until they reproduce the image of the first student in the pair.

Instruct students to include shape, sizes, colors, exterior parts of the beach house and the area.

Another fun writing activity: Running dictation

3. Role Play

Level: Intermediate and above

Divide students into pairs and create a situation.

For this activity, you have to “create a problem” that students will need to solve. For example: One of the students is a waiter at a luxury restaurant, while the other one is a guest.

The first role-play card should contain a description like, “You are a guest at a luxury restaurant, but the dish you ordered looks a bit and feels lukewarm, plus the glass is stained… (add more problems). You want to get a new dish and don’t want to pay for the first one. Talk to the waiter to solve the problem.”

The other student gets a role-play card that says, “You are a waiter at a luxury restaurant. You have a guest who complains about their plate, although the meal is fresh and shouldn’t be served hot. You can bring them another dish from the menu, but they will have to pay 50% for the first one. Talk to the guest and solve the problem.”

4. Find Your Partner

Level: Upper-Elementary and above

This is an activity where the entire class participates. Prepare cards, two each with the same image printed on it (according to the topic of your lesson).

Each student gets a card, and they must go around the classroom with their cards face down and find the person with the same image by asking “yes” or “no” questions.

Mind to instruct students not to ask directly, “Are you a…?” but tell them to ask descriptive questions.

5. Mingle Activity 

Level: Upper-Elementary and above

This activity includes the entire class. Pick your thematic content from covered units for the activity, like classroom items, cartoon characters, cities, etc.

Create a list of items that answer questions like “Where am I?”, “Who am I?”, and “What am I?.” Each student gets a different card (if you have a large class, you can divide them into larger groups). Stick the card on each student’s forehead and tell them that each of them has received a person/object they need to guess.

Next, tell students that they must ask their classmates questions (that you will write on the board to keep things under control) about their person/object until they discover who they are. They aren’t allowed to ask questions which can be answered with “yes“ or “no“.

Example: What does … eat? Where does … sleep? Does it … (verb)? What color is …? Does it have …? How much/many…?

6. Get to Know You

Level: Upper-Elementary and above

You can do this activity by dividing students into pairs or working with the whole class. Prepare lists of questions that refer to a daily schedule but put them in a jumbled order.

Each student should question their partner about their schedule, then order the questions-answers in the right order. Next, students should compare their daily routines and describe the differences and similarities in their routines in front of their class.

Find more icebreaker activities for the first day of school here.

7. Picture Difference

Level: Upper-Elementary and above

Prepare two different pictures on the same thematic content. Divide students into pairs.

The first student describes their picture to their partner. The second student listens to the description carefully and tries to find 4-5 differences in on their picture. Then, the second student describes the differences and the first student should confirm if they are correct.

8. Information Exchange

Level: Intermediate and above

Prepare film or theater programs with 4 pieces each. Include information like date, time, duration, genre, age limit and price of ticket. Make one full copy of the program and one with missing information.

Divide students into pairs. Each student gets a program. The first student looks at the information about the films or plays and uses them to answer the questions by their partner who wants to know more about the films. 

9. Same-Different

Level: Upper-Elementary and above

Divide students into pairs. Prepare two samples of different tourist offers for one destination. Tell students that they are friends or a couple who want to go on a vacation at the same place.

They have found different offers, and now each tries to persuade the other that the offer they found is the right one. Include price of the offer, accommodation, air tickets, excursions, and extra activities etc.

10. End-of-School Party

Level: Upper-Elementary and above

This activity is for the entire class. Create a shopping list for an end-of-school party and make a stack of cards that will contain things that students will “need to buy,” like drinks, food, decorations etc.

Give a list and a card to each student. Tell your students to mingle with their classmates and ask them what they bring to the party. Next, divide students into groups and present questions on the board that your students will need to use

What time does the party start? What food, drinks is best to bring? What music should be played? What activities should be planned, like karaoke, etc.?

Instruct students to ask these questions within the group and write a plan for the party. Finally, each student presents their plan, and you can choose the best ones.

Wrapping Up

I hope that this article inspired you to incorporate some information gap activities on my list and make your ESL classroom an interactive environment where students exchange knowledge and enjoy learning.

Always on the quest for listening worksheets and listening comprehension excercises for your ESL lessons?

Here, we put together a collection of ESL listening worksheets, free to use for teachers.

(We know, not much to see here yet, but we are just starting out with this section.)

ESL Listening Worksheets for Intermediate Students

ESL Listening Worksheets for Advanced Students

Other Resources

Check our big list of 12 ESL listening activities and exercises.

A list and usage examples of prepositions of place for ESL teachers and students. (Free download here.)

Grammar Guideline

In general, we use:

• at for a POINT
• in for an ENCLOSED SPACE
• on for a SURFACE

Prepositions List with Examples

Notice the use of the prepositions of place “at“, “in“ and “on“ in these common expressions:

AT a Certain Point

• at home
• at work
• at school
• at university
• at the corner
• at college
• at the corner
• at the bus stop
• at the door
• at the top of the page
• at the bottom of the house
• at the end of the road
• at the entrace
• at the crossroads
• at the front desk
• at the side

IN an Enclosed Space

• in a car
• in a bus
• in a plane
• in a boat
• in an elevantor
• in the sky
• in a row
• in Oxford Street
• in the back of a car
• in the garden
• in London
• in the USA
• in a box
• in my pocket
• in my wallet
• in a building

ON the Surface of Something

• on the table
• on a plane
• on a ship
• on a motorbike
• on a horse
• on the football field
• on the cover
• on the floor
• on the menu
• on a page
• on the hand
• on the way (figurative)
• on the roof
• on the head
• on the planet
• on the wall

Usage: Example Sentences

Jane is waiting for you at the bus stop.

The shop is at the end of the street.

My plane stopped at Dubai and Hanoi and arrived in Bangkok two hours late.

When will you arrive at the office?

Do you work in an office?

I have a meeting in New York.

Do you live in Japan?

Jupiter is in the Solar System.

The author’s name is on the cover of the book.

There are no prices on this menu.

You are standing on my foot.

There was a “no smoking” sign on the wall.

I live on the 7th floor at 21 Oxford Street in London.

Free Weather Idioms List with Examples for ESL teachers and students, to learn idioms or prepare ESL lesson plans.

List of Weather Idioms

Any port in a storm

In an emergency, any solution will do; even one that would normally be unacceptable.

Blue skies

An overly enthusiastic outlook or disposition.

A bolt from the blue

When something happens unexpectedly and suddenly.

To brighten up the day

Making someone feel positive and happy all day long.

The calm before the storm

A calm time immediately before a period of violent activity or argument.

To chase rainbows

To try to do something that you will never achieve.

On cloud nine

To be extremely happy.

A cloud of suspicion (is hanging over someone)

Someone is not believed or is distrusted.

A cloud on the horizon

A problem which can be seen ahead.

To see something in the cold light of day

Seeing things as they really are, not as you might want them to be.

Come rain or shine, …

Nothing will deter or stop me from doing something (not even bad weather).

To be (down) in the doldrums

To be depressed, lacking energy, or in a hopeless state (persons or situations).

Having a dry spell

To not be as successful as you normally are.

Every cloud has a silver lining.

It is always possible to get something positive out of a situation, no matter how unpleasant, difficult or even painful it might seem.

Have face like thunder

Be very upset about something.

A fairweather friend

A friend who is always there when times are good but forgets about you when things get difficult or problems crop up.

To get wind of

To hear or learn about something, especially if it was meant to be secret.

To go down a storm

To be very enjoyable or successful.

To move like a greased lightning

To move very fast.

Have the head is in the clouds

To have unrealistic, impractical ideas.

To hit rough weather

If you hit rough weather, you experience difficulties or problems.

In a fog

If you’re in a fog, you are confused, dazed or unaware.

Into each life some rain must fall

This means that bad or unfortunate things will happen to everyone at some time.

It never rains but it pours

‘It never rains but it pours’ means that when things go wrong, they go very wrong.

It’s raining cats and dogs

it’s raining very hard.

Know which way the wind blows

This means that you should know how things are developing and be prepared for the future.

Made in the shade

One has an easy time in life or in a given situation. Finding things working to one’s benefit.

Not know enough to come in out of the rain

Someone who doesn’t know enough to come in out of the rain is particularly stupid.

Quiet before the Storm

When you know that something is about to go horribly wrong, but hasn’t just yet, then you are in the quiet before the storm.

Quick as a flash / quick as a lightning

If you’re as quick as a flash, or quick as a wink, or quick as lightning, you’re very quick.

Rain on your parade

If someone rains on your parade, they ruin your pleasure or your plans.

Rainy day

If you save something, especially money, for a rainy day, you save it for some possible problem or trouble in the future.

Right as rain

If things are right as rain, then everything is going well in your life.

Sail close to the wind

If you sail close to the wind, you take risks to do something, going close to the limit of what is allowed or acceptable.

Seven sheets to the wind

If someone is seven sheets to the wind, they are very drunk.

Shoot the breeze

When you shoot the breeze, you chat in a relaxed way.

Steal someone’s thunder

If someone steals your thunder, they take the credit and praise for something you did.

Stem the tide

If people try to stem the tide, they are trying to stop something unpleasant from getting worse, usually when they don’t succeed.

Storm in a teacup

If someone exaggerates a problem or makes a small problem seem far greater than it really is, then they are making a storm in a teacup.

Take a raincheck

If you take a rain check, you decline an offer now, suggesting you will accept it later. (‘Raincheck’ is also used.)

Take by storm

To take by storm means to captivate- eg. A new play that took New York City by storm.

Tempest in a teapot / storm in a teapot

If people exaggerate the seriousness of a situation or problem, they are making a tempest in a teapot.

Throw caution to the wind

When people throw caution to the wind, they take a great risk.

Twisting in the wind

If you are twisting in the wind, you are without help or support – you are on your own.

Under a cloud

If someone is suspected of having done something wrong, they are under a cloud.

Under the weather

If you are feeling a bit ill, sad or lack energy, you are under the weather.

Wait for a raindrop in the drought

When someone is waiting for a raindrop in the drought, they are waiting or hoping for something that is extremely unlikely to happen.

Weather a storm

If you weather a storm, you get through a crisis or hard times.

Free House & Furniture Idioms List for ESL teachers and students, to learn idioms or prepare ESL lesson plans.

Idioms List Relating to House, Furniture & Fittings