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Category: Time

  • Idioms: Time Expressions (PDF)

    Idioms: Time Expressions (PDF)

    Time expressions idioms is the B1–B2 collection of fixed phrases that mark temporal relationships. In the nick of time (just in time), at the eleventh hour (very late), better late than never, time will tell (we’ll see in the future), out of the blue (unexpectedly), once in a blue moon (very rarely), for the time being (temporarily), in this day and age (currently), as time goes by (with passing time), make up for lost time (compensate for delay). Learners build the time-idiom range.

    This worksheet builds B1–B2 fluency with time-expression idioms.

    What’s inside:

    • An idiom bank with 18 time expressions
    • Matching task: idiom to meaning
    • Gap-fill in temporal narrative contexts
    • Production task: describe a recent event using three time idioms
    • Full Answer Key plus Teacher Notes

    Common challenges: Temporal-precision at B1–B2: in the nick of time (just barely in time) vs at the eleventh hour (very late but still in time) — slightly different meanings. Once in a blue moon (very rare) vs every now and then (occasionally). Frequency: out of the blue (very high), in this day and age (medium-formal).

    For: Adult and teenage learners (14+) at CEFR B1–B2, in intermediate and upper-intermediate classes, 1:1 lessons, or self-study. Maps onto Cambridge B2 First (FCE) Reading-Use of English. Part of the Time, Work & Money Idioms collection — the natural next step is Idioms: Business and Work.

  • Idioms: Money and Business (PDF)

    Idioms: Money and Business (PDF)

    Money and business idioms is the B2 financial-figurative collection. Break the bank (cost too much), pay through the nose (pay a lot), cost an arm and a leg (very expensive), on a shoestring (with little money), in the red (in debt), in the black (profitable), make ends meet (manage with limited money), splash out (spend lavishly), tighten your belt (spend less), bring home the bacon (earn a living), money doesn’t grow on trees (money is limited). Learners build the money-idiom range.

    This worksheet builds B2 fluency with money-and-business idioms.

    What’s inside:

    • An idiom bank with 18 money expressions
    • Matching task: idiom to meaning
    • Gap-fill in financial conversation contexts
    • Production task: write a paragraph about a financial situation using three idioms
    • Full Answer Key plus Teacher Notes

    Common challenges: Direction (gain/loss) is the central distinction — splash out (spend lavishly) vs tighten your belt (spend less). Personal vs business application: some idioms (bring home the bacon) are personal; others (in the red) work for both. Frequency: cost an arm and a leg (high), money doesn’t grow on trees (medium).

    For: Adult and teenage learners (14+) at CEFR B2, in upper-intermediate classes, 1:1 lessons, or self-study. Maps onto Cambridge B2 First (FCE) Reading-Use of English and BEC Vantage. Part of the Time, Work & Money Idioms collection — the natural next step is Idioms: Time Expressions.

  • Idioms: Business and Work (PDF)

    Idioms: Business and Work (PDF)

    Business and work idioms is the B2 professional-figurative-English collection. Think outside the box (creative thinking), get the ball rolling (start something), cut corners (do something cheaply or poorly), climb the corporate ladder (advance in career), hit the ground running (start strong), touch base (briefly contact), take the bull by the horns (act decisively), the ball is in your court (it’s your turn), on the same wavelength (in agreement), back to the drawing board (start over). Learners build the workplace-idiom range.

    This worksheet builds B2 fluency with business-and-work idioms.

    What’s inside:

    • An idiom bank with 20 workplace expressions
    • Matching task: idiom to meaning
    • Gap-fill in workplace contexts (emails, meeting transcripts)
    • Production task: rewrite a workplace memo using three business idioms appropriately
    • Full Answer Key plus Teacher Notes

    Common challenges: Business-idiom over-use is the recurring stylistic risk at B2 — let’s circle back, touch base, get our ducks in a row in a single email reads as forced. Frequency: think outside the box (high), back to the drawing board (medium). Register: appropriate in spoken meetings, careful with formal writing.

    For: Adult and teenage learners (14+) at CEFR B2, in upper-intermediate classes, 1:1 lessons, or self-study — particularly working professionals. Maps onto BEC Vantage and Cambridge B2 First (FCE). Part of the Time, Work & Money Idioms collection — the natural next step is Idioms: Time and Change.

  • Idioms: Time and Change (PDF)

    Idioms: Time and Change (PDF)

    Time and change idioms is the B2 figurative collection covering temporal and transformational meanings. Time flies (time passes quickly), time is money (don’t waste time), in the nick of time (just in time), behind the times (out of date), call it a day (stop working for the day), around the clock (continuously), a leopard can’t change its spots (people don’t fundamentally change), turn over a new leaf (start fresh), out with the old, in with the new (embrace change). Learners build the time-and-change idiom range.

    This worksheet builds B2 fluency with time-and-change idioms.

    What’s inside:

    • An idiom bank with 18 time-and-change expressions
    • Matching task: idiom to meaning
    • Gap-fill in contextual sentences
    • Production task: describe a personal change using three target idioms
    • Full Answer Key plus Teacher Notes

    Common challenges: Time-vs-change distinction: some idioms describe duration (around the clock), some transformation (turn over a new leaf). Cultural variation: change-related idioms reflect cultural attitudes toward fixity vs flexibility. Register: most are conversational-to-neutral.

    For: Adult and teenage learners (14+) at CEFR B2, in upper-intermediate classes, 1:1 lessons, or self-study. Maps onto Cambridge B2 First (FCE) Reading-Use of English. Part of the Time, Work & Money Idioms collection — the natural next step is Idioms: Money and Business.