IDIOM CONNECTION

Eager Idioms and a Trip to Disneyland

Introduction

1. Have you ever been to Disneyland?

2. Would you like to go to Disneyland?

3. Have you ever been to any other theme park?

Reading

I have been dying to go to Disneyland for a long time. I would like to go with a friend but I am also warming up to the idea of going on a group tour. Recently, when my friend began talking about a cheap group tour to Disneyland, I was all ears . I am open to going there any way that I can. I would go to Disneyland at the drop of a hat . Even if I wind up spending all of my money, I want to go there. This group tour will be perfect. It will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity . I just need to pack my suitcase and take care of some personal business and I will be able to go immediately.
eager = enthusiastic

Reading Questions

Answer the following questions. The answers can easily be found in the reading above.

1. Where has this person been dying to go?

2. What is he warming up to?

3. When was he all ears?

4. What is he open to?

5. Where would this person go at the drop of a hat?

6. He wants to go to Disneyland even if he winds up doing what?

7. What will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?

8. What must he take care of?

Making Connections and Idiom Meanings

Some of the idioms have another meaning or are connected to another meaning. Use this information to help you choose the correct meaning for each of the underlined idioms:

1. The woman is dying to buy the new dress.
a)   not interested in buying
b)   very eager to buy
c)   finally going to buy

2. The girls are warming up to their new football coach.
a)   not being friendly to
b)   angry at
c)   beginning to like

3.If a person is all ears and most of his or her body were ears, then that person would be able to hear very well. What could all ears mean in the following sentence?

The employees were all ears when their boss began to speak.
a)   listening very carefully
b)   not listening
c)   listening to music

4. The teacher is open to the ideas of the school principal.
a)   tired of listening to
b)   willing to listen to
c)   not interested in

5. Sometimes, when people were going to have a fight, they would drop their hat and immediately prepare to fight. What does to do something at the drop of a hat mean in the following sentence?

I will always go to the Italian restaurant that is near my house at the drop of a hat.
a)   immediately and without thinking about it
b)   only if there are no other restaurants nearby
c)   when we have a family gathering

6. The boy usually winds up playing with his computer when he stays home.
a)   gets tired of playing
b)   finally chooses to play
c)   asks his friends to play

7. The man has a once-in-a-lifetime chance to work in Europe.
a)   rare opportunity to work
b)   rather usual chance to work
c)   difficult decision to make about a possible job

8. The woman has to take care of some business at the bank.
a)   cancel her plan to do
b)   help her friend with
c)   give attention to

Your score is: ___ out of 8

Match the Sentences

Choose the best answer for each sentence:

1. The woman is warming up to her new boss.
a)   She is beginning to dislike her new boss.
b)   She is beginning to like her new boss.
c)   Her feelings are not changing about her new boss.

2. The mother is taking care of her sick child.
a)   The woman often takes care of children.
b)   The woman will probably look after her child.
c)   The woman is giving attention to her child.

3. I was all ears when my friend began to speak.
a)   I could not hear my friend.
b)   I usually listen to what my friend says.
c)   I listened carefully to my friend.

4. The young boy is dying to go to the concert.
a)   He is open to going to the concert if he gets a cheap ticket.
b)   If he has time he wants to go to the concert.
c)   He wants to go to the concert very much.

5. The girl has a once-in-a-lifetime chance to go to London.
a)   She has many chances to go.
b)   This is a special opportunity.
c)   She can easily go next year.

6. I am happy to play tennis at the drop of a hat.
a)   I would like to try to play tennis in the future.
b)   I really like to play tennis.
c)   I have never played tennis.

7. The new school principal is open to new ideas.
a)   She changes her plans easily.
b)   She is willing to try to do new things.
c)   She usually does not want to change things.

8. The man may wind up selling his car.
a)   The man will never sell his car.
b)   The man will definitely sell his car.
c)   Someday, the man may sell his car.

Your score is: ___ out of 8

Grammar Focus

Choose the word or expression that makes each of the following sentences correct:

1. I was _______________________ when the announcer began to speak.
a)   an ear
b)   all of ears
c)   all ears

2. I would go to Paris ________________ the drop of a hat.
a)   at
b)   in
c)   of

3. I am warming _________________ to the idea of buying a boat.
a)   over
b)   up
c)   in

4. It was a once-in-a-lifetime _______________________ to go to the basketball game.
a)   chances
b)   chance
c)   opportunities

5. My friend is open _________________ the idea of going on a holiday with me.
a)   in
b)   to
c)   up

6. The woman stayed home to take care ____________ her son.
a)   to
b)   of
c)   for

7. I will probably wind ________________ staying home this evening.
a)   up
b)   down
c)   over

8. I am dying ________________ meet my new teacher.
a)   for
b)   to
c)   of

Your score is: ___ out of 8

Discussion Questions

Answer the following questions using the idioms from this section:

1. Is there anything that you are dying to do right now?

2. Is there any place that you are dying to go to now?

3. Are you warming up to any new idea at the moment?

4. Have you recently warmed up to an idea that you did not like at first?

5. What situation has caused you to be all ears recently?

6. Are you usually all ears when other people are speaking?

7. Are you usually open to new ideas?

8. Do you know anyone who is never open to try new things?

9. Do you sometimes go to a movie at the drop of a hat?

10. What things do you like to do at the drop of a hat?

11. Did you ever wind up being late for school because you were watching TV?

12. What did you wind up doing last weekend?

13. Have you ever had a once-in-a-lifetime chance to do something?

14. Has any once-in-a-lifetime event happened in your city?

15. Did you ever take care of a baby?

16. Who took care of you when you were a child?

Role Play

Student A: You have a chance to do something next weekend. You think that it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You want your friend to come with you but he or she is never open to try something new.

Student B: You are all ears and listen to your friend carefully but you have many reasons why you do not want to do what he or she suggests.

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