IDIOM CONNECTION

lesson 29

Relationship Idioms and Falling in Love

Introduction

Where do you think that a good place would be to meet a boyfriend or girlfriend or husband or wife?

Reading

The young couple met at a tennis tournament and immediately fell in love. They were head over heels in love with each other. They began to date and several months later the young man popped the question. The young woman happily accepted and they soon got married. However, the young man found it difficult to settle down and enjoy married life. Soon their relationship was on the rocks. One day they had a big fight and decided to break up. However, they soon made up and after a short time they got back together and made their relationship a success.

Reading Questions

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

1. Did the young couple immediately fall in love?

2. Who was head over heels in love?

3. Who popped the question?

4. Who found it difficult to settle down?

5. What was soon on the rocks?

6. When did the couple decide to break up?

7. Were they able to make up?

8. When did they get back together?

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 following idioms:

1. To fall out of love with someone means that you stop feeling love for that person. The opposite of this is to fall in love with someone. What does this idiom mean?
a)   to decide to marry someone
b)   to begin to experience feelings of love for someone
c)   to love someone forever

2. Head over heels originally meant to be upside down. Now, it also means to be very excited. What does to be head over heels in love with someone mean?
a)   to want to marry someone
b)   to like to talk to people
c)   to love someone very much

3. to pop the question
a)   to refuse to answer a question
b)   to ask many questions
c)   to ask someone to marry you

4. to settle down
a)   to begin to live a quiet and stable life
b)   to think about getting married
c)   to change jobs many times

5. When a boat is on the rocks it is in trouble or having problems. What does it mean for a relationship to be on the rocks?
a)   to be very stable
b)   to be having problems
c)   to be as solid as a rock

6. to break up with someone
a)   to begin to argue with someone
b)   to end a relationship with someone
c)   to decide to marry someone

7. to make up with someone
a)   to destroy a good relationship with someone
b)   to repair a relationship with someone
c)   to begin a relationship with someone

8. to get back together with someone
a)   to repair a broken relationship
b)   to not meet someone again
c)   to begin a relationship again after separating

Your score is: ___  out of 8


Statement and Response

Choose the best response to each of the following statements:

1. “My friend popped the question to his girlfriend.”
a)   “Did she say yes?”
b)   “Why didn't he ask her?”

2. “My sister finally seems to want to settle down.”
a)   “Why doesn't she want to become more responsible?”
b)   “Good. It is time that she became more responsible.”

3. “My friend is head over heels in love with his girlfriend.”
a)   “He always seems to be in love with someone.”
b)   “He can never meet someone whom he likes.”

4. “The girl and her boyfriend got back together after they separated for several months.”
a)   “Do you think that they will stay together this time?”
b)   “It is unfortunate that they won't meet again.”

5. “The couple made up after a big fight.”
a)   “The couple are still fighting.”
b)   “It is good that they are not fighting now.”

6. “My neighbor's marriage is on the rocks.”
a)   “It is good that their relationship is strong.”
b)   “That is unfortunate. They seem like a nice couple.”

7. “I fell in love with a woman in my computer club.”
a)  “What is her name?”
b)  “Why don't you like her?”

8. “My niece broke up with her boyfriend after five years.”
a)  “Why? What caused the problem?”
b)  “It is good that they are together.”

Your score is: ___  out of 8


Grammar Focus

Choose the correct form of the present perfect tense:

1. My friend _____________________ with someone almost every year since he was a teenager.
a)   has fallen in love
b)   had fallen in love
c)   has falling in love

2. The man ___________________________ for many months now.
a)   has being head over heels in love
b)   has been head over heels in love
c)   have been head over heels in love

3. “___________________________ to your girlfriend yet?”
a)   Had you popped the question
b)   Has you popped the question
c)   Have you popped the question

4. The young man ______________________ after changing jobs often.
a)   have settled down
b)   has settle down
c)   has settled down

5. The man's relationship ____________________ for several months now.
a)   had been on the rocks
b)   has been on the rocks
c)   have been on the rocks

6. I think that my friend __________________ with her boyfriend.
a)   has broken up
b)   have broken up
c)   has broke up

7. The woman _______________________ with her boyfriend after their big fight.
a)  have made up
b)  has make up
c)  has made up

8. I do not believe that my friend _______________________ with his girlfriend yet.
a)  has gotten back together
b)  have gotten back together
c)  had gotten back together

Your score is: ___  out of 8




Discussion Questions

Answer the following questions using the idioms from this section:

1. Do you usually fall in love easily?

2. Do you know anyone who has fallen in love recently?

3. Have you ever been head over heels in love with someone?

4. Do you know anyone who is head over heels in love with someone now?

5. Do you think someone will pop the question to you soon?

6. Do you want to pop the question to someone at the moment?

7. Do you want to get married and settle down soon?

8. Have any of your friends married and settled down recently?

9. Do you know anyone whose relationship is on the rocks?

10. What would you do if your relationship was on the rocks?

11. Have any of your friends broken up with someone recently?

12. Have you ever broken up with someone?

13. Do you try to make up with someone after you have a fight?

14. Do you know anyone who did not make up with a friend after a fight?

15. Is it easy for you to get back together with someone after a fight?

16. Do you know anyone who you would never get back together with if you broke up?

Role Play

Student A: Two of your best friends have recently broken up. You are talking with another friend about their situation.

Student B: You cannot believe that the couple broke up. You are talking to your friend about the possible reasons. You both hope that they can get back together soon.

The Perfect Partner:

What do you think are the five most important things to look for in a partner? Which of those things are the most important for you?

lesson 29