IDIOM CONNECTION

lesson 31

Gossip Idioms and a Rumor

Introduction

1. What do you think about people who gossip?

2. Do you know anyone who gossips a lot?

3. Do you like to gossip?

Reading

One of the women in our department is horrible. She has a big mouth and is always trying to bad-mouth someone. Nobody likes her or believes her but when she starts a rumor it still causes tongues to wag. I do not like to get into a conversation with her about these rumors. However, she always acts like she is letting someone in on an important secret. Last week, she began to dig up some dirt on the sales manager. The things that she said about him were terrible. He felt very bad when he heard these rumors. It was not until we got the lowdown on what was really happening that we could put the rumors to rest.

Reading Questions

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

1. Who has a big mouth?

2. Is the woman always trying to bad-mouth someone?

3. Does it cause tongues to wag when the woman starts a rumor?

4. Does he like to get into a discussion about these rumors?

5. Does the woman act like she is letting someone in on an important secret when she talks to other people?

6. Did she dig up some dirt on the sales manager?

7. Did everyone finally get the lowdown on what was really happening?

8. Were the rumors finally put to rest?

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. someone has a very big mouth
a)   someone is a very quiet person
b)   someone likes to gossip and tell secrets
c)   someone likes to eat a lot

2. someone likes to bad-mouth other people
a)   someone likes to say bad things about other people
b)   someone always says good things about other people
c)   someone is rather quiet and shy

3. Wag means to move back and forth or up and down. A dog's tail will wag when the dog is happy. What would someone is causing tongues to wag mean?
a)   someone likes to talk a lot
b)   someone is giving other people something to talk about
c)   someone does not like people who talk a lot

4. someone is getting into a conversation
a)   someone is fighting with someone
b)   someone is becoming involved in a conversation
c)   someone is trying to avoid a conversation

5. someone is letting someone in on something
a)   someone is telling someone a secret
b)   someone is very good at keeping secrets
c)   someone is letting someone into a house

6. Dirt is usually considered to be not clean. It can also mean some negative information about a person. To dig up something can mean to find something. What do you think that it means when someone is digging up dirt on someone?
a)   someone is trying to find something bad about someone
b)   someone is saying good things about someone
c)   someone does not like to gossip about other people

7. someone is getting the lowdown on something
a)   someone is getting the full story about something
b)   someone is not talking about something
c)   someone has no interest in other people

8. someone is putting a rumor to rest
a)   someone likes to gossip
b)   someone is showing that a rumor is not true
c)   someone does not like to gossip at all

Your score is: ___  out of 8


Multiple Choice

Choose the idiom which correctly completes each sentence:

1. My coworker ___________________ and will always tell a secret.
a)   puts things to rest
b)   has a big mouth
c)   likes to get the lowdown on other people

2. The woman often ______________ her colleagues at work.
a)   puts to rest
b)   bad-mouths
c)   lets people in on

3. The bad behavior of the girl is ____________________.
a)   bad-mouthing everybody
b)   causing tongues to wag
c)   having a big mouth

4. The man is always __________________ arguments at work.
a)   getting into
b)   bad-mouthing
c)   digging up dirt on

5. The little boy would not __________________ the secret.
a)   bad-mouth
b)   let his friend in on
c)   dig up dirt on

6. Our supervisor is always trying to ________________ the employees.
a)   have a big mouth with
b)   dig up some dirt on
c)   let someone in on

7. I am working hard to _______________ what really happened at the meeting last night.
a)  get the lowdown on
b)  cause tongues to wag with
c)  have a big mouth with

8. I want to ________________ about my possible plans to quit my company.
a)  put the rumors to rest
b)  have a big mouth
c)  rest the rumors

Your score is: ___  out of 8


Grammar Focus

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

1. The woman in the store has a big _______________ and is always talking.
a)   mouth
b)   tooth
c)   eye

2. I wish that my classmate would stop ___________________ other people.
a)   bad-mouthing
b)   bad-mouth
c)   bad-mouthed

3. The strange situation is causing ___________________ to wag.
a)   the tongue
b)   a tongue
c)   tongues

4. The young man got _______________ a fight with his neighbors.
a)   onto
b)   into
c)   under

5. I met my friend last night and he let me _________________ a secret about our friend.
a)   into
b)   in
c)   in on

6. The police are trying to dig ________________ some dirt on the criminal.
a)   down
b)   up
c)   over

7. Our teacher is trying to get the lowdown ________________ what happened in the class.
a)  on
b)  in
c)  to

8. Our company is trying to put the rumors ______________ rest about the financial problems.
a)  in
b)  to
c)  on

Your score is: ___  out of 8




Discussion Questions

Answer the following questions using the idioms from this section:

1. Do you know anyone who has a big mouth?

2. Do you think that you have a big mouth?

3. Do you know anyone who often bad-mouths his or her friends?

4. Have you ever been bad-mouthed by someone?

5. What has caused tongues to wag among your friends recently?

6. Have you done anything recently that caused tongues to wag?

7. Do you ever get into long discussions with strangers?

8. Did you get into an argument with anyone recently?

9. Do you have a secret that you will not let anyone in on?

10. Have you been let in on any secrets recently?

11. Do your local newspapers try to dig up dirt on politicians?

12. Do you know anyone who likes to dig up dirt on other people?

13. How do you usually get the lowdown on your school or company events?

14. Is there anything that you need to get the lowdown on now?

15. Do you know any rumors that should be put to rest?

16. Have you ever helped to put a rumor to rest?

Role Play

Student A: You have a big mouth and you like to gossip and talk about other people. Today, you are letting your friend in on what you think is some big news about someone.

Student B: You really do not like to get into a conversation about other people with your friend. However, you feel that you must listen.

lesson 31