IDIOM CONNECTION

lesson 34

Praise Idioms and a New Coach

Introduction

Have you ever had a sports coach whom you really liked?

Reading

We are looking for a new coach for our football team. We have one very good candidate. Everybody is praising him to the skies. His previous team gives him credit for developing some very good players. The opposing teams also speak highly of him. They hold him up as an example of someone who works very hard at his job. Every person that we have spoken to is willing to put in a good word for him. Everybody on our team is in favor of offering him the job. We want to do this quickly in case he decides not to accept the job. If he does not accept the job, then we must keep our second choice in mind and maybe offer that person the job.

Reading Questions

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

1. Is everyone praising the candidate to the skies?

2. What does his previous team give him credit for?

3. Do the opposing teams also speak highly of him?

4. What do they hold him up as an example of?

5. Are most people willing to put in a good word for him?

6. Is everybody on the team in favor of offering him the job?

7. Do they want to offer him the job quickly in case he decides not to accept the job?

8. What must they keep in mind?

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. The sky is very high and if there were more than one sky then the skies would also be very high. Do you think that to praise someone to the skies has a positive or a negative meaning? What does to praise someone to the skies mean?
a)   to talk about someone very much
b)   to say good things about someone
c)   to criticize someone

2. One meaning of credit is praise or approval. Another meaning is the money that you have in a bank account. Both meanings are positive. To get credit for something means to receive approval or recognition for something that you have done. What does to give someone credit for something mean?
a)   to respect someone
b)   to praise someone for something that he or she has done
c)   to become angry with someone

3. To have a low opinion of someone means to have a negative opinion of someone. To have a high opinion of someone means to have a good opinion of someone. What do you think that to speak highly of someone means?
a)   to not speak about someone
b)   to say bad things about someone
c)   to say good things about someone

4. If you hold up something to show to someone then you are showing or giving him or her an example of something. What would to hold up someone as an example of something mean?
a)   to show that someone is not good
b)   to point to someone as an example
c)   to try and teach someone something

5. To put in a bad word for someone would mean to say bad things about someone. To put in a good word for someone is used when you are telling someone about another person. What do you think that it means?
a)   to talk a lot about someone
b)   to try and remember someone
c)   to say good things about someone

6. to be in favor of someone
a)   to want to meet someone
b)   to dislike someone
c)   to approve of someone

7. in case
a)   when something happens
b)   if something happens
c)   when nothing happens

8. to keep someone in mind
a)   to talk about someone
b)   to remember and consider someone
c)   to forget about someone

Your score is: ___  out of 8


Yes/No Questions

Answer the following questions with a yes or no answer and then explain your answer:

1. The manager praised the new employee to the skies. Did the manager like the new employee?
a)   Yes
b)   No

2. The mother gave the boy credit for finishing his school project. Was she angry with him?
a)   Yes
b)   No

3. The manager always speaks highly of his employees. Does he dislike his employees?
a)   Yes
b)   No

4. The police held up the boy as a good example of honesty. Did they praise the boy?
a)   Yes
b)   No

5. The man put in a good word for his friend. Did he say good things about his friend?
a)   Yes
b)   No

6. The students were in favor of going on a field trip. Did they dislike the idea of going on a field trip?
a)   Yes
b)   No

7. The girl brought her umbrella in case it rains. Did she think that it may rain?
a)  Yes
b)  No

8. The man must keep the time in mind so he is not late. Is he going to be late for sure?
a)  Yes
b)  No

Your score is: ___  out of 8


Grammar Focus

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

1. The woman praised her daughter _______________ the skies.
a)   in
b)   to
c)   over

2. The man gave his friend credit _______________ fixing his car.
a)   to
b)   in
c)   for

3. My friend speaks highly ________________ his boss.
a)   of
b)   for
c)   to

4. The athlete is being held up as a good example ________________ physical fitness.
a)   to
b)   in
c)   of

5. The fast food restaurant manager will always put in a good word ________________ his employees.
a)   to
b)   for
c)   in

6. The city government is in favor _______________ building a new stadium.
a)   for
b)   in
c)   of

7. I will phone my friend __________________ case he needs to talk to me.
a)  in
b)  for
c)  to

8. I will keep my friend ________________ mind if I need some help.
a)  for
b)  in
c)  of

Your score is: ___  out of 8




Discussion Questions

Answer the following questions using the idioms from this section:

1. Have you ever praised someone to the skies?

2. Has anyone ever praised you to the skies?

3. Have you ever been given credit for something important?

4. Do you know anyone who never gives others credit for the things that they do?

5. Do you know anyone who everybody speaks highly of?

6. Do you always speak highly of your friends?

7. Were you ever held up as a good example of something?

8. Who do you hold up as an example of being a very good person?

9. Have you ever put in a good word for someone?

10. Have you ever asked someone to put in a good word for you?

11. Are you usually in favor of what your friends suggest?

12. Do you know anyone who is usually not in favor of anything that other people suggest?

13. Are you usually in favor of what your friends suggest?

14. Do you always leave your house early in case there is a problem going to work or school?

15. Do you always keep the time in mind so you will not be late for something?

16. Do you usually keep in mind the finishing time of a project or some homework?

Role Play

Student A: You are the manager of a company. Somebody wants a job at your company. You do not like this person and you do not want to offer him a job. However, one of your employees likes this person and is willing to put in a good word for him.

Student B: You are talking to the manager. You speak very highly of the person who is applying for the job. You are very much in favor of offering the man a job.

lesson 34