Presenting idioms

http://visual-idioms.com

1. Show your students the picture only (it's best if you can project it on the screen).
2. Get them to describe it in detail (in pairs or in groups).
3. Elicit words connected with the image and put them on the board.
4. Ask the SS if they can guess the idiom with the words they've got. Elicit answers. This stage can be fun, especially with more advanced students. They may come with sentences such as: I feel like a pair of shoes on a clothesline. :-)
5. Put the correct idiom Hang somebody out to dry on the board and discuss the literal meaning briefly.
6. Ask the SS if they can guess the figurative meaning: to punish somebody for what they did. To help the SS, give them example sentences, such as: Once I find out who's vandalized my house, I swear I'll hang them out to dry. Alternatively, you can ask questions such as: How would you feel hanging out on a clothesline? Would it be a reward or a punishment for you? Thus you'll juxtapose the literal meaning with the figurative meaning. The funny part is always with somebody as opposed to something.
7. Get your SS to discuss some questions in pairs/groups. Try to personalize the questions.
8. Have you ever hung someone out to dry for something? What did you do? Would you like to hang somebody out to dry? What for?
9. Encourage your SS to ask their own questions and share them with the class.
10. You may also want to discuss grammar, especially the irregular vs. regular form of the verb, the infinitive to-form, etc.
11. Finally, ask the SS to come up with a similar idiom in their native language. This part is very interesting and challenging.
12. As a homework assignment (or in class), the students can answer the questions in writing.