This is “straight from the horse’s
mouth”.
A Study of Idioms
LA.D.1.3.4.8.1
Index
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Definition of Idiom
Idiom examples
– Straight from the horse’s mouth
– Flash in the pan
– Down to the wire
– Show your true colors
– Face the music
Assignment
Different websites
You can begin the activity, leave it and return. To go to a specific
section, simply click on the different index item.
To return to the index, after each slide you simply click on the horse’s
picture.
An idiom can be defined as…
A speech form or an expression of a given
language that is peculiar to itself grammatically
or cannot be understood from the individual
meanings of its elements, as in keep tabs on.
What does that mean? Can you figure out what
“Flash in the pan” means? No? Then it is an
expression that cannot be understood from the
meanings of its elements.
Straight from the horse’s mouth
What do you think it means?
Definition: Directly from the source.
History: This is a boast of confidence from a
racetrack tipster, who says he gets his information
from the horses themselves—thereby assuring the
bettor that the info is the correct.
Example: When asked how he learned that
Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake were getting
married, the National Inquirer reporter said,
“Straight from the horse’s mouth.”
Flash in the pan
What do you think this means?
Definition: Something that shows great promise,
then disappoints by being over too quickly.
History: Flintlock muskets have small pans to
hold the gunpowder fuse. Sometimes the
gunpowder in the pan would flare up without
firing the gun. That would be a "flash in the pan".
Example: Some people thought that Creed would
be a “Flash in the pan” musically. Boy, were they
wrong!
Down to the wire
What do you think it means?
Definition: Undecided until the end, at the last minute.
History: Refers to races where the winner is
determined by whoever crosses the finish line first. A
string is stretched across the finish to help the judges
see clearly who crosses first in a close race. That string
is called the wire or tape, the winner is the one who
breaks the wire first.
Example: When George Bush and Al Gore were
running for reelection, the results were down to the
wire.
Show your true colors
What do you think it means?
Definition: To reveal your true intentions, personality, or
behaviors.
History: Early warships often carried flags from many nations on
board in order to elude or deceive the enemy. The rules of civilized
warfare called for all ships to hoist their true national ensigns before
firing a shot.
Someone who finally "shows his true colors" is acting like a warship
which hails another ship flying one flag, but then hoisted their own
when they got in firing range.
Beth showed her true colors when she revealed she secretly
enjoyed country music.
Face the music
What do you think it means?
Definition: To accept the truth.
History: Comes from the British military. When
someone was court marshaled, there would be a
military drum squad playing, hence face the music.
After she lied to her parents about her bad grades,
Kim had to face the music when they found a copy
of her report card.
Your assignment
1. Search on the Internet and find a site
with idioms that you understand and enjoy.
 2. Research and find three idioms that you
have heard about.
 3. Write down the actual definition of this
idiom, an example of how the idiom can be
used, and the history of the idiom.
 4. Use each idiom in a new sentence.
 5. Share idioms with students.
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Extra, Extra, Read All About It!
Extra, Extra Read All About It
Can you think of any new idioms that are
new to our history?
 Example, “Boy, he went postal yesterday in
Mrs. Capes’ classroom.”
 Likely definition: Going crazy.
 Likely history: When so many mail carriers
were going crazy on the job, people began
to say they were going “postal”.
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Website examples
Different websites you can use.
http://www.etanewsletter.com/idioms.shtml
 http://members.aol.com/MorelandC/HaveOr
igins.htm
 http://members.tripod.com/~towerofenglish/
idioms.html
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What’s next?
Let’s Share!
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Read each one of your idioms, give us a
chance to figure out what it means, then
share the definition, history and example.
Are we done yet?
You’re All Done!