For each petal on the shamrock
This brings a wish your way—
Good health, good luck, and happiness
For today and every day.
—Author Unknown
With St. Patrick’s Day just around the corner (March 17), it’s a great time to learn these idioms about luck!
Idioms appear in many places in English—in movies, on TV, in books, and in everyday conversation. Students usually enjoy learning idioms because they’re fun, but have trouble remembering them because they’re not literal. Using visuals such as this poster helps students remember idioms, especially when the visuals contain clever “tricks” (our designer has worked some literal clues into this poster).
For example, point out to students that “lucky streak” means to keep winning (or to keep experiencing good luck in some way), demonstrated by the pile of chips in front of the girl at the poker table. The girl also has a green streak in her hair—this literal clue might help students remember the idiom. See if your students can guess the meaning of the idioms based on this poster, and see if they can also find all the literal clues! Afterward, try some of the activities suggested below that will help students remember these idioms.
Download the printable Lucky Idioms poster PDF
Activities with Idioms
1. SKIT TIME: Put students into pairs, and have them write and present a short skit that uses at least three of these idioms. You can be sure your students fully understand the meaning of the idioms if they use them correctly in a skit, and students will be exposed to the idioms several times, which will help with retention.
2. QUIZ TIME: Put students into pairs or small groups, and have them create a quiz for another pair/group. They should write at least five sentences that demonstrate the idiom in context, along with a blank where the idiom would be written in. Exchange papers with another pair/group, or make copies and have all the pairs/groups do one another’s quizzes.
Example: She _____________ that she wasn’t seriously injured in the car accident yesterday. (Answer: thanked her lucky stars)
3. DISCUSSION TIME: In groups or as a class, go through the idioms one by one, getting students to share examples of situations when this idiom could be used. Tell them to share their own experiences too!
4. WRITING TIME: Use one of the idioms as a writing prompt for a story. Tell students to write about something that happened to them (you can decide if it must be a true story or not) that demonstrates the meaning of one of the idioms.
Our writer Tara has more suggestions for idiom activities in her blog post 8 Fun and Interactive Ways to Review Idioms!
More idioms posters:
More St. Patrick’s Day resources:
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