This activity is a simple way to have fun introducing your students to some Halloween idioms. This activity is perfect for teen and adult classes and is a great way to learn some idioms while having some seasonal fun.

Level: B1, B2 (FCE), C1 (CAE) and C2 (CPE).

Materials: PowerPoint

Or

Printable version [gview file=”https://eslkidsgames.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Guess-the-Halloween-Idiom.pdf”]

Time: 15 minutes+

Method

1. Put students in pairs or groups. 
2. Explain that they are going to see pictures which visually represent some Halloween idioms.
3. In their groups, students must decide what the idiom is. If a group gets any of the words correct, they get a point for each correct word.
4. After each idiom the teacher awards points to each team and explains the meaning of the idiom. Ask students to think or explain similar expressions in their own language.
5. Get students to predict what the Idiom might mean and how would it be used. 
6. Have fun!

1. Make someone’s blood boil. – to make someone very angry

Ex: It just makes my blood boil to think of the amount of food that gets wasted around here.

2. Ghost town – A ghost town is a town that has been abandoned or is in decline and has very little activity.

Ex: This town is a ghost town, there is never anything happening.

3. Stab in the back – to stab someone in the back means to betray them Ex: After all I did for him, he stabbed me in the back when he told all those lies about me.

4. Skeleton in the Cupboard – a scandal that is kept secret Ex: James has a few skeletons in his cupboard and is terrified that he will be found out.

5. Skeleton staff – the fewest number of people needed in an office Ex: We always operate with a skeleton staff over the Christmas period.

 6. Scared to death – so scared that you cannot move

Ex. I am scared stiff of walking on ice.

7. Scare the pants off someone – to frighten someone a lot Ex: The film “Nightmare on Elm Street” scared the pants off me.

8. Make the blood run cold – to totally scare you Ex: The screams in the woods made my blood run cold.

9. In cold blood – to act in cold blood is to do something without any emotion and deliberately Ex: The victim was shot in cold blood.