Sunday, January 12, 2014

Idiom Exercise #7: Describing Sadness

Communicative Goal: Describing Sadness
Context: Modern Life


















Part 1, Speaking: Review and discuss the following idioms, providing your own examples.

1.   to be down in the dumps: to feel sad for a short period (informal, negative, weak, general)
      Example: Come on, what are you down in the dumps for? You should be happy!

2.   to be in a funk: to feel sad for an extended period (informal, negative, weak, general) 
Example: He is in a funk right now because he can’t find a job.

3.   to feel blue: to feel sad (informal, negative, strong, general, often used for one’s personality)
Example: I imagine that Picasso felt blue during his blue period.

4.   to feel down: to feel sad due to disappointment (informal, negative, weak, general)
Example: I feel down when I am turned down.

5.   to let down: to sadden someone through disappointment (informal, neutral, general)
Example: Please let him down gently….

Part 2, Reading : Complete the passage below with the appropriately conjugated idioms.
     The frustrations of modern life can lead to sadness and even depression when it seems like everyone and everything, from breakups to rejection letters, _____ us _____.

     It is natural __________ in situations like these. This can be intensified, however, when coupled with gloomy weather and our own biological makeups, making us __________. 

     When we __________ for a few days, friends and family can usually soon bring us back to our old selves with a night on the town.

    If we __________, however, professional help may be necessary to get us back on track.  

© James Doyle, 2013

English Class: 
Are you interested in learning more idioms? Take this great class!
http://www.mylanguagesolutions.com/#!advanced-integrated-english-skills-workshop/c12pt

Answers: 
The answers to this exercise are available at the following link: 

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