When Pigs Fly
1. Watch the video. What's the main message of the story? What do we learn from it?
2. Watch the video and answer the questions.
- What do you think the idiom "When pigs fly" mean?
- How can you characterize the relationship between the child and the parent?
- What are they dreaming of?
- Do you agree that "it's a beautiful thing when pigs fly'"?
- Are YOU a dreamer?
Ryan Adams - When Pigs Fly Lyrics
3. Watch the video again and complete the gaps.
I know you for a d_________
Cause I've been a dreamer too.
You got that f________ look in your searching eyes
And a heart that's steady and true.
I think I know what you're looking for
In the endless b_______ of the sky:
You wait for the time when pigs fly.
Get out here! Somebody, tell you that dreams are n_________ but air.
Did I hear somebody try to say
That i___________ will take you nowhere?
If anyone says it can't be done
As the time just simply reply
It's a beautiful thing when pigs fly.
You never know and it will be
But they'll surely come a_______ -
Flashes of pink and flashes of gold
And a d________ and joyful sound when pigs fly.
I know you for a dreamer,
Cause I've been a dreamer too
You got that faraway look in your s_________ eyes.
And a heart that's steady and true
Are we s__________ seeing a dozen or more
Sailing in the clear blue sky?
The time has come when pigs fly
Yeah, it's a beautiful thing when pigs fly…
Cause I've been a dreamer too.
You got that f________ look in your searching eyes
And a heart that's steady and true.
I think I know what you're looking for
In the endless b_______ of the sky:
You wait for the time when pigs fly.
Get out here! Somebody, tell you that dreams are n_________ but air.
Did I hear somebody try to say
That i___________ will take you nowhere?
If anyone says it can't be done
As the time just simply reply
It's a beautiful thing when pigs fly.
You never know and it will be
But they'll surely come a_______ -
Flashes of pink and flashes of gold
And a d________ and joyful sound when pigs fly.
I know you for a dreamer,
Cause I've been a dreamer too
You got that faraway look in your s_________ eyes.
And a heart that's steady and true
Are we s__________ seeing a dozen or more
Sailing in the clear blue sky?
The time has come when pigs fly
Yeah, it's a beautiful thing when pigs fly…
Nine Common Idioms
Vocabulary/ Expressions
4. Read the idioms in context. Match them with their definitions.
1. when pigs fly (humorous) He will get married when pigs fly.
2. a piece of cake (informal) The exam was a piece of cake.
3. cost an arm and a leg (informal) Buying a Porsche costs an arm and a leg.
4. break a leg (informal) Break a leg at your job interview today!
5. hit the nail on the head You hit the nail on the head with your proposal at the staff meeting yesterday.
6. you can't judge a book by its cover The book doesn't look interesting, but you can t judge a book by its cover.
7. hit the books (informal) I have a Maths test tomorrow so I need to hit the books now.
8. bite off more than you can chew (informal) She may bite off more than she can chew by taking 5 classes this semester.
9. scratch someone's back (informal) I don't mind driving this time—you've scratched my back plenty of times.
2. a piece of cake (informal) The exam was a piece of cake.
3. cost an arm and a leg (informal) Buying a Porsche costs an arm and a leg.
4. break a leg (informal) Break a leg at your job interview today!
5. hit the nail on the head You hit the nail on the head with your proposal at the staff meeting yesterday.
6. you can't judge a book by its cover The book doesn't look interesting, but you can t judge a book by its cover.
7. hit the books (informal) I have a Maths test tomorrow so I need to hit the books now.
8. bite off more than you can chew (informal) She may bite off more than she can chew by taking 5 classes this semester.
9. scratch someone's back (informal) I don't mind driving this time—you've scratched my back plenty of times.
A. used for wishing someone good luck, especially before a performance
B. to study, especially, with particular intensity
С. something is very expensive
D. something that will never happen
E. to try to do something that is too difficult for you
F.used to tell someone that if they help you, you will help them
G. Something is very easy to complete.
H. to do or say something exactly right
I. You can't know what someone or something is like by only looking at the person's or thing's appearance.
B. to study, especially, with particular intensity
С. something is very expensive
D. something that will never happen
E. to try to do something that is too difficult for you
F.used to tell someone that if they help you, you will help them
G. Something is very easy to complete.
H. to do or say something exactly right
I. You can't know what someone or something is like by only looking at the person's or thing's appearance.
1. when pigs fly He will get married when pigs fly.
A. used for wishing someone good luck, especially before a performance
2. a piece of cake The exam was a piece of cake.
B. to study, especially, with particular intensity
3. cost an arm and a leg Buying a Porsche costs an arm and a leg.
С. something is very expensive
4. break a leg Break a leg at your job interview today!
D. something that will never happen
5. hit the nail on the head You hit the nail on the head with your proposal at the staff meeting yesterday.
E. to try to do something that is too difficult for you
6. you can't judge a book by its cover The book doesn't look interesting, but you can t judge a book by its cover.
F. used to tell someone that if they help you, you will help them
7. hit the books I have a Maths test tomorrow so I need to hit the books now.
G. Something is very easy to complete.
8. bite off more than you can chew She may bite off more than she can chew by taking 5 classes this semester.
H. to do or say something exactly right
9. scratch someone's back I don't mind driving this time—you've scratched my back plenty of times.
I. You can't know what someone or something is like by only looking at the person's or thing's appearance.
1 - D, 2 - G, 3 - C, 4 - A, 5 - H, 6 - I, 7 - B, 8 - E, 9 - F.
5. Complete the following sentences with the idioms above. Use correct tenses.
- I think Mick ________________________ when he said that what's lacking in this company is a feeling of confidence. That's what they really need!
- That job was _______________________. It was the easiest thing that I ever did.
- That professor may seem slow and awkward, but _______________________________. He is one of the brightest minds in his field.
- I stayed at home all weekend and _______________________ .
- If you do the laundry, I'll do the cooking - you _____________________and I'll scratch yours.
- I think I __________________________________ when I agreed to paint this house by myself.
- "When will Steven propose to Cathy? They've been living together for a long time." "____________________! They're just flatmates."
- "____________________!" shouted the stage manager to the heroine. Let's all go and do our best.
- I'm sick of paying rent in this town because it______________________________!
6. Look at the picture and try to recall the idiom.
7. CONVERSATION questions.
- Think about a time when you bit off more than you could chew. Tell your partner.
- Is there anything in particular that costs an arm and a leg that you would like to buy?
- When would you usually tell someone to break a leg?
- Do you think in some situations we should "judge a book by its cover"?
- Why is it important to learn idioms? Give examples of idioms in your language.
- Do you know other English idioms?
- Do you "see red" when learning idioms? Why are idioms difficult to learn?
- What helps you to memorize them?
- Do you think some English learners can learn idioms easier than other learners? Why?
- Why do you think idioms are used in movies, TV programs and newspapers?
