Flashcard - Unit 5

Unit 5: I Can Describe Character

Key Character Idioms

This unit focuses on idioms used to describe personality, emotions, and behaviour. Someone who loves the sound of their own voice talks too much. A person who does not suffer fools gladly has little patience with people they consider foolish. Tough as old boots describes a very strong and resilient person. Other expressions describe relationships, such as being under somebody’s thumb, or attitudes, such as playing it cool. Advanced users should notice that many of these idioms carry strong positive or negative connotations and are often used informally.

Image Placeholder: Four people with contrasting personalities; caption: “Different character types and social behaviour”.

Noun phrases such as a live wire, a soft touch, nobody’s fool, and a cold fish are common in spoken and written English. Context is important because some expressions can be complimentary, ironic, or insulting.

Exercise 1 – Match

  1. love the sound of your own voice
  2. play it cool
  3. under someone’s thumb
  4. quick temper
  5. mad keen
  6. live wire
  7. soft touch
  8. cold fish

Match with: controlled by another; energetic person; hide feelings; talks too much; easily angered; very enthusiastic; emotionally distant; easily persuaded.

Exercise 2 – Complete the Idiom

  1. tough as old _____
  2. thick as two short _____
  3. mad as a _____
  4. on the _____
  5. bright _____
  6. salt of the _____
  7. nasty piece of _____
  8. man of his _____

Exercise 3 – Positive or Negative?

  1. live wire
  2. scum of the earth
  3. nobody’s fool
  4. cold fish
  5. salt of the earth
  6. soft touch
  7. nasty piece of work
  8. woman of her word

Exercise 4 – Rewrite

  1. He talks constantly.
  2. She hides her feelings.
  3. He is very stupid.
  4. She is extremely angry.
  5. He is controlled by his wife.
  6. She is very reliable.
  7. He is very energetic.
  8. She is strange and eccentric.
Image Placeholder: A boss speaking while others listen; caption: “Loves the sound of his own voice”.

Exercise 5 – Choose the Best Idiom

  1. A dependable farmer.
  2. An unpleasant criminal.
  3. A lively presenter.
  4. A person whose abilities are unknown.
  5. A generous parent.
  6. A clever manager.
  7. An unemotional neighbour.
  8. A foolish employee.

Exercise 6 – Discussion Prompts

  1. Describe a live wire you know.
  2. Who is a creature of habit?
  3. Have you met a cold fish?
  4. Who is a man or woman of their word?
  5. What makes someone tough as old boots?
  6. Why do people play it cool?
  7. Can a soft touch be a strength?
  8. Which idiom best describes you?

Further Practice: Character and Personality

Use the target idioms accurately. Pay attention to tone, register, and context.

Image Placeholder: Office team showing different personalities; caption: “Workplace character types”.

Exercise 1 – Gap Fill

  1. She is ______ keen on tennis.
  2. He doesn’t suffer fools ______.
  3. Deep ______, she is shy.
  4. He is under her ______.
  5. She has a quick ______.
  6. He is a bright ______.
  7. She is a creature of ______.
  8. He is an unknown ______.

Exercise 2 – Sentence Transformation

  1. He is very reliable.
  2. She is controlled by her boss.
  3. He is extremely strong.
  4. She talks too much.
  5. He is very clever.
  6. She is lively.
  7. He is emotionally distant.
  8. She is generous and easy to persuade.

Exercise 3 – Error Correction

  1. mad as a teacher
  2. under her finger
  3. salt of earth
  4. quick speed temper
  5. bright flame
  6. cold bird
  7. man of his promise
  8. play it cold

Exercise 4 – Choose the Correct Idiom

  1. Honest villager.
  2. Dishonest bully.
  3. Energetic entertainer.
  4. Very angry customer.
  5. Reliable friend.
  6. Very stupid thief.
  7. Eccentric artist.
  8. Unknown applicant.
Image Placeholder: Family helping each other; caption: “Supportive and reliable people”.

Exercise 5 – Short Writing

  1. Describe a live wire.
  2. Describe a soft touch.
  3. Describe a cold fish.
  4. Describe nobody’s fool.
  5. Describe a bright spark.
  6. Describe a creature of habit.
  7. Describe a nasty piece of work.
  8. Describe the salt of the earth.

Exercise 6 – Classification

  1. live wire
  2. soft touch
  3. scum of the earth
  4. woman of her word
  5. cold fish
  6. bright spark
  7. nasty piece of work
  8. nobody’s fool

Place each into Positive, Negative, or Context-Dependent groups.

Extended Practice and Review

Review all idioms from the unit and use them in realistic contexts.

Image Placeholder: People showing emotions from calm to angry; caption: “Emotions and reactions”.

Exercise 1 – Multiple Choice

  1. Who is easiest to borrow money from?
  2. Who is least emotional?
  3. Who is most reliable?
  4. Who is most energetic?
  5. Who is hardest to trick?
  6. Who is very strange?
  7. Who is very angry?
  8. Who is very enthusiastic?

Exercise 2 – Context Matching

  1. Talks all meeting.
  2. Always keeps promises.
  3. Never changes routine.
  4. Supports everyone.
  5. Acts calm despite feelings.
  6. Gets angry quickly.
  7. Very resilient.
  8. Abilities still unclear.

Exercise 3 – Create Sentences

  1. live wire
  2. cold fish
  3. mad keen
  4. under someone’s thumb
  5. nobody’s fool
  6. bright spark
  7. quick temper
  8. salt of the earth
Image Placeholder: A dramatic theatre cast; caption: “Characters with contrasting traits”.

Exercise 4 – True or False

  1. A cold fish is very emotional.
  2. A soft touch is difficult to persuade.
  3. A live wire is energetic.
  4. Nobody’s fool means clever.
  5. Mad keen means uninterested.
  6. Scum of the earth is positive.
  7. A creature of habit likes routines.
  8. Play it cool means hide feelings.

Exercise 5 – Mini Dialogues

  1. Use hopping mad.
  2. Use mad as a hatter.
  3. Use bright spark ironically.
  4. Use woman of her word.
  5. Use tough as old boots.
  6. Use on the surface.
  7. Use nasty piece of work.
  8. Use love the sound of your own voice.

Exercise 6 – Personal Reflection

  1. Which idiom fits you?
  2. Which idiom fits a friend?
  3. Which idiom fits a teacher?
  4. Which idiom fits a leader?
  5. Which idiom should people avoid being?
  6. Which idiom is most useful?
  7. Which idiom is strongest criticism?
  8. Which idiom is strongest praise?
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