Valentine’s Day Traditions

Language & Culture - Fill the Gaps Activity

Complete the text with one of the two options given :

Valentine's Day originated in Rome but is celebrated in 1)..... (several/ lots) countries nowadays. After New Year's Day, it is the most celebrated holiday 2)..... (in / on) Earth.

This is the day for sweethearts to express their love for each other with 3)...... (inusual /unusual) gestures. Everybody 4)..... (send/sends) cards, called “Valentines”, with romantic or sweet messages and it is common to send or receive a card unsigned from a secret 5)..... (admiror/ admirer).

6)..... (Another/ Other) tradition on this day is that men usually buy chocolates and give red roses to their girlfriends, wives or significant others. Couples 7)..... (must / may) also go to a restaurant for a nice dinner or plan something else romantic.

Many people 8)..... (thinks/think) that this holiday is very commercial with companies that encourage the public to buy 9)..... (more and more / more or less) every year. However a positive aspect is that in recent times the festival has become  much 10)..... (large/larger) and not exclusive for lovers. People 11)..... (give/take) the opportunity this day, to wish ‘Happy Valentine's Day' to anyone they love or appreciate: father, mother, teachers, siblings, friends, co-workers or just anyone special to 12)..... (them/him).

At schools, red and pink hearts decorate classrooms. Children make or buy cards to give to their friends, and often have poems written 13)..... (in/on) them. One common poem is “Roses are red, violet are blue, sugar is sweet and so are you.”

                                                                               

Most consider this a fun day. Sending a Valentine’s card or gift can be a good ice-breaker if there is 14)..... (no one/ someone) special you wanted to meet...

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Music in our speech - Idioms

Vocabulary Activity - Idioms related to MUSIC

English has several idiomatic expressions related to music. These are a few popular ones.

BE CLEAR AS A BELL: to be very understandable.
BE FIT AS A FIDDLE : to be very fit and healthy.
BLOW ONE'S OWN HORN/ TRUMPET : to praise oneself, brag or boast.
FACE THE MUSIC : to accept the consequences of doing something wrong.

FOR A SONG : to get, buy or sell something at a very cheap price.
IN TUNE / OUT OF TUNE : in agreement, according to harmony / discordant, not harmonious.
IT'S NOT OVER UNTIL THE FAT LADY SINGS : to not speculate about something until it is completed. This phrase comes from the opera.
JAZZ ( something ) UP : to make something more interesting or lively.
MARCH TO A DIFFERENT DRUMMER : to follow one's own ideas rather than being influenced by others; to be a bit eccentric.
MUSIC TO MY EARS : good news; information that makes someone happy.

PLAY BY EAR : to play a piece of music without looking at the notes; do something without much preparation.
RING A BELL : to sound familiar or  think you've heard it before.

Complete the following sentences with words related to the idioms above:

1.His suggestions are always a bit ______________  with reality.

2.When I heard the song, some of the verses ____________ but then I realized there are many similar lyrics.

3.Tom often _________ his gray suits with colorful ties.

4.The team is not going to support us; they always ___________  .

5.Even if the campaign was a success, let's wait for the real figures. It's not ______________.

6.Jan is always at the gym but with all the fast food he eats I don’t  know how he can say that he’s _________ .

7.Marty says she finds it difficult to __________ because she is shy.

8.Jimmy will have to ___________ when his mom asks him who broke the window.

9.We haven't had time to prepare for the meeting. We'll have to _________

10.I thought I was getting this teeshirt _________, but I found out it has a little stain. That’s why its price was 50% off.

11.It was __________ when our instructor said the test would be after the holidays.

12.The walls are so thin that we can hear the neighbors talking as _________ . 

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