Positive idioms and phrases

Autumn has come and brought the gloomy weather with rain and greyness. Even though it has beauty and some poetic atmosphere, one’s soul tends to urge for light and sun which somehow bring up an optimistic and positive state. 

Well, let’s have a look at some tasks on positive idioms and phrases which may spice your lessons up. These idioms might be learned in the context of such topics as emotions, feelings, weather influence, positive thinking, optimism, and so on. 

Task 1. Try to guess and explain the meanings of the idioms, look up a dictionary if necessary. 

1. the cherry on the cake 
2. every cloud has a silver lining
3. to walk on air 
4. light at the end of the tunnel 
5. proud/pleased as punch
6. to thank one’s lucky stars
7. to keep one’s chin up 
8. coming up roses
9. to give someone the green light
10. with flying colours
11. to be/get back on one’s feet

Task 2. Match the idioms and phrases from Task 1 with their definitions.

1. An additional benefit or positive aspect of something that is already considered positive or beneficial.
2. No longer in a precarious financial situation.
3. An idiom used to say when every negative situation has the potential to result in or produce something positive or beneficial.
4. Doing something exceptionally well or very successfully.
5. To grant someone permission to proceed with some action or task
6. To be in a state of extreme happiness.
7. Recent events have been especially positive or beneficial; everything is going especially well.
8. The end to something difficult or unpleasant.
9. To improve one’s mood, especially when sad or discouraged.
10. Very happy, content, and satisfied (the phrase refers to the titular character from a 17th-century comedic puppet show).
11. To express appreciation for a beneficial occurrence.

(Definitions are from The Free Dictionary)

Keys:

1. the cherry on the cake
2. to be/get back on one’s feet
3. every cloud has a silver lining
4. with flying colours
5. to give someone the green light
6. to walk on air
7. coming up roses
8. light at the end of the tunnel
9. to keep one’s chin up
10. proud/pleased as punch
11. to thank one’s lucky stars

Task 3. Complete the sentences with an appropriate idiom or phrase from Task 1. 

1. Wow, everything……………….. for me lately — I got the job I wanted and had a wonderful birthday celebration.
2. I’ve been working on this book for over a year, but I can finally see the………….
3. We’re just waiting for our manager to ………………before we release the latest software update.
4. I’ve been …………………ever since I got engaged!
5. He walked out of the exam as………….., confident that he’d got at least an A.
6. Come on, the project was not a total failure — ………………….!
7. We ………………… that we were able to get a home in this neighbourhood at such a reasonable price.
8. Sarah really wanted that job, so she said the signing bonus was really just………………….
9. Now that I’ve paid off my credit card debt, I’…………………..
10. Your brother passed his apprenticeship……………….. He’ll be a master builder in no time!
11. When I’m going through a hard time, I try to remind myself that ………………………..

(Sentences are from The Free Dictionary)

Keys:

1. has been coming up roses
2. light at the end of the tunnel
3. to give us the green light
4. walking on air
5. pleased as punch
6. keep your chin up
7. thank our lucky stars
8. the cherry on the cake
9. am finally back on my feet
10. with flying colours
11. every cloud has a silver lining

Task 4. Rephrase the sentences below using idioms and phrases from Task 1. 

1. After publishing the first book, my friend has already received a new offer and got a lump sum of money — things are going really well for him. 
2. Tom passed the exam very successfully.
3. Don’t worry too much, some good things will definitely happen. 
4. I couldn’t even imagine that I would be able to get money and success after such hardship. 
5. Well, I hope things will improve soon or I’ll just give up. 
6. Oh, that free scarf was a really nice touch from the store in addition to a discount. 
7. Jeez, I am so grateful for passing that hard exam.

Keys:

1. After publishing the first book, my friend has already received a new offer and got a lump sum of money —everything’s coming up roses for him.
2. Tom passed the exam with flying colours. 
3. Don’t worry too much, every cloud has a silver lining. 
4. I couldn’t even imagine that I would be able to get back on my feet after such hardship. 
5. Well, I hope to see the light at the end of the tunnel or I’ll just give up. 
6. Oh, that free scarf was the cherry on the cake. 
7. Jeez, I can’t thank my lucky stars enough for passing that hard exam. 

Task 5. Work with pictures using idioms:

• associate the pictures with the idioms and phrases from Task 1
• create a short story using the pictures and the idioms (2-3 minutes per picture)Picture A 

Picture B

Picture C

Picture D

Picture E

(Pictures are taken from freepik.com, usplash.com)

Keys:

1. Picture A — with flying colours
2. Picture B — walking on air
3. Picture C — the cherry on the cake
4. Picture D — every cloud has a silver lining
5. Picture E — light at the end of the tunnel

Task 6. Discuss the questions below, try to use idioms and phrases from Task 1 in speech.

1. Have you ever had situations that you had to say about the light in the tunnel?
2. When was the last time you were pleased/proud as punch?
3. Who is giving you the green light at your work (or are you the one?)?
4. Have you ever thanked your lucky stars?
5. What things do you consider to be the cherry on the cake?
6. What should a person do to perform/do something with flying colours?
7. What things make you walk on air?
8. What do you do to keep your chin up or keep your friends’ chins up?
9. What are the measures to get a business on its feet in your opinion?
10. How often do you use the phrase about the cloud having a silver lining and why?
11. Have the things been coming up roses for you recently? Why/why not?

As one said, being positive isn’t pretending that everything is good — it is seeing the good in everything. May your lessons be positive, good and fun full of idioms and phrases to make our speech more appealing.