Unit 1: Shakespeare Speaks
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Session 3
Thomas Swann fixes a broken door at the theatre… and gives William Shakespeare a great idea for his new play! Pick up some useful expressions with dead, hammer and nail in this episode.
ድምር ነጥቢ ናይዚ ክፍለ-ስራሓት 3
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- 0 / 5Activity 1
- 0 / 4Activity 2
- 0 / 5Activity 3
- 0 / 6Activity 4
Activity 3
Dead. Very dead. Totally dead.
Idioms, phrases, expressions
Let's take a look at some other common English expressions with dead.
ነቲ ጽሑፍ ብምንባብ ነቲ ስራሕ ዕመምዎ
To do
Sarah and Alice are in a restaurant. They're chatting about Alice's new boyfriend. As you read their conversation, pay attention to the phrases in bold, then try the quiz.
Sarah
So, is your new boyfriend joining us for lunch?
Alice
No, he had a late night yesterday and is still dead to the world.
Sarah
That’s a pity. I can’t wait to meet him; he looks drop-dead gorgeous in that picture you sent me.
Alice
He does. He normally wouldn’t be seen dead in a suit and tie, but he looks fantastic!
Sarah
Yeah, he’s a dead ringer for David Beckham!
Alice
Do you think so? Hey, you know he’s got lots of lovely friends I can introduce you to…
Sarah
Over my dead body! I can find my own boyfriend thank you!
A dead easy quiz!
5 Questions
Can you answer these questions about the meaning of the idioms using 'dead'?
ሓገዝ
Activity
Can you answer these questions about the meaning of the idioms using 'dead'?
ኣመት
Careful! This phrase is not literal!Question 1 of 5
ሓገዝ
Activity
Can you answer these questions about the meaning of the idioms using 'dead'?
ኣመት
'drop-dead' makes the adjective 'gorgeous' even stronger!Question 2 of 5
ሓገዝ
Activity
Can you answer these questions about the meaning of the idioms using 'dead'?
ኣመት
We often use this phrase to talk about clothes we would never wear.Question 3 of 5
ሓገዝ
Activity
Can you answer these questions about the meaning of the idioms using 'dead'?
ኣመት
This phrase always describes appearance.Question 4 of 5
ሓገዝ
Activity
Can you answer these questions about the meaning of the idioms using 'dead'?
ኣመት
People say this when they are strongly against doing something.Question 5 of 5
Excellent!Great job!ሕማቕ ዕድል!ዘመዝገብኩምዎ ነጥቢ ...:
Language note
Did you get them all correct?
Before you move on, here are a couple of points to remember:
The phrase I wouldn’t be seen dead… is followed by either verb-ing:
- He wouldn’t be seen dead shopping with his mother!
... or preposition + noun phrase:
- I wouldn’t be seen dead in a dress like that!
- I wouldn’t be seen dead at that restaurant!
The phrase a dead ringer for… is usually followed by a person.
- She’s a dead ringer for her mother.
Next
Go to the next page to practise these phrases… it's dead easy, we promise!
Session Vocabulary
For more great Shakespeare content visit our partner,The OU
For teachers:
lesson plan and worksheets for As dead as a doornail
Eight Vocabulary Activities for the classroom____________________
As dead as a doornail
Meaning
The phrase as dead as a doornail was in common use in Shakespeare's day. It means the same today as it did back then: Dead. Very dead. Totally dead.Example sentence
Old Marley was as as dead as a doornail. (Charles Dickens)Note
These days we can use as dead as a doornail for electrical gadgets that aren't working.Example sentence
Oh no - I forgot to charge my phone. It's as dead as a doornail.____________________
Extra vocabulary
to hit the nail on the head
to be exactly right
to hammer something home
to make certain something is understoodto nail it
to complete a task successfullydead easy
very easydead to the world
sleeping deeplydrop-dead gorgeous
very very attractivewouldn’t be seen dead...
I would never do that, (usually) because it would be too embarrassing.a dead ringer for...
looks very similar to...Over my dead body!
I will never let that happen!____________________
Find out more
Shakespeare Speaks is a co-production between:
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