Big and little money idioms
Worksheet 1- Discussion questions
Student A
Check you understand all the questions below, then ask the ones you are most interested to hear your partner answer.
What is your attitude to credit cards and other kinds of debt?
What is your attitude to lending money to friends?
Do poor and rich people have equal opportunities in your country?
How much are the problems of the world due to the influence of money?
How much money would you give your children for pocket money (= allowance)? Would you make that money dependant on anything? What would you say if they asked for more?
Do you think people trying to get more money is generally a positive or negative influence on society?
Does money make people happy, do you think?
What would and wouldn’t you do for a million pounds?
What would you do if you won a fortune?
What would you do if you were the richest man in the world?
What would you think, say or do if someone gave you a diamond ring on your second date?
What would you do if you found a suitcase full of money in your front garden/ in your hotel room?
Do you think that rich people usually deserve their money?
Does everyone in your country have the same opportunity to get rich?
What things are more important than money in a marriage partner?
How can you show off how much money you have without being tacky?
When was the last time you were skint (= broke)?
Which words and expressions above refer to a lot of money or being rich? Which refer to a little money or being poor?
Big and little money idioms
Worksheet 1- Discussion questions
Student B
Check you understand all the questions below, then ask the ones you are most interested to hear your partner answer.
Are you good at saving money? Why do you say that?
Do you shop around?
Are you good at haggling? Do you enjoy it?
What do you think about buying second hand things (= used things)?
Do you ever give money to charity?
What do you think a good government tax policy would be?
What is your attitude to investment? How much of a risk taker are you?
What do you think about giving money to beggars?
What is the minimum someone needs to live on in your country?
What do you think about banks in your country?
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
“Investing on the stock market isn’t much different from putting money on the horses”
What would you have to do to be worth your weight in gold to your company or university?
How would you blow 2000 pounds in a weekend?
What would you splash out on if you could double your income?
Are you a price conscious shopper?
Which words and expressions above refer to a lot of money or being rich? Which refer to a little money or being poor?
Big money and little money idioms
Listen to your teacher and point your arrow up if what they are saying means rich/ a lot of money/ expensive and down if it means poor/ a little money/ cheap.
Label the sections below with arrows in those two directions
Skint
I don’t have two pennies to rub together
Down and out
Down on my luck
(A bit) short of cash
As poor as church mice
A few coppers
Pocket money
Pin money
Loaded
Worth a fortune
Stinking rich
I’m coining it
I’ve got money to burn
A big one
Millions
Billions
Squillions
Gazillions
A bargain
It’s a steal
It’s a rip off
Pay through the nose
Outrageous prices
Pay top dollar
Cost a pretty penny
I splashed out
I spent a fortune
I blew it all
Spend money like water
Spend money like it’s going out of fashion
It’s a goldmine
It’s a license to print money
Strike it rich
Hit pay dirt
A money spinner
I’ve seen better times
I’m broke
Live from hand to mouth
It keeps the wolves from the door
I get by
Dirt poor
Rolling in money
I’m in the money
I make good money
Filthy rich
A multimillionaire
An unbelievable amount of money
Bags of money
Stacks of money
A blank cheque
Pots of money
What are the differences between those different sections?
Test each other in pairs
Ask questions using those expressions
Other money idioms call my bluff
Team A
Save your money for a rainy day- Save money when time is good in case you have financial troubles later
The breadwinner- The person who brings most of the income into the household
Bring home the bacon- Earn a salary
A hole in the wall – A cash point (= ATM)
Put your money where your mouth is – Commit yourself to something, for example by investing your own money
Monopoly money – An amount of money that seems like a lot to poor people but is unimportant to rich people
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Other money idioms call my bluff
Team B
In for a penny, in for a pound- Once you’ve decided to do something, you may as well dedicate yourself to it 100%
The pink pound- Spending power of gay people (usually quite high as they don’t have children)
To hold the purse strings- Be in control of the money, e.g. in a family or company
Spend a penny- Go to the toilet for a “number one” (a pee)
Have your fingers in the till – Be stealing money from work
Roleplays
Tell your father that you are skint and try to persuade him to give or lend you some money
Persuade a bank manager that you are just down on your luck and that if he lends your money to start a new business you will soon turn your life around
Big and little money idioms
Grammar presentation- Articles
Without looking at the other worksheets, try to fill the gaps with a, an, the or – (no article) from memory, your grammar knowledge or what sounds right
What is your attitude to ____________ credit cards and other kinds of __________ debt?
Do ___________ poor people and ___________ rich people have equal opportunities in your country?
How much are __________ problems of __________ world due to _________ influence of __________ money?
How much money would you give your children for __________pocket money?
What would and wouldn’t you do for __________ million pounds?
What would you do if you won __________ fortune?
What would you do if you were ______________ richest man in the world?
What would you think, say or do if someone gave you _________ diamond ring on your second date?
What would you do if you found ___________ suitcase full of money in your front garden?
Do you think that _____________ rich people usually deserve their money?
Does everyone in your country have __________ same opportunity to get rich?
When was _____________ last time you were skint (= broke)?
Are you good at __________ haggling?
What do you think ___________ good government tax policy would be?
What do you think about giving money to _____________ beggars?
(A bit) short of _____________ cash
As poor as _____________ church mice
_____________ few coppers
__________________ bargain
It’s ____________ rip off
Spend money like _______________ water
It’s _______________ goldmine
___________ multimillionaire
______________ blank cheque
____________ pots of money
Save your money for ___________ rainy day
_________ breadwinner
In for ___________ penny, in for _________ pound
To hold ___________ purse strings
Spend _____________ penny
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PDF for easy saving and printing: BigLittleMoneyIdioms
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