Pre-Listening Exercise – ESL Randall’s Listening Lab
If you had time and money, what are three places in the world that you would visit and
why? Would you travel by plane, ship, or train? Would you rather stay in a big hotel, a
small inn, or even a youth hostel?
Idioms
“hit the road” = go somewhere
“We plan on hitting the road early tomorrow morning.”
“be in the same boat” = be in the same situation
“Everyone has to pay for his or her own trip, so we’re all in the same boat.”
Listening Exercise
Listen to the recording and answer the questions.
https://www.esl-lab.com/intermediate/new-york-travel/
1. What time does the plane depart?
o 6:00 a.m.
o 9:00 a.m.
o 7:00 a.m.
2. How will the group get to the hotel from the airport?
o They will take taxis.
o They will ride the subway.
o They will be going by bus.
3. About what time does the hotel restaurant open?
o 8:00 a.m.
o 6:00 a.m.
o 7:00 a.m.
4. The group is going to ______ around Times Square for about an hour.
o have lunch
o have a tour
o do some shopping
5. What are they going to do later?
o The group is going to watch a musical.
o They will catch an exciting movie.
o They will be attending a Broadway play.
Post-Listening Exercise
What kinds of things do you like to do when you visit a new place for the first time?
Explain your reasons.
More Idioms:
1. To catch the sun
This idiom can be used whenever you go to the beach and someone gets sunburnt, so
if you know anyone who gets burnt easily don’t miss the opportunity to use it with
them!
For example: “Be careful you don’t catch too much sun at the beach, remember to put on
some sunscreen!”
2. To live it up
Whenever you are having a really good time and enjoying your holiday, without
worrying about anything (not even about money) you can use this idiom.
For example: “We’re really going to live it up in Las Vegas next month!”
3. On a shoestring/ on the cheap
This idiom is the complete opposite of the previous one. To do something on a
shoestring or on the cheap, it means that you are doing it without spending a lot of
money.
For example: “I’m going to travel around Europe on a shoestring. I’ll be staying at
hostels and buying food in supermarkets”
4. At the crack of dawn
To do something at the crack of dawn means that you’re doing it just as the sun is
rising. It means you’re doing it at the earliest possible time.
For example: “The plane leaves at 7.30 am, so we have to get up at the crack of dawn to
get to the airport on time”.
5. To call it a day/ night
When someone calls it a day or a night, it means that they stop doing anything else for
the rest of the day, or that they finish what they’re doing and go to bed.
For example: “We went sightseeing in Rome, but we ended up feeling so exhausted that
we called it a day and went back to the hotel”.
6. Off the beaten track
If a place or something is off the beaten track, it means that it is far away from where
many people live, or in a remote location.
For example: “I want to stay on this island all summer because it’s off the beaten track,
so there’s not many people here and it’s quiet and peaceful.”
