Practice Exercise 1- Listen Up!
Task: Listen to the audio and identity the words you hear. There may be 1, 2, 3 or even 4 of the phrasal verbs below used per audio.
Head, Loads of, Piles of, Tons of, Heaps of, Mate, Ages, Mad, Mental, Wild, Nuts, Fingers crossed, Dead, Knackered, Shattered, Chuffed, Gutted, Skint, Broke, A nightmare, Brutal, Handy, Rip-off, Grab sth.
For example: I was completely dead after the gym!! That workout went on for absolutely ages!
Answer
Millie and Joyce are really gutted that I’m not heading with them on holiday this year, but what can I do, I’m absolutely skint at the moment! Maybe we can go somewhere next year; fingers crossed!
Answer
I’ve been watching piles of movies recently; It’s been so good!
Answer
My recent math exam was a total nightmare; I pretended like everything was ok but to be honest I was pretty gutted.
Answer
My yoga studio is just a few blocks away from me, which is super handy; my best mate sold it to me for a really good price, so I’m absolutely chuffed!
Answer
I’d like to go grab a bite with my mum; I haven’t seen her in ages.
Answer
I went shopping last week, and I couldn’t believe the prices; £150 for a pair of standard boots! It’s absolutely mental!
Answer
I’m planning on doing some tours when I’m in Rome. I’ve found a few which look good, but my mate, John, told me they were a rip-off and that I can get them for half the price when I get there.
Practice Exercise 2- Listen & Fill in the Blanks!
Task: Play the audio and fill in the blanks using the word bank below.
Each missing word is one of these colloquialisms from the song.
Word Bank:
👉 head – chuffed – grab – ages – shattered – brutal -handy – broke – loads – gutted – rip-off – nightmare – mate – fingers crossed – mad –
I’ll (1) head down the road, it’s been (2) __________, you know,
Since we had a laugh, just you and me, bro.
The week’s been (3) __________, I’m nearly (4) __________,
Work’s been (5) __________, none of it mattered.
Let’s (6) __________ a pint or maybe some lunch,
It’s (7) __________, the café’s close by, no hunch.
We’ll talk it out, yeah, just like old times,
Even when we’re (8) __________, we still shine.
(9) __________, (10) __________, life’s on the mend,
Got (11) __________ plans that never end.
Been (12) __________ before, but I’m alright,
We’ll laugh it off and toast tonight.
Yeah, (13) __________, (14) __________, we’ll be okay,
We’ll keep it real, come what may.
Rent’s (15) __________, pay’s a joke,
Still we find a way to cope.
We’ll (16) __________ to the coast, chase that breeze,
No stress, just (17) __________ and takeaways, please.
We’ve got stories, and we’ve got banter,
Talkin’ rubbish’s our best answer.
Feeling (18) __________, yeah, not too bad,
Could be worse — we’ve had worse, lad.
(19) __________, (20) __________, life’s on the mend,
Got (21) __________ plans that never end.
Been (22) __________ before, but I’m alright,
We’ll laugh it off and toast tonight.
Yeah, (23) __________, (24) __________, we’ll be okay,
We’ll keep it real, come what may.
We’ve been (25) __________, we’ve been down,
Still the best (26) __________ in town.
Even (27) __________, still we smile,
(28) __________ as ever — that’s our style.
(29) __________, (30) __________, the stars align,
Got (31) __________ heart, we’ll be just fine.
Life’s (32) __________, sometimes (33) __________, too,
But I’m (34) __________ to bits to roll with you.
Yeah, (35) __________, (36) __________, come what may,
We’ll (37) __________ a pint and laugh away.
Answers
I’ll (1) head down the road, it’s been (2) ages, you know,
Since we had a laugh, just you and me, bro.
The week’s been (3) mad, I’m nearly (4) shattered,
Work’s been (5) brutal, none of it mattered.
Let’s (6) grab a pint or maybe some lunch,
It’s (7) handy, the café’s close by, no hunch.
We’ll talk it out, yeah, just like old times,
Even when we’re (8) broke, we still shine.
(9) Fingers crossed, (10) mate, life’s on the mend,
Got (11) loads of plans that never end.
Been (12) gutted before, but I’m alright,
We’ll laugh it off and toast tonight.
Yeah, (13) fingers crossed, (14) mate, we’ll be okay,
We’ll keep it real, come what may.
Rent’s (15) a rip-off, pay’s a joke,
Still we find a way to cope.
We’ll (16) head to the coast, chase that breeze,
No stress, just (17) mates and takeaways, please.
We’ve got stories, and we’ve got banter,
Talkin’ rubbish’s our best answer.
Feeling (18) chuffed, yeah, not too bad,
Could be worse — we’ve had worse, lad.
(19) Fingers crossed, (20) mate, life’s on the mend,
Got (21) loads of plans that never end.
Been (22) gutted before, but I’m alright,
We’ll laugh it off and toast tonight.
Yeah, (23) fingers crossed, (24) mate, we’ll be okay,
We’ll keep it real, come what may.
We’ve been (25) broke, we’ve been down,
Still the best (26) mates in town.
Even (27) shattered, still we smile,
(28) Mad as ever — that’s our style.
(29) Fingers crossed, (30) mate, the stars align,
Got (31) loads of heart, we’ll be just fine.
Life’s (32) a nightmare, sometimes (33) brutal, too,
But I’m (34) chuffed to bits to roll with you.
Yeah, (35) fingers crossed, (36) mate, come what may,
We’ll (37) grab a pint and laugh away.
Practice Exercise 3- Story Dominoes!
Task: Play with a friend or your teacher. One person has to use one of the words to create a part of a story and the next person has to add to the story using another word.
E.g.
Person 1: “Johny had just finished his exams, so he decided to treat himself by heading to the park for an ice-cream”
Person 2: “When he got there, he saw that there were loads of people in line for ice-cream.”
Wordlist: Head, Loads of, Piles of, Tons of, Heaps of, Mate, Ages, Mad, Mental, Wild, Nuts, Fingers crossed, Dead, Knackered, Shattered, Chuffed, Gutted, Skint, Broke, A nightmare, Brutal, Handy, Rip-off, Grab sth.
Practice Exercise 4- Two Truths & a Lie
Task: Play with a friend or your teacher. Prepare three short sentences about yourself or a fictional character using at least one word each time. The other person must guess which one is the lie, asking follow-up questions.
Wordlist: Head, Loads of, Piles of, Tons of, Heaps of, Mate, Ages, Mad, Mental, Wild, Nuts, Fingers crossed, Dead, Knackered, Shattered, Chuffed, Gutted, Skint, Broke, A nightmare, Brutal, Handy, Rip-off, Grab sth.
Example:
“My neighbour’s cat is mental and keeps stealing my socks.”
“I was shattered after running a marathon.”
“Last week I bought a phone case for £20 — total rip-off.”
Practice Exercise 5- React!
Task: React to the prompts using a suitable colloquialism.
Wordlist: Head, Loads of, Piles of, Tons of, Heaps of, Mate, Ages, Mad, Mental, Wild, Nuts, Fingers crossed, Dead, Knackered, Shattered, Chuffed, Gutted, Skint, Broke, A nightmare, Brutal, Handy, Rip-off, Grab sth.
Example prompts and reactions:
- I’ve just passed my exam! → “Well done, I’m sure you’re chuffed!”
- I dropped my phone in the toilet → “Oh now! What a nightmare!”
- I’ve got to work all weekend → “That’s brutal.”
Prompts:
- I missed the last bus home and had to walk! → What a ________!
- John lost his passport! → Aww ______!
- I had to move 20 heavy boxes up three flights of stairs! → I’m sure you’re absolutely _________!
- My phone battery died in the middle of an important call → That’s _______!
- The concert ticket cost me £250 → Damn! What a _______!
- You wanna come on holiday with us? → No thanks, I’m completely _________ at the moment!
- Is there much to do in your city? → Yes, there’s _______ of things we can do!
- I slept 2 hours last night because of my neighbour’s dog barking… → Yea you look ______!
- Some guy started swearing at me just because I didn’t give him any money! → That’s ______!
- Jason is coming to help us → Is he a good ______ of yours?
- I won free tickets to see my favourite band! → You must be _______!
- I needa pass this test or else I have to retake it in June! → Well.. _________ you pass it!
- We can drop by my mate’s house after the match; he lives right beside the pitch! → Oh nice, that’s so _______!
- What do you fancy doing? → Hmm you wanna _____ a drink?
- You wanna head to the market after dance class? → The market? That’s _____ away! No chance!
Answers
- I missed the last bus home and had to walk! → What a ___nightmare___!
- John lost his passport! → Aww ___nightmare/gutted/ brutal___!
- I had to move 20 heavy boxes up three flights of stairs → I’m sure you’re absolutely ___shattered/ knackered/ dead___!
- My phone battery died in the middle of an important call → That’s ___brutal___!
- The concert ticket cost me £250 → Damn! What a ___rip-off___!
- You wanna come on holiday with us? → No thanks, I’m completely ___broke/ skint ___ at the moment!
- Is there much to do in your city? → Yes, there’s ___loads/ piles/tons/ heaps___ of things we can do!
- I slept 2 hours last night because of my neighbour’s dog barking… → Yea you look ___dead/ shattered/ knackered___!
- Some guy started swearing at me just because I didn’t give him any money! → That’s ___mad/ mental/ wild/ nuts/ brutal___!
- Jason is coming to help us → Is he a good ___mate___ of yours?
- I won free tickets to see my favourite band! → You must be ___chuffed___!
- I needa pass this test or else I have to retake it in June! → Well.. ___fingers crossed___ you pass it!
- We can drop by my mate’s house after the match; he lives right beside the pitch! → Oh nice, that’s so ___handy___!
- What do you fancy doing? → Hmm you wanna ___grab___ a drink?
- You wanna head to the market after dance class? → The market? That’s ___ages___ away! No chance!
