Fun Idioms Guessing Game

Guess the idiom from the picture! This fun classroom game is great for lessons on English idioms. In 15 rounds, students see a literal picture clue for idioms like elephant in the room or head in the clouds and must guess the phrase before the time runs out. It’s perfect as a quick warm-up, filler activity, or end-of-lesson review, and works well with kids, teens, and adults alike.

Tips for Playing this Idioms Game in Class

Idiomatic expressions can be challenging for English language learners because they aren’t literal. This actually creates a great opportunity to engage students’ thinking and guessing skills when teaching idioms. Here’s how to play this game with students who may not yet know these expressions:

1. Show the video and pause after each idiom picture appears.
2. Explain that the image is a literal depiction and tell students to “say what they see.”
3. Elicit the idiom by asking guiding questions, for example:
   • “What do you see?” (An elephant)
   • “Where is it?” (Inside a room)
     → Elephant in the room
4. Reveal the idiom once students have guessed it.
5. Have students work in pairs or small groups to discuss what they think the idiom might mean before you explain it.

For higher-level students who already have some knowledge of idioms, you can simply play the video and challenge them to guess the idiom before the time runs out.

More Teaching Resources About English Idioms

• List Of Funny English Idioms – Use these idioms before or after the game to spark curiosity and discussion in class.
• Idioms Lesson Plan – A ready-to-use lesson plan for introducing, explaining, and practicing common English idioms.
• Idioms Quiz – A fun interactive quiz to test students’ knowledge and understanding of idiomatic expressions.