Discuss 20 Revealing English Idioms about Women and Men

Discuss the following common English idioms about women and men with your partner or small group. What do they reveal about attitudes towards gender roles in society today?

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20 Revealing English Idioms about Women and Men

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Note: one way to introduce these idioms would be to give the students just the definitions, then say the idioms one by one, or write a few on the board, and ask them to predict the definition(s):

20 Revealing English Idioms about Women and Men – Definitions

a woman’s work is never done  –  I have a lot to do

make an honest woman of her  –  marry her

be a woman of her word  –  be reliable

be a one-woman man  –  be faithful to his partner

a woman of letters  –  a woman of learning

a woman on a mission  –  a determined woman

be a fine figure of a woman  –  be an attractive woman

a woman among women  –  an exceptional woman

a woman’s place is in the home  –  women should be at home

who’s “she” – the cat’s mother?  –  don’t refer to me as “she”

be man enough to do sth  –  be brave enough to do sth

be your own man  –  be independent

it’s every man for himself  –  you are responsible for yourself

make a man of sby  –  make sby brave / strong

be the man of the match  –  be the best-rated player

a man of the people  –  sby who gets on with everybody

talk man to man  –  talk frankly

man’s best friend  –  a dog

a man of the world  –  a man with life experience

it’s a man’s world  –  the world favours men

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