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English as a second language: Understanding of idioms

See below for English version

Zeit in Minuten

Hallo! Vielen Dank, dass du dir die Zeit genommen hast, an meiner Umfrage über Redewendungen teilzunehmen.

Die Umfrage besteht aus zwei Teilen: 1. Zu deiner Person und deinen Erfahrungen mit Sprache; 2. Verständnis von insgesamt 20 Redewendungen.

Die Umfrage ist auf Englisch. Solltest du etwas nicht wissen oder dich an etwas nicht erinnern können, bitte ich dich, intuitiv zu antworten (bitte keine externen Hilfsmittel benutzen).

Du kannst einfach zurückgehen, wenn du einen Fehler gemacht hast.

Für Handynutzer: Es könnte besser sein, den Bildschirm zu drehen.

Viel Spaß!

_______________________________________

Hello! Thank you for taking the time to participate in my survey on idioms.

The survey consists of two parts: 1. About yourself and your experiences with language; 2. Understanding of a total of 20 idioms.

The survey is in English. If you don't know something or can't remember something, please answer intuitively (please do not use external aids).

You can simply go back if you have made a mistake.

For mobile phone users: It may be better to rotate the screen.

Have fun!

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Survio
English as a second language: Understanding of idioms

Part 1 - Personal information

1

First of all, how old are you?

Select one answer
English as a second language: Understanding of idioms

Part 1 - Personal information

2

What is your gender?

If you don't feel comfortable sharing this information for whatever reason, please select "Prefer not to say".
English as a second language: Understanding of idioms

Part 1 - Personal information

3

Are you a university student?

Select one answer
4

If you are a student, what do you study?

English as a second language: Understanding of idioms

Part 1 - Personal information

5

Now a more personal question: What is your first language?

"First language" = your first language experience, typically with your guardian, disregarding proficiency The list is sorted alphabetically. If you are bilingual/trilingual, you can indicate that by selecting multiple languages. If your language is not on the list, please use the option "other" to indicate your first language.
English as a second language: Understanding of idioms

Part 1 - Personal information

6

Is/Are your first language(s) also the one(s) you speak at home?

Select one answer
7

If your first language(s) and the language(s) you speak at home, differ, please indicate here the language(s) you speak at home.

Select one or more answers
English as a second language: Understanding of idioms

Part 1 - Personal information

8

What is English to you?

Please indicate whether it is your second, third, fourth, etc. language. Typically, the second language is learned after 3+ years.
9

What is your experience with English?

Select one or more answers
10

How many years of formal education did you receive in English?

Please insert the number in years
11

Do you regularly consume media in English?

Select one answer
12

If so, indicate the frequency here.

The frequency is deeply individual and relative to your life.
English as a second language: Understanding of idioms

Part 1 - Personal information

13

Have you ever been to an English-speaking country with the purpose of studying English?

It doesn't matter if you went abroad as part of your studies or on your own initiative - what is more important, is your intention. Were you open and motivated to learn the language or was the language only a means to survive in the country?
14

If yes, for how long?

Insert the length of your stay in months below
15

Apart from the last question, have you ever lived in a situation where you were exposed to a language other than your first language?

Ex. living in a multilingual community, exposure through family members etc.
16

If yes, can you shortly (at least keywords) describe this experience below?

What language community were you exposed to? Where? For how long? With what purpose?
English as a second language: Understanding of idioms

Part 1 - Personal information

17

Last question in this section: How would you rate your proficiency?

Of course, your answer is relative to YOUR proficiency in other languages - not to the language(s) as a whole. If you are unsure, think about whether you are able to communicate freely in most areas of conversation. What about your grammatical competence? Do you feel like you often lack the vocabulary to describe something? Do people typically understand what you are saying?
English as a second language: Understanding of idioms

Halfway there! Now, to complete the most important part of the survey.

English as a second language: Understanding of idioms

Part 2 - Understanding idioms

18

Which of the following idioms do you understand/know?

See below for context.

1. under the weather

A: "Hey, did something happen? You look a little bit sick."

B: "No, no, I'm fine. It's just that I have been feeling a little bit under the weather lately, but it's nothing really."

2. to pull someone's leg

A: "Did you hear what the taxi driver said? We have to pay double because we were late."

B: "I don't think he actually meant it. I think he is pulling your leg."

3. to keep someone posted

A: "Have you started working on our assignment?"

B: "No, not yet, but I'll keep you posted."

4. easy does it

A: "Be careful when you move my table. It's heavy. Easy does it."

5. to throw a fit

A: "Did you talk to him yet? What did he say?"

B: "I tried, but he threw a fit and left, slamming the door behind him."

19

How did you go about understanding these idioms?

Did you already know them? If not, what was the process to finally understand them?
English as a second language: Understanding of idioms

Part 2 - Understanding idioms

20

Which of the following idioms do you understand/know?

See below for context.

1. to be fed up with

A: "You know, yesterday I went shopping with Thomas-"

B: "Don't talk to me about Thomas, I'm so fed up with him. I want him to apologize for what he did."  

2. to take the cake

A: "I was so sure that I would be the one to receive the worst grade but I guess Theo took the cake."

3. to stick to your guns

A: "I was thinking...maybe I should change my major, I don't feel like studying anymore, it's exhausting."

B: "Well, I don't think it's a good idea. I think you should stick to your guns and finish what you started."

4. the whole nine yards

A: "Did our teacher say anything about the exam yet?"

B: "Well, she did mention to look at geometry and trigonometry and the whole nine yards. She said she will be quizzing us on everything we did this year."

5. to put your foot in your mouth

A: "Soo, how are things going with Monica?"

C: "Don't ask him that, they broke it off yesterday. It didn't really work out. You just put your foot in your mouth."

21

How did you go about understanding these idioms?

Did you already know them? If not, what was the process to finally understand them?
English as a second language: Understanding of idioms

Part 2 - Understanding idioms

22

Which of the following idioms do you understand/know?

See below for context.

1. to kick the bucket

A: "Hey, how is your hamster doing? You haven't talked about him in a while."

B: "Well, he kicked the bucket, I forgot to tell you. It just happened recently."

2. to rain on someone's parade

A: "No way, look at the husband's mother. Is she wearing white? She really had to rain on their parade today, huh?"

3. to burn the midnight oil

A: "How are exam preparations going? Do you feel prepared for Tuesday?"

B: "I don't know. I've been burning the midnight oil trying to get all the information in my head, but I just can't recall anything I've learned."

4. to swallow it hook, line, and sinker

A: "You know, I think they are both so gullible. If I told them they reincarnated Michael Jackson, they would swallow it hook, line, and sinker."

5. don't put all your eggs in one basket

A: "Guess what? I applied at the University of Heidelberg to study medicine!"

B: "What about other universities? I don't think you should put all your eggs in one basket. What if they don't accept you?"

23

How did you go about understanding these idioms?

Did you already know them? If not, what was the process to finally understand them?
English as a second language: Understanding of idioms

Part 2 - Understanding idioms

under the weather

to pull someone’s leg

to keep someone posted

easy does it

to throw a fit


to be fed up with

To take the cake

To stick to your guns

the whole nine yards

put your foot in your mouth


to kick the bucket

rain one someone’s parade

to burn the midnight oil

to swallow it hook, line, and sinker

don't put all your eggs in one basket

24

Can you guess the meaning?

For those idioms you did not understand (see the complete list above), can you guess their meaning? Please write your interpretation below. If you understood every single idiom, you can either skip this question or provide an example of an idiom you were unsure of. What is your interpretation of the idiom? What influenced your understanding?
English as a second language: Understanding of idioms

Part 2 - Understanding idioms

25

Which of the following idioms do you understand/know?

Select one or more answers

1. to wash my hands in innocence

A: "Who left the toilet seat up again?" C: "It wasn't me!"

B: "Why do you always wash your hands in innocence? You never take the blame."

2. the air is clear

A: "Oh, no there's Matthew. We haven't talked in three months. Can you please tell me when the air is clear?"

3. to take someone on your arm

A: "When does the film start?" B: "In half an hour." A: "What?!"

B: "No, no, chill. I'm just taking you on my arm."

4. once in a hundred years

A: "Guess who just texted me." B: "I don't know, who?"

A: "Max. He always reaches out once in a hundred years or whenever he feels like it."

5. to keep someone in the running

A: "Hey, my train is delayed. I will text you as soon as we arrive at the station. I'll keep you in the running."

26

Please provide an interpretation for every single idiom in the list.

You can use key words for every idiom.
English as a second language: Understanding of idioms

Part 2 - Understanding idioms

27

Which of the following idioms do you understand/know?

Select one or more answers

1. to cost an eye of the face

A: "Woah, is that a Rolex? When did you get that? It must have cost an eye of the face!"

2. to catch someone with the hands in the dough

A: "I still have to pay off my parking ticket. I only wanted to grab something from the store really quick, but I was caught with the hands in the dough."

3. it has neither hand nor foot

A: "What's the plan?" B: "I don't know, maybe go to the beach, visit the church, maybe go to the bookstore..."

A: "You are so disorganized. This plan has neither hand nor foot. You want to visit the church wearing a bikini?" 

4. to hold the tongue behind the teeth

A: "Wow, look at her dress! It's so ugly!"

B: "You know, you should really learn to hold your tongue behind your teeth."

5. Don't say hop before you jump

A: "Ayee, look at my perfect scores! I might just be the best student enrolled at this university!"

B: "But you haven't finished your studies yet. Don't say hop before you jump. Everything can change."

28

Please provide an interpretation for every single idiom in the list.

You can use key words for every idiom.
English as a second language: Understanding of idioms

Part 2 - Understanding idioms

29

Which of the following idioms do you understand/know?

See below for context.

1. to wind it on your moustache

A: "When are we leaving?"

B: "At 5:30, I already told you, wind it on your moustache."

2. to hang noodles on (someone’s) ears

A: "Did you hear what President Trump said? He said they are eating the dogs and the cats."

B: "Yes, but I don't believe him. I think he is hanging noodles on our ears."

3. to consult it with the pillow

A: "Ma'am, with all due respect, you are blocking the line, have you decided on something?"

B: "I don't know. I think I have to consult with the pillow before I buy."

4. money for the fish again

A: "Oh, no." B: "What is it?" 

A: "There goes Dennis with another girl. It's money for the fish again."

5. to be eaten bread

A: "Hey, sorry to bother you. Can you help me put this away quickly?"

B: "Sure, no worries. It's eaten bread."

30

Please provide an interpretation for every single idiom in the list.

You can use key words for every idiom.
English as a second language: Understanding of idioms

Part 2 - Understanding idioms

31

Last but not least: Can you think of cases when you heard an idiom you didn't understand (no matter the language)? What did you do? Did you try to understand it? Did you ignore it?

English as a second language: Understanding of idioms

That's it! Thank you for participating in this quick survey, you helped me a lot :).

If you have any comments or questions, feel free to contact me using the e-mail address below.

gd304@uni-heidelberg.de