Unit 1: Shakespeare Speaks
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Session 21
William Shakespeare's daughter has fallen in love... again. But should she wear her heart on her sleeve - or keep her feelings hidden? We'll help you use the phrase wear my heart on my sleeve, and explore some other great phrases for talking about revealing - or hiding - your feelings. We also bring you plenty more heart idioms to expand your vocabulary.
Session 21 score
0 / 19
- 0 / 6Activity 1
- 0 / 8Activity 2
- 0 / 5Activity 3
Activity 2
I am not who I am!
The evil Iago is dishonest and secretive throughout Othello - he really can't be trusted! Hopefully you don't have any friends who behave as badly as Iago, but we are going to look at some great phrases to describe how well people keep their feelings hidden.
To do
Listen to this audio recording and decide if the people being described are open, like Daughter, or dishonest, like Iago.
Do the activity
1. Phillipe laid all his cards on the table and let her know how he was feeling.
2. Milllie tends to bend the truth, so I don’t think she was in as much danger as she made us think she was!
3. Maria’s an open book – you can always see what she’s thinking.
4. The new leader was being very economical with the truth when he said that he was going to create jobs for everyone.
5. Li’s very upfront about her intentions. She just wants to make lots of money and then leave.
6. Put on your best poker face – we can’t let anyone know how bad the situation really is!
7. The deal was all above board.
8. I never know what Aki is going to do next. She keeps her cards close to her chest.
To do
Now listen to the audio again while you read the transcript. Focus on the phrases in bold - do they describe someone who is open and honest, or someone who is dishonest and secretive?
Then try this quiz to find out if you are correct.
To hide or not to hide
8 Questions
Decide whether these phrases describe someone who is open and honest, or someone who is secretive and dishonest.
Note: if you are on a computer you should drag each phrase to the correct box before checking the answers.
If you are on a mobile phone you need to select the correct option.
If you are on a tablet tap on the phrase and then tap on the box you want to move the phrase to.
Help
Activity
Decide whether these phrases describe someone who is open and honest, or someone who is secretive and dishonest.
Note: if you are on a computer you should drag each phrase to the correct box before checking the answers.
If you are on a mobile phone you need to select the correct option.
If you are on a tablet tap on the phrase and then tap on the box you want to move the phrase to.
Hint
If you put your cards on the table when you are playing cards, are you being secretive or open?Help
Activity
Decide whether these phrases describe someone who is open and honest, or someone who is secretive and dishonest.
Note: if you are on a computer you should drag each phrase to the correct box before checking the answers.
If you are on a mobile phone you need to select the correct option.
If you are on a tablet tap on the phrase and then tap on the box you want to move the phrase to.
Hint
If you bend something, it is not straight.Help
Activity
Decide whether these phrases describe someone who is open and honest, or someone who is secretive and dishonest.
Note: if you are on a computer you should drag each phrase to the correct box before checking the answers.
If you are on a mobile phone you need to select the correct option.
If you are on a tablet tap on the phrase and then tap on the box you want to move the phrase to.
Hint
If you are economical with something, you don't use much of it.Help
Activity
Decide whether these phrases describe someone who is open and honest, or someone who is secretive and dishonest.
Note: if you are on a computer you should drag each phrase to the correct box before checking the answers.
If you are on a mobile phone you need to select the correct option.
If you are on a tablet tap on the phrase and then tap on the box you want to move the phrase to.
Hint
The clue is in the word 'open'!Help
Activity
Decide whether these phrases describe someone who is open and honest, or someone who is secretive and dishonest.
Note: if you are on a computer you should drag each phrase to the correct box before checking the answers.
If you are on a mobile phone you need to select the correct option.
If you are on a tablet tap on the phrase and then tap on the box you want to move the phrase to.
Hint
This expression has a similar meaning to 'an open book'.Help
Activity
Decide whether these phrases describe someone who is open and honest, or someone who is secretive and dishonest.
Note: if you are on a computer you should drag each phrase to the correct box before checking the answers.
If you are on a mobile phone you need to select the correct option.
If you are on a tablet tap on the phrase and then tap on the box you want to move the phrase to.
Hint
If you play the card game Poker, is it better to hide or reveal your cards?Help
Activity
Decide whether these phrases describe someone who is open and honest, or someone who is secretive and dishonest.
Note: if you are on a computer you should drag each phrase to the correct box before checking the answers.
If you are on a mobile phone you need to select the correct option.
If you are on a tablet tap on the phrase and then tap on the box you want to move the phrase to.
Hint
This is the opposite of someone who 'lays their cards on the table'.Help
Activity
Decide whether these phrases describe someone who is open and honest, or someone who is secretive and dishonest.
Note: if you are on a computer you should drag each phrase to the correct box before checking the answers.
If you are on a mobile phone you need to select the correct option.
If you are on a tablet tap on the phrase and then tap on the box you want to move the phrase to.
Hint
In this expression, 'board' probably means 'table'. So, if something is 'above board' is it hidden?Question 1 of 8
To hide
To be open
Excellent! Great job! Bad luck! You scored:
To hide or not to hide
8 Questions
Decide whether these phrases describe someone who is open and honest, or someone who is secretive and dishonest.
Note: if you are on a computer you should drag each phrase to the correct box before checking the answers.
If you are on a mobile phone you need to select the correct option.
If you are on a tablet tap on the phrase and then tap on the box you want to move the phrase to.
Help
Activity
Decide whether these phrases describe someone who is open and honest, or someone who is secretive and dishonest.
Note: if you are on a computer you should drag each phrase to the correct box before checking the answers.
If you are on a mobile phone you need to select the correct option.
If you are on a tablet tap on the phrase and then tap on the box you want to move the phrase to.
Hint
If you put your cards on the table when you are playing cards, are you being secretive or open?Question 1 of 8
Help
Activity
Decide whether these phrases describe someone who is open and honest, or someone who is secretive and dishonest.
Note: if you are on a computer you should drag each phrase to the correct box before checking the answers.
If you are on a mobile phone you need to select the correct option.
If you are on a tablet tap on the phrase and then tap on the box you want to move the phrase to.
Hint
If you bend something, it is not straight.Question 2 of 8
Help
Activity
Decide whether these phrases describe someone who is open and honest, or someone who is secretive and dishonest.
Note: if you are on a computer you should drag each phrase to the correct box before checking the answers.
If you are on a mobile phone you need to select the correct option.
If you are on a tablet tap on the phrase and then tap on the box you want to move the phrase to.
Hint
If you are economical with something, you don't use much of it.Question 3 of 8
Help
Activity
Decide whether these phrases describe someone who is open and honest, or someone who is secretive and dishonest.
Note: if you are on a computer you should drag each phrase to the correct box before checking the answers.
If you are on a mobile phone you need to select the correct option.
If you are on a tablet tap on the phrase and then tap on the box you want to move the phrase to.
Hint
The clue is in the word 'open'!Question 4 of 8
Help
Activity
Decide whether these phrases describe someone who is open and honest, or someone who is secretive and dishonest.
Note: if you are on a computer you should drag each phrase to the correct box before checking the answers.
If you are on a mobile phone you need to select the correct option.
If you are on a tablet tap on the phrase and then tap on the box you want to move the phrase to.
Hint
This expression has a similar meaning to 'an open book'.Question 5 of 8
Help
Activity
Decide whether these phrases describe someone who is open and honest, or someone who is secretive and dishonest.
Note: if you are on a computer you should drag each phrase to the correct box before checking the answers.
If you are on a mobile phone you need to select the correct option.
If you are on a tablet tap on the phrase and then tap on the box you want to move the phrase to.
Hint
If you play the card game Poker, is it better to hide or reveal your cards?Question 6 of 8
Help
Activity
Decide whether these phrases describe someone who is open and honest, or someone who is secretive and dishonest.
Note: if you are on a computer you should drag each phrase to the correct box before checking the answers.
If you are on a mobile phone you need to select the correct option.
If you are on a tablet tap on the phrase and then tap on the box you want to move the phrase to.
Hint
This is the opposite of someone who 'lays their cards on the table'.Question 7 of 8
Help
Activity
Decide whether these phrases describe someone who is open and honest, or someone who is secretive and dishonest.
Note: if you are on a computer you should drag each phrase to the correct box before checking the answers.
If you are on a mobile phone you need to select the correct option.
If you are on a tablet tap on the phrase and then tap on the box you want to move the phrase to.
Hint
In this expression, 'board' probably means 'table'. So, if something is 'above board' is it hidden?Question 8 of 8
Excellent! Great job! Bad luck! You scored:
Well done if you worked out the correct meaning of all the phrases.
Next
We have nothing to hide, so come to the next page and we'll share some more heart idioms with you.
Before you go, we learnt the phrase wear my heart on my sleeve, but can you complete these two heart idioms?
- If someone has a kind and generous character, we say they have a heart of g______ .
- And if someone has an unfriendly and unkind character, we say they have a heart of s______ .
Click 'Next activity' to find out - and to learn lots more idioms with heart.
Session Vocabulary
For more great Shakespeare content visit our partner,The OU
____________________
Wear my heart on my sleeve
Meaning
Nowadays, the phrase to wear your heart upon - or on - your sleeve still means: to make your feelings and emotions obvious, even if it makes you vulnerable.Example sentence
I wear my heart on my sleeve. If I'm in a mood, my mood shows.___________________
Extra vocabulary
in disguise
the state of changing someone's appearance to hide their true identityloyal
always reliable and very supportive
vulnerable
easily hurt or harmeda mask
a covering used to hide or disguise your facebend the truth
say something that is not true (usually not a serious lie)be economical with the truth
say things that are not true, or to not tell everything that you knowkeep your cards close to your chest
not tell people what you are thinking or planninga poker face
a facial expression that doesn't show your thoughts or feelingslay/put (all) your cards on the table
tell people exactly what you are thinkingabove board
completely honest and legalupfront
completely honest and not hiding anythingan open book
completely honest and not hiding anythingpour your heart out
tell someone all your secrets and worriesmy heart sank
I suddenly felt very sad and disappointedhis/her heart's in the right place
he/she only has good intentionsmy heart's not in it
I don't feel very interested and enthusiastic
by heart
from memorya heart of gold
a kind and generous character
a heart of stone
an unfriendly and unkind character
____________________Shakespeare Speaks is a co-production between:
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