The Hidden Reason Onions Make You Cry (A2)

The Hidden Reason Onions Make You Cry (A2)
Quizzed ESL Activities

Why Do Onions Make You Cry?

When you cut an onion, your eyes can start to burn and cry. This video explains why! Onions have a secret defense system. They are strong plants, even if they don’t look it.

How Onions Make You Cry

Inside an onion are small parts with special chemicals. When you cut the onion, these chemicals mix. They make a gas called syn-pro-pa-ne-thi-al S-oxide. This gas goes into the air and gets into your eyes. This gas makes your eyes feel bad, so your body makes tears to wash it away. It’s how your body protects itself. Onions make this gas to stop animals and bugs from eating them. They want to stay alive!

Tips to Stop Crying

Many people have tricks to stop crying. You can put onions in the fridge before cutting them. This makes the chemicals slower. You can also cut onions under water or near a fan. A sharp knife helps a lot! A sharp knife cuts the onion cleanly and releases less gas. Onion goggles also stop the gas from getting into your eyes.

More About Onions

Onions are good for you! They have things that help your heart and blood. They are rich in vitamins. Many old cultures used onions as food and medicine. Not all onions make you cry the same. Yellow and white onions are strong, but red and sweet ones are milder. So, when you cry, remember it’s your body protecting you from the onion’s defense!

Vocabulary Table

Term Pronunciation Definition Used in sentence
onion /ˈʌnjən/ A vegetable that makes you cry when you cut it. cutting an onion, can suddenly turn into an emotional experience?
cry /kraɪ/ To let tears fall from your eyes because you are sad or hurt. So, why exactly do onions make us cry just by cutting them?
cut /kʌt/ To divide something with a sharp tool like a knife. When a knife cuts through its layers, these chemicals mix…
eyes /aɪz/ The parts of your body that you see with. This invisible gas quickly rises into the air and reaches your eyes.
gas /ɡæs/ Air-like substance that can float. This invisible gas quickly rises into the air and reaches your eyes.
mix /mɪks/ To put different things together. When a knife cuts through its layers, these chemicals mix…
chemicals /ˈkɛmɪkəlz/ Substances used in chemistry or produced by a chemical process. Inside every onion are tiny compartments filled with enzymes and sulfur chemicals.
defense /dɪˈfɛns/ Protection from danger. This reaction is part of your body’s natural defense system.
protect /prəˈtɛkt/ To keep safe from harm. …and helps protect them from pests and microbes.
survival /sərˈvaɪvəl/ The state of continuing to live or exist. But onions develop this chemical weapon for their own survival.
chilling /ˈtʃɪlɪŋ/ Making something cold. Some swear by chilling onions in the refrigerator before cutting them…
sharp /ʃɑrp/ Having a thin, keen edge or point. One of the most effective solutions is simply using a very sharp knife.
knife /naɪf/ A tool with a blade used for cutting. One of the most effective solutions is simply using a very sharp knife.
health /hɛlθ/ The state of being well and free from illness. Beyond causing tears, onions offer impressive health benefits.
benefit /ˈbɛnɪfɪt/ An advantage or good thing. Beyond causing tears, onions offer impressive health benefits.

Vocabulary Flashcards



Lexical Focus: Collocations & Chunks

Don’t just learn isolated words—learn chunks of language. These patterns will help you speak more naturally.

  • cutting an onion
    Verb + Noun Collocation
    Have you ever noticed how a simple kitchen task, cutting an onion, can suddenly turn into an emotional experience?
  • tears start to flow
    Noun + Verb Collocation
    One moment you’re cooking, and the next your eyes burn and tears start to flow.
  • make us cry
    Verb + Pronoun + Verb Collocation
    So, why exactly do onions make us cry just by cutting them?
  • look into
    Phrasal Verb
    To understand why, we need to look into the microscopic world of plant chemistry and human biology.
  • in the air
    Prepositional Phrase
    This invisible gas quickly rises in the air and reaches your eyes.
  • wash it away
    Phrasal Verb
    When the gas reaches your eyes, it dissolves into a mild acid that irritates sensitive nerves, triggering your brain to produce tears to wash it away.
  • natural defense system
    Adjective + Noun Collocation
    This reaction is part of your body’s natural defense system.
  • stay alive
    Verb + Adjective Collocation
    In short, onions aren’t trying to make us cry. They’re trying to stay alive.
  • countless tricks
    Adjective + Noun Collocation
    Over the years, people have invented countless tricks to avoid crying while chopping onions.
  • sharp knife
    Adjective + Noun Collocation
    One of the most effective solutions is simply using a very sharp knife.

De-Chunking: Complete the Expressions

Select the correct phrase from the box below to complete the sentences.

cutting an onion
make us cry
in the air
wash it away
sharp knife

1. Have you ever noticed how a simple kitchen task, , can suddenly turn into an emotional experience?

2. So, why exactly do onions just by cutting them?

3. This invisible gas quickly rises and reaches your eyes.

4. Your brain produces tears to .

5. One of the most effective solutions is simply using a very .



While-viewing Tasks

Complete these tasks while watching the video:



Guided Notes

Fill in the key information as you watch:

  • Main topic:
  • Onions make your eyes ________.
  • What is the gas called?
  • One way to stop crying: Use a ________ knife.

Questions

Answer these questions:

  • 1. Why do onions make gas?
    a) To make people cry
    b) To protect themselves
    c) To smell good
  • 2. What happens when the gas touches your eyes?
  • 3. True or False: All onions make you cry the same amount.
    a) True
    b) False

Checklist

Check if the video talks about these things:

  • Chemicals in onions
  • How tears work
  • Ways to cut onions without crying
  • Onion health benefits

Embedded Video:

Fill in the Blanks Exercise

1. When you cut an , your eyes can start to burn and cry.

2. Onions have a hidden defense system.

3. Inside every onion are tiny compartments filled with and sulfur compounds.

4. When a cuts through its layers, these chemicals mix.

5. This creates a that rises into the air.

6. The gas reaches your and makes them feel bad.

7. Your brain produces to wash the gas away.

8. This reaction is part of your body’s natural system.

9. Onions use this chemical weapon for their own .

10. Not all onions are equally .

11. You can chill onions in the before cutting them.

12. Using a very knife helps.

13. A dull crushes onion cells more.

14. Onions offer impressive benefits.

15. They are rich in , potassium, and fiber.

Vocabulary Quiz

1. What is an onion?

a) A kind of sweet fruit you eat for breakfast.
b) A vegetable that makes your eyes wet when you slice it.
c) A small red berry used in desserts.
d) A type of meat cooked for dinner.

2. What does it mean to cry?

a) To laugh loudly because something is funny.
b) To make tears come from your eyes when you feel sad.
c) To run very fast in a race.
d) To sing a song with a happy voice.

3. What does it mean to cut?

a) To put things together with glue.
b) To make something bigger by adding more.
c) To use a sharp tool to divide something.
d) To throw something far away.

4. What are your eyes for?

a) The parts of your body you use to hear.
b) The parts of your body you use to smell.
c) The parts of your body you use to see.
d) The parts of your body you use to walk.

5. What is gas?

a) A solid thing you can hold in your hand.
b) A liquid you can drink.
c) An air-like substance that can float.
d) A type of metal that is very strong.

6. What does it mean to mix?

a) To take things apart.
b) To put different things together.
c) To clean something very well.
d) To read a book quietly.

7. What are chemicals?

a) Natural foods like fruits and vegetables.
b) Substances made or used in science.
c) Tools for building houses.
d) Animals living in the forest.

8. What is defense?

a) To be in danger.
b) To find new friends.
c) Protection from danger.
d) To make something dirty.

9. What does it mean to protect?

a) To make something broken.
b) To keep someone or something safe.
c) To forget something important.
d) To open a door.

10. What is survival?

a) The act of falling down.
b) The state of continuing to live.
c) The act of making music.
d) The state of being very tired.

Fact or Fiction Quiz

1. Onions make you cry because they release a special gas.

a) Fact
b) Fiction

2. Onions cry to protect themselves from animals.

a) Fact
b) Fiction

3. All onions make you cry the same amount.

a) Fact
b) Fiction

4. Using a sharp knife can help you cry less when cutting onions.

a) Fact
b) Fiction

5. Onions are good for your health.

a) Fact
b) Fiction

Extension Activities

Choose from these activities to extend your learning:



Draw an Onion

Draw a picture of an onion and label its parts. Write 3 sentences about onions.

Difficulty:
Easy

Read About Plants

Find a simple book or website about plants and how they protect themselves. Write down one new fact.

Difficulty:
Medium

Discuss Onion Tricks

Talk with a partner about your favorite trick to stop crying when cutting onions. Which trick do you think is best?

Difficulty:
Easy

Quiz Your Partner

Create 3 questions about the video for your partner to answer. Your partner creates 3 questions for you.

Difficulty:
Medium

Share Onion Recipes

Work in a small group. Share simple recipes that use onions. Which recipe sounds most delicious?

Difficulty:
Easy

Act Out the Onion Reaction

As a group, act out how the onion chemicals mix and make gas that goes to your eyes. Be creative!

Difficulty:
Medium

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