Idioms for Kids: Sayings That Do Not Mean What They Say (Grade 4 and 5 English)

Hi, I'm Luna from DoodleBeez. Today we are learning about idioms. An idiom is a saying that means something different from its words. You cannot figure it out by reading each word on its own.

Listen to this one. It is raining cats and dogs. Animals are not really falling from the sky! The words say one thing, but the real meaning is that it is raining very hard.

Here are more. A piece of cake means something is very easy. Under the weather means feeling a little sick. Hold your horses means wait and be patient.

Some idioms are about secrets and work. Spill the beans means tell a secret. Hit the books means study hard. Costs an arm and a leg means something is very expensive.

What if you meet a new idiom? Be a detective and use context clues. Read the whole sentence and ask what would make sense. The words around the idiom often point to its meaning.

Try this sentence. Sam had butterflies in his stomach before his first piano recital. The clue is the big performance. He did not swallow butterflies! It means he felt nervous.

Now it's your turn. Maya was on cloud nine after she won the spelling bee. What does on cloud nine mean? Pause and try. Winning is a happy clue, so on cloud nine means very happy.

Great job! Remember, an idiom means something different from its words. Learn common idioms, and use context clues to figure out new ones. Practice idioms in the English Lab at doodlebeez.com. See you next time!