Idioms
Standard:
ELA3 R2d The student acquires and uses
grade-level words to communicate effectively.
The student identifies the meaning of common
idioms and figurative phrases, incorporates them
into oral and written language.
Essential Question:
What are idioms and how are they commonly
used in the English language?
Idioms
Idioms are phrases which people use in
everyday language which do not make
sense literally but we understand what
they mean
Standard:
ELA3 R2d The student acquires and uses grade-level words to communicate effectively.
The student identifies the meaning of common idioms and figurative phrases, incorporates
them into oral and written language.
Essential Question:
What are idioms and how are they commonly used in the English language?
An idiom is an expression that has a meaning apart
from the meanings of its individual words.
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For example: It’s raining cats and dogs. Its literal meaning suggests
that cats and dogs are falling from the sky. We interpret it to mean
that it is raining hard.
Other Examples:
To stick your neck out is to say or do something that is bold and a
bit dangerous. A similar idiom that is used for slightly more
dangerous situations is to "go out on a limb." In both idioms, the idea
is that you put yourself in a vulnerable position.
To break the ice is to be the first one to say or do something, with
the expectation that others will then follow. Another idiom that
means something similar is "get the ball rolling."
To have a chip on one's shoulder is usually an expression to
describe a person who acts, as you say, rudely or aggressively, but
also in a manner that could be described as "aggressively defensive."
The person seems always ready for a fight.
Standard:
ELA3 R2d The student acquires and uses grade-level words to communicate effectively. The
student identifies the meaning of common idioms and figurative phrases, incorporates them into oral
and written language.
Essential Question:
What are idioms and how are they commonly used in the English language?
Food for thought
These idioms are all about food. Can you explain what they really
mean?
 Selling like hot
cakes
 Going bananas
Standard:
ELA3 R2d The student acquires and uses grade-level words to communicate effectively. The student identifies the meaning of
common idioms and figurative phrases, incorporates them into oral and written language.
Essential Question:
What are idioms and how are they commonly used in the English language?
Feel like a fish out of water
Be like a fish out of water
Meaning:
Feel uncomfortable because you are in an unfamiliar situation.
If you feel like a fish out of water, you feel awkward or uncomfortable
because you are in an unusual or unfamiliar situation.
Example:
I don't like going to the big parties they have. I always feel like a fish out of
water there.
Todd is a country boy raised in a small town in Northumberland and was like
a fish out of water when he visited bustling London.
Standard:
ELA3 R2d The student acquires and uses grade-level words to communicate effectively. The student identifies the
meaning of common idioms and figurative phrases, incorporates them into oral and written language.
Essential Question:
What are idioms and how are they commonly used in the English language?
What does this mean really?
Standard:
ELA3 R2d The student acquires and uses grade-level words to communicate effectively. The student identifies the meaning
of common idioms and figurative phrases, incorporates them into oral and written language.
Essential Question:
What are idioms and how are they commonly used in the English language?
And this?
Standard:
ELA3 R2d The student acquires and uses grade-level words to communicate effectively. The student identifies the
meaning of common idioms and figurative phrases, incorporates them into oral and written language.
Essential Question:
What are idioms and how are they commonly used in the English language?
And what about this one?
Standard:
ELA3 R2d The student acquires and uses grade-level words to communicate effectively. The student identifies the
meaning of common idioms and figurative phrases, incorporates them into oral and written language.
Essential Question:
What are idioms and how are they commonly used in the English language?
Numbers up
Lots of idioms are about numbers. See if you can fill in the
missing numbers in these says. What do they mean?
 Dressed up to the ______
 One in a ______
 In _______ heaven
Standard:
ELA3 R2d The student acquires and uses grade-level words to communicate effectively.
The student identifies the meaning of common idioms and figurative phrases, incorporates
them into oral and written language.
Essential Question:
What are idioms and how are they commonly used in the English language?
Animal Crackers
 It’s raining ____ and dogs!
 I’ve got a ____ in my throat
 Those are just ______tears
Standard:
ELA3 R2d The student acquires and uses grade-level words to communicate effectively.
The student identifies the meaning of common idioms and figurative phrases, incorporates
them into oral and written language.
Essential Question:
What are idioms and how are they commonly used in the English language?
Let’s see, if you understand
the peculiar meaning of
some common idioms!
Idioms: What Does This Mean?
The idiom will show here. Read the idiom, discuss
with the class, then click "enter" to see the definition.
Idioms: What Does This Mean?
A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two
In The Bush:
Having something that is certain is much
better than taking a risk for more, because
chances are you might lose everything.
Idioms: What Does This Mean?
A Blessing In Disguise:
Something good that isn't recognized at
first.
Idioms: What Does This Mean?
A Chip On Your
Shoulder:
Being upset for something that
happened in the past.
Idioms: What Does This Mean?
A Dime A Dozen:
Anything that is common and
easy to get.
Idioms: What Does This Mean?
A Doubting Thomas:
A skeptic who needs physical or personal
evidence in order to believe something
Idioms: What Does This Mean?
A Drop in the Bucket:
A very small part of something big
or whole.
Idioms: What Does This Mean?
A Fool And His Money Are Easily
Parted:
It's easy for a foolish person to
lose his/her money.
Idioms: What Does This Mean?
A House Divided Against Itself Cannot
Stand:
Everyone involved must unify and function together or it will
not work out.
Idioms: What Does This Mean?
A Leopard Can't
Change His Spots:
You cannot change who you
are.
So can you define ‘idiom’?
 Standard:
 ELA3 R2d The student acquires and uses
grade-level words to communicate effectively.
The student identifies the meaning of common
idioms and figurative phrases, incorporates
them into oral and written language.
 Essential Question:
 What are idioms and how are they commonly
used in the English language?