Interpreting Figurative
Language
Wynne Intermediate School
Interpreting Figurative Language
• When you understand the meaning of a
simile, a metaphor, or an idiom, you are
interpreting figurative language.
Listen as I read this passage. See if you can figure out what
the phrase spread himself too thin means.
• When school started in the fall, Hector signed up for as
many school activities as he could. He was working on
the school newspaper, acting in the drama club, and
playing in the marching band. Hector soon realized that
he couldn’t do all of his schoolwork and keep up with his
activities. He had spread himself too thin. Hector would
have to give some things up.
Simile
• A way of describing something by
comparing it with something else using
the words “like” or “as”
• a figure of speech that says
that one thing is another
different thing
Idiom
• A phrase whose words have a
meaning different from their
usual meaning.
• Henry realized he had
just put his foot in his
mouth.
Long ago on the Tennessee frontier, there lived a woman named Sally Ann.
She was married to David Crockett, who liked to call her his sweet little wife. Sally
Ann, however, wasn’t exactly sweet or little. She had a quick temper and looked
daggers at anyone who upset her. Sally Ann stood as tall as a young tree and had
arms as big as a woodcutter. She liked to wear a bearskin for a dress and a hornet’s
nest for a bonnet.
People said that Sally Ann was made of thunder with a dash of whirlwind thrown in
for good measure. So, she became known as Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind
Crockett. Sally Ann walked like an ox and ran like a fox. She could leap over the
Grand Canyon with both eyes shut. Furthermore, she could blow out the moonlight,
ride a panther bareback, sing a wolf to sleep, and jump over her own shadow. Sally
Ann also had a big sense of humor. She could laugh the bark off a pine tree.
Sally Ann feared nothing. But she never bragged. And she never fought any person
or creature.
The phrase looked daggers means:
Peeked at quickly
Pointed at silently
Glared at angrily
People said that Sally Ann was made of thunder with a dash of
whirlwind thrown in for good measure. So, she became known as
Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind Crockett. Sally Ann walked like
an ox and ran like a fox. She could leap over the Grand Canyon
with both eyes shut. Furthermore, she could blow out the
moonlight, ride a panther bareback, sing a wolf to sleep, and jump
over her own shadow. Sally Ann also had a big sense of humor. She
could laugh the bark off a pine tree.
The tall tale says that Sally Ann ran like a fox. This means Sally Ann was
quick
strong
quiet
Steve had a heart of gold and always did his duty. When a
fire alarm sounded, he was the first one to arrive at the firehouse
and pull on his striped suspenders, bright-red shirt, giant boots, and
fire helmet. He walked through flames as if they were made of
candlesticks. All kinds of people thanked him for saving their lives.
“Just doing my duty,” he would always reply.
The phrase had a heart of gold means that Mose was…
Selfish and unkind
Wealthy in many ways
Generous and friendly
Interviewer: We’d like to welcome the director Dred Fuller to our
show. Mr. Fuller is the Steven Spielberg of horror films. Tell us, Dred,
how did you become so interested in monsters?
Dred Fuller: Everyone is fascinated by monsters, not just me. For
some strange reason, we enjoy things that scare the daylights out of
us.
The phrase scare the daylights out of means…
Make someone afraid
of the dark
Turn day into night
Frighten someone a lot
Interviewer: Let’s talk about your latest film, The Werewolf of Los
Angeles. Where did you get the idea for this movie?
Dred Fuller: When I was a kid, I saw the classic film The Wolf Man.
This movie blew my mind. The story is about a young man who got
bitten by a werewolf. Afterwards, whenever there was a full moon,
the man would turn into a werewolf and terrorize innocent people.
The werewolf was a hairy two-legged creature with fangs as sharp
as daggers.
What does blew my mind mean?
Caused amazement
Prevented something
Caused hatred
Test Tip
• A test question about interpreting
figurative language may ask you about
the meaning of a simile, a metaphor, or
an idiom
• Figurative language usually brings a
picture to a reader’s mind. Use that
picture to help you understand the
meaning of the figurative language.