Have you ever heard someone say something funny like “it’s raining cats and dogs” or “I’m feeling blue”? What about “hitting the books” or “fish and visitors stink after three days”? These might sound a bit strange, right? Let’s find out what they really mean!
Today, we’re going to learn about idioms. Idioms are special phrases that don’t mean exactly what they say. They are part of something called figurative language, which uses colorful words to describe things. Let’s explore some idioms together!
Let’s start with “fish and visitors stink after three days.” Fish can be tasty, but if you leave it out for three days, it starts to smell bad. Visitors are fun to have, but after a few days, it might be tiring to keep entertaining them. This idiom means that even good things can become less enjoyable after a while.
Have you heard “break a leg”? It sounds like someone is telling you to hurt yourself, but it’s actually a way to wish someone good luck! If your friend is in a play, you can say “break a leg” to wish them well.
Here are some more idioms:
Idioms are used all over the world, but they might be different in each country. People in the United States might not understand idioms from Australia, and vice versa.
If your teacher says, “Don’t cut corners,” they mean you should do your work carefully and not take shortcuts. “When pigs fly” is a funny way to say something will never happen, like pigs flying!
Let’s compare two sentences:
The second sentence is more fun and shows that it’s unlikely to happen.
Idioms can be found in songs, movies, and TV shows. Try to spot them in books you read or shows you watch. You can also use idioms when talking to your family and friends!
Wow, time flies when you’re having fun! We hope you enjoyed learning about idioms. Visit us at learnbright.org for more fun learning resources!
Idiom Hunt: Go on an idiom hunt around your home or school! Ask your family members or teachers if they know any idioms. Write them down and try to guess what they mean. Share your findings with your classmates and see if they know any different idioms!
Idiom Art: Choose your favorite idiom and draw a picture that shows what it literally means and what it actually means. For example, draw a picture of cats and dogs falling from the sky for “it’s raining cats and dogs,” and then draw a picture of a heavy rainstorm. Share your artwork with your class and explain the idiom to them.
Create Your Own Idiom: Think of something you do every day, like brushing your teeth or eating breakfast. Create a silly idiom for it, like “brushing the stars” for brushing your teeth. Share your new idiom with your friends and family and see if they can guess what it means!
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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**Idioms for Kids**
Have you ever heard a phrase that seems kind of strange? Something like “it’s raining cats and dogs tonight” or “I’m feeling blue”? How about “hitting the books” or “fish and visitors stink after three days”?
Hmm, does it actually rain cats and dogs? Can you feel the color blue? Are there a bunch of people with hammers hanging around waiting to hit a bunch of books? If you said no way, you’re right! And what do fish and visitors have to do with each other?
Today we’re going to talk about something called idioms, which are a part of something even bigger called figurative language. Feeling a little confused? Don’t worry, we’re here to help! Today we are going to learn all about idioms and how to use them. Let’s get started!
Before we dive into idioms, we need to talk about what figurative language is. Figurative language describes something in very colorful terms. It uses comparisons between very different things, like fish and visitors, to paint a picture for the hearer. So put on your thinking caps and let’s explore some of these sayings!
Let’s look first at the phrase “fish and visitors stink after three days.” What does that mean? Fish can be very yummy, but what would happen if you left it out on the counter for three days? It would begin to smell, wouldn’t it? What about visitors? Visitors are wonderful to have over, but after a few days, it might get annoying to have to keep cooking for them, cleaning up after them, and entertaining them.
In the saying “fish and visitors stink after three days,” fish and visitors are compared to each other to show that even though they can both be good things, after a while they might not be as enjoyable.
Have you ever heard the phrase “good things come to those who wait”? What about the saying “better late than never”? Or how about “break a leg”? You may have read, heard, or said one of these phrases before, but what you might not know is that these sayings have a name: they are called idioms.
An idiom is a phrase or sentence that does not literally mean what it says. When someone says “break a leg” to someone else, they aren’t actually telling that person to go break their leg—that wouldn’t be very nice! In fact, the idiom “break a leg” is actually a nice thing to say to someone; it means “good luck.” If your friend is in a play or performance, you could say “break a leg” to wish them good luck.
The idiom “good things come to those who wait” is just another way of telling someone to have patience. The saying “better late than never” simply means that it’s better to arrive late than to not come at all.
“It costs an arm and a leg” is an idiom that means something is very expensive. No one would buy anything if it really cost an arm or a leg!
Idioms are common expressions, which means that people use them often. People in many different countries use idioms, but a person in another country may not understand the meaning of an idiom used in the United States, and someone in the United States might not understand an idiom in Australia. Idioms make sense to the people that live in that country.
Let’s take a look at another example. If your teacher tells you to make sure to study for the test and not cut any corners, what do you think that means? Is your teacher telling you not to cut the corners off of your assignment? That doesn’t make sense! Your teacher wants you to study for the test and do a good job, so “not cutting corners” must mean to do a good job and study hard. If you cut corners, it means that you didn’t do your best work and something hasn’t been done well.
The idiom “don’t cut corners” is just another way of saying “don’t take shortcuts; take your time and do things well.”
Idioms can be a great way of expressing yourself. The idiom “when pigs fly” means that something is probably never going to happen, just like the fact that pigs probably won’t ever fly.
As an example, let’s look at two sentences: one uses the idiom “when pigs fly” and the other does not.
1. “There’s never any extra money in the school budget to build a new school gymnasium, so we’ll never get one.”
2. “There’s never any extra money in the school budget; we’ll get a new gymnasium when pigs fly.”
Which example do you like better? The second sentence is more humorous and interesting than the first. It also emphasizes the point that it is never going to happen.
Idioms can also be found in songs, movies, and TV shows. Look for idioms in books you read and shows you watch. Also, try using idioms the next time you’re talking to your family or friends.
Hold on, is this video over already? Man, time sure flies when you’re having fun! Hope you had fun learning with us. Visit us at learnbright.org for thousands of free resources and turnkey solutions for teachers and homeschoolers.
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