Idioms/Figurative Language

What does it really mean? "She spilled the beans."

• She dropped her food. 
• She talked too much and told the secret.
• She was angry. 

Tags

CCSS.RI.1.4

CCSS.RI.2.4

CCSS.RI.3.4

CCSS.RI.K.4

CCSS.RL.3.4

What does it really mean? "He has a chip on his shoulder."

• He is angry about something.
• He missed his mouth and left a chip on his shoulder.
• He was hit in the shoulder. 

Tags

CCSS.RI.1.4

CCSS.RI.2.4

CCSS.RI.3.4

CCSS.RI.K.4

CCSS.RL.3.4

What does it really mean? "A penny saved is a penny earned."

• By not spending money, you are saving little by little. 
• Fairies will give you a penny for every one you save. 
• Pennies are worth $0.02

Tags

CCSS.RI.1.6

CCSS.RI.1.7

CCSS.RI.3.7

CCSS.RL.1.7

CCSS.RL.3.7

What does it really mean? "A leopard can't change its spots." 

• Leapards don't like their spots. 
• Leopards can't move around. 
• You can't change who you are. 

Tags

CCSS.RI.1.6

CCSS.RI.1.7

CCSS.RI.3.7

CCSS.RL.1.7

CCSS.RL.3.7

What does it really mean? "We are in the same boat."

• You are facing the same challenge as someone else. 
• We like to share the same boat.
• We don't like to swim. 

Tags

CCSS.RI.1.4

CCSS.RI.2.4

CCSS.RI.3.4

CCSS.RL.3.4

CCSS.RL.4.4

What does it really mean? "It's a piece of cake."

• Something is easy.
• Something is delicious.
• Something is soft and warm. 

Tags

CCSS.RI.1.4

CCSS.RI.2.4

CCSS.RI.3.4

CCSS.RI.K.4

CCSS.RL.3.4

What does it really mean? "It cost an arm and a leg."

• You must give body parts to pay for something. 
• It is cheap.
• Something is really expensive. 

Tags

CCSS.RI.1.4

CCSS.RI.2.4

CCSS.RI.3.4

CCSS.RL.3.4

CCSS.RL.4.4

What does it really mean? "He got up on the wrong side of the bed."

• He woke up on the left instead of right side of the bed. 
• His day started off in an unhappy mood.
• He woke up under his bed.

Tags

CCSS.RI.1.4

CCSS.RI.2.4

CCSS.RI.3.4

CCSS.RI.4.4

CCSS.RL.3.4

What does it really mean? "It's raining cats and dogs."

• There are too many cats and dogs. 
• I don't like cats and dogs. 
• It is raining really hard.

Tags

CCSS.RI.1.4

CCSS.RI.2.4

CCSS.RI.3.4

CCSS.RL.3.4

CCSS.RL.4.4

What does it really mean? "She was pulling my leg."

• She grabbed my leg and tugged on it.
• She hurt my leg.
• She was joking with me. 

Tags

CCSS.RI.1.4

CCSS.RI.2.4

CCSS.RI.3.4

CCSS.RI.4.4

CCSS.RL.3.4