Literal vs. Nonliteral Meanings

What is the literal meanings of "It's raining cats and dogs"?

• Cats are meowing and dogs are barking.

• Cats and dogs are falling out of the sky.

• Cats and dogs fight with each other.

• Cats and dogs look different from each other.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.5A

CCSS.RL.3.4

What is the literal meaning of "I have a million things to do"?

• I have 1 million things to do right now.

• It's going to take me 1 million days to do everything right now.

• When I count to 1 million, I have to do 1 million things.

• There's 1 million different things to do in the world.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.5A

CCSS.RL.3.4

What is the nonliteral meaning of "You are taking forever"?

• It will be forever until you are done with that.

• It will take some time to get done with what you are doing.

• Forever isn't real.

• It is taking you a long time to do something.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.5A

CCSS.RL.3.4

What is the nonliteral meaning of "When pigs fly"?

• Pigs are not good fliers.

• It's not likely that will ever happen.

• Pigs are going to learn to fly.

• Something is going to happen soon.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.5A

CCSS.RL.3.4

What is the literal meaning of "tough as nails"?

• Something is as tough or strong as nails.

• Nails are sharp and can hurt someone.

• Someone has the power of tough nails.

• Nails go into wood.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.5A

CCSS.RL.3.4

What is the nonliteral meaning of "pretty as a picture"?

• Pictures can be taken that look nice.

• Pictures can be drawn pretty by an artist.

• Something or someone looks very attractive (pretty).

• Pictures can be pretty or ugly.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.5A

CCSS.RL.3.4

What is the literal meaning of "His socks smelled like rotten eggs"?

• His socks smelled like eggs that were rotten.

• He cracked an egg in his socks.

• People threw eggs at his socks.

• He bought socks that smelled like rotten eggs.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.5A

CCSS.RL.3.4

What is the nonliteral meaning of "have a seat"?

• Take a seat away from someone else.

• Wait your turn to sit at a seat.

• Sit down in a seat at that moment.

• You can only have someone's seat if you beat them in a game.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.5A

CCSS.RL.3.4

What is the literal meaning of "bent over backwards"?

• You are walking backwards.

• You are bent in half.

• You cannot bend over backwards.

• You bend over backwards like you are doing a handstand.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5B

CCSS.L.5.5B

What is the nonliteral meaning of "You're driving me up a wall"?

• I will drive on the wall now.

• You're making me feel crazy, annoyed, or irritated.

• You're making me feel happy, excited, and relaxed.

• I will drive off the wall now.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.5A

CCSS.RL.3.4