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79 Idioms To Teach Kids and Use in “Idiom of the Day” Lessons

December 5, 2022 //  by Lauren Jannette

Idioms are hard to understand, especially for kids. We hear them every day, but do we really know what they mean? With these fun lesson ideas, you can teach your little ones about everyday idioms, funny idioms, and even lessons on history and science through idiom usage! Scroll below to find some great ongoing learning tools for your in-person and digital classrooms. There are activities for all grade levels. Ready, set? Let’s learn all about idioms! 

1. A Bull in a China Shop

Meaning: behaving recklessly in a way likely to cause harm. You’ll need some Legos for this hands-on activity. Follow the steps in the video to learn how to build a kicking bull. Then watch your kids wreak havoc as they learn the figure of speech!

Learn More: The B3

2. A Little Birdie Told Me

Meaning: you’re not going to say how you found out about something. Seeing idioms illustrated helps kids remember what they mean. Have your kids create cards for friends and family with a little bird sending a message from a secret source.

Learn More: Pinterest

3. A Piece of Cake

Meaning: something easily done. Is there a better way to learn than with food items? Probably not. So grab your favorite cake-making ingredients and show your kids that baking and idioms are both “a piece of cake”!

Learn More: Pretty Simple Sweet

4. A Rip-Off

off brand harry potter costume

Meaning: cheat someone. We’ve all seen those Halloween costumes. To help students understand the idiom’s meaning, have them come up with their own ridiculous rip-off costumes. Then show them off in a great classroom community activity.

Learn More: Buzzfeed

5. Add Fuel to the Fire

Credit: ALAMY, GARDEN COLLECTION, GAP

Meaning: cause a conflict to worsen. Get hands-on with idioms. Collect fuel for the fire; with each stick representing a phrase, action, or idea that can hurt someone. As you add them to the fire, have your students reflect on what happens when they add their fuel.

Learn More: The Telegraph

6. As Easy as ABC

Meaning: extremely easy. Show your kids that learning figures of speech can be easy and fun! This video explores the idiom while teaching kids the importance of welcoming new students to the class.

Learn More: ABCmouse.com

7. At The Drop of a Hat

Meaning: without delay, immediately. This quick video easily explains the actual definition of the idiom and tells kids where the phrase comes from. Once you’ve watched it, grab a hat and “drop it” to start a race between your students.

Learn More: VOA Learning English

8. Be a Chicken

Meaning: cowardly. Have your kids act out this fun idiom! Divide the class into groups and see if they can guess what it is. Watch to see if students interpret the literal definition of the phrase instead of the actual definition.

Learn More: English with Karim

9. Bee in Her Bonnet

People dressed as bees protest against the use of pesticides

Meaning: to talk and think about something a lot. This idiom is a great discussion starter. Ask your kids what “bee” is in their bonnet today. Then use their response to talk about bigger issues like climate change, politics, or bullies at school.

Learn More: BBC

10. Birdbrain

Funny Bird Idioms Classroom Poster

Meaning: an annoyingly stupid and shallow person. Birdbrain is one of many bird idioms found on this poster. Place it in your classroom to help kids learn what each one means. Discuss if the meaning or wording of the idiom could be hurtful to someone.

Learn More: ISLcollective

11. Blow off Some Steam

Meaning: get rid of pent-up energy. Kids often need to blow off steam, especially after sitting in class. Get them up and moving with this exercise video. Have them shout their favorite idioms as they follow along.

Learn More: Little Sports

12. Busy as a Bee

Meaning: very active. Build a bee hive in your classroom to represent one of the most common idioms we use. Collect egg cartons and other materials to make the hive. Then keep them busy assembling it and creating honey for each comb. 

Learn More: Ms. Barbara’s Blog

13. Call It a Day

Meaning: end a period of activity. Watch the idiom in action! This short video does a fantastic job of visualizing the idiom for kids. Use it to tell your students that today’s lessons are over.

Learn More: AppuSeries

14. Cat Got Your Tongue

Idiom: Cat got your tongue? (meaning & examples)

Meaning: when someone is unusually quiet. Test out your artistic skills and create idiom posters. Have students draw what they think an idiom means, then write the actual meaning below. A great way to get students excited about idioms!

Learn More: Oyster English

15. Cool as a Cucumber

Funny English Idioms And Their Meanings

Meaning: very calm. Treat your kids to a spa day. Slice some cucumbers and place them on their eyes. Then sit back and be “as cool as a cucumber.” Perfect for relaxing after stressful days of school.

Learn More: Bored Panda

16. Crack a Book

Meaning: to study. There are a number of great books about idioms for kids. Choose from this selection and add it to your trove of English resources. Then make this idiom come to life by “cracking the book.”

Learn More: The Best Children’s Books

17. Cross Your Fingers

Meaning: hope that someone or something will be successful. Everyone knows about crossing their fingers for luck. But did you know there’s a surprising history behind the gesture? Have your students discover what it is with a history assignment on idioms.

Learn More: Refinery29

18. Crocodile Tears

Meaning: insincere or false tears. This spooky video is great for a Halloween idiom activity for the 3rd grade and up. Teach them what happens when they use “crocodile tears” to get what they want.

Learn More: Grizzy Tales for Gruesome Kids

19. Curiosity Killed The Cat

This means: asking about other people’s business may get you into trouble. Jokes are an awesome way to teach idioms. Have kids design their own silly pictures to illustrate a daily idiom joke. Bonus points if they come up with their own idiom!

Learn More: Pinterest

20. Different Kettle of Fish

Meaning: a completely different kind of person or thing than the one before. This idiom is perfect for diversity lessons. With each “fish” representing a different culture, have your students make culture-to-culture comparisons to see what they have in common.

Learn More: Pediastaff

21. Doggy Bag

darcy_miller_howto_06

Meaning: a bag for leftovers. There are often lots of leftovers to go around during the holidays. Let your kids create a personalized doggy bag. When everyone has eaten, have them grab some boxes of food to fill the bag! 

Learn More: Darcy Miller Designs

22. Don’t Put All of Your Eggs in One Basket

Meaning: don’t invest all your resources into one thing. Teach your kids the importance of diversifying their college options, classes, or investments. This idiom is a gateway to tons of other subject lessons. Make some eggs in a basket for a tasty idiom-related treat!

Learn More: Freelance Theory

23. Feeling Blue

Meaning: to feel sad. Teach your kids about their emotions. This short song helps kids understand the idiom. It also shows the importance of helping others and asking for help when you need it.

Learn More: Netflix Jr.

24. Fill in the Blanks

animated kids with short and easy Mad Libs printables for free

Meaning: to provide the missing information. Build your students’ academic writing by “filling in the blanks” with a great language resource: Mad Libs! Start with words that make sense in the story. Then try to make it as funny as possible. Bonus points for creating an idiom!

Learn More: Hessun Academy

25. Fish Out of Water

Meaning: a person away from their usual environment. Moving somewhere new can be scary. Create your own fish in this simple idiom activity. Afterward, talk about how everyone feels like a “fish out of water” from time to time.

Learn More: Glued to My Crafts

26. For the Birds

Meaning: unimportant. Kids can get stressed out. Show them this short film to help them learn not to sweat the small stuff. After, lead them in a journal activity to reflect on what is unimportant in life. 

Learn More: Superduper English Idioms

27. Get a Kick Out of It

Meaning: to be amused by. We all get a kick out of watching animal fails on the internet. Help your little ones discover the meaning of this idiom with this video. Afterward, get them up and kicking with some physical exercise.

Learn More: Tolentino Teaching

28. Get Cold Feet

Valley forge for kids - fun hands on activities like this Cold Feet Activity, rolling cartridges, and more! This is part of our free american revolutionary war history unit for elementary age kids. Includes free printables and more #valleyforget #historyforkids #revolutionarywar

Meaning: a loss of nerve or confidence. Tie this idiom into a lesson about the American Revolution. While your kids deal with their cold feet, help them understand the difference between the literal and actual definitions of the idiom.

Learn More: 123Homeschool4Me

29. Get Off Your High Horse

Get Off Your High High Horse - Get Off Your High High Horse Poem by Clive  Blake

Meaning: stop behaving in a superior manner. Poems are a great way to introduce kids to idioms. Read the poem and discuss what it means. Then have your kids pick an idiom and create poem posters to share!

Learn More: Poem Hunter

30. Get Your Act Together

Meaning: organize yourself. Kids have a ton of stuff. At some point, they’re not going to be able to find their homework, project, or favorite toy. Help them “get their act together” with these fun organizing activities.

Learn More: Clutter Keeper

31. Get Your Feet Wet

Image

Meaning: to slowly start something new. This a great idiom for the start of the school year! When your little ones decide to start something new, have them repeat this idiom to themselves. Remind them that being slow and simple is a great way to start!

Learn More: The Britannica Dictionary

32. Give the Cold Shoulder

Meaning: intentionally ignore someone. This idiom poster is a great addition to your classroom. It’s also a good resource for teaching your kids about bullying. Have them design their own posters about bad behavior idioms. Then discuss the importance of safe spaces.

Learn More: Vecteezy

33. Goose is Cooked

This means no possibility of success. This short animation teaches kids all the ways to use the phrase “goose is cooked.” Use it to help your kids learn the different parts of a sentence and how versatile idioms are.

Learn More: Real English

34. Have Ants in Your Pants

Meaning: to be restless. Another great idiom to get your kids up and moving! At a random point during the day, yell, “ants in your pants”. Once they hear it, your kids need to get up and move until the ants are gone. 

Learn More: Joco1296

35. Have a Change of Heart

Meaning: to change your opinion or feelings about something. Let your kids know that it’s ok to change how they feel about something. The Grinch is a perfect example to show that it is an important part of growing up.

Learn More: Slide Serve

36. Have Mixed Feelings

Idiom Definition -

Meaning: conflicting feelings or emotions about something. Guide your students through a writing exercise where they explore their mixed feelings about an event. Let them share their experiences to reflect on their complex feelings and emotions.

Learn More: Idioms4you

37. Head in the Clouds

Meaning: daydreaming, to be out of touch with reality. This short story is a cute addition to your idiom of the daily lessons that allow kids to practice their reading skills. Once you’ve finished, have them draw an additional page to the book!

Learn More: The Dabbling Speechie

38. Hit the Hay

To hit the hay” – English idiom | Free English Materials For You

Meaning: to go to sleep. If you have older students, have them research the origin of the idiom. Not only does it give the idiom more meaning, but it also is a great link to a history lesson!

Learn More: Pediastaff

39. Hold Your Horses

Idiom - Hold Your Horses - Funky English

Meaning: wait a moment. Teach your kids patience by incorporating this idiom into a game of red light, and green light. Have them go towards the finish line until you yell, “hold your horses”. Don’t let them move until you say go! 

Learn More: Funky English

40. Horse of a Different Color

Meaning: a very different thing. This idiom activity gets your kid’s artistic juices flowing. Give them an outline of a horse and let their imaginations go wild. Display the different horses to show how special each one is and remind your students of their own unique qualities.

Learn More: Idioms By Kids

41. Hot Dog

Meaning: very pleased about something. Surprise your kids with an idiom snack! Grab your favorite type of hot dog and toppings. Then see who can make the tastiest treat. If your kids approve, have them yell, “Hot Dog”!  

Learn More: Foodal

42. I’m All Ears

Meaning: to listen attentively. Practice active listening skills with this idiom. As one student tells a story, have the other students be “all ears.” Once the story finishes, have them write down all the important details to see if they are paying attention. 

Learn More: Pinterest

43. In Hot Water

Meaning: to be in a difficult situation. This short video explains the idiom’s meaning. Once your students watch it, have them share a time when they were in hot water. Connect your English and history lessons by discussing moments when people were “in hot water.”

Learn More: The Canadian House Center

44. It Costs an Arm and a Leg

idiom: to cost an arm and a leg | English Help Online's Blog

Meaning: very expensive. Kids don’t always understand how money works. This idiom is a great way to help them learn. Have them make a wish list and guess the prices of their items. Look up how much they cost and see if any “cost an arm and a leg”.

Learn More: English Help Online

45. It’s in the Bag

Meaning: assured of success. Follow along with Tutor Nick as he explains the meaning and history behind the idiom. The interesting history of the phrase has a great tie-in for all the sports fans out there! Ask your students if they had a moment they thought something was “in the bag.”

Learn More: Tutor Nick P

46. It’s Raining Cats and Dogs

Dog - Cat

Meaning: very hard rain. Pull out those stuffed animals and make it rain! Capture the cats and dogs in a bucket or umbrella. Or turn the idiom into a costume! Attach stuffed cats and dogs to an umbrella and you’re ready to go!

Learn More: Farmers Almanac

47. It’s Water Under the Bridge

Meaning: something in the past is no longer important. We’ve all heard the song a million times. Luckily, it’s the perfect way to teach your kids this idiom’s meaning! Use it to help them understand the importance of letting go of things.

Learn More: Walt Disney Animation Studios

48. Let the Cat Out of the Bag

Why Do We Say "Cat's Out of the Bag"? | Reader's Digest

Meaning: reveal a secret by mistake. Reinterpret Hot Potato for this idiom. Place a stuffed cat in a bag. Then have your students pass it around until the music stops. Whoever is holding the bag has to “let the cat out” and use an idiom in a sentence.

Learn More: Reader’s Digest

49. Mad as a Hatter

Meaning: crazy. Did you know hat makers used to go crazy from mercury poisoning? Luckily this activity is safe for hatters of all ages! Help your kids shape their hats. Then let them decorate it with feathers, ribbons, and bows.

Learn More: DIY Inspired

50. Make a Mountain Out of a Molehill

Meaning: exaggerate the importance of something. Have your students reflect on a time when someone has made something seem super important that wasn’t. Ask them to reflect on how that made them feel and if they have ever done it themselves. 

Learn More: Superduper English Idioms

51. Miss the Boat

enter image description here

Meaning: a missed opportunity. Let your kids schedule your next day out. If you live near public transportation, see if they have enough time to catch the bus or train. Teach them the importance of time management.

Learn More: English Stack Exchange

52. Mumbo Jumbo

Meaning: nonsense. Learn all about the fascinating history of where this idiom comes from! The video does a great job of explaining the evolution of the phrase from its West African origins. Afterward, have your kids create their own “mumbo jumbo”!

Learn More: Self-Taught English

53. Night Owl

Meaning: someone who stays up late at night. There are a lot of bird-related idioms out there, and this short video covers them all! Teach your little ones how to use them in everyday conversation. Practice how to use them with a journal writing activity.

Learn More: Little Telly Kids

54. Out of the Blue

Meaning: unexpectedly. One of many blue idioms, this one is great for a pop quiz. This online resource has a range of idiom-related quizzes to add to your teaching resources. The quizzes are grouped by idiom theme, so it’s easy to find one related to your lesson.

Learn More: English Club

55. Pass with Flying Colors

Meaning: successfully complete a task with ease. Celebrate your little ones’ successes! Grab your crafting supplies and create a colorful kite once you’ve tied the string on tight, head outside to watch the colors fly!

Learn More: About A Mom

56. Play It By Ear

Meaning: do something without any preparation. A great way to get your kids involved with this idiom is to do some improv! This series of improv games will keep your kids on their toes. Perfect for getting them to let loose and have some fun.

Learn More: All Group Games

57. Pig Out

Meaning: eat too much. Sneak this idiom into your kids’ next party. Create a buffet of their favorite foods and let them “pig out!” Use these fun and clever snack ideas to sneak in healthy food options that’ll keep them coming back for more.

Learn More: Mom Junction

58. Put a Bug in His Ear

Cover: Ack! There's a Bug in My Ear! (And Other Sayings That Just Aren't True)

Meaning: give someone a hint about something. Bugs can be gross. However, these bugs can be helpful for getting the job done! Grab this whimsical book and help your kids understand idioms with everyday examples. Perfect for the strangest, most bizarre idioms out there.

Learn More: Child’s World

59. Read Between the Lines

Meaning: discover a hidden meaning. Put their detective skills to work with some invisible ink! Grab an old book and scribble hidden messages “between the lines”. See if your kids can uncover the messages. Add riddles and a scavenger hunt for more idiom fun!

Learn More: Team Cartwright

60. Rub Salt in Your Wound

Meaning: make a difficult situation worse for someone. This video does a fantastic job of going over all the different iterations of this idiom. Use it to teach your kids about how to recognize bullying and how they can help stop it. 

Learn More: Essential English Idioms and Phrases

61. Run-of-the-Mill

how to make a paper plate water wheel

Meaning: ordinary or normal. There’s no reason for your idiom activities to be “run-of-the-mill.” Look for ways to incorporate idioms into other subject lessons. For example, build a water wheel to power a mill for a fun idiom-STEM crossover!

Learn More: There’s Just One Mommy

62. See Eye to Eye

Meaning: to agree completely. This idiom is a perfect addition to debate activities. Give your students writing tasks to outline their points. Then pair them up and see if they can convince each other to “see eye to eye.”

Learn More: The English Hub Malta

63. Second to None

Meaning: better than all others. This short and sweet round is easy for kids to learn. It will ensure that they never forget the meaning of the idiom. After you watch it, talk about times they felt “second to none” and how they can help others feel the same.

Learn More: Stitching Droomwevers

64. Slipped My Mind

Meaning: I forgot. We’ve all heard, “I forgot my homework” or “I forgot I have a project due tomorrow”. Ensure nothing slips your little ones’ minds with these colorful and easy organizational charts. Chores, routines, and homework, these charts track them all!

Learn More: What Moms Love

65. Snail’s Pace

Meaning: an extremely slow speed. Tutor Nick is back with another informative video. Follow along as he explains the meaning and history of the idiom. Once your kids have watched, have them spend the day moving at a “snail’s pace”!  

Learn More: Tutor Nick P

66. Speak Your Mind

Idiom: “Speak your mind”

Meaning: express your opinions frankly. It’s important for kids to share their opinions and ideas. It’s also important for them to learn how to “speak their mind” without hurting other people’s feelings. Use this idiom to start a lesson on how to speak to others kindly.

Learn More: A Piece of Cake English

67. Stir the Hornet’s Nest

Aucune description de photo disponible.

Meaning: make trouble. Talk about the dangers of “stirring the hornet’s nest”,  both literally and idiomatically. Have your students design their own cartoons of stirring the hornets’ nest. This is a great activity to add to lessons on current events!

Learn More: Studypaedia

68. Storm in a Teacup

English idiom picture - a storm in a teacup

Meaning: great excitement or outrage about a trivial matter. For a fun food idiom activity, throw a tea party on the day you learn this idiom. As you enjoy the tea and cakes, have kids talk about “storm in a teacup” moments for them. 

Learn More: English for Kidz

69. Straight from the Horse’s Mouth

Meaning: directly from the source. Learn all about this uniquely American idiom in this short video. It covers the meaning, how to use it in a sentence, and its origins. After you’ve watched it, play a game of telephone to show students the importance of getting information “straight from the horse’s mouth”.

Learn More: VOA Learning English

70. Teacher’s Pet

Teacher's pet | Every Word Counts

Meaning: a teacher’s favorite student. Is it a good thing to be a teacher’s pet? Or is it meant to call someone a teacher’s pet? Ask your students to do a journal writing about the idiom and see what they think. 

Learn More: Every Word Counts

71. The Icing on the Cake

Meaning: an unexpected good thing. Surprise your students with cake! Give each student a naked piece of cake and a bowl of white icing. Then let them mix in colors, candies, and sprinkles to celebrate the idiom of the day. 

Learn More: Shugary Sweets

72. The World Is Your Oyster

Encourage Kids to Dream Big -free printable response sheet

This means: you can do anything or go anywhere you want in life. Encourage your kids to dream big with this idiom! Create a dream poster that depicts “the world as their oyster” and help them to dream big!

Learn More: Fantastic Fun and Learning

73. To Cry Wolf

Meaning: lying or calling for help when it’s not needed. Start your literacy unit with this read-along video of The Boy Who Cried, Wolf. After you watch, ask your little ones to explain the moral of the story and why you should never cry “wolf”.  

Learn More: Buddy Son Storytime

74. Under the Weather

Meaning: feeling sick or sad. We all feel “under the weather” from time to time. Use this idiom to instill the importance of self-care in your kids. Whether it’s baking, meditating, or coloring, help your kids find the perfect activity to do when they feel “under the weather”.

Learn More: Meraki Lane

75. Use Your Noodle

Printable Idioms Worksheets

Meaning: think about it. Get their noodles working with these idiom practice worksheets. Choose from a range of worksheets that cover definitions, using idioms in a sentence, and illustrating the idiom. Perfect for the end of your daily idiom lesson.

Learn More: Super Teacher Worksheets

76. When Pigs Fly

Meaning: something will never happen. Make the impossible possible! This fun activity will have pigs flying across the room. Help your kids assemble their pig-shaped airplanes. Then see whose can fly the furthest.

Learn More: Education.com

77. White Lie

Meaning: a harmless lie told to avoid hurting someone’s feelings. Learn the meaning of the idiom with this quick video. Izz does a great job of showing kids what the idiom means in real-life situations. 

Learn More: English with Izz

78. Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing

Meaning: a person who seems friendly, but is really hostile. This idiom is great for helping kids recognize toxic behaviors in other people. Use this video to help them understand the idiom and how to protect themselves from bad people.

Learn More: Pawi-Jewel-PJ

79. You Can’t Teach an Old Dog New Trick

This means: you can’t make people change their behavior or opinions. Change is an important part of life. Help your kids understand how important it is with this idiom by reflecting on how hard it is to teach Grandma how to use social media. 

Learn More: My English Log

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