Students correct three literal idiom misreadings — 'raining cats and dogs,' 'break a leg,' and 'piece of cake.' Part B has four fill-in-the-blank questions about the figurative meanings of 'spill the beans,' 'under the weather,' and 'hit the nail on the head.' Part C has two short-answer questions about an idiom's figurative meaning and why idioms puzzle English learners.
Correcting literal misreadings of high-frequency idioms targets the most common figurative language error fifth graders make in reading.
Style:
Idioms, Adages & Proverbs
Part A: Fix the Sentence
Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.
1. Fix the sentence:
My sister said it is raining cats and dogs so I looked for animals outside.
Rewrite: My sister said it is raining cats and dogs, so I grabbed an umbrella.
2. Fix the sentence:
The teacher told me to break a leg, so I was worried about getting hurt.
Rewrite: The teacher told me to break a leg, so I felt encouraged before the show.
3. Fix the sentence:
Dad said the test was a piece of cake, so I brought dessert to class.
Rewrite: Dad said the test was a piece of cake, so I knew it would be easy.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. When someone says "spill the beans," they mean to reveal a secret.
2. If you are "under the weather," you are feeling sick.
3. To "hit the nail on the head" means to be exactly right.
4. An idiom is a phrase whose figurative meaning differs from its literal meaning.
Part C: Short Answer
Answer each question in one or two complete sentences.
1. What does the idiom "bite off more than you can chew" mean? Give an example.
It means to take on more than you can handle. For example, signing up for five clubs at once when you barely have time for one.
2. Explain why idioms can be confusing for someone learning English for the first time.
Idioms are confusing because the words do not mean what they normally mean. A new learner might think "break a leg" is about injury, not good luck.
Idioms, Adages & Proverbs
★ Part A: Fix the Sentence
Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.
1) Fix the sentence:
My sister said it is raining cats and dogs so I looked for animals outside.
Rewrite: My sister said it is raining cats and dogs, so I grabbed an umbrella.
2) Fix the sentence:
The teacher told me to break a leg, so I was worried about getting hurt.
Rewrite: The teacher told me to break a leg, so I felt encouraged before the show.
3) Fix the sentence:
Dad said the test was a piece of cake, so I brought dessert to class.
Rewrite: Dad said the test was a piece of cake, so I knew it would be easy.
★ Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1) When someone says "spill the beans," they mean to reveal a secret.
2) If you are "under the weather," you are feeling sick.
3) To "hit the nail on the head" means to be exactly right.
4) An idiom is a phrase whose figurative meaning differs from its literal meaning.
★ Part C: Short Answer
Answer each question in one or two complete sentences.
1) What does the idiom "bite off more than you can chew" mean? Give an example.
It means to take on more than you can handle. For example, signing up for five clubs at once when you barely have time for one.
2) Explain why idioms can be confusing for someone learning English for the first time.
Idioms are confusing because the words do not mean what they normally mean. A new learner might think "break a leg" is about injury, not good luck.
Ready to Practice?
Complete each section carefully.
9 Questions
15-20 minutes
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