"Just Once" Idioms and Context Clues

What is the best meaning for the underlined idiom?

But the Moose had a hang-up.

Mom doesn’t believe in superstitions, but Dad can’t get over

his hang-up about something bad happening on Friday the 13th.

• suspicious activity

• problem or concern, often obsessed over

• disconnect a phone call

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.4

CCSS.RI.5.4

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

What is the best meaning for the underlined idiom?

He didn’t go public with his hang-up until the sixth game of the season.

The detective decided it was time to go public with the suspect’s photo, hoping the public would help in finding the dangerous man.

• reveal something to the public that was previously private

• visit a place that is open to the public

• a door is always open

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.4

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RL.6.4

What is the best meaning for the underlined idiom?

The Benton Heights Tigers were duck soup for the Bears, as everyone knew they would be.

Max was overqualified and knew he had the necessary experience, so getting the job was going to be duck soup.

• an easily accomplished task

• requiring great strength or determination

• a trick or a trap laid out for an enemy

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.4

CCSS.RI.5.4

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.5.1

What is the best meaning for the underlined idiom?

They all zeroed in on him, the Moose alone.

The attentive doctor quickly zeroed in on his problem and offered a simple remedy.

• worthless or not worth effort

• determine something is not a problem

• directed attention to one particular thing

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.4

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RL.6.4

Which idiom from the story means nearly the same thing as the underlined idiom in the sentence below?

This was going to be a cakewalk; the Moose was going to score a touchdown.

• hang-up

• go public

• duck soup

• zeroed in

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.4

CCSS.RI.5.4

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

Use context clues to determine which meaning best fits the underlined word.

Mrs. Allen is the most tolerant teacher at our school. She can put up with all kinds of nonsense and never acts impatiently.

• impatient

• understanding

• hard working

• experienced

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.4

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

Use context clues to determine which meaning best fits the underlined word.

Mom didn’t want to punish me, but Grandma reminded her that she had to set a precedent in order to make sure my sister wouldn’t make the same mistakes I did.

• example

• previous

• decision

• joke

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.4

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

Use context clues to determine which meaning best fits the underlined word.

Latisha sat alone in her room, needing time to ponder. Despite thinking about her tough situation all day, she still had gotten nowhere.

• think about carefully

• decide

• build a case

• worry

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.4

CCSS.RI.5.4

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.5.1

Use context clues to determine which meaning best fits the underlined word.

Mrs. Lively was a purist when it came to using proper English. She didn’t allow the smallest change from traditional grammar.

• someone who insists on correctness

• someone who reads obsessively

• someone who is careless

• someone who helps others

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.4

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

Use context clues to determine which meaning best fits the underlined word.

Sayeed was the type of musician who received accolades from teachers, critics, and even strangers. No one could deny that he played like a young expert.

• criticism

• praise

• standing ovation

• scholarships

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.4

CCSS.RI.5.4

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.5.4