Idioms

If you say that something costs an arm and a leg,

• it is extremely cheap

• it is not worth the money

• it is very expensive

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5B

If you cut corners when doing something,

• you accomplish two different things at the same thing with very little effort

• you do it badly or cheaply at the expense of high standards

• you do it straightaway

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5B

CCSS.RI.4.4

If you say that something is a piece of cake,

• it is very good but very few people know it

• it is very easy to do

• it is very sweet

Tags

CCSS.L.4.4A

CCSS.L.4.5B

It is RAINING CATS AND DOGS!

• It's been raining all day.

• It's raining a lot.

• It's not raining.

• There are scattered thunderstorms.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.4A

CCSS.L.4.5B

CCSS.RL.4.1

Barking up the wrong tree

• Something good that isn't recognized at first.
• Looking in the wrong place. Accusing the wrong person
• When an attempt fails and it's time to start all over.
• This idiom is used when something is very expensive.

Tags

CCSS.L.5.5A

CCSS.L.5.5B

CCSS.RL.5.4

Cross that bridge when you come to it

• When someone finds it difficult to choose between two alternatives.
• This idiom is used when something is very expensive.
• Deal with a problem if and when it becomes necessary, not before.
• To present a counter argument.

Tags

CCSS.L.5.5A

CCSS.L.5.5B

CCSS.RL.5.4

When pigs fly

• This means don’t make a decision based on a brief impression or outward appearance
• Used if something someone says, is precisely correct. 
• To study very hard.
• This means that something will never happen.

Tags

CCSS.L.5.5A

CCSS.L.5.5B

CCSS.RL.5.4

Hold your horses means:

• make your horses stop
• wait a minute
• hug a horse
• ride a horse

Tags

CCSS.L.3.4A

CCSS.L.3.5A

CCSS.RL.3.4

A blessing in disguise means

• Not performing a task or duty correctly in order to save time or money

• Just barely making it

• A good thing that initially seemed bad

• You have to work hard in order to see results

Tags

CCSS.L.8.4A

CCSS.L.8.5A

CCSS.RL.8.4

Devil’s advocate means

• Believing someone’s story without proof even though it may seem unbelievable

• Not holding someone responsible for something

• A task or job that is easy to complete

• To take the side of the counter-argument, or offer an alternative point of view

Tags

CCSS.L.8.6

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.4