Idiom

What is an idiom?

• A comparison not using like or as

• An exaggeration

• A phrase that is not meant to be taken literally

• The same beginning sounds repeated

Why do author's use idioms?

• To make their writing more interesting.

• To confuse the audience.

• To be mean.

• To cause frustration in the reader.

Example: Looking for your earring on the beach is like looking for a needle in a haystack.

What does needle in a haystack mean?

• you can find anything with hay

• you have to watch for needles when you look for things

• something that is difficult to find

• haystacks are dangerous

Example: Ben has been on cloud nine since he was chosen as the class president.

What does on cloud nine mean?

• mad

• able to float

• happy and excited

• staring at the clouds

Example: Don't worry! Riding your bike down the hill is a piece of cake.

What does a piece of cake mean?

• there is cake at the bottom of the hill

• the bike tastes like cake

• the ride will be really difficult

• the ride will be easy

Example: It's raining cats and dogs, and our picnic is ruined

What does raining cats and dogs mean?

• there are cats and dogs everywhere

• the rain sounds like animals

• it is raining heavily

• it is barely raining

Don't cry over spilled milk.

• You spilled milk on the floor.

• You spilled something on the floor.

• Don't cry because it is not a big deal.  

• Cry, Cry, Cry

You say this when something was very expensive.

• To beat around the bush.

• Best of both worlds.

• It cost an arm and a leg.

What does it mean to kill two birds with one stone?

• To hurt birds

• To do two things at once

• To skip boring things

• To summarize

What does it really mean: "There are butterflies in my stomach!' 

• I'm sad

• I'm loving

• I'm happy

• I'm nervous