The English language is full of unique colloquial sayings and expressions known as idioms. Exploring their definition and characteristics is essential to teach idioms. To effectively teach idioms, let’s first explore their definition and characteristics.
Idioms, which are fun and colorful expressions, have meanings that differ from their literal interpretations. Helping children understand and learn idioms improves reading comprehension and vocabulary.
If someone tells you not to bite off more than you can chew, they are not cautioning you about the size of the morsel of food on your fork. And if something costs you an arm and a leg, it doesn’t mean you have to pay with an actual arm and a leg … thank goodness!
These sayings are called idioms and teaching idioms is a piece of cake! (See what I did there? ?)
An idiom is a saying that has a meaning that is different from its literal meaning. Idioms are fun expressions that are commonly used to describe things in a colorful way.
Here are a few more common idioms. Do your kids know what they mean?
Because idioms are common in English speech and literature, it’s important for children to become accustomed to hearing them. Learning and understanding idioms will help develop your child’s reading comprehension and build his vocabulary.
Now, let’s take a look at how we teach idioms in the All About Reading program.
See pigs fly with this idiom activity and story from All About Reading Level 3.
AAR Level 3 introduces twelve idioms in an activity called “When Pigs Fly.” Many of these idioms are encountered in “Chasing Henry” and subsequent stories.
Download Level 3 Activity: “When Pigs Fly”
Download Level 3 Story: “Chasing Henry”
Learn how the early bird catches the worm with this idiom activity and story from All About Reading Level 4.
Children are exposed to more idioms in a Level 4 activity called “The Early Bird Catches the Worm” and in a short story called “The Elephant in the Room.”
Download Level 4 Activity: “The Early Bird Catches the Worm”
Download Level 4 Story: “The Elephant in the Room”
Many idioms have to do with animals (a little birdie told me), some have to do with color (tickled pink), and still others have to do with food (apple of my eye). Here’s a great collection of common idioms you can share with your children. Hang the list on the fridge or in your classroom, or discuss them over lunch–or even over a piece of cake!
Now that we’ve learned all about idioms and how to teach them, please share your favorite in the comments below!
Flossie Strader
says:Well I sincerely liked reading it This information offered by you is very practical for correct planning
Merry
says: Customer ServiceSo glad you enjoyed it! :-)
C Merkle
says:I was with all about learning back in 2007. It’s nice to see they are still expanding.
Robin
says: Customer ServiceYou were there practically from the beginning! The company has come a long way since then, but helping children learn and enjoy learning continues to be our goal!
Maritza Lopez
says:Love the chart!
Robin
says: Customer ServiceThanks, Maritza!
Sharrie Bell
says:I interested in your learning press program for my 3 year old grandson. What PreK Activities do you have to assist in his Early Learning.
Robin
says: Customer ServiceSharrie,
We have LOTS for preschool, letters, and early learning! Check it out!
Then check out our Pre-Reading Program.
Beth
says:This is a great list! I work with kids with ASD and this is often one of the most confusing uses of speech for them. It will be handy to have!
Robin
says: Customer ServiceI’m glad this will be helpful for you and the kids you work with, Beth! Idioms can be so confusing.
Dawn
says:I Love how AAR breaks everything down into easy bite size chunks. Idioms would come out in conversations often, and my daughter would just look at me as if she was confused & ask about it. I would often forget she’s never heard these sayings before. So I’d have to explain what it meant. This has been a wonderful resource to have available making explanations much simpler!
Robin
says: Customer ServiceDawn,
I love that you discussed the idioms as they came up in conversations. If you then use the same idiom again later that day or the next, that sort of learning is highly effective! I’m glad this resource will be helpful for you too.
Carol
says:Thank you for the idiom list. I do not think much about these sayings, they are such automatic responses I use. Definitely need to teach their meanings to my great grandson.
Robin
says: Customer ServiceYou’re welcome, Carol! I know what you mean; English is so full of idioms that we don’t even notice many of them!
seana.c.ford@gmail.com
says:I wish all of the curriculum I used was this well laid out, interactive, and engaging. We are loving AAR level 1. As
Robin
says: Customer ServiceThank you!
Ashley
says:Love the pictures and stories for learning!
Jamie
says:Super cute and fun way to teach Idioms!
Robin
says: Customer ServiceThank you, Jamie!
Kelly
says:There are so many aspects to language that you don’t really think about until it’s time to teach them. I’m so thankful AAR breaks down everything into fun lessons for both parents and students!
Robin
says: Customer ServiceKelly,
I’m glad we can help make language learning easier and fun!
Adayla
says:Cool resource. Idioms were so fun to learn about in school, I’m excited to share with my kids.
Robin
says: Customer ServiceThank you, Adayla. Idioms are so much fun!
Nicole
says:love all the printables. Thanks
Robin
says: Customer ServiceYou’re welcome, Nicole! Glad you enjoy them!
Melissa B
says:Idioms are so fun to teach! So thankful that the AAR curriculum makes it so easy and fun!
Robin
says: Customer ServiceMelissa,
Wonderful to hear that All About Reading is working out so well for you!
Jessica C Stevens
says:AAR is such a great program! I love all the extra practice they get through the blog on top of the curriculum I purchased.
Robin
says: Customer ServiceThank you, Jessica! So great to hear that All About Reading and the blog are working out so well for you!
Amanda
says:Thank you for sharing this, my kids will enjoy it!
Robin
says: Customer ServiceYou’re welcome, Amanda! I hope you all have lots of fun with this!
Christine Chilcott
says:I will need to share this chart with my older autistic child who struggles with idioms. Thank you for this resource!
Robin
says: Customer ServiceYou’re welcome, Christine. Idiom can be especially difficulty for more literal-minded children. Studying them can be very helpful.
Melissa
says:These are the most fun to explain to kids 😂
Robin
says: Customer ServiceSo, true, Melissa! I enjoy teaching idioms as well as learning new ones!
Jules
says:Love this! My 7 yr old has started to get curious about the different colorful ways of saying things! This is helpful and timely!
Robin
says: Customer ServiceGlad this is timely, Jules!
Colbeigh Waggoner
says:great resource! Thank you
Robin
says: Customer ServiceYou’re welcome, Colbeigh!
Melinda P.
says:This is great! I love idioms, especially teaching them to my a little too literal kids, LOL!
Robin
says: Customer ServiceMelinda,
Idioms are great! I hope this is helpful for your literal kids.
Kala
says:Great tips!
Robin
says: Customer ServiceThank you, Kala!
Marisa
says:My son is thriving using all about reading, this curriculum helps my struggling reader! I’m excited to continue with all about reading.
Robin
says: Customer ServiceMarisa,
It’s great to hear that your son is doing so well with All About Reading! Thank you!
Alyssa
says:I love using go back to the drawing board as a child I loved to draw so that always put me in a place of being creative
Robin
says: Customer ServiceAlyssa,
I love it!
Candace W
says:My favorite is “piece of cake!” My son really enjoyed both of these games! Looking forward to this new list, too!
Robin
says: Customer ServiceCandace,
Piece of cake is a great idiom, but it’s also an example of how idioms don’t make sense when you think about them too much. Making a cake is not a piece of cake!
Gladys
says:Very informative. Thank you!
Robin
says: Customer ServiceYou’re welcome!
Vanessa Nunez
says:This is something definitely new for my son as he has not been exposed to things like this. Thanks for the free download.
Robin
says: Customer ServiceYou’re welcome, Vanessa.
Luisa Armendariz
says:My kids love all about reading! Looking forward to leveling up.😃
Robin
says: Customer ServiceGreat to hear your children have enjoyed All About Reading, Luisa! Thank you!
Jonie
says:Thanks for the collection of idioms! My daughter struggles with understanding them and I hope this will help.
Robin
says: Customer ServiceJonie,
Idioms are confusing, as by definition they mean something different than the words mean by themselves. When something is “getting out of hand,” it means something different than something leaving your hand. Working on common idioms as with the collection we have here can help, but it is also extremely helpful to expose her to lots of figurative language like idioms by reading literature aloud to her regularly. Audiobooks are a good option too to get more literature. Check out our article on 6 Great Reasons to Read Aloud to Your Kids and Benefits of Audio Books for Children Learning to Read.
Jessica
says:Idioms are so fun and often overlooked in actually teaching them.
Robin
says: Customer ServiceSo true, Jessica!
Shannon
says:Idioms help bring stories to life!
Robin
says: Customer ServiceShannon,
So true, and not just stories! English conversation is overflowing with idioms and we don’t even think about it.