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!
Jacqueline Smith
says:The way you explain idioms is the icing on the cake!
Thank you,
JS
Robin
says: Customer ServiceThank you, Jacqueline! You’re the bees knees!
Ritche Razel Celestial
says:Thank you so much for the educative and colorful reading materials.
Robin
says: Customer ServiceYou are so welcome, Ritche!
Michai Freeman
says:Thank you very much for this idiom resource. Really helpful for my son.
Robin
says: Customer ServiceYou are so welcome, Michai. I’m glad this resource is helpful for your son.
Carolina
says:Thank you so much!
Robin
says: Customer ServiceYou’re welcome, Carolina!
Clover DeCordova
says:Thank you. Awesome
Robin
says: Customer ServiceYou’re welcome, Clover! Thank you.
Grace
says:Thanks for these wonderful and interesting collections.
Robin
says: Customer ServiceYou’re welcome, Grace!
Marsh Hayes
says:This is a WONDERFUL resource! Thank you so much for sharing!
Robin
says: Customer ServiceYou’re welcome. I’m glad this will be helpful for you, Marsh!
Sapna jha jha
says:Thank for sharing information. It’s very helpful for my kids.
Robin
says: Customer ServiceYou’re welcome, Sapna. I’m glad this will be helpful.
GranA
says:Thank you for sharing this interesting material. I then made a search to define many terms of figurative language.
Robin
says: Customer ServiceYou’re welcome, GranA.
All About Reading does teach many figurative language terms, including (but not limited to) alliteration, similes, onomatopoeia, idioms, hyperbole, and personification. Learning to recognize such figurative language is very important for comprehension.
Steph Theis
says:I’m so thankful for your emails and blogs and the abundance of resources. All About Learning Press really is the BEST!
Robin
says: Customer ServiceThank you, Steph! We know that email inboxes get inundated nowadays, so hearing that our emails are appreciated is so great!
Therese
says:All of your material is really great. Thanks very much!
Robin
says: Customer ServiceAww, you are so welcome, Therese! Thank you.
Amal
says:Thanks dears.
The materials are really helpful, and I liked how you have leveled them.
I appreciate your effort,
Robin
says: Customer ServiceAmal,
Thank you! It’s wonderful to know that this resource is helpful.
Lucy
says:thank you this is very helpful
Sarah
says:Love the idioms, Will definitely be useful for childrenand adults too. Thanks a bunch!
Mahrukh
says:Thanks a million. It sure does make my task easier
alice
says:thanks a million!!!! you saved my life! lol
Robin
says: Customer ServiceOh, glad this will be helpful, Alice!
Geetha
says:Thank you for awesome idioms which can be easily taught to kids.
Jessica
says:Very helpful – thank you! The “Chasing Henry” story/PDF has a gray box over each page when printed so is challenging to see/read. I adjusted printer settings but cannot remove the gray boxes covering each page – any troubleshooting ideas for this download? The others printed clean/with white backgrounds, etc.
Robin
says: Customer ServiceWow, I’m unsure what is happening, Jessica!
What browser are you using? Maybe you could try opening the file in a different PDF reader. For example, if it is opening in your browser window, you could download it and try opening it in the free Adobe Reader software.
Maybe trying a different link will help. Try this: Chasing Henry.
If nothing works, please email us at support@allaboutlearningpress.com and we’ll see if attaching the PDF to the email will help you.
Narmin
says:Thank you very much for the amazing materials and structures. All of them are useful.
Robin
says: Customer ServiceYou’re welcome, Narmin! Thank you.
Debbie Wee
says:Good tips
Erica
says:When I was a student, I didn’t understand the purpose of English idioms as this was not my native language. I personally don’t use a lot of idioms. Thank you for this post and resource.
Robin
says: Customer ServiceErica,
I hope you find this resource helpful! I know that English idioms can be difficult for non-native speakers.
Elizabeth
says:Awesome 👍
Robin
says: Customer ServiceThanks, Elizabeth!
Erin Johnson
says:I love this collection of idioms! It’s so funny to hear a child use an idiom even when they don’t fully grasp the meaning yet!
Robin
says: Customer ServiceOh, I know what you mean, Erin! It’s so cute!
Jess
says:Love that download! So useful
Robin
says: Customer ServiceGlad it’s useful, Jess! Thanks you.
Joanna
says:This is honestly helpful to have. English is a second language for me- even though I was born and raised in California, “American idioms” were something I did not grow up with. I’d be learning right along side my kiddos!
Robin
says: Customer ServiceI’m glad this will be helpful for you and your children, Joanna!
Pamela
says:Thanks for the list of idioms and the definition of what an idiom is. I will enjoy working on this with my great-grandson.
Robin
says: Customer ServiceYou’re welcome, Pamela. I hope you have lots of fun together with this!
Stephanie
says:This makes idioms so much easier to teach!
Robin
says: Customer ServiceThank you, Stephanie!
Christi Brown
says:We love All About Spelling. It really helped my daughter who has dyslexia.
Robin
says: Customer ServiceGreat to hear that All About Spelling is helping your daughter, Christi! Thank you.
KARA MCGEE
says:Fun post!
Robin
says: Customer ServiceThanks, Kara!
Taelor Anderson
says:Love all the extra ideas and free downloads!
Robin
says: Customer ServiceThank you, Taelor!