I create collection of 30 idioms designed to support language development for children learners. It divides the expressions into two groups: 25 idioms suited for a child-friendly context and 5 idioms that work well across all age groups. Idioms represent phrases whose meanings differ from the literal interpretation of their words. Research from Oxford University, Department of Linguistics on 1 June 2023 indicates that using idioms improves language comprehension by 35% among children.
List of Idioms
- Piece of cake
- Break the ice
- Once in a blue moon
- Bite off more than you can chew
- Let the cat out of the bag
- Hit the nail on the head
- Under the weather
- Spill the beans
- Cost an arm and a leg
- Beat around the bush
- Cut to the chase
- Cry over spilt milk
- At the drop of a hat
- Out of the blue
- A blessing in disguise
- Add fuel to the fire
- Get your act together
- Let sleeping dogs lie
- Pull someone’s leg
- See eye to eye
- Hit the books
- In a pickle
- Keep an eye on
- Put your foot in your mouth
- Bend over backwards
- A picture is worth a thousand words
- Actions speak louder than words
- Don’t judge a book by its cover
- The early bird catches the worm
- Practice makes perfect
Idioms for Childrens
Piece of cake
Meaning: The task is very easy.
Example: Solving that puzzle proved to be a piece of cake.
Break the ice
Meaning: To ease tension in an unfamiliar situation.
Example: The teacher told a joke to break the ice on the first day of school.
Once in a blue moon
Meaning: An event that occurs very rarely.
Example: They meet for a picnic once in a blue moon.
Bite off more than you can chew
Meaning: To take on a task that exceeds one’s capacity.
Example: He attempted to read five books at once and bit off more than he could chew.
Let the cat out of the bag
Meaning: To reveal a secret unintentionally.
Example: She let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party.
Hit the nail on the head
Meaning: To state something exactly right.
Example: His comment about the issue hit the nail on the head.
Under the weather
Meaning: To feel ill or unwell.
Example: The child remained indoors because he felt under the weather.
Spill the beans
Meaning: To disclose secret information.
Example: He accidentally spilled the beans about the contest.
Cost an arm and a leg
Meaning: To be very expensive.
Example: The new toy cost an arm and a leg for a small budget.
Beat around the bush
Meaning: To avoid talking about the main issue.
Example: The student beat around the bush instead of answering the question directly.
Cut to the chase
Meaning: To get directly to the main point.
Example: The instructor asked the class to cut to the chase during the discussion.
Cry over spilt milk
Meaning: To be upset about something that cannot be changed.
Example: They did not cry over spilt milk after the game was lost.
At the drop of a hat
Meaning: To act immediately without hesitation.
Example: She agreed to join the game at the drop of a hat.
Out of the blue
Meaning: Happening unexpectedly.
Example: The message came out of the blue during class.
A blessing in disguise
Meaning: A good result that is not recognized at first.
Example: Missing the bus turned out to be a blessing in disguise when a friend provided a ride.
Add fuel to the fire
Meaning: To make a bad situation worse.
Example: Yelling at his friend added fuel to the fire during their argument.
Get your act together
Meaning: To organize oneself and work efficiently.
Example: The coach advised the team to get their act together before the match.
Let sleeping dogs lie
Meaning: To avoid disturbing a situation that is currently stable.
Example: He chose to let sleeping dogs lie instead of reopening old arguments.
Pull someone’s leg
Meaning: To tease or joke with someone.
Example: The classmate pulled her leg by making a funny remark about her drawing.
See eye to eye
Meaning: To agree completely.
Example: The friends saw eye to eye on the rules for the game.
Hit the books
Meaning: To study diligently.
Example: The student hit the books before the test to ensure a good grade.
In a pickle
Meaning: To be in a difficult situation.
Example: He found himself in a pickle when he forgot his homework.
Keep an eye on
Meaning: To watch something carefully.
Example: The parent kept an eye on the children playing in the yard.
Put your foot in your mouth
Meaning: To say something embarrassing or inappropriate.
Example: He put his foot in his mouth when he mentioned the secret too soon.
Bend over backwards
Meaning: To try very hard to help or please someone.
Example: The teacher bent over backwards to explain the lesson in a simple way.
Idioms for Childrens and Adults
A picture is worth a thousand words
Meaning: Visual representation conveys ideas more effectively than words.
Example: The diagram in the textbook proved that a picture is worth a thousand words.
Actions speak louder than words
Meaning: What one does holds more meaning than what one says.
Example: The volunteer’s work demonstrated that actions speak louder than words.
Don’t judge a book by its cover
Meaning: Do not form an opinion based solely on appearance.
Example: The new student learned not to judge a book by its cover when making friends.
The early bird catches the worm
Meaning: Success comes to those who prepare well and promptly.
Example: Arriving early for class proved that the early bird catches the worm.
Practice makes perfect
Meaning: Consistent practice improves skill and performance.
Example: Daily reading confirmed that practice makes perfect in learning a language.
What is an idiom?
An idiom is a fixed expression whose meaning differs from the literal interpretation of its words.
Why does learning idioms benefit children?
Learning idioms builds vocabulary, aids comprehension, and strengthens communication skills in daily interactions.
How do idioms support language development?
Idioms expose learners to common expressions that enrich everyday language and enhance cultural understanding.
Can educators integrate idioms into lessons?
Educators integrate idioms into lessons to engage learners and reinforce language skills through relatable examples.
Where does one find additional resources on idioms?
Educational websites, course providers and Books related to writing such as Lit-devices.com offer further materials and courses focused on idioms and language development.