An idiom is a group of words (a phrase) that has a special meaning different from the literal meaning of each word. For example, "raining cats and dogs" does not mean animals are falling from the sky -- it means it is raining very heavily!
Idioms make our language colourful and interesting. We use them in everyday speech and writing.
An idiom is a group of words (a phrase) that has a special meaning different from the literal meaning of each word. For example, "raining cats and dogs" does not mean animals are falling from the sky -- it means it is raining very heavily!
Idioms make our language colourful and interesting. We use them in everyday speech and writing.
| S.No. | Idiom | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raining cats and dogs | Raining very heavily |
| 2 | A piece of cake | Something very easy to do |
| 3 | Break the ice | To start a conversation in a shy or awkward situation |
| 4 | Hit the nail on the head | To say or do exactly the right thing |
| 5 | Burn the midnight oil | To study or work late into the night |
| 6 | Let the cat out of the bag | To reveal a secret by mistake |
| 7 | Once in a blue moon | Very rarely; almost never |
| 8 | Under the weather | Feeling unwell or sick |
| 9 | Cost an arm and a leg | To be very expensive |
| 10 | Bite off more than you can chew | To take on more work than you can handle |
1. The maths test was a piece of cake for Riya -- she finished it in ten minutes.
2. Arjun burned the midnight oil before his science exam.
3. We go to the hill station once in a blue moon because it is far from Delhi.
A proverb is a short, wise saying that gives advice or teaches a lesson. Proverbs have been used for hundreds of years and are passed down from generation to generation.
| S.No. | Proverb | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A stitch in time saves nine. | Fix a small problem early before it becomes big. |
| 2 | Honesty is the best policy. | It is always better to tell the truth. |
| 3 | Practice makes perfect. | The more you practise, the better you become. |
| 4 | An apple a day keeps the doctor away. | Eating healthy food keeps you fit and well. |
| 5 | Where there is a will, there is a way. | If you are determined, you will find a solution. |
| 6 | All that glitters is not gold. | Things that look attractive may not always be valuable. |
| 7 | Too many cooks spoil the broth. | Too many people working on the same task can cause confusion. |
| 8 | Actions speak louder than words. | What you do matters more than what you say. |
| 9 | Rome was not built in a day. | Great things take time and patience. |
| 10 | Birds of a feather flock together. | People with similar interests spend time together. |
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Idiom | A phrase with a special meaning different from the literal meaning of its words |
| Proverb | A short, wise saying that gives advice or teaches a lesson |
| Literal | The exact, word-by-word meaning |
| Figurative | A meaning that is symbolic or imaginative, not literal |
Ask your parents or grandparents to tell you two idioms or proverbs they use often (in English or any Indian language). Write them below with their meanings.
1. Idiom / Proverb:
Meaning:
2. Idiom / Proverb:
Meaning:
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An idiom is a group of words (a phrase) that has a special meaning different from the literal meaning of each word. For example, "raining cats and dogs" does not mean animals are falling from the sky -- it means it is raining very heavily!
Idioms make our language colourful and interesting. We use them in everyday speech and writing.
| S.No. | Idiom | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raining cats and dogs | Raining very heavily |
| 2 | A piece of cake | Something very easy to do |
| 3 | Break the ice | To start a conversation in a shy or awkward situation |
| 4 | Hit the nail on the head | To say or do exactly the right thing |
| 5 | Burn the midnight oil | To study or work late into the night |
| 6 | Let the cat out of the bag | To reveal a secret by mistake |
| 7 | Once in a blue moon | Very rarely; almost never |
| 8 | Under the weather | Feeling unwell or sick |
| 9 | Cost an arm and a leg | To be very expensive |
| 10 | Bite off more than you can chew | To take on more work than you can handle |
1. The maths test was a piece of cake for Riya -- she finished it in ten minutes.
2. Arjun burned the midnight oil before his science exam.
3. We go to the hill station once in a blue moon because it is far from Delhi.
A proverb is a short, wise saying that gives advice or teaches a lesson. Proverbs have been used for hundreds of years and are passed down from generation to generation.
An idiom is a phrase with a hidden meaning. A proverb is a complete sentence that gives wisdom or advice.
| S.No. | Proverb | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A stitch in time saves nine. | Fix a small problem early before it becomes big. |
| 2 | Honesty is the best policy. | It is always better to tell the truth. |
| 3 | Practice makes perfect. | The more you practise, the better you become. |
| 4 | An apple a day keeps the doctor away. | Eating healthy food keeps you fit and well. |
| 5 | Where there is a will, there is a way. | If you are determined, you will find a solution. |
| 6 | All that glitters is not gold. | Things that look attractive may not always be valuable. |
| 7 | Too many cooks spoil the broth. | Too many people working on the same task can cause confusion. |
| 8 | Actions speak louder than words. | What you do matters more than what you say. |
| 9 | Rome was not built in a day. | Great things take time and patience. |
| 10 | Birds of a feather flock together. | People with similar interests spend time together. |
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Idiom | A phrase with a special meaning different from the literal meaning of its words |
| Proverb | A short, wise saying that gives advice or teaches a lesson |
| Literal | The exact, word-by-word meaning |
| Figurative | A meaning that is symbolic or imaginative, not literal |
A. Fill in the blanks with the correct idiom
B. Complete the proverb
C. Match the idiom with its meaning
| Idiom | Meaning (write the letter) |
|---|---|
| 1. Break the ice | (a) To reveal a secret |
| 2. Cost an arm and a leg | (b) To start a conversation |
| 3. Let the cat out of the bag | (c) To take on too much work |
| 4. Hit the nail on the head | (d) Very expensive |
| 5. Bite off more than you can chew | (e) To say exactly the right thing |
Answers: 1 = , 2 = , 3 = , 4 = , 5 =
D. Multiple Choice Questions
E. Use any two proverbs in sentences of your own
Ask your parents or grandparents to tell you two idioms or proverbs they use often (in English or any Indian language). Write them below with their meanings.
1. Idiom / Proverb:
Meaning:
2. Idiom / Proverb:
Meaning: