Idioms



Today we talked about idioms. An idiom is a combination of words that has a meaning that is different from the meanings of the individual words themselves. It can have a literal meaning in one situation and a different idiomatic meaning in another situation. It is a phrase which does not always follow the normal rules of meaning and grammar.
For homework tonight, fill out the Etch-A-Sketch graphic organizer below using the four idioms I also have listed below. In the "Sketch" column, draw a picture of the idiom's literal meaning. In the "Big Ideas and Details" column, write the idiom's figurative meaning.

For example, for the idiom "it's raining cats and dogs", I would draw a picture similar to the one above in the "Sketch" column. In the "Big Ideas and Details" column, I would write "It's raining very hard."


1. The straw that broke the camel's back.
2. She was taken to the cleaners.
3. Toe the line.
4. Hold your horses.