Idiom Worksheets & Tests

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Students are often required to identify idioms on state tests, but what are idioms? It's hard to define them. This is because idioms are made from other figurative language techniques (like simile, metaphor, or hyperbole).

Idioms

Figurative expressions that are very common

Idioms are different from other figurative language instances because people use idioms A LOT. Idioms are cliched figurative expressions. They have become part of the language as it is used. They are so common that many native speakers are unaware that they are using figurative language. Let's look at an example:

He's running out of steam.

This figurative expressions is a metaphor. It compares the subject to a steam engine. But it's also an idiom. That's because the metaphor comparing steam to a person's energy is so common that it has become idiomatic. Native speakers don't have to bother to decode the metaphor. They know instantly what it means. Steam has become an idiomatic metaphor.

Many idioms are dated expressions. They may refer to technology that is less utilized today, like steam. This can make idioms challenging for young students to understand. Most of today's students do not understand the origins of the phrase "hang up the phone" yet alone the idiom "bought the farm." It is good to expose students to a wide range of idioms. This page contains tests, worksheets, and interactive activities to help your students master idioms.

Idiom Tests

Here are some idiom tests. Each test has 15 questions. Each question has a bolded idiom in a context-rich sentence. Students choose the best definition for each.

Idiom Test 1

This idiom test will help you evaluate how well your students can determine the meaning of idioms based on context. It features 15 multiple-choice questions. Students read context-rich sentences and determine the meaning of each bolded idiom.

Here's another idiom test with 15 multiple choice questions. This one is a bit harder than Idiom Test 1, so level accordingly. Students read context-rich sentences and determine the meaning of each bolded idiom. Print, edit, or complete online!

Idiom Worksheets

Here are some idiom worksheets. The paper and printable versions of these worksheets are more open-ended than the idiom tests (above), which are multiple-choice. The online versions of these worksheets are pretty much the same.

Idiom Worksheet 1

Here is an idiom worksheet with 15 commonly used expressions with which students may be unfamiliar. Students read each idiom and, based on the context of the sentence, determine the meaning of the expression.

Idiom Worksheet 1 Links

Give your students more exposure to idioms with this cool worksheet. It has 15 more idioms used in context-rich sentences. Students determine the meaning of each expression based on usage.

Idiom Worksheet 2 Links

Here is another worksheet with 15 examples of commonly used idioms. Students will gain exposure to idioms. They will determine the meaning of idioms based on the context of each sentence. This worksheet is great practice.

Idiom Worksheet 3 Links

This worksheet features another 15 commonly used idioms. Students read each sentence and attempt to determine the meaning of the idiom based on its context. This worksheet provides great general reading practice as well as exposure to idioms.

Idiom Worksheet 4 Links

Here is yet another idiom worksheet with 15 more problems. Students read the sentences and determine the meaning of the bolded phrase based on the context of the sentence. Then they explain their answers. This one is a little bit harder than some of the other idiom worksheets.

Idiom Worksheet 5 Links

Here is still another idiom worksheet. This one has15 more problems with commonly used idioms bolded. Students determine the meaning of each based on the context.

Idiom Worksheet 6 Links

Here is one more idiom worksheet to give students the practice that they need. These idioms are used in context-rich sentences. Students determine the meaning of each idiom. This one is a little bit harder than some of the others.

Idiom Worksheet 7 Links

Preview

Edit

This is the button to download the PDF version of Idiom Worksheet 7. Use this version of Idiom Worksheet 7 if you want to print or send the files as-is.

Answers

Fact and Opinion Lesson

Here is a short PowerPoint slideshow teaching students to distinguish between facts and opinions. It also includes a 10 question practice activity at the end of the lesson.

Fact and Opinion Lesson Links

Preview

This is the button to download the PDF version of Fact and Opinion Lesson. Use this version of Fact and Opinion Lesson if you want to print or send the files as-is.

Slides

This is the button to download Fact and Opinion Lesson.

Idioms
Common Core State Standards

Idioms Anchor Standards

R.4 - Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including determining technical, connotative, and figurative meanings, and analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or tone.

RL.2.4 - Describe how words and phrases (e.g., regular beats, alliteration, rhymes, repeated lines) supply rhythm and meaning in a story, poem, or song.
RL.3.4 - Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, distinguishing literal from nonliteral language.
RL.4.4 - Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including those that allude to significant characters found in mythology (e.g., Herculean).
RL.5.4 - Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative language such as metaphors and similes.
RL.6.4 - Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of a specific word choice on meaning and tone.
RL.7.4 - Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of rhymes and other repetitions of sounds (e.g., alliteration) on a specific verse or stanza of a poem or section of a story or drama.
RL.8.4 - Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including analogies or allusions to other texts.
RL.9-10.4 - Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone (e.g., how the language evokes a sense of time and place; how it sets a formal or informal tone).
RL.11-12.4 - Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including words with multiple meanings or language that is particularly fresh, engaging, or beautiful. (Include Shakespeare as well as other authors.)

Click to VIEW Grade Level Standards for R.4

L.5 - Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.

L.3.5a - Distinguish the literal and nonliteral meanings of words and phrases in context (e.g., take steps).
L.4.5 - Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
L.4.5a - Explain the meaning of simple similes and metaphors (e.g., as pretty as a picture) in context.
L.5.5a - Interpret figurative language, including similes and metaphors, in context.
L.6.5 - Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
L.6.5a - Interpret figures of speech (e.g., personification) in context.
L.7.5 - Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
L.7.5a - Interpret figures of speech (e.g., literary, biblical, and mythological allusions) in context.
L.8.5 - Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
L.8.5a - Interpret figures of speech (e.g. verbal irony, puns) in context.
L.9-10.5 - Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
L.11-12.5 - Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
L.11-12.5a - Interpret figures of speech (e.g., hyperbole, paradox) in context and analyze their role in the text.

Click to VIEW Grade Level Standards for L.5

View CCSS Source

This is a picture of a young boy hitting the road with a sledge hammer. The caption at the bottom of the picture reads "Hit the road."

Idioms can be confusing when taken literally.

79 Comments

Diamond
/ October 4, 2017

this is a helpful website for a student that is in need of help in school and ELA class -Mrs Diamond class in Greensboro

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Chifuto
/ October 3, 2017

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Tinh Cao
/ July 25, 2017

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mohsaid kissoum
/ March 23, 2017

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Ana Martinez
/ March 12, 2017

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Zehra Suleman
/ November 15, 2016

i think there should be some more exercises for more illustration

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keertti mutreja
/ August 11, 2016

Kudos to the Team…Amazing work !! Would be of Great help..Thank you

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Nonette Romero
/ June 28, 2016

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- Mr. Morton
  / June 29, 2016
  
  Thank you for the blessings.
  
  Reply
BUJJI
/ June 10, 2016

You saved my life with these exercises. Much appreciated. Thanks.

Reply
cassie
/ April 28, 2016

very great website. really help me to gain my knowledge in terms of idiomatic expression!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS SITE!!I SALUTE

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cassie
/ April 28, 2016

this is a nice website! really much help me in school

Reply
Mariesa
/ April 27, 2016

Thank you so much. Fantastic worksheets that have helped me greatly and saved me a lot of time too!

Reply
Roxana Santee
/ March 20, 2016

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Reply
DUAA LAKANI
/ February 10, 2016

WOW! EXCELLENT

Reply
Deana
/ October 9, 2015

I love this site. Do you think there is anyway you could add some expository writing activities?

Reply
Bonnie
/ August 25, 2015

Great website!

In Idiom Test 1, I believe the correct answer for #5. is a, and #8 is c.

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- Mr. Morton
  / August 25, 2015
  
  Thanks! I’ve updated the answers.
  
  Reply
  - jeril
    / September 16, 2016
    
    thanks for this website,Best website ever!
    
    Reply
carlos
/ July 9, 2015

You saved my life with these exercises. Much appreciated. Thanks.

Reply
Jim
/ July 2, 2015

It’s just great that people are willing to share such valuable resources. Thank you indeed.

Reply
faresa
/ March 24, 2015

Wow wonderful

Reply
Sarah
/ December 31, 2014

Your entire website is an excellent resource for teachers! Thank you for sharing your work:)

Reply
- Mr. Morton
  / January 5, 2015
  
  Thank you for visiting. I am working hard to improve it.
  
  Reply
Nupur
/ October 26, 2014

This website is amazing and very helpful!!thank you so much. I am sure i’m going to do better with the help of these worksheets! 🙂

Reply
Bhargavi
/ September 5, 2014

I’m not a native speaker of English and these idioms are a great help for me to learn the language. I aim to learn one new idiom a day, but I just get caught up in these worksheets since they’re so much fun! Thank you for all your efforts!

Reply
- Mr. Morton
  / September 10, 2014
  
  I’m so happy to hear it. Best wishes!
  
  Reply
Teacher Barry
/ July 10, 2014

Excellent resources. Just what the doctor ordered. Thank you.

Reply
Merlo
/ April 21, 2014

thanks these are excellent worksheets helpful a lot.

Reply
ruby
/ March 26, 2014

excellent

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Kiera
/ December 5, 2013

Are there answer sheets to all the worksheets?

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- Mr. Morton
  / July 10, 2014
  
  There are now.
  
  Reply
Jennifer Kerr
/ November 19, 2013

I was moved from middle school to high school this year and am starting over with curriculum! Thanks for all the great materials!!!!!!

Reply
- Mr. Morton
  / November 20, 2013
  
  You’re going to do fantastic. Best wishes.
  
  Reply
Denise Haydon
/ November 9, 2013

Thanks so much for sharing these worksheets. I needed something that my 5th grade students could use to help them figure out idioms in reading context and these are perfect.

Reply
- Mr. Morton
  / November 20, 2013
  
  I’m so happy to hear it. Best wishes!
  
  Reply
Brenda
/ November 7, 2013

It will be nice, if it had the answers as well !! 🙂

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Yara
/ September 29, 2013

Perfect!! thanks a lot. A great help

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Bharathy Shree
/ April 22, 2013

The worksheets are excellent and very apt for my grade level.Keep up the good work

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Melinda Gamargo
/ January 10, 2013

Wow. I loved these worksheets!! Lots of learning in one 2-sided sheet. Great for teaching idioms AND context clues. Bravo.

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Gary
/ November 27, 2012

I’ve bookmarked your site. You have my gratitude and admiration.

Cheers,
Gary

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- Mr. Morton
  / December 2, 2012
  
  Thank you, best wishes.
  
  Reply
Sai Bun Kham
/ November 16, 2012

What should I write while every one says your website is fantastic. I would say ” you can say that again”. As I am in a preparation of TOEFL test, it would nice if you can find some of the TOEFL materials and post it. Thanks for your hard-work. 🙂

Reply
- Mr. Morton
  / December 2, 2012
  
  Hmm… perhaps once I learn what TOEFLS are. If they’re anything like waffles, I bet that they are delicious.
  
  Reply
Michelle
/ October 12, 2012

This website is great! It is so hard to find good handouts that are not too elementary for my high school students. I have passed this on to my colleagues. Everyone loves the idea that not only do you have printable worksheets, but also editable ones!

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Minara
/ August 14, 2012

Your website is fantastic. I use your materials to teach my little brother. I really appreciate your hard work. I love your website. I am looking for parallel structure/sentence worksheet. I noticed, writing is easier when they know how to write a correct parallel structure sentence. Can you please post some parallel structure worksheet or email it to me?

Thanks

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- Mr. Morton
  / August 30, 2012
  
  That’s awesome. I don’t have any such worksheet at this time, but thank you for the suggestion. I’d love to make such activities sometime in the future.
  
  Reply
Tawfiq
/ August 5, 2012

Such a fantastic website … All of your worksheets did a great help to me … It would be so nice if you could provide the answer key too… Anwz, thank you for all ..

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- Mr. Morton
  / August 30, 2012
  
  Yes, I’d like to. Perhaps soon. Thank you for visiting.
  
  Reply
Ms. A
/ May 20, 2012

Thank you very much for posting all of these worksheets! I just began teaching English and suddenly am being attacked from every angle with new assessments for skills that students should have learned ages ago. Not only are these sheets a great way to test them before the test, but they prevent having to prepare a full lesson to refresh their memories. Also, they follow the rules of all of the workshops I have been attending which tell us not to hold students’ hands when doing this work. Thank you Mr. Morton!

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- Mr. Morton
  / May 22, 2012
  
  Thanks for visiting!
  
  Reply
joel machava
/ April 9, 2012

thank you for the data you throw to us. i didnt have any opinion of a worksheet before and i thought it to be hard to find. now i am in a good position to design my own for my students. thank you very much. keep doing so!….

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- Mr. Morton
  / April 15, 2012
  
  I’m happy to hear it. Thanks for visiting!
  
  Reply
beatrice
/ April 3, 2012

Do you have the answers to your worksheet? they are great but I am somtimes uncertain of the answers.

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Blue in Poland
/ March 15, 2012

Thank you, I shall be trying these with a class later.

🙂

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Mike
/ February 26, 2012

I am an ESL teacher and these worksheets are great tools for my students. They are beginning to pick up the nuances of the English language and slang. Thanks!

Reply
Kathi
/ February 18, 2012

Your website is amazing! This year I was assigned 7th grade English, which I haven’t taught for 10 years. A lot of things have changed since then, and your website has helped me tremendously! I have even told my high school English teacher about your website. THANKS SO MUCH!!!

Reply
- Mr. Morton
  / February 23, 2012
  
  Wow, what a compliment! Thanks for visiting.
  
  Reply
Ross
/ February 2, 2012

Wow, I am very impressed with this website! There are so many useful worksheets! Thank you so much for your hard work!

Reply
Brook
/ January 23, 2012

WOW! Great job on the worksheets. It was a nice surprise to foind something well done for classroom use…lots of useless garbage floating around out there.

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- Mr. Morton
  / January 31, 2012
  
  I concur. Check out some of my other stuff too!
  
  Reply
Melissa
/ December 8, 2011

Are there any answer keys for the idiom worksheets? I LOVE this site btw!!!

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Tara
/ December 7, 2011

Are there answer keys for the Idiom worksheets?

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- Mr. Morton
  / December 14, 2011
  
  Not currently, but I’d love to add some soon.
  
  Reply
Gunn
/ November 28, 2011

YEA……this went over well with my students, now we are working on different cultures idioms…..thanx

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- Mr. Morton
  / December 1, 2011
  
  Sounds interesting. Thanks for visiting!
  
  Reply
Michelle Finn
/ September 5, 2011

All of your worksheets are excellent. So far above the usual cookie cutter fare found on most educational websites. Thanks you so much for sharing your time, effort and obvious skill level with us all.

Reply
- Mr. Morton
  / September 5, 2011
  
  You’re too kind, Mrs. Finn.
  
  Reply
frank cannon
/ April 14, 2011

Excellent!
The worksheets are a great help.
Just what I needed.
Thank you!

Reply
- Mr. Morton
  / April 15, 2011
  
  Happy to hear it, Mr. Cannon. Thank you for taking the time to comment.
  
  Reply

BECOME A MEMBER!

Idiom Tests

Idiom Worksheets

IdiomsCommon Core State Standards

79 Comments

Diamond

Chifuto

Tinh Cao

mohsaid kissoum

Ana Martinez

Zehra Suleman

keertti mutreja

Nonette Romero

BUJJI

cassie

cassie

Mariesa

Roxana Santee

DUAA LAKANI

Deana

Bonnie

jeril

carlos

Jim

faresa

Sarah

Nupur

Bhargavi

Teacher Barry

Merlo

ruby

Kiera

Jennifer Kerr

Denise Haydon

Brenda

Yara

Bharathy Shree

Melinda Gamargo

Gary

Sai Bun Kham

Michelle

Minara

Tawfiq

Ms. A

joel machava

beatrice

Mike

Kathi

Ross

Brook

Melissa

Tara

Mr. Morton

Gunn

Mr. Morton

Mr. Morton

Mr. Morton

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Idioms
Common Core State Standards