Idioms For Kids
An idiom is a phrase or expression that has a figurative meaning different from its literal meaning. Idioms add color and creativity to language, making it more engaging and fun.
Here are some kid-friendly idioms:
Animal Idioms
- All bark and no bite: Someone who talks tough but doesn’t act tough.
- Ants in your pants: Feeling restless or fidgety.
- Barking up the wrong tree: Looking in the wrong place or accusing the wrong person.
- Busy as a bee: Very active and working hard.
- Cat's out of the bag: The secret is revealed.
- Cry wolf: To call for help when it’s not needed, leading others to not believe you when you really need help.
- Curiosity killed the cat: Being too inquisitive can lead to trouble.
- Dog days of summer: The hottest days of the summer.
- Early bird catches the worm: The person who arrives first has the best chance of success.
- Elephant in the room: An obvious problem that people avoid discussing.
- Hold your horses: Wait a moment; be patient.
- Horse of a different color: Something that is quite different from what was expected.
- Let the cat out of the bag: To reveal a secret unintentionally.
- Lion's share: The largest portion.
- Monkey see, monkey do: Imitating someone without understanding why.
- Night owl: Someone who stays up late.
- Pig out: To eat a lot of food.
- Raining cats and dogs: Raining very heavily.
- Slow as a snail: Very slow.
- Wild goose chase: A futile search or pursuit
Food Idioms
- Apple of my eye: Someone very precious or dear.
- Big cheese: An important person.
- Bite off more than you can chew: To take on more than you can handle.
- Cool as a cucumber: Very calm and composed.
- Couch potato: A person who spends a lot of time sitting and watching TV.
- Cup of tea: Something you like or enjoy.
- Full of beans: Energetic and lively.
- Hard nut to crack: A difficult problem or person to understand.
- In a pickle: In a difficult situation.
- It's a piece of cake: Very easy.
- Spill the beans: To reveal a secret.
- Sweet tooth: A love for sugary foods.
- Not my cup of tea: Something you don’t like or aren’t interested in.
- Sour grapes: Pretending to dislike something you can’t have.
- Spill the beans: To reveal a secret.
- Take it with a grain of salt: Don’t take it too seriously.
Nature Idioms
- Break the ice: To initiate conversation in a social setting.
- Chase rainbows: Pursue unrealistic goals.
- Clear as mud: Very confusing or unclear.
- Down to earth: Practical and realistic.
- Go with the flow: To accept things as they come.
- Hit the hay: Go to bed.
- In hot water: In trouble.
- Lightning fast: Very fast.
- Make a mountain out of a molehill: Exaggerate a small problem.
- Once in a blue moon: Very rarely.
- Out of the woods: Out of trouble.
- Storm in a teacup: A lot of fuss over something trivial.
- Under the weather: Feeling ill.
Action Idioms
- A dime a dozen: Very common.
- Beat around the bush: Avoiding the main topic.
- Bend over backwards: Try very hard to help someone.
- Blow off steam: Release pent-up energy or emotion.
- Cut to the chase: Get to the point.
- Hit the nail on the head: Do or say something exactly right.
- Jump on the bandwagon: Join others in doing something popular.
- Kick the bucket: To die.
- Let the cat out of the bag: Reveal a secret.
- On the ball: Alert and attentive.
- Pulling your leg: Joking or teasing someone.
- The ball is in your court: It’s your turn to make a decision or take action.
- Throw in the towel: To give up.