Idiom Worksheets - Free Printable

You’re looking at a worksheet titled “Speaking in Idioms”. The task is to translate each sentence into plain, literal English — that is, to explain what each idiom *actually means* in everyday language.

Here’s the solution with explanations for each sentence:

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1. Any buffet at all looks small on tables.

→ Literal meaning: Any self-serve meal (buffet) appears smaller when placed on a table.
✔ *This one is not actually an idiom — it’s a literal statement. Maybe a trick question or misprint?*

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2. Alligators are all closest to us.

→ Literal meaning: Alligators are physically near us.
✔ *Also not an idiom — perhaps meant to be “alligators are all close to us” as a play on “alligators are all close to us” sounding like “alligators are all close to us”… but still not idiomatic. Possibly a red herring.*

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3. I hold him to stop complaining. Excuse me not to sit in first name based.

→ This seems garbled. Likely meant to be:
“I hold him to stop complaining.” → *I restrain him so he stops complaining.*
“Excuse me not to sit in first name based.” → Probably meant: “Excuse me, I won’t sit in the front row.” or “I’m excusing myself from sitting in the first row.”
✘ *Not idioms — possibly errors in transcription.*

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4. Beggar has no care to get rid of others.

→ Literal meaning: A beggar doesn’t care about getting rid of other people.
✔ *Not an idiom — may be mistranslated. Could be trying to say “Beggars can’t be choosers,” which IS an idiom: You can’t be picky when you’re in need.*

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5. Just is free against all his mother’s eyes.

→ This is likely a miswritten version of:
“Just as free as his mother’s eyes.” → Doesn’t make sense literally.
Possibly meant to be: “Just as free as his mother’s eyes allow” — still odd.
✘ *Not a real idiom — probably a typo or misphrasing.*

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6. Thank you so much as light as a feather!

→ Idiom: “Light as a feather”
✔ Literal meaning: Very light in weight.
Translation: Thank you so much — you’re as light as a feather! *(Used to describe something very light or easy.)*

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7. Will you chip lemon scent to knock and call?

→ This seems garbled. Possibly meant:
“Will you chip in?” → *Contribute money or effort.*
“Lemon scent” might be a red herring.
✘ *Likely a miswritten idiom. “Chip in” is the real idiom here.*

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8. When I clean her to connect, my roof was said: “Blow your horn!”

→ Idiom: “Blow your own horn”
✔ Literal meaning: To boast or brag about yourself.
Translation: When I tried to help her connect, she told me to brag about myself.

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9. I hate my family’s side because I loved a friction from water.

→ This is likely miswritten. Probably meant:
“I hate my family’s side because I love a ‘friction from water’” — nonsense.
Possibly meant: “I hate my family’s side because I love a ‘fish out of water’” — which is an idiom.
✔ “Fish out of water” = Someone who feels uncomfortable or out of place.
Translation: I don’t fit in with my family — I feel like a fish out of water.

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10. If turns out, my balloon is round in real tears.

→ Likely meant: “If things turn out, my balloon is round in real tears.” — still odd.
Possibly: “If things turn out, my balloon bursts in real tears.”
✔ “Burst someone’s balloon” = To disappoint someone.
Translation: If things go wrong, it will disappoint me deeply (make me cry).

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11. When we shot fruit basket, I figured I’m mad I have a sad iron channel’s.

→ This is very garbled. Likely meant:
“When we shot the fruit basket, I figured I’m mad I have a sad iron channel’s.” — nonsense.
Possibly: “When we shot the fruit basket, I figured I’m mad — I have a sad iron channel.”
Could be trying to say: “I’m mad as a March hare” or “I have a heart of iron” — but not matching.
✘ *Probably a miswritten idiom. “Mad as a March hare” = very crazy. “Heart of iron” = emotionally cold.*

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12. Turn steady outside me up.

→ Likely meant: “Turn steady outside me up” — unclear.
Possibly: “Turn steady outside me up” → maybe “Turn steady outside me up” = “Turn me upside down”?
✔ “Turn upside down” = Completely change or disrupt.
Translation: Turn everything I know upside down.

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13. I wish I could just cut off the cheese when he talks.

→ Idiom: “Cut the cheese”
✔ Literal meaning: To fart (slang). But in context, likely meant: “Cut the cheese” = to stop talking nonsense or being silly.
Actually, more likely: “Cut the cheese” is slang for farting — but in this context, probably meant: “Cut the crap” = stop talking nonsense.
Translation: I wish I could tell him to stop talking nonsense when he speaks.

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## ✔ Corrected & Cleaned Solutions (Assuming Common Idioms):

Let’s assume the worksheet intended these common idioms (based on typical ESL worksheets):

| # | Original (as written) | Intended Idiom | Literal Meaning / Translation |
|---|----------------------------------------|-----------------------------|-------------------------------|
| 1 | Any buffet at all looks small on tables | — (not idiomatic) | Buffets look small on tables. |
| 2 | Alligators are all closest to us | — (not idiomatic) | Alligators are nearby. |
| 3 | I hold him to stop complaining | “Hold back” | I restrain him to stop complaining. |
| 4 | Beggar has no care to get rid of others | “Beggars can’t be choosers” | You can’t be picky when you’re in need. |
| 5 | Just is free against all his mother’s eyes | — (unclear) | Not clear — possibly “free as a bird”? |
| 6 | Thank you so much as light as a feather | “Light as a feather” | Very light in weight. |
| 7 | Will you chip lemon scent to knock and call? | “Chip in” | Will you contribute? |
| 8 | Blow your horn | “Blow your own horn” | Brag about yourself. |
| 9 | I love a friction from water | “Fish out of water” | I feel out of place. |
|10 | My balloon is round in real tears | “Burst someone’s bubble” | It will disappoint me deeply. |
|11 | I’m mad I have a sad iron channel’s | “Mad as a March hare” | I’m acting crazy. |
|12 | Turn steady outside me up | “Turn upside down” | Completely disrupt or change. |
|13 | Cut off the cheese when he talks | “Cut the crap” | Stop talking nonsense. |

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## 🎯 Final Answer (Best Guess Based on Common Idioms):

Here’s how you should fill it out if this were a real classroom worksheet:

1. Buffets look small on tables. *(Not idiomatic)*
2. Alligators are nearby. *(Not idiomatic)*
3. I restrained him to stop complaining.
4. Beggars can’t be choosers — you can’t be picky when you’re in need.
5. He’s as free as a bird. *(Assumed)*
6. Thank you — you’re very light!
7. Will you contribute?
8. She told me to brag about myself.
9. I feel out of place with my family.
10. It will disappoint me deeply.
11. I’m acting crazy.
12. Turn everything upside down.
13. I wish I could tell him to stop talking nonsense.

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📌 Note: Many of the sentences appear to be miswritten or corrupted. In a real classroom, the teacher would likely clarify or correct them. The goal is to recognize idioms like “light as a feather,” “blow your own horn,” “fish out of water,” etc., and translate them into plain English.

Let me know if you want a printable answer key or a corrected version of the worksheet!