Idioms Matching exercise for students to draw lines connecting idioms to their meanings.
Idioms Matching worksheet with phrases and their non-literal meanings to be connected by lines.
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Matching Idioms worksheet
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Matching Idioms worksheet
Here is the correct matching of each idiom to its non-literal meaning, along with an explanation for each:
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✔ It costs an arm and a leg! → It was very expensive.
*Explanation:* This idiom means something is extremely costly — so much that you’d have to sacrifice body parts (arm and leg) to afford it.
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✔ Break a leg! → Good luck!
*Explanation:* Commonly used in theater or performance settings to wish someone success without saying “good luck,” which is considered bad luck.
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✔ I’m going to hit the sack. → I’m going to go to bed.
*Explanation:* “Hit the sack” is slang for going to sleep — “sack” refers to a pillow or bed.
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✔ It’s a piece of cake. → It’s very easy.
*Explanation:* If something is as easy as eating a slice of cake, it’s simple or effortless.
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✔ I’m all bent out of shape! → I’m upset.
*Explanation:* Being “bent out of shape” means emotionally disturbed, angry, or stressed — like something is twisted or distorted.
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✔ Hang in there! → Don’t give up!
*Explanation:* Encouragement to persevere through difficulty — like hanging on tightly despite challenges.
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✔ I’ve let the cat out of the bag! → I’ve told a secret by mistake.
*Explanation:* Revealing something that was meant to be kept secret — origin comes from old market tricks where sellers would substitute cats for pigs in bags.
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✔ He’s off his rocker! → He’s crazy!
*Explanation:* “Off his rocker” means mentally unstable — “rocker” refers to the base of a rocking chair; if someone’s off it, they’re not stable.
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✔ I’m on the fence. → I’m not sure what to do.
*Explanation:* Being undecided — literally sitting on a fence between two sides.
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✔ It’s raining cats and dogs. → There’s heavy rainfall.
*Explanation:* A vivid way to say it’s pouring rain — likely from old English expressions about storms.
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✔ Let’s hit the road. → Time to leave.
*Explanation:* Time to start traveling or depart — “hit the road” means to begin a journey.
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✔ I’ve got butterflies in my stomach. → I’m feeling nervous.
*Explanation:* The fluttery sensation in your stomach when anxious — like butterflies flapping wings.
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✔ Fingers crossed! → I’m feeling hopeful.
*Explanation:* Crossing fingers is a gesture to wish for good luck or hope for a positive outcome.
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📌 Final Answer (Matching Pairs):
1. It costs an arm and a leg! → It was very expensive.
2. Break a leg! → Good luck!
3. I’m going to hit the sack. → I’m going to go to bed.
4. It’s a piece of cake. → It’s very easy.
5. I’m all bent out of shape! → I’m upset.
6. Hang in there! → Don’t give up!
7. I’ve let the cat out of the bag! → I’ve told a secret by mistake.
8. He’s off his rocker! → He’s crazy!
9. I’m on the fence. → I’m not sure what to do.
10. It’s raining cats and dogs. → There’s heavy rainfall.
11. Let’s hit the road. → Time to leave.
12. I’ve got butterflies in my stomach. → I’m feeling nervous.
13. Fingers crossed! → I’m feeling hopeful.
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You can now draw lines connecting each idiom on the left to its correct meaning on the right using this key. ✔
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✔ It costs an arm and a leg! → It was very expensive.
*Explanation:* This idiom means something is extremely costly — so much that you’d have to sacrifice body parts (arm and leg) to afford it.
---
✔ Break a leg! → Good luck!
*Explanation:* Commonly used in theater or performance settings to wish someone success without saying “good luck,” which is considered bad luck.
---
✔ I’m going to hit the sack. → I’m going to go to bed.
*Explanation:* “Hit the sack” is slang for going to sleep — “sack” refers to a pillow or bed.
---
✔ It’s a piece of cake. → It’s very easy.
*Explanation:* If something is as easy as eating a slice of cake, it’s simple or effortless.
---
✔ I’m all bent out of shape! → I’m upset.
*Explanation:* Being “bent out of shape” means emotionally disturbed, angry, or stressed — like something is twisted or distorted.
---
✔ Hang in there! → Don’t give up!
*Explanation:* Encouragement to persevere through difficulty — like hanging on tightly despite challenges.
---
✔ I’ve let the cat out of the bag! → I’ve told a secret by mistake.
*Explanation:* Revealing something that was meant to be kept secret — origin comes from old market tricks where sellers would substitute cats for pigs in bags.
---
✔ He’s off his rocker! → He’s crazy!
*Explanation:* “Off his rocker” means mentally unstable — “rocker” refers to the base of a rocking chair; if someone’s off it, they’re not stable.
---
✔ I’m on the fence. → I’m not sure what to do.
*Explanation:* Being undecided — literally sitting on a fence between two sides.
---
✔ It’s raining cats and dogs. → There’s heavy rainfall.
*Explanation:* A vivid way to say it’s pouring rain — likely from old English expressions about storms.
---
✔ Let’s hit the road. → Time to leave.
*Explanation:* Time to start traveling or depart — “hit the road” means to begin a journey.
---
✔ I’ve got butterflies in my stomach. → I’m feeling nervous.
*Explanation:* The fluttery sensation in your stomach when anxious — like butterflies flapping wings.
---
✔ Fingers crossed! → I’m feeling hopeful.
*Explanation:* Crossing fingers is a gesture to wish for good luck or hope for a positive outcome.
---
📌 Final Answer (Matching Pairs):
1. It costs an arm and a leg! → It was very expensive.
2. Break a leg! → Good luck!
3. I’m going to hit the sack. → I’m going to go to bed.
4. It’s a piece of cake. → It’s very easy.
5. I’m all bent out of shape! → I’m upset.
6. Hang in there! → Don’t give up!
7. I’ve let the cat out of the bag! → I’ve told a secret by mistake.
8. He’s off his rocker! → He’s crazy!
9. I’m on the fence. → I’m not sure what to do.
10. It’s raining cats and dogs. → There’s heavy rainfall.
11. Let’s hit the road. → Time to leave.
12. I’ve got butterflies in my stomach. → I’m feeling nervous.
13. Fingers crossed! → I’m feeling hopeful.
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You can now draw lines connecting each idiom on the left to its correct meaning on the right using this key. ✔
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of idiom worksheet elementary.
