The Best Idioms for Kids Meaning With Example

Idioms are an exciting part of the English language that helps make conversations more colorful and fun. These phrases often don’t make sense when you look at the words individually, but they carry a special meaning that makes communication more interesting. For kids, learning idioms can be a fantastic way to enhance their language skills and bring their stories and writing to life. If you’ve ever heard someone say, “It’s raining cats and dogs,” and wondered if animals were falling from the sky, then you’re already familiar with how puzzling idioms can be! But don’t worry; we’re here to make it easy for you and your little ones to understand and enjoy idioms.

What are idioms?

An idiom is a phrase where the words together have a different meaning than their literal interpretation. These expressions often come from everyday experiences, making them fun to learn and use. For example, “break a leg” means “good luck,” even though it sounds like you’re wishing someone harm. It’s this quirky nature that makes idioms memorable and useful for children. Understanding idioms helps children think creatively and express themselves in imaginative ways.

Why are idioms important for kids?

1. Boosts Creativity
   Idioms make language playful and imaginative. By learning idioms, kids can express themselves more creatively. For example, if a child says, “I’m as busy as a bee,” they’re painting a picture with words, making the conversation more vivid.

2. Improves Vocabulary
   Using idioms introduces new words and phrases that children may not use in everyday speech. This not only builds their vocabulary but also helps them understand the subtleties of language.

3. Better Communication Skills
   Idioms allow kids to communicate ideas more clearly and creatively. They help explain feelings or situations in a way that is easy to understand, even if the words themselves are strange at first glance.

4. Cultural Understanding
   Idioms are often rooted in culture. By learning idioms, kids can get a glimpse into the culture behind the language. This helps them connect with people from different backgrounds and understand how language evolves.

5. Helps with Listening Skills
   When kids learn idioms, they become better listeners. They will be able to recognize idiomatic expressions used by others and understand the meanings behind them.

How to Teach Idioms to Kids

Teaching idioms to kids doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are some simple steps to get started:

• Use real-life examples: Start by using idioms in everyday conversations. For instance, when a child is worried about an event, you can say, “Don’t worry, it’s just a piece of cake!” This helps them connect the idiom with a real-world situation.

• Incorporate Fun Stories: Kids love stories, and using them to explain idioms makes the learning process more engaging. Create a fun scenario around an idiom to make the meaning clearer. For example, tell them a story about someone “breaking a leg” at a performance, explaining it’s not about actual injury but wishing someone good luck.

• Idiom of the Day: Introduce a new idiom every day. Write it on a board or say it aloud, and explain its meaning. Encourage your child to use the idiom throughout the day.

• Interactive Games: Turn learning idioms into a game. For example, you can ask them to match idioms with their meanings or come up with examples from their own lives.

• Visual Aids: Kids love visuals, so make flashcards or drawings of idioms to help them visualize the meaning.

By using these methods, idioms will quickly become a fun and essential part of your child’s language toolkit.

Best Idioms for Kids with Examples

Let’s dive into some idioms that are easy for kids to learn and fun to use. These idioms come from various categories like numbers, animals, everyday life, and food. We’ll also include examples so you can see how they’re used in sentences.

Number Idioms for Kids

Numbers aren’t just for counting; they can also create fun idioms that make communication more interesting. Here are some number-related idioms for kids:

• “Piece of cake.”
  Meaning: Something is very easy to do.
  Example: “That math homework was a piece of cake!”

• “Two heads are better than one.”
  Meaning: It’s easier to solve a problem when you work with someone.
  Example: “Let’s work together on the puzzle—two heads are better than one.”

• “Third time’s a charm.”
  Meaning: Success comes after several attempts, often on the third try.
  Example: “I missed the target twice, but third time’s a charm!”

• “Ten out of ten.”
  Meaning: A perfect score or something that is done very well.
  Example: “I got ten out of ten on my spelling test!”

• “Six of one, half a dozen of the other.”
  Meaning: Two options that are the same.
  Example: “We can either go to the park or the beach—it’s six of one, half a dozen of the other.”

These idioms teach kids about numbers while also helping them express their ideas in fun ways.

Animal Idioms for Kids

Animals are a great source of idioms. Here are some fun animal-related idioms for kids:

• “Let the cat out of the bag.”
  Meaning: To accidentally reveal a secret.
  Example: “Sarah let the cat out of the bag when she told me about the surprise party.”

• “Hold your horses.”
  Meaning: Be patient.
  Example: “Hold your horses! We have to wait for everyone to arrive before we start.”

• “Bird’s-eye view”
  Meaning: A high or complete view of something.
  Example: “From the top of the hill, we had a bird’s-eye view of the entire city.”

• “Fish out of water”
  Meaning: To feel uncomfortable or out of place.
  Example: “I felt like a fish out of water at my new school, but now I’m starting to make friends.”

• “Busy as a bee”
  Meaning: Very busy and hardworking.
  Example: “Mom’s been busy as a bee preparing for the party.”

These animal idioms are easy to remember because they connect everyday life with the animal world, making them more relatable.

Everyday Idioms for Kids

Some idioms are used every day and are great for kids to learn. These idioms reflect typical situations they might encounter:

• “Break a leg.”
  Meaning: Good luck.
  Example: “Good luck with your performance! Break a leg!”

• “Under the weather”
  Meaning: Feeling sick.
  Example: “I can’t come to the park today; I’m feeling a little under the weather.”

• “Hit the hay.”
  Meaning: To go to bed.
  Example: “It’s late; I need to hit the hay!”

• “On the same page”
  Meaning: To agree or understand each other.
  Example: “We’re all on the same page about the plans for the weekend.”

• “Spill the beans.”
  Meaning: To reveal a secret.
  Example: “Tim spilled the beans about the surprise gift!”

These idioms are simple and useful in everyday conversations, helping kids improve their communication skills.

Food Idioms for Kids

Food is a fun theme for idioms. These idioms are great for teaching kids to associate familiar foods with interesting expressions:

• “The icing on the cake”
  Meaning: Something extra that makes a good situation even better.
  Example: “Winning the prize was the icing on the cake after a great day!”

• “Egghead”
  Meaning: Someone who is very smart.
  Example: “My brother is an egghead; he always answers every question correctly.”

• “Couch potato”
  Meaning: Someone who likes to sit and watch TV a lot.
  Example: “I’m becoming a couch potato this weekend and binge-watching my favorite show.”

• “In a pickle”
  Meaning: To be in a difficult situation.
  Example: “I lost my homework, and now I’m in a pickle.”

• “Bring home the bacon.”
  Meaning: To earn money for the family.
  Example: “Dad works hard to bring home the bacon every day.”

Food idioms are fun because they’re connected to familiar experiences, making them easy to understand.

Feeling Idioms for Kids

Understanding feelings is an essential part of communication, and idioms are an excellent way to express emotions in a more colorful way. These idioms help kids explain how they feel, but in a creative and fun manner:

• “Cry over spilled milk”
  Meaning: Don’t get upset about something that cannot be changed.
  Example: “It’s okay that you lost your toy, don’t cry over spilled milk, we can find another one.”

• “Get cold feet”
  Meaning: To feel nervous or scared about doing something.
  Example: “I was excited about my first dance recital, but I got cold feet right before going on stage.”

• “In high spirits”
  Meaning: Feeling very happy or cheerful.
  Example: “After getting an A on my test, I was in high spirits all day.”

• “Down in the dumps”
  Meaning: Feeling sad or depressed.
  Example: “She was feeling down in the dumps after losing the game, but we cheered her up.”

• “On cloud nine”
  Meaning: Extremely happy.
  Example: “When I heard I passed the test, I was on cloud nine for the rest of the day.”

These idioms provide kids with more expressive ways to talk about their feelings. It can help them articulate their emotions more clearly and make their conversations more relatable.

Action Idioms for Kids

Idioms often involve actions or behaviors, and these expressions make it easier for kids to explain situations. Here are some action-based idioms that are simple and fun to use:

• “Bite the bullet”
  Meaning: To do something difficult or unpleasant that has to be done.
  Example: “I didn’t want to clean my room, but I had to bite the bullet and get it done.”

• “Hit the nail on the head”
  Meaning: To say or do something exactly right.
  Example: “When Sarah said the answer to the math problem, she hit the nail on the head.”

• “Jumping the gun”
  Meaning: To do something too soon, or before it’s time.
  Example: “We were about to start the game, but Tim started jumping the gun and ran before the signal.”

• “Go the extra mile”
  Meaning: To put in more effort than expected.
  Example: “He went the extra mile by helping his sister with her homework after school.”

• “Throw in the towel”
  Meaning: To give up or admit defeat.
  Example: “Even though the game was tough, we didn’t throw in the towel and kept playing until the end.”

Action idioms can also serve as valuable lessons for kids about determination and perseverance. They help children explain actions in an expressive and engaging way.

Color Idioms for Kids

Colors are often used in idioms to convey meaning in a vivid way. These idioms can help kids explain how they feel or what they see using the colorful language of idiomatic expressions:

• “Green with envy”
  Meaning: To be very jealous of someone.
  Example: “I was green with envy when I saw my friend’s new bike.”

• “Black and white”
  Meaning: Something that is very clear or straightforward, without any confusion.
  Example: “The rules for the game were black and white, so no one could argue about them.”

• “Out of the blue”
  Meaning: Something happening unexpectedly.
  Example: “Out of the blue, we received an invitation to the party.”

• “Tickled pink”
  Meaning: To be very pleased or happy about something.
  Example: “When I got a thank-you card from my friend, I was tickled pink.”

• “Catch someone red-handed”
  Meaning: To catch someone in the act of doing something wrong.
  Example: “I caught my brother red-handed when he tried to take my candy.”

Color idioms add a splash of vibrancy to conversations, making them more interesting and memorable for kids.

Weather Idioms for Kids

The weather often influences idioms, and many of these expressions are easy for kids to grasp since they reflect familiar experiences with weather patterns. These idioms can help kids describe their moods or situations in a weather-related way:

• “Under the weather”
  Meaning: To feel sick or unwell.
  Example: “I can’t play today; I’m feeling a bit under the weather.”

• “Weather the storm”
  Meaning: To endure a difficult or tough situation.
  Example: “We had to weather the storm during the school project, but we finished it in time.”

• “Make hay while the sun shines”
  Meaning: To take advantage of a good opportunity while it lasts.
  Example: “We should go to the park now while the weather is nice and sunny – let’s make hay while the sun shines!”

• “It’s a breeze”
  Meaning: Something is very easy.
  Example: “The test was a breeze, I finished it in just 10 minutes!”

Weather-related idioms offer fun ways to talk about experiences that kids might encounter, such as challenges or enjoyable moments.

Emotion Idioms for Kids

Understanding emotions is a crucial part of growing up, and idioms can make describing feelings even more fun. These idioms will help your child express emotions in vivid and unique ways:

• “A heart of gold”
  Meaning: A kind and generous person.
  Example: “She has a heart of gold, always helping others when they need it.”

• “Blow off steam”
  Meaning: To release anger or frustration.
  Example: “After the game, I went for a run to blow off steam.”

• “Walk on air”
  Meaning: To feel extremely happy or light-hearted.
  Example: “After receiving her birthday present, she was walking on air all day.”

• “Wear your heart on your sleeve”
  Meaning: To openly show your emotions.
  Example: “Tim wears his heart on his sleeve and isn’t afraid to show how he feels.”

• “A rollercoaster of emotions”
  Meaning: Experiencing many different emotions, often in a short period.
  Example: “The movie was a rollercoaster of emotions, making me laugh and cry at the same time.”

These idioms help children explain emotions in a way that feels relatable and easy to understand.

Time-Related Idioms for Kids

Time is another great theme for idioms. Learning time-related idioms helps kids express urgency, patience, or the passage of time in a fun way:

• “Time flies”
  Meaning: Time seems to pass very quickly.
  Example: “It’s already 5 PM? Time flies when you’re having fun!”

• “Against the clock”
  Meaning: To do something in a very limited amount of time.
  Example: “We had to finish our homework against the clock before the deadline.”

• “Make up for lost time”
  Meaning: To work harder or do something quickly after falling behind.
  Example: “After missing a week of school, I had to make up for lost time and catch up on all the lessons.”

• “A stitch in time saves nine”
  Meaning: Solving a problem early can prevent it from becoming bigger later.
  Example: “You should clean up the mess now – a stitch in time saves nine!”

• “The eleventh hour”
  Meaning: At the last possible moment.
  Example: “We finished our project at the eleventh hour, just before the teacher came to collect it.”

Time idioms can help children express different aspects of time, like urgency, speed, and the importance of being on time.

Travel Idioms for Kids

Travel and exploration provide another rich source of idioms. These phrases can make trips and journeys even more exciting:

• “Hit the road”
  Meaning: To start a journey or trip.
  Example: “It’s time to hit the road if we want to get there by noon.”

• “Go off the beaten track”
  Meaning: To go to a place or do something unusual or less common.
  Example: “We decided to go off the beaten track and explore the hidden caves.”

• “Smooth sailing”
  Meaning: A situation that is going well without problems.
  Example: “Our trip was smooth sailing – no delays or problems at all.”

• “At a crossroads”
  Meaning: To face an important decision or choice.
  Example: “I’m at a crossroads in my life, deciding whether to join the soccer team or take up swimming.”

• “Off the grid”
  Meaning: To go somewhere without modern technology, like phones or the internet.
  Example: “We spent the weekend off the grid in the mountains, away from all the hustle and bustle.”

Travel idioms help kids understand the excitement and challenges that come with exploration, and they can even inspire future adventures.

Conclusion: Why Idioms Matter for Kids

Incorporating idioms into a child’s vocabulary is a fantastic way to help them enhance their language skills. They add depth to conversations, boost creativity, and make communication more colorful and engaging. With idioms, kids can express themselves in ways that go beyond the basics and show their imagination and personality.

Encouraging kids to learn idioms helps them understand the language on a deeper level. They can explore the hidden meanings behind common expressions, which improves their ability to think critically and creatively. Plus, idioms make storytelling and writing more interesting and fun, allowing kids to express themselves in unique ways.

By introducing your child to a wide range of idioms, from those involving animals and numbers to feelings and colors, you help them build a strong foundation for fluent and effective communication. So go ahead, teach your kids some idioms, and watch them become more confident and creative in their conversations and writing!