Idioms are word combinations that have a different figurative meaning than the literal meanings of each word or phrase. They can be confusing for kids or people learning a language as they don’t usually mean what they say.
Take for example a sentence such as “He’s as cool as a cucumber”. It is probably one of the most used types of idiom, considered to be an everyday idiom, but honestly if you’ve never quite heard it before or if you’re just a kid, you might be wondering why a person is a cold fruit (or vegetable?) and what all this has to do with the state of things. However, ‘calm as a cucumber’ simply means “he’s very calm”. What a fun way to say something, right?
Well, we’ve compiled a huge list of common examples of idioms for good kids, 30 of them; for kids to learn and become more familiar with these these crazy, creative phrases. Have your kids use these idioms for new kids to express yourself in an interesting way.
While you’re at it, you can also check out our analogies for kids.
Here are the idioms for kids with definition
Animal Idioms
Kids will love these types of idioms the most. They are idioms involving or containing animals to carry out the expression. You most likely have heard of most of them before.
A bull in a china shop – Someone who is very clumsy
A little birdie told me – Someone told me a secret
Bee in her bonnet – She is upset
Birdbrain – Someone who is not very smart
Busy as a bee – To be very active and working hard at something
Cat got your tongue? – Why aren’t you talking?
Cry crocodile tears – To pretend to be upset
Curiosity killed the cat – Asking too many questions may get you in trouble
Different kettle of fish – Something completely different
Doggy bag – A bag to take home leftovers from a restaurant
Fish out of water – Being somewhere you don’t belong
For the birds – Something that is not worth anything
Get off your high horse – Quit thinking you are better than others
Goose is cooked – Now you’re in trouble
Hold your horses – Wait a minute
Horse of a different color – Something that is quite different, a separate issue
Hot dog – A person doing athletic stunts that are dangerous
Let the cat out of the bag – Tell a secret
Make a mountain out of a molehill – Make something unimportant into a big deal
Night owl – Someone who stays up late
Pig out – To eat a lot
Put a bug in his ear – Make a suggestion
Raining cats and dogs – It is raining very hard
Snail’s pace – To move extremely slow
Stir a hornet’s nest – To cause a lot of trouble
Teacher’s pet – The teacher’s favorite student
The world is your oyster – You can achieve whatever/go wherever you want
When pigs fly – To say something is impossible
Wolf in sheep’s clothing – A person who pretends to be nice but is not
You can’t teach an old dog new tricks – It’s harder for older people to learn new things
We’ve added other types of idioms for kids to enjoy learning about and use too
Everyday Idioms
These idioms are ones that can be used in day to day activities, and you’ll find that they are very common
A grey area – Something unclear
A rip-off – Too expensive
Add fuel to the fire – To add more to an existing problem
As easy as ABC – Something is very easy
Call it a day – Time to quit
Cool as a cucumber – To be very calm under stress
Crack a book – Open up a book and study
Down to the wire – At the last minute
Draw a blank – Can’t remember
Fill in the blanks – Provide more information
Get a kick out of it – Really enjoy/like something
Get your act together – Behave properly
Give it a shot – To try to do something
Have mixed feelings – Be unsure of how you feel
Have second thoughts – Have doubts
In hot water – Be in trouble
In the same boat – Be in the same situation
It’s in the bag – It’s a certainty
I’ve got your number – To say you can’t be fooled by someone since you have them figured out
Miss the boat – You missed your chance
Mumbo jumbo – To call something total nonsense
Out of the blue – With no warning
Pass with flying colors – To succeed at something easily
Piece of cake – Something very easy
Read between the lines – Find the hidden meaning
Second to none – The best
The icing on the cake – Something additional that turns good into great
Body Part Idioms
These idioms have to do with parts of the body.
Cross your fingers – For good luck
Fell on deaf ears – People wouldn’t listen to something
Get cold feet – Be nervous
Giving the cold shoulder – Ignore someone
Have a change of heart – Changed your mind
I’m all ears – You have my full attention
It cost an arm and a leg – It was expensive
Play it by ear – Improvise
See eye to eye – Agree
Slipped my mind – I forgot
Speak your mind – Say what you really feel
Additionally, we’ve thrown in a few food related idioms to humor you a bit. Enjoy!
Food Idioms
As busy as popcorn on a skillet – Very active.
As flat as a pancake – Very flat.
As sour as vinegar – Disagreeable person.
As sweet as honey – Very sweet person.
Have a sweet tooth – Love for sugary and sweet foods.
Like taking candy from a baby – Easy to do.
Salt of the Earth – Ordinary and decent people.
Sell like hotcakes – Sell quickly and in large amounts.
Sugarcoat – Gloss over bad information.
SOURCES
- Examples of Idioms for Kids – YourDictionary.com. https://examples.yourdictionary.com/idioms-for-kids.html
- Examples of Food Idioms – YourDictionary.com. https://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-food-idioms.html
