EnglishAges 10-12

Idioms & proverbs in context

Interpret common English idioms and traditional proverbs from their figurative context. Review suitability for your learners before teaching.

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Age band:Ages 10-12 Ages 13-15

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Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12

Idioms & proverbs in context

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. What does the proverb “Many hands make light work” mean: a large task becomes easier and faster when people cooperate and share it, or lamps are bright?
What does the proverb “Man… · Idioms & proverbs in context
2. What does the idiom “to keep your chin up” mean: to stay cheerful and courageous during a tough situation, or to look at the ceiling?
What does the idiom “to ke… · Idioms & proverbs in context
3. What does the idiom “to cut corners” mean: to do something poorly or carelessly to save time or money, or to fold paper neatly?
“to cut corners” · Idioms & proverbs in context
4. What does the idiom “to spill the beans” mean: to reveal a secret prematurely, or to cook dinner?
“to spill the beans” · Idioms & proverbs in context
5. What does the idiom “in a nutshell” mean: expressed briefly in a few clear words, or hidden inside a tree?
“in a nutshell” · Idioms & proverbs in context
6. What does the idiom “to burn the midnight oil” mean: to study or work late into the night, or to waste fuel?
What does the idiom “to bu… · Idioms & proverbs in context
7. What does the idiom “a piece of cake” mean: a task that is very easy to accomplish, or a difficult puzzle?
“a piece of cake” · Idioms & proverbs in context
8. What does the idiom “to break the ice” mean: to make people feel relaxed in a new social situation, or to freeze water?
“to break the ice” · Idioms & proverbs in context
9. What does the idiom “once in a blue moon” mean: very rarely, or every single afternoon?
What does the idiom “once … · Idioms & proverbs in context
10. What does the idiom “to sit on the fence” mean: to delay making a decision or avoid choosing a side in a debate, or to rest in a garden?
What does the idiom “to si… · Idioms & proverbs in context
11. What does the idiom “to bite off more than you can chew” mean: to take on a commitment that is too big to handle, or to eat breakfast quickly?
What does the idiom “to bi… · Idioms & proverbs in context
12. What does the idiom “to go back to the drawing board” mean: to start planning again from the beginning after an attempt fails, or to buy chalk?
What does the idiom “to go… · Idioms & proverbs in context

12 questions · Seed 104733 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

View the answer key

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 10-12

Idioms & proverbs in context

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. What does the proverb “Many hands make light work” mean: a large task becomes easier and faster when people cooperate and share it, or lamps are bright?
A large task becomes easier and faster when people cooperate and share it
Teamwork distributes effort so no single person is overwhelmed.
2. What does the idiom “to keep your chin up” mean: to stay cheerful and courageous during a tough situation, or to look at the ceiling?
To stay cheerful and courageous during a tough situation
It is an expression of encouragement to remain resilient.
3. What does the idiom “to cut corners” mean: to do something poorly or carelessly to save time or money, or to fold paper neatly?
To do something poorly or carelessly to save time or money
Cutting corners skips important steps at the expense of quality or safety.
4. What does the idiom “to spill the beans” mean: to reveal a secret prematurely, or to cook dinner?
To reveal a secret prematurely
“Spilling the beans” means giving away confidential information.
5. What does the idiom “in a nutshell” mean: expressed briefly in a few clear words, or hidden inside a tree?
Expressed briefly in a few clear words
“In a nutshell” means summarised concisely.
6. What does the idiom “to burn the midnight oil” mean: to study or work late into the night, or to waste fuel?
To study or work late into the night
It alludes to working by lamplight late at night.
7. What does the idiom “a piece of cake” mean: a task that is very easy to accomplish, or a difficult puzzle?
A task that is very easy to accomplish
Calling something “a piece of cake” means it is effortless or straightforward.
8. What does the idiom “to break the ice” mean: to make people feel relaxed in a new social situation, or to freeze water?
To make people feel relaxed in a new social situation
“Breaking the ice” means overcoming initial shyness when people first meet.
9. What does the idiom “once in a blue moon” mean: very rarely, or every single afternoon?
Very rarely
“Once in a blue moon” refers to an event that happens very infrequently.
10. What does the idiom “to sit on the fence” mean: to delay making a decision or avoid choosing a side in a debate, or to rest in a garden?
To delay making a decision or avoid choosing a side in a debate
Sitting on the fence means remaining neutral or undecided.
11. What does the idiom “to bite off more than you can chew” mean: to take on a commitment that is too big to handle, or to eat breakfast quickly?
To take on a commitment that is too big to handle
It means accepting more responsibility than one can manage.
12. What does the idiom “to go back to the drawing board” mean: to start planning again from the beginning after an attempt fails, or to buy chalk?
To start planning again from the beginning after an attempt fails
When a design fails, engineers return to the drawing board to rethink the plan.

12 questions · Seed 104733 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12

Idioms & proverbs in context

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. What does the proverb “Many hands make light work” mean: a large task becomes easier and faster when people cooperate and share it, or lamps are bright?
What does the proverb “Man… · Idioms & proverbs in context
2. What does the idiom “to keep your chin up” mean: to stay cheerful and courageous during a tough situation, or to look at the ceiling?
What does the idiom “to ke… · Idioms & proverbs in context
3. What does the idiom “to cut corners” mean: to do something poorly or carelessly to save time or money, or to fold paper neatly?
“to cut corners” · Idioms & proverbs in context
4. What does the idiom “to spill the beans” mean: to reveal a secret prematurely, or to cook dinner?
“to spill the beans” · Idioms & proverbs in context
5. What does the idiom “in a nutshell” mean: expressed briefly in a few clear words, or hidden inside a tree?
“in a nutshell” · Idioms & proverbs in context
6. What does the idiom “to burn the midnight oil” mean: to study or work late into the night, or to waste fuel?
What does the idiom “to bu… · Idioms & proverbs in context
7. What does the idiom “a piece of cake” mean: a task that is very easy to accomplish, or a difficult puzzle?
“a piece of cake” · Idioms & proverbs in context
8. What does the idiom “to break the ice” mean: to make people feel relaxed in a new social situation, or to freeze water?
“to break the ice” · Idioms & proverbs in context
9. What does the idiom “once in a blue moon” mean: very rarely, or every single afternoon?
What does the idiom “once … · Idioms & proverbs in context
10. What does the idiom “to sit on the fence” mean: to delay making a decision or avoid choosing a side in a debate, or to rest in a garden?
What does the idiom “to si… · Idioms & proverbs in context
11. What does the idiom “to bite off more than you can chew” mean: to take on a commitment that is too big to handle, or to eat breakfast quickly?
What does the idiom “to bi… · Idioms & proverbs in context
12. What does the idiom “to go back to the drawing board” mean: to start planning again from the beginning after an attempt fails, or to buy chalk?
What does the idiom “to go… · Idioms & proverbs in context

12 questions · Seed 104733 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 10-12

Idioms & proverbs in context

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. What does the proverb “Many hands make light work” mean: a large task becomes easier and faster when people cooperate and share it, or lamps are bright?
A large task becomes easier and faster when people cooperate and share it
Teamwork distributes effort so no single person is overwhelmed.
2. What does the idiom “to keep your chin up” mean: to stay cheerful and courageous during a tough situation, or to look at the ceiling?
To stay cheerful and courageous during a tough situation
It is an expression of encouragement to remain resilient.
3. What does the idiom “to cut corners” mean: to do something poorly or carelessly to save time or money, or to fold paper neatly?
To do something poorly or carelessly to save time or money
Cutting corners skips important steps at the expense of quality or safety.
4. What does the idiom “to spill the beans” mean: to reveal a secret prematurely, or to cook dinner?
To reveal a secret prematurely
“Spilling the beans” means giving away confidential information.
5. What does the idiom “in a nutshell” mean: expressed briefly in a few clear words, or hidden inside a tree?
Expressed briefly in a few clear words
“In a nutshell” means summarised concisely.
6. What does the idiom “to burn the midnight oil” mean: to study or work late into the night, or to waste fuel?
To study or work late into the night
It alludes to working by lamplight late at night.
7. What does the idiom “a piece of cake” mean: a task that is very easy to accomplish, or a difficult puzzle?
A task that is very easy to accomplish
Calling something “a piece of cake” means it is effortless or straightforward.
8. What does the idiom “to break the ice” mean: to make people feel relaxed in a new social situation, or to freeze water?
To make people feel relaxed in a new social situation
“Breaking the ice” means overcoming initial shyness when people first meet.
9. What does the idiom “once in a blue moon” mean: very rarely, or every single afternoon?
Very rarely
“Once in a blue moon” refers to an event that happens very infrequently.
10. What does the idiom “to sit on the fence” mean: to delay making a decision or avoid choosing a side in a debate, or to rest in a garden?
To delay making a decision or avoid choosing a side in a debate
Sitting on the fence means remaining neutral or undecided.
11. What does the idiom “to bite off more than you can chew” mean: to take on a commitment that is too big to handle, or to eat breakfast quickly?
To take on a commitment that is too big to handle
It means accepting more responsibility than one can manage.
12. What does the idiom “to go back to the drawing board” mean: to start planning again from the beginning after an attempt fails, or to buy chalk?
To start planning again from the beginning after an attempt fails
When a design fails, engineers return to the drawing board to rethink the plan.

12 questions · Seed 104733 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification