EnglishAges 13-15

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 13-15

Idioms & proverbs in context

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. What does the proverb “Look before you leap” advise: think carefully about consequences before acting, or jump as high as possible?
What does the proverb “Loo… · Idioms & proverbs in context
2. 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
3. What does the idiom “to hit the nail on the head” mean: to describe the exact point or truth of a situation, or to build a cupboard?
What does the idiom “to hi… · Idioms & proverbs in context
4. 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
5. What does the idiom “to see eye to eye” mean: to agree fully with someone, or to wear glasses?
“to see eye to eye” · Idioms & proverbs in context
6. 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
7. What does the idiom “under the weather” mean: feeling slightly unwell, or standing outside in a storm?
“under the weather” · Idioms & proverbs in context
8. 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
9. 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
10. What does the proverb “Where there’s a will, there’s a way” mean: strong determination helps you find a path through difficulties, or roads are always straight?
What does the proverb “Whe… · Idioms & proverbs in context
11. 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. What does the idiom “to weather the storm” mean: to survive and come through a difficult period safely, or to measure rainfall?
What does the idiom “to we… · Idioms & proverbs in context

12 questions · Seed 43 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

View the answer key

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 13-15

Idioms & proverbs in context

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. What does the proverb “Look before you leap” advise: think carefully about consequences before acting, or jump as high as possible?
Think carefully about consequences before acting
It counsels foresight and caution before making a major decision.
2. 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.
3. What does the idiom “to hit the nail on the head” mean: to describe the exact point or truth of a situation, or to build a cupboard?
To describe the exact point or truth of a situation
Hitting the nail on the head means being precisely right.
4. 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.
5. What does the idiom “to see eye to eye” mean: to agree fully with someone, or to wear glasses?
To agree fully with someone
Seeing eye to eye means sharing the same viewpoint or opinion.
6. 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.
7. What does the idiom “under the weather” mean: feeling slightly unwell, or standing outside in a storm?
Feeling slightly unwell
Feeling “under the weather” means feeling mildly ill or tired.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. What does the proverb “Where there’s a will, there’s a way” mean: strong determination helps you find a path through difficulties, or roads are always straight?
Strong determination helps you find a path through difficulties
Resolve and persistence uncover solutions to obstacles.
11. 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. What does the idiom “to weather the storm” mean: to survive and come through a difficult period safely, or to measure rainfall?
To survive and come through a difficult period safely
Like a ship enduring a gale at sea, it means enduring hardship without giving up.

12 questions · Seed 43 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 13-15

Idioms & proverbs in context

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. What does the proverb “Look before you leap” advise: think carefully about consequences before acting, or jump as high as possible?
What does the proverb “Loo… · Idioms & proverbs in context
2. 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
3. What does the idiom “to hit the nail on the head” mean: to describe the exact point or truth of a situation, or to build a cupboard?
What does the idiom “to hi… · Idioms & proverbs in context
4. 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
5. What does the idiom “to see eye to eye” mean: to agree fully with someone, or to wear glasses?
“to see eye to eye” · Idioms & proverbs in context
6. 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
7. What does the idiom “under the weather” mean: feeling slightly unwell, or standing outside in a storm?
“under the weather” · Idioms & proverbs in context
8. 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
9. 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
10. What does the proverb “Where there’s a will, there’s a way” mean: strong determination helps you find a path through difficulties, or roads are always straight?
What does the proverb “Whe… · Idioms & proverbs in context
11. 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. What does the idiom “to weather the storm” mean: to survive and come through a difficult period safely, or to measure rainfall?
What does the idiom “to we… · Idioms & proverbs in context

12 questions · Seed 43 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 13-15

Idioms & proverbs in context

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. What does the proverb “Look before you leap” advise: think carefully about consequences before acting, or jump as high as possible?
Think carefully about consequences before acting
It counsels foresight and caution before making a major decision.
2. 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.
3. What does the idiom “to hit the nail on the head” mean: to describe the exact point or truth of a situation, or to build a cupboard?
To describe the exact point or truth of a situation
Hitting the nail on the head means being precisely right.
4. 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.
5. What does the idiom “to see eye to eye” mean: to agree fully with someone, or to wear glasses?
To agree fully with someone
Seeing eye to eye means sharing the same viewpoint or opinion.
6. 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.
7. What does the idiom “under the weather” mean: feeling slightly unwell, or standing outside in a storm?
Feeling slightly unwell
Feeling “under the weather” means feeling mildly ill or tired.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. What does the proverb “Where there’s a will, there’s a way” mean: strong determination helps you find a path through difficulties, or roads are always straight?
Strong determination helps you find a path through difficulties
Resolve and persistence uncover solutions to obstacles.
11. 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. What does the idiom “to weather the storm” mean: to survive and come through a difficult period safely, or to measure rainfall?
To survive and come through a difficult period safely
Like a ship enduring a gale at sea, it means enduring hardship without giving up.

12 questions · Seed 43 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification