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 “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
2. 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
3. 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
4. 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
5. What does the idiom “the ball is in your court” mean: it is your turn to take action or make a decision, or the game is over?
What does the idiom “the b… · Idioms & proverbs in context
6. 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
7. What does the idiom “a blessing in disguise” mean: something that seems bad at first but results in something good, or a hidden costume?
What does the idiom “a ble… · Idioms & proverbs in context
8. 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
9. 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
10. 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
11. 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
12. What does the proverb “Don’t judge a book by its cover” teach: do not judge the value of something or someone by outward appearance alone, or never read books?
What does the proverb “Don… · Idioms & proverbs in context

12 questions · Seed 63 · 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 “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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. What does the idiom “the ball is in your court” mean: it is your turn to take action or make a decision, or the game is over?
It is your turn to take action or make a decision
Borrowed from tennis, it means responsibility for the next move rests with you.
6. 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.
7. What does the idiom “a blessing in disguise” mean: something that seems bad at first but results in something good, or a hidden costume?
Something that seems bad at first but results in something good
An apparent setback that turns out to be advantageous is a blessing in disguise.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. What does the proverb “Don’t judge a book by its cover” teach: do not judge the value of something or someone by outward appearance alone, or never read books?
Do not judge the value of something or someone by outward appearance alone
External appearances can be misleading compared to inner quality.

12 questions · Seed 63 · 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 “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
2. 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
3. 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
4. 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
5. What does the idiom “the ball is in your court” mean: it is your turn to take action or make a decision, or the game is over?
What does the idiom “the b… · Idioms & proverbs in context
6. 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
7. What does the idiom “a blessing in disguise” mean: something that seems bad at first but results in something good, or a hidden costume?
What does the idiom “a ble… · Idioms & proverbs in context
8. 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
9. 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
10. 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
11. 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
12. What does the proverb “Don’t judge a book by its cover” teach: do not judge the value of something or someone by outward appearance alone, or never read books?
What does the proverb “Don… · Idioms & proverbs in context

12 questions · Seed 63 · 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 “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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. What does the idiom “the ball is in your court” mean: it is your turn to take action or make a decision, or the game is over?
It is your turn to take action or make a decision
Borrowed from tennis, it means responsibility for the next move rests with you.
6. 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.
7. What does the idiom “a blessing in disguise” mean: something that seems bad at first but results in something good, or a hidden costume?
Something that seems bad at first but results in something good
An apparent setback that turns out to be advantageous is a blessing in disguise.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. What does the proverb “Don’t judge a book by its cover” teach: do not judge the value of something or someone by outward appearance alone, or never read books?
Do not judge the value of something or someone by outward appearance alone
External appearances can be misleading compared to inner quality.

12 questions · Seed 63 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification