How to see it
An idiom is a phrase that means something different from its words. Raining cats and dogs: just heavy rain. Break the ice: get people talking. You cannot work an idiom out from its words, so learn each one as a whole phrase. With a new one, the sentence around it gives clues. Whole phrase, then the clues.
A worked example
The clues: Ali is halfway out of the door, and he has not had breakfast. Mum wants him to stop. So hold your horses means wait a moment. Swap it in. It fits. B.
The common mistake: taking an idiom word for word
The trap is taking it word for word. Look after the animals, hold on tight, go riding: all built from hold and horses. Not one fits the story. If the words make no sense, it is an idiom. Go to the clues.
Try one
Priya was all ears when her uncle began the ghost story. What does all ears mean?
- Alistening carefully
- Bbored
- Cfrightened
- Dhad big ears
- Etalking loudly
Show the answerHide the answer
Right: A, listening carefully
A ghost story is something you want to hear. D takes the words literally.