English Language Arts
Grade 4
15 min
Determine the meaning of idioms from context: set 2
Determine the meaning of idioms from context: set 2
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Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Define the term 'idiom' and explain why its meaning cannot be understood literally.
Identify an unfamiliar idiom within a sentence or short paragraph.
Use surrounding words and sentences as context clues to infer the meaning of a new idiom.
Explain the meaning of at least five new idioms in their own words.
Differentiate between the literal and figurative meaning of a common idiom.
Use a newly learned idiom correctly in an original sentence.
Have you ever heard someone say they have 'butterflies in their stomach' and wondered if they ate a bug? 🦋 Let's become detectives and uncover the secret meanings of these silly sayings!
In this lesson, we will continue our adventure with idioms, which are a type of figurative language. You...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
IdiomA common phrase or expression whose meaning is different from the literal meaning of its individual words.The phrase 'break a leg' doesn't mean to hurt yourself! It's an idiom that means 'good luck!'
Context CluesHints in the text surrounding an idiom that help you figure out its meaning. These can be words, other sentences, or the overall situation.In 'The surprise party was a secret, so don't spill the beans,' the words 'secret' and 'surprise' are context clues that 'spill the beans' means to tell the secret.
Literal MeaningWhat the words actually say if you take them at their dictionary definition. It's the 'word-for-word' meaning.The literal meaning of 'I'm al...
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Key Rules & Conventions
The 'That's Impossible!' Rule
If a phrase describes something that sounds silly, impossible, or just plain weird, it's probably an idiom.
When you read a phrase like 'My brother is a couch potato,' stop and think. Can a person be a vegetable? No! This is a big clue that the phrase has a secret, figurative meaning (that he is lazy and watches a lot of TV).
The 'Context is Your Detective Kit' Rule
Use the sentences before and after the idiom as clues to solve its meaning.
Authors don't want to confuse you. If they use an idiom, they usually plant clues nearby. Look for words that describe feelings, actions, or the situation to help you make a smart guess.
The 'Feeling Finder' Rule
Think about the emotions of the char...
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Challenging
The idiom 'get a second wind' means to have a new burst of energy after feeling tired. In which situation would a person most likely 'get a second wind'?
A.student feels sleepy in the morning and decides to go back to bed.
B.runner feels exhausted halfway through a race but then suddenly feels re-energized and speeds up.
C.chef tastes a dish, decides it needs more salt, and adds some.
D.child is tired at the end of the day and falls asleep in the car.
Challenging
A new student, Maria, is from another country. Her friend says, 'Don't worry about the test, it's a piece of cake!' Maria looks confused and says, 'But we are not allowed to eat in class.' Why is Maria confused?
A.She is taking the idiom literally instead of understanding its figurative meaning.
B.She does not like cake and is offended by the comment.
C.She thinks her friend is trying to play a trick on her.
D.She did not hear what her friend said correctly.
Challenging
Read the paragraph: 'The detective knew the suspect was not telling the whole truth. 'He's holding something back,' she thought. 'It's time to go in there and play hardball to get the real story.' ' What does the idiom 'play hardball' most likely mean in this context?
A.To play a game of baseball with the suspect.
B.To ask questions in a friendly and gentle way.
C.To act in a tough and aggressive way to get what you want.
D.To give up on the investigation and go home.
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