English Language Arts
Grade 6
15 min
Determine the meaning of idioms from context: set 1
Determine the meaning of idioms from context: set 1
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Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Identify idioms within a given text.
Distinguish between the literal and figurative meanings of idiomatic expressions.
Utilize various context clues (e.g., synonyms, antonyms, explanations, examples) to infer the meaning of unfamiliar idioms.
Explain the meaning of common idioms using evidence from the surrounding text.
Apply strategies to determine the meaning of idioms in different sentence structures.
Articulate how understanding idioms enhances reading comprehension.
Ever heard someone say 'it's raining cats and dogs' 🌧️ and wondered if animals were actually falling from the sky?
In this lesson, you'll learn how to figure out the true meaning of these tricky phrases, called idioms, by looking at the words around them. Understandin...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
IdiomA phrase or expression whose meaning cannot be understood from the ordinary, literal meaning of its individual words.The idiom 'kick the bucket' doesn't literally mean to kick a bucket; it means to die.
Literal MeaningThe exact, dictionary definition of words, taking them at face value without any hidden or symbolic meaning.The literal meaning of 'break a leg' is to physically injure a leg.
Figurative MeaningThe symbolic or non-literal meaning of a word or phrase, often used to create imagery or emphasize a point.The figurative meaning of 'break a leg' is 'good luck!'
Context CluesHints or information within a text that help you understand the meaning of an unfamiliar word or phrase.In 'The boy was famished; he h...
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Key Rules & Conventions
Read the Entire Context
Always read the sentence containing the idiom and the sentences immediately before and after it.
The meaning of an idiom is rarely found in just the idiom itself. Reading the full context helps you get the complete picture and identify potential clues that might be spread out.
Identify Context Clues
Look for specific words or phrases that explain, define, contrast, or give examples related to the idiom.
Pay attention to words like 'meaning,' 'or,' 'like,' 'such as,' 'but,' 'however,' or descriptive phrases that clarify the situation. These clues are your best friends for figuring out idiom meanings.
Substitute and Test
Once you have a possible meaning for the idiom, try replacing the id...
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Challenging
An author writes: 'The politician promised lower taxes, a new park, and free pizza. But the voters knew it was all just pie in the sky.' How does the author's use of the idiom 'pie in the sky' help achieve their purpose?
A.It suggests the politician's promises are pleasant but unrealistic and unlikely to happen.
B.It shows that the politician is an expert baker who enjoys making desserts.
C.It implies that the voters are excited and hopeful about the politician's ideas.
D.It creates a literal image of a pie floating in the air to make the story more interesting.
Challenging
A student is writing an argumentative essay claiming that a character is brave. Which sentence provides the strongest evidence by using an idiom correctly?
A.The character was brave because he was always a barrel of laughs, making everyone feel better.
B.The character's bravery was clear when he got cold feet before the battle.
C.The character proved his bravery when he went against the grain and stood up for what was right, even though everyone disagreed.
D.The character was so brave that he was always beating around the bush.
Challenging
A student reads: 'The detective knew the suspect's story didn't add up.' The student concludes the idiom means 'the suspect is bad at math.' Why is this conclusion an example of the 'Jumping to Conclusions' pitfall?
A.Because the student should have used a dictionary first.
B.Because the student combined the literal meaning of 'add up' with the context of a crime story without testing the logic.
C.Because detectives are usually good at math, so the suspect must be too.
D.Because the student ignored the fact that the story was about a detective.
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