Idioms and old sayings

Grade 6 Reading Worksheet

Circle the best answer.

1. 1.

   Esme reads: "The club took on six projects and bit off more than it could chew." What does the idiom mean here?

   • chose too few things to do
   • ate too much food at the club's lunch
   • gave up too early
   • took on more than it could handle
2. 2.

   Jun reads: "We go to the planetarium once in a blue moon, so it feels special." What does once in a blue moon mean?

   • when the moon turns blue
   • each week
   • very rarely
   • late at night
3. 3.

   The class's first plan failed, and they had to start over. Which idiom fits, Kira?

   • back to square one
   • a piece of cake
   • on the fence
   • bit off more than it could chew
4. 4.

   Two friends agree on the trip plan. Which idiom fits, Milo?

   • see eye to eye
   • on the fence
   • under the weather
   • in hot water
5. 5.

   Zee trains a little every day and finishes the long race. Which adage fits, Noah?

   • Look before you leap
   • Many hands make light work
   • Two heads are better than one
   • Slow and steady wins the race
6. 6.

   Noah almost skipped a plain-looking book, but it was the best book of the year. Which adage fits, Pia?

   • You can't have your cake and eat it too
   • Two heads are better than one
   • Don't judge a book by its cover
   • Practice makes perfect
7. 7.

   Tala rushed a poster and had to redo it twice. Which adage fits, Ren?

   • Practice makes perfect
   • Slow and steady wins the race
   • Haste makes waste
   • Don't judge a book by its cover
8. 8.

   Break the ice. Intended meaning: ? Why does "break the ice" fit the first day of a new club, Tala?

   • The talk makes the group grow colder
   • The club meets out on a frozen pond, and someone cracks the ice
   • A first friendly talk helps a cold, quiet group open up
   • The club is in trouble on the first day
9. 9.

   Cut corners. Intended meaning: ? Why does "cut corners" fit a rushed science project, Zee?

   • It means trimming the poster's corners
   • It means skipping careful steps to save time
   • It means starting over from the beginning
   • It means taking extra care with each step of the project
10. 10.

    Get cold feet. Intended meaning: ? Why does "get cold feet" fit a singer who almost quits before a show, Ari?

    • It means feeling ready and eager
    • It means telling a secret
    • It means getting too nervous to go ahead
    • It means the stage floor is cold under the singer's feet