Idioms and old sayings

Grade 6 Reading Worksheet

Circle the best answer.

1. 1.

   Bo reads: "The new paint set cost an arm and a leg, so the club saved for months." What does cost an arm and a leg mean?

   • took a very long time for the shop to make
   • cost a great deal of money
   • cost almost nothing
   • hurt to carry home
2. 2.

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

   • gave up too early
   • ate too much food at the club's lunch
   • chose too few things to do
   • took on more than it could handle
3. 3.

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

   • very rarely
   • each week
   • late at night
   • when the moon turns blue
4. 4.

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

   • back to square one
   • bit off more than it could chew
   • on the fence
   • a piece of cake
5. 5.

   Esme told the surprise-party plan by accident. Which idiom fits, Luz?

   • hit the books
   • let the cat out of the bag
   • bit off more than it could chew
   • broke the ice
6. 6.

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

   • in hot water
   • see eye to eye
   • on the fence
   • under the weather
7. 7.

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

   • Look before you leap
   • Two heads are better than one
   • Many hands make light work
   • Slow and steady wins the race
8. 8.

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

   • Two heads are better than one
   • You can't have your cake and eat it too
   • Don't judge a book by its cover
   • Practice makes perfect
9. 9.

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

   • Haste makes waste
   • Don't judge a book by its cover
   • Slow and steady wins the race
   • Practice makes perfect
10. 10.

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

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