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?

   • cost almost nothing
   • cost a great deal of money
   • took a very long time for the shop to make
   • 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
   • chose too few things to do
   • took on more than it could handle
   • ate too much food at the club's lunch
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?

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

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

   • bit off more than it could chew
   • let the cat out of the bag
   • hit the books
   • broke the ice
5. 5.

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

   • in hot water
   • see eye to eye
   • under the weather
   • on the fence
6. 6.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

   • It means starting over from the beginning
   • 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
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 getting too nervous to go ahead
    • It means the stage floor is cold under the singer's feet
    • It means telling a secret