Class 4 - English - Idioms and Proverbs

Learning Objectives

Students will understand what an idiom is and how its meaning differs from the literal words.
Students will learn 10 common idioms with their meanings.
Students will understand what a proverb is and learn 10 common proverbs.
Students will use idioms and proverbs correctly in sentences and exercises.

What is an Idiom?

An idiom is a group of words (a phrase) that has a special meaning different from the literal meaning of each word. For example, "raining cats and dogs" does not mean animals are falling from the sky -- it means it is raining very heavily!

Idioms make our language colourful and interesting. We use them in everyday speech and writing.

10 Common Idioms with Meanings

S.No.	Idiom	Meaning
1	Raining cats and dogs	Raining very heavily
2	A piece of cake	Something very easy to do
3	Break the ice	To start a conversation in a shy or awkward situation
4	Hit the nail on the head	To say or do exactly the right thing
5	Burn the midnight oil	To study or work late into the night
6	Let the cat out of the bag	To reveal a secret by mistake
7	Once in a blue moon	Very rarely; almost never
8	Under the weather	Feeling unwell or sick
9	Cost an arm and a leg	To be very expensive
10	Bite off more than you can chew	To take on more work than you can handle

Using Idioms in Sentences

Examples

1. The maths test was a piece of cake for Riya -- she finished it in ten minutes.

2. Arjun burned the midnight oil before his science exam.

3. We go to the hill station once in a blue moon because it is far from Delhi.

What is a Proverb?

A proverb is a short, wise saying that gives advice or teaches a lesson. Proverbs have been used for hundreds of years and are passed down from generation to generation.

An idiom is a phrase with a hidden meaning. A proverb is a complete sentence that gives wisdom or advice.

10 Common Proverbs with Meanings

S.No.	Proverb	Meaning
1	A stitch in time saves nine.	Fix a small problem early before it becomes big.
2	Honesty is the best policy.	It is always better to tell the truth.
3	Practice makes perfect.	The more you practise, the better you become.
4	An apple a day keeps the doctor away.	Eating healthy food keeps you fit and well.
5	Where there is a will, there is a way.	If you are determined, you will find a solution.
6	All that glitters is not gold.	Things that look attractive may not always be valuable.
7	Too many cooks spoil the broth.	Too many people working on the same task can cause confusion.
8	Actions speak louder than words.	What you do matters more than what you say.
9	Rome was not built in a day.	Great things take time and patience.
10	Birds of a feather flock together.	People with similar interests spend time together.

Key Words and Meanings

Word	Meaning
Idiom	A phrase with a special meaning different from the literal meaning of its words
Proverb	A short, wise saying that gives advice or teaches a lesson
Literal	The exact, word-by-word meaning
Figurative	A meaning that is symbolic or imaginative, not literal

Key Points to Remember

An idiom is a phrase whose meaning is different from the literal meaning of its words.
A proverb is a complete sentence that gives wise advice or a life lesson.
Idioms and proverbs make our language richer and more expressive.
Learn idioms and proverbs by heart and practise using them in sentences.
Do not confuse idioms with proverbs -- idioms are phrases; proverbs are full sentences with a moral.

Practice Questions

A. Fill in the blanks with the correct idiom

It was __________________________ outside, so we could not go to the playground. (raining very heavily)
Neha found the English homework to be a __________________________. (very easy)
Grandma visits us only __________________________. (very rarely)
Vikram was feeling __________________________ and did not go to school. (unwell)

B. Complete the proverb

A stitch in time .
Honesty is .
All that glitters .
Actions speak louder .
Where there is a will, .

C. Match the idiom with its meaning

Idiom	Meaning (write the letter)
1. Break the ice	(a) To reveal a secret
2. Cost an arm and a leg	(b) To start a conversation
3. Let the cat out of the bag	(c) To take on too much work
4. Hit the nail on the head	(d) Very expensive
5. Bite off more than you can chew	(e) To say exactly the right thing

Answers: 1 = , 2 = , 3 = , 4 = , 5 =

D. Multiple Choice Questions

What does "a piece of cake" mean?
(a) A type of dessert(b) Something very easy(c) A birthday party(d) A cooking recipe
"Rome was not built in a day" teaches us about:
(a) History of Rome(b) Building houses(c) Patience and hard work(d) Travelling

E. Use any two proverbs in sentences of your own

Fun Activity -- Idiom and Proverb Hunt

Ask your parents or grandparents to tell you two idioms or proverbs they use often (in English or any Indian language). Write them below with their meanings.

1. Idiom / Proverb:

Meaning:

2. Idiom / Proverb:

Meaning:

English -- Class 4

English -- Class 4 (continued)