poetic device: Idioms

An idiom is a common expression that has a different meaning than the literal meaning of the words. For example, to say that someone “kicked the bucket” means that they died, not that they actually kicked a bucket, and to describe something as “a piece of cake” means it is very easy, not a literal slice of cake.

Each of these poems include at least one idiom, often in the final line of the poem, but sometimes more. See if you can find the idioms in each of these poems.

I Finished My Homework

Sleeping Santa

My Dog Likes to Dig

On Halloween Night

Bob’s Job

My Mother Drives Me Everywhere

The Armpit of Doom

Homework, I Love You

Foolish Fiona

Zzzzz

When Chemists Die, They Barium

My Chicken’s On the Internet

Steve the Superhero

Everything We Learn at School

How Did You Get So Mean?

My Brother’s a Genius

Stumblebum Stan

Our Family Picnic

A Shark is a Pet

Cara’s Parrot

Forty Purple Porpoises

A Pair of Potatoes Were Talking

The Dragons of Monster Town

If You Ever Meet an Elephant