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

My Mother Drives Me Everywhere

On Halloween Night

My Dog Likes to Dig

Bob’s Job

Homework, I Love You

When Chemists Die, They Barium

The Size of Yankee Stadium

A Pair of Potatoes Were Talking

My Brother’s a Genius

The Armpit of Doom

A Shark is a Pet

If You Ever Meet an Elephant

The Dragons of Monster Town

Our Family Picnic

Cara’s Parrot

Buckaroo Huck

Forty Purple Porpoises

My Chicken’s On the Internet

Stumblebum Stan

Foolish Fiona

Molly Has a Myna Bird

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