Proverbs
Analogies
Idioms
Similes
Indirect Language
100

She jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire and now wants help. 


This proverb refers to when someone goes from one bad situation, to one that’s even worse. 

For example, if you leave one job because you don’t like it for a new job, and then you hate the new job even more.
100

moat is to castle as tie is to:------

(hint:  think about where a moat is) 

neck

100

What does this mean? "A blessing in disguise?" 

Something good comes out of a bad or challenging situation

100

My wife is as busy as a bee in the mornings.

What does 'busy as a bee' mean? 

busy or active. 

100

“Oh, I just love how you always show up late to the meetings,” said the team leader to John.


What did the team leader mean?  

  • The team leader is frustrated with John’s tardiness.
  • The team leader is indirectly asking John to be punctual.
  • The team leader is expressing disappointment in John’s lack of respect for others’ time.
200

When she saw her grade, her teacher said "Don’t cry over spilled milk".


Not to get upset over mistakes. What’s done is done, essentially.

200

elephant is to lumbers as moth is to ________

(hint:  lumbers describes a way of movement) 

flutters/flies 

200

What doe this idiom mean:  Costs an arm and a leg? 

very expensive!

200

While fighting the war, the soldier was as brave as a lion.

What does 'brave as a lion' mean

To show courage or bravery.

200

“Your room is so clean, I almost didn’t recognize it,” Mom remarked to her son. 

What did she mean? 

  • Mom is surprised at the cleanliness of her son’s room.
  • Mom is indirectly praising her son for cleaning his room.
  • Mom is expressing her disbelief at the unusual state of her son’s room.
300

When she thought of her brother, she thought still waters run deep.


This can be used to refer to people who are quiet or shy, suggesting that underneath that shyness, they’re actually very intelligent or passionate.

300

horrid is to bad as great is to :

(hint:  hard? good?  kind?  

good 

(something that is horrid is very bad and something that is great is very good)

300

What does this idiom mean: " The ball is in your court?"

Your turn -your responsibility for the next step
300

Don’t trust his words, he is cunning like a fox.

What does 'cunning like a fox' mean? 

someone who is extremely clever, sly, or shrewd in their actions or decisions.

300

“I can’t wait to spend my entire weekend working on this report,” sighed Sarah.

What did she mean? 

  • Sarah is unhappy about having to work over the weekend.
  • Sarah is indirectly expressing her desire for a break.
  • Sarah is showing her displeasure at the workload.
400

Strike while the iron’s hot.


When something presents itself, jump onto it straight away, or, strike while the iron’s hot.

400

ugly is to beauty as cold is to ---?

(hint:  how are ugly/beauty related?)

warmth 

400

What does this idiom mean: You bit off more than you can chew"

you took on too much work than could be done

400

The expression on her face was as cold as ice.

What does 'cold as ice' mean? 

to be extremely unfriendly

400

“Well, aren’t you a ray of sunshine in the morning,” grumbled Tom to his chirpy roommate. 

What did Tom mean? 

  • Tom is annoyed by his roommate’s morning cheerfulness.
  • Tom is indirectly asking his roommate to be quiet in the morning.
  • Tom is expressing his grumpiness in the morning.
500

Don’t cross the bridge until you come to it.


There’s no point getting stressed over a problem that hasn’t happened yet- just wait until there is a problem, and then deal with it then.

500

large is to big as kind is to----?

(hint: what is large/big ?  do they meant the same or different?). 

nice 

a synonym for kind is nice

500

what does this idiom mean:  "You hit the nail on the head!"

You did or said something that is exactly correct!

500

My uncle is as blind as a bat without his spectacles.

She looked at the cliff and me and said, you can't go there! Don't be blind as a bat!" 

What does 'blind as a bat' mean?

someone who is unwilling to recognize bad things, or someone who is completely blind

500

“I’m so glad I spent two hours in traffic. It’s the highlight of my day,” said Lisa sarcastically. 

What did Lisa really mean? 

  • Lisa is frustrated with the long commute.
  • Lisa is indirectly expressing her wish for a better commute.
  • Lisa is sarcastically highlighting the negative aspect of her day.
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