Figurative Language
The bed felt “as light as a feather” compared to moving the couch. Explain what “as light as a feather” means.
What is “not heavy compared to something else”?
Everyday German in English:
This little breed is a ‘badger dog”, also known as “wiener dog”.
What is Dachshund?
Covering 98 acres, this aircraft company’s Everett, Washington building is the largest building by volume in the world.
What is Boeing?
98 acres = 75 football fields. This building is bigger than Disneyland.
Kirkland Signature is this warehouse chain’s private label brand. Buying these products instead of “Brand” names can save you money.
What is Costco?
The wholesale retailer started in Washington in 1993 and now has over 850 stores worldwide. The Puyallup Costco store opened November 14, 2000.
Bonus: Name the #1 selling product at Costco.
More than a TV show, this primary law enforcement arm of the Navy includes thousands of agents who work out of 191 locations world wide:
What is NCIS?
The United States Naval Criminal Investigative Service is the primary investigative law enforcement agency of the U.S. Department of the Navy. Its primary function is to investigate major criminal activities involving the Navy and Marine Corps.
The stars made the night sky look “as bright as day”. Explain what “bright as day” means.
What is to be like day light or very sunny?
Around the USA:
The Emerald City is famous for the “Space Needle”, designed for the 1964 World’s Fair in this city, the largest in WA state.
What is Seattle?
Located just on the other side of the Cascade Mountains, the large middle part of our state would be completely dry without this great feat of engineering that bring water for crops. Name the large concrete structure.
What is Grand Coulee Dam?
Grand Coulee Dam was built between 1933 and 1941. It is the largest producer of hydroelectric power in the United States. The Dam contains 12 million cubic yards of concrete. It is located in northcentral Washington (about 4-5 hours from Puyallup).
The sign in the barber shop says “Walk-ins welcome”. Explain what “walk-ins welcome” means.
What is you don’t need an appointment to get your hair cut? You can wait in line whenever you get there.
Don’t fret (or do) on the emotional whirlwind for too long on the ride based on this Pixar film:
What is Inside Out?
Released in 2015, with a sequel in 2024, Inside Out lets us see inside the mind of Riley, an 11-year old girl and her parents when they move to a new city. It portrays the emotions Joy, Sadness, Disgust, Fear, and Anger.
My grandson is “growing like a weed” because he is 4 inches taller. Explain what “growing like a weed” means.
What is to grow very quickly?
Idioms:
Waiting on hold with EdTec has me “fit to be tied”. Explain what “fit to be tied” means.
What is extremely frustrated or angry?
This mountain’s major peaks are named Liberty Cap, Point Success and Columbia Crest, which is actually the summit. Hint: we see it every day on our way to school if "the mountain is out".
What is Mt. Rainier?
This was a Daily Double Question in January 2025. The contestant won $3000.
This virtual store began as a place to buy books for discounted prices in 1997, in Bellevue Washington. It is now the standard for online shopping.
What is Amazon?
Amazon employees approximately 60,000 people in Washington State. There are distribution centers across the United States and in many other countries.
It’s vroom, vroom when you get on the grid for the light cycle power run, just like in this film:
What is TRON?
This 1982 movie, with a 2014 sequel tells the story of a computer hacker who is transported into the digital world of video games.
Lisa demonstrated good leadership skills when she helped other students exit the building during the unexpected fire drill. She remained as “cool as a cucumber” the whole time. Explain what “cool as a cucumber” means. What is to remain calm when things are chaotic.
What is to remain calm when things are chaotic?
Food For Thought:
The core of an idea or the individual pieces on the outside of corn on the cob. Hint: unpopped ones are hard to eat.
What is “kernel”?
Electric City WA began as a community to house personnel working on construction of this huge project the produces hydroelectric power.
What is Grand Coulee Dam?
The total number of people who worked on the dam, including those who worked intermittently throughout the project, is estimated to be between 7,000 and 11,000. The project involved nearly 11,000 men working more than 27 million hours to divert the river, excavate the foundation, and place concrete, according to the National Park Service.
I need something to put all the items I want to buy in so I don’t have to carry everything around the store. Name the item I should look for when I first go into a store.
What is a shopping cart?
See if you’re up to snuff with a trip through a supervillain lab on Minion Mayhem at Universal Studios Theme Park, inspired by this 2010 film.
What is Despicable Me?
By the end of the day, all the students knew their teacher had won the lottery. The news “spread like wildfire”. Explain what “spread like wildfire” means.
What is news being told to many people at once?
Things the Doctor knows:
Breathe a sigh of relief. There is treatment available for this common breathing disorder.
What is Asthma?
MT ST Helens and MT Rainier in Washington are 2 volcanoes in this mountain range that extends all along the western coast of the US.
What are the Cascades? The Cascades run from Mexico all the way up into Canada.
Bonus: Name the other mountain range that runs through the western edge of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington.
My favorite chips are on sale this week at Safeway. Explain what a "sale" is.
What is when the price of an item is reduced for a specific period of time?
A "clearance sale" has items that are at a reduced price because the store will no longer be selling them. For example, in September, all of the summer items (like sand toys, bubbles, etc. are on clearance).
Science News: These eye parts shrink up to .4 millimeters per decade, helping explain why it gets harder to see in dim light as you age.
What are pupils?
The pupil is the black dot at the center of your eye. The colored part surrounding it is called the iris.