Idioms turn simple words into fun phrases with special meanings. For kids, learning idioms is like playing with new ways to say things. These phrases make talking and listening more interesting.

We use idioms a lot when we talk every day. They make our chats colorful and full of surprises. When kids learn idioms, it helps them understand how people talk and makes their own words more exciting.

Idioms might seem strange at first because they mean something different from the words they use. But finding out what idioms really mean is like solving a fun puzzle. So, let’s dive into the playful world of idioms, perfect for kids who love to explore and imagine!

Idioms for kids + examples

1. Busy as a bee

• Meaning: Very active or busy.
• Use: When someone is working hard or has a lot to do.
• Examples:
  • “Mom was busy as a bee preparing for the party.”
  • “I need to finish my project. I’ll be as busy as a bee tonight!”
  • “Our teacher is always busy as a bee with all the classwork.”

2. Cry over spilled milk

• Meaning: To be upset about something that has already happened and cannot be changed.
• Use: When someone is sad or upset about a mistake or something that can’t be fixed.
  • “Don’t cry over spilled milk. We can fix it!”
  • “He dropped his ice cream but remembered not to cry over spilled milk.”
  • “I lost the game, but I won’t cry over spilled milk. There’s always next time!”

3. Cool as a cucumber

• Meaning: Very calm and relaxed, especially in a difficult situation.
• Use: When someone is not worried or stressed about something.
• Examples:
  • “Even during the scary movie, she was as cool as a cucumber.”
  • “Before the big test, I’ll try to be as cool as a cucumber.”
  • “My dad is cool as a cucumber when he fixes things around the house.”

4. A piece of cake

• Meaning: Something very easy to do.
• Use: When something is simple and doesn’t take much effort.
• Examples:
  • “Learning to ride my bike was a piece of cake.”
  • “Don’t worry, the math test will be a piece of cake.”
  • “Helping mom bake cookies is always a piece of cake.”

5. Cat got your tongue?

• Meaning: Why aren’t you speaking or why are you so quiet?
• Use: When someone is unusually quiet or doesn’t respond.
• Examples:
  • “You’re so quiet today. Cat got your tongue?”
  • “When asked about the broken vase, he was silent. Cat got your tongue?”
  • “She usually loves to chat. Cat got your tongue, Emma?”

6. All ears

• Meaning: Listening carefully or attentively.
• Use: When you’re ready to listen to someone’s story or information.
• Examples:
  • “Tell me about your day at school. I’m all ears!”
  • “When it was storytime, the kids were all ears.”
  • “I can’t wait to hear your secret. I’m all ears!”

7. Hold your horses

• Meaning: To wait or be patient.
• Use: When someone needs to slow down or wait for something.
• Examples:
  • “Hold your horses! We can’t open gifts until everyone is here.”
  • “He was rushing to the playground, but I said, ‘Hold your horses!'”
  • “She wanted dessert first, but mom said to hold your horses until after dinner.”

8. Monkey business

• Meaning: Silly or mischievous behavior.
• Use: When someone is being playful or causing a bit of trouble in a fun way.
• Examples:
  • “No monkey business while I’m on the phone, please!”
  • “The kids got into some monkey business during recess.”
  • “At the sleepover, there was a lot of monkey business and laughter.”

9. Barking up the wrong tree

• Meaning: To be mistaken or looking in the wrong place.
• Use: When someone has the wrong idea or is doing something incorrectly.
• Examples:
  • “If you think I took your cookie, you’re barking up the wrong tree!”
  • “He thought the dog hid his shoe, but he was barking up the wrong tree.”
  • “Looking for snacks in the laundry room? You’re barking up the wrong tree!”

10. The icing on the cake

• Meaning: Something that makes a good situation even better.
• Use: When something nice is added to an already good situation or event.
• Examples:
  • “Finding a $5 bill on the ground was the icing on the cake during our walk.”
  • “Getting to see the fireworks was the icing on the cake at the end of a fun day.”
  • “He was happy about his birthday presents, but the surprise party was the icing on the cake.”

11. Let the cat out of the bag

• Meaning: To reveal a secret accidentally.
• Use: When someone tells a secret they weren’t supposed to.
• Examples:
  • “I accidentally let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party.”
  • “She let the cat out of the bag about our secret clubhouse.”
  • “Oops, I think I just let the cat out of the bag about our trip to the zoo.”

12. Butterflies in my stomach

• Meaning: To feel nervous or excited.
• Use: When you have a nervous or fluttery feeling inside before something big.
• Examples:
  • “I had butterflies in my stomach before my piano recital.”
  • “He gets butterflies in his stomach every time he goes to the top of the slide.”
  • “She felt butterflies in her stomach before opening her birthday presents.”

13. Walking on eggshells

• Meaning: To be very careful about what you say or do.
• Use: When someone is being very careful not to upset someone else.
• Examples:
  • “I was walking on eggshells around her after I broke her toy.”
  • “He’s so sensitive about losing the game; I feel like I’m walking on eggshells.”
  • “We were walking on eggshells trying not to wake the baby.”

14. Out of the blue

• Meaning: Something happens unexpectedly.
• Use: When something surprising happens without warning.
• Examples:
  • “Out of the blue, a clown showed up at our picnic!”
  • “She got a gift from her friend out of the blue.”
  • “The rain started out of the blue, and we had to run for cover.”

15. Over the moon

• Meaning: Very happy or delighted.
• Use: When someone is extremely pleased about something.
• Examples:
  • “I was over the moon when I got a puppy for my birthday.”
  • “He was over the moon about winning the spelling bee.”
  • “They were over the moon to find out they were going to Disneyland.”

16. A fish out of water

• Meaning: Feeling out of place or uncomfortable in a certain situation.
• Use: When someone doesn’t feel like they belong.
• Examples:
  • “I felt like a fish out of water at the new school.”
  • “He was a fish out of water trying to dance ballet.”
  • “At the fancy dinner, we all felt like fish out of water with so many forks.”

17. Go bananas

• Meaning: To become very excited or crazy about something.
• Use: When someone is really excited or acting a bit wild.
• Examples:
  • “The kids went bananas when they saw the cake.”
  • “She went bananas after finding out she was going to the water park.”
  • “We all went bananas during the pillow fight.”

18. Under the same roof

• Meaning: Living in the same house or place.
• Use: When talking about people who live together.
• Examples:
  • “Our whole family lives under the same roof.”
  • “The cat and the dog live under the same roof, but they don’t get along.”
  • “Grandma came to stay with us, so now we’re all under the same roof.”

19. Don’t judge a book by its cover

• Meaning: Don’t make judgments based on appearances.
• Use: When you shouldn’t decide about someone or something just by how they look.
• Examples:
  • “He looks a bit scary, but don’t judge a book by its cover. He’s really nice.”
  • “That dessert doesn’t look yummy, but don’t judge a book by its cover.”
  • “She thought the old library would be boring, but she learned not to judge a book by its cover.”

20. A penny for your thoughts

• Meaning: Asking someone what they are thinking about.
• Use: When you want to know what’s on someone’s mind.
• Examples:
  • “You’re so quiet. A penny for your thoughts?”
  • “He looked sad sitting alone. So, I asked, ‘A penny for your thoughts?'”
  • “She was staring out the window, and her mom said, ‘A penny for your thoughts?'”

Idioms for kids are fun!

Exploring idioms for kids opens up a world of creative expression, making everyday conversations more vibrant and engaging.

For kids eager to dive deeper into the wonders of English, our app, ELSA Speak, is a fantastic tool. It’s designed to help young learners improve their English in a fun and interactive way. So, as we embrace the playful journey of idioms for kids, ELSA Speak stands ready to support every step of their language learning adventure.

Check more idioms here