What Is an Idiom? (With Kid-Friendly Examples!)

Idioms are silly, fun, and sometimes confusing! They’re phrases that don’t mean exactly what the words say — and that’s what makes them cool. In this blog, we’ll explain idioms in a way that’s easy to understand and share some funny examples kids love.

What is an example of an idiom?

An idiom is a phrase that has a special meaning — not the literal meaning of the words.

Here are a few fun examples kids hear all the time:

• “It’s raining cats and dogs!”

  This doesn’t mean pets are falling from the sky — it just means it’s raining really hard!

• “Hold your horses!”

  No real horses here — this just means “wait a minute!”

• “Break a leg!”

  No one wants you to get hurt! This idiom means “good luck,” especially before a performance.

• “Hit the books”

  Don’t punch your homework! This means “start studying.”

What is the meaning of the word idiom?

The word idiom comes from an old Greek word that means “one’s own” or “special.”

So, an idiom is a special way of saying something that only makes sense if you know what it means. Idioms are used in all kinds of conversations, stories, and even cartoons!

Think of idioms like a secret code people use when they talk — and once you learn the meaning, you’ll start hearing them everywhere.

What is the most popular idiom?

There are lots of popular idioms, but one of the most famous is:

“The early bird gets the worm.”

What it means:

If you get up early or start something first, you’ll have a better chance at success!

Other popular idioms kids might hear include:

• “Piece of cake” – Something really easy

• “Spill the beans” – Tell a secret

• “Under the weather” – Feeling a little sick

• “Once in a blue moon” – Something that happens very rarely

Is an idiom a metaphor?

Great question! Idioms and metaphors are kind of like cousins — they both use imaginative language, but they’re a little different:

• An idiom is a whole phrase with a hidden meaning.

  “Kick the bucket” = to die

• A metaphor compares two things directly.

  “Time is a thief” = time goes by quickly and takes things from you

So:

All idioms are figurative, but

Not all idioms are metaphors — and not all metaphors are idioms.