Idioms, Adages, and Proverbs Worksheets

Related ELA Standard: L.4.5.B

Core Standard
Answer Keys Here

We often use a variety of common everyday expressions without even realizing it. Idioms are usually focused towards a particular culture. These are sayings that are not meant to be taking literally. Other expressions are known to impart wisdom that have spanned through generations. We call these expressions proverbs. Proverbs that are very well known and have been known to be part of a culture are called adages. These worksheets will help students not only identify these expressions, but interpret them as well.

Idioms, Adages, and Proverbs Worksheets:

Animal Idioms – Find the meaning of every idiom you are presented with.

Proverbs – Finish off some of the most popular idioms of all time.

Proverb or Idiom? – Take your time with all of these.

What Does Carl Mean Now? – Carl the construction worker is very misunderstood.

Just Idioms – Fill in the blanks to make sense of everything in front of you.

Idiom Clouds – An idiom is a group of words that have a different meaning when they are together than what the words mean individually.

Special Phrases – An idiom is a phrase that has a particular meaning that you can't figure out from the meaning of the individual words in it.

Is it a Proverb or an Adage? – Both an adage and a proverb are sayings, but a proverb is more common than an adage in everyday life.

Recognizing Adages –An adage is a short, usually philosophical, and memorable saying which describes some important fact of experience that is considered true by many people, and which has gained credibility by being repeated for a long time.

Time-worn Wisdom – A proverb is a short saying that states a general truth, and often offers some advice.

Filling Sentences – An idiom is a group of words that have a different meaning when they are together than what the words mean individually.

Complete the Proverb – A proverb is a short statement that expresses a general truth, and often gives some kind of advice.

Match the Sayings – Put it all together and see if you can match what the thoughts are behind the sentences.

Understanding Proverbs – In your own words, explain what each of the proverbs below means.

You Know What I Mean! – Match each proverb to its definition. Write the letter of the correct definition on the line.

What Are Idioms, Adages, and Proverbs?


Every language has its own way of saying things. Languages that are old enough develop a certain culture that is followed by the ages to come. Certain expressions redeveloped overtime that remain forever. Their use has become common and every person understands them clearly. It is not always necessary that these expressions will mean exactly what they are intended to mean. They can have different meanings. The most common forms of these expressions are idioms, proverbs, and adages. There are idioms, proverbs, and adages in almost all languages. They add an element of humor, knowledge, and learning in a different way. Here are brief explanations and uses of idioms, proverbs, and adages:


Idioms


Idioms are phrases that are used when someone wants to mention wise advice in the conversation. The beauty of idioms is that they do not really mean what they say. In fact, their meaning is quite different from what could be assuming. Idioms have hidden wisdom inside them. Almost all languages have idioms. You will have to memorize idioms just like words because their meanings are not easy to guess. Just like the way you memorize normal words. An example of an idiom is "break a leg". This idiom means good luck.


Proverbs


Proverbs are statements that have practical wisdom inside them. They encapsulate wisdom in simple words that everyone can understand and work on. Proverbs are considered valuable elements of the language as they have to carry wisdom. An example of an English proverb is "a stitch in time, saves nine". This proverb means that a work done in time will save you from doing a lot of work later on.


Adage


An adage is a proverb that has been used for a long time. For example, "where there is smoke, there is fire".


How to Explain Common Idioms, Adages, and Proverbs?


Idioms, adages, and proverbs are one of those most important elements of any language that have come down from ancient times. These are phrases and statements that were said at one point in time and were so perfectly fitted to that situation that the way they were spoken, everyone remembered them. Over time, these statements passed down from one generation to another, gradually making for themselves a generalized status and being used as a connotative or figurative idea in a relevant situation.


There are no hard and fast rules that can help in explaining these three figures of speech and their meanings. It is very hard to guess the meaning by just hearing or reading these once. Instead, remembering these just like words and their meanings is the only way in which these can be worked out for meaning in a particular context. Other than memorizing these, it is also important to know what these all are and how are they different from one another. This awareness helps in explaining these to others whenever required.


Explaining Idioms


Idioms are short phrases that have words in them which are usually in no way related to what meaning is being given off by these. These phrases and short statements have to be memorized to understand their meaning. After you have memorized the meaning, try creating a vague connection between the words in an idiom with the sense they convey so that you can find it easy to explain it to others.


Explaining Adages


Adages are statements that have a deep wisdom being transmitted through them. There is usually a moral lesson that comes from a folk tale and the best way to explain these is to narrate the related tale and its moral.


Explaining Proverbs


Somewhat like adages, proverbs are also oft-repeated sayings about certain conditions and people and a detailed explanation of the related conditions and people can easily help in explaining these.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



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