What the Phrase Really Means is a free printable Grade 3 English worksheet on explaining an idiom, simile or metaphor, aligned to Common Core standard RL.3.4. It prints 8 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two pupils in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.

Set 11 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

One paper per pupil

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. All 25 sets ask different questions.

What the Phrase Really Means

RL.3.4

NameDate

Tick the right answer.

1."Her smile was as bright as the sun." What does this really mean?

A.Her smile gave off sunlight.
B.Her smile was very warm and cheerful.

2."She let the cat out of the bag." What does this really mean?

A.She gave away a secret.
B.She released a cat from a bag.

3."As light as a feather" What does this really mean?

A.a feather's actual weight
B.weighing very little

4."It costs an arm and a leg." What does this really mean?

A.The price is body parts.
B.It is very expensive.

5."He was on cloud nine." What does this really mean?

A.He was standing on a cloud.
B.He was extremely happy.

6."As quiet as a mouse" What does this really mean?

A.a small silent rodent
B.making almost no sound

7."Break a leg!" What does this really mean?

A.Injure your leg.
B.Good luck.

8."Hold your horses." What does this really mean?

A.Grip some horses.
B.Wait and slow down.

LessonPrint · RL.3.4 · Set 11 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — What the Phrase Really Means

Set 11. Prints on its own sheet.

1.Her smile was very warm and cheerful.
2.She gave away a secret.
3.weighing very little
4.It is very expensive.
5.He was extremely happy.
6.making almost no sound
7.Good luck.
8.Wait and slow down.

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to RL.3.4 of the Common Core State Standards for English language arts.