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 12 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."As busy as a bee" What does this really mean?

A.working very hard
B.an insect gathering pollen

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

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

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

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

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

A.Good luck.
B.Injure your leg.

5."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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

LessonPrint · RL.3.4 · Set 12 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — What the Phrase Really Means

Set 12. Prints on its own sheet.

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

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