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

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

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

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

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

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

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

5."It is raining cats and dogs." What does this really mean?

A.It is raining very hard.
B.Animals are falling from the sky.

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

A.working very hard
B.an insect gathering pollen

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

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

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

A.Injure your leg.
B.Good luck.

LessonPrint · RL.3.4 · Set 16 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — What the Phrase Really Means

Set 16. Prints on its own sheet.

1.Her smile was very warm and cheerful.
2.It is very expensive.
3.weighing very little
4.She gave away a secret.
5.It is raining very hard.
6.working very hard
7.Wait and slow down.
8.Good luck.

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