Home / English / Printables / Grade 3 / What the Phrase Really Means 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 19 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.
Download PDF
Next set One paper per pupil
Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. All 25 sets ask different questions.
What the Phrase Really Means RL.3.4
Name Date
Tick the right answer.
1. "He was on cloud nine." What does this really mean?
A. He was standing on a cloud. B. He was extremely happy. 2. "Hold your horses." What does this really mean?
A. Wait and slow down. B. Grip some horses. 3. "As busy as a bee" What does this really mean?
A. working very hard B. an insect gathering pollen 4. "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. 5. "As quiet as a mouse" What does this really mean?
A. making almost no sound B. a small silent rodent 6. "It costs an arm and a leg." What does this really mean?
A. The price is body parts. B. It is very expensive. 7. "Break a leg!" What does this really mean?
A. Good luck. B. Injure your leg. 8. "As light as a feather" What does this really mean?
A. a feather's actual weight B. weighing very little LessonPrint · RL.3.4 · Set 19 · free to copy for classroom use
Answer key — What the Phrase Really Means Set 19. Prints on its own sheet.
1. He was extremely happy. 2. Wait and slow down. 3. working very hard 4. Her smile was very warm and cheerful. 5. making almost no sound 6. It is very expensive. 7. Good luck. 8. weighing very little Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to RL.3.4 of the Common Core State Standards for English language arts.