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

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

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

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

3."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.

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

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

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

A.Injure your leg.
B.Good luck.

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

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

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

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

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

A.an insect gathering pollen
B.working very hard

LessonPrint · RL.3.4 · Set 25 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — What the Phrase Really Means

Set 25. Prints on its own sheet.

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

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