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 5 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."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.

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

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

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

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

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

A.Good luck.
B.Injure your leg.

5."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.

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

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

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

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

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 5 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — What the Phrase Really Means

Set 5. Prints on its own sheet.

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

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