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