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Similes, Metaphors and Idioms is a free printable Grade 4 English worksheet on explaining what a figure of speech actually means, aligned to Common Core standard L.4.5. 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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Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. All 25 sets ask different questions.

Similes, Metaphors and Idioms

L.4.5

NameDate

Tick the right answer.

1."Hold your horses." What does this really mean?
  • A.Wait and slow down.
  • B.Grip some horses.
2."It is raining cats and dogs." What does this really mean?
  • A.It is raining very hard.
  • B.Animals are falling from the sky.
3."Break a leg!" What does this really mean?
  • A.Good luck.
  • B.Injure your leg.
4."He was on cloud nine." What does this really mean?
  • A.He was extremely happy.
  • B.He was standing on a cloud.
5."Do not judge a book by its cover." What does this really mean?
  • A.Do not decide what something is worth from its appearance.
  • B.Books should be read before rating.
6."It costs an arm and a leg." What does this really mean?
  • A.It is very expensive.
  • B.The price is body parts.
7."The early bird catches the worm." What does this really mean?
  • A.Birds that wake early find food.
  • B.Those who act first do best.
8."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.

LessonPrint · L.4.5 · Set 8 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Similes, Metaphors and Idioms

Set 8. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.Wait and slow down.
  2. 2.It is raining very hard.
  3. 3.Good luck.
  4. 4.He was extremely happy.
  5. 5.Do not decide what something is worth from its appearance.
  6. 6.It is very expensive.
  7. 7.Those who act first do best.
  8. 8.She gave away a secret.

More practice for L.4.5

Explain similes, metaphors, idioms, proverbs, antonyms and synonyms.

Teaching this next? Similes, Metaphors, Idioms and Proverbs is the 40-minute plan for it, with the misconceptions to expect.

All Grade 4 worksheets

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to L.4.5 of the Common Core State Standards for English language arts.