Top 100 Idioms and Phrases for Primary 4 Students: A Comprehensive Guide
Week 1: Let’s Go!
Table 1: Idioms 1-25
| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Bite the bullet | Face a painful situation bravely | Despite her fear, she decided to bite the bullet and give her presentation. |
| 2. The ball is in your court | It’s up to you to make the next move | I’ve done all I can; now the ball is in your court. |
| 3. Barking up the wrong tree | Looking in the wrong place | Accusing Tom of the mistake is like barking up the wrong tree; he wasn’t even there. |
| 4. Beat around the bush | Avoid discussing the matter at hand | Stop beating around the bush and tell me what you really think. |
| 5. Burst your bubble | To disappoint someone by revealing the truth | Sorry to burst your bubble, but summer vacation isn’t as long as you think. |
| 6. Burn bridges | Ruin relationships | Don’t burn bridges with your old classmates; you never know when you’ll need them. |
| 7. Cry over spilt milk | Worry about things that can’t be changed | There’s no use crying over spilt milk; you can’t change the past. |
| 8. Cut to the chase | Get to the point | Let’s cut to the chase and discuss the real issues. |
| 9. Feeling under the weather | Feeling sick | I’m feeling a bit under the weather today, so I’ll stay home. |
| 10. Go the extra mile | Do more than expected | She always goes the extra mile to help her friends. |
| 11. Hit the nail on the head | Get something exactly right | You hit the nail on the head with that answer. |
| 12. In hot water | In trouble | If you don’t do your homework, you’ll be in hot water. |
| 13. Keep your chin up | Stay positive | Even though you failed this time, keep your chin up. |
| 14. Let the cat out of the bag | Reveal a secret | I didn’t mean to let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party. |
| 15. Miss the boat | Miss an opportunity | If you don’t apply today, you might miss the boat. |
| 16. No pain, no gain | You have to work hard to achieve something | Remember, no pain, no gain. Keep practicing. |
| 17. On cloud nine | Very happy | When I found out I passed the test, I was on cloud nine. |
| 18. Pull someone’s leg | Tease or joke with someone | Don’t worry, I’m just pulling your leg. |
| 19. See eye to eye | Agree | We don’t always see eye to eye, but we respect each other. |
| 20. Take it with a grain of salt | Be skeptical | Take his advice with a grain of salt; he doesn’t always know what he’s talking about. |
| 21. Under the weather | Not feeling well | She didn’t come to school today because she’s under the weather. |
| 22. Go out on a limb | Take a risk | I’m going to go out on a limb and say that our team will win. |
| 23. Break a leg | Good luck | Break a leg on your spelling test tomorrow! |
| 24. Out of the blue | Unexpectedly | Out of the blue, she asked if I wanted to move to a new city. |
| 25. Take the bull by the horns | Deal with a problem directly | I decided to take the bull by the horns and confront him about the issue. |
Week 2: And we are back!
Table 2: Idioms 26-50
| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 26. Rain on someone’s parade | Spoil someone’s plans | I hate to rain on your parade, but we can’t go to the zoo in this weather. |
| 27. Hit the books | To study hard | If you want to ace the test, you’ll need to hit the books. |
| 28. Back to the drawing board | Start over | Our plan didn’t work, so it’s back to the drawing board. |
| 29. The early bird catches the worm | Those who start early have an advantage | She wakes up at dawn to study; as they say, the early bird catches the worm. |
| 30. Get a kick out of something | Enjoy something a lot | I get a kick out of reading comic books. |
| 31. It takes two to tango | Both parties involved in a situation are responsible | Remember, it takes two to tango; you’re not innocent either. |
| 32. Beat a dead horse | Waste effort on something that has already ended or been decided | Arguing about this now is like beating a dead horse. |
| 33. A picture is worth a thousand words | An image can tell a story better than words | The photos from the trip were so good, truly a picture is worth a thousand words. |
| 34. Every cloud has a silver lining | There’s always something good in bad times | Even though she lost her job, she found a better one. Every cloud has a silver lining. |
| 35. Feel like a million bucks | Feel wonderful | After winning the competition, I felt like a million bucks. |
| 36. Give someone the cold shoulder | Ignore someone | She gave me the cold shoulder when I tried to apologize. |
| 37. A dime a dozen | Very common | These kinds of toys are a dime a dozen at the dollar store. |
| 38. On thin ice | In a risky situation | If you keep breaking the rules, you’re on thin ice. |
| 39. Piece of cake | Easy | This math problem is a piece of cake. |
| 40. Spill the beans | Reveal a secret | Who spilled the beans about the surprise party? |
| 41. Kick the bucket | To pass away | The old man down the street kicked the bucket. |
| 42. Take it easy | Relax | You’ve been working hard all day. Take it easy. |
| 43. Through thick and thin | In good times and bad | My best friend has been with me through thick and thin. |
| 44. Go with the flow | Take things as they come | When we travel, we like to go with the flow. |
| 45. Cost an arm and a leg | Be very expensive | The new phone costs an arm and a leg. |
| 46. Biting off more than you can chew | Take on more than you can handle | By volunteering for the extra project, he bit off more than he could chew. |
| 47. Head in the clouds | Not paying attention | He had his head in the clouds during the meeting. |
| 48. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree | Children are often like their parents | She’s a great musician, just like her dad. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. |
| 49. A penny for your thoughts | Asking what someone is thinking | You seem quiet. A penny for your thoughts? |
| 50. Out of the frying pan and into the fire | From a bad situation to a worse one | After escaping the cat, the mouse ran straight into the dog. It jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire. |
Week 3: Keep on training and we are almost there!
Table 3: Idioms 51-75
| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 51. Put all your eggs in one basket | Rely on a single opportunity | Don’t put all your eggs in one basket; apply to several schools. |
| 52. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush | It’s better to have a certain advantage than the possibility of a greater one | I took the job offer because a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. |
| 53. A leopard can’t change its spots | You can’t change a person’s real nature | He promised he’d be more reliable, but a leopard can’t change its spots. |
| 54. Don’t judge a book by its cover | Don’t judge someone or something by appearance alone | She seemed quiet, but you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover; she was very lively once you got to know her. |
| 55. Hit the sack | Go to bed | It’s late. I think it’s time to hit the sack. |
| 56. The icing on the cake | An extra benefit or enhancement | I was delighted with the gift, and the card was icing on the cake. |
| 57. In the nick of time | Just in time | I got to the bus stop in the nick of time. |
| 58. Kill two birds with one stone | Accomplish two tasks with one action | I can pick up the laundry and the groceries on the way home and kill two birds with one stone. |
| 59. Left in the lurch | Left in a difficult position | When my ride didn’t show up, I was left in the lurch. |
| 60. Make a long story short | Tell something briefly | To make a long story short, I ended up missing the train. |
| 61. Not playing with a full deck | Not mentally sound | He’s not playing with a full deck if he thinks that plan will work. |
| 62. Off the hook | Freed from an obligation | I thought I’d have to work this weekend, but I got off the hook. |
| 63. Put your foot in your mouth | Say something embarrassing or wrong | I really put my foot in my mouth when I asked about her old job, not knowing she’d been fired. |
| 64. The pot calling the kettle black | Criticizing others for the very fault one possesses | You’re calling me lazy? That’s the pot calling the kettle black! |
| 65. Raining cats and dogs | Raining heavily | Bring your umbrella; it’s raining cats and dogs out there. |
| 66. Steal someone’s thunder | Take the attention or credit from someone | She unveiled her new dress before the party and completely stole my thunder. |
| 67. Take with a grain of salt | Don’t take what someone says too seriously | I take everything he says with a grain of salt because he often exaggerates. |
| 68. Up in the air | Undecided or unsettled | Our vacation plans are still up in the air. |
| 69. You can’t judge a book by its cover | Don’t base your opinion of something (or someone) on the way it (or one) looks | He doesn’t look very intelligent, but you can’t judge a book by its cover. |
| 70. At the drop of a hat | Immediately | She would help anyone at the drop of a hat. |
| 71. Bite off more than you can chew | Take on a task that is too big | Don’t bite off more than you can chew by accepting that extra project. |
| 72. Heart in your mouth | Very scared or anxious | I had my heart in my mouth when I walked onto the stage. |
| 73. Cut corners | Do something the easiest or cheapest way | It’s not good to cut corners when it comes to safety. |
| 74. Get out of hand | To get out of control | The party got out of hand when the police arrived. |
| 75. Through the grapevine | Through an informal means of information | I heard through the grapevine that she’s planning to relocate. |
Stay tuned for the last 25 idioms in the next response!
Week 4: Finish this and have a good holiday!
Table 4: Idioms 76-100
| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 76. The last straw | The final problem in a series of problems | Not cleaning his room was the last straw; he was grounded after that. |
| 77. Actions speak louder than words | What you do means more than what you say | He always promises to help, but actions speak louder than words, and he never does. |
| 78. Add insult to injury | To make a bad situation worse | He was late, and to add insult to injury, he forgot his homework. |
| 79. A drop in the bucket | A very small part of something big | My savings is only a drop in the bucket if we want to buy a house. |
| 80. An arm and a leg | Very expensive | The painting must have cost an arm and a leg. |
| 81. Barking up the wrong tree | Looking in the wrong place. Accusing the wrong person | If you think I took your book, you’re barking up the wrong tree. |
| 82. Bite off more than you can chew | To take on a task that is way too big | She bit off more than she could chew when she volunteered to manage three projects. |
| 83. Break a leg | Good luck | Break a leg at your performance tonight! |
| 84. Burn the midnight oil | To work late into the night | He was burning the midnight oil to finish his report. |
| 85. Comparing apples to oranges | Comparing two things that cannot be compared | You can’t compare swimming to running; it’s like comparing apples to oranges. |
| 86. Cross that bridge when you come to it | Deal with a problem if and when it becomes necessary | We don’t know whether we’ll need a bigger car, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. |
| 87. Cry over spilled milk | Complain about a loss from the past | Stop crying over spilled milk. We can’t undo the past. |
| 88. Cut somebody some slack | Don’t be so critical | Cut her some slack, she’s new to the job. |
| 89. Devil’s advocate | To present a counter argument | Let me play devil’s advocate and say what would happen if we didn’t follow your plan. |
| 90. Don’t count your chickens before they hatch | Don’t make plans for something that might not happen | You might not get the job, so don’t count your chickens before they hatch. |
| 91. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket | Don’t put all your resources in one place | I’m applying to several colleges so I’m not putting all my eggs in one basket. |
| 92. Feeling a bit under the weather | Feeling slightly ill | I’m feeling a bit under the weather so I won’t go to the cinema tonight. |
| 93. Hit the nail on the head | Do or say something exactly right | You hit the nail on the head when you said the company’s biggest problem is lack of communication. |
| 94. Kill two birds with one stone | To solve two problems at once | I’ll pick up the laundry on my way home from work and kill two birds with one stone. |
| 95. Last but not least | An introduction phrase to let the audience know that the last person mentioned is no less important | Last but not least, I want to introduce our wonderful janitorial staff. |
| 96. Let someone off the hook | To not hold someone responsible for something | I was supposed to wash the dishes but my dad let me off the hook. |
| 97. Miss the boat | It’s too late | He applied too late and missed the boat. |
| 98. No pain, no gain | You have to work for what you want | If you want to improve your language skills, you have to practice every day. No pain, no gain. |
| 99. On the ball | Doing a good job | She’s really on the ball. She finished the project in record time. |
| 100. Pulling someone’s leg | Joking | Are you pulling my leg or are we really going to Disneyland? |
That completes our list of 100 idioms suitable for Primary 4 students. Each idiom is an enriching addition to their vocabulary, enhancing their language skills and making them more effective communicators.
Have a look at some of our English Tutorial materials here:
- Back to our main article: English Primary Overview
- Our Composition Writing section: Creative Writing Materials Primary Schools
- For more Vocabulary Practices, Check out our full Vocabulary Lists.
- Latest SEAB MOE English Syllabus here
Learning Idioms and Phrases are integral component of English language
When learning English, idioms and phrases are integral components that boost understanding and expression. They give the language its spice and color, making it more intriguing and fascinating. For Primary 4 students, mastering idioms and phrases is a significant step towards becoming proficient English speakers.Before we dive into our Top 100 Idioms and Phrases, let’s discuss the best strategies to employ in teaching and learning these elements:
- Consistent Practice: Encourage your child to use newly learned idioms and phrases in their day-to-day communication.
- Contextual Learning: Teach idioms and phrases in context. This strategy makes it easier to remember and understand their usage.
- Flashcards: Utilize flashcards to review idioms and phrases regularly.
- Storytelling: Incorporate idioms and phrases into stories. This method makes learning more engaging and memorable.
- Online Games and Quizzes: Utilize online resources to make learning fun and interactive.
Top 100 Idioms and Phrases for Primary 4 Students
Now, let’s unravel our list of idioms and phrases, carefully curated to challenge Primary 4 students while keeping their understanding and interest level in mind.
- A Piece of Cake: Something that is easy to understand or do.
- Actions Speak Louder Than Words: What someone does is more important than what they say.
- Bite the Bullet: To endure a painful or difficult situation courageously.
- Break the Ice: To initiate a conversation or make a start.
- Couch Potato: A lazy person who spends most of their time watching TV and doing nothing productive.
- Down in the Dumps: Feeling depressed or unhappy.
- Eye Candy: Something or someone that is visually attractive or pleasing to look at.
- Feeling Blue: Feeling sad or depressed.
- Green Thumb: A natural skill for gardening or growing plants.
- Hit the Books: To begin studying seriously.
And many more. For the full list, refer to the attached document at the end of this article.
Some other awesome websites:
- Vocabulary.com
- Cambridge Dictionary
- Thesaurus.com
- Wikipedia.com
- Memrise
- Quizlet
- Wolfram Alpha
- Khan Academy
- Epic!
- Oxford Owl
Online Resources for Learning Idioms and Phrases
Online resources play a pivotal role in the teaching and learning process of idioms and phrases. Here are some great websites that Primary 4 students can use:
- IdiomSite.com: IdiomSite is a fantastic website that provides meanings and origins of thousands of idioms. It’s an excellent resource for learning idioms contextually.
- Phrase Finder: The Phrase Finder offers meanings for phrases and sayings. It also includes their origins, making it fun and informative.
- ESL Games Plus: ESL Games Plus provides interactive games for learning idioms. This site makes learning fun and engaging.
- Education.com: Education.com offers printable worksheets and online games focused on idioms, perfect for reinforcement and practice.
Wrap Up
Mastering idioms and phrases is not an overnight process, but with persistent effort and the right resources, Primary 4 students can surely achieve it. The journey of learning idioms and phrases can be fascinating and full of discoveries.Remember, the key is consistent practice, and using these idioms in everyday communication will immensely aid your child’s grasp of the English language. Let’s make learning fun and interactive with the strategies and resources shared in this guide!
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