Making Sense of Idioms: A Guide for KS2 Teachers

Did you know that there are around 25,000 idioms in the English language? Idioms are frequently used in speech and writing. As adults, we often use them without thinking, but these casually-used quirky sayings can leave children feeling 'all at sea'! Of course, I have just used the commonly-used idiom 'all at sea' to highlight how often we use idioms to communicate our ideas. It is no suprise that these often nonsensical turns of phrase can cause confusion. So, where should teachers start when attempting to explain language that literally does not make sense?

National Curriculum Expectations

Checking what is expected of different age groups according to the English National Curriculum is a good place to start. Adults often find themselves in the position of having to explain an idiom to children in KS1 or even younger. For example, a casual remark such as 'it's raining cats and dogs' may leave children totally nonplussed and requiring some clarification! Although we may find that we occasionally need to explain a casual utterance, there is no objective that dictates that teachers should teach about the use of idioms before KS2.

The teaching of idioms can be linked to the following statutory English National Curriculum reading comprehension objectives:

• Discussing words and phrases that capture the reader’s interest and imagination (Year 3 and 4)
• Discuss and evaluate how authors use language, including figurative language, considering the impact on the reader (Year 5 and 6)

Non-statutory guidance for years 5 and 6 suggests that 'Pupils should be taught the technical and other terms needed for discussing what they hear and read, such as metaphor, simile, analogy, imagery, style and effect.' Idioms are not specifically referred to - the choice of which technical and other terms should be taught is left to the teacher. We don't have to teach idioms, but if we choose not to discuss them we run the risk of our pupils constantly encountering strange groups of words with no explanation ever given.

How do we define idioms?

Idioms are sometimes called ‘sayings’. One way to define idioms is by explaining that they are phrases which often have a completely different meaning than the words used would suggest. For example, if we consider the idiom 'costs an arm and a leg', the individual words are not in themselves related to something being expensive. Because the words used in an idiom may not make sense in their context (or in any context!), they can be difficult to understand. Teachers should be aware that after listening to an explanation of what an idiom is, pupils may be left wondering why people might choose to say or write something that does not really make sense.

Why do we use idioms?

Explanations of why we use idioms run deep. Idioms are not just found in English - they can be found in all languages. Some explanations delve into the depths of human pysche suggesting that we have an innate desire to use expressions which create mental images which are beyond the literal. In short, there is no straighforward answer to the question of why we use idioms. Teachers wishing to simplify matters might try stating the following:

Using an idiom is an interesting way of saying something.
Idioms can help us to communicate complicated ideas quickly.
Idioms make language more lively.
We use idioms without thinking. Most people do not try to use idioms when they are talking or writing. It is just something that happens naturally once they understand them.

This last point is important. Pupils should not worry about learning the meanings of different idioms. Before they know it they will be using idioms themselves, in fact, they probably already are!

Teaching Idioms

The objective of teaching idioms is simply to ensure that children become familiar with the term and are aware of what they are. With this in mind, although understanding the use of idioms can be difficult, teaching about idioms need not be a stressful experience for either the teacher or the student. Exploring these odd phrases with pupils can and should be fun! Here are some ideas which will help teachers to make sense of idioms:

Remind pupils that if they can't make sense of a phrase from exploring the meanings of its words, the phrase could be an idiom. Look out for idioms in speech and writing. Point them out and explain them to pupils whenever you can.
Help pupils to understand that they already know some idioms. Ask them about the meanings of idioms such as 'feeling blue', 'break a leg' or 'walking on air'. There are numerous lists of idioms which can be found on the internet. For example, the children's section of the website The Idioms contains numerous appropriate examples. Pupils will be surprised at how many they already know.
Introduce unfamiliar idioms to pupils and explain their meanings. To help reinforce understanding, have pupils write sentences using them. It is hard to guess which idioms pupils may or may not be familiar with, but here are some examples below:

*Extend an olive branch (to make peace with)

*Mad as a hatter (someone who acts in a crazy way)

*Bite the bullet (tackle a tough or unpleasant task)

*Barking up the wrong tree (gettting the wrong idea about something)

*Feeling under the weather (not feeling well)

*Cat's Pyjamas (something that is excellent or outstanding)

Pupils often assume teachers know everything. Let them know that you don't know every single one of the 25,000 idioms in the English langauge and that is great to learn and use new ones.

How to have fun with idioms

Consider phrases such as 'when pigs might fly', 'talking mumbo jumbo', or 'cat got your tongue'. The quirky nature of idioms can make any lesson about them amusing! We can have fun when teaching about idioms, but it is important to consider what we are trying to achieve. The aim should be to help pupils develop an understanding of what an idiom is and to expand their vocabulary by introducing them to some new ones.

Resources such as matching games or PPTs which simply match comical pictures with idioms are not always that helpful for learning. For example, pairing a picture of a flying pig with the words 'when pigs might fly' is fun - but it does nothing to help pupils understand the meaning of the idiom. Alternatively, discussing idioms, exploring their meanings and using them in speech and writing will help pupils to understand them

Looking for a fun, light-hearted, enjoyable and informative lesson about idioms? You might like the great-value Primary Texts lesson below. This bright and cheerful resource contains explanation of what idioms are and why we use them, easy-to-remember examples and exercises enabling pupils to discuss and use them. Click the images to find out more: