“You can get a new pair of shoes, but don’t break the bank.”
“Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill!”
“That kid is a breath of fresh air!”
Have you ever come across a phrase or a word you just didn’t understand? Even though you knew what all of the words meant, it just didn’t make sense. For kids and English Language Learners, this happens a lot.
Idioms are phrases that have a meaning that is different from their literal meaning. Idioms come up in conversation and even on standardized tests, so it’s important to understand them. But you’ve got to memorize each idiom if you don’t want to be left in the dark.
LearningGamesforKids.com has some great games to help players learn the meanings of common idioms while having fun. Choose the Idioms tab under Vocabulary to find great games that feature idioms.
Like idioms, phrases in foreign languages are often part of conversation or literature, confusing students. Don’t let phrases like “c’est la vie” or “que sera sera” stop you in your tracks just because you don’t understand French or Spanish! Play Common Foreign Phrase Meaning Match until you’ve mastered them all!
So don’t wait, take the bull by the horns and carpe diem with idiom and foreign phrase games. You’ll have a great time playing and you’ll learn a lot, too!
