Vocabulary - Idioms vs Literal Meaning for Grade 7 

This Grade 7 worksheet is designed to help students understand the difference between idiomatic and literal meanings of phrases. By distinguishing between these two types of expressions, students will enhance their language comprehension and use figurative language more effectively in their writing and speaking. 

Through exercises like true/false statements, word sorting, multiple-choice questions, and sentence rewriting, students will practice recognizing and using idioms and understanding when words are meant literally. 

By completing this worksheet, learners will: 

- Understand the difference between idiomatic and literal meanings. 
- Practice interpreting and using idioms correctly. 
- Improve their communication by mastering figurative language in various contexts. 

Answer Key (For Parents & Educators) 

Exercise 1 – True/False 
1. True 
2. True 
3. True 
4. False 
5. True 
6. False 
7. True 
8. False 
9. True 
10. False 

Exercise 2 – Sort the phrase into its literal or idiomatic meaning 
Literal meaning: 
- Time flies 
- Raining cats and dogs 
- Under the weather 
- Go to bed 
- Break a leg 

Idiom meaning: 
- Raining heavily 
- Time passes quickly 
- Feeling ill 
- Start the conversation 
- Do something difficult 

Exercise 3 – Match the idioms with the correct meaning 
1. Cold feet – Nervous 
2. Under the weather – Feeling ill 
3. Break a leg – Good luck 
4. Throw in the towel – Quit 
5. Time flies – Time passes quickly 
6. Bite the bullet – Do something difficult 
7. Raining cats and dogs – Raining heavily 
8. Hit the sack – Go to bed 
9. Burning bridges – Destroy relationships 
10. Piece of cake – Too easy 

Exercise 4 – Choose the correct option to complete the sentence 
1. a) Cold feet 
2. a) Hit the sack 
3. c) Throw in the towel 
4. a) Time flies 
5. a) Under the weather 
6. a) On cloud nine 
7. a) Throw in the towel 
8. c) On top of the world 
9. c) Call it a day 
10. d) Broken heart 

Exercise 5 – Rewrite each sentence using the figurative phrase 
1. He got cold feet before the exam. 
2. She finally hit the sack after working late all week. 
3. He stayed in bed all day because he was under the weather. 
4. After struggling for hours, she decided to throw in the towel. 
5. She couldn’t believe her promotion and felt like she was on cloud nine. 
6. He remembered everything perfectly; he had a mind like a steel trap. 
7. She continued with the task despite the challenges, showing her burning desire. 
8. He had a cold personality and was hard to approach, always having cold feet. 
9. After the argument, he felt like he had a broken heart. 
10. She made a huge sacrifice for her family, burning bridges with her own feelings. 

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