Phantom Tollbooth Guide

Lesson 4: Guided Reading: Chapters 5-8

Idioms

An idiom is a phrase which has a different meaning from the meaning of its separate words. Idioms are expressions we use to convey a certain meaning or idea. Idioms have an "understood" meaning rather than an actual or literal one.

Here is an example. When we say that it is "raining cats and dogs" what we are really saying is that is it raining very hard. That is the meaning we are trying to convey. We don't mean that cats and dogs are actually falling from the sky. So the "real" meaning of those words isn't what we are really saying - we are using the non-literal, or the idiom meaning to let someone else know how hard the rain is!

Idioms make our language colorful and expressive, but they can often be challenging as well. In this lesson, think about both the literal, or real meaning, as well as the non-literal meaning of idioms.

Think about these idioms. Do you know what they mean?

You took the words right out of my mouth.

I'm all ears.

I'm going to hit the books.

You're making a mountain out of a mole hill.

Let's take a look at each one. When you say "You took the words right out of my mouth" did someone actually take words out of your mouth? No, that idiom means that someone said just what you were thinking or wanting to say.

When you say "I'm all ears" are you literally covered with ears? No, that idiom means that you are listening very carefully.

If you "hit the books" do you really, physically hit them? No, that idiom means that you are going to study hard or really spend time with the books.

When someone says you are "making a mountain out of a molehill" does that mean you are building a mountain where a molehill was? No, that idiom means that you are making something much more important than it actually is or blowing something out of proportion.

Look here: http://eslcafe.com/idioms/id-list.html for a detailed list of idioms.

Now, skim through the story and record as many idioms as you can in 5 minutes. Ready - go!

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Chapter 7 is just one chapter that is rich in idioms. Here are a few that can be found in that chapter alone:

how time flies

splitting hairs

make hay while the sun shines

leave no stone unturned

eat my words

in one ear and out the other

bite off more than you can chew

a square meal

Do you know what those mean? Try to make up a sentence using each idiom above correctly.

Now you are ready to practice what you've learned about idioms. Try these activities:

I Really Meant

For this activity you will need your list of idioms from The Phantom Tollbooth that you made above, a 12"x18" piece of construction paper, and some art supplies.

Begin by folding the paper into thirds and label each third as follows.

The first section should be labeled "When I said..."

The second section should be labeled "I did not mean..."

The third section should be labeled "I meant..."

Now, choose an idiom and write it in the first section. For example, "When I said a square meal"

In the second section draw the literal - or the real meaning of that phrase - in this case an actual square meal on a square plate with square food and a square glass.

In the third section draw that figurative meaning - in this case a square meal is a balanced meal - and the picture should illustrate that.

Make other posters for other idioms and discuss the "What I said/What I meant" meanings with your parent.

Paint by Idioms

Here is a great way to reinforce idioms. This game can be played online and it has several levels and categories: http://www.funbrain.com/idioms/index.html

Idiom Worksheet

Complete this idiom review worksheet. It is an example that is taken from The IDIOM Lesson Plan: http://volweb.utk.edu/Schools/bedford/ha... Let your parent use it as a starting point to create other worksheets.

Directions: Write the meanings of these frequently used idioms:

1. catch a cold _________________________

2. see eye to eye________________________

3. under the weather_____________________

4. stuffed to the gills_____________________

5. out of the frying pan and into the fire________

6. slow boat to China_____________________

7. nose to the grindstone___________________

8. on pins and needles_____________________

9. fly off the handle_______________________

10. toot your own horn_____________________

11. pie in the sky__________________________

12. head in the sand________________________

13. lay down the law_______________________

14. born yesterday__________________________

15. feel like a million________________________

16. just what the doctor ordered________________

17. hold your horses_________________________

18. cat has your tongue_______________________

19. going bananas___________________________

20. bury the hatchet__________________________

Now that you are good at using idioms, keep an eye out for more as you continue reading The Phantom Tollbooth.

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