Idioms are like secret codes in everyday language — they don’t always mean what the words say, but they help make stories and conversations more colorful and fun. For kids, learning idioms can be like going on a word adventure. These phrases add imagination and energy to speech, helping young learners understand humor, emotions, and ideas in exciting new ways.
Using idioms can also boost creativity, build stronger communication skills, and make storytelling way more interesting. Whether you’re writing a school story, telling your friend how you feel, or just trying to explain something quickly, idioms can help you say it better.
In this article, you’ll discover 39 fun, friendly, and easy-to-understand idioms that are perfect for kids. Each one comes with a clear meaning, a long sentence example that makes the meaning shine, and some other ways to say the same idea. So, get ready to jump into the magical world of idioms and bring your words to life!
Idioms for Kids
1. Let the cat out of the bag
Meaning: To accidentally reveal a surprise or secret.
In a Sentence: During lunch, I accidentally let the cat out of the bag and told my brother about his surprise birthday party.
Other Ways to Say: Spill the secret, Reveal the surprise
2. When pigs fly
Meaning: Something that will never happen.
In a Sentence: I’ll clean my room every single day… when pigs fly!
Other Ways to Say: Not going to happen, Impossible
3. It’s raining cats and dogs
Meaning: It’s raining very heavily.
In a Sentence: We had to cancel our picnic because it was raining cats and dogs all afternoon.
Other Ways to Say: Pouring rain, Heavy rainfall
4. Hold your horses
Meaning: Wait a moment or slow down.
In a Sentence: Hold your horses—I haven’t finished packing my backpack yet!
Other Ways to Say: Be patient, Wait a second
5. A piece of cake
Meaning: Something very easy to do.
In a Sentence: That spelling test was a piece of cake because I studied really hard all week.
Other Ways to Say: Super easy, No problem
6. Hit the hay
Meaning: To go to bed or go to sleep.
In a Sentence: After playing all day at the park, I was so tired I couldn’t wait to hit the hay.
Other Ways to Say: Go to sleep, Head to bed
7. Under the weather
Meaning: Not feeling well or a little sick.
In a Sentence: I stayed home from school today because I was feeling under the weather and had a sore throat.
Other Ways to Say: Feeling sick, Not feeling good
8. Break a leg
Meaning: A way to wish someone good luck.
In a Sentence: Before my friend went on stage for her school play, I told her to break a leg because she was a little nervous.
Other Ways to Say: Good luck, You’ve got this
9. Cold feet
Meaning: Feeling nervous or scared to do something.
In a Sentence: I got cold feet right before my turn at the spelling bee and forgot my word!
Other Ways to Say: Nervous, Have second thoughts
10. A fish out of water
Meaning: Someone who feels uncomfortable or out of place.
In a Sentence: I felt like a fish out of water during my first swimming class because I didn’t know anyone there.
Other Ways to Say: Out of place, Uncomfortable
11. The ball is in your court
Meaning: It’s your turn to do something or make a decision.
In a Sentence: I finished my part of the group project, so now the ball is in your court to complete the final slides.
Other Ways to Say: Your move, It’s your turn
12. Cry over spilled milk
Meaning: To be upset about something that has already happened and can’t be changed.
In a Sentence: I dropped my sandwich on the ground, but Mom told me not to cry over spilled milk and gave me another one.
Other Ways to Say: Don’t worry about it, Let it go
13. Cat got your tongue?
Meaning: When someone is very quiet or doesn’t speak.
In a Sentence: When the teacher called on me, I got so nervous I couldn’t answer—she said, “Cat got your tongue?”
Other Ways to Say: Speechless, Too shy to talk
14. Butterflies in my stomach
Meaning: Feeling nervous or excited inside.
In a Sentence: I had butterflies in my stomach before going up on stage to sing in the talent show.
Other Ways to Say: Feeling nervous, Stage fright
15. Get cold feet
Meaning: To suddenly feel scared about doing something.
In a Sentence: I was ready to jump off the diving board, but then I got cold feet and climbed back down.
Other Ways to Say: Lose courage, Feel afraid
16. Don’t count your chickens before they hatch
Meaning: Don’t assume something will happen before it actually does.
In a Sentence: I thought I would win the art contest, but Mom said, “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.”
Other Ways to Say: Wait and see, Don’t assume
17. In hot water
Meaning: In trouble for doing something wrong.
In a Sentence: I was in hot water after I accidentally broke the vase in the living room.
Other Ways to Say: In trouble, In a mess
18. On cloud nine
Meaning: Extremely happy and joyful.
In a Sentence: I was on cloud nine when I got my favorite book as a birthday gift.
Other Ways to Say: Super happy, Over the moon
19. Out of the blue
Meaning: Something that happens unexpectedly.
In a Sentence: Out of the blue, my cousin came to visit and brought me a big chocolate cake!
Other Ways to Say: All of a sudden, Unexpectedly
20. Break the ice
Meaning: To do or say something to make people feel more comfortable.
In a Sentence: I told a silly joke to break the ice when I met my new classmates at summer camp.
Other Ways to Say: Start talking, Make things less awkward
21. Once in a blue moon
Meaning: Something that happens very rarely.
In a Sentence: We go out for ice cream as a family only once in a blue moon, so I always look forward to it.
Other Ways to Say: Hardly ever, Rarely
22. A whale of a time
Meaning: To have a great and fun time.
In a Sentence: We had a whale of a time at the amusement park riding roller coasters and eating cotton candy.
Other Ways to Say: So much fun, An awesome time
23. Like a bull in a china shop
Meaning: To be very clumsy or careless.
In a Sentence: My little brother ran through the living room like a bull in a china shop and knocked over all the toys.
Other Ways to Say: Clumsy, Careless
24. Head in the clouds
Meaning: Daydreaming or not paying attention.
In a Sentence: I didn’t hear the teacher call my name because I had my head in the clouds thinking about my weekend plans.
Other Ways to Say: Daydreaming, Distracted
25. Monkey see, monkey do
Meaning: Copying someone without thinking.
In a Sentence: My baby sister copied me dancing like a monkey—definitely a case of monkey see, monkey do!
Other Ways to Say: Mimic, Copycat
26. Give someone a hand
Meaning: To help someone.
In a Sentence: I gave my friend a hand by helping him carry his books up the stairs when his bag was too heavy.
Other Ways to Say: Lend a hand, Help out
27. The early bird catches the worm
Meaning: People who act early get the best results.
In a Sentence: I woke up early to finish my homework, and it felt good because the early bird catches the worm.
Other Ways to Say: Be early to succeed, Don’t wait
28. Let your hair down
Meaning: To relax and have fun.
In a Sentence: After finishing all my homework, I could finally let my hair down and play my favorite video game.
Other Ways to Say: Chill out, Have fun
29. As cool as a cucumber
Meaning: To be very calm even in a tough situation.
In a Sentence: Even when the power went out during the play, the lead actor stayed as cool as a cucumber on stage.
Other Ways to Say: Stay calm, Don’t panic
30. Hit the jackpot
Meaning: To get something really great or lucky.
In a Sentence: I felt like I hit the jackpot when I found a shiny coin on the sidewalk.
Other Ways to Say: Got lucky, Big win
31. Put on your thinking cap
Meaning: To start thinking seriously about something.
In a Sentence: I had to put on my thinking cap to solve the tricky riddle in our class game.
Other Ways to Say: Focus your mind, Think hard
32. Barking up the wrong tree
Meaning: Blaming the wrong person or doing the wrong thing.
In a Sentence: If you think I ate the last cookie, you’re barking up the wrong tree—it was Max!
Other Ways to Say: Blaming the wrong person, Wrong guess
33. In a pickle
Meaning: To be in a difficult or confusing situation.
In a Sentence: I was in a pickle when I forgot both my homework and my lunch at home.
Other Ways to Say: In trouble, In a tough spot
34. Zip your lip
Meaning: To be quiet or stop talking.
In a Sentence: My sister told me to zip my lip about her secret birthday plan for Mom.
Other Ways to Say: Stay quiet, Keep it secret
35. As busy as a bee
Meaning: Very active and working hard.
In a Sentence: I was as busy as a bee helping my teacher set up the art display for school.
Other Ways to Say: Working hard, Super busy
36. Have a sweet tooth
Meaning: To really love sweets and candy.
In a Sentence: I definitely have a sweet tooth because I could eat chocolate for every meal!
Other Ways to Say: Love candy, Crave sweets
37. Hit the nail on the head
Meaning: To describe something perfectly or get it exactly right.
In a Sentence: When I explained the math problem in my own words, my teacher said I hit the nail on the head.
Other Ways to Say: Spot on, Exactly right
38. Sleep like a log
Meaning: To sleep very deeply.
In a Sentence: After our school field trip, I was so tired I slept like a log the whole night.
Other Ways to Say: Deep sleep, Didn’t wake up at all
39. That’s the last straw
Meaning: The final thing that causes someone to lose patience.
In a Sentence: When my little brother spilled juice on my drawing, it was the last straw and I needed a break.
Other Ways to Say: Final frustration, No more patience
Exercise to Practice
Fill in the blanks:
- When I forgot my lunch and homework, I was really in a _______.
- After the concert, I was on cloud _______ from all the fun we had.
- My baby brother copied my dance moves—_______ see, monkey do!
- I told a joke to _______ the ice with my new classmates.
- It was _______ cats and dogs, so we had to stay indoors.
- I didn’t win the prize, but Mom said not to cry over spilled _______.
- My teacher told me to put on my _______ cap for the tricky puzzle.
- I was as busy as a _______ getting everything ready for the party.
- I needed to _______ my lip to keep the birthday plan a secret.
- After walking all day, I hit the _______ early and fell asleep quickly.
- I was feeling under the _______, so I stayed home from school.
- The surprise visit came out of the _______ and made my day!
Answers:
pickle, nine, monkey, break, raining, milk, thinking, bee, zip, hay, weather, blue
Conclusion
Idioms are a playful and powerful part of language that can help kids better understand the world around them. From making stories more exciting to improving the way we talk and write, idioms are tools that bring color and creativity into everyday speech.
The best way to learn idioms is to use them regularly. Try them out in conversations with friends, include them in your writing assignments, or just say them out loud when something reminds you of one. The more you use idioms, the more natural and fun your communication becomes. So go ahead—let your words sparkle with idioms, and keep exploring the magic of language every day!
