poetic device: Idioms

An idiom is a common expression that has a different meaning than the literal meaning of the words. For example, to say that someone “kicked the bucket” means that they died, not that they actually kicked a bucket, and to describe something as “a piece of cake” means it is very easy, not a literal slice of cake.

Each of these poems include at least one idiom, often in the final line of the poem, but sometimes more. See if you can find the idioms in each of these poems.

Sleeping Santa by Kenn Nesbitt
Sleeping Santa
My Dog Likes to Dig by Kenn Nesbitt
My Dog Likes to Dig
Bob’s Job
On Halloween Night
The Life of a Pirate Ain’t Easy
My Mother Drives Me Everywhere
My World Is Turning Downside-Up by Kenn Nesbitt
My World Is Turning Downside-Up
I Finished My Homework
If You're Swallowed by an Elephant by Kenn Nesbitt
If You’re Swallowed by an Elephant
The Book of Glue by Kenn Nesbitt
The Book of Glue
A Sad and Lonely Cyclops by Kenn Nesbitt
A Sad and Lonely Cyclops
The Armpit of Doom by Kenn Nesbitt
The Armpit of Doom
Homework, I Love You
Crazy Over Vegetables by Kenn Nesbitt and Eric Herman
Crazy Over Vegetables
Calling all Kids by Kenn Nesbitt
Calling all Kids!
Foolish Fiona
I'm Super Excited by Kenn Nesbitt
I’m Super Excited
When Chemists Die They Barium by Kenn Nesbitt
When Chemists Die, They Barium
Zzzzz by Kenn Nesbitt
Zzzzz
My Chicken’s On the Internet
Steve the Superhero
Stumblebum Stan by Kenn Nesbitt
Stumblebum Stan
Everything We Learn at School by Kenn Nesbitt
Everything We Learn at School
My Brother’s a Genius