How can you tell they’ve got it: Idioms & Proverbs?

If they’ve got it, you’ll see things like: Explain the figurative meaning of common idioms encountered in texts, e.g. 'let the cat out of the bag' means to reveal a secret, not literally releasing a cat; Interpret the meaning and intended lesson of adages and proverbs, e.g. explain that 'the early bird catches the worm' advises that acting promptly gives an advantage; Use context clues to determine the meaning of an unfamiliar idiom or proverb encountered during reading and verify using a reference source. Or just try it together: If your child hears a saying like "don't judge a book by its cover" or "the early bird catches the worm," do they know what it really means and when you'd use it?

English Vocabulary Ages 9–11

Idioms & Proverbs

Your child can work out sayings that do not mean what they say — like the early bird catches the worm, which means it pays to act soon.

In curriculum terms

Recognise and interpret common idioms (break the ice, hit the nail on the head), adages (actions speak louder than words), and proverbs (a stitch in time saves nine), understanding their figurative meanings and when to use them

Ages are typical, not deadlines — follow your child’s pace. How to help at home →

How to tell they’ve got it

Tick these off as you see them — no test required.

Explain the figurative meaning of common idioms encountered in texts, e.g. 'let the cat out of the bag' means to reveal a secret, not literally releasing a cat
Interpret the meaning and intended lesson of adages and proverbs, e.g. explain that 'the early bird catches the worm' advises that acting promptly gives an advantage
Use context clues to determine the meaning of an unfamiliar idiom or proverb encountered during reading and verify using a reference source

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Try this together

If your child hears a saying like "don't judge a book by its cover" or "the early bird catches the worm," do they know what it really means and when you'd use it?

Where this sits on the map

Stuck here? Check the skills it builds on first. Confident? Here’s what it unlocks.

Builds on

Literal vs Figurative Languageages 8–9Interpreting idioms, adages, and proverbs requires the foundational ability to recognise nonliteral language

Idioms & Proverbsthis skill · ages 9–11

Unlocks

Nothing on the map depends on this yet.

solid = must come firstdashed = helps

Curriculum alignment

Where this fits in the official school curriculum — our best automated guess, not yet checked by a person.

Show candidate curriculum codes · 3 VIC

Australian Curriculum v9 candidate

This skill sits outside the F–6 Australian Curriculum — no candidate code matched (v0.1).

Victorian Curriculum 2.0 codes & levels only

VC2E6LY08low confidenceEnglish · Level 6 · Literacy strand

VC2E4LY09low confidenceEnglish · Level 4 · Literacy strand

VC2E5LY09low confidenceEnglish · Level 5 · Literacy strand

These are candidate alignments generated by semantic matching — machine-suggested and unreviewed (v0.1), not official or verified mappings. For official curriculum content see australiancurriculum.edu.au, curriculum.nsw.edu.au and f10.vcaa.vic.edu.au. Don’t rely on them for registration or compliance purposes.

Nearby on the map

Antonyms & Synonymsages 9–11 Domain Vocabulary Across Subject Areasages 9–11 Greek and Latin Roots for Word Meaningages 9–11 Similes & Metaphorsages 9–11

All Vocabulary skills →