Answer key · not for pupils Writer's craft sequence
Spill the Beans
Idioms: sayings that don't mean what they say
Lesson 7 of 12 Year 4
Task 1 gives the letter of the right option as printed on the sheet. Task 2 lists the mistakes in the order they appear, with the correction. Task 3 and 4 answers are models, not the only acceptable wording: any answer that uses the rule the lesson taught should be credited.
MildAn idiom is a saying. It does not mean what the words say. A piece of cake means easy!
1 · Tick the right meaning
a Ab Bc Ad BA = left option, B = right option
3 · Now you write
Model answers
The spelling test was a piece of cake.
When I won, I was over the moon.
I felt under the weather, so I stayed at home.
4 · Help Polpetta
Spill the beans means tell a secret. Nonna wanted Polpetta to tell her what he was hiding, not to tip beans on the floor.
2 · Find the 3 mistakes
1
Gino was over the moon because he lost his keys.
Gino was over the moon because he found his keys.
2
Bruno was under the weather, so he ran a race.
Bruno was under the weather, so he stayed in bed.
3
Nonna spilled the beans and kept the secret.
Nonna spilled the beans and told everyone the secret.
The quiz was a piece of cake is used correctly (the decoy). Any fix where the idiom's meaning fits is acceptable.
MediumPicture it first. If the picture is silly, the idiom means something else.
1 · Tick the right meaning
a Ab Bc Bd AA = left option, B = right option
3 · Now you write
Model answers
Tick: in hot water, in a pickle · I forgot my homework, so now I am in hot water.
Tick: over the moon, on cloud nine · My team won the cup, so I am over the moon.
Tick: a piece of cake, a walk in the park · The test was so easy, it was a piece of cake.
4 · Help Polpetta
Spill the beans means tell a secret, not tip out beans. Correct use: Gino spilled the beans about the surprise party.
2 · Find the 3 mistakes
1
Lina was over the moon when her cake burnt.
Lina was over the moon when her cake won a prize.
2
The new waiter broke the ice by sitting in silence.
The new waiter broke the ice by telling a joke.
3
Gino said, "Hold your horses!" and rushed ahead.
Gino said, "Hold your horses!" and waited for us.
Marco in hot water and the homework being a piece of cake are used correctly (the decoys).
SpicyIdioms are fixed and informal. Know the meaning, keep the words, and choose the right place.
1 · Tick the right meaning
a Ab Bc Ad BA = left option, B = right option
3 · Now you write
Model answers
"Break a leg tonight!" said Lina. "Why would I want to do that?" gasped Marco.
Too many cooks in the pot: when everyone gives orders and nothing gets done.
They have to learn the real meaning as well as the words, because the words on their own make no sense.
4 · Help Polpetta
The literal picture is beans on the floor; the real meaning is telling a secret. Polpetta should have told Nonna what he was hiding.
2 · Find the 4 mistakes
1
I spilled the beans, so the party stayed a surprise.
I kept quiet, so the party stayed a surprise.
2
the test was a piece of cake, but I failed.
the test was a piece of cake, and I got full marks.
3
I broke the ice by ignoring the new chef.
I broke the ice by asking the new chef about her recipes.
4
over the moon when the oven exploded.
over the moon when the oven was finally fixed.
Monday (under the weather) and Saturday (in hot water) use their idioms correctly.