Children, with their boundless energy, curiosity, and playfulness, inspire a delightful array of idioms that capture their behaviors, emotions, and experiences, adding a whimsical touch to conversations about youth and growth. In this extensive listicle, we’ll explore 55 idioms related to children, reflecting themes of mischief, learning, joy, and innocence, each paired with its meaning and a lengthy sentence to illustrate its use. These expressions can brighten discussions about parenting, teaching, or childhood memories, whether you’re chatting with family, educating young learners, or writing about the wonders of youth. Let’s dive into this playful collection of idioms and discover how to sprinkle some childlike charm into your conversations!
What is an Idiom for Children?
Idioms for children are figurative phrases that use vivid imagery to describe the actions, characteristics, or experiences of young people, often evoking qualities like curiosity, mischief, or innocence. These expressions go beyond literal meanings to add humor, warmth, or insight to conversations, making them more engaging and relatable, especially for parents, teachers, or anyone reminiscing about childhood. By incorporating these idioms, you can bring a lively, youthful perspective to discussions about kids’ behaviors, milestones, or adventures. Below, we’ll unpack each idiom, explain its meaning, and provide a long sentence to demonstrate its application in context.
Idioms for Children
1. Kid in a Candy Store
Meaning: Someone extremely excited or delighted, often overwhelmed by choices.
In a Sentence: When the teacher brought out a box of colorful art supplies, the students were like kids in a candy store, eagerly grabbing paints and brushes to create their vibrant masterpieces.
2. Child’s Play
Meaning: Something very easy or simple to do.
In a Sentence: For the tech-savvy teenager, setting up the classroom’s new projector was child’s play, taking mere minutes to connect and configure it perfectly for the presentation.
3. Cry Like a Baby
Meaning: To cry loudly or uncontrollably, often in an exaggerated way.
In a Sentence: When he scraped his knee during recess, he cried like a baby, drawing the attention of the entire playground until the teacher soothed him with a bandage and a kind word.
4. Born with a Silver Spoon
Meaning: To be born into wealth or privilege.
In a Sentence: Growing up in a mansion with private tutors, she was born with a silver spoon, but her kindness and hard work at school showed she valued effort over entitlement.
5. Little Pitchers Have Big Ears
Meaning: Children often overhear things they’re not meant to hear.
In a Sentence: While the parents whispered about the surprise birthday party, they forgot that little pitchers have big ears, and their curious daughter caught every detail of the secret plan.
6. Like Herding Cats
Meaning: To manage a chaotic or uncontrollable group, often children.
In a Sentence: Organizing the kindergarten field trip was like herding cats, with the teachers struggling to keep the excited children in line as they darted toward every new attraction.
7. A Penny for Your Thoughts
Meaning: To ask someone what they are thinking or feeling.
In a Sentence: Noticing her son’s quiet demeanor after school, she gently asked, “A penny for your thoughts—what’s on your mind after your big day with your new classmates?”
8. Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk
Meaning: To not worry about minor mistakes that can’t be undone.
In a Sentence: When the toddler accidentally knocked over his juice, his mother smiled and said there’s no need to cry over spilled milk, quickly cleaning it up and handing him a new cup.
9. In Hot Water
Meaning: To be in trouble or facing consequences.
In a Sentence: After sneaking extra cookies before dinner, the mischievous siblings found themselves in hot water, earning a gentle scolding from their parents about following house rules.
10. Actions Speak Louder than Words
Meaning: What someone does is more significant than what they say.
In a Sentence: Instead of promising to help with the class project, she let her actions speak louder than words, staying late to finish the poster and earning her team’s admiration.
11. All Ears
Meaning: Being fully attentive and eager to listen.
In a Sentence: When the teacher began reading a thrilling story about pirates, the children were all ears, hanging onto every word with wide eyes and eager anticipation.
12. Hit the Nail on the Head
Meaning: To describe something accurately or precisely.
In a Sentence: When the student explained why the character was brave, her answer hit the nail on the head, impressing the teacher with her clear understanding of the story’s theme.
13. Barking Up the Wrong Tree
Meaning: Pursuing the wrong person or approach.
In a Sentence: If you think your little brother took your toy, you’re barking up the wrong tree—it was the dog who carried it off to the backyard during playtime.
14. Keep Your Chin Up
Meaning: To stay positive despite challenges.
In a Sentence: After losing the spelling bee, her friend encouraged her to keep her chin up, reminding her that she’d worked hard and would have another chance to shine next year.
15. A Storm in a Teacup
Meaning: A small issue blown out of proportion.
In a Sentence: The argument over who got the bigger slice of cake was a storm in a teacup, quickly forgotten when the children started playing their favorite game together.
16. Piece of Cake
Meaning: Something very easy to accomplish.
In a Sentence: After practicing all week, the math quiz was a piece of cake for the student, who breezed through the problems and finished with time to spare.
17. Don’t Count Your Chickens Before They Hatch
Meaning: To not assume success until it’s certain.
In a Sentence: Excited about the school talent show, she reminded herself not to count her chickens before they hatch, practicing her dance routine diligently until the performance day.
18. Jumping on the Bandwagon
Meaning: Joining a popular trend or activity.
In a Sentence: When the latest superhero movie came out, all the kids jumped on the bandwagon, wearing themed costumes and reenacting scenes during recess with boundless enthusiasm.
19. Back to the Drawing Board
Meaning: To start over when a plan fails.
In a Sentence: When their paper airplane design crashed during the competition, the team went back to the drawing board, determined to create a model that would soar above the rest.
20. A Dime a Dozen
Meaning: Something common and not unique.
In a Sentence: Basic crayon drawings are a dime a dozen, but her intricate artwork stood out at the school fair, earning praise for its creativity and vibrant colors.
21. Killing Two Birds with One Stone
Meaning: Accomplishing two tasks with one effort.
In a Sentence: By reading her favorite book aloud to her younger sibling, she was killing two birds with one stone, practicing her reading skills while keeping her brother entertained.
22. Let the Cat Out of the Bag
Meaning: To reveal a secret.
In a Sentence: Planning a surprise for their teacher, the class was careful, but one student let the cat out of the bag, blurting out details about the decorated classroom in excitement.
23. Don’t Cry Wolf
Meaning: To avoid giving false alarms that reduce trust.
In a Sentence: He cried wolf so often about needing help with chores that when he genuinely needed assistance, his siblings ignored him, thinking it was another trick.
24. Butterflies in Your Stomach
Meaning: Feeling nervous or excited.
In a Sentence: Before her first school play, she felt butterflies in her stomach, but once she stepped on stage, her confidence shone through, captivating the audience.
25. Bright as a Button
Meaning: Very cheerful, intelligent, or lively.
In a Sentence: The new student was bright as a button, quickly making friends with her infectious enthusiasm and clever answers during the class science experiment.
26. Knee-High to a Grasshopper
Meaning: Very young or small, often referring to a child.
In a Sentence: She was knee-high to a grasshopper when she first started ballet, but years of practice turned her into a graceful dancer who performed with confidence.
27. Monkey See, Monkey Do
Meaning: Copying someone’s actions without understanding.
In a Sentence: The younger siblings followed their older brother’s silly dance moves in a classic case of monkey see, monkey do, giggling as they mimicked every step without question.
28. Scaredy-Cat
Meaning: Someone who is easily frightened.
In a Sentence: He teased his friend for refusing to explore the dark attic, calling her a scaredy-cat, but she just laughed and suggested they investigate it together with flashlights.
29. As Easy as ABC
Meaning: Something very simple or straightforward.
In a Sentence: For the advanced reader, the beginner’s book was as easy as ABC, allowing her to finish it in one sitting and move on to more challenging stories.
30. Full of Beans
Meaning: Energetic and lively, often describing a child.
In a Sentence: After the birthday party, the kids were full of beans, running around the backyard and playing games with endless energy despite the late hour.
31. Hold Your Horses
Meaning: To slow down or be patient.
In a Sentence: When the children rushed to open their presents, their parents told them to hold their horses, ensuring everyone got a turn to enjoy the gift-opening moment.
32. Like Two Peas in a Pod
Meaning: Very similar, especially in appearance or behavior.
In a Sentence: The twins were like two peas in a pod, dressing in matching outfits and finishing each other’s sentences, much to the amusement of their classmates.
33. A Bun in the Oven
Meaning: To be pregnant, often exciting news for a family.
In a Sentence: The family was thrilled to announce a bun in the oven, eagerly preparing the nursery and discussing how the new baby would bring joy to their growing household.
34. Out of the Mouths of Babes
Meaning: Children often say wise or surprising things.
In a Sentence: When the toddler pointed out that everyone should share, it was out of the mouths of babes, reminding the adults at the table to practice kindness and generosity.
35. Wet Behind the Ears
Meaning: Inexperienced or immature, often referring to a young person.
In a Sentence: Still wet behind the ears, the new camp counselor struggled to manage the rowdy kids, but her enthusiasm and quick learning soon earned their respect.
36. Apple of My Eye
Meaning: Someone cherished or dearly loved, often a child.
In a Sentence: Her daughter was the apple of her eye, and she spent every weekend teaching her to bake, creating precious memories filled with laughter and flour-dusted aprons.
37. Chip Off the Old Block
Meaning: A child who strongly resembles a parent in behavior or appearance.
In a Sentence: With his knack for storytelling, the boy was a chip off the old block, captivating his friends just like his father did with his animated tales at family gatherings.
38. Kid Gloves
Meaning: To handle someone or something gently, like a child.
In a Sentence: The teacher used kid gloves when addressing the shy student’s mistake, offering gentle encouragement to help her gain confidence without feeling embarrassed.
39. Like a Bull in a China Shop
Meaning: To be clumsy or reckless, often in a delicate situation.
In a Sentence: The energetic toddler was like a bull in a china shop, knocking over decorations while chasing his toy truck through the carefully arranged living room.
40. Bundle of Joy
Meaning: A baby or child who brings happiness.
In a Sentence: The newborn was a bundle of joy, filling the household with love and laughter as the family gathered to celebrate the precious addition to their lives.
41. Run Around Like a Headless Chicken
Meaning: To be frantic or disorganized, often in excitement.
In a Sentence: On the last day of school, the kids ran around like headless chickens, buzzing with excitement as they exchanged goodbyes and planned their summer adventures.
42. Sugar and Spice
Meaning: A description of a sweet or charming girl.
In a Sentence: Dressed in her favorite dress and sharing her toys, the little girl was all sugar and spice, winning over everyone at the playground with her kindhearted nature.
43. Boys Will Be Boys
Meaning: Boys often behave mischievously, seen as typical.
In a Sentence: When the brothers got muddy wrestling in the backyard, their mother just shook her head and said, “Boys will be boys,” before hosing them down with a smile.
44. Tattle-Tale
Meaning: A child who reports others’ misbehavior.
In a Sentence: The teacher gently reminded the tattle-tale that not every small issue needed reporting, encouraging the class to solve minor disputes among themselves first.
45. As Quiet as a Mouse
Meaning: Very quiet or unobtrusive, often to avoid notice.
In a Sentence: During the library storytime, the children sat as quiet as mice, captivated by the librarian’s animated reading of a magical tale about dragons and knights.
46. Make a Mountain Out of a Molehill
Meaning: To exaggerate a small problem.
In a Sentence: The child made a mountain out of a molehill when he panicked over a tiny tear in his drawing, but his teacher calmly helped him fix it with a piece of tape.
47. Spill the Beans
Meaning: To reveal a secret, often unintentionally.
In a Sentence: Planning a surprise for their mom, the kids tried to stay quiet, but the youngest spilled the beans, excitedly telling her about the homemade card they’d made.
48. Born Yesterday
Meaning: To be naive or easily fooled, often due to youth.
In a Sentence: When the older sibling tricked her into believing the moon was cheese, she retorted, “I wasn’t born yesterday!” proving she was wiser than her years suggested.
49. Cat’s Got Your Tongue
Meaning: Unable to speak, often due to shyness or surprise.
In a Sentence: When asked to share her poem in class, she froze, prompting the teacher to tease, “What’s wrong, has the cat’s got your tongue?” before offering gentle encouragement.
50. Up to Mischief
Meaning: Engaging in playful or naughty behavior.
In a Sentence: Left unsupervised for just a moment, the kids were up to mischief, giggling as they rearranged the classroom decorations into a silly, makeshift fort.
51. Little Monkey
Meaning: A playful or mischievous child.
In a Sentence: Climbing the jungle gym with boundless energy, the little monkey swung from bar to bar, delighting his friends with his daring antics and infectious laughter.
52. Young at Heart
Meaning: Having a youthful spirit, regardless of age, often like a child.
In a Sentence: The grandfather was young at heart, joining his grandkids in a lively game of tag, his joyful laughter echoing through the park as they chased each other.
53. Raining Cats and Dogs
Meaning: A heavy downpour, exciting for kids.
In a Sentence: When it started raining cats and dogs, the children squealed with delight, splashing in puddles and racing to put on their raincoats for an impromptu adventure.
54. Follow in Your Footsteps
Meaning: To imitate or pursue the same path as someone, often a parent.
In a Sentence: Inspired by her mother’s love for science, the girl vowed to follow in her footsteps, eagerly conducting experiments and dreaming of becoming a researcher one day.
55. Bouncing Off the Walls
Meaning: Extremely energetic or hyperactive, often describing children.
In a Sentence: After eating too much candy at the party, the kids were bouncing off the walls, racing around the room and giggling uncontrollably until their parents calmed them down.
Quizzes About The Idioms in The Article
Quiz 1: Kid in a Candy Store
What does the idiom “Kid in a candy store” mean?
a) Someone bored and uninterested
b) Someone extremely excited or delighted
c) Someone confused
d) Someone tired
Quiz 2: Child’s Play
What is the meaning of “Child’s play”?
a) Something very difficult
b) Something very easy or simple
c) Something dangerous
d) Something boring
Quiz 3: Little Pitchers Have Big Ears
When someone says “Little pitchers have big ears,” what are they emphasizing?
a) Children are loud
b) Children overhear things they shouldn’t
c) Children are forgetful
d) Children are uninterested
Quiz 4: Like Herding Cats
What does the idiom “Like herding cats” suggest?
a) Managing an easy task
b) Managing a chaotic group
c) Avoiding responsibility
d) Completing a project quickly
Quiz 5: Cry Like a Baby
What situation is described by the idiom “Cry like a baby”?
a) Laughing uncontrollably
b) Crying loudly or exaggeratedly
c) Staying calm
d) Being silent
Quiz 6: Bright as a Button
If someone is “bright as a button,” what does it mean?
a) They are dull and uninterested
b) They are cheerful and intelligent
c) They are tired and slow
d) They are aggressive
Quiz 7: Knee-High to a Grasshopper
What does the expression “Knee-high to a grasshopper” imply?
a) Very tall
b) Very young or small
c) Very old
d) Very strong
Quiz 8: Monkey See, Monkey Do
When is it appropriate to say, “Monkey see, monkey do”?
a) When someone is original
b) When someone copies another’s actions
c) When someone is quiet
d) When someone is leading
Quiz 9: Apple of My Eye
What is the meaning of “Apple of my eye”?
a) Someone disliked
b) Someone cherished or loved
c) Someone ignored
d) Someone ordinary
Quiz 10: Full of Beans
When someone is “full of beans,” what are they like?
a) Tired and sluggish
b) Energetic and lively
c) Sad and quiet
d) Angry and upset
Answers:
- b
- b
- b
- b
- b
- b
- b
- b
- b
- b
Conclusion
Idioms for children are like colorful balloons, lifting conversations about youth with playful imagery and heartfelt charm. With these 55 idioms, you can describe everything from a kid in a candy store to a little monkey climbing high, making your discussions about childhood as lively and joyful as the kids themselves. Whether you’re navigating mischief or celebrating a bundle of joy, these phrases offer a whimsical way to capture the essence of youth. So, sprinkle these idioms into your conversations and let your words dance with the spirited energy of children!