Idioms and Proverbs

For the Similes and Metaphors game click here.

This is a simple ESL game for students to practice and review idioms and provbers.

Idioms and proverbs are grouped together in this game because there is a lot of overlap in their respective definitions and it can sometimes be difficult to say whether a phrase is a proverb or an idiom or both.

The game has 3 parts. The first part is intended as a way to present the different phrases. Text and audio for an idiom/proverb is shown. You then have to choose the one of the three images that correctly matches the phrase. In the second part, you are shown a big image and you have to choose the idiom/proverb that matches the image. The third part is intended to be a review. You are shown 3 similar images and have to build the idiom/proverb to describe what you see.

The game is divided into 6 rounds. Listed below are the idioms and proverbs used in each round:

Round 1

• a fish out of water
• under the weather
• raining cats and dogs
• many hands make light work
• fit as a fiddle

Round 2

• the early bird catches the worm
• fed up
• have the time of your life
• plenty of fish in the sea
• the grass is always greener on the other side

Round 3

• can't teach an old dog new tricks
• pot calling the kettle black
• cost an arm and a leg
• hit the sack
• clean as a whistle

Round 4

• have your ducks in a row
• stick out like a sore thumb
• caught red handed
• over the moon
• give someone the cold shoulder

Round 5

• don't cry over spilt milk
• feel blue
• have a chip on your shoulder
• at your wit's end
• have money to burn

Round 6

• time is money
• an apple a day keeps the doctor away
• burn the midnight oil
• head over heels in love
• bite someone's head off

This game is made in Javascript using the Pixi.js library. If you have any comments, questions or feedback, then please use the form below to post a message.