Idioms Word Search
A free Idioms word search you can play straight in the browser. The 12-word list draws on the terms and ideas of a school subject, hidden across a 15×15 grid in every direction. Drag through the letters to mark a word off.
Words to find: IDIOM, PROVERB, SAYING, CLICHE, MAXIM, ADAGE, APHORISM, QUOTE, METAPHOR, SIMILE, ALLITERATION, PERSONIFICATION.
Diagonals are where most players stall. Once you are down to the last word or two, sweep the diagonals deliberately.
Idioms word list, defined
- IDIOM /ˈaɪdiəm/ · noun
- An expression whose meaning is not predictable from the meanings of its individual words, such as 'kick the bucket' or 'burn the midnight oil'. Related: expression, phrase, idiomatic expression, colloquialism.
- PROVERB /ˈprɒvərb/ · noun
- A short saying that expresses a general truth or piece of advice, often handed down from one generation to another. Related: saying, aphorism, adage, maxim.
- SAYING /ˈseɪɪŋ/ · noun, verb
- A short sentence or phrase, often expressing a general truth or opinion. To express or state something, typically in a formal or official way. Related: phrase, expression, proverb, slogan.
- CLICHE /ˈkliːʃeɪ/ · noun
- A phrase, expression, or idea that has been used so often that it has lost its originality or impact; more broadly, any trite or predictable element in art, writing, or thought. Related: platitude, truism, banality, trite phrase.
- MAXIM /mæksɪm/ · noun
- A short, witty, and often memorable statement of a general truth or rule of conduct. A maxim is often used to convey a moral or philosophical idea. Related: adage, motto, saying, aphorism.
- ADAGE /ˈædɪdʒ/ · noun
- A traditional saying expressing a commonly held truth or piece of wisdom, often one that has been passed down over time. Related: proverb, maxim, saying, aphorism.
- APHORISM /ˈæfərɪzəm/ · noun
- A short, witty statement or phrase that expresses a general truth or insight. Related: adage, maxim, saying, proverb.
- QUOTE /kwɒɪt/ · noun, verb
- A passage or saying repeated from another source, or a statement attributed to someone. To repeat or paraphrase the words of another. Related: citation, reference, paraphrase, reproduce.
- METAPHOR /ˈmɛtəfɔr/ · noun
- A figure of speech that describes an object or action in a way that isn’t literally true but helps explain an idea or make a comparison. Related: analogy, simile, allegory, hyperbole.
- SIMILE /sɪˈmɪliː/ · noun
- A figure of speech that compares two unlike things using 'like' or 'as' to make the comparison. Related: analogy, comparison, metaphor, allegory.
- ALLITERATION /əˌlɪtəˈreɪʃən/ · noun
- The repetition of the same sound, usually an initial consonant, at the beginning of closely connected words, used as a literary and rhetorical device. Related: assonance, consonance, repetition, echo.
- PERSONIFICATION /ˌpɜːrsənɪˈfɪkeɪʃən/ · noun
- The attribution of human characteristics or behavior to non-human entities, such as objects, animals, or ideas. This literary device is used to create vivid and evocative descriptions, often to convey complex emotions or ideas. Related: anthropomorphism, humanization, metaphor, allegory.
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