What Does That Really Mean? Finally, A Guide To Idioms

I dreaded the one day each school year when I would have to teach idioms (phrases that say one thing but mean another, such as “missed the boat”).  How do you explain something you don’t understand beyond a surface level?  Fortunately, all it ever took was a few examples for my students to just run with it.  Instead of making myself look like a fool trying to teach the concept, I had the kids each choose one idiom and write out its literal and actual meanings.  Then they illustrated both meanings.  When they were done, we bound the pages together into a classroom book of idioms.

Children and adults with AS tend to misinterpret idioms because we take these phrases literally.  They’re tough to learn because no one ever stops to explain them!  Just like other social rules, you’re expected to pick them up as you go along.

What Did You Say?  What Do You Mean? by Jude Welton is an illustrated guide to the top 100 idioms.  I like the simple format with illustrations, although if you look closely it’s the misinterpretation that’s illustrated.  So I might ask children to illustrated the actual meanings separately.   Each entry gives the meaning, origin, and examples of usage.  The book is geared towards readers with AS, so the examples often model social skills and appropriate behavior, which is an added plus.