Third Grade · Reading · week 22

Literal vs nonliteral phrases

Tell the difference between literal language (the exact, real meaning) and nonliteral language (a figurative meaning).

LITERAL language means exactly what it says. NONLITERAL language, also called figurative language, uses words in a way that is not exactly true, to paint a colorful picture. If someone says "it is raining outside," that is literal. If someone says "it is raining cats and dogs," that is nonliteral -- no actual cats or dogs are falling.

Common nonliteral phrases are called idioms. "Break a leg" does not mean to actually break a leg -- it means good luck. Readers need to notice when a phrase cannot possibly be literally true and look for its real meaning instead.

📋 For the teacher
Teach it (10–15 min):
  • Collect idioms you both know and ask "could this literally happen?" as a quick test.
  • Draw a silly literal picture of an idiom together, like actual cats and dogs falling from the sky, to highlight how funny the literal meaning would be.
  • When a nonliteral phrase pops up in a book, pause and ask for its real, intended meaning.
  • Point out these phrases are cultural shortcuts -- they only make sense once you have heard them before, which is why they are worth learning.
Talk about it:
  • What is the difference between literal and nonliteral language?
  • What is an idiom you already know?
  • Can you draw a funny literal picture of a phrase like "it is raining cats and dogs"?

Mastery looks like: They distinguish literal from nonliteral phrases and explain the real meaning behind a common idiom.

Common stumbles: Taking a figurative phrase completely literally; struggling to explain WHY a phrase cannot be literal.

See it visually

Interactive, spoken-aloud tools that show this idea in motion.

Figurative LanguageFlip between the literal picture and the real meaning of a simile, metaphor, or idiom.try →
Homework for this lessonType it, write it with a stylus, or print it for pencil & paper.open →
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