Rosa emailed her trade offer to Dev and added, 'The ball is in your court now.' What does Rosa mean by that expression?

Dad found Lena still working on her science board at one in the morning and said she was burning the midnight oil. What does that mean here?

By walking the dog on his way to mail a package, Omar killed two birds with one stone. What does the expression mean in this sentence?

Grandpa says he eats dessert once in a blue moon, so his second slice of pie surprised everyone. What does the expression tell us about his dessert habit?

The concert tickets cost an arm and a leg, so Priya saved her allowance for four months. What does the expression mean in that sentence?

On the first day of camp, Mr. Ruiz had everyone name a favorite snack to break the ice. What does 'break the ice' mean here?

Ben's bike chain snapped, then he lost his house key, and then his tablet died. His mother sighed, 'When it rains, it pours.' What does she mean?

Kayla wished she went to Sam's school until Sam said he wished he went to hers. Their coach laughed, 'The grass is always greener on the other side.' What does the coach mean?

Theo tripped and dropped the cupcakes he had baked, and his sister told him not to cry over spilled milk. What is she telling him?

Ravi promised every week to help paint the shed but never showed up. Grandma finally said that actions speak louder than words. What does she mean?

Nia began planning how to spend the prize money before the contest was even judged, so her father warned her not to count her chickens before they hatch. What is he warning her about?

Priya's brother groaned that the new bike had cost an arm and a ___, and he would be saving his allowance all summer.

Coach Diaz told Ella there was an open spot in the relay and one in the long jump, then said, 'The ball is in your court.' The coach means that she will pick the event for Ella.

Ana knocked over a jar of paint, wiped up the mess, and cheerfully went back to her drawing. What does the saying 'Don't cry over spilled milk' mean?

The librarian told Marcus the club could meet on Tuesday or Thursday, then added, 'The ball is in your court.' What is the librarian telling Marcus?

Nadia finished her half of the science poster and emailed it to her partner, so the next move belongs entirely to him. Which saying best describes the situation?

Leo answered the last debate question, turned to his opponent, and said, 'The ball is in your court.' Leo means the debate is over and nobody else may speak.

Mr. Alvarez graded essays until two in the morning three nights in a row. His neighbor said he had been burning the midnight oil. What does the expression mean here?

Sanjay practiced his violin piece until one in the morning before the recital, and his aunt said he had been burning the midnight ___.

After the bakery lost power, Mr. Ito worked by flashlight until three in the morning to finish the wedding cake. Which saying best describes his night?

Sofia returned her library books while she waited for her sister's swim lesson to end, killing two birds with one stone. What does the expression mean in this sentence?

Jonah already knew everyone at his lunch table, and he spent the hour laughing with his two closest friends. Jonah was breaking the ice.

By walking to the post office instead of driving, Aunt Rae mailed her letters and got her exercise, killing two birds with one ___.

The old lighthouse opens to visitors once in a blue moon, so Mira's family waited three years for a tour. What does the expression tell us about the openings?

Nadia's family orders takeout once in a blue moon, so pizza night felt like a special event. Which word could replace the expression without changing the meaning?

The repair estimate for the cracked laptop screen cost an arm and a leg, so Dad called two other shops. What does the expression mean in that sentence?

The plumber's bill for the burst pipe used up nearly all of Mrs. Ortega's savings. Which saying best describes that bill?

Nobody in the new after-school club was talking, so Jamal asked a silly riddle to break the ice. What does 'break the ice' mean in this sentence?

Zoe knew no one at her table at her cousin's wedding, so she complimented a stranger's shoes to break the ice. What was Zoe trying to do?

The bakery's oven quit, the delivery van would not start, and the flour arrived late. 'When it rains, it pours,' the owner sighed. What does she mean?

In one week Ivy's cat needed surgery, her car needed new tires, and the heater broke. Which saying best describes Ivy's week?

Hugo missed the bus, forgot his lunch, and tore his jacket, all before nine o'clock. The saying 'When it rains, it pours' fits Hugo's morning.

Owen envied Bea's longer recess until he learned her class has no art period. Their teacher said the grass is always greener on the other side. What does she mean?

Every month Dario quits one club to join another he is certain will be more fun, then wishes he had stayed. Which saying best describes Dario?

Kenji's clay bowl cracked in the kiln, and his art teacher told him not to cry over spilled milk and to start a new one. What is the teacher telling Kenji?

Grandpa dropped the carton of eggs in the driveway, shrugged, and said, 'No use crying over spilled milk.' What is Grandpa's point?

Neveah rarely talks about caring for the earth, but she picks up litter on the school field every morning. Her principal says actions speak louder than words. What does she mean?

Coach Blake tells his team he will judge their effort by what he sees at practice, not by promises made in the locker room. Which saying matches the coach's idea?

Felix bragged about the trophy right after the semifinal, though the final was a week away. A teammate warned him not to count his chickens before they hatch. What is the warning?

Mia was already choosing a bunk for the camp trip before the permission letters were even mailed, so her brother told her not to count her chickens before they ___.