Fun with Words Things to do with Words Meaning of Words Higglety-Pigglety Idioms

Meaning of Words Word meanings change over time. Examples of Changes Even though the words are the same, the meanings of words can change over time. Also, different things are not what they might have been called in earlier times. This is a poem that we found on the internet. We do not know who wrote it. Talk to your parents about special words that they used when they were our age.

Remember When ...
                 A computer was something on TV
                 from a science fiction show of note
                 a window was something you hated to clean...
                 And ram was the cousin of a goat....

                 Meg was the name of my girlfriend
                 and gig was a job for the nights
                 now they all mean different things
                 and that really mega bytes

                 An application was for employment
                 a program was a TV show
                 a cursor used profanity
                 a keyboard was a piano

              Memory was something that you lost with age
                 a cd was a bank account
                 and if you had a 3 *" floppy
                 you hoped nobody found out

                 Compress was something you did to the garbage
                 not something you did to a file
                 and if you unzipped anything in public
                 you'd be in jail for a while

                 Log on was adding wood to the fire
                 hard drive was a long trip on the road
                 a mouse pad was where a mouse lived
                 and a backup happened to your commode

                 Cut you did with a pocket knife
                 paste you did with glue
                 a web was a spider's home
                 and a virus was the flu

                 I guess some will stick to their pad and paper
                 and the memory in their head
                 I hear nobody's been killed in a computer crash
                 but when it happens it'll be something to dread
Anonymous
What did your parents say when they thought something was good or great? Talk to your grandparents and see what they said. You could all bring in words and sayings that were common when they were your age. My mother thought "cool" was "neat"; my grandfather used to say "keen"! What do your parents say that you say differently today?
Write about it!!

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Higglety-Pigglety Make a definition for two words that rhyme. The two rhyming words must also have the same number of syllables. For example: a single sibling...........one son alternate matron.........other mother an overweight feline........fat cat an inexpensive vehicle........cheap jeep Go to top of page

*Idioms* Ý

You may say, "Words are not fun. How can they be fun? How can I play with them in my own life?"
Idioms are a way to use words to help people understand, but the words don't mean what they really say. When you say "Cat got your tongue?" you don't really have a cat hanging from your tongue! It means you are having a hard time talking. If it is raining cats and dogs, it is raining heavily. If it is a dog-eat-dog world, this means only the strong and smart will survive. Mom had a cow means she was very upset. He smells a little fishy to me, this means he is suspicious.

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The answers to those questions are simple. There are things which are called IDIOMS. They are creative ways of playing with words.

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HOW TO PLAY WITH IDIOMS !!
Think of as many idioms as you can. Brainstorm with your classmates. After you all have thought of many, each take one or two idioms and draw the idioms the way they would really look if it meant what it said. Everyone will be laughing. Draw all the pictures on the same size construction paper and collect them. Put them together to make a class book of idioms. A three-ring notebook is a good place to keep them. When people see it in the library, they will laugh.

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