Animals Idioms & Expression
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Animal Idioms and Expressions A
Working hard.
to be very restless and impatient
become extremely excited
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Animal Idioms and Expressions
B
Someone who makes threats all the time, seldom carries out the threats.
Pursue an erroneous course of action.
Someone comes across as being very mean and nasty, but doesn't necessarily act on their threats
You should not do something you hired some one else to do.
unaware.
Informal. to be mad or eccentric; have strange ideas
Fast.
Gruff.
smooth and slick
Very disgruntled.
try harder
accept the most blame or responsibility
To be prepared for any possibility. Originally this phrase had a hunting significance dating back to possibly a time when the west was wild and woolly. Modern slang has introduced a new meaning into the phrase -- to be well loaded; drunk.
also
"Bears are notoriously difficult to kill. Wounded grizzlies will sometime pursue those who hunt them. I have always understood 'loaded for bear' to mean that one is equipping (or over-equipping) oneself for an extraordinary hunt."
to have a very difficult problem to solve
very hungry
Busy.
someone who is very eager to do something
Busy.
a busy place, a room full of working people
go straight towards
the best, superior, the cat's meow
to be up in a tizzy about something.
Don't go after something if it means loosing what you have.
worn or broken
joyful, very happy
be overcome with excitement or grief
no clothes on, bare naked, in the nude
A person is "sitting pretty" or in a "favored position." This saying was popularized, at least, in these here parts [Texas], by a short story entitled "Catbird Seat," which was written by the well-known American writer of humorous fiction--James Thurber. Thurber, of "Walter Mitty" fame, gives credit to Red Barber--the down--home Southern baseball sports announcer for introducing this rural idiom to the mainstream American public. According to Thurber, the phrase means: being in an advantageous position.
Not for me.
Free.
I won't tell you who told me.
To stick up your middle finger in a derogatory way.
Seen from above.
"The saying 'a wet bird never flies at night' was a catch phrase used by Jackie Vernon - a stand up comic on the television in the 70's. You're probably not old enough to remember him - but he had a very dry humor and never smiled. Think he might also have been the one that said 'It's bad luck to blow-dry a wet raccoon.'"
People who live together should try hard to get along peacefully.
Similar people tend to associate with each other.
It's the details that make something good.
someone's buttock's
Accomplishing two things at the same time.
Informal. the person in question has fled or escaped
Euphemistic or jocular. sex and sexual reproduction
Informal
a. to be fired or dismissed
b. (esp of a public performer) to be hissed at, booed, or derided
Informal. to tell (someone) rudely to depart; scoff at; hiss
without resistance or difficulty
Don't procrastinate (unless maybe you’re the worm.)
loony
To give you a compliment.
Sleep Well.
have the same interest or hobby
very quickly, in a flash
Volkswagen Beetle, The Bug
told me secretly, a little bird told me
Leave me in peace.
On the theory that the smaller they come the cuter they are.
loony
Crazy.
To be extremely ignorant.
to face and tackle a difficulty without shirking.
US slang. to talk lightly or foolishly
to be stubborn
completely useless
untrue story
Gathering of people talking.
Someone who heedless of physical damage or the personal feelings of anyone, shoulders his way though delicate situations.
Alt Def.: Something or some one in a place where they or it does not belong or is out of place.
a clump of dust or lint
a dying or a worthless animal
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Animal Idioms and Expressions
C
To criticize other people for minor offences while ignoring major offenses.
obvious
The thing to push you over the edge.
Brit. informal. to react with disapproval, anxiety. etc
To look proud of ones self.
The top of the line
to play with a person or animal in a cruel or teasing way. esp before a final act
of cruelty or unkindness
a person who is afraid, a coward
to have a big smile because of something you're really happy you did
Irish informal. a bad-tempered person: she's a real bag of cats this morning.
no chance at all
Futile
fight like Kilkenny cats
to fight until both parties are destroyed
very conceited
She is unflappable.
very expensive
no chance at all
very weak
for something to be wrong
A person is "sitting pretty" or in a "favored position." This saying was popularized, at least, in these here parts [Texas], by a short story entitled "Catbird Seat," which was written by the well-known American writer of humorous fiction--James Thurber. Thurber, of "Walter Mitty " fame, gives credit to Red Barber--the down--home Southern baseball sports announcer for this rural idiom to the mainstream American public. According to Thurber, the phrase means: being in an advantageous position.
"I'm from a neighborhood with a tremendous amount of wild or at least
free-roaming cats. Often, in the middle of an early spring or summer night
i would be awakened by the calls of cat's in mating. Each time, one of the
sounds I heard was similar to the "wit-woo" sound associated with the
cat-call whistle. Perhaps people adopted that sound, changed it to a
whistle, and associated it with seeing an attractive woman, thus calling
the sound these men made, cat calls."
A person high up in the business world with a lot of money.
No one is so important that an ordinary person cannot look at him or her. Everyone can be curious about important people.
Do something in a way that no one knows it is you doing it.
Telling something which has been a secret.
Some one who mimics some one else.
A mid-day nap.
Any homeless or stray cat. By extension -- a prostitute.
A humorously derogatory comment on someone's arrival.
to appear disheveled or bedraggled.
All that and a bag of chips.
Warning about being curious.
Cats can survive things that are severe enough to kill them.
Sometimes you cannot get what you want by being careful and polite.
In the dark, appearances are meaningless.
Nervous
Agitated.
in an uneasy or agitated state.
Unable to speak.
to introduce some violently disturbing new element
Do not support anyone who does not or cannot do something useful for you in return.
To tell a secret -- normally accidentally.
Very little room.
It is raining very hard.
There is more then one way to do something.
Without supervision, people misbehave.
To look proud of ones self.
acts foolishly
my goodness; what do you know
quarrelling savagely
all form and no substance
meringue
do not hurry
to rejoice (I don't think the calf is rejoicing though)
Don't assume you have something until you really have it.
enough food for every family
Informal. any of various, often dangerous, games or challenges in which the object is to make one's opponent lose his nerve.
back out from fear or lose one's nerve
to have something to argue about with someone
in a wild, crazy manner
a cowardly person
Slang. a young inexperienced person
You have to face the consequences of your mistakes or bad deeds.
old
There is always a problem.
There is always a problem.
Very little (or low in value.)
Very Poor. This saying likely arose from some folk tale relating the sad experience of a mouse trying to find food for itself and its starving little ones in a church. No pantry, no meal bag, no grain bin made the struggle for existence most difficult.
"Happy as a Clam" is not the original quote. It has been shortened. Why is a Clam particularly happy? The original quote was "Happy as a Clam in High Tide". Which of course is when the clam is the safest.
Informal. to keep or become silent or withhold information
untrue story
an illegitimate child
Why pay for something that you can get for free otherwise.
extremely steep
that is exciting, geez, gosh, wow
very big
milk
very dark
Someone or something that has a ton of cash and supports someone else with it--a business' big clients would be called cash cows.
Any tune which has been played ad nauseam.
Personal possession cherished by its owner or a person or thing immune to criticism or questioning
Don't get hysterically mad.
what next, or what's going on
late hours or for a long time
describes a problem that is annoying and/or won't go away
refers to a bird's craw (gullet), in which food is ground by sand eaten for this purpose
Fake tears. This expression comes from a story that a crocodile moans and sobs like a person in great distress in order to lure a man into its reach, and then after devouring him sheds bitter tears over the dire fate of its victim.
From point A to point B directly.
Taking back your words.
Brit. and Austral. slang. an expression of surprise, dismay, etc
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Animal Idioms and Expressions
D
to make someone angry
Dead; obsolete; completely washed up.
Taken a turn for the worse.
The drink you drink in the morning to get over the drinks you drank the night before.
(Australian Idiom)
A saying Australians use "the day after". That is to say the following
morning after being out drinking and feeling "seedy" (i.e. hung-over) - the
comment will be made to have some "hair of the dog", this is to infer that if
you have some more to drink, generally the same as you were drinking the
previous night the hangover will be gone, or at least not noticed anymore.
My feet are hurting
Alt def: My feet smell
In trouble.
Very tired.
Very sick.
Put on a good performance to impress someone, such as "I've got to do the 'dog and pony show' for my boss today."
two (or three) dog night
Australian. the number of dogs needed to sleep cuddled up to for keeping warm
Very hot days in July and August. It is the period in which the Dog Star, Sirius, rises in conjunction with the sun.
Something bad.
One disreputable person will not harm another disreputable person.
it’s a dog eat dog world
Vicious world.
It’s an easy life
my goodness; what do you know
The time will come to each of us to chuck one's weight around; to exhibit a periods of ostentation, influence or power.
If you associate with bad people, you will acquire their faults.
Cease some objectionable line of conduct. The analogy is that of the chase, in which dogs following a wrong sent are called off.
Very Mean.
ruthless competition or self-interest
fast, very quickly
very sad; pitiful
no chance at all
a wretched existence
very sick
bartender
important person
I don't want to cut the cards
quarrelling savagely
someone's buttock's
Informal. dressed smartly or ostentatiously
US and Canadian informal. to behave or dress in an ostentatious or showy manner
Don't bring up an old issue/topic that will raise tempers or cause an argument
(Who ever said let sleeping dogs lie, didn’t sleep with dogs…)
If you love someone, you should accept everything and everyone that person loves.
Raining heavily.
You should not do something you hired some one else to do.
Someone who is used to doing things a certain way cannot change.
dishonest
very happy
Work very hard.
a terrible liar
my goodness; what do you know
a mixture of many things, a hodgepodge
boss, leader, head honcho
not pleasant, not popular
a person who will not share something he does not use or need
be lazy, not work
followed me, bothered me
go use the toilet
Informal. something that is messy or bungled
Easy.
most important person in a small group
Assume the obvious.
leave, run away, desert
it is great, it is wonderful
organized, planned; each person knows his job
great, fine, lovely
someone or something that is certain to fail
an elected officeholder whose term of office has not yet expired but who has failed to be re-elected and therefore cannot gather much political support for initiatives
very unhappy
An easy mark.
It rolls right off.
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Animal Idioms and Expressions
E
a person who can see details or errors
A cheap gift associated with a white elephant party.
Alt def: A gift you don't want and you don't know what to do with it.
Just that. They don't!
Never forgets.
very big
covered with freckles
a good-natured person
depending on one plan or one investment
encourage me, tell me to do it
embarrassed, outsmarted
zero, no score
go, leave, have a bad experience
be very careful
a fund of money kept in reserve; savings
an onion
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Animal Idioms and Expressions
F
There is always a problem.
an honor, a credit to you
lies, false stories
I was very surprised, I could not believe it
annoy you, bother you
fancy, troublesome things
individuals of the same character or background tend to stay together
to acquire wealth for oneself, especially by taking advantage of one's position or using the property of others
to uncover and bring to light by searching
Watery death
fish should be eaten while it is fresh, and guests should not stay too long
a task that is too easy, a game without challenge
neither this nor that
Looking to hear a compliment for one’s own self.
A terrible mess.
different, not the same
Out of one's element.
very busy
dishonest
A big drinker.
More important things to worry about.
There are always more options -- usually referring to the dating "pool".
Someone who has no competition in a particular group because of some trait;
more rich, more beautiful, more talented.
If you associate with bad people, you will acquire their faults.
To caution.
very happy
Wouldn't harm anything.
open mouth
able to hear and see what a fly would see and hear
"savvy"
very happy
You have to sacrifice something to get what you want.
It is easier to get what you want by flattering people and being polite to them than by making demands.
chiefly US a sexually attractive woman
Informal. to perplex or confound: to fox a person with a problem
to cause (paper, wood, etc.) to become discoloured with spots, or (of paper, etc.) to become discoloured, as through mildew.
to trick; deceive
The person of most importance in any small community or group.
a foamy mass of threadlike green algae floating on ponds.
a short knife
Scratchy voice.
It is useless to wish for impossible things.
very fine
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Animal Idioms and Expressions
G
Tall
To criticize other people for minor offences while ignoring major offenses.
To distinguish the good from the bad.
an old man, a cranky man
a scapegoat
One whom is inflicted punishment for the faults or wrongs of another. The poor scapegoat gets the punishment for everyone else's mistakes. God condoned this cruelty to animals in Leviticus 16:7-10 "And Aaron shall cast lots
upon the two goats; one lot for the Lord, and the other for the scapegoat." The scapegoat got to escape, and carry the tribe's sins into the wilderness, to be eaten by some animal instead
of being offered alive as a sacrifice for the Lord.
to irritate someone
What is good for one person is good for another; often what is good for the man is good for the woman. Also "what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander".
Stupid.
everything is good
smooth and slick
the bumpy condition of the skin induced by cold, fear, etc., caused by contraction of the muscles at the base of the hair follicles with consequent erection of papillae: so called because of the resemblance to the skin of a freshly-plucked fowl. Also called: goose bumps, goose pimples, goose skin
a military march step in which the leg is swung rigidly to an exaggerated height. esp as in the German army in the Third Reich
he constantly exaggerates the importance of a person or thing
Informal.
a. to spoil someone's plans.
b. to bring about someone's ruin, downfall, etc.
to sacrifice future benefits for the sake of momentary present needs.
to prod (a person) playfully in the behind
all the time
shy
A vain pursuit of something, which, even if attained, would be worthless.
an iced cocktail of equal parts of cr*eme de menthe, cr*eme de cacao, and cream
unable to concentrate on any one subject for long
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Animal Idioms and Expressions H
Irish informal. to defeat (someone) completely
To support both sides of a dispute.
You cannot do two things successfully at the same time.
to offer (goods) for sale, as in the street.
watch me carefully
a ruthless or rapacious person
having extremely keen sight
a person who advocates or supports war or warlike policies
Non-existent.
dialect. a term of address (often affectionate), used to women and girls
You must be willing to endure unpleasant, irritating things in order to get what you want.
have a work in progress
party for only women
Mad.
False trail.
Cockily independent.
nonsense
Informal. to do something thoroughly or unreservedly
very big
to do something completely or thoroughly
to take more than one's share of
to snore
Old farmer's way of letting you know that you're not too smart when you have made a
discovery or an accomplishment.
To become highly enthusiastic.
Believing something (usually a falsity.)
Scratchy voice.
Leg pain.
a little known, unexpectedly successful competitor
Something of a different nature.
A small town.
To act pretentiously. In the 14th century, persons of high rank were mounted on "high" horses, meaning they rode the heavy chargers used in battle or tournament.
Strong.
Having bad manners when accepting a gift. One can tell how old a horse is by looking into it's mouth -- it is equivalent to looking for the hallmark sign on the back of a greeting card. :)
Doing something in reversed order.
From the highest authority. The age of a race-horse can be guessed by looking at its teeth. So no matter what any one says on how old the horse is, one can tell by looking in the horse's mouth.
When two people do something together, one of them will be the leader and the other will be the subordinate.
It's no good just wishing. You have to act.
Don't procrastinate.
Even the most disasterous events won't keep me from coming.
you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink
You can offer someone something but you cannot insist that they take it (e.g. advice).
horse-sense
Common sense.
Hungry.
Entirely different situation.
Joking around.
Just wait a second.
To support both sides of a dispute.
Being bothered.
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Animal Idioms and Expressions J
Bare, naked, unadorned.
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Animal Idioms and Expressions
K
To throw a fit.
a clump of dust or lint
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Animal Idioms and Expressions
L
without resistance
to give birth
a title given to Christ in the New Testament
Very fast.
Meek.
comes in rough and goes out gentle -- usually the month of March.
If you have decided to do something that will have unpleasant consequences, do it to the largest degree possible, so that you will feel the punishment was worth it.
Held back by another person no being able to do what you want, usually used in reference to people within romantic relationships.
very brave; courageous
The greater portion.
It comes in rough and goes out gentle -- usually the month of March.
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Animal Idioms and Expressions
M
That which is seen is copied.
wreck a project
Hilariously comical.
a naughty or mischievous person, esp a child
US and Canadian slang. an addict's dependence on a drug
a butt of derision; someone made to look a fool
Brit. slang. to care about or regard as important
US slang. a man's evening dress
Something that was silly and hilarious.
I am surprised.
Something against the 'rules' (illegal, immoral etc) but not too serious.
No matter how you dress up something, for example an ugly person clad in a silk gown, it is still the same underneath for all the window dressing.
Quiet.
Do not support anyone who does not or cannot do something useful for you in return.
It is dangerous to always depend on just one thing, because if it fails you, you will not have any alternatives.
Without supervision, people misbehave.
Slang. a person who is paid to transport illegal drugs for a dealer.
to grin very wide
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Animal Idioms and Expressions N
Children must eventually leave home.
to acquire wealth for oneself, especially by taking advantage of one's position or using the property of others
a fund of money kept in reserve; savings
Cold on the outside, but full of love on the inside
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Animal Idioms and Expressions
O
Drunk.
cranky, unco-operative, negative
I'm not foolish or easily frightened.
worthless
smooth and slick
having large round eyes, like those of an ox
He can do anything.
Informal. a very uncommunicative person
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Animal Idioms and Expressions
P
very, very sick; on your deathbed, sicker than a dog
Proud.
very happy, very pleased
describes the relative rank or importance of someone within a group
refers to hens establishing a dominance hierarchy by pecking
Irish and N.Z. successful; established: he's on the pig's back now.
Informal. to live in squalor.
Informal. to devour (food) greedily.
a risk, a gamble, taking a chance
everybody gets lucky sometimes
Eat all you want.
nonsense
sweating a lot
Eat a lot.
it bleed very freely
that's amazing
a place to buy illicit liquor
happy and content
is or are uncouth and disgusting
Never.
Buy something without seeing it first.
An informer.
a person easily cheated or taken advantage of
having the toes turned inwards
to introduce some violently disturbing new element
To pretend; to deceive. If the possum is threatened with capture it will lie with closed eyes and limp muscles, and no amount of handling or ordinary abuse will cause it to show signs of life.
to grin very wide
Puppy love is a juvenile crush (another idiom) on a member of the opposite
sex... the youngest and most infatuous of loves is puppy love!
I don't want to cut the cards
very proud
very pretty
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Animal Idioms and Expressions
R
lettuce, carrots, cabbage etc.
harmless, gentle
immoral person, liar, scum
person who tattles
tell the police or the authorities
Slang. chiefly US an informer; stool pigeon
Informal. a despicable person
an exclamation of rejection or disdain
Work force.
(The thing about the rat race is, weather you win or lose, you’re still a rat…)
Think that there is a traitor.
Informal. a person who deserts his friends or associates, esp in time of trouble
Informal. a worker who works during a strike; blackleg; scab
very crooked
Feeling like you don't belong.
You have to face the consequences of your mistakes or bad deeds.
To control the home.
bet on a loser
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Animal Idioms and Expressions S
to do to someone that which someone has done to you
to be irritated by something
A person who pretends they don't know how to play cards until they play for money, and then they play well and take all the profits.
Getting admission under false pretenses.
most troublesome member of the family
If you have decided to do something that will have unpleasant consequences, do it to the largest degree possible, so that you will feel the punishment was worth it.
To distinguish the good from the bad.
an onion
describes someone who is falling-down drunk, completely intoxicated
* skunks are not known to imbibe; the meaning is only in the rhyme
(this phrase is an alliteration)
Slow.
There is trouble.
very close
cruel and angry
From the Aesop story, "The Farmer and the Snake."
people do not change
Tricky – unable to trust.
Graceful.
what a surprise
"I've never heard anyone under the age of 60 use this expression, but it
conveys surprise and disbelief."
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Animal Idioms and Expressions T
Very fast.
to have a very difficult problem to solve
eager and alert
Thoroughly coward.
well-fed
a little upset, annoyed
a dynamic, forceful, or cruel person
Informal. to find oneself in a situation that has turned out to be much more difficult to control than one had expected.
Ugly.
very calm and content
a short knife
The person of most importance in any small community or group.
To talk straight or be honest.
very poor
Slang, chiefly US and Canadian. a thing or person that fails; dud.
covered with freckles
Slang, chiefly US and Canadian. a stupid, incompetent, or unappealing person
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Animal Idioms and Expressions W
Words that weaken or detract from the effectiveness or force of another word or expression.
Informal. a sly or treacherous person
Informal.
1. to go back on a commitment
2. to evade a responsibility, esp in a despicable manner
to protect, to mentor.
with only the slightest hope of succeeding
flying
to restrict (someone's) freedom
Informal. to accomplish or perform something without full preparation or knowledge; improvise
Young people who are growing fast are hungry all of the time.
a voracious, grabbing, or fiercely cruel person or thing
a man who habitually tries to seduce women
to ward off starvation or privation
a person or animal who prefers to be alone
to abandon or deliver to destruction
to gulp
Getting admission under false pretenses.
If a couple gets married because they are in love, but they do not have any money, they will stop loving each other when the money runs out.
Taken from the Aesop Fable, "The Shepherd-boy and the Wolf."
To hoodwink.
Even a meek person will become angry if you abuse him or her too much.
one who reads a lot
a controversial issue, an old problem
Don't procrastinate (unless maybe you’re the worm.)
a wretched or spineless person
a program that duplicates itself many times in a network and prevents its destruction
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List of Animal Idioms in English
Choose the idiom and click on it to
go directly to the explanation and example.
A
act like an ape
B
bark up the wrong tree,
her bark is worse than her bite,
bet on the wrong horse,
bull in a china shop
C
cash cow,
cat get one’s tongue,
cat nap, change horses in midstream,
copycat,
cry wolf, curiosity killed the cat
D
dark horse, dog-eat-dog,
donkey's years, dumb bunny
E
eager beaver, eat like a horse,
every dog has his day
F
fraidy-cat
G
get on one’s high horse,
get off one’s high horse,
go ape, go whole hog
H
hit the bulls-eye,
hold one’s horses,
holy cow, horse around,
horse of a
different colour, horse trade
I
in the doghouse
K
kangaroo court
L
lead a dog’s life,
let sleeping dogs lie,
let the cat out of the bag,
live high
on the hog, lock the barn door after the horse is gone,
look like the cat that
swallowed the canary
M
make a mountain out of a molehill,
monkey business
P
piggyback,
piggy bank,
play cat and mouse with someone,
put the cart before the
horse
R
rain cats and dogs,
rat out on, rat race,
road hog
S
sacred cow, scaredy-cat,
smell a rat,
straight from the horse’s mouth,
straw
that breaks the camel’s back
T
tail between one’s legs,
take the bull by the horns,
talk until the cows come
home, throw someone to the wolves,
turn tail
W
wildcat strike,
wolf in sheep’s clothing
act like an ape
MEANING: behave badly, wildly, foolishly
EXAMPLE:
He has been acting like an ape ever since his girlfriend left him.
bark up the wrong tree
MEANING: choose the wrong course of action
EXAMPLE:
He is barking up the wrong tree. He accuses me of causing the computer problem
but I was away at the time.
Her bark is worse than her bite
MEANING: someone’s words are worse than their action
EXAMPLE:
You shouldn’t worry about her. Her bark is worse than her bite and she is really
a very nice person.
bet on the wrong horse
MEANING: misread the future
EXAMPLE:
He is betting on the wrong horse if he keeps supporting the other city in their
bid for the games.
bull in a china shop
MEANING: a person with no tact who upsets others or upsets plans
EXAMPLE:
He is like a bull in a china shop so you should be careful if you invite him to
your house for the weekend.
cash cow
MEANING: a good way to make money
EXAMPLE:
The new business is a great cash cow. We are making a lot of money now.
cat get one’s tongue
MEANING: can’t speak because of shyness
EXAMPLE:
The cat must have got her tongue. She did not saying anything at all.
cat nap
MEANING: a short sleep taken during the day
EXAMPLE:
I had a cat nap during the afternoon so I would feel refreshed in the evening.
change horses in midstream
MEANING: make new plans or choose a new leader in the middle of an important
activity
EXAMPLE:
They have decided to change lawyers but I told them that they shouldn’t change
horses in midstream.
copycat
MEANING: someone who copies another person’s work etc.
EXAMPLE:
He is a copycat according to the other students in the class.
cry wolf
MEANING: give a false alarm; warn of a danger that is not there.
EXAMPLE:
He is crying wolf. There is no real danger or worry about the electrical system
causing a fire.
curiosity killed the cat
MEANING: being too nosy may lead a person into trouble
EXAMPLE:
You shouldn’t worry about what he is doing. Remember curiosity killed the cat.
dark horse
MEANING: a candidate little known to the general public
EXAMPLE:
He was a dark horse in the race to be President until he gave some good speeches
on TV.
dog-eat-dog
MEANING: ready or willing to fight and hurt others to get what one wants
EXAMPLE:
It is a dog-eat-dog world outside the father said to his young son.
donkey's years
MEANING: a very long time
EXAMPLE:
I talked to my friend for a long time because I hadn't seen her in donkey's
years.
dumb bunny
MEANING: stupid or gullible person
EXAMPLE:
He really is a dumb bunny. I can’t believe that he can do such stupid things.
eager beaver
MEANING: a person who is always eager to work or do something extra
EXAMPLE:
She is a real eager beaver and I am sure she will do very well in this company.
eat like a horse
MEANING: eat a lot
EXAMPLE:
Her brother who is 18 years old eats like a horse.
every dog has his day
MEANING: everyone will have his chance or turn; everyone will get what he
deserves
EXAMPLE:
Don’t worry about him. Every dog has his day and he will eventually suffer for
all the bad things that he is doing.
fraidy-cat
MEANING: someone who is easily frightened (used by children)
EXAMPLE:
The little boy called his friend a fraidy-cat because he wouldn’t climb the
tree.
get on one’s high horse
MEANING: behave with arrogance
EXAMPLE:
She is always getting on her high horse and telling people what to do.
get off one’s high horse
MEANING: begin to be humble and agreeable
EXAMPLE:
I wish that she would get off her high horse and begin to think about how other
people feel about things.
go ape
MEANING: become highly excited or angry
EXAMPLE:
He will go ape if he sees that you have not finished the work that was due
today.
go whole hog
MEANING: do something completely or thoroughly
EXAMPLE:
They went whole hog in their effort to make sure that the convention was a
success.
hit the bulls-eye
MEANING: reach the main point
EXAMPLE:
I think that he really hit the bulls-eye when he talked about the problems with
the regular staff.
hold one’s horses
MEANING: wait, be patient
EXAMPLE:
Hold your horses for a moment while I make a phone call.
holy cow
MEANING: used to express strong feelings like astonishment, pleasure or anger
EXAMPLE:
Holy cow he said as he saw the car that had hit the street lamp.
horse around
MEANING: rough or noisy play
EXAMPLE:
The teacher told the children to stop horsing around and get ready for class.
horse of a different
colour
MEANING: something totally separate and different
EXAMPLE:
Moving to a new location is a horse of a different colour. It was never mentioned
in any of our meetings.
horse trade
MEANING: hard and skilful bargaining
EXAMPLE:
We had to do a little horse trading but finally we reached a deal to buy the new
house.
in the doghouse
MEANING: in disgrace or disfavour
EXAMPLE:
He is in the doghouse with his wife because he went out drinking three times
last week.
kangaroo court
MEANING: a self-appointed group that decides what to do to someone who is
supposed to have done wrong.
EXAMPLE:
It was decided in a kangaroo court that he would have to pay for the damage that
he had caused to the school building.
lead a dog’s life
MEANING: work hard and be treated unkindly
EXAMPLE:
He is leading a dog’s life since he married the woman who everyone told him not
to.
let sleeping dogs lie
MEANING: don’t make trouble if you don’t have to
EXAMPLE:
You should let sleeping dogs lie and not ask him any questions about the
argument.
let the cat out of the bag
MEANING: tell something that is supposed to be a secret
EXAMPLE:
She let the cat out of the bag when she began talking about the plans for the
new department.
live high on the hog
MEANING: have the best of everything
EXAMPLE:
He has been living high on the hog since he changed jobs and moved to Texas.
lock the barn door after the horse is gone
MEANING: be careful or try to make something certain after it is too late
EXAMPLE:
Now he wants to try and fix his house but it is like locking the barn door after
the horse is gone. There was already a flood and the damage is done.
look like the cat that swallowed the canary
MEANING: look very self-satisfied, look as if one just had a great success
EXAMPLE:
You look like the cat that swallowed the canary. What happened?
make a mountain out of a molehill
MEANING: make something that is unimportant seem important
EXAMPLE:
You are making a mountain out of a molehill with your going on and on about his
mistake.
monkey business
MEANING: unethical or bad activity, mischief
EXAMPLE:
He should stop that monkey business and try to do the job the correct way.
piggyback
MEANING: sitting or being carried on someone’s back and shoulders
EXAMPLE:
The boy was riding piggyback on his father’s shoulders.
piggy bank
MEANING: a small bank (sometimes in the shape of a pig) for saving money
EXAMPLE:
He has been putting money into his piggy bank to save for a bicycle.
play cat and mouse with someone
MEANING: tease or fool someone
EXAMPLE:
He is playing a cat and mouse game with his company about his plans to quit or
not.
put the cart before the horse
MEANING: do things in the wrong order
EXAMPLE:
I think that buying a ticket before we make any plans is putting the cart before
the horse.
rain cats and dogs
MEANING: rain very hard
EXAMPLE:
It has been raining cats and dogs all day.
rat out on
MEANING: desert or betray someone
EXAMPLE:
He ratted out on his friends and now they won’t talk to him.
rat race
MEANING: rushing around, confusing way of living that does not seem to have a
purpose
EXAMPLE:
He is tired of living in the rat race every day and plans to quit his job soon
and do something else.
road hog
MEANING: car driver who takes more than his share of the road
EXAMPLE:
The person in front of me on the highway was a road hog but I tried not to get
angry.
sacred cow
MEANING: a person or thing that is never criticized or changed even if it should
be
EXAMPLE:
The school lunch program is a sacred cow which they will never change.
scaredy-cat
MEANING: someone who is easily frightened (used by children)
EXAMPLE:
The children were calling their friend a scaredy-cat because she wouldn’t go
into the empty house.
smell a rat
MEANING: be suspicious, feel that something is wrong
EXAMPLE:
I smell a rat. There is something wrong with his relationship to the bankers.
straight from the horse’s mouth
MEANING: directly from the person or place where something began
EXAMPLE:
I heard straight from the horse’s mouth that she will be leaving the company
next week.
straw that breaks the camel’s back
MEANING: a small trouble which follows other troubles and makes one become angry
or do something
EXAMPLE:
Her accusing me of not working hard enough was the straw that broke the camel’s
back so I finally asked for a transfer to another section of the company.
tail between one’s legs
MEANING: feel beaten, ashamed (after a scolding etc.)
EXAMPLE:
He left the meeting with his tail between his legs after he was criticized by
the president.
take the bull by the horns
MEANING: take decisive action and not worry about the results
EXAMPLE:
My aunt decided to take the bull by the horns and begin preparations for the
family reunion.
talk until the cows come home
MEANING: talk for a long time
EXAMPLE:
We can talk until the cows come home this weekend at the lake.
throw someone to the wolves
MEANING: send someone into danger without protection
EXAMPLE:
He decided to throw his co-worker to the wolves when he asked him to go and see
the other company.
turn tail
MEANING: run away from trouble or danger
EXAMPLE:
We decided to turn tail and leave the pub before there was a fight.
wildcat strike
MEANING: a strike spontaneously arranged by a group of workers
EXAMPLE:
There was a wildcat strike at the factory and over 100 people walked off the
job.
wolf in sheep’s clothing
MEANING: a person who pretends to be good but really is bad
EXAMPLE:
Be careful of that man. He is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
