Animal idioms

Created for eTwinning project

TOP 10 FAVOURITES WITH THE EU TEENAGERS

kill two birds with one stone

solve two problems at one time with a single action

I killed two birds with one stone and saw some old friends while I was in Leeds visiting my parents.

donkey’s years

a very long time

I’ve been doing this job for donkey’s years

the elephant in the room

a problem or situation that everyone knows about but no one mentions

The soaring oil price and its underlying causes are the invisible elephant in the room in the presidential race.

cat nap

a short sleep

All of this studying makes me want to take a cat nap.

let the cat out of the bag

to reveal a secret, often without intending to

Amazingly, not one of the people who knew about the surprise let the cat out of the bag.

crocodile tears to shed crocodile tears means to shed false

tears or show insincere grief

Caroline pretended to be sad but we all knew her tears were crocodile tears.

barking dog never bites

someone who makes threats all the time but seldom carries out the threats

Mrs. Smith keeps saying she'll call the police if we walk on her lawn, but don't worry. A barking dog never bites.

let sleeping dogs lie

not try to change a situation because you might cause problems

His parents never referred to the shoplifting incident again. I suppose they thought it best to let sleeping dogs lie.

black sheep of the family

the worst member of the family

Mary is the black sheep of the family. She's always in trouble with the police.

buy a pig in a poke

to buy something without looking inside first

I just took the salesman's word that this camera worked. I guess I bought a pig in a poke.

be as stubborn as a mule

to be very stubborn

I tried to convince Jake to go to the doctor, but he's as stubborn as a mule.

be as busy as a bee

to be very busy or active

She's as busy as a bee, always going to meetings and organizing parties.

be as quiet as a mouse

to be very quiet

She sneaked into the house, quiet as a mouse.

like a fish out of water

appearing to be completely out of place; in a very awkward manner

At this luxurious party I felt like a fish out of water because I did not know any of the wealthy guests.

a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

it's better to have a small actual advantage than the chance of a greater one

‘Dan has asked me to go to a party with him. What if my boyfriend finds out? I don't know if I should go.’

‘Don't go. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.’

it’s raining cats and dogs

it’s raining heavily

Take an umbrella! It’s raining cats and dogs.

a little bird told me

I was told by a private or secret source

Jane: How did you find out it was my birthday?

Bill: A little bird told me.

have butterflies in one’s stomach

feel very nervous

I always get butterflies in my stomach before making a speech.