Animal idioms
"I'd like to have been a fly on the wall when your boss heard he'd been fired."
By using concealed cameras, fly on the wall television programmes or films show people doing what they normally do every day. Big Brother is a good example of this type of reality TV programme. We use the expression "fly on the wall" because if a fly settles on your wall at home, you do not normally notice it.
We use many animal idioms in English. Here are a selection of those involving both larger and smaller animals. How many of these do you know?
Larger mammals
| Idiom | Example | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| a bull / bear market | The bull market of the Eighties and Nineties is unlikely to return for some time. | situation where price of shares on the stock market are rising (bear market: prices falling) |
| take the bull by the horns | I decided to take the bull by the horns and tell him he was upsetting Jane. | face up to problem instead of avoiding |
| do the donkey work | If you tell him to take it easy, he'll sit back and let you do all the donkey work. | manual labour or jobs that are routine or least important |
| flog a dead horse | Invest in shares and the chances are you'll be flogging a dead horse. | waste time on something unlikely to be successful (flog = whip) |
| the lion's share | The lion's share of her money - over 80% - went to her nephews and nieces. | the majority |
| a stag night | I'm having my stag night on the same day as my Sue is having her hen night. | a social/drinking evening for groom's male friends prior to wedding (hen night = social/drinking evening for bride's female friends) |
| could eat a horse | I skipped breakfast so now I could eat a horse. | be very hungry |
"I could eat a horse."
Smaller mammals
| Idiom | Example | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| keep the wolf from the door | If you can't get a better job, you won't be able to keep the wolf from the door. | earn enough to buy food and other essentials |
| dog tired | He was dog tired - out on call all night and then took surgery in the morning. | very tired |
| let sleeping dogs lie | She doesn't need to know he's been unfaithful. Let sleeping dogs lie. | not interfere; not mention something that could cause trouble |
| let the cat out of the bag | He couldn't keep it secret, let the cat out of the bag and told her everything. | reveal a secret |
| cat nap | I like to cat nap for half an hour after lunch. | Example |
| smell a rat | They intended to trick him but they were always larking about and he smelt a rat. | sense that something is wrong (lark about: behave in playful, childish way) |
Birds and fish
| Idiom | Example | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| a wild goose chase | I didn't know her flight number so trying to find Amy at Heathrow was a bit of a wild goose chase. | a search that has no chance of success |
| up with the lark | We'll have to be up with the lark tomorrow - the flight leaves at seven thirty. | awake early |
| chicken out | They are short of funds so I think they're going to chicken out of this project. | stop participating in something which is too dangerous or difficult. |
| a fish out of water | I didn't know anyone at the reception so felt like a fish out of water. | uncomfortable |
| a cold fish | He showed no emotion at this aunt's funeral - he's a cold sort of fish. | unemotional |
| have other fish to fry | They wanted me to join them on this project but I told them I had other fish to fry. | have other things to do or more important matters to attend to. |
Insects
| Idiom | Example | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| a fly in the ointment | It will be an exciting trip. The only fly in the ointment is that Sue can't drive. | a difficulty which prevents total enjoyment |
| not hurt a fly | He has an awful temper but he wouldn't hurt a fly. | gentle |
| no flies on someone | There are no flies on Jacob - he is fully aware of all aspects of the operation. | said of someone who is alert and clever, not easy to deceive |
| a busy bee | She's a busy bee all right - if there's a job to do, she just has to get on with it. | very busy person |
| have a bee in your bonnet | She's got a bee in her bonnet about eating raw fish to stay fit and healthy. | be obsessed with something (bonnet = hat) |
| the bee's knees | With her first class honours degree and job with the UN, she thinks she's the bee' knees. | someone who is very clever and important |
See also
Resources
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