ANIMAL IDIOMS – PART 2
1. Snake In The Grass
Meaning: The phrase snake in the grass refers to a treacherous or deceitful person.
Example: He's a guy you can't trust, a snake in the grass.
2. Like Shooting Fish In A Barrel
Meaning: Very easy to catch or trick
Example: I’m an expert in auto repair, fixing this is like shooting fish in a barrel.
3. When Pigs Fly
Meaning: If you say when pigs fly you mean that something will never happen.
Example: Sure she'll help us clean the house when pigs fly.
4. Busy As A Bee
Meaning: Extremely busy
Example: My son is working on his science project. He’s been as busy as a bee all day.
5. Sitting Duck
Meaning: Said about someone or something vulnerable to attack.
Example: Because of his unpopular opinions about foreign policy, he made of himself a sitting
duck.
6. Dog Eat Dog
Meaning: Very competitive
Example: It’s a dog eat dog world out there.
7. Wild Goose Chase
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Meaning: Chasing something that’s very impossible to catch
Example: You’re taking me on a wild goose chase, will you just give me an exact address
where I should go?
8. Sacred Cow
Meaning: anything someone believes in without ever being able to question or criticize.
Example: He didn't like to discuss the sacred cow of his new religious beliefs.
9. At A Snail’s Pace
Meaning: Moving very slowly
Example: Traffic is moving at a snail’s pace.
10. Open A Can Of Worms
Meaning: Create a whole new set of problems
Example: You’ve opened a real can of worms here.
11. The World Is Your Oyster
Meaning: You have many good opportunities in front of you
Example: You just graduated from a wonderful university, so the world is your oyster!
12. Let Sleeping Dogs Lie
Meaning: Leave it alone, leave something in peace
Example: It wasn't that we didn't want to improve the school - it was more a case of letting
sleeping dogs lie.
13. Watching Like A Hawk
Meaning: Watching something very, very, closely
Example: The boss watches us like a hawk.
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14. Mad As A Hornet
Meaning: Very angry, or furious
Example: Mom was as mad as a hornet when we broke the mirror.
15. Get Your Ducks In A Row
Meaning: Organize things
Example: I’ll You can't hope to go into a company and sell something until you get your ducks
in a row.
16. Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing
Meaning: Someone who is dangerous presenting as gentle, weak or innocent
Example: Don’t trust him, he’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
17. Eagle Eyes
Meaning: Have excellent vision, or watching something very closely, not missing a detail
Example: The teacher goes over the tests with an eagle eye.
18. Hold Your Horses
Meaning: Slow down, stop
Example: Hold your horses! There’s no need to rush.
19. I’ll Be A Monkey’s Uncle
Meaning: I’m very surprised
Example: Well, I’ll be a monkey’s uncle. I never thought I’d pass that test.
20. Pet Peeve
Meaning: Common annoyance, something that’s specifically annoying to you
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Example: I hate when people don’t put things back where they belong, it’s a pet peeve of mine.
21. Pick Of The Litter
Meaning: The best choice, or your favorite option
Example: Of the books I read so far, Wings of Fire was my pick of the litter.
22. Puppy Love
Meaning: Feelings of love or affection, usually innocent and temporary, occurring during
childhood or adolescence.
Example: I had a crush on my next door neighbor, but that was just puppy love.
23. Guinea Pig
Meaning: Test subject
Example: We’re conducting a study and we’re looking for volunteers to act as guinea pigs.
24. A Little Bird Told Me
Meaning: Somebody secretly told me
Example: I heard you got a new job in a famous company, a little birdie told me!
25. Neither Fish Nor Fowl
Meaning: Something that is not easily categorized
Example: I can't see what you want to say. Your proposal is neither fish nor fowl.
26. Butterflies In One’s Stomach
Meaning: When you say that you have butterflies in your stomach, you’re saying that you’re
very nervous
Example: Even experienced musicians sometimes get butterflies in their stomach before a
performance.
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27. Rain Cats And Dogs
Meaning: to rain heavily
Example: How come that you are going out in that storm? It's raining cats and dogs.
28. ants in one's pants
Meaning: unable to sit still or remain calm out of nervousness or excitement
Example: Elisa had ants in her pants the day before her interview.
29. Odd Duck
Meaning: An unusual person, especially an individual with an idiosyncratic personality or
peculiar behavioral characteristics.
Example: This boy is an odd duck in many ways. Unlike his peers, he has no hobbies.
30. Not Enough Room To Swing A Cat
Meaning: not very much space.
Example: Their house was very small. There wasn't enough room to swing a cat.
31. Bull In A China Shop
Meaning: Very clumsy person
Example: He was like a bull in a china shop, he completely messed everything up.
32. Not Have A Cat In Hell's Chance
Meaning: not to be able to achieve something.
Example: He hasn't a cat in hell's chance of getting the money he needs for the project.
33. Rat Race
Meaning: fierce, competitive struggle for power, position etc
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Example: I'm ready to leave this rat race and retire in Paris.
34. Take The Bull By The Horns
Meaning: face a challenge or danger boldly
Example: If you really think you deserve a promotion, you'll have to take the bull by the
horns.
35. Until The Cows Come Home
Meaning: for a very long time
Example: I could eat pizza and ice-cream until the cows come home.
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