Does “It’s raining cats and dogs” mean “dogs and cats are falling from the sky like rain”? No, this is an idiom that uses the animal-related image. And this is also the topic of the writing to: ANIMAL IDIOMS
English idioms are very interesting ways of speaking, making the conversation less boring and funnier. Using the correct English idioms makes you sound like a native English speaker. English idioms are diverse and colorful. Hence; it is very difficult to remember all them. In this article, we will try to learn idioms that contain an animal’s name, hoping to help you find it easier to remember longer.
Here is the list of super cool animal idioms that you should write down, keep in mind, and try to use them in the English daily communication:
1. Like a fish out of water: to feel awkward because you are in a situation that you have not experienced before or because you are very different from the people around you
I used to work in a small company but I’m currently working at a large corporation, I feel like a fish out of water
2. Have bigger/ other fish to fry: To have other, more important matters to attend to
I hope the boss keeps this meeting short—we all have other fish to fry.
3. There are plenty more fish in the sea: used to tell someone whose relationship has ended that there are many other people that they could have a relationship with:
Don’t cry over Pierre – there are plenty more fish in the sea!
4. A cold fish: someone who seems unfriendly and who does not share their feelings
He doesn’t really show much emotion — he’s a bit of a cold fish.
5. Drink like a fish: to drink too much alcohol
I’m not surprised to hear that Karl got drunk again last night—that guy drinks like a fish!
6. A chicken-and-egg situation: a situation in which it is impossible to say which of two things existed first and which caused the other one
It’s a chicken and egg question: does team spirit lead to winning or does winning generate team spirit ?
7. Run around like a headless chicken: to be very busy doing a lot of things, but in a way that is not very effective
He ran around like a headless chicken after he missed his flight to the US.
8. Don’t count your chickens before they are hatched: you should not make plans that depend on something good happening before you know that it has actually happened
She wanted to buy a dress in case someone asked her to the dance, but I told her not to count her chickens before they hatched.
9. Dog eat dog: extremely competitive
It’s a dog eat dog world out there.
10. Give a dog a bad name: said when someone has been accused of behaving badly in the past, with the result that people expect them to behave like that in the future
A: “Ever since I failed my exam, my teacher sees me as a slacker, no matter what I do.”
B: “Well, give a dog a bad name, right?”
11. Be raining cats and dogs: raining heavily
I forgot my umbrella, and it was raining cats and dogs.
12. As sick as a dog: very ill
I had to go to the doctor on Monday because I was as sick as a dog all weekend.
13. Let sleeping dogs lie: to leave a situation alone so as to avoid worsening it.
Oh, don’t mention that fight they had months ago—let sleeping dogs lie!
14. Let the cat out of the bag: reveal a secret
Who let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party?
15. Like a cat on hot bricks: to be anxious and unable to sit still or relax.
A: “Why is Carrie pacing around the room?”
B: “She’s waiting for the doctor to call with her test results, so she’s been like a cat on hot bricks
all day.”
16. When the cat’s away, the mice will play: said when the person who is in charge of a place is not there, and the people there behave badly
As soon as their parents left, the children invited all their friends over-when the cat’s away, you know
17. Curiosity killed the cat: curiosity can be dangerous, especially when it extends to things one does not need to know about.
I think you’ll offend her by asking such personal questions—curiosity killed the cat, after all.
18. Kill two birds with one stone: get two things done at once
If you pick the groceries up when you drop George off for his shift, you will kill two birds with one stone.
19. A snake in the grass: one who feigns friendship with the intent to deceive
Did you hear that Daria’s best friend stole money from her bank account? What a snake
in the grass.
20. Like a duck to water: Very quickly and naturally, as if it were innate. The phrase also often implies a sense
of enjoyment
Sarah took to her bike like a duck to water. She was born to ride.
21. (Don’t) Have a Cow: (don’t) get extremely upset (often over something minor)
Don’t have a cow, man! I was just making a suggestion.
22. (To) have ants in one’s pants: unable to sit still or remain calm out of nervousness or excitement
Lisa had ants in her pants the day before her interview.
23. (Go) hog wild: to behave in an uncontrolled manner, often due to excitement
I went hog wild at the coin show-I really bought more than I could afford.
24. (To) quit cold turkey: stop doing something abruptly. The phrase is most often used to describe the sudden cessation
of a drug.
I quit smoking cold turkey after my friend’s death because of lung cancer.
25. The birds and the bees: sex education
Nowadays, children learn about the birds and the bees in school.
