idioms based on animals


Idioms based on animal:
  • Cat nap

A short sleep
I’m going to have a cat nap while you're cooking dinner.

  • Cat's got one's tongue

Said about someone who doesn't speak (usually due to shyness)
It looks like the cat's got your tongue, lucy. Are you always this quiet?

  • Chicken out

To decide not to do something out of fear (usually just before)
I was going to take a ride on Geoff’s motorcycle, but i chickened out when he gave me a helmet to wear.

  • Clam up

Become quiet suddenly
Arthur clammed up when i asked him about his family.

  • Copy cat

A person who does the same thing as someone else
My sister is such a copy cat. First she bought the same car as me, and now she's applying to my school.

  • Dog days

Very hot days
I sleep in the basement during the dog days of august.

  • Dropping like flies

Dying/giving up quickly
My roses are dropping like flies in this early frost.

  • Eager beaver

A person who is excited about doing certain work
Ever since he got his new drill set my husband has been an eager beaver around the house.

  • Fishy

Odd, suspicious
I knew something fishy was going on when i saw all of my friends' cars in my mom's driveway.

  • Have a cow

Get extremely upset (often over something minor)
My teacher had a cow when she realized nobody had done the homework.

  • Hold your horses

Wait and be patient
Hold your horses! I'll be done in the washroom in a minute.
  • Holy cow!

Wow, I’m surprised!
Holy cow! I can't believe you ate everything on your plate.

  • Get the lion's share

Get the greatest percentage
My aunt got the lion's share of the inheritance.

  • In the dog house

In trouble with another person
I don't think Marsha is coming out tonight. She's still in the dog house for forgetting aaron's birthday.

  • 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.

  • Kitty corner

Diagonal direction
The gas station is kitty corner to the library.

  • Let the cat out of the bag

Reveal a secret
Who let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party?
  • Make a beeline

Go straight for something
My grandma made a beeline for the smoking room as soon as she got off the airplane.
  • Monkey see, monkey do

Silly/unintelligent people tend to copy each other's actions
Our one-year-old is saying bad words now. I told my husband, "monkey see, monkey do!"
  • Nest egg

Money saved for the future
We have a nest egg that we might have to use if jim goes on sick leave.
  • Pig out

Eat a lot of something
I pigged out on pancakes so i don't have room for lunch.
  • Raining cats and dogs

Raining heavily
I forgot my umbrella, and it was raining cats and dogs.
  • Rat race

Fierce, competitive struggle for power, position etc
I’m ready to leave this rat race and retire in Mexico.
  • Straight from the horse's mouth

Directly from the original source
I know jenny is pregnant, because i heard it straight from the horse's mouth.
  • Take the bull by the horns

Face a challenge or danger boldly
If you really think you deserve a promotion, you'll have to take the bull by the horns.
  • Until the cows come home

For a very long time
I could eat pizza and ice-cream until the cows come home.

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