20 Animal Idioms In English Idioms With Large Animals #1 – THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM Image Source: fir0002 | flagstaffotos.com.au “The elephant in the room” is an idiom for a problem or controversial issue that is too big to ignore, but that everyone tries to avoid talking about because it is embarrassing or will cause conflict. #2 – ONE-TRICK PONY English Idioms - Pony A pony is a small horse, which is often used for shows, competitions, and exhibitions. People teach ponies “tricks” to perform at the shows. If a pony only knows one trick, then it doesn’t have a great variety of abilities. So describing someone as a “one-trick pony” means the person has only one ability or good quality that he/she is known for, and doesn’t have any other abilities. #3 – THE LION’S SHARE English Idioms - Lion's Share Image: yaaaay “The lion’s share” of something is the biggest part or portion. #4 – HOLD YOUR HORSES! English Idioms - Hold your horses Image: François Marchal This idiomatic expression means “Wait a minute! Don’t be in such a hurry.” Idioms With Small Animals #5 – THAT REALLY GETS MY GOAT. English Idioms: Get your goat Image: fir0002 | flagstaffotos.com.au If something “gets your goat,” it means it annoys you. #6 – PIG-HEADED English Idioms: Pig-Headed Describing someone as “pig-headed” means that person is stupid and stubborn (close-minded and inflexible). #7 – WEASEL OUT OF SOMETHING English Idioms: Weasel out Image: Keven Law Weasels have a reputation for being sneaky. If a person “weasels out of” some responsibility, it means they abandon their responsibility or commitment in a way that is sneaky or cowardly. Idioms With Domestic Animals #8 – THE CAT’S MEOW If you think something is “the cat’s meow,” it means you think it is excellent, wonderful, really great. #9 – LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG English Idioms: Let the cat out of the bag To reveal a secret. #10 – GO TO THE DOGS If something “goes to the dogs,” it means it goes bad, deteriorates, or becomes poor-quality. #11 – LET SLEEPING DOGS LIE English Idioms: Let sleeping dogs lie If you make a suggestion to “let sleeping dogs lie,” it means not to talk about things in the past that might cause problems if you mention them today. This idiom comes from the fact that a sleeping dog is peaceful, but if you wake it up, it might be angry and bite you. Idioms With Birds #12 – WILD GOOSE CHASE English idioms: Wild goose chase Image: Alan D. Wilson, www.naturespicsonline.com This idiom means going after something that you are not likely to get, or a pursuit that is a waste of time because it is unlikely to succeed. It comes from the fact that it is very hard to catch a wild goose, so if you try to chase one, you are not likely to get it! #13 – QUIT COLD TURKEY English Idioms: Quit cold turkey Image:Lupin If you quit something (a habit like coffee, smoking, drinking, etc.) “cold turkey,” it means you stop completely. Quitting smoking cold turkey would be deciding one day never to have another cigarette again. (Differently from slowly decreasing your smoking habit over time and eventually stopping). There are two possible origins for this idiom – one is that when someone is addicted to drugs, and suddenly stops using the drugs, their skin becomes cold and gets bumps like a plucked turkey (a turkey without its feathers). The other possible origin is the fact that cold turkey is a dish that is quick and easy to prepare. #14 – WATCH SOMETHING LIKE A HAWK English Idioms: Watch like a hawk Image: Dori A hawk is a bird of prey – that means it hunts small animals for food. Because of this, a hawk needs to have very good vision and watch carefully to find the animals. So “watching something like a hawk” means watching extremely carefully. Idioms With Fish #15 – LIKE A FISH OUT OF WATER English Idioms: Fish out of water The natural place for a fish to live is in the water – if a fish is outside the water, it would feel very uncomfortable! If you feel “like a fish out of water,” it means that you are very uncomfortable in a particular situation or environment. #16 – FISH OR CUT BAIT Idioms: Fish or cut bait This worm is being used as “bait” to attract a fish. Image source. In the sport of fishing, “bait” is the food you put on the hook to attract the fish. If you “cut bait,” it means you abandon the bait and stop trying to catch fish. This idiom means “either do something, or else get out of the way” – you can say it to a person who is indecisive in order to motivate them to take one action or the other action. #17 – RED HERRING English idioms: Red herring A hunting dog can be distracted by the strong smell of a herring. Image source A “red herring” is a piece of information that draws attention away from the real facts of a situation. This idiom comes from the fact that a herring is a type of strong-smelling fish. If you are hunting with the help of a dog, and the dog smells a herring, it will be distracted by the strong smell and go in the wrong direction. Idioms With Insects #18 – ANTS IN YOUR PANTS English idioms: Ants in pants If you have “ants in your pants,” it means you can’t stay still because you’re very agitated, excited, or worried. #19 – MAD AS A HORNET English idioms: Mad as a hornet Image: © entomart Someone who is “mad as a hornet” is extremely angry. Hornets are dangerous when they are angry, because they can sting. #20 – WOULDN’T HURT A FLY English Idioms: Wouldn't hurt a fly Image: Axel Rouvin If you say that someone “wouldn’t hurt a fly,” you are describing the person as very peaceful and nonviolent. It is a person who is so gentle that they wouldn’t hurt anyone, even a small insect like a fly.
