Idioms And Sayings About Animals
Idiom/Saying
Explanation
To have ants in your pants.
For example:-
There's a test tomorrow, and he can't concentrate or keep still. He looks like he's got ants in his pants.
To be unable to keep still because you are very excited or worried about something.
坐立不安
To badger someone.
For example:-
Don't let people badger you into having a drink.
To pester someone into doing something.
烦扰某人，打扰某人
Bark worse than bite.
For example:-
Oh don't worry, he's always shouting at people, but his bark is worse than his bite.
Used to describe someone who makes threats but never carries them out.
“会叫的狗不咬人”
Barking up the wrong tree.
For example:-
The government was barking up the wrong tree with their proposal to selloff the UK's forests.
To make the wrong choice, or ask the wrong person. (Imagine Laika barking up a tree thinking there's a squirrel up there, but the squirrel has already run along the branches to another tree.)错人了，搞错对象了，弄错了，大错特错
To be like a bear with a sore head.
For example:-
My husband is like a bear with a sore head before he gets his cup of tea in the morning.
To be in a bad mood.
脾气坏的，勃然大怒，粗暴的
To have a bee in your bonnet.
For example:-
She's got a real bee in her bonnet about that new advertising campaign, she's even phoned the ACA!
To be obsessed about something
你不能停止、没完没了地想这件事儿。我们常用这个短语来描述一个人对某事担忧、着急或因某事而很生气。 .
The birds and the bees.
For example:-
In the UK many parents dread having to tell their children about the birds and the bees.
∙ A euphamism for courtship and intercourse between people.两性关系的基本常识；
∙ 基本的性知识；
∙ 性启蒙教育
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
For example:-
I would stay with your current firm, rather than look for something better. After all, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Having something for certain is better than the possibility of getting something better. 一鸟在手，胜似二鸟在林 意思就是拥有的东西比没得到的东西实在，更需珍惜
The early bird catches the worm.
For example:-
I'll go to work early tomorrow. After all, the early bird catches the worm.
If you do something in a timely manner you will succeed."早起的鸟儿有虫吃
A bird's eye view.
For example:-
If you look at Google Maps you can get a bird's eye view of your street.
The appearance of something seen from above.鸟瞰 意思是俯视，是因为居高临下，一览无余，让你能俯视全景。
Birds of a feather flock together.
For example:-
At the party, all the teenagers gathered in the kitchen. Birds of a feather flock together.
People who have similar characters or similar interests will often choose to spend time together.物以类聚,人以分
To kill two birds with one stone.
For example:-
I went to the dentist, and asked him to fill the molar, and remove the wisdom tooth at the same time. Might as well kill two birds with one stone.
To solve two problems with a single action.一石二鸟
To be like a bull in a china shop.
For example:-
Don't let him touch those glass baubles, he's like a bull in a china shop.
To be clumsy形象生动,喻义明显,因此在日常生活中常常被用来形容那些做事毛手毛脚或言谈举止粗.
A cat nap.
For example:-
I always have a cat nap after lunch.
∙ A short sleep, during the day.打瞌睡；
∙ 假寐；
∙ 小睡；
∙ 瞌睡
To be like a cat on a hot tin roof.
For example:-
She's waiting for her boyfriend to call, and she's been like a cat on a hot tin roof all day.
To be nervous and unable to keep still.比喻焦虑不安 类似于热锅上的蚂蚁
A fat cat.
For example:-
Too many fat cats have made money out of the recession.
∙ Someone who is very rich and powerful.一只肥猫；大款；有钱有势的人；
∙ 肥猫
A scaredy-cat.
For example:-
It's only a little spider, don't be such a scaredy-cat.
Someone who is frightened for no reason.胆小鬼
The cat's whiskers.
For example:-
She thought she was the cat's whiskers when she got the part in the play.
When someone thinks they're better than everyone else.（非正式）优秀人物，上等货
Has the cat got your tongue?
For example:-
Why are you being so quiet? Cat got your tongue?
Said when someone isn't saying anything.Cat got one's tongue是指一个人因惊讶、尴尬而一时不知说什么好。在对话中占上风的人会经常对处于劣势的人说Has the cat got your tongue?，用来显示自己处于优势
To let the cat out of the bag.
For example:-
Everybody knows about the redundancies, someone let the cat out of the bag.
To reveal a secret.无意中泄露秘密
To look like the cat that got the cream.
For example:-
I guess you passed your exam. You look like the cat that got the cream.
To look very pleased and a bit smug about something.对于某事非常高兴，得意不凡
To put a cat among the pigeons.
For example:-
When the photos showed him kissing a young woman, it really put the cat among the pigeons.
∙ To cause trouble.引来可能招惹是非的人[事]制造混乱；
∙ 挑起纠纷；
∙ 惹乱子
Not enough room to swing a cat.
For example:-
In our old flat there wasn't enough room to swing a cat.
Used to describe a place that is very small.连猫都难以行走，说明空间之狭小，根本没有转身的余地。
It's raining cats and dogs! 
For example:-
We had to run for shelter when it started raining cats and dogs.
It's raining very heavily.下暴雨;倾盆大雨有个典故,大概意思是从前外国每次下了暴雨,就会从下水道溢出一些流浪猫儿,流浪狗狗的尸体,就好象是大雨把这一些带来的,所以下了很大的雨就说成了It's raining cats and dogs
Look what the cat's dragged in!
For example:-
Look what the cat's dragged in! You look terrible!
An insulting way of saying that someone has just arrived and they don't look good.[口语]瞧这副窝囊相(对不整洁的人打的招呼)
To be a chicken or To be chicken or to be chicken livered.
For example:-
She wouldn't get on the waltzers, because she said they're dangerous. She's such a chicken.
Someone who is cowardly.胆怯
A cuckoo in the nest.
For example:-
The new manager is a real cuckoo in the nest. He's causing more problems than he's solving.
Someone who is part of a group but is different and often disliked, or a problem that grows quickly and crowds out everything else.与众不同且不受欢迎的人，问题变得急剧突出等
Living in cloud cuckoo land.
For example:-
He thinks the recession won't affect his business. He's living in cloud cuckoo land.
∙ Used to describe someone who has ideas or plans that are completely unrealistic.脱离现实的幻境；不切实际的，乌托邦的，
∙
A dog and pony show.
For example:-
His campaign was a real dog and pony show, but he still didn't win the election.
A show or other event that has been organized in order to get people's support or to persuade them to buy something.精心安排的盛大演出（或展示），有说服人们买东西的倾向，
A shaggy dog story.
For example:-
The way he kept going on led me to suspect it was a shaggy dog story.
∙ A joke or story that's obviously not true or has a silly ending.冗长无聊的滑稽故事; 不得要领的幽默
To be like a dog with two tails.
For example:-
When we found out we had won the contract, our manager was like a dog with two tails.
To be very happy.非常高兴，兴高采烈
To be dog-eared.
For example:-
I won't lend her any more books, the last one she gave back to me was dog-eared.
If something is dog-eared, it is in bad condition.（书）翻旧了的，折角了的，卷了的，比喻处于不好状态
To be dog tired.
For example:-
The party went on till 4am. I was dog tired the next day.
To be exhausted.累得再也爬不起来了
Gone to the dogs.
spider什么意思For example.-
This country has gone to the dogs since they won the election.
Used when someone or somewhere becomes less successful than it was.某地或者某人 大不如从前
Let sleeping dogs lie.
For example:-
I knew my boss was wrong, but I didn't say anything. He wouldn't thank me, so I say, let sleeping dogs lie.
Leave something alone if it might cause trouble.意思就是不要去惹正在睡觉的狗，因为睡着了的狗不会咬人。换句话说，也就是：要是采取什么行动会给自己或别人带来麻烦，那么最好还是保持现状，不要采取行动。
It's raining cats and dogs! 
For example:-
We had to run for shelter when it started raining cats and dogs.
It's raining very heavily.倾盆大雨
Talk the hind leg off a donkey.
For example:-
I couldn't get a word in edgeways. That guy could talk the hind leff off a donkey.
To talk a lot.唠叨不停;唠叨不休
A dead duck.
For example:-
The police admitted that they were giving up, the case was a dead duck.
∙ A failure.完蛋的人；
∙ 玩完了；
∙ 被放弃的或将失败的计划；
∙ 注定要完蛋的人
Water off a duck's back.
For example:-
He kept shouting at me, but it was like water off a duck's back.
Said when someone doesn't let things upset them. 作为一个习惯用语，意思就是：“对……毫无作用，被人像鸭子抖羽毛一样抖掉了”。 
The elephant in the room.
For example:-
Her blindness was the elephant in the room.
A problem or situation that everyone knows about but no one mentions.房间里的大象（也可以说是卧室里的大象，墙角的大象，餐桌上的大象，厨房里的大象等）是一个英国的谚语，用来形容一个明明存在的问题，却被人刻意的回避及无视的情形。它的字面意思描述了，一个庞大的大象在狭小的房间里面，是非常明显的事实，因此，它也暗含了这个问题应该被拿来出来公开讨论的意思。这条谚语，常被用于描绘，上瘾者身边的朋友及家人，为了帮助他走出自我否定，而不愿意讨论他的问题的情形。
A white elephant.
For example:-
Spain lavished money on many white elephant building projects, such as the airport at Ciudad Real, south of Madrid.
Used to describe something you own that is useless.在印度、里兰卡（从前称为锡兰）、泰国、缅甸等国白象(white elephant)被视为神圣不可侵犯的动物，人们从不会让它们劳作。据说要饲养一头“white elephant”花费惊人。所以从前中亚的国王对看不顺眼的大臣就赐给白象，使他为饲养御赐的白象而倾家荡产。源自此一典故“white elephant”一词后来演变而指比其价值或效用所需费用庞大而不成比例者，或虽然不需要但难于处理之物品了
A cold fish.
For example:-
Her husband's a real cold fish, it's impossible to tell whether he's happy or not.
Someone who doesn't show how they feel.态度冷漠的人，不热情的人，难以看穿心事的人，总是面无表情的人
"A different kettle of fish"
For example:-
Oh! They want to place an order? That's a different kettle of fish. Of course I'll talk to them.
A different matter or issue.截然不同的事
∙ 另一种人或事
To have bigger fish to fry.
For example:-
He couldn't stay long, with this merger he has bigger fish to fry.
To have more important things to do.我有更重要的事情需要去做”。这个句子可以用于非正式场合，非常口语化。
Like a fish out of water.
For example:-
When she started talking about her personal problems, he looked like a fish out of water.
To be uncomfortable in a particular situation
如鱼离水，不适应；
∙ 不自在；
∙ 浑身不自在；
Something is fishy.
For example:-
There was something fishy in the way he paused before answering the question.
Used when something is suspicious可疑的，有鬼，蹊跷的，有猫腻的.
To be a fly on the wall.
For example:-
I would love to have been a fly on the wall when the boss was telling him off.
To want to be somewhere secretly, so you can overhear what is said.“墙上的苍蝇”指在不被人注意的情况下随意观察局势的一种状态。现在，这个表达多用于指代“观察型纪录片”，此类纪录片一般如实反应片中人物的真实生活，不会因为拍摄而影响人物的行为
To be as sly as a fox.
For example:-
He managed to get all his money out before the bank collapsed. He's a sly old fox.
To be sneakily clever.像狐狸一样狡猾
To get someone's goat.
For example:-
The whole time I was singing she didn't stop talking. She really got my goat.
To upset someone.原指“把山羊从马的身边牵走，惹马生怒”，随着时间的推移，就成了“惹人愤怒”了。
What's sauce for the goose, (is sauce for the gander.)
For example:-
If your husband can go out to work, then surely you can too. After all, what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.
If you think something is acceptable for one person, it should also be acceptable for another person.依样画葫芦
Wouldn't say boo to a goose.
For example:-
He's not assertive enough to be a supervisor, he wouldn't say boo to a goose.
不会吓唬人 没有威慑力
To not give a hoot.
For example:-
Estate agents don't give a hoot about their customers.
To not care.毫不在乎
A dark horse.
For example:-
I was surprised when he sat down to play the piano, I didn't know he could! He's a real dark horse.
A person who is secretive and often does <口>黑马（意外得胜的马）; 实力难测的赛马; 实力难测的竞争者; 出人意外的获胜者;
To close (shut) the stable door after the horse has bolted.
For example:-
Giving the banks billions of dollars, is like closing the stable door after the horse has bolted.
To try to fix something after the problem has occurred.亡羊补牢
To say you could eat a horse.
For example:-
I haven't had any breakfast, so I could eat a horse.
To be very hungry.吃东西狼吞虎咽，食量惊人
To look a gift horse in the mouth.
For example:-
She complained that the software was slow, but hadn't paid for it, so I told her not to look a gift horse in the mouth.
To mistrust or complain about something you are offered or given for free.
对礼物吹毛求疵相当于 白吃枣还嫌核大
To eat like a horse.
For example:-
He had two helpings of everything. He eats like a horse!
To eat a lot.狼吞虎咽
To put the cart before the horse.
For example:-
Learning to write a language before you are comfortable speaking it is putting the cart before the horse.
To get things confused and mixed up, or to do things in the wrong order.本末倒置
Sraight from the horse's mouth.
For example:-
The rumour is true, the company will announce a large contract today, I heard it straight from the horse's mouth; the managing director told me.
To hear something interesting from someone actually involved.你听到的消息是真实的，因为这消息来自可靠的来源。马和消息可靠又有什么关系呢？你要知道，远在人们还没有使用汽车的年代，人们是依靠马作为他们主要的交通工具，认为马是十分可靠的。现在，汽车已经早就代替了马，但是这个俗语仍然被广为使用
Mutton dressed (up) as lamb.
For example:-
She's over fifty and should really stop wearing mini skirts if she doesn't want to look like mutton dressed as lamb.
Used to describe a woman who is dressed in a style that is more suitable for a much younger woman“模仿年轻一辈打扮的较年长女人”.
To not give a monkey's.
For example:-
I don't give a monkey's about being made redundant. I'm leaving. I've got another, better job.
Used to express lack of concern or interest.（非正式）全不在乎，完全无所谓
To put a cat among the pigeons.
For example:-
When the photos showed him kissing a young woman, it really put the cat among the pigeons.
To cause trouble.引来可能招惹是非的人[事
∙ 制造混乱；
∙ 挑起纠纷；
∙ 惹乱子
To be like a rabbit in the headlights.
For example:-
As I walked into the exam room, I was like a rabbit in the headlights.
To be so frightened or surprised that you cannot move or think.吓尿了，惊呆了，简直不能移动或者思考
To pull a rabbit out of the hat.
For example:-
He really pulled a rabbit out of the hat by getting those orders.
To surprise everyone by suddenly doing something clever.“到一个没有意料到的办法来解决面临的困难
Even a blind squirrel can find a nut once in a while.
For example:-
I was surprised when he came up with the solution, I didn't think he was that clever. I guess that even a blind squirrel can find a nut once in a while.
Sometimes people can be correct just by being lucky.指人有时候会很幸运的做对或者判断正确什么事情。类似于瞎猫逮住死老鼠
To have a tiger by the tail.
For example:-
Trying to deal with the problem of drugs on the streets is like grabbing a tiger by the tail.
To have become associated with something powerful and potentially dangerous.抓住老虎的尾巴。这是非常危险的局面，如果松开手，肯定对付不了凶猛的老虎。但是抓住老虎尾巴不放，看来也是凶多吉少，因为实际上本来也没有任何制服老虎的可能。
To talk turkey.
For example:-
We need to solve this problem, and the only way we'll do it is to talk turkey.
To speak frankly and openly.直言不讳
A wolf in sheep's clothing.
For example:-
I wouldn't borrow any money off him if I were you. He's a real wolf in sheep's clothing.
Someone who is dangerous, but pretends to be harmless.披着羊皮的狼，表面人畜无害，实际非常危险
To cry wolf.
For example:-
Don't take any notice of him, he's always crying wolf.
To raise a false alarm about something.发假警报，说谎话，狼来了
The worm has turned..
For example:-
Investors have become skeptical of the ability of CEOs to pull higher stock prices out of their hats. The worm has turned.
When a usually meek person or group of people becomes angry.甚至连一只虫子也会翻翻身。

此谚语类似于中文的“狗急跳墙”的意思，指连地位最卑下的人在遭到虐待或侮辱超过一定限度时也会反击的，即把人逼急了必有反抗。
To open a can of worms.
For example:-
When the government invited online petitions through its website, it found it had opened a can of worms.
To do something that exposes a very difficult issue or set of problems.a can of worms。与Pandora's box（“潘多拉的盒子”——罪恶的源泉）有点相像，a can of worms往往被认为是“棘手问题的原产地”。常常用来形容“问题、难题的源泉”或“某件事把问题弄得更加复杂”。

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