IDIOMS
Animal Idioms
Idiom Meaning Example Sentence
ants in one's pants unable to sit still or remain calm out Lisa had ants in her pants the day before her
of nervousness or excitement interview.
(the) birds and the sex education I learned about the birds and the bees when my
bees baby brother was born.
cat nap a short sleep I'm going to have a cat nap while you're cooking
dinner.
cat's got one's said about someone who doesn't It looks like the cat's got your tongue, Lucy. Are
tongue speak (usually due to shyness) you always this quiet?
chicken out to decide not to do something out of I was going to take a ride on Geoff's motorcyle, but
fear (usually just before) 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 My sister is such a copy cat. First she bought the
someone else 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 Ever since he got his new drill set my husband has
certain work 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 My teacher had a cow when she realized nobody
something minor) 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.
horse around play roughly If you're going to horse around, please go outside.
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
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, still in the dog house for forgetting Aaron's
birthday.
kill two birds with get two things done at once If you pick the groceries up when you drop George
one stone 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 reveal a secret Who let the cat out of the bag about the surprise
the bag party?
(a) little bird told I heard something (usually secretive A little bird told me that you are thinking of
me or unknown) from someone (not quitting your job.
named)
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, silly/unintelligent people tend to Our one-year-old is saying bad words now. I told my
monkey do copy each other's actions 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 raining heavily I forgot my umbrella, and it was raining cats and
dogs dogs.
rat race fierce, competitive struggle for I'm ready to leave this rat race and retire in Mexico.
power, position etc
smell a rat begin to suspect trickery etc I asked my brothers not to tell my parents that I went
out, but I could smell a rat as soon as I opened the
door.
straight from the directly from the original source I know Jenny is pregnant, because I heard itstraight
horse's mouth from the horse's mouth.
take the bull by the face a challenge or danger boldly If you really think you deserve a promotion, you'll
horns have to take the bull by the horns.
until the cows come for a very long time I could eat pizza and ice-cream until the cows come
home home.
2
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Animal Idioms
Idiom Meaning Example Sentence
ants in one's pants unable to sit still or remain calm out Lisa had ants in her pants the day before her
of nervousness or excitement interview.
(the) birds and the sex education I learned about the birds and the bees when my
bees baby brother was born.
cat nap a short sleep I'm going to have a cat nap while you're cooking
dinner.
cat's got one's said about someone who doesn't It looks like the cat's got your tongue, Lucy. Are
tongue speak (usually due to shyness) you always this quiet?
chicken out to decide not to do something out of I was going to take a ride on Geoff's motorcyle, but
fear (usually just before) 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 My sister is such a copy cat. First she bought the
someone else 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 Ever since he got his new drill set my husband has
certain work 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 My teacher had a cow when she realized nobody
something minor) 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.
horse around play roughly If you're going to horse around, please go outside.
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
1
www.css.theazkp.com
www.facebook.com/thecsspoint
, still in the dog house for forgetting Aaron's
birthday.
kill two birds with get two things done at once If you pick the groceries up when you drop George
one stone 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 reveal a secret Who let the cat out of the bag about the surprise
the bag party?
(a) little bird told I heard something (usually secretive A little bird told me that you are thinking of
me or unknown) from someone (not quitting your job.
named)
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, silly/unintelligent people tend to Our one-year-old is saying bad words now. I told my
monkey do copy each other's actions 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 raining heavily I forgot my umbrella, and it was raining cats and
dogs dogs.
rat race fierce, competitive struggle for I'm ready to leave this rat race and retire in Mexico.
power, position etc
smell a rat begin to suspect trickery etc I asked my brothers not to tell my parents that I went
out, but I could smell a rat as soon as I opened the
door.
straight from the directly from the original source I know Jenny is pregnant, because I heard itstraight
horse's mouth from the horse's mouth.
take the bull by the face a challenge or danger boldly If you really think you deserve a promotion, you'll
horns have to take the bull by the horns.
until the cows come for a very long time I could eat pizza and ice-cream until the cows come
home home.
2
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