Idioms: animals

Terms in this deck

• hold your horses
  wait, don't be so hasty
• a wolf in sheep's clothing
  someone who seems harmless but is actually dangerous
• the early bird catches the worm
  people who act early have an advantage over others
• curiosity killed the cat
  being too curious can get you into trouble
• a fish out of water
  feeling awkward or out of place in a situation
• smell a rat
  to suspect that something is wrong
• have a cow
  to become extremely upset or angry
• chicken out
  to decide not to do something out of fear
• cry wolf
  to repeatedly ask for help when it's not needed, so no one believes you when it's real
• monkey business
  silly or dishonest behavior
• beat a dead horse
  to keep talking about something that's already been settled
• a leopard can't change its spots
  people's basic character doesn't really change
• get your ducks in a row
  to get everything organized before starting something
• a snake in the grass
  a deceptive, untrustworthy person
• play cat and mouse
  to chase or tease someone in a game-like way
• horse around
  to play in a rough, silly way
• take the bull by the horns
  to deal with a difficult situation directly and confidently
• dog tired
  extremely tired
• black sheep
  a family member who is different from the rest, often embarrassingly
• as the crow flies
  in a straight line, measuring direct distance
• rat race
  a stressful, competitive way of life, especially at work
• crocodile tears
  fake sadness or sympathy
• kill the goose that lays the golden eggs
  to destroy something valuable through greed or carelessness
• like a deer in headlights
  frozen with fear or surprise, unable to react
• a wild goose chase
  a search or effort that is completely useless
• put the cart before the horse
  to do things in the wrong order
• a lone wolf
  a person who prefers to work or spend time alone
• cat got your tongue?
  said when someone is unusually quiet
• top dog
  the most important or powerful person in a group
• busy as a bee
  very busy and active
• quiet as a mouse
  making no noise at all