Animal Idioms

800 pound gorilla

The 800-pound gorilla is the dominant force in an industry (the classic example is Microsoft in the computer industry.)

A little bird told me

If someone doesn't want to say where they got some information from, they can say that a little bird told them.

Albatross around your neck

An albatross around, or round, your neck is a problem resulting from something you did that stops you from being successful.

All bark and no bite

When someone talks tough but really isn't, they are all bark and no bite.

Angry as a bear

If someone is as angry as a bear, they are very angry.('Angry as a bear with a sore foot' is also used.)

Angry as a bull

If someone is as angry as a bull, they are very angry.

Ants in your pants

If someone has ants in their pants, they are agitated or excited about something and can't keep still.

As mad as a wrongly shot hog

(USA) If someone is as mad as a wrongly shot hog, they are very angry. (Same as, Angry as a bear or Angry as a bull).

As the crow flies

This idiom is used to describe the shortest possible distance between two places.

At a snail's pace

If something moves at a snail's pace, it moves very slowly.

Back the wrong horse

If you back the wrong horse, you give your support to the losing side in something.

Be on the pig's back

If you're on the pig's back, you're happy / content / in fine form.

Bear market

A bear market is a period when investors are pessimistic and expect financial losses so are more likely to sell than to buy shares.

Beard the lion in his own den

If you confront a powerful or dangerous rival on their territory, you are bearding the lion in his own den.

Beating a dead horse

(USA) If someone is trying to convince people to do or feel something without any hope of succeeding, they're beating a dead horse. This is used when someone is trying to raise interest in an issue that no-one supports anymore; beating a dead horse will not make it do any more work.

Bee in your bonnet

If someone is very excited about something, they have a bee in their bonnet.

Bee's Knees

If something is the bee's knees, it's outstanding or the best in its class.

Beeline for

If you make a beeline for a place, you head there directly.

Bend someone's ear

To bend someone's ear is to talk to someone about something for a long-enough period that it becomes tiresome for the listener.

Between you and me and the cat's whiskers

This idiom is used when telling someone something that you want them to keep secret.

Big fish

An important person in a company or an organisation is a big fish.

Big fish in a small pond

A big fish in a small pond is an important person in a small place or organisation.

Bigger fish to fry

If you aren't interested in something because it isn't important to you and there are more important things for you to do, you have bigger fish to fry.

Bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

'A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush' is a proverb meaning that it is better to have something that is certain than take a risk to get more, where you might lose everything.

Bird's eye view

If you have a bird's eye view of something, you can see it perfectly clearly.

Bird-brain

Someone who has a bird-brain, or is bird-brained, is stupid.

Birds and the bees

If a child is taught about the birds and the bees, they are taught about sex.

Birds of a feather flock together

This idiom means that people with similar interests will stick together.

Blind as a bat

If you are in total darkness and can't see anything at all, you are as blind as a bat.

Brass monkey

If it's brass monkey weather, or cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey, it is extremely cold.

Break the back of the beast

If you break the back of the beast, you accomplish a challenge.

Bull in a China shop

If someone behaves like a bull in a China shop, they are clumsy when they should be careful.

Bull market

A bull market is a period when investors are optimistic and there are expectations that good financial results will continue.

Bull session

If you have a bull session, you have an informal group discussion about something.

Bull-headed

If you're a bull-headed, you're stubborn or inflexible.

Busy as a beaver

If you're as busy as a beaver, you're very busy indeed.

Busy as a bee

If you are as busy as a bee, you are very busy indeed.

Butterflies in your stomach

The nervous feeling before something important or stressful is known as butterflies in your stomach.

By a whisker

If you do something by a whisker, you only just manage to do it and come very near indeed to failing.

Calf lick

A calf lick is the weird parting in your fringe where your hair grows in a different direction, usually to one side.

Call the dogs off

If someone calls off their dogs, they stop attacking or criticising someone.

Can of worms

If an action can create serious problems, it is opening a can of worms.

Canary in a coal mine

(UK) A canary in a coal mine is an early warning of danger.

Cast pearls before swine

If you cast pearls before swine, you offer something of value to someone who doesn't appreciate it- 'swine' are 'pigs'.

Cast sheep's eyes at

If you cast sheep's eyes at at someone, you look lovingly or with longing at them.

Cat among the pigeons

If something or someone puts, or sets or lets, the cat among the pigeons, they create a disturbance and cause trouble.

Cat and dog life

If people lead a cat and dog life, they are always arguing.

Cat fur and kitty britches

(USA) When I used to ask my grandma what was for dinner, she would say 'cat fur and kitty britches'. This was her Ozark way of telling me that I would get what she cooked. (Ozark is a region in the center of the United States)

Cat got your tongue?

If someone asks if the cat has got your tongue, they want to know why you are not speaking when they think you should.

Cat nap

If you have a short sleep during the day, you are cat napping.

Cat's lick

(Scot) A cat's lick is a very quick wash.

Cat's pajamas

(USA) Something that is the cat's pajamas is excellent.

Cat's whiskers

Something excellent is the cat's whiskers.

Change horses in midstream

If people change horses in midstream, they change plans or leaders when they are in the middle of something, even though it may be very risky to do so.

Chickenfeed

If something is small or unimportant, especially money, it is chickenfeed.

Close the stable door after the horse has bolted

If people try to fix something after the problem has occurred, they are trying to close the stable door after the horse has bolted. 'Close the barn door after the horse has bolted' is alternative, often used in American English.

Cloud cuckoo land

If someone has ideas or plans that are completely unrealistic, they are living on cloud cuckoo land.

Cock and bull story

A cock and bull story is a lie someone tells that is completely unbelievable.

Cock in the henhouse

This is used to describe a male in an all-female environment.

Cock of the walk

A man who is excessively confident and thinks he's better than other people is the cock of the walk.

Cold fish

A cold fish is a person who doesn't show how they feel.

Cold turkey

If someone suddenly stops taking drugs, instead of slowly cutting down, they do cold turkey.

Come out of your shell

If someone comes out of their shell, they stop being shy and withdrawn and become more friendly and sociable.

Constitution of an ox

If someone has the constitution of an ox, they are less affected than most people by things like tiredness, illness, alcohol, etc.

Cook someone's goose

If you cook someone's goose, you ruin their plans.

Cool as a cat

To act fine when you a actually scared or nervous

Coon's age

(USA) A very long time, as in 'I haven't seen her in a coon's age!'

Could eat a horse

If you are very hungry, you could eat a horse.

Count sheep

If people cannot sleep, they are advised to count sheep mentally.

Creature comforts

If a person said "I hate camping. I don't like giving up my creature comforts." the person would be referring, in particular, to the comfortable things he/she would have at home but not when camping. At home, for example, he/she would have complete shelter from the weather, a television, a nice comfortable warm bed, the ability to take a warm bath or shower, comfortable lounge chairs to relax in and so on. The person doesn't like giving up the material and psychological benefits of his/her normal life.

Crocodile tears

If someone cries crocodile tears, they pretend to be upset or affected by something.

Crooked as a dog's hind leg

Someone who is very dishonest is as crooked as a dog's hind leg.

Cry wolf

If someone cries wolf, they raise a false alarm about something.

Cuckoo in the nest

Is an issue or a problem, etc, is a cuckoo in the nest, it grows quickly and crowds out everything else.

Curiosity killed the cat

As cats are naturally curious animals, we use this expression to suggest to people that excessive curiosity is not necessarily a good thing, especially where it is not their business.

Cute as a bug

(USA) If something is as cute as a bug, it is sweet and endearing.

Dark horse

If someone is a dark horse, they are a bit of a mystery.

Dead as a dodo

If something's dead as a dodo, it is lifeless and dull. The dodo was a bird that lived the island of Mauritius. It couldn't fly and was hunted to extinction.

Dead duck

If something is a dead duck, it is a failure.

Deer in the headlights

When one is caught offguard and needs to make a decision, but cannot react quickly.

Dinosaur

A dinosaur is a person who is thought to be too old for their position.

Dirty dog

A dirty dog is an untrustworthy person.

Dog and pony show

(USA) A dog and pony show is a presentation or some marketing that has lots of style, but no real content.

Dog days

Dog days are very hot summer days.

Dog eat dog

In a dog eat dog world, there is intense competition and rivalry, where everybody thinks only of himself or herself.

Dog in the manger

(UK) If someone acts like a dog in the manger, they don't want other people to have or enjoy things that are useless to them.

Dog tired

If you are dog tired, you are exhausted.

Dog's dinner

Something that is a dog's dinner is a real mess.

Dog's life

If some has a dog's life, they have a very unfortunate and wretched life.

Dog-eared

If a book is dog-eared, it is in bad condition, with torn pages, etc.

Doggy bag

If you ask for a doggy bag in a restaurant, they will pack the food you haven't eaten for you to take home.

Don't catch your chickens before they're hatched

This means that you should wait until you know whether something has produced the results you desire, rather than acting beforehand. ('Don't count your chickens until they've hatched' is an alternative.)

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth

This means that if you are given something, a present or a chance, you should not waste it by being too critical or examining it too closely.

Donkey work

Donkey work is any hard, boring work or task.

Donkey's years

This idiom means 'a very long time'.

Drink like a fish

If someone drinks like a fish, they drink far too much alcohol.

Drop like flies

This means that something is disappearing very quickly. For example, if you said people were dropping like flies, it would mean that they were dying off, quitting or giving up something rapidly.

Drunker than a peach orchard boar

(USA) Southern US expression - Very drunk, as when a boar would eat fermented peaches that have fallen from the tree.

Duck to water

If you take to something like a duck to water, you find when you start that you have a natural affinity for it.

Ducks in a row

(USA) If you have your ducks in a row, you are well-organized.

Eager beaver

A person who is extremely keen is an eager beaver.

Eagle eyes

Someone who has eagle eyes sees everything; no detail is too small.

Early bird catches the worm

The early bird catches the worm means that if you start something early, you stand a better chance of success.

Eat crow

(USA) If you eat crow, you have to admit that you were wrong about something.

Eat like a bird

If someone eats like a bird, they eat very little.

Eat like a horse

Someone who eats like a horse, eats a lot.

Eat like a pig

If some eats like a pig, they either eat too much or they have bad table manners.

Elephant in the room

An elephant in the room is a problem that everyone knows very well but no one talks about because it is taboo, embarrassing, etc.

Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while

This expression means that even if people are ineffective or misguided, sometimes they can still be correct just by being lucky.

Even the dogs in the street know

(Irish) This idiom is used frequently in Ireland, and means something is so obvious that even the dogs in the street know it.

Every ass likes to hear himself bray

This means that people like the sound of their own voice.

Every dog has its day

This idiom means that everyone gets their moment to shine.

Fat cat

A fat cat is a person who makes a lot of money and enjoys a privileged position in society.

Feather your own nest

If someone feathers their own nest, they use their position or job for personal gain.

Feathers fly

When people are fighting or arguing angrily, we can say that feathers are flying.

Fish or cut bait

(USA) This idiom is used when you want to tell someone that it is time to take action.

Fish out of water

If you are placed in a situation that is completely new to you and confuses you, you are like a fish out of water.

Fishy

If there is something fishy about someone or something, there is something suspicious; a feeling that there is something wrong, though it isn't clear what it is.

Flogging a dead horse

(UK) If someone is trying to convince people to do or feel something without any hope of succeeding, they're flogging a dead horse. This is used when someone is trying to raise interest in an issue that no-one supports anymore; beating a dead horse will not make it do any more work.

Fly in the ointment

A fly in the ointment is something that spoils or prevents complete enjoyment of something.

Fly on the wall

If you are able to see and hear events as they happen, you are a fly on the wall.

Fly the coop

When children leave home to live away from their parents, they fly the coop.

For donkey's years

(UK) If people have done something, usually without much if any change, for an awfully long time, they can be said to have done it for donkey's years.

For the birds

If something is worthless or ridiculous, it is for the birds.

From the horse's mouth

If you hear something from the horse's mouth, you hear it directly from the person concerned or responsible.

Full as a tick

If you are as full as a tick, you have eaten too much.

Get a sheepskin

Getting a sheepskin (or your sheepskin) means getting a degree or diploma. (Sheepskin refers to the parchment that a degree is printed on- parchment comes from sheepskin.)

Get the monkey off your back

If you get the monkey off your back, you pass on a problem to someone else.

Get your ducks in a row

If you get your ducks in a row, you organise yourself and your life.

Get your feathers in a bunch

If you get your feathers in a bunch, you get upset or angry about something.

Get your goat

If something gets your goat, it annoys you.

Give a dog a bad name

A person who is generally known to have been guilty of some offence will always be suspected to be the author of all similar types of offence. Once someone has gained a bad reputation, it is very difficult to lose it.

Glory hound

A glory hound is a person seeking popularity, fame and glory.

Go tell it to birds

This is used when someone says something that is not credible or is a lie.

Go the whole hog

If you go the whole hog, you do something completely or to its limits.

Gone fishing

If someone has gone fishing, they are not very aware of what is happening around them.

Gone to the dogs

If something has gone to the dogs, it has gone badly wrong and lost all the good things it had.

Grab the bulls by its horns

If you grab (take) the bull by its horns, you deal head-on and directly with a problem.

Grease monkey

A grease monkey is an idiomatic term for a mechanic.

Grin like a Cheshire cat

If someone has a very wide smile, they have a grin like a Cheshire cat.

Guinea-pig

If you are a guinea-pig, you take part in an experiment of some sort and are used in the testing.

Hair of the dog

If someone has a hair of the dog, they have an alcoholic drink as a way of getting rid of a hangover, the unpleasant effects of having drunk too much alcohol the night before. It is commonly used as a way of excusing having a drink early on in the day.

Hangdog expression

A hangdog expression is one where the person's showing their emotions very clearly, maybe a little too clearly for your liking. It's that mixture of misery and self-pity that is similar to a dog when it's trying to get something it wants but daren't take without permission.

Hanged for a sheep as a lamb

This is an expression meaning that if you are going to get into trouble for doing something, then you ought to stop worrying and should try to get everything you can before you get caught.

Hay is for horses

This idiom is used as a way of telling children not to say the word 'hey' as in hey you or hey there.

Healthy as a horse

If you're as healthy as a horse, you're very healthy.

Herding cats

If you have to try to co-ordinate a very difficult situation, where people want to do very different things, you are herding cats.

High on the hog

To live in great comfort with lots of money.

Hive of worker bees

A hive of worker bees is a group of people working actively and cooperatively. Example: The classroom was a hive of worker bees.

Hold your horses

If someone tells you to hold your horses, you are doing something too fast and they would like you to slow down.

Hornets' nest

A hornets' nest is a violent situation or one with a lot of dispute. (If you create the problem, you 'stir up a hornets' nest'.)

Horse of a different color

(USA) If something is a horse of a different color, it's a different matter or separate issue altogether.

Horse trading

Horse trading is an idiom used to describe negotiations, especially where these are difficult and involve a lot of compromise.

Hungry as a bear

If you are hungry as a bear, it means that you are really hungry.

If wishes were horses, beggars would ride

This means that wishing for something or wanting it is not the same as getting or having it.

If you fly with the crows, you get shot with the crows

If you wish to be associated with a particular high risk and/or high profile situation and benefit from the rewards of that association, you have to accept the consequences if things go wrong - you cannot dissociate yourself.

If you lie down with dogs, you will get up with fleas

This means that if you become involved with bad company, there will be negative consequences.

In donkey's years

'I haven't seen her in donkey's years.' - This means for a very long time.

In the catbird seat

(USA) If someone is in the catbird seat, they are in an advantageous or superior position.

In the doghouse

If someone is in the doghouse, they are in disgrace and very unpopular at the moment.

It's not the size of the dog in fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog

Usually refering to a small dog attacking a larger animal, this means that fierceness is not necessarily a matter of physical size, but rather mental/psychological attitude.

Juggle frogs

If you are juggling frogs, you are trying to do something very difficult.

Jump the shark

Said of a salient point in a television show or other activity at which the popularity thereof begins to wane: The Flintstones jumped the shark when a man from outer space came to visit them. The expression derives from an episode of the television sitcom 'Happy Days' in which Fonzie, clad in leather jacket and on water skis, jumps over a shark. That episode was widely seen as the beginning of the end for the formerly popular series.

Kangaroo court

When people take the law into their own hands and form courts that are not legal, these are known as kangaroo court.

Keep the wolf at bay

If you keep the wolf at bay, you make enough money to avoid going hungry or falling heavily into debt.

Kettle of fish

A pretty or fine kettle of fish is a difficult problem or situation.

Kill the goose that lays the golden egg

If you kill the goose that lays the golden egg, you ruin something that is very profitable.

Kill two birds with one stone

When you kill two birds with one stone, you resolve two difficulties or matters with a single action.

Know a hawk from a handsaw

If someone knows a hawk from a handsaw, they are able to distinguish things and assess them.

Lame duck

If something or someone is a lame duck, they are in trouble.

Lap dog

A lap dog is a person who is eager to please another at the expense of his or her own needs in order to maintain a position of privilege or favor.

Leopard can't change its spots

This idiom means that people cannot change basic aspects of their character, especially negative ones. ("A leopard doesn't change its spots" is also used.)

Let sleeping dogs lie

If someone is told to let sleeping dogs lie, it means that they shouldn't disturb a situation as it would result in trouble or complications.

Like a bat out of hell

This expression means extremely quickly.

Like a beached whale

Once a whale is on a beach, it cannot get back into the easily, so if you are completely stuck somewhere and can't get away, you are stranded like a beached whale.

Like a bear with a sore head

(UK) If someone's like a bear with a sore head, they complain a lot and are unhappy about something.

Like a bull at a gate

If you tackle a job very quickly, without any real thought about what you are doing, you are going at it like a bull at a gate.

Like a cat on hot bricks

If someone is like a cat on hot bricks, they are very nervous or excited.

Like a cat that got the cream

If someone looks very pleased with themselves and happy, they look like a cat that got the cream.

Like a duck to water

If someone has a natural talent for something and enjoys it, they take to it like a duck to water.

Like a fish needs a bicycle

If someone needs something like a Fish Needs a Bicycle, they do not need it at all, originally a feminist slogan: A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle.

Like a fish out of water

If someone feels like a fish out of water, they are very uncomfortable in the situation they are in.

Like a hawk

If you watch something or someone like a hawk, you observe very closely and carefully.

Like a headless chicken

If someone rushes about like a headless chicken, they move very fast all over the place, usually without thinking.

Like a moth to a flame

Something that is like a moth to a flame is attracted to something that is deadly or dangerous.

Like a rat deserting a sinking ship

If people leave a company because they know that it's about to have serious problems, or turn their back on a person about to be in a similar situation, they are said to be like rats deserting a sinking ship.

Like lambs to the slaughter

If somebody does something unpleasant without any resistance, they go like lambs to the slaughter.

Lion's share

The lion's share of something is the biggest or best part.

Live high off the hog

If you are living high off the hog, you are living lavishly.

Loan shark

A loan shark lends money at very high rates of interest.

Lock horns

When people lock horns, they argue or fight about something.

Lock the stable door after the horse has bolted

If someone takes action too late, they do this; there is no reason to lock an empty stable.

Look what the cat dragged in

This idiom is used when someone arrives somewhere looking a mess or flustered and bothered.

Lord love a duck

An exclamation used when nothing else will fit. Often fitting when one is stunned or dismayed.

Lower than a snake's belly

Someone or something that is lower than a snake's belly is of a very low moral standing.

Lower than a snake's belly in a wagon rut

(USA) If someone or something is lower than a snake's belly in a wagon rut, they are of low moral standing because a snake's belly is low and if the snake is in a wagon rut, it is really low.

Mad as a badger

If someone is as mad as a badger, they are crazy.

Mad as a cut snake

(AU) One who is mad as a cut snake has lost all sense of reason, is crazy, out of control.

Mad as a hornet

(USA) If someone is as mad as a hornet, they are very angry indeed.

Mad as a March hare

Someone who is excitable and unpredictable is as mad as a March hare.

Mad as a wet hen

If someone is as mad as a wet hen, they are extremely angry.

Make a monkey of someone

If you make a monkey of someone, you make them look foolish.

Memory like an elephant

'An elephant never forgets' is a saying, so if a person has a memory like an elephant, he or she has a very good memory indeed.

Mess with a bull, you get the horns

If you do something stupid or dangerous, you can get hurt.

Monkey business

If children get up to monkey business, they are behaving naughtily or mischievously. This is the same as 'monkeying around'.

Monkey see, monkey do

This idiom means that children will learn their behaviour by copying what they see happening around them.

More than one way to skin a cat

When people say that there is more than one way to skin a cat, they mean that there are different ways of achieving the same thing.

My dogs are barking

(USA) When someone says this, they mean that their feet are hurting.

Nature of the beast

The basic characteristics of something is the nature of the beast; often used when there's an aspect of something that cannot be changed or that is unpleasant or difficult.

Neither fish nor fowl

Something or someone that is neither fish nor fowl doesn't really fit into any one group.

Night owl

A night owl is someone who goes to bed very late.

No spring chicken

If someone is no spring chicken, they are not young.

Not enough room to swing a cat

If a room is very small, you can say that there isn't enough room to swing a cat in it.

Not give a monkey's

(UK) If you couldn't give a monkey's about something, you don't care at all about it.

Not hurt a fly

Somebody who would not hurt a fly is not aggressive.

On the hoof

If you decide something on the hoof, you do it without planning, responding to events as they happen.

On the wallaby track

(AU) In Australian English, if you're on the wallaby track, you are unemployed.

On your high horse

When someone is on their high horse, they are being inflexible, arrogant and will not make any compromises.

One swallow does not make a summer

This means that one good or positive event does not mean that everything is all right.

One-trick pony

A one-trick pony is someone who does one thing well, but has limited skills in other areas.

Opening a can of worms

If you open a can of worms, you do something that will cause a lot of problems and is, on balance, probably going to cause more trouble than it's worth.

Other fish to fry

If you have other fish to fry, it doesn't matter if one opportunity fails to materialise as you have plenty of others.

Paper tiger

A paper tiger is a person, country, institution, etc, that looks powerful, but is actually weak.

Parrot fashion

If you learn something parrot fashion, you learn it word for word. A parrot is a bird from South America that can talk.

Pecking order

The pecking order is the order of importance or rank.

Pet peeve

A pet peeve is something that irritates an individual greatly.

Pig in a poke

If someone buys a pig in a poke, they buy something without checking the condition it was in, usually finding out later that it was defective.

Pigs might fly

If you think something will never happen or succeed, you can say that 'pigs might fly' (or 'pigs can fly' and 'pigs will fly'- the idiom is used in many forms)

Play possum

To pretend to be dead or sleeping. His younger sister jumped on him because she knew he was just playing possum.

Proud as a peacock

Someone who is as proud as a peacock is excessively proud.

Pull a rabbit out of your hat

If you pull a rabbit out of a hat, you do something that no one was expecting.

Pup's chance

A pup's chance is no chance.

Puppy love

Puppy love is love between two very young people.

Put lipstick on a pig

If people put lipstick on a pig, they make superficial or cosmetic changes, hoping that it will make the product more attractive.

Putting the cart before the horse

When you put the cart before the horse, you are doing something the wrong way round.

Queen bee

The queen bee is a woman who holds the most important position in a place.

Queer fish

(UK) A strange person is a queer fish.

Quiet as a cat

If somebody is as quiet as a cat they make as little noise as possible and try to be unnoticeable.

Quiet as a mouse

If someone's as quiet as a mouse, they make absolutely no noise.

Raining cats and dogs

When it is raining cats and dogs, it is raining very heavily.

Rat race

The rat race is the ruthless, competitive struggle for success in work, etc.

Red herring

If something is a distraction from the real issues, it is a red herring.

Root hog or die poor

(USA) It's a expression used in the Southern USA that means that you must look out for yourself as no one's going to do it for you. (It can be shortened to 'root hog'. A hog is a pig.)

Sacred cow

Something that is a sacred cow is held in such respect that it cannot be criticised or attacked.

Salty dog

A salty dog is an experienced sailor.

See which way the cat jumps

(AU) If you see which way the cat jumps, you postpone making a decision or acting until you have seen how things are developing.

Separate the sheep from the goats

If you separate the sheep from the goats, you sort out the good from the bad.

Shaggy dog story

A shaggy dog story is a joke which is a long story with a silly end.

Shanks's pony

(UK) If you go somewhere by Shanks's pony, you walk there.

Shooting fish in a barrel

If something is like shooting fish in a barrel, it is so easy that success is guaranteed.

Short horse soon curried

A convenient and superficial explanation that is normally unconvincing is a short horse soon curried.

Sick as a dog

If somebody's as sick as a dog, they throw up (=vomit) violently.

Sick as a parrot

If someone's sick as a parrot about something, they are unhappy, disappointed or depressed about it.

Sing like a canary

If someone sings like a canary, they tell everything they know about a crime or wrongdoing to the police or authorities.

Sitting duck

A sitting duck is something or someone that is easy to criticise or target.

Sleep well- don't let the bedbugs bite

This is a way of wishing someone a good night's sleep.

Slowly, slowly catchy monkey

This means that eventually you will achieve your goal.

Sly as a fox

Someone who is as sly as a fox is cunning and experienced and can get what they want, often in an underhand way.

Small dog, tall weeds

This idiom is used to describe someone the speaker does not believe has the ability or resources to handle a task or job.

Small fry

If someone is small fry, they are unimportant. The term is often used when the police arrest the less important criminals, but are unable to catch the leaders and masterminds.

Smell a rat

If you smell a rat, you know instinctively that something is wrong or that someone is lying to you.

Snake in the grass

Someone who is a snake in the grass betrays you even though you have trusted them.

Snake oil

Advice or medicine which is of no use.

Snake oil salesperson

A person who promotes something that doesn't work, is selling snake oil.

Snug as a bug in a rug

If you're as snug as a bug in a rug, you are feeling very comfortable indeed.

Sprat to catch a mackerel

If you use a sprat to catch a mackerel, you make a small expenditure or take a small risk in the hope of a much greater gain.

Stalking horse

A stalking horse is a strategy or something used to conceal your intentions. It is often used where someone put themselves forwards as a candidate to divide opponents or to hide the real candidate.

Straw that broke the camel's back

The straw that broke the camel's back is the problem that made you lose your temper or the problem that finally brought about the collapse of something.

Strong as an ox

Someone who's exceedingly strong physically is said to be as strong as an ox.

Stubborn as a mule

Someone who will not listen to other people's advice and won't change their way of doing things is as stubborn as a mule.

Swansong

A person's swansong is their final achievement or public appearance.

Sweat like a pig

If someone is sweating like a pig, they are perspiring (sweating) a lot.

Swim with the fishes

If someone is swimming with the fishes, they are dead, especially if they have been murdered. 'Sleep with the fishes' is an alternative form.

Take the bull by its horns

Taking a bull by its horns would be the most direct but also the most dangerous way to try to compete with such an animal. When we use the phrase in everyday talk, we mean that the person we are talking about tackles their problems directly and is not worried about any risks involved.

Talk the hind legs off a donkey

A person who is excessively or extremely talkative can talk the hind legs off a donkey.

Talk turkey

When people talk turkey, they discuss something frankly.

Tell them where the dog died

(USA) If you tell them where the dog died, you strongly and sharply correct someone.

That dog won't hunt

(USA) Very common Southern US expression meaning: What you say makes no sense.

Their bark is worse than their bite

If someone's bark is worse than their bite, they get angry and shout and make threats, but don't actually do anything.

There are many ways to skin a cat

This is an expression meaning there are many different ways of doing the same thing.

Throw a monkey wrench into the works

(USA) If you throw a monkey wrench into the works, you ensure that something fails.

Throw pearls to the pigs

Someone that throws pearls to pigs is giving someone else something they don't deserve or appreciate. ('Throw pearls before pigs' and 'Cast pearls before swine' are also used.)

Throw someone to the wolves

If someone is thrown to the wolves, they are abandoned and have to face trouble without any support.

Till the cows come home

This idioms means 'for a very long time'. ('Until the cows come home' is also used.)

To be dog cheap

If something's dog cheap, it is very cheap indeed.

Top dog

The most important or influential person is the top dog.

Turn turtle

If something turns turtle, it turns upside down.

Two heads are better than one

When two people work together more things get accomplished.

Ugly duckling

An ugly duckling is a child who shows little promise, but who develops later into a real talent or beauty.

Up with the lark

If you get up very early, you're up with the lark.

Wag the dog

To 'wag the dog' means to purposely divert attention from what would otherwise be of greater importance, to something else of lesser significance. By doing so, the lesser-significant event is catapulted into the limelight, drowning proper attention to what was originally the more important issue.The expression comes from the saying that 'a dog is smarter than its tail', but if the tail were smarter, then the tail would 'wag the dog'. The expression 'wag the dog' was elaborately used as theme of the movie. 'Wag the Dog', a 1997 film starring Robert de Niro and Dustin Hoffman, produced and directed by Barry Levinson.

Water off a duck's back

If criticism or something similar is like water off a duck's back to somebody, they aren't affected by it in the slightest.

Whale of a time

If you have a whale of a time, you really enjoy yourself.

What can you expect from a hog but a grunt?

(USA) This means that you can't expect people to behave in a way that is not in their character- a 'hog' is a 'pig', so an unrefined person can't be expected to behave in a refined way.

What's good for the goose is good for the gander

This idiom means that the sexes should be treated the same way and not be subjected to different standards.

When pigs fly

Meaning you will not get something when you want it or someone doesn't want something for you. say you are selling an item and some one doesn't want it. they might say 'I'll buy it when pigs fly'. it just means you will never get someone to say yes to you when you ask for something.

When the chickens come home to roost

When a person pays dearly for something bad he or she did in the past, the chickens come home to roost.

Which came first the chicken or the egg?

This idiomatic expression is used when it is not clear who or what caused something.

While the cat's away, the mouse will play

People whose behaviour is strictly controlled go over the top when the authority is not around, which is why most teenagers have parties when their parents have gone on holiday. The parents are the scary authority figures, but the cat's away and the kids are the mice partying and enjoying their freedom.

White elephant

A white elephant is an expensive burden; something that costs far too much money to run, like the Millennium Dome in the UK.

Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free

This idiom is usually used to refer to men who don't want to get married, when they can get all the benefits of marriage without getting married.

Why keep a dog and bark yourself?

There's no need to do something yourself when you have somebody to do it for you, usually trivial matters.

Wild goose chase

A wild goose chase is a waste of time- time spent trying to do something unsuccessfully.

Within a whisker

If you come within a whisker of doing something, you very nearly manage to do it but don't succeed.

Wolf in sheep's clothing

A wolf in sheep's clothing is something dangerous that looks quite safe and innocent.

Work like a dog

If you work like a dog, you work very hard.

World is your oyster

When the world is your oyster, you are getting everything you want from life.

Worm information

If you worm information out of somebody, you persuade them to tell you something they wanted to keep from you.

Worm's eye view

A worm's eye view of something is the view from below, either physically or socially.

You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar

This means that it is easier to persuade people if you use polite arguments and flattery than if you are confrontational.

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink

This idiom means you can offer something to someone, like good advice, but you cannot make them take it.

You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear

If something isn't very good to start with, you can't do much to improve it.

You could have knocked me down with a feather

This idiom is used to mean that the person was very shocked or surprised.

You do not get a dog and bark yourself

(UK) If there is someone in a lower position who can or should do a task, then you shouldn't do it.

Inflexional and Derivational Suffixes

[edit] Inflectional suffixes


Inflection changes grammatical properties of a word within its syntactic category. In the example:



The weather forecaster said it would clear today, but it hasn't cleared at all.

the suffix -ed inflects the root-word clear to indicate past tense.



Some inflectional suffixes in present day English:



-s third person singular present

-ed past tense

-ing progressive/continuous

-en past participle

-s plural

-en plural (irregular)

-er comparative

-est superlative

-n't negative[2]

[edit] Derivational suffixes

In the example:



"The weather forecaster said it would be clear today, but I can't see clearly at all"

the suffix -ly modifies the root-word clear from an adjective into an adverb. Derivation can also form a semantically distinct word within the same syntactic category. In this example:



"The weather forecaster said it would be a clear day today, but I think it's more like clearish!"

the suffix -ish modifies the root-word clear, changing its meaning to "clear, but not very clear".



Some derivational suffixes in present day English:



-ize/-ise

-fy

-ly

-able/-ible

-ful

-ness

-less

-ism

-ment

-ist

-al

-ish

Suffixes -- List

List of English Suffixes

from http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/suffixtext.htm
A suffix is an affix that is added to the end of a word that conditions its usage or meaning. The opposite of suffix is prefix.



suffix Meaning Samples

Suffix General Meaning Example

-agogy leading pedagogy , demagogy

-archy rule, leadership gynarchy , anarchy

-cele, -coele, -coel body cavity mucocoel or mucocoele

-cele tumor, hernia hydatidocele

-centesis puncturing amniocentesis , rachicentesis

-chondrion small grainlike structure mitochondrion

-cide murder, killing agent suicide , vespacide, regicide

-cracy rule, government kakistocracy , democracy , androcracy

-cycle circle, cycle, unit of radio frequency epicycle , hydrocycle

-ectasia, -ectasis stretching out brochiectasis , telangiectasia

-ectomy surgical removal laryngectomy , vasectomy

-emesis vomiting hematemesis , hyperemesis

-emia blood condition leukemia , anaemia

-enchyma cellular tissue mesenchyma , karyenchyma

-ess female actress , waitress , stewardess

-esthesis, -esthesia sensation, feeling synesthesia, kinesthesis

-fugal fuge, driving or travelling away from, expelling centrifugal

-ful full of, having some or much hopeful , useful

-hedron geometric solid icosahedron , tetrahedron

-holic love , addiction alcoholic

-ic

-id skin rash syphilid

-ism doctrine, act, practice, condition Protestantism , alcoholism , Buddhism , southernism

-ist person dentist

-itis disease, inflammation hepatitis , gingivitis

-itude attitude , certitude

-ium metallic element (exception: helium) sodium , Calcium

-kinesis movement (ability thereof) telekinesis

-less lack of homeless , useless

-ly -like, having the attributes of; In modern English, primarily changes adjectives to adverbs; also changes some nouns to adjectives and some (past-tense) verbs to adverbs quick(adj) > quickly(adv), state(n) > stately(adj), abashed(v) > abashedly(adv)

-mania an irrational but irresistible motive for a belief or action kleptomania , megalomania , mythomania

-ography or -ogram writing, description stenography , geography , ideogram

-oid resembling solenoid , hominoid

-ology study, science planetology , thyroidology , phthisiology

-omics area of biology proteomics

-onomy knowledge of astronomy

-onym name, word antonym , consonym , heteronym

-osis process, action mitosis , osmosis

-osis formation ostosis

-osis diseased condition psychosis

-phagy, -phagia eating monophagy

-philia attraction hemophilia

-phobia fear acrophobia , mysophobia

-phone sound, audio telephone , homophone

-science knowing omniscience

-scope from Greek skopos , view; instrument for viewing and observing spaces microscope , telescope

-ship circle, state of being friendship , relationship

-stan land, country Afghanistan

-tropism to turn phototropism

-us inflammation ulcus (ulcer)

-ward direction southward

-wise direction clockwise