Animal idioms

29 animal idioms with what each one means. Tap one for its origin, examples and a quick check.

Ants in your pants
If you have ants in your pants, you are restless, fidgety or too excited to sit still.
As the crow flies
As the crow flies means measured in a straight line between two places, rather than along roads or paths.
Barking up the wrong tree
If you are barking up the wrong tree, you are looking in the wrong place or blaming the wrong person.
Beat a dead horse
To beat a dead horse means to keep arguing about or pushing something that is already settled or cannot change.
Birds of a feather flock together
Birds of a feather flock together means people who are alike, with similar interests or habits, tend to spend time together.
Black sheep
The black sheep of a family or group is the member seen as different, troublesome or an embarrassment to the others.
Bull in a china shop
A bull in a china shop is a person who is very clumsy or careless, either with objects or in a delicate situation.
Cat got your tongue
"Cat got your tongue?" is a teasing question for someone who is unusually quiet or won't answer.
Cat nap
A cat nap is a short, light sleep, usually taken during the day.
Chickens come home to roost
When chickens come home to roost, bad things someone did in the past come back to cause problems for them.
Cry wolf
To cry wolf means to raise a false alarm, especially again and again, so that people stop believing you when there is real trouble.
Curiosity killed the cat
Curiosity killed the cat is a warning that being too nosy or asking too many questions can get you into trouble.
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth means do not find fault with a gift or a lucky offer; just accept it gratefully.
Fish out of water
A fish out of water is someone who feels awkward or uncomfortable because they are in a new or unfamiliar place or situation.
Hair of the dog
The hair of the dog is an alcoholic drink someone has the morning after drinking too much, in the hope of easing a hangover.
Hold your horses
Hold your horses means wait a moment, slow down and don't rush into something.
Kill two birds with one stone
To kill two birds with one stone means to get two things done with a single action or effort.
Let sleeping dogs lie
Let sleeping dogs lie means avoid stirring up an old problem or argument that is quiet now, because doing so could cause trouble.
Let the cat out of the bag
If you let the cat out of the bag, you reveal a secret, usually by accident or before you were supposed to.
Long in the tooth
If someone or something is long in the tooth, they are getting old, often too old for a particular role or use.
Monkey business
Monkey business is silly, mischievous or dishonest behavior, especially when someone is trying to get away with something.
Nest egg
A nest egg is a sum of money saved over time and kept for the future, such as for retirement or an emergency.
Raining cats and dogs
If it is raining cats and dogs, it is raining very heavily.
The cat's pajamas
The cat's pajamas is old-fashioned slang for a person or thing that is excellent, stylish or the very best.
The elephant in the room
The elephant in the room is an obvious problem that everyone knows about but nobody wants to talk about.
Till the cows come home
Till the cows come home means for a very long time, often endlessly or forever.
When pigs fly
When pigs fly means never; people say it about something they are sure will not happen.
Wild goose chase
A wild goose chase is a long, useless search or effort for something that is hard or impossible to find or get.
Wolf in sheep's clothing
A wolf in sheep's clothing is someone who seems friendly or harmless but actually means to cause harm.

Animal idioms

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