Today we are going to take another look at a group of idioms that are all related around a theme. \u00a0This time the theme is: animals. When you look at the phrases below you may ask yourself, \u201cWho created these idioms anyway?\u201d\u00a0 Well, idioms usually start out as simple metaphors that enter mainstream vocabulary after repeated usage, some idioms become more popular than others over time. The following idiomatic phrases are relatively common today. \u00a0Below I have given you the idiom (in bold); I tell you what the idiom means in plain English; and I give an example of how each of these idioms is used.<\/p>\n
Animal related idioms:<\/p>\n
to act as a guinea pig<\/strong>: to allow some kind of test to be performed on you or someone to be as busy as a beaver<\/strong>: to be very busy an eager beaver<\/strong>: a person who is always eager to work or do something extra to bark <\/strong>(like a dog) up the wrong tree<\/strong>: to choose the wrong course of action or to ask the wrong person a bull in a china shop<\/strong>: a person who upsets others or upsets plans; also a very clumsy person cat gets one\u2019s tongue<\/strong>: one cannot speak because of shyness to go hog-wild<\/strong>: to behave wildly to have a whale of a time<\/strong>: to have an exciting and interesting time to have a cow<\/strong>: to become very angry or upset about something to horse around<\/strong>: to play around in a rough way let sleeping dogs lie<\/strong>: do not make trouble if you do not have to more fun than a barrel of monkeys<\/strong>: very funny or fun straight from the horse\u2019s mouth<\/strong>: to get information directly from the person who said it to wolf down<\/strong> (something): to gulp down something or to eat something quickly As you can see in these idioms sometimes acting like an animal is a good thing and some times it is view negatively in English language idioms. \u00a0It all depends on the circumstances and sometimes the types of behaviors we attribute to different animals, as either good or bad. \u00a0Do you know any more animal related idioms or do you want to know what an animal related idiom you have heard means? \u00a0Feel free to write these in the comments section of this post.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Today we are going to take another look at a group of idioms that are all related around a theme. \u00a0This time the theme is: animals. When you look at the phrases below you may ask yourself, \u201cWho created these idioms anyway?\u201d\u00a0 Well, idioms usually start out as simple metaphors that enter mainstream vocabulary after…<\/p>\n
\nFor example:
\nMiles was happy to act as a guinea pig<\/strong><\/em> in his psychology class in order to receive extra credit on his test.<\/p>\n
\nFor example:
\nI have been as busy as a beaver<\/strong><\/em> all morning, getting ready for the party tonight.<\/p>\n
\nFor example:
\nJane is an eager beaver<\/strong><\/em> and will do anything to see her business succeed.<\/p>\n
\nFor example:
\nMy sister is barking up the wrong tree<\/strong><\/em> if she thinks I am going to lend her money again.<\/p>\n
\nFor example:
\nMarlyn is a bull in a china shop<\/strong><\/em>, you never know what she is going to do or say.<\/p>\n
\nFor example:
\nAdam would never speak in class, so the teacher finally asked him, \u201cDoes a cat have your tongue<\/strong><\/em>?\u201d<\/p>\n
\nFor example:
\nThe sports fans went hog-wild<\/strong><\/em> when their team won the national championship.<\/p>\n
\nFor example:
\nWe had a whale of a time<\/strong><\/em> at the party last night.<\/p>\n
\nFor example:
\nI had a cow<\/strong><\/em> when I heard that my car had been towed away.<\/p>\n
\nFor example:
\nMom doesn\u2019t like it when we horse around after dinner<\/strong><\/em>. \u00a0She says we need to calm down for bed.<\/p>\n
\nFor example:
\nI think you should let sleeping dogs lie<\/strong><\/em> and not asked your brother about what happened between him and his girlfriend.<\/p>\n
\nFor example:
\nThe neighborhood boys have more fun than a barrel of monkeys<\/strong><\/em> when they play together after school.<\/p>\n
\nFor example:
\nBeth heard the news about the store closing straight from the horse\u2019s mouth<\/strong><\/em> so she knew it was true.<\/p>\n
\nFor example:
\nI wolfed down<\/strong><\/em> my dinner and ran to class because I was late.<\/p>\n