1. Can you guess what these idioms mean?
Animals in idioms
Can you guess what these idioms mean?
Choose a category
Click on an animal

2. Idioms using birds
Choose a number 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

3. Free as a bird I have freedom “I am as free as a bird”
Back to main menu

4. Bird's eye view To look from above
“the TV camera has a bird’s eye view of the tennis match”
Back to main menu

5. Eat like a bird To eat only a little “my sister eats like a bird”
Back to main menu

6. For the birds I don’t like to fly
“flying in planes is so dangerous it’s for the birds”
Back to main menu

7. The early bird catches the worm
The first person to arrive will be rewarded
“if you want to get the best product from a store, remember the early bird catches the worm
Back to main menu

8. A little bird told me A rumour
“a little bird told me you have a new girlfriend”
Back to main menu

9. Birds of a feather flock together
People who are similar always become friends
“in our school people don’t mix, birds of a feather flock together”
Back to main menu

10. A bird in the hand is better than two in the bush
At least you have something
“I only got one and I didn’t win the other”
“a bird in the hand is better than two in the bush”
Back to main menu

11. Kill two birds with one stone
To get two jobs done by doing one thing
“I need to go to buy something from the shop and take the dog for a walk, it will kill two birds with one stone”
Back to main menu

12. Go the way of the dodo To die / to become extinct
“the old man has gone the way of the dodo”
Back to main menu

13. Idioms using cats
Choose a number 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

14. Nine lives of a cat You are very lucky
“that bus almost hit you, you must have nine lives”
Back to main menu

15. When the cat's away, the mice will play
To get into mischief when the boss / parent is out
“people at my work are irresponsible, they only do their work when the boss is watching, when the cat’s away, the mice will play”
Back to main menu

16. More than one way to skin a cat
There are so many ways to do something
“you don’t have to do it that way, there is more than one way to skin a cat”
Back to main menu

17. Fight like cats and dogs
They don’t get along very well
“don’t let those two be in the same room together, they fight like cats and dogs”
Back to main menu

18. Curiosity kills the cat
If you don’t mind your own business, you will get into trouble
“be careful, curiosity killed the cat”
Back to main menu

19. No room to swing a cat Not enough room
“this room is so small you couldn’t swing a cat”
Back to main menu

20. Raining cats and dogs it is raining very heavy
“it’s so wet outside, it’s raining cats and dogs”
Back to main menu

21. Has the cat got your tongue
Why are you quiet?
“you are not answering my question, has the cat got your tongue?”
Back to main menu

22. Look like something the cat dragged in
You are messy and dirty from being outside
“you have been outside in the rain, and now you look like something the cat dragged in”
Back to main menu

23. Looked like the cat that ate the canary
You look guilty
“did you do something wrong, because you look like the cat that ate the canary”
Back to main menu

24. Idioms using dogs
Choose a number 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

25. You can't teach an old dog new tricks
Too old to learn
“these computers are too hard for me, I guess you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”
Back to main menu

26. A dog and pony show A very entertaining presentation
“the sales people put on a dog and pony show, and we bought the product”
Back to main menu

27. Love me, love my dog You must love everything about me
“love me, love my dog, or I will leave you”
Back to main menu

28. In the doghouse In trouble with the wife
“I forget my wife’s birthday and now I am in the doghouse”
Back to main menu

29. A barking dog never bites
Just because he says he will beat you up doesn’t mean he will
“don’t be afraid of him, his bark is worst than his bite”
Back to main menu

30. Dog eat dog Very competitive
“you have to be very strong, it’s a dog eat dog world”
Back to main menu

31. Dog tired Extremely tired “after working a long day I am dog tired”
Back to main menu

32. Treat somebody like a dog
To be cruel
“he treats me like a dog”
Back to main menu

33. Every dog has its day Everybody has a special day
“know matter who you are, every dog has its day”
Back to main menu

34. Work like a dog To work very hard
“today my boss made me work like a dog”
Back to main menu

35. Idioms using fish 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Choose a number

36. Fishing in troubled waters
Take advantage of a confused situation
“with all the confusion going on, it is a chance for us to succeed, we’re fishing in troubled waters”
Back to main menu

37. A whale of a time A fun time
“we had a whale of a time at his party last night”
Back to main menu

38. The world is his oyster You have a lot of opportunities
“you can do anything you like, the world is your oyster”
Back to main menu

39. Fishing for a compliment
Trying to get other people to give you a compliment
“the only reason why you are asking is because you’re fishing for a compliment”
Back to main menu

40. Fish out of the water Uncomfortable about what they’re doing
“doing this job I feel like a fish out of water”
Back to main menu

41. Other fish to fry Other matters requiring attention
“it is not just this one we have to worry about, we have other fish to fry”
Back to main menu

42. Packed like sardines Crowded “the bus was packed like sardines”
Back to main menu

43. Swim like a fish Swim very fast “he swam like a fish”
Back to main menu

44. Not the only fish in the sea
Not the only girl or boy to date
“I think she doesn’t like me”
“don’t worry, she is not the only fish in the sea”
Back to main menu

45. Drink like a fish Drinks a lot “he drinks like a fish”
Back to main menu

46. Idioms using horses 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Choose a number

47. You can take a horse to the water but you can't make it drink
You can advise someone, but you can’t force them to do it
Back to main menu

48. Eat like a horse
Eats a lot
“he eats like a horse”
Back to main menu

49. Flog a dead horse
Trying to convince someone to do something, but there is no hope of succeeding
“he was trying to convince me to jump off the bridge, but he was just flogging a dead horse”
Back to main menu

50. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth
Don’t ask someone how much the present they gave you cost
Back to main menu

51. Hold one's horses Be patient “hold your horses, I am coming”
Back to main menu

52. Get on one's high horse Arrogant and not willing to compromise
“he is very hard to work with, he will get on his high horse”
Back to main menu

53. Straight from the horse's mouth
Information directly from an expert
“I know that smoking is bad for you, I got it straight from the horse’s mouth”
Back to main menu

54. Eat a horse Very hungry “I am so hungry I could eat a horse”
Back to main menu

55. Horse around To play carelessly
“don’t horse around, or someone will get hurt”
Back to main menu

56. Back the wrong horse To support a losing team
“My team is terrible, I backed the wrong horse”
Back to main menu