Animals: idioms, proverbs
| busy as a bee | blind as a bat | hungry as a bear |
| busy as a beaver | free as a bird | happy as a clam |
| sick as a dog | smart as a fox | innocent as a lamb |
| happy as a lark | quiet as a mouse | stubborn as a mule |
| wise as an owl | strong as an ox | proud as a peacock |
GO APE OVER SOMETHING: (slang) to be extremely enthusiastic about
something
EAGER BEAVER: a person who is excessively diligent or overly zealous
FOR THE BIRDS: (slang) useless or worthless; not to be taken seriously
LIKE A BULL IN A CHINA SHOP: very awkward or clumsy
RAIN CATS AND DOGS: to rain very hard
CHICKEN OUT: (slang) to lose one"s courage and avoid doing something because one is
afraid
CLAM UP: (slang) to refuse to talk or reply; refrain from divulging information
SHED CROCODILE TEARS: to seem, hypocritically and insincerely, to be sad about something
when one is not
AS THE CROW FLIES: in a straight line; by the most direct route (used in stating the distance
between two points)
EAT CROW: (informal) to be forced to admit to having made a mistake; to have to retract
a statement, humiliatingly
LIKE WATER OFF A DUCK'S BACK: having little or no effect
WHITE ELEPHANT: a possession unwanted by the owner but difficult to dispose of; something
disproportionately
expensive with regard to its usefulness or value
FERRET SOMETHING OUT: to search out, discover, or bring to light
LIKE A FISH OUT OF WATER: out of one's proper or accustomed environment
A BIG FROG IN A SMALL POND: someone who is important or outstanding within a small or
unimportant group
WILD-GOOSE CHASE: an absurd or hopeless search for something nonexistent or
unobtainable
EAT LIKE A HORSE: to eat a large quantity of food
STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSE'S MOUTH: (informal) from the original or a trustworthy
source
PACKED IN LIKE SARDINES: many people (or things) being enclosed in a space, like a can (tin)
of sardines
AT A SNAIL'S PACE: very slowly
SWAN SONG: farewell appearance; the last act of someone or something
WEASEL OUT OF SOMETHING: to evade an obligation or duty
CRY WOLF: to tell people there is great danger when there is not
WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: a person who conceals his evil intentions or character behind an
innocent exterior
