Animal Idioms

Idiom ants in one's pants (the) birds and the bees cat nap cat's got one's tongue chicken out Meaning unable to sit still or remain calm out of nervousness or excitement sex education Example Sentence Lisa had ants in her pants the day before her interview. I learned about the birds and the bees when my baby brother was born. I'm going to have a cat nap while you're cooking dinner. It looks like the cat's got your tongue, Lucy. Are you always this uiet! I was going to take a ride on #eoff's motorcycle$ but I chickened out when he gave me a helmet to wear. Arthur clammed up when I asked him about his family. %y sister is such a copy cat. &irst she bought the same car as me$ and now she's applying to my school. I sleep in the basement during the dog days of August. %y roses are dropping like flies in this early frost. (ver since he got his new drill set my husband has been an eager bea er around the house. I knew something fishy was going on when I saw all of my friends' cars in my mom's driveway.

a short sleep said about someone who doesn't speak (usually due to shyness) to decide not to do something out of fear (usually "ust before) become uiet suddenly a person who does the same thing as someone else

clam up copy cat

dog days dropping like flies eager bea er

very hot days dying'giving up uickly a person who is excited about doing certain work odd$ suspicious

fishy

ha e a co!

get extremely upset (often over something minor)

%y teacher had a co! when she reali)ed nobody had done the homework. "old your horses* I'll be done in the washroom in a minute. "oly co!# I can't believe you ate everything on your plate. If you're going to horse around$ please go outside. %y aunt got the lion's share of the inheritance. I don't think %arsha is coming out tonight. ,he's still in the dog house for forgetting Aaron's birthday. If you pick the groceries up when you drop #eorge off for his shift$ you will kill t!o birds !ith one stone. -he gas station is kitty corner to the library. +ho let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party! A little bird told me that you are thinking of uitting your "ob. %y grandma made a beeline for the smoking room as soon as she got off the airplane. .ur one/year/old is saying bad words now. I told my husband$ $Monkey see, monkey do#$ +e have a nest egg that we might have to use if 0im goes on sick leave.

hold your horses "oly co!# horse around get the lion's share in the dog house

wait and be patient +ow$ I'm surprised* play roughly get the greatest percentage in trouble with another person

kill t!o birds get two things done at once !ith one stone

kitty corner let the cat out of the bag (a) little bird told me make a beeline monkey see, monkey do nest egg

diagonal direction reveal a secret I heard something (usually secretive or unknown) from someone (not named) go straight for something

silly'unintelligent people tend to copy each other's actions money saved for the future

pig out raining cats and dogs rat race smell a rat

eat a lot of something raining heavily fierce$ competitive struggle for power$ position etc begin to suspect trickery etc

I pigged out on pancakes so I don't have room for lunch. I forgot my umbrella$ and it was raining cats and dogs. I'm ready to leave this rat race and retire in %exico. I asked my brothers not to tell my parents that I went out$ but I could smell a rat as soon as I opened the door. I know 0enny is pregnant$ because I heard it straight from the horse's mouth. If you really think you deserve a promotion$ you'll have to take the bull by the horns. I could eat pi))a and ice cream until the co!s come home.

straight from the horse's mouth take the bull by the horns until the co!s come home

directly from the original source face a challenge or danger boldly for a very long time

Animal Idioms %ui&

1 I for the brownies as soon as I got to the party. %y aunt could listen to &rank ,inatra until the 3 I'll be in the too late tonight. come home. if I stay out

4 writing a book. 5

told me that you are

%y oldest brother got the share of the punishment when we were growing up. I always feel better after .

I asked 0oe to left without me.

but he

%y mother used to tell us to go to the basement to around.

If you want Lisa to date you$ you're going to have to .

1 :

-he baseball game was cancelled because it's raining .

'ody Idioms
Idiom all ears Meaning fully listening Example Sentence #ive me a minute to finish my work and then I'll be all ears to hear about your pro"ect. -oday's the big game$ eh! 'reak a leg# %y sister didn't get cold feet until she put her wedding gown on. -hese cakes are delicious$ but they cost an arm and a leg. I cried my heart out when my best friend moved away. I stayed out all night. +hen I eventually got home I had to face the music from my wife. I have to hire %ia. ,he's my own flesh and blood. -hanks for listening to me complain about my boss. I "ust needed to get this off my chest. I can gi e you a hand when you move if you like. Amy has her head in the clouds if she thinks she's going to pass her exams without studying. %y brother is head o er heels for his new girlfriend. -he kids gave Anthony a head start in the bicycle race because he was the youngest. I was in o er my head when I agreed to baby/sit the triplets and the dogs.

break a leg cold feet cost an arm and a leg cry your heart out face the music

good/luck nervous "ust before a big event be very expensive cry very hard meet$ stand up to unpleasant conse uences$ for example criticism or punishment relative tell someone your problems

(my) flesh and blood get something off one's chest gi e a hand, lend a hand ha e one's head in the clouds head o er heels head start

help (someone) do something be unaware or unrealistic about something deeply in love an earlier start

in o er one's head

taking on a task that you can't handle

(lothing Idioms
Idiom at the drop of a hat (ha e a) bee in one's bonnet belo! the belt bursting at the seams caught !ith one's pants do!n (ha e a) card up one's slee e Meaning without needing any advance notice something that is annoying someone beyond what is fair or socially acceptable not fitting anymore unprepared Example Sentence %y #randma will baby/sit for anyone at the drop of a hat. %ilan has had a bee in his bonnet all day$ but he won't tell me what's wrong. ;is comment about %anfred's handicap was belo! the belt. I ate too much. I'm bursting at the seams in these "eans. %y students caught me !ith my pants do!n on %onday. I forgot about the field trip. I think 0osh has a card up his slee e because he wants me to wear a dress to the fast/food restaurant. It's almost exam time$ so I need to buckle do!n this weekend. Let's go to the mall after school. -here's a hundred dollar bill burning a hole in my pocket. %y cousin was dressed to kill on her birthday. Anita's prom dress fits me like a glo e. -he police looked for fingerprints with a fine)tooth comb. I had never taught art to kids before. I had to fly by the seat of my pants. <lease handle my grandmother's tea set with kid glo es.

have a secret or reserve plan

buckle do!n

work extra hard

burn a hole in one's pocket

money that one is tempted to spend

dress to kill, dress to the nines fit like a glo e fine)tooth comb fly by the seat of one's pants handle !ith kid glo es

dress in nice or sexy clothes fit perfectly (tight to one's body) in great detail$ extremely carefully do by instinct$ not by plan treat delicately

*ood Idioms
Idiom apple of one's eye (ha e a) bun in the o en bad egg Meaning a person that is adored by someone be pregnant Example Sentence =aby 0essica is the apple of her father's eye. I don't think 0an will come to the bar because she has a bun in the o en.

a person who is often in I don't want my little brother trouble hanging around with the bad eggs on the street. very important person (>I<) I thought I was "ust going to interview the secretary$ but they let me talk to the big cheese himself. 0ust explain the bread and butter of your report. ?ou don't have to go into details. %y husband has had to bring home the bacon ever since I broke my leg. I scored bro!nie points with my teacher by bringing her a cup of coffee. +e'll have to butter Angie up before we tell her the news about the broken vase. @ick wants to ha e his cake and eat it too. ;e wants to be single but he doesn't want me to date anyone else. ,imon is the first carrot top I've ever gone out with. I love reading cheesy romance

big cheese

bread and butter

necessities$ the main thing earn the income

bring home the bacon (score) bro!nie points butter someone up

things done or said that make someone else like you better be extra nice to someone (usually for selfish reasons) want more than your fair share or need

(ha e one's) cake and eat it too

carrot top cheesy

person with red or orange hair silly

novels because I don't have to think. cool as a cucumber very relaxed I thought I was afraid of flying$ but I was cool as a cucumber all the way to (ngland. +e hired the cream of the crop to entertain us at the Ahristmas party.

cream of the crop

the best

(don't) cry o er spilled milk

get upset over -he mirror is broken and we can't something that has fix it. -here's no need to cry o er happened and cannot be spilled milk. changed cup of coffee something you en"oy (usually used negatively) urge someone to do something be very cold have a lot of (silly) energy extremely good pay for minimal work receive without working for something difficult to understand (often a person) a controversial or difficult sub"ect simply Let's stop for a cup of +oe before we head to work. .pera isn't exactly my cup of tea.

cup of +oe (not my) cup of tea

egg someone on free&e one's buns off full of beans gra y train

-he gang tried to egg us on but we didn't want to fight. I fro&e my buns off at the ice rink. -he kids were full of beans after the circus. -he unionised grocers have been en"oying the gra y train for twenty years. -he professor's daughter had her college diploma handed to her on a sil er platter. Angelo is a hard nut to crack when something is bothering him like this. Ahoosing a location for our new store is a hot potato right now. In a nutshell$ I'm having a bad

(ha e something) handed to someone on a sil er platter hard nut to crack

hot potato in a nutshell

day. nuts about like a lot something, someone out to lunch one smart cookie cra)y or mad a very intelligent person small amount of hair growth very easy rely on one single thing I'm nuts about classical music these days. ;arry has been out to lunch ever since he lost his "ob. ?our daughter is one smart cookie. ,he reads much higher than her grade level. (xcept for a bit of peach fu&&$ the baby came out bald. -he exam was a piece of cake. (ven though I'm ma"oring in Art$ I'm taking a maths course because my Bad says I shouldn't put all of my eggs in one basket. -he car was souped up with shiny rims and a loud stereo. -he new ;arry <otter books sold like hot cakes. I wanted to spice things up in the office$ so I bought some red and gold paint. .n %onday$ I'm going to spill the beans about my travel plans. -ake %andy's advice with a pinch of salt. ,he doesn't always do her research. ?ou're going to have to really use your noodle on this crossword pu))le. It's an extra difficult one.

peach fu&& piece of cake put all of ones eggs in one basket

souped up sell like hot cakes spice things up

made more powerful or stylish bought by many people make something more exciting reveal the truth

spill the beans

take something don't consider !ith a pinch (grain) something 1::C of salt accurate use your noodle use your brain

*ood Idioms %ui&

1 I "ust found out Anne has a wonder if it's a boy or a girl. Bo you want to hear a "oke! .I

2 3

-he wine that I bought for dinner is the of the crop.

,orry$ but sausage rolls aren't my .

+e had to the men on before they would come swimming with us. +hen I eat too much sugar I am full of %ike wants to learn how to shave because he grew some fu)) on his chin. .

6 7

If you put all of your in one basket$ you might not get into any university. +e're taking dance lessons in hopes of things up in our relationship.

1 :

-ake everything you read on the Internet with a .

(olour Idioms
Idiom beet red Meaning dark red (usually to describe face) bruised and beaten straight forward$ very clear faint the odd or bad member of the group born into a rich family Example Sentence %y sister's face turned beet red when I caught her singing in front of a mirror. +e found the poor guy black and blue near the train tracks. -he rules we gave the kids were black and !hite. Do answering the phone or the door. I always black out at the sight of blood. %y oldest brother was the black sheep in our family. ;e dropped out of school at fifteen. Eeiko hasn't worked a day in her life. ,he was born !ith a sil er spoon in her mouth.

black and blue black and !hite

black out black sheep

born !ith a sil er spoon in one's mouth

hit the hay hit the road keep one's head abo e !ater kno! !hich !ay the !ind blo!s make a mountain out of a molehill out of the !oods

go to sleep leave

I'm exhausted. I think I'll hit the hay early tonight. It's getting late. +e had better hit the road.

have "ust enough money to It's hard to keep my head abo e live !ater with all of these medical bills. know how things will turn out make a small problem seem big clear of danger +ho kno!s !hich !ay the !ind !ill blo!! I "ust hope 0esse gets one of the "obs he's applied for. -he car only got a tiny dent. ?ou're making a mountain out of a molehill. -he doctor said my heart is doing better$ but I'm not out of the !oods yet. I knew I was o er the hill when I started needing glasses to read. +henever I had a dance recital$ my older brother always rained on my parade. -hey didn't bother inviting Aharles to the party because he's always a stick)in)the)mud. +ow* ?our shower was as ,uick as lightning. -he lost tickets were "ust the tip of the iceberg. I'd love to go out for dinner$ but can I take a rain check! I was feeling under the !eather so I went back to bed. If my Bad finds out I had a party I'll be up the creek.

o er the hill rain on someone else's parade stick)in)the)mud

past middle age ruin somebody else's happiness a loner or person who won't "oin in very fast a small part of a large problem accept at a later date ill in trouble

(as) ,uick as lightning the tip of the iceberg take a rain check under the !eather up the creek

!in by a landslide (get) !ind of something

win by a lot of points overhear something about someone or something (often gossip)

-he skier in the green coat !on by a landslide. %y Bad has a new girlfriend. I got !ind of it over dinner tonight.

-eography and .eather Idioms %ui&

1 -he tickets were a last minute sale. I guess it's time I . I have to go make dinner. 3 I was the only one who wasn't in costume. I felt like 4 =usiness has been going since the bad weather started. . ever cheap because it was

.n -onya's 5:th birthday we made her a sign that saidF . when Boug asked me

I was on cloud to marry him. I'll be up the on time.

if I don't get to work