Vocabulary

IDIOMS WITH ANIMALS

FISH

like a fish out of water = strange, different to the rest = como sapo
de otro pozo

like a fish in muddy/troubled waters = in confused subjects

a big fish (in a little pond) = an important person (in a small comunity or a restricted
situation)

an odd fish = an eccentric person

to dream like fish = to dream a lot

to drink like a fish = to drink a lot of alcohol

to have bigger/other fish to fry = to have something more important to do

neither fish, flesh nor good red herring = too ambiguous

there are (plenty of) other fish in the sea = there are (many) other people/things

Vocabulary
IDIOMS WITH ANIMALS
BIRD

as free as a bird = free, without worries

a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush = ms vale pjaro en mano
que cien volando

the early bird catches the worm = al que madruga Dios lo ayuda

birds of a feather flock together = Dios los cra y ellos se juntan

to kill two birds with one stone = matar dos pjaros de un tiro

to eat like a bird = eat very little

a bird's eye view = a vuelo de pjaro

an early bird = a person who arrives or gets up early

a bird of ill omen = un pjaro de mal agero

as the crow flies = in a straight line

a little bird told me something = expression used to say that you know something but
you will not say how you found out = me cont un pajarito

IDIOMAS CON ANIMALES

BULL

tomar el toro por los cuernos = se enfrentan a una dificultad con

valenta

como un elefante en una cacharrera = una persona spera y torpe

como una etiqueta roja a un toro = probabilidad de causar la ira

un gallo y una historia de toros = una historia absurda e inverosmil, que se utiliza
como una excusa o explicacin = un cuento chino

a moverse como un toro en una puerta = a moverse muy rpido, haciendo caso
omiso de todo lo que en su camino

para golpear en el blanco = Dar en el Blanco

para disparar el toro (EE.UU.) = tener una conversacin informal sobre cosas sin
importancia

no te metas con el toro, obtendr los cuernos! = si usted busca problemas, usted lo
encontrar

Vocabulary
IDIOMS WITH ANIMALS
CAT

a cat has nine lives = un gato tiene siete vidas (Ntese que en ingls el
gato tiene dos vidas ms!)

curiosity killed the cat (satisfaction brought it back) = it may be

dangerous to be too curious

to fight like cat and dog = to fight a lot

has a cat got your tongue? = te comieron la lengua los ratones?

to let the cat out of the bag = to reveal a secret carelessly

like a cat on hot bricks = very nervous

no room to swing a cat = not enough space

to have a cat nap = to have a short sleep

to play cat and mouse with somebody = to keep somebody in uncertain expectation,
treating him alternately cruelly and kindly

when the cat's away, the mice will play = cuando el gato no est, los ratones se
divierten

all cats are grey in the dark = por la noche todos los gatos son pardos

to put/set the cat among the pigeons = to introduce somebody/something that is

likely to cause trouble

it's raining cats and dogs = it's raining a lot = est lloviendo a cntaros

a cat in gloves catches no mice = gato con guantes no caza ratones

hunt with cats and you catch only rats = you should choose you allies wisely

Vocabulary
IDIOMS WITH ANIMALS
CHICKEN - HEN - STAG - COCK

never count your chickens before they are hatched = no cantes victoria
antes de tiempo (lit. nunca cuentes tus pollos antes de que nazcan)

which came first, the chicken or the egg? = it is difficult or impossible

to decide which of two things happened first

a chicken and egg situation = a situation in which it is difficult or impossible to

decide which of two things happened first

somebody's chickens have come home to roost = somebody's bad actions in the past
cause problems now

to run around like a headless chicken = to go from one place to another in a

disorganized way

chicken feed = small amount of money, almost useless

to chicken out = to decide at the last moment not to do something because you are
afraid

chicken pox = illness which causes fever and spots on your skin = varicela

somebody is no spring chicken = somebody is no longer young

to behave like a hen mother = to be very protective

a hen party = party for women only, usually the night before one of them gets
married

a stag party/night = party for men only, usually the night before one of them gets
married

a cock and bull story = an absurd and improbable story, used as an excuse or
explanation = un cuento chino

to live like fighting cocks = to enjoy the best possible food

cock of the walk = person who dominates others

Vocabulary
IDIOMS WITH ANIMALS
DUCK

a sitting duck = somebody easy to attack

an ugly duckling = a person who at first seems unpromising but later

becomes admired

like a duck to water = without fear, naturally

like water off a duck's back = (of criticisms) without any effect

a dead duck = a plan that will probably fail

a lame duck = a person/organization in trouble that needs help

to duck a subject/question = to avoid a difficult or unpleasant subject/question

Vocabulary
IDIOMS WITH ANIMALS
DOG

a dog's life = constantly worried, troubled or miserable

every dog has his day = everyone can succeed sooner or later

love me, love my dog = if one loves somebody, one should love everyone
and everything associated with him

to be like a dog with two tails = to be very happy

to give a dog a bad name (and hang him) = once a person has lost his reputation, it's
difficult to regain it

to go to the dog = (an organization) become less efficient

to let sleeping dogs lie = to let it be quiet

to make a dog's breakfast of something = to do something very badly

not to stand/have a dog's chance = to have no chance at all

to work like a dog = to work a lot

to treat somebody like a dog = to treat somebody with no respect at all

to die like a dog = to die in misery, with no honour nor dignity

dog eat dog = (adj) when people compete against each other and do anything to get
what they want; a dog eat dog world/situation.

the tail wagging the dog = situation in which a minor part of something controls the
course of the whole

his bark is worse than his bite = perro que ladra no muerde

barking dogs seldom/never bite = people who look aggressive are not really too bad

you can't teach an old dog new tricks = it's difficult for an old person to change or do
new things

top dog = person who has the most power in a group

the underdog = a person or team that is weaker than the others, and is always
expected to be unsuccessful

doggy bag = small bag for taking home the food that is left over from a meal in a
restaurant

Vocabulary

IDIOMS WITH ANIMALS

GOOSE

to cook somebody's goose = ensure that somebody fails

to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs = to destroy something
that would have produced continuous profit in the future

not to say boo to a goose = to be very timid or gentle

what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander = what is good for one person
must be also good for another in similar circumstances

a wild goose chase = a situation where you look for something that does not exist so
you waste a lot of time

to get goose pimples/flesh = to get small raised spots on your skin when you are cold
or frightened

IDIOMS WITH ANIMALS

HORSE

to eat like a horse = to eat a lot

to be flogging a dead horse = to be wasting time or effort on

something impossible

to be/get on one's high horse = to act proudly, be arrogant

to be healthy as a horse = to be very healthy

to get on one's hobby-horse = to start talking about something that one likes to
discuss

to hold your horses = to do something more slowly

to change horses in midstream = to transfer one's preference for somebody to

another in the middle of an undertaking

to close the stable door after the horse has bolted = try to prevent something when
it is too late

to put the cart before the horse = to reverse the logical order

a Trojan horse = something that looks normal but hides somebody's real
intentions

never look a gift horse in the mouth = a caballo regalado no se le miran los dientes

a nod is as good as a wink (to a blind horse) = a hint or suggestion can be understood
without being explicitly stated

straight from the horse's mouth = from a reliable source = de buena fuente

you can take a horse to water, but you can't make him drink = you can give a person
the chance to do something, but he may still refuse to do it

a dark horse = someone mysterious, who doesn't tell others about himself, but has
surprising abilites or qualities

a horse of a different color (US) = something that is completely different = harina de

otro costal

Vocabulary
IDIOMS WITH ANIMALS
PIG

pigs might fly = expression used to say that you do not believe that
something will happen

to buy a pig in a poke = to buy something that is not as good as you thought =
comprar gato por liebre

to make a pig of oneself = to eat a lot = comer en gran cantidad, darse un atracn

to make a pig's ear of something = to make something very badly = hacer algo mal,
como la mona

a guinea pig = somebody used in a scientific test = un conejillo de las Indias

to pig out = to eat a lot all at once

to sweat like a pig = to sweat a lot

to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear = to make something good out of something
that is bad quality

Vocabulary
IDIOMS WITH ANIMALS
RAT

to smell a rat = to guess that something wrong is happening = oler a gato encerrado

the rat race = competition to keep one's position in work/life

like rats leaving/deserting the sinking ship = expression used to

describe people who leave a place when it is in trouble

like a drowned rat = soaking wet and miserable

a pack rat = somebody who collects things that he does not need

hunt with cats and you catch only rats = you should choose you allies wisely

Vocabulary
IDIOMS WITH ANIMALS
SHEEP - LAMB - MUTTON

to separate the sheep from the goats = to distinguish good people from
bad people

a wolf in sheep's clothing = somebody who appears friendly or harmless

but is really an enemy

like sheep = easily influenced by others

to count sheep = to imagine sheep jumping over a fence and count them, as a way of
getting to sleep

every time the sheep bleats, it loses a mouthful = oveja que bala, bocado pierde

like a lamb (to the slaughter) = without realising that something dangerous is going
to happen

the black sheep (of the family) = somebody regarded as a failure or embarrassment

as meek as a lamb = humble, obedient

a mutton dressed as a lamb = older person wearing clothes made for younger people

to make sheep's eyes at somebody = to look at somebody in a way that shows you
love him

God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb = Dios aprieta pero no ahoga

Vocabulary
IDIOMS WITH ANIMALS

OTHERS

donkey's years = a very long time

donkey-work = the hard part of a job

to talk the hind legs off a donkey = to talk a lot

a scapegoat = chivo expiatorio

a red herring = something that attracts people's attention

to have a frog in one's throat = to have a phlem

to have seen the lions = to have a lot of experience, to have seen everything

to come out of one's shell = to become less shy

to learn/say something parrot-fashion = to learn/say sth by heart, from

memory

a white elephant = possession that is useless and expensive to maintain

to be a busy bee = to enjoy being busy or active

to have a bee in one's bonnet (about something) = to be obsessed, mad with

something

to have bats in the belfry = to be eccentric or insane

monkey business/tricks = dishonest or bad behaviour

brass monkey weather = very cold weather

to make a monkey out of somebody = to make somebody look stupid

to have ants in one's pants = to be very restless

to be a bookworm = to like reading; ser un ratn de biblioteca

to be mad as a March hare = to be completely mad

to be packed like sardines = estar como sardinas enlatadas

to shed crocodile tears = llorar lgrimas de cocodrilo

to be like a bear with a sore head = be rude, in a bad mood

to be eagle-eyed = be very good at seeing or noticing things.

Vocabulary
IDIOMS WITH PARTS OF THE BODY
ARM

to cost someone an arm and a leg = cost somebody a lot of money.

That car cost him an arm and a leg.

to fold somebody in one's arms = hold somebody closely by putting one's arms around
him.

to give one's right arm = be prepared to make a great sacrifice in order to do

something.
He would give his right arm to have a new house.

to hold/keep someone at arm's length = keep someone at a distance.

I can't stand her, that's why I keep her at arm's length.

to twist somebody's arm = persuade somebody to do something he doesn't want to

do.
Nobody twisted my arm about coming here.

to welcome/accept/receive something with open arms = with enthusiasm.

to walk arm in arm = with the arms bent around each other's.

as long as your arm = very long.

Vocabulary
IDIOMS WITH PARTS OF THE BODY
BACK

behind someone's back = when someone is not present. They were talking about me
behind my back.

to have no backbone = have a weak character.

to have one's back against the wall = be in a difficult position and forced to defend
oneself. John had his back against the wall; he was fired and everyone was against
him.

to pat oneself on the back = feel pleased with oneself. This report is excellent, you
can certainly pat yourself on the back.

to see the back of something = get rid of something unpleasant. If you work hard
next week, you'll see the back of this job.

to stab someone in the back = be disloyal to somebody. Don't trust him; he would
stab you in the back when you don't expect it.

to turn one's back on someone = refuse to help somebody.

when one's back is turned = when one can't see or know what others are doing

Vocabulary
IDIOMS WITH PARTS OF THE BODY
BRAIN

to pick somebody's brain = find out what somebody knows/thinks by asking questions.
The interviewer will pick your brain to discover how much you know.

to have a brainwave = have a sudden good idea.

I've just had a brainwave! I know how to solve this!

to rack one's brain about something = think hard to remember something or to find a
solution.
I've been racking my brain all day and still can't remember her name.

to have somebody/something on the brain = think repeatedly about someone or

something.

to be the brains behind/of something = be the person who thought of something (a

plan, system, organization).
Martin is definitely the brains behind this project.

to beat your brains out = think about something very hard and for a long time.
He's been beating his brains out all afternoon trying to finish his homework.

Vocabulario
IDIOMAS CON PARTES DEL CUERPO
EAR

ser todo odos = escuchar con atencin e inters. l era todo odos cuando yo
le dije que tena entradas gratis para el cine.

estar fuera de la oreja = verse obligados a abandonar un lugar, porque algo malo ha
hecho. Usted debe trabajar ms duro o va a estar fuera de su odo.

a ser hasta las orejas (en algo) = estar muy ocupados.

Lo siento, no te llam ayer, pero fue hasta las orejas en el trabajo.

hacer odos sordos a algo = ignorar algo desagradable crtica, similares o quejas. Le
dije que no para aparcar all, pero l slo hizo odos sordos a la misma.

para cerrar / cerrar los odos a algo = se niegan a escuchar a las malas noticias o
desagradable. Por favor, escucha a l, no te callas odos a su advertencia.

para ir en (a) un odo y sale (a) la otra = olvidar algo casi inmediatamente despus de
escucharlo. Yo no s por qu le digo. Se entra por un odo y sale por el otro.

a tocar de odo = tocar un instrumento de la memoria.

a mantener los odos abiertos para escuchar = con el fin de averiguar lo que est
sucediendo. Por favor, mantenga sus odos abiertos a cualquier cosa inusual.

tener algo que sale de los odos = tener demasiado de algo. En esta poca del ao,
las tiendas han iluminaciones de Navidad saliendo de sus odos.

Vocabulary
IDIOMS WITH PARTS OF THE BODY
EYE

to catch someone's eye = attract someone's attention, make someone

notice.
If you would catch the waiter's eye, I'd like some more bread.

to be easy on the eye = be pleasant to look at.

to be eagle-eyed = be very good at seeing or noticing things.

to be up to one's eyes (in something) = be extremely busy.

I'm sorry I didn't call you yesterday, but I was up to my eyes in work.

to cast/run an eye over something = look quickly over something.

to cry one's eyes out = cry a lot.

to have an eye for something = be a good judge of something.

Her flat is so nice, she obviously has an eye for decoration.

to have eyes in the back of one's head = be alert, notice everything going on around
one.
The teacher knows everything we do, she must have eyes in the back of her head!

to keep an eye on something/somebody = look at something/somebody continually

and carefully.
Would you keep an eye on the children while I go to the doctor's?

to see eye to eye (with someone) (on something) = agree.

They are a perfect couple, they see eye to eye on most things.

to turn a blind eye to something = ignore something.

He knows I always get late, but he just turns a blind eye to it.

to do something with one's eyes closed = do something very easily.

Using this fax machine is really easy, you can do it with your eyes closed!

to keep one's eyes skinned/peeled = remain alert.

Nobody should see that I'm doing this, so keep your eyes peeled and tell me if
someone is coming.

to open someone's eyes = make somebody realize the truth about something.

there's more to something that meets the eye = something is more complex than it
looks.

Vocabulary
IDIOMS WITH PARTS OF THE BODY
FINGER

to have a finger in every pie = be involved in many activities.

He's on the board of five companies, he likes to have a finger in every pie.

to twist someone round one's little finger = have someone under one's influence.
She can twist him round his little finger, so she will convince him to go to the party.

to keep one's fingers crossed (for someone) = wish for luck.

I have my final exam today, so keep your fingers crossed!

to get one's fingers burnt = suffer financially as a result of being careless.

He got his fingers burnt dabbling in the stock market.

to not lift/raise a finger = to not make any effort to help someone.

He can see that I'm busy, but he doesn't lift a finger.
to put one's finger on something = be able to explain what is wrong or unusual

about something.
There

Vocabulary

IDIOMS WITH PARTS OF THE BODY

FOOT

to fall/land on one's feet = get into a good situation because of luck, after a difficult
situation.
Don't worry about George, he always falls on his feet.

to foot the bill = pay for something.

She left in the middle of the meal, and I had to foot the bill.

to get back on one's feet = recover.

While being ill for two weeks, his mother helped her to get back on his feet.

to get cold feet = stop doing something because one becomes afraid of the
consequences.
He was about to break into the house, but he got cold feet at the last minute.

to have/keep one's feet on the ground = be realistic.

She's no dreamer, she has her feet firmly on the ground.

to have the world at one's feet = have the chance to become very successful.
She's an intelligent young lady with the world at her feet.

to have two left feet = be very clumsy.

to put one's best foot forward = do one's best.

If you want to pass the exam, you'll have to put your best foot forward.

to put one's foot in it = do or say something foolish.

Why did you tell her about it? You always put your foot in it!

to stand on one's own two feet = be independent.

He is 19 and already has a job and a house, he's perfectly able to stand on his own
two feet.

to start/get off on the right/wrong foot = make a good/bad start.

The new student started off on the wrong foot with the teacher by answering back
rudely.

to wait on someone hand and foot = serve somebody by attending to all his needs.
He seemed to expect to be waited on hand and foot.

was something strange about him, but I couldn't put my finger on it.}

Vocabulary
IDIOMS WITH PARTS OF THE BODY
HAND

to be hand in glove with someone = be in close relationship with someone.

He was found to be hand in glove with the enemy.

to be an old hand at something = be very experienced at something.

to be at the hands of somebody = be under somebody's will and power; be caused by

a particular person.
The team was defeated because it was at the hands of an inexperienced coach.

to bite the hand that feeds you = to harm someone who has helped or supported
you.

to eat out of someone's hands = be under someone's influence.

She soon had the class eating out of her hand.

to give/lend someone a hand = help someone.

to have/take a hand in something = be partly responsible for something.

The party was great, I bet he had a hand in it.

to have one's hands full = be extremely busy.

to know something like the back of one's hand = be thouroughly familiar with
something.
He's a taxi driver, so he knows the city like the back of his hand.

to live from hand to mouth = satisfy one one's present basic needs.
He won't start saving money when he's been living from hand to mouth all his life!

to show one's hand = let others know one's intentions.

I suspect they're planning something but they haven't shown their hand yet.

to wait on someone hand and foot = serve somebody by attending to all his needs.
He seemed to expect to be waited on hand and foot.

Vocabulary
IDIOMS WITH PARTS OF THE BODY
HEART

to have the heart to do something = be unfeeling enough to do

something.
I hadn't the heart to refuse.

to have one's heart in one's mouth = be badly frightened.

I was alone and when the lights went out, I had my heart in my mouth!

to have one's heart in the right place = have good intentions.

His gifts are always tacky, but he has his heart in the right place.

to do something to one's heart's content = do something as much as one wishes.

There will be lots of food, so you'll be able to eat to your heart's content.

to learn/know something by heart = from memory.

He knows the poem by heart.

to lose heart = become discouraged.

She had so many job refusals that she's beginning to lose heart.

to set one's heart on something = want something very much.

She had set her heart on becoming a policewoman.

to take something to heart = be much affected or upset by something.

I took your criticism very much to heart.

at heart = in one's real nature.

I'm a country girl at heart.

from the bottom of one's heart = sincerely.

This advice comes from the bottom of my heart.

after one's own heart = of exactly the type one likes best.
He likes good wine too, he's obviously a man after my own heart.

a heart of gold = a very kind nature.

He looks bad-tempered but really he's got a heart of gold.

a heart of stone = a pitiless and unfeeling nature.

He doesn't care about others, he's got a heart of stone.

Vocabulary
IDIOMS WITH PARTS OF THE BODY
HEAD

to go off one's head = become mad.

to have a head start = have an advantage over others.

Julia has a head start on us for the job in Paris because she's bilingual.

to have a good head on one's shoulders = have common sense and practical ability.
John has a good head on his shoulders, he can do well in any trade.

to have one's head in the clouds = have one's thoughts far away, be day-dreaming.

to have one's head screwed on the right way = be sensible and practical.

to keep one's head above water = keep out of debt.

I'm managing to keep my head above water, even though I'm not earning much.

to make head or tail of something = understand.

The student's essay is full of mistakes, I can't make head or tail of it!

to put our heads together = exchange ideas or advice.

I'm sure we can solve the problem if we all put our heads together.

to talk one's head off = talk for a long time.

to use one's head = use one's common sense.

heads will roll (for something) = somebody will be punished (because of something).

IDIOMS WITH PARTS OF THE BODY

LEG

to be on one's last legs = be very tired or ill.

He looks like he's on his last legs.

to cost someone an arm and a leg = cost somebody a lot of money.

That car cost him an arm and a leg.

to pull someone's leg = tease somebody, make somebody believe something that is
untrue.
Of course he doesn't want his present back, he's just pulling your leg!

not have a leg to stand on = have nothing to support one's opinion.

You can't say that, you don't have a leg to stand on!

to give someone a leg-up = help somebody towards success.

When he joined the company I noticed his talent, so I gave him the leg-up he needed.

to shake a leg = hurry up.

Come on, shake a leg! We are late!

with one's tail between one's legs = in a humble or sad manner.

After being fired, he left with his tail between his legs.

Vocabulary
IDIOMS WITH PARTS OF THE BODY
TONGUE

to bite one's tongue = try hard not to say what one thinks, blame oneself for having
said something embarrassing.

to get one's tongue around something = be able to say a difficult word.

I couldn't get my tongue around the names of the villages we'd been to.

to have something on the tip of one's tongue = just about to be spoken or

remembered.
His name's on the tip of my tongue, but I just can't think of it!

to hold one's tongue = say nothing.

to set tongues wagging = encourage people to gossip.

Their scandalous affair has really set tongues wagging.

a slip of the tongue = minor error in speech.

A slip of the tongue made me say Robert instead of Richard.

with (one's) tongue in (one's) cheek = not intending to be taken seriously.

Don't be fooled by all his complimentary remarks, they were all said with tongue in
cheek.

IDIOMS WITH PARTS OF THE BODY

TOOTH

to be armed to the teeth = have all the necessary equipment.

We left for a weekend's camping armed to the teeth with pots, pans, tins, tents and
boots!

to cut one's teeth on something = gain experience from something.

This reporter cut his teeth on his job at that small press agency.

to fight tooth and nail = fight fiercely, with energy and determination.
During the war, these two countries fought tooth and nail.

to get one's teeth into something = deal with or concentrate on something.

Now you know what the job involves, here's something to get your teeth into.

to lie through one's teeth = tell lies openly and without shame.
That's not true! You're lying through your teeth!

to show one's teeth = use one's power or authority to intimidate or punish somebody.