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01-Sep-2006, 08:40
|  | Key Member | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Country: Transilvania
Posts: 3,299
Current Location: Transilvania First Language: Hungarian Member Type: English Teacher | | Animal idioms hi, Let's play and learn!
I opened this topic for each of us to write an idiom which contains a name of an animal.( cat, dog, lion, horse, lizard etc) The idiom MUST be explained by the one who posts it! Please, illustrate your idiom with an example.
Mine is the following:
"dark horse" - a person who hides their feelings, plans, activities, etc
e.g.
You are a dark house! I had no idea you could play the piano so well.
best wishes,
Madox
Last edited by Mad-ox; 10-Feb-2008 at 14:34.
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01-Sep-2006, 19:29
| | Editor, UsingEnglish.com | | Join Date: Nov 2002 Country: UK
Posts: 27,067
Current Location: Phnom Penh First Language: English Member Type: English Teacher | | Re: Animal idioms Horses for courses:
Different situations require different ways of handling them, or different people, etc. | 
01-Sep-2006, 21:39
|  | Moderator | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Country: USA
Posts: 3,275
Current Location: Detroit, Michigan First Language: English Member Type: English Teacher | | Re: Animal idioms Cat that swallowed the canary. To appear smug or self-satisfied.
I knew that Mary was going to win the trivia contest, because when she wrote down her final answer, she looked just like the cat that had swallowed the canary. | | The Following User Says Thank You to Ouisch For This Useful Post: | | 
02-Sep-2006, 02:27
| | Key Member | | Join Date: May 2005 Country: USA
Posts: 1,920
Current Location: North Carolina First Language: English Member Type: English Teacher | | Re: Animal idioms In the US, a "dark horse" is political slang for a candidate with no background in politics who has a good chance of winning the election.
To continue the game, here's one my dad taught me:
"My dogs are barking."
meaning: My feet are killing me. | 
04-Sep-2006, 04:27
| | Member | | Join Date: Sep 2005 Country: India
Posts: 440
Current Location: In India at present First Language: hindi Member Type: Other | | Re: Animal idioms Quote:
Originally Posted by mykwyner In the US, a "dark horse" is political slang for a candidate with no background in politics who has a good chance of winning the election.
To continue the game, here's one my dad taught me:
"My dogs are barking."
meaning: My feet are killing me. | I would have never guessed that meaning. :)
Here is one that Ross Perot (presidential candidate in '92) seemed
fond of using: That dog won't hunt.
Meaning: Something (such as a plan) won't work.
Perhaps someone else can explain it better. | 
04-Sep-2006, 14:11
|  | Key Member | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Country: Transilvania
Posts: 3,299
Current Location: Transilvania First Language: Hungarian Member Type: English Teacher | | Re: Animal idioms '' be like a dog with two tails'' means be extremly happy
eg. Is he pleased with his new job? He's like a dog with two tails.
have a nice day,
madox | | The Following User Says Thank You to Mad-ox For This Useful Post: | | 
04-Sep-2006, 18:41
| | Member | | Join Date: Sep 2005 Country: India
Posts: 440
Current Location: In India at present First Language: hindi Member Type: Other | | Re: Animal idioms "It's a dog eat dog world."
Meaning: It is a ruthlessly competitive world.
Last edited by englishstudent; 04-Sep-2006 at 18:42.
Reason: Forgot quotes
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05-Sep-2006, 07:55
|  | Key Member | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Country: Transilvania
Posts: 3,299
Current Location: Transilvania First Language: Hungarian Member Type: English Teacher | | Re: Animal idioms hi,
''let the cat out of the bag'' means ''make known a secret, usually without realizing what you are doing.
eg.
Who let the cat out of the bag? I'm afraid I did. I thought everybody already knew.
best wishes,
madox | | The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Mad-ox For This Useful Post: | | 
06-Sep-2006, 00:18
| | Member | | Join Date: Sep 2005 Country: India
Posts: 440
Current Location: In India at present First Language: hindi Member Type: Other | | Re: Animal idioms "You can't teach an old dog new tricks."
Meaning: People don't change, or want to learn new things
as they get old(er).
Last edited by englishstudent; 06-Sep-2006 at 00:18.
Reason: Forgot quotes
| | The Following User Says Thank You to englishstudent For This Useful Post: | | 
06-Sep-2006, 09:00
|  | Key Member | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Country: Transilvania
Posts: 3,299
Current Location: Transilvania First Language: Hungarian Member Type: English Teacher | | Re: Animal idioms hi
"get/have butterflies" means get/have a nervous feeling in your stomach before doing something.
eg.
I always get butterflies before an interview.
have a nice day,
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