i decide to put  animal idoims in english  included examples to understan  completely 


behave badly, wildly, foolishly



He has been acting like an ape ever since his girlfriend left him.


choose the wrong course of action



He is barking up the wrong tree. He accuses me of causing the computer problem but I was away at the time.


someone’s words are worse than their action



You shouldn’t worry about her. Her bark is worse than her bite and she is really a very nice person.
 



 
misread the future



He is betting on the wrong horse if he keeps supporting the other city in their bid for the games.


a person with no tact who upsets others or upsets plans



He is like a bull in a china shop so you should be careful if you invite him to your house for the weekend.


a good way to make money



The new business is a great cash cow. We are making a lot of money now.


can’t speak because of shyness



The cat must have got her tongue. She did not saying anything at all.


a short sleep taken during the day



I had a cat nap during the afternoon so I would feel refreshed in the evening.
 




make new plans or choose a new leader in the middle of an important activity



They have decided to change lawyers but I told them that they shouldn’t change horses in midstream.


someone who copies another person’s work etc.



He is a copycat according to the other students in the class.


give a false alarm; warn of a danger that is not there.



He is crying wolf. There is no real danger or worry about the electrical system causing a fire.


being too nosy may lead a person into trouble



You shouldn’t worry about what he is doing. Remember curiosity killed the cat.


a candidate little known to the general public



He was a dark horse in the race to be President until he gave some good speeches on TV.


ready or willing to fight and hurt others to get what one wants



It is a dog-eat-dog world outside the father said to his young son.


a very long time



I talked to my friend for a long time because I hadn't seen her in donkey's years.
 




stupid or gullible person



He really is a dumb bunny. I can’t believe that he can do such stupid things.


a person who is always eager to work or do something extra



She is a real eager beaver and I am sure she will do very well in this company.


eat a lot



Her brother who is 18 years old eats like a horse.


everyone will have his chance or turn; everyone will get what he deserves



Don’t worry about him. Every dog has his day and he will eventually suffer for all the bad things that he is doing.


someone who is easily frightened (used by children)



The little boy called his friend a fraidy-cat because he wouldn’t climb the tree.
 





behave with arrogance



She is always getting on her high horse and telling people what to do.


begin to be humble and agreeable



I wish that she would get off her high horse and begin to think about how other people feel about things.


become highly excited or angry



He will go ape if he sees that you have not finished the work that was due today.


do something completely or thoroughly



They went whole hog in their effort to make sure that the convention was a success.


reach the main point



I think that he really hit the bulls-eye when he talked about the problems with the regular staff.


wait, be patient



Hold your horses for a moment while I make a phone call.


used to express strong feelings like astonishment, pleasure or anger



Holy cow he said as he saw the car that had hit the street lamp.


rough or noisy play



The teacher told the children to stop horsing around and get ready for class.


something totally separate and different



Moving to a new location is a horse of a different colour. It was never mentioned in any of our meetings.


hard and skilful bargaining



We had to do a little horse trading but finally we reached a deal to buy the new house.
 




in disgrace or disfavour



He is in the doghouse with his wife because he went out drinking three times last week.
 

a self-appointed group that decides what to do to someone who is supposed to have done wrong.



It was decided in a kangaroo court that he would have to pay for the damage that he had caused to the school building.


work hard and be treated unkindly



He is leading a dog’s life since he married the woman who everyone told him not to.


don’t make trouble if you don’t have to



You should let sleeping dogs lie and not ask him any questions about the argument.
 




tell something that is supposed to be a secret



She let the cat out of the bag when she began talking about the plans for the new department.


have the best of everything



He has been living high on the hog since he changed jobs and moved to Texas.



be careful or try to make something certain after it is too late



Now he wants to try and fix his house but it is like locking the barn door after the horse is gone. There was already a flood and the damage is done.

 
look very self-satisfied, look as if one just had a great success



You look like the cat that swallowed the canary. What happened?

 
make something that is unimportant seem important



You are making a mountain out of a molehill with your going on and on about his mistake.


unethical or bad activity, mischief



He should stop that monkey business and try to do the job the correct way.


sitting or being carried on someone’s back and shoulders



The boy was riding piggyback on his father’s shoulders.
 





a small bank (sometimes in the shape of a pig) for saving money



He has been putting money into his piggy bank to save for a bicycle.


tease or fool someone



He is playing a cat and mouse game with his company about his plans to quit or not.


do things in the wrong order



I think that buying a ticket before we make any plans is putting the cart before the horse.


rain very hard



It has been raining cats and dogs all day.


desert or betray someone



He ratted out on his friends and now they won’t talk to him.

r

rushing around, confusing way of living that does not seem to have a purpose



He is tired of living in the rat race every day and plans to quit his job soon and do something else.
 




car driver who takes more than his share of the road



The person in front of me on the highway was a road hog but I tried not to get angry.



a person or thing that is never criticized or changed even if it should be



The school lunch program is a sacred cow which they will never change.


someone who is easily frightened (used by children)



The children were calling their friend a scaredy-cat because she wouldn’t go into the empty house.


be suspicious, feel that something is wrong



I smell a rat. There is something wrong with his relationship to the bankers.


directly from the person or place where something began



I heard straight from the horse’s mouth that she will be leaving the company next week.

 
a small trouble which follows other troubles and makes one become angry or do something



Her accusing me of not working hard enough was the straw that broke the camel’s back so I finally asked for a transfer to another section of the company.


feel beaten, ashamed (after a scolding etc.)



He left the meeting with his tail between his legs after he was criticized by the president.


take decisive action and not worry about the results



My aunt decided to take the bull by the horns and begin preparations for the family reunion.




talk for a long time



We can talk until the cows come home this weekend at the lake.


send someone into danger without protection



He decided to throw his co-worker to the wolves when he asked him to go and see the other company.


run away from trouble or danger



We decided to turn tail and leave the pub before there was a fight.


a strike spontaneously arranged by a group of workers



There was a wildcat strike at the factory and over 100 people walked off the job.


a person who pretends to be good but really is bad



Be careful of that man. He is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.