English Idioms

Animals

Exploring animal-related idioms can enrich your conversations with lively and engaging expressions. Our collection of animal idioms offers detailed meanings, practical examples, and audio pronunciations to support your learning journey. By mastering these idioms, you'll be able to describe behaviors, traits, and situations more colorfully and naturally. Delve into the origins of these idioms to gain a deeper cultural understanding. Practice using these idioms in your conversations to enhance your fluency and communication skills. Start learning animal idioms today to make your English more dynamic and expressive.

Idiom	Meaning and Examples
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush	Meaning: It's better to keep what you already have rather than taking a risk to get something better that you might lose. Examples: After much deliberation, Sarah decided to accept the job offer she had rather than waiting for a potential offer that might never come. When offered a risky investment, Tom remembered the advice that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush and chose a safer option. Despite the potential for a larger payout, Emma chose to sell her shares now rather than waiting and risking a market downturn. Meaning and Examples of the "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush" idiom
A fish out of water	Meaning: Feeling uncomfortable or out of place in a particular situation. It's like being in an unfamiliar environment where things don't come naturally. Examples: When Sarah moved to Japan, she felt like a fish out of water due to the cultural differences. During his first week at the new job, Mark was a fish out of water, struggling to understand the new systems. As an introvert, Emily felt like a fish out of water at the crowded networking event. Meaning and Examples of the "A fish out of water" idiom
A leopard can't change its spots	Meaning: People cannot change their inherent nature, no matter how hard they try. It's often used to indicate that someone's character, especially negative traits, remains consistent over time. Examples: Despite numerous efforts to reform, the corrupt politician proved that a leopard can't change its spots. No matter how friendly he seems now, remember that a leopard can't change its spots. Even after joining a rehab program, his old friends doubted his sincerity, saying a leopard can’t change its spots. Meaning and Examples of the "A leopard can't change its spots" idiom
Barking up the wrong tree	Meaning: To pursue a mistaken or misguided course of action. It's like focusing your energy or efforts on the wrong thing or misunderstanding the root cause of a problem. Examples: When she accused her colleague of stealing her lunch, she was barking up the wrong tree; it was actually misplaced in another fridge. The detective was barking up the wrong tree by focusing on the wrong suspect while the real criminal went unnoticed. If you think you can resolve this complex issue with a quick fix, you're barking up the wrong tree. Meaning and Examples of the "Barking up the wrong tree" idiom
Beat a dead horse	Meaning: To persist in talking about a topic or issue that has already been resolved or is no longer relevant. It often suggests that continuing to discuss it is futile and unproductive. Examples: Even though we have already decided on the project deadline, Mark keeps beating a dead horse by bringing up the same old issues. Your continuous complaints about last year's budget cuts are just beating a dead horse; the decision has already been made. Trying to change her mind about the breakup is like beating a dead horse; she has clearly moved on. Meaning and Examples of the "Beat a dead horse" idiom
Curiosity killed the cat	Meaning: Excessive inquisitiveness can lead to trouble or danger. Sometimes, asking too many questions or delving too deeply into something can have negative consequences. Examples: Despite his friends' warnings, Jake's curiosity killed the cat as he ventured into the abandoned building alone. Lisa's incessant questioning about her neighbor's private life often reminded everyone that curiosity killed the cat. The scientist's relentless probing into the classified project led to unforeseen consequences, proving that curiosity killed the cat. Meaning and Examples of the "Curiosity killed the cat" idiom
Hold your horses	Meaning: To wait or slow down, especially when you're excited or in a hurry. It suggests taking a moment to consider things carefully before acting. Examples: Before you make any decisions, hold your horses and consider all the options. When she heard the news, she wanted to rush out immediately, but her friend told her to hold her horses. The team leader asked everyone to hold their horses until the final data was reviewed. Meaning and Examples of the "Hold your horses" idiom
Let the cat out of the bag	Meaning: To reveal a secret or disclose information that was meant to be kept confidential. It often happens unintentionally, causing surprise or sometimes even trouble. Examples: Despite her best efforts to keep it a surprise, Jenna let the cat out of the bag about the birthday party. During the interview, the CEO let the cat out of the bag about the upcoming merger, causing a stir in the industry. He accidentally let the cat out of the bag about their vacation plans while chatting with friends. Meaning and Examples of the "Let the cat out of the bag" idiom
Straight from the horse's mouth	Meaning: When you receive information directly from the source, ensuring its authenticity and accuracy, you're getting it straight from the horse's mouth. Examples: The CEO's announcement about the merger came straight from the horse's mouth, leaving no room for speculation. When it comes to understanding company policies, I'd rather hear it straight from the horse's mouth than rely on office gossip. To get the most accurate details about the project, it's best to get the information straight from the horse's mouth. Meaning and Examples of the "Straight from the horse's mouth" idiom
Wild goose chase	Meaning: A wild goose chase refers to a pointless or futile search for something that is difficult, if not impossible, to find. It's like embarking on an errand or mission where success is unlikely, and you often end up wasting time and effort. Examples: Searching for a parking spot in downtown during rush hour felt like a wild goose chase. His attempt to find the original manuscript in the cluttered attic turned into a wild goose chase. They went on a wild goose chase trying to locate the legendary hidden treasure. Meaning and Examples of the "Wild goose chase" idiom