Animals are part of our everyday lives. People often use animals in their language to explain ideas in fun and interesting ways. These special phrases are called idioms. Idioms are groups of words that have a different meaning than what the words say on their own. When we hear an animal idiom, it can help us understand feelings, actions, or situations better.
In this article, you will learn about 30 animal idioms. Each idiom has a meaning and examples that show how to use it. These idioms are easy to find in stories, conversations, and even in school. By knowing animal idioms, you can understand people better and make your own speaking and writing more exciting. Let’s explore these colorful phrases together!
Idioms for Animals
1. Let the cat out of the bag
Meaning: To accidentally tell a secret.
Samples: She let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party. / Don’t let the cat out of the bag before the birthday.
To Put it Another Way: I told the secret by mistake. / I shared something I wasn’t supposed to.
2. Hold your horses
Meaning: To wait or be patient.
Samples: Hold your horses! The movie starts in five minutes. / He told me to hold my horses before answering.
To Put it Another Way: Wait a little bit. / Don’t rush, be patient.
3. Busy as a bee
Meaning: Very busy and active.
Samples: Mom was busy as a bee cleaning the house. / The students were busy as bees during the project.
To Put it Another Way: I was working hard and didn’t stop. / Everyone was moving and doing a lot.
4. Cry wolf
Meaning: To ask for help when you don’t really need it.
Samples: He cried wolf so many times no one believed him. / Don’t cry wolf unless it’s an emergency.
To Put it Another Way: I asked for help when I didn’t need it. / People stopped trusting me because of false alarms.
5. The lion’s share
Meaning: The biggest part of something.
Samples: She got the lion’s share of the candy at the party. / The team got the lion’s share of the prize money.
To Put it Another Way: I got most of it. / I had the largest piece or part.
6. Straight from the horse’s mouth
Meaning: Getting information from the most reliable source.
Samples: I heard the news straight from the horse’s mouth. / She got the answer straight from the horse’s mouth.
To Put it Another Way: I got the information from the best source. / I heard it from someone who knows.
7. Like a fish out of water
Meaning: Feeling uncomfortable or out of place.
Samples: At the new school, I felt like a fish out of water. / He was like a fish out of water at the big party.
To Put it Another Way: I felt strange and didn’t fit in. / I was uncomfortable and different.
8. Let sleeping dogs lie
Meaning: Don’t talk about a problem that might cause trouble.
Samples: Don’t bring up the argument again let sleeping dogs lie. / He decided to let sleeping dogs lie and not argue.
To Put it Another Way: Don’t start trouble again. / Leave things alone to keep peace.
9. A wolf in sheep’s clothing
Meaning: Someone who seems nice but is really bad.
Samples: That new student is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. / Be careful he’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
To Put it Another Way: Someone looks good but isn’t. / They pretend to be nice but are not.
10. Have bigger fish to fry
Meaning: To have more important things to do.
Samples: I can’t help now I have bigger fish to fry. / She has bigger fish to fry than cleaning her room.
To Put it Another Way: I have more important things to do. / I need to focus on bigger problems.
11. Make a beeline
Meaning: To go quickly straight to something.
Samples: After school, I made a beeline for the ice cream truck. / She made a beeline to her best friend at the party.
To Put it Another Way: I went fast and direct. / I went right to the thing I wanted.
12. The early bird catches the worm
Meaning: People who act early get the best chances.
Samples: I woke up early because the early bird catches the worm. / She got the best seat because she was the early bird.
To Put it Another Way: Being early helps you succeed. / Starting first gives you an advantage.
13. Monkey business
Meaning: Fooling around or doing silly things.
Samples: Stop the monkey business and do your homework. / There was a lot of monkey business during recess.
To Put it Another Way: Don’t act silly. / Stop playing around and focus.
14. To bark up the wrong tree
Meaning: To make a wrong guess or mistake.
Samples: If you think I took your pencil, you’re barking up the wrong tree. / He was barking up the wrong tree when he blamed me.
To Put it Another Way: You guessed wrong. / You made a mistake about who did it.
15. Wild goose chase
Meaning: A search that leads nowhere or is useless.
Samples: Looking for my lost shoe was a wild goose chase. / We went on a wild goose chase trying to find the lost ball.
To Put it Another Way: I looked for something but didn’t find it. / It was a useless search.
16. Beat a dead horse
Meaning: To keep talking about something that is already finished.
Samples: Stop beating a dead horse no one wants to hear about it again. / He kept beating a dead horse about the old game.
To Put it Another Way: Don’t talk about something done. / It’s useless to keep saying it.
17. Take the bull by the horns
Meaning: To face a problem directly and bravely.
Samples: She took the bull by the horns and asked the teacher for help. / I took the bull by the horns and started my project early.
To Put it Another Way: I faced the problem bravely. / I did something hard without waiting.
18. Like shooting fish in a barrel
Meaning: Something very easy to do.
Samples: That math test was like shooting fish in a barrel. / Winning the game felt like shooting fish in a barrel.
To Put it Another Way: It was very easy. / I did it without any trouble.
19. In the doghouse
Meaning: In trouble or out of favor with someone.
Samples: I’m in the doghouse because I forgot Mom’s birthday. / He was in the doghouse after breaking the vase.
To Put it Another Way: I’m in trouble. / Someone is upset with me.
20. Put the cat among the pigeons
Meaning: To cause trouble or upset a situation.
Samples: Her announcement put the cat among the pigeons in class. / Saying that put the cat among the pigeons at the meeting.
To Put it Another Way: I caused trouble or made people upset. / I disturbed a calm situation.
21. Eager beaver
Meaning: Someone who works hard and is very eager.
Samples: She’s an eager beaver who finishes her homework early. / He’s an eager beaver in the soccer team.
To Put it Another Way: I work hard and want to do well. / I’m very excited to help.
22. Horse around
Meaning: To play and be silly instead of working.
Samples: Stop horsing around and get back to work. / They were horsing around during recess.
To Put it Another Way: Don’t fool around. / Stop playing and focus.
23. Cry crocodile tears
Meaning: To pretend to be sad when you are not.
Samples: He cried crocodile tears when he lost the game but wasn’t really upset. / Don’t believe her crocodile tears it’s not real sadness.
To Put it Another Way: Pretending to be sad. / Fake crying or feeling.
24. Wolf down
Meaning: To eat something very quickly.
Samples: He wolfed down his lunch because he was late. / I wolfed down my snack before practice.
To Put it Another Way: I ate very fast. / I finished my food quickly.
25. Dog days
Meaning: The hottest days of summer.
Samples: We went swimming every day during the dog days. / The dog days made us want to stay inside.
To Put it Another Way: The very hot summer days. / The hottest time of the year.
26. Like a bull in a china shop
Meaning: Someone who is clumsy or careless.
Samples: He was like a bull in a china shop and broke the vase. / Don’t be like a bull in a china shop when carrying the plates.
To Put it Another Way: I was clumsy and careful. / I broke things because I wasn’t careful.
27. Take the cake
Meaning: To be the best or worst at something.
Samples: That was the worst joke it takes the cake. / She took the cake for best project in class.
To Put it Another Way: The best or the worst. / The most surprising or extreme.
28. Fishy
Meaning: Something that seems suspicious or not right.
Samples: That story sounds fishy to me. / It was fishy that he was not at school but said he was sick.
To Put it Another Way: Something doesn’t seem true. / It feels suspicious.
29. Cat got your tongue?
Meaning: Said when someone is suddenly silent or shy.
Samples: Why are you so quiet? Cat got your tongue? / He didn’t answer cat got his tongue?
To Put it Another Way: Why are you not talking? / Are you shy or nervous?
30. Hold the fort
Meaning: To take care of things while someone else is away.
Samples: Can you hold the fort while I go to the nurse? / She held the fort while the teacher was out.
To Put it Another Way: Take care of things. / Watch over something when others leave.
Find the Topics: Idioms for Animals
Last Friday at school, the 5th-grade class was excited for the big spring fair. Jake was trying to hold his horses because he wanted to start the games right away. His friend Mia was busy as a bee helping set up the prize table.
During the race, Jake made a beeline for the finish, running faster than anyone else. After the race, Mia told him not to cry wolf about getting tired so soon.
Later, during the talent show, Sarah was starry-eyed as she waited to sing. But when she got on stage, she took the bull by the horns and sang loudly. Everyone cheered because she really made her mark.
At the end of the day, Jake’s mom said he was an eager beaver helping clean up the gym. Before leaving, Mia warned Jake not to let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party planned for next week.
Your Task:
Underline or list all 8 animal idioms you find in the story above.
Answer Key
- Hold your horses
- Busy as a bee
- Make a beeline
- Cry wolf
- Starry-eyed
- Take the bull by the horns
- Make your mark
- Eager beaver
Conclusion
Animal idioms are fun phrases that help us talk about feelings and actions in a special way. They make stories and conversations more interesting and easier to understand. By learning these idioms, you can explain your ideas better and enjoy hearing new expressions. Next time you hear an animal idiom, try to guess what it means it can make language more fun and clear.
