# TESOL/Animal idioms

By using concealed cameras, fly on the wall television programmes or films show people doing what they normally do every day. Big Brother is a good example of this type of reality TV programme. We use the expression "fly on the wall" because if a fly settles on your wall at home, you do not normally notice it.
We use many animal idioms in English. Here are a selection of those involving both larger and smaller animals. How many of these do you know?

### Larger mammals

| Idiom | Example | Definition |
| a bull / bear market | The bull market of the Eighties and Nineties is unlikely to return for some time. | situation where price of shares on the stock market are rising (bear market: prices falling) |
| take the bull by the horns | I decided to take the bull by the horns and tell him he was upsetting Jane. | face up to problem instead of avoiding |
| do the donkey work | If you tell him to take it easy, he'll sit back and let you do all the donkey work. | manual labour or jobs that are routine or least important |
| flog a dead horse | Invest in shares and the chances are you'll be flogging a dead horse. | waste time on something unlikely to be successful (flog = whip) |
| the lion's share | The lion's share of her money - over 80% - went to her nephews and nieces. | the majority |
| a stag night | I'm having my stag night on the same day as my Sue is having her hen night. | a social/drinking evening for groom's male friends prior to wedding (hen night = social/drinking evening for bride's female friends) |
| could eat a horse | I skipped breakfast so now I could eat a horse. | be very hungry |

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### Smaller mammals

| Idiom | Example | Definition |
| keep the wolf from the door | If you can't get a better job, you won't be able to keep the wolf from the door. | earn enough to buy food and other essentials |
| dog tired | He was dog tired - out on call all night and then took surgery in the morning. | very tired |
| let sleeping dogs lie | She doesn't need to know he's been unfaithful. Let sleeping dogs lie. | not interfere; not mention something that could cause trouble |
| dog days | I sleep in the basement during the dog days of August. | very hot days |
| let the cat out of the bag | He couldn't keep it secret, let the cat out of the bag and told her everything. | reveal a secret |
| cat nap | I like to cat nap for half an hour after lunch. | A short sleep |
| raining cats and dogs | I forgot my umbrella, and it was raining cats and dogs. | raining heavily |
| smell a rat | They intended to trick him but they were always larking about and he smelt a rat. | sense that something is wrong (lark about: behave in playful, childish way) |

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### Birds and fish

| Idiom | Example | Definition |
| a wild goose chase | I didn't know her flight number so trying to find Amy at Heathrow was a bit of a wild goose chase. | a search that has no chance of success |
| up with the lark | We'll have to be up with the lark tomorrow - the flight leaves at seven thirty. | awake early |
| chicken out | They are short of funds so I think they're going to chicken out of this project. | stop participating in something which is too dangerous or difficult. |
| up with the birds | I'll have to be up with the birds tomorrow - the train leaves at seven thirty. | wake up early |
| a fish out of water | I didn't know anyone at the reception so felt like a fish out of water. | uncomfortable |
| a cold fish | He showed no emotion at this aunt's funeral - he's a cold sort of a cold fish. | unemotional |
| have other fish to fry | They wanted me to join them on this project but I told them I had other fish to fry. | have other things to do or more important matters to attend to. |

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### Insects

| Idiom | Example | Definition |
| a fly in the ointment | It will be an exciting trip. The only fly in the ointment is that Sue can't drive. | a difficulty which prevents total enjoyment |
| not hurt a fly | He has an awful temper but he wouldn't hurt a fly. | gentle |
| no flies on someone | There are no flies on Jacob - he is fully aware of all aspects of the operation. | said of someone who is alert and clever, not easy to deceive |
| a busy bee | She's a busy bee all right - if there's a job to do, she just has to get on with it. | very busy person |
| have a bee in your bonnet | She's got a bee in her bonnet about eating raw fish to stay fit and healthy. | be obsessed with something (bonnet = hat) |
| the bee's knees | With her first class honours degree and job with the UN, she thinks she's the bee' knees. | someone who is very clever and important |