An idiom is an expression, word, or phrase that has a figurative meaning. It is an expression, word, or phrase whose sense means something different from what the words literally imply. When a speaker uses an idiom, the listener might mistake its actual meaning, if he or she has not heard this figure of speech before. Check the following idioms and go figure!!! 1. act like an ape MEANING: behave badly, wildly, foolishly He has been acting like an ape ever since his girlfriend left him. 2. bark up the wrong tree MEANING: 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. 3. cash cow MEANING: a good way to make money The new business is a great cash cow. We are making a lot of money now. 4. cat nap MEANING: a short sleep taken during the day I had a cat nap during the afternoon so I would feel refreshed in the evening. 1 / 7
5. copycat MEANING: someone who copies another person s work etc. He is a copycat according to the other students in the class. 6. cry wolf MEANING: 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. 7. curiosity killed the cat MEANING: being too nosy may lead a person into trouble You shouldn t worry about what he is doing. Remember curiosity killed the cat. 8. dog-eat-dog MEANING: 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. 9. donkey's years MEANING: a very long time I talked to my friend for a long time because I hadn't seen her in donkey's years. 10. dumb bunny MEANING: stupid or gullible person 2 / 7
He really is a dumb bunny. I can t believe that he can do such stupid things. 11. eager beaver MEANING: 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. 12. eat like a horse MEANING: eat a lot Her brother who is 18 years old eats like a horse. 11. fraidy-cat MEANING: someone who is easily frightened (used by children) The little boy called his friend a fraidy-cat because he wouldn t climb the tree. 12. go ape MEANING: become highly excited or angry He will go ape if he sees that you have not finished the work that was due today. 13. hit the bulls-eye MEANING: reach the main point I think that he really hit the bulls-eye when he talked about the problems with the regular staff. 14. hold one s horses MEANING: wait, be patient 3 / 7
Hold your horses for a moment while I make a phone call. 15. holy cow MEANING: 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. 16. horse around MEANING: rough or noisy play The teacher told the children to stop horsing around and get ready for class. 17. lead a dog s life MEANING: work hard and be treated unkindly He is leading a dog s life since he married the woman who everyone told him not to. 18. let sleeping dogs lie MEANING: 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. 19.let the cat out of the bag MEANING: 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. 20. lock the barn door after the horse is gone 4 / 7
MEANING: 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. 21. look like the cat that swallowed the canary MEANING: look very self-satisfied, look as if one just had a great success You look like the cat that swallowed the canary. What happened? 22. monkey business MEANING: unethical or bad activity, mischief He should stop that monkey business and try to do the job the correct way. 23. piggyback MEANING: sitting or being carried on someone s back and shoulders The boy was riding piggyback on his father s shoulders. 24.play cat and mouse with someone MEANING: tease or fool someone He is playing a cat and mouse game with his company about his plans to quit or not. 25. put the cart before the horse MEANING: do things in the wrong order I think that buying a ticket before we make any plans is putting the cart before the horse. 5 / 7
26. rain cats and dogs MEANING: rain very hard It has been raining cats and dogs all day. 27. scaredy-cat MEANING: 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. 28. smell a rat MEANING: be suspicious, feel that something is wrong I smell a rat. There is something wrong with his relationship to the bankers. 29. straw that breaks the camel s back MEANING: 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. 30. tail between one s legs MEANING: feel beaten, ashamed (after a scolding etc.) He left the meeting with his tail between his legs after he was criticized by the president. 31. take the bull by the horns MEANING: take decisive action and not worry about the results 6 / 7
My aunt decided to take the bull by the horns and begin preparations for the family reunion. 32.talk until the cows come home MEANING: talk for a long time We can talk until the cows come home this weekend at the lake. 33. wolf in sheep s clothing MEANING: a person who pretends to be good but really is bad Be careful of that man. He is a wolf in sheep s clothing. SOURCE: http://www.learn4good.com/languages/ 7 / 7