English Idioms

VocabularyIDIOMS WITH ANIMALS

FISH

like a fish out of water = strange, different to the rest = como sapo de otro pozo

like a fish in muddy/troubled waters = in confused subjects

a big fish (in a little pond) = an important person (in a small comunity or a restricted situation)

an odd fish = an eccentric person

to dream like fish = to dream a lot

to drink like a fish = to drink a lot of alcohol

to have bigger/other fish to fry = to have something more important to do

neither fish, flesh nor good red herring = too ambiguous

there are (plenty of) other fish in the sea = there are (many) other people/things


BIRD

as free as a bird = free, without worries

a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush = más vale pájaro en mano que cien volando

the early bird catches the worm = al que madruga Dios lo ayuda

birds of a feather flock together = Dios los cría y ellos se juntan

to kill two birds with one stone = matar dos pájaros de un tiro

to eat like a bird = eat very little

a bird's eye view = a vuelo de pájaro

an early bird = a person who arrives or gets up early

a bird of ill omen = un pájaro de mal agüero

as the crow flies = in a straight line

a little bird told me something = expression used to say that you know something but you will not say how you found out = me contó un pajarito

IDIOMAS CON ANIMALES

BULL

tomar el toro por los cuernos = se enfrentan a una dificultad con valentía

como un elefante en una cacharrería = una persona áspera y torpe

como una etiqueta roja a un toro = probabilidad de causar la ira

un gallo y una historia de toros = una historia absurda e inverosímil, que se utiliza como una excusa o explicación = un cuento chino

a moverse como un toro en una puerta = a moverse muy rápido, haciendo caso omiso de todo lo que en su camino

para golpear en el blanco = Dar en el Blanco

para disparar el toro (EE.UU.) = tener una conversación informal sobre cosas sin importancia

no te metas con el toro, obtendrá los cuernos! = si usted busca problemas, usted lo encontrará


CAT

a cat has nine lives = un gato tiene siete vidas (Nótese que en inglés el gato tiene dos vidas más!)

curiosity killed the cat (satisfaction brought it back) = it may be dangerous to be too curious

to fight like cat and dog = to fight a lot

has a cat got your tongue? = ¿te comieron la lengua los ratones?

to let the cat out of the bag = to reveal a secret carelessly

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like a cat on hot bricks = very nervous

no room to swing a cat = not enough space

to have a cat nap = to have a short sleep

to play cat and mouse with somebody = to keep somebody in uncertain expectation, treating him alternately cruelly and kindly

when the cat's away, the mice will play = cuando el gato no está, los ratones se divierten

all cats are grey in the dark = por la noche todos los gatos son pardos

to put/set the cat among the pigeons = to introduce somebody/something that is likely to cause trouble

it's raining cats and dogs = it's raining a lot = está lloviendo a cántaros

a cat in gloves catches no mice = gato con guantes no caza ratones

hunt with cats and you catch only rats = you should choose you allies wisely


CHICKEN - HEN - STAG - COCK

never count your chickens before they are hatched = no cantes victoria antes de tiempo (lit. nunca cuentes tus pollos antes de que nazcan)

which came first, the chicken or the egg? = it is difficult or impossible to decide which of two things happened first

a chicken and egg situation = a situation in which it is difficult or impossible to decide which of two things happened first

somebody's chickens have come home to roost = somebody's bad actions in the past cause problems now

to run around like a headless chicken = to go from one place to another in a disorganized way

chicken feed = small amount of money, almost useless

to chicken out = to decide at the last moment not to do something because you are afraid

chicken pox = illness which causes fever and spots on your skin = varicela


somebody is no spring chicken = somebody is no longer young

to behave like a hen mother = to be very protective

a hen party = party for women only, usually the night before one of them gets married

a stag party/night = party for men only, usually the night before one of them gets married

a cock and bull story = an absurd and improbable story, used as an excuse or explanation = un cuento chino

to live like fighting cocks = to enjoy the best possible food

cock of the walk = person who dominates others


DUCK

a sitting duck = somebody easy to attack

an ugly duckling = a person who at first seems unpromising but later becomes admired

like a duck to water = without fear, naturally

like water off a duck's back = (of criticisms) without any effect

a dead duck = a plan that will probably fail

a lame duck = a person/organization in trouble that needs help

to duck a subject/question = to avoid a difficult or unpleasant subject/question


DOG

a dog's life = constantly worried, troubled or miserable

every dog has his day = everyone can succeed sooner or later

love me, love my dog = if one loves somebody, one should love everyone and everything associated with him


to be like a dog with two tails = to be very happy

to give a dog a bad name (and hang him) = once a person has lost his reputation, it's difficult to regain it

to go to the dog = (an organization) become less efficient

to let sleeping dogs lie = to let it be quiet

to make a dog's breakfast of something = to do something very badly

not to stand/have a dog's chance = to have no chance at all

to work like a dog = to work a lot

to treat somebody like a dog = to treat somebody with no respect at all

to die like a dog = to die in misery, with no honour nor dignity

dog eat dog = (adj) when people compete against each other and do anything to get what they want; a dog eat dog world/situation.

the tail wagging the dog = situation in which a minor part of something controls the course of the whole

his bark is worse than his bite = perro que ladra no muerde

barking dogs seldom/never bite = people who look aggressive are not really too bad

you can't teach an old dog new tricks = it's difficult for an old person to change or do new things

top dog = person who has the most power in a group

the underdog = a person or team that is weaker than the others, and is always expected to be unsuccessful

doggy bag = small bag for taking home the food that is left over from a meal in a restaurant


GOOSE

to cook somebody's goose = ensure that somebody fails

to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs = to destroy something that would have produced continuous profit in the future

not to say boo to a goose = to be very timid or gentle

what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander = what is good for one person must be also good for another in similar circumstances

a wild goose chase = a situation where you look for something that does not exist so you waste a lot of time

to get goose pimples/flesh = to get small raised spots on your skin when you are cold or frightened

IDIOMS WITH ANIMALS

HORSE

to eat like a horse = to eat a lot

to be flogging a dead horse = to be wasting time or effort on something impossible

to be/get on one's high horse = to act proudly, be arrogant

to be healthy as a horse = to be very healthy

to get on one's hobby-horse = to start talking about something that one likes to discuss

to hold your horses = to do something more slowly

to change horses in midstream = to transfer one's preference for somebody to another in the middle of an undertaking

to close the stable door after the horse has bolted = try to prevent something when it is too late

to put the cart before the horse = to reverse the logical order

a Trojan horse = something that looks normal but hides somebody's real intentions

never look a gift horse in the mouth = a caballo regalado no se le miran los dientes

a nod is as good as a wink (to a blind horse) = a hint or suggestion can be understood without being explicitly stated

straight from the horse's mouth = from a reliable source = de buena fuente


you can take a horse to water, but you can't make him drink = you can give a person the chance to do something, but he may still refuse to do it

a dark horse = someone mysterious, who doesn't tell others about himself, but has surprising abilites or qualities

a horse of a different color (US) = something that is completely different = harina de otro costal


PIG

pigs might fly = expression used to say that you do not believe that something will happen

to buy a pig in a poke = to buy something that is not as good as you thought = comprar gato por liebre

to make a pig of oneself = to eat a lot = comer en gran cantidad, darse un atracón

to make a pig's ear of something = to make something very badly = hacer algo mal, como la mona

a guinea pig = somebody used in a scientific test = un conejillo de las Indias

to pig out = to eat a lot all at once

to sweat like a pig = to sweat a lot

to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear = to make something good out of something that is bad quality


RAT

to smell a rat = to guess that something wrong is happening = oler a gato encerrado

the rat race = competition to keep one's position in work/life

like rats leaving/deserting the sinking ship = expression used to describe people who leave a place when it is in trouble

like a drowned rat = soaking wet and miserable


a pack rat = somebody who collects things that he does not need

hunt with cats and you catch only rats = you should choose you allies wisely


SHEEP - LAMB - MUTTON

to separate the sheep from the goats = to distinguish good people from bad people

a wolf in sheep's clothing = somebody who appears friendly or harmless but is really an enemy

like sheep = easily influenced by others

to count sheep = to imagine sheep jumping over a fence and count them, as a way of getting to sleep

every time the sheep bleats, it loses a mouthful = oveja que bala, bocado pierde

like a lamb (to the slaughter) = without realising that something dangerous is going to happen

the black sheep (of the family) = somebody regarded as a failure or embarrassment

as meek as a lamb = humble, obedient

a mutton dressed as a lamb = older person wearing clothes made for younger people

to make sheep's eyes at somebody = to look at somebody in a way that shows you love him

God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb = Dios aprieta pero no ahoga


OTHERS

donkey's years = a very long time

donkey-work = the hard part of a job

to talk the hind legs off a donkey = to talk a lot


a scapegoat = chivo expiatorio

a red herring = something that attracts people's attention

to have a frog in one's throat = to have a phlem

to have seen the lions = to have a lot of experience, to have seen everything

to come out of one's shell = to become less shy

to learn/say something parrot-fashion = to learn/say sth by heart, from memory

a white elephant = possession that is useless and expensive to maintain

to be a busy bee = to enjoy being busy or active

to have a bee in one's bonnet (about something) = to be obsessed, mad with something

to have bats in the belfry = to be eccentric or insane

monkey business/tricks = dishonest or bad behaviour

brass monkey weather = very cold weather

to make a monkey out of somebody = to make somebody look stupid

to have ants in one's pants = to be very restless

to be a bookworm = to like reading; ser un ratón de biblioteca

to be mad as a March hare = to be completely mad

to be packed like sardines = estar como sardinas enlatadas

to shed crocodile tears = llorar lágrimas de cocodrilo

to be like a bear with a sore head = be rude, in a bad mood

to be eagle-eyed = be very good at seeing or noticing things.

VocabularyIDIOMS WITH PARTS OF THE BODY

ARM





to cost someone an arm and a leg = cost somebody a lot of money.That car cost him an arm and a leg.

to fold somebody in one's arms = hold somebody closely by putting one's arms around him.

to give one's right arm = be prepared to make a great sacrifice in order to do something.He would give his right arm to have a new house.

to hold/keep someone at arm's length = keep someone at a distance.I can't stand her, that's why I keep her at arm's length.

to twist somebody's arm = persuade somebody to do something he doesn't want to do.Nobody twisted my arm about coming here.

to welcome/accept/receive something with open arms = with enthusiasm.

to walk arm in arm = with the arms bent around each other's.

as long as your arm = very long.


BACK

behind someone's back = when someone is not present. They were talking about me behind my back.

to have no backbone = have a weak character.

to have one's back against the wall = be in a difficult position and forced to defend oneself. John had his back against the wall; he was fired and everyone was against him.

to pat oneself on the back = feel pleased with oneself. This report is excellent, you can certainly pat yourself on the back.

to see the back of something = get rid of something unpleasant. If you work hard next week, you'll see the back of this job.

to stab someone in the back = be disloyal to somebody. Don't trust him; he would stab you in the back when you don't expect it.

to turn one's back on someone = refuse to help somebody.

when one's back is turned = when one can't see or know what others are doing


BRAIN

to pick somebody's brain = find out what somebody knows/thinks by asking questions.The interviewer will pick your brain to discover how much you know.

to have a brainwave = have a sudden good idea.I've just had a brainwave! I know how to solve this!

to rack one's brain about something = think hard to remember something or to find a solution.I've been racking my brain all day and still can't remember her name.

to have somebody/something on the brain = think repeatedly about someone or something.

to be the brains behind/of something = be the person who thought of something (a plan, system, organization).Martin is definitely the brains behind this project.

to beat your brains out = think about something very hard and for a long time.He's been beating his brains out all afternoon trying to finish his homework.

VocabularioIDIOMAS CON PARTES DEL CUERPO

EAR

ser todo oídos = escuchar con atención e interés. Él era todo oídos cuando yo le dije que tenía entradas gratis para el cine.

estar fuera de la oreja = verse obligados a abandonar un lugar, porque algo malo ha hecho. Usted debe trabajar más duro o va a estar fuera de su oído.

a ser hasta las orejas (en algo) = estar muy ocupados. Lo siento, no te llamé ayer, pero fue hasta las orejas en el trabajo.

hacer oídos sordos a algo = ignorar algo desagradable crítica, similares o quejas. Le dije que no para aparcar allí, pero él sólo hizo oídos sordos a la misma.

para cerrar / cerrar los oídos a algo = se niegan a escuchar a las malas noticias o desagradable. Por favor, escucha a él, no te callas oídos a su advertencia.

para ir en (a) un oído y sale (a) la otra = olvidar algo casi inmediatamente después de escucharlo. Yo no sé por qué le digo. Se entra por un oído y sale por el otro.

a tocar de oído = tocar un instrumento de la memoria.

a mantener los oídos abiertos para escuchar = con el fin de averiguar lo que está sucediendo. Por favor, mantenga sus oídos abiertos a cualquier cosa inusual.

tener algo que sale de los oídos = tener demasiado de algo. En esta época del año, las tiendas han iluminaciones de Navidad saliendo de sus oídos.


EYE

to catch someone's eye = attract someone's attention, make someone notice.If you would catch the waiter's eye, I'd like some more bread.

to be easy on the eye = be pleasant to look at.

to be eagle-eyed = be very good at seeing or noticing things.

to be up to one's eyes (in something) = be extremely busy.I'm sorry I didn't call you yesterday, but I was up to my eyes in work.

to cast/run an eye over something = look quickly over something.

to cry one's eyes out = cry a lot.

to have an eye for something = be a good judge of something.Her flat is so nice, she obviously has an eye for decoration.

to have eyes in the back of one's head = be alert, notice everything going on around one.The teacher knows everything we do, she must have eyes in the back of her head!

to keep an eye on something/somebody = look at something/somebody continually and carefully.Would you keep an eye on the children while I go to the doctor's?

to see eye to eye (with someone) (on something) = agree.They are a perfect couple, they see eye to eye on most things.

to turn a blind eye to something = ignore something.He knows I always get late, but he just turns a blind eye to it.

to do something with one's eyes closed = do something very easily.Using this fax machine is really easy, you can do it with your eyes closed!

to keep one's eyes skinned/peeled = remain alert.Nobody should see that I'm doing this, so keep your eyes peeled and tell me if someone is coming.

to open someone's eyes = make somebody realize the truth about something.

there's more to something that meets the eye = something is more complex than it looks.


FINGER

to have a finger in every pie = be involved in many activities.He's on the board of five companies, he likes to have a finger in every pie.

to twist someone round one's little finger = have someone under one's influence.She can twist him round his little finger, so she will convince him to go to the party.

to keep one's fingers crossed (for someone) = wish for luck.I have my final exam today, so keep your fingers crossed!

to get one's fingers burnt = suffer financially as a result of being careless.He got his fingers burnt dabbling in the stock market.

to not lift/raise a finger = to not make any effort to help someone.He can see that I'm busy, but he doesn't lift a finger.

to put one's finger on something = be able to explain what is wrong or unusual about something.

There Vocabulary

IDIOMS WITH PARTS OF THE BODY

FOOT

to fall/land on one's feet = get into a good situation because of luck, after a difficult situation.Don't worry about George, he always falls on his feet.

to foot the bill = pay for something.She left in the middle of the meal, and I had to foot the bill.

to get back on one's feet = recover.While being ill for two weeks, his mother helped her to get back on his feet.

to get cold feet = stop doing something because one becomes afraid of the consequences.He was about to break into the house, but he got cold feet at the last minute.

to have/keep one's feet on the ground = be realistic.She's no dreamer, she has her feet firmly on the ground.

to have the world at one's feet = have the chance to become very successful.She's an intelligent young lady with the world at her feet.

to have two left feet = be very clumsy.

to put one's best foot forward = do one's best.If you want to pass the exam, you'll have to put your best foot forward.

to put one's foot in it = do or say something foolish.Why did you tell her about it? You always put your foot in it!

to stand on one's own two feet = be independent.He is 19 and already has a job and a house, he's perfectly able to stand on his own two feet.

to start/get off on the right/wrong foot = make a good/bad start.The new student started off on the wrong foot with the teacher by answering back rudely.

to wait on someone hand and foot = serve somebody by attending to all his needs.He seemed to expect to be waited on hand and foot.

was something strange about him, but I couldn't put my finger on it.}


HAND

to be hand in glove with someone = be in close relationship with someone.He was found to be hand in glove with the enemy.

to be an old hand at something = be very experienced at something.

to be at the hands of somebody = be under somebody's will and power; be caused by a particular person.

The team was defeated because it was at the hands of an inexperienced coach.

to bite the hand that feeds you = to harm someone who has helped or supported you.

to eat out of someone's hands = be under someone's influence.She soon had the class eating out of her hand.

to give/lend someone a hand = help someone.

to have/take a hand in something = be partly responsible for something.The party was great, I bet he had a hand in it.

to have one's hands full = be extremely busy.

to know something like the back of one's hand = be thouroughly familiar with something.He's a taxi driver, so he knows the city like the back of his hand.

to live from hand to mouth = satisfy one one's present basic needs.He won't start saving money when he's been living from hand to mouth all his life!

to show one's hand = let others know one's intentions.I suspect they're planning something but they haven't shown their hand yet.

to wait on someone hand and foot = serve somebody by attending to all his needs.He seemed to expect to be waited on hand and foot.


HEART

to have the heart to do something = be unfeeling enough to do something.I hadn't the heart to refuse.

to have one's heart in one's mouth = be badly frightened.I was alone and when the lights went out, I had my heart in my mouth!

to have one's heart in the right place = have good intentions.His gifts are always tacky, but he has his heart in the right place.

to do something to one's heart's content = do something as much as one wishes.There will be lots of food, so you'll be able to eat to your heart's content.

to learn/know something by heart = from memory.He knows the poem by heart.

to lose heart = become discouraged.She had so many job refusals that she's beginning to lose heart.

to set one's heart on something = want something very much.She had set her heart on becoming a policewoman.

to take something to heart = be much affected or upset by something.I took your criticism very much to heart.

at heart = in one's real nature.I'm a country girl at heart.

from the bottom of one's heart = sincerely.This advice comes from the bottom of my heart.

after one's own heart = of exactly the type one likes best.He likes good wine too, he's obviously a man after my own heart.

a heart of gold = a very kind nature.He looks bad-tempered but really he's got a heart of gold.

a heart of stone = a pitiless and unfeeling nature.He doesn't care about others, he's got a heart of stone.

Vocabulary


HEAD

to go off one's head = become mad.

to have a head start = have an advantage over others.Julia has a head start on us for the job in Paris because she's bilingual.

to have a good head on one's shoulders = have common sense and practical ability.John has a good head on his shoulders, he can do well in any trade.

to have one's head in the clouds = have one's thoughts far away, be day-dreaming.

to have one's head screwed on the right way = be sensible and practical.

to keep one's head above water = keep out of debt.I'm managing to keep my head above water, even though I'm not earning much.

to make head or tail of something = understand.The student's essay is full of mistakes, I can't make head or tail of it!

to put our heads together = exchange ideas or advice.I'm sure we can solve the problem if we all put our heads together.

to talk one's head off = talk for a long time.

to use one's head = use one's common sense.

heads will roll (for something) = somebody will be punished (because of something).


LEG

to be on one's last legs = be very tired or ill.He looks like he's on his last legs.

to cost someone an arm and a leg = cost somebody a lot of money.That car cost him an arm and a leg.

to pull someone's leg = tease somebody, make somebody believe something that is untrue.Of course he doesn't want his present back, he's just pulling your leg!

not have a leg to stand on = have nothing to support one's opinion.You can't say that, you don't have a leg to stand on!

to give someone a leg-up = help somebody towards success.When he joined the company I noticed his talent, so I gave him the leg-up he needed.

to shake a leg = hurry up.Come on, shake a leg! We are late!

with one's tail between one's legs = in a humble or sad manner.After being fired, he left with his tail between his legs.


TONGUE

to bite one's tongue = try hard not to say what one thinks, blame oneself for having said something embarrassing.

to get one's tongue around something = be able to say a difficult word.I couldn't get my tongue around the names of the villages we'd been to.

to have something on the tip of one's tongue = just about to be spoken or remembered.His name's on the tip of my tongue, but I just can't think of it!

to hold one's tongue = say nothing.

to set tongues wagging = encourage people to gossip.Their scandalous affair has really set tongues wagging.

a slip of the tongue = minor error in speech.A slip of the tongue made me say Robert instead of Richard.

with (one's) tongue in (one's) cheek = not intending to be taken seriously.Don't be fooled by all his complimentary remarks, they were all said with tongue in cheek.


TOOTH

to be armed to the teeth = have all the necessary equipment.We left for a weekend's camping armed to the teeth with pots, pans, tins, tents and boots!

to cut one's teeth on something = gain experience from something.This reporter cut his teeth on his job at that small press agency.

to fight tooth and nail = fight fiercely, with energy and determination.During the war, these two countries fought tooth and nail.

to get one's teeth into something = deal with or concentrate on something.Now you know what the job involves, here's something to get your teeth into.

to lie through one's teeth = tell lies openly and without shame.That's not true! You're lying through your teeth!

to show one's teeth = use one's power or authority to intimidate or punish somebody.

English Idioms

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