Are you familiar with these animal idioms and how to use them? If not, you might be confused when you hear people mentioning the names of animals out of context.
We have all kinds of idioms about animals in English, from cats and dogs to wolves and whales. So take a look at the list below where we have given definitions and examples of some of the most common expressions involving animals.
Animal idioms featuring cats
Cats seem to dominate this list of animal idioms, so much so that we have a separate list with even more cat idioms! But here you can familiarize yourself with some of the most common:
Let the cat out of the bag
If you let the cat out of the bag, you reveal some secret information.
“I wish I could tell you the company’s big announcement but I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag.”
Look like something the cat dragged in
If someone looks very dirty or untidy, we might say they look like something the cat dragged in.
“What have you been doing? You look like something the cat dragged in!”
We might also comment “Look what the cat dragged in!” when we see someone in this state.
Cat nap
A cat nap is a short sleep or nap, usually taken in the afternoon.
“Let me just have a quick cat nap, then I’ll be ready to go out.”
There are lots more idioms about sleep that are useful to know!
Put the cat among the pigeons
If you put the cat among the pigeons you cause trouble and make people worried or angry.
“Mentioning the possibility of a pay cut has really put the cat among the pigeons.”
Cat on a hot tin roof
If someone is extremely nervous or anxious and unable to sit still, you might describe them as a cat on a hot tin roof.
“Lidiya is like a cat on a hot tin roof waiting for her exam results.”
This one also appears on our list of hot idioms.
Cat got your tongue
We say the cat has got your tongue when someone doesn’t speak when they are expected to; either through shyness or because they don’t want to reveal something.
“What’s wrong? Has the cat got your tongue?”
This animal idiom may also be shortened, as a question, to “Cat got your tongue?”.
Like the cat who got the cream
Looking like the cat who got the cream means you are particularly smug or self-satisfied, to the point that is it annoying other people.
“Elijah must have got the promotion; he’s spent all afternoon looking like the cat who got the cream.”
Read more idioms involving food.
Dog idioms
Dogs are not far behind cats when it comes to inclusion in animal idioms. Here are some great expressions involving man’s best friend:
Teach an old dog new tricks
We say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, meaning that it’s difficult to teach something new to someone who is set in their ways.
“I’ve tried to show my grandfather how to write an email, but it turns out you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”
Raining cats and dogs
When it’s raining cats and dogs you’d better have an umbrella. This means it’s raining very heavily.
“I don’t think I’ll go shopping today; it’s raining cats and dogs.”
We have more weather idioms to read here.
Dog in a manger
A dog in a manger is someone who stops others from enjoying something even though he himself has no use for it.
“Stop being a dog in a manger; let your brother play with your toy car if you’re not using it.”
If you’re interested in reading about the origin of this idiom, you can read the Aesop’s fable called ‘The Dog in the Manger’.
Barking up the wrong tree
If you’re barking up the wrong tree, you are directing your attention or investigations in the wrong direction, or you are mistaken.
“You’re barking up the wrong tree if you’re looking for someone who knows what’s going on around here!”
This can be considered a sports idiom, since it relates to hunting. If a dog thinks a bird or animal is hiding up a tree, it might stand at the bottom and bark. But if the creature is up a different tree, it turns out that the dog is barking up the wrong tree.
In the doghouse
Someone who is in the doghouse is in disfavor with someone after doing something wrong (often used to talk about a husband and wife).
“James is in the doghouse after he stayed out drinking until 2am last weekend.”
Let sleeping dogs lie
If you tell someone to let sleeping dogs lie, you’re telling them not to cause trouble or disrupt a situation unless it’s necessary.
“I would love to know what they were arguing about last night but I think it’s better to let sleeping dogs lie.”
If you’d like more dog idioms, you’ll be pleased to know we have another page with 16 more of them!
More animal idioms
It’s not all about cats and dogs; here are some idioms involving other animals:
Bull in a china shop
Just imagine what would happen if you really did put a bull in a china shop! This is one of those funny idioms that makes you imagine an absurd situation. Someone who acts like a bull in a china shop is very clumsy or destructive in a delicate situation.
“My manager can be rather tactless at times; she just rushes in to every negotiation like a bull in a china shop.”
Find some more idioms about shopping and shops here.
Cry wolf
Someone who cries wolf raises a false alarm; they claim there is something wrong in order to get attention or cause trouble (and they may find that nobody believes them when they do tell the truth).
“If you keep crying wolf, nobody will ever take you seriously.”
This one also comes from an Aesop’s fable: ‘The Boy who cried Wolf’. You can discover more crying idioms here.
On your high horse
The animal idiom to get on your high horse means to become arrogant and stubborn with a feeling of superiority.
“Every time the topic of politics comes up, Sandra gets on her high horse.”
The opposite is true of someone who gets off their high horse; they become humble (usually after a period of arrogance).
Have a whale of a time
If you’re having a whale of a time, you’re really enjoying yourself and having a great time.
“The kids had a whale of a time at the park last weekend. We must go again soon.”
Have a frog in your throat
Having a frog in your throat means you can’t speak clearly. It could be because of a sore throat, or because you are nervous.
“I had a frog in my throat all weekend but today I feel fine.”
Want more idioms with body parts?
Take the bull by the horns
To take the bull by the horns means to take charge of a situation and act decisively and confidently.
“Let’s take the bull by the horns and accept this contract.”
This is a sports idiom that relates to bullfighting, although it may date back further to cattle ranchers having to tackle their bulls to take control of them.
Smell a rat
If you smell a rat, you suspect that something is wrong about a situation, especially that someone is lying. It’s one of many liar idioms and phrases used in English.
“The jury started to smell a rat when the suspect kept changing his story.”
Rat on (someone)
To rat on (someone) is to report someone’s bad behavior.
“I know you saw me but you’d better not rat on me!”
We might also say ‘tell on’ or ‘tattle on’.
Party animal
A party animal is someone who loves to party, especially at lively celebrations or events involving alcohol. This can be seen as a good thing or a bad thing.
“You’re such a party animal; how do you still manage to get up early for work?”
Discover some more party idioms here.
Animal similes
We also often use similes to liken a person to an animal based on that animal’s main characteristic, for example:
- as blind as a bat
- as drunk as a skunk (this is said more because it rhymes than because skunks are known for drinking too much!)
- as quiet as a mouse
- as sly as a fox
- as stubborn as a mule
Our list of bird idioms has some more interesting similes that liken us to creatures.
Are there any other animal idioms that you have heard, or been confused about? Leave a comment below to let me know.
