animal idioms
If someone is on a wild good chase they are...
Looking for something hard to find or that doesn't exist.
examples:
I wasted all afternoon on a wild-goose chase.
John was angry because he was sent out on a wild-goose chase.
To catch someone red-handed means
To see someone in the act of doing something.
I caught my sister red-handed taking $5.00 from my room!
Giving someone the cold shoulder means
You are ignoring them
After I got into a fight with my sister, I gave her the cold shoulder for the rest of the day.
Piece of cake means...
very easy
This video game level was a piece of cake, I beat it on my first try.
You can't judge a book by it's cover
You can't tell what someone is like just by looking at them.
When I found out my teacher was the oldest person in the school I thought he would be boring but I should not have judged a book by its cover because he ended up being my favorite teacher!
Hold your horses means....
To wait and be patient
example:
When mom was talking to her boss on the phone she told me I had to hold my horses before asking her a question.
To give someone the green light means
to give approval for something
My mom gave me the green light to ride my bike after dinner.
Pulling someone's leg means
You are kidding around
I was pulling my dad's leg when I told him we had school on Saturday.
as cool as a cucumber
to stay calm, not nervous
Even though I was up on stage, I was able to stay as cool as a cucumber during my performance.
Feeling under the weather
feeling sick
My brother stayed in bed all day because he was feeling under the weather.
When you cry crocodile tears you...
fake cry
example:
When my daughter does not get what she wants she cries crocodile tears.
In the dark means
you have no idea what is going on
I was in the dark about the surprise birthday my family planned for me.
Cross your fingers means...
to hope or wish for something to happen
I crossed my fingers as they read the winning numbers for the raffle prize.
The big cheese means...
A big boss, someone who is in charge
When the big cheese called to tell me to be at work by 8:00, I made sure I was on time.
On the ball means
When I told my teacher I had already finished all of my assignments she said I was on the ball.
To pig out means
to eat a lot (usually junk food)
When my parents went out, I pigged out on everything in the snack cabinet.
Showing your true colors means
Showing what kind of person someone is
I thought he was a really sweet guy, but then he got mad and showed his true colors
I'm all ears
I'm listening
I was all ears when my mom said we were going to Dave and Busters.
To butter someone up means...
To be nice to someone to get what you want
I was buttering my mom up by helping around the house so she would let me have extra time to play my games.
Your guess is as good as mine means
You are not sure of an answer
When my mom asked me what I wanted to be for Halloween I told her, "Your guess is as good as mine."
As busy as a bee means
That you have a lot to do.
Before my son's birthday party, I was as busy as a bee getting balloons, cake, and ice cream.
Once in a blue moon
Not often
I only play video games with my kids once in a blue moon.
Speak your mind means...
To tell someone what you are thinking/feeling
I was speaking my mind when I told my sister that I didn't like her cooking.
To go bananas means
To go wild
I went bananas when my favorite song came on the radio.
Getting cold feet means ...
you are getting nervous, you aren't sure you still want to do something
When I signed up for the talent show I really wanted to do it but now that it's time to get on stage I am getting cold feet.