Insects
A fly on the wall
Example: “They’re discussing the argument now. I’d love to be a fly on the wall so I could hear what they were saying.”
To be a fly on the wall means to be unnoticed while watching or listening to something.
Fighting like cats and dogs
Example: "When they were children, Mary and her brother fought like cats and dogs."
To argue or fight a lot.
As free as a bird
Example: “When the summer holiday came, she felt as free as a bird.”
To have no worries; completely free
Eat like a horse
Example: "After coming back from the camping trip to the mountains, the boys ate like a horse."
To eat a lot.
Frog in my throat
Example: “He couldn’t sing the solo at the concert because he had a frog in his throat.”
To have difficulty speaking because your throat is dry or sore.
Busy as a bee
Example: "She is always busy as a bee, but I don't know where she finds the time."
Very busy
Let the cat out of the bag
Example: “I accidentally let the cat out of the bag and told Sarah about the surprise party.”
To reveal a secret or information that was supposed to be kept hidden.
Kill two birds with one stone
Example: “I can pick up the medicine and groceries on the way home, killing two birds with one stone.”
To accomplish two things at the same time with a single action.
To horse around
Example: “Will you please stop horsing around? I’m trying to concentrate.”
To horse around means to act in a way that is silly and playful and sometimes noisy.
A whale of a time
Example: “My family had a whale of a time at the amusement park yesterday.”
To have a very enjoyable or exciting time.
Butterflies in your stomach
Example: “Before her big speech, she had butterflies in her stomach.”
To feel nervous or anxious, especially before a performance or event.
Raining cats and dogs
Example: "We were going to go to the beach today, but it is raining cats and dogs."
To rain very heavily
To be a chicken
Example: “I don’t want to try skydiving, I’m too much of a chicken.”
To be scared or afraid to take risks.
Hold your horses
Example: "Hold your horses, we have not won yet, so don't start celebrating."
To hold your horses means to wait.
A bull in a china shop
Example: “He was like a bull in a china shop when he was growing up, always knocking things over.”
To be clumsy or careless in delicate or sensitive situations.
Social butterfly
Example: "John is such a social butterfly - he always knows who to talk to and which party to attend!"
Someone who is very friendly and social
Does the cat have your tongue?
Example: "I've asked you twice. What is the matter, does the cat have your tongue."
Having nothing to say or unable to answer a question.
Sitting duck
Example: “If we leave the shop doors unlocked it’ll be a sitting duck.”
A sitting duck is an easy target, something or someone which is vulnerable to attack.
Straight from the horse’s mouth
Example: “I don’t usually pay attention to gossip but I heard this straight from the horse’s mouth.”
If you hear something straight from the horse’s mouth, that means you are hearing it straight from the source; from somebody who has direct and personal experience.
The lion's share
Example: “My little brother ate the lion’s share of the torte.”
To have the largest or biggest portion of something.
Ants in your pants
Example: “The kids had ants in their pants on the long car ride and kept asking ‘are we there yet?'”
To be restless or unable to sit still.
To look like something the cat dragged in
Example: I must look like something the cat dragged in.
Dirty or untidy
Wild goose chase
Example: “She sent me to the supermarket to buy socks but they don’t even sell socks so it was a wild goose chase.”
A wild goose chase is a pointless task, particularly one that involves travel.
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth
Example: "My sister got furious when I tried to see how valuable the diamond on the ring she gifted me was and told me to never look a gift horse in the mouth."
To find fault with something that has been received as a gift or favor.
To smell a rat
Example: “I smelled a rat when he offered me a deal that seemed too good to be true.”
To sense that something is wrong or dishonest.