ENGLISH IDIOMS

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

BULL

to take the bull by the horns = face a difficulty boldly

like a bull in a china shop = a rough and clumsy person
like a red tag to a bull = likely to cause anger
a cock and bull story = an absurd and improbable story, used as an excuse or
explanation = un cuento chino
to move like a bull at a gate = to move very fast, ignoring everything in your way
to hit the bull's eye = dar en el blanco
to shoot the bull (US) = to have an informal conversation about unimportant things
don't mess with the bull, you'll get the horns! = if you look for trouble, you'll find it
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 = 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
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
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

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
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
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
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

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

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

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 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

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

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

OTHER ANIMALS
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 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

IDIOMATIC PAIRS

alive and kicking = in good health and active. I got a letter from Ronald, he's alive and
kicking, working for an insurance company.
born and bred = born and educated. Helen was born and bred in London, that's why
she always carries an umbrella.
bright and early = very early in the morning. We have to leave bright and early if we
want to arrive there by 10.
cut and dried = final, decided (plans). Our plan is cut and dried: first we are going to
the cinema, and then to the restaurant.
fair and square = in a fair way. We will pay for our part, let's make it fair and square.
home and dry = sure of success. If you study a lot, you will be home and dry for the
final exam.
on and on = without stopping. I've been cleaning the house all morning, and I still have
to go on and on to finish.
rough and ready = not exact. I don't understand much about grammar but I can give
you a rough and ready explanation.
round and round = in circles. I started to feel sick, everything was going round and
round in my head.
safe and sound = unharmed. After being away for five months, we arrived home safe
and sound.
short and sweet = without unnecesary details. A long letter of complaint would be
annoying, so when you write it, try to make it short and sweet.
sick and tired = completely annoyed or tired of something/someone. I'm sick and tired
of hearing about your trip to Russia.
wine and dine = have a meal with wine at a restaurant. For our anniversary I think we
could wine and dine at that new restaurant that opened last week.
bag and baggage = with all your possessions. Mary got tired of living with her
boyfriend so she decided to move, bag and baggage.
bits and pieces = small things. I didn't hear everything he said, just some bits and
pieces.
body and soul = physical and mental energy. Jim loves learning a new language, he
puts body and soul into it.
bread and butter = way of earning money to live. Thomas doesn't have much money,
he earns his bread and butter as a teacher.
bricks and mortar = property, buildings. If you want to invest your money, I would
advise you to put it into bricks and mortar.
give and take = compromise. We can reach an agreement with a bit of give and take
from both sides.
hustle and bustle = hurried activity. I don't like living in the city centre, it's all hustle
and bustle.
ifs and buts = excuses. No ifs and buts, just finish your homework and then you can go
to play with the computer.
odds and ends = small things. I've almost finished this work, but there are still some
odds and ends I have to deal with.
part and parcel = part. All those information programmes on TV are part and parcel of
a campaign to destabilize the new government.
rack and ruin = in bad conditions. This is a nice neighbourhood, but it's a shame that
these old buildings are going rack and ruin.
stuff and nonsense = foolish things. Oh, no, he was not fired! That's all stuff and
nonsense!
touch and go = close to success and failure at the same time. After the accident, he's in
a critical situation, the doctor said it's touch and go.
ups and downs = good and bad moments. Don't panic, in a married couple there are
always ups and downs.
wear and tear = deterioration. Go change those clothes! Those can't stand any more
wear and tear!
by and large = in general. I guess the team played quite well, by and large.
chapter and verse = with a lot of details. The teacher gave them chapter and verse
about where to find the information.
far and wide = everywhere. She tried far and wide to find the keys but she couldn't. She
had to take a taxi instead.
first and foremost = most important. First and foremost, I would like to thank you all
for this welcome.
forgive and forget = forget enmity. Let's be friends again, I'm sorry for what I've done,
but you have to forgive and forget.
free and easy = relaxed, friendly. She knew that life wouldn't be so free and easy at
work.
hit and miss = random. I don't know how to operate this machine, it's just a question of
hit and miss for me!
live and learn = become wiser. You trusted her and she deceived you. You live and
learn, so don't get fooled again.
in and out = entering and leaving a place. The boss has been in and out all day, to see if
the employees were working.
loud and clear = very clearly. Even though he was 400km away, I could hear him loud
and clear on the telephone line.
now and again = occasionally. They like to go to a concert now and again.
on and off = not all the time, at irregular intervals. It's been raining on and off all day, I
hate this kind of weather.
over and out = message used to end a radio communication. Understood. Over and out.
sink or swim = be successful or fail. This a very difficult job, you have to be careful.
It's really sink or swim.
up and about = in good health. After the accident, he recovered very well, he's now up
and about.
wait and see = wait patiently. We don't know if this government will be able to put his
plans into practice. We have to wait and see.
chapter and verse = with a lot of details. The teacher gave them chapter and verse
about where to find the information.
free and easy = relaxed, friendly. She knew that life wouldn't be so free and easy at
work.
in dribs and drabs = in small amounts or numbers. The public arrived in dribs and
drabs.
in leaps and bounds = very quickly. My English is improving in leaps and bounds.
ranting and raving = shouting in an angry way. Please stop ranting and raving and
listen to me!
thick and fast = happening very frequently, in large amounts. Letters for the contest
arrived thick and fast.
to be at somebody's beck and call = be ready to do what somebody wants. She got
tired of being at his beck and call.
to blow hot and cold = keep changing one's attitude towards something. Now he agrees
but I'm sure that later he'll disagree; he always blows hot and cold.
to believe something hook, line and sinker = believe a lie completely. Paul explained
her why he was late and she believed it hook, line and sinker.