8 Everyday Idioms For Animals

 

English Idioms for Animals, expressions and proverbs are an important part of the English language, both spoken and written English are filled with them.

For ESL Students idioms are frustrating to get one’s head around, the reason being Idioms don’t make common sense.

To learn the meanings and usage of idioms, learners must practice and familiarize themselves with their everyday usage.

The team at Lillypad understands the pain and difficulties English Learners struggle with comprehending the true meaning and fitting usage. This list of idioms for Animals makes learning easy as ABC, with common Animals idioms, definitions, and example sentences which make the meaning clear.

Learning to use common idioms and expressions will make your English sound more native, so it’s a good idea to master some of these expressions with daily practice, so bookmark this page or share it with your friends; now let us learn about idioms for Animals together.

 

Idioms for Animals with Meanings, Definitions & Example Sentences

 

1. Dark Horse

Definition and Meaning: Dark Horse

A “dark horse” is someone who has not been expected to succeed but does so anyway.

Dark Horse Example Sentences:

• She is a quiet kid who unexpectedly got in the top ten of the class — truly a dark horse.
• This election’s dark horse is a novice politician who won on an anti-establishment platform.
• The crowned beauty queen is a dark horse. She’s one of the wildcard contestants.
• He wants to be a dark horse and surprise everyone by winning. So, he keeps his strategies to himself.

2. As Blind As A Bat

Definition and Meaning: As Blind As A Bat

The expression “as blind as a bat” is used to describe someone with poor eyesight or recognition of things.

As Blind As A Bat Example Sentences:

• She was as blind as a bat when it came to recognizing faces.
• He was as blind as a bat when it came to finding his way around the city.
• She was as blind as a bat when it came to understanding the instructions.
• He was as blind as a bat when it came to reading the small print.
• She was as blind as a bat when it came to spotting the hidden clues.

3. Straw That Broke The Camel’s Back

Definition and Meaning: Straw That Broke The Camel’s Back

The idiom “straw that broke the camel’s back” means the last reason or thing that causes something to break or end.

Straw That Broke The Camel’s Back Example Sentences:

• His infidelity is the straw that broke the camel’s back.
• It had been a stressful week. When her credit card was compromised, it was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
• He was trying to stay strong, but the straw that broke the camel’s back was the news about his mother’s illness.

4. Cat Amongst Pigeon

Definition and Meaning: Cat Amongst Pigeon

The expression “cat amongst pigeon” means creating trouble, making a mess, or doing something wrong to cause problems for someone else.

Cat Amongst Pigeon Example Sentences:

• They are placing a cat amongst pigeons to distract us from the real issue.
• Our group was working well before Wally came. He’s the cat amongst pigeons.
• If she had helped instead of gossiping about it, we would have finished the project. She’s a cat amongst pigeons for delaying us.
• Don’t expect this situation to be resolved if there’s a cat amongst pigeons.

5. Fish For Compliments

Definition and Meaning: Fish For Compliments

The phrase means asking or trying to get praise or compliments.

Fish For Compliments Example Sentences:

• She is fishing for compliments about her new designer bag.
• He is fishing for compliments by asking how his haircut looks.
• I pointed out that she was fishing for compliments and asked why she had done it.
• The wife didn’t notice that her husband was fishing for compliments about the shelve he built.

6. Get One’s Ducks In A Row

Definition and Meaning: Get One’s Ducks In A Row

This idiom means to prepare yourself or others for an upcoming event, task, or situation.

Get One’s Ducks In A Row n Example Sentences:

• If you want to move out next month, you have to get your ducks in a row.
• I try to get my ducks in a row by creating a checklist of things to do.
• My friends are getting their ducks in a row and planning for college applications.

7. Lion’s Den

Definition and Meaning: As Hard As

To be in a “lion’s den” means to be in a dangerous, difficult, or unpleasant situation.

As Hard As Example Sentences:

• Defending research in front of a panel feels like being in a lion’s den.
• The senator is in a lion’s den in the senate committee as he’s the only opposition who won.
• She entered a lion’s den when she went to see her ex-husband.
• He was placed in a lion’s den when they assigned him to face angry investors. 

8. Chicken Out

Definition and Meaning: Chicken Out

The expression “chicken out” means to shy away from doing or saying something because of fear.

Chicken Out As Example Sentences:

• He’s holding a bouquet, but he chickened out after seeing her.
• She raised her hand to ask a question. However, she chickened out when the teacher called on her.
• Once you chicken out, it’s hard to get back in the game.
• You can’t chicken out signing up for that new course.