Animal Idioms: 15 Favorites

15 Fun Animal Idioms (And One Bonus!)

Learning a new language can be challenging, but it can also be fun—especially when you explore idioms! Idioms are expressions that don’t mean exactly what the words say. Instead, they compare one situation to another in a creative or humorous way. Using idioms helps you sound more like a native speaker and understand conversations more easily.

Did you know there are over 25,000 idioms in English? Today, we’ll focus on 15 popular idioms that involve animals.

1. Hold Your Horses
Meaning: Be patient, slow down.
Example: “Hold your horses! I’m not ready yet.”
Origin: Back when horses were used for travel, this meant pulling the reins to make the horse stop or wait.

2. Let The Cat Out of the Bag
Meaning: Reveal a secret (usually by accident).
Example: “Oh no, I think I let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party.”
Origin: Market sellers would trick people by putting cats in sacks instead of pigs. Once the cat got out, the trick was exposed!

3. The Elephant in the Room
Meaning: An obvious issue that no one wants to talk about.
Example: “We need to discuss the elephant in the room—our budget.”
Picture this: A huge elephant is standing in a room, and everyone acts like it’s not there!

4. Raining Cats and Dogs
Meaning: It’s raining heavily.
Example: “We had to cancel the picnic—it was raining cats and dogs!”
Origin Ideas:
Heavy rain in old England would wash deceased animals into the streets.
Norse myths where cats and dogs represented stormy weather.

5. Barking Up the Wrong Tree
Meaning: Blaming or accusing the wrong person.
Example: “If you think I broke the vase, you’re barking up the wrong tree.”
Origin: Hunting dogs used to bark at trees when they thought prey was hiding there—sometimes they were wrong!

6. Birds of a Feather Flock Together
Meaning: People with similar interests tend to stick together.
Example: “Those two are always together—birds of a feather flock together.”
Origin: Birds of the same species stay and fly together.

7. Let Sleeping Dogs Lie
Meaning: Don’t start trouble or bring up old fights.
Example: “Just let sleeping dogs lie. We don’t need more problems.”
Origin: A sleeping dog might react aggressively if stirred—better to leave it alone.

8. A Fish Out of Water
Meaning: Feeling uncomfortable or out of place.
Example: “At my new school, I felt like a fish out of water.”
Why: A fish can’t survive outside water—neither can you thrive where you don’t belong!

9. Ants in Your Pants
Meaning: Being fidgety or very restless.
Example: “Sit still! Do you have ants in your pants?”
Visualize this: If ants were in your pants, you’d definitely be moving around!

10. A Wild Goose Chase
Meaning: A pointless or hopeless search.
Example: “Looking for my lost earring in the park was a wild goose chase.”
Origin: Imagine trying to catch a wild goose—it never flies in a straight line!

11. Cat Got Your Tongue?
Meaning: A playful way to ask why someone isn’t talking.
Example: “You’re so quiet today. Cat got your tongue?”
Origin Idea: Sailors used to be whipped with something called a “cat-o’-nine-tails.” You’d stay quiet to avoid punishment!

12. Piggyback
Meaning: To carry someone on your back.
Example: “Daddy, can I have a piggyback ride?”
Origin: From the expression “pick-a-back,” later changed to “piggyback.”

13. Crocodile Tears
Meaning: Fake or insincere expressions of sadness.
Example: “Don’t cry those crocodile tears—you’re not really sorry!”
Origin: Crocodiles were believed to shed tears while eating their prey—not exactly a sad moment!

14. Busy as a Bee
Meaning: Working very hard and staying active.
Example: “She’s been busy as a bee preparing for her exams.”
Why a bee? Bees are always collecting nectar and never seem to rest.

15. Night Owl
Meaning: A person who stays up late and is active at night.
Example: “I’m a night owl—I do my best thinking after midnight.”
Contrast it with: Morning larks, who love waking up early.

BONUS: When Pigs Fly
Meaning: Never—something that will never happen.
Example: “I’ll win the lottery? Yeah, when pigs fly.”
Why: Because pigs don’t fly—and never will.

🧠 Quiz Time! Can You Match These Idioms?
Try answering these simple questions to test your understanding:

1. What does “hold your horses” mean?
– A) Be patient
– B) Ride faster
– C) Let go of the horses
– D) Get angry

2. Where does “let the cat out of the bag” come from?
– A) People hiding cats in barns
– B) Market sellers replacing pigs with cats in bags
– C) A trick in circuses
– D) Farmers catching wild cats

3. What does “the elephant in the room” refer to?
– A) A quiet room
– B) A big obvious problem
– C) A circus visit
– D) A scary animal

4. If it’s “raining cats and dogs,” it means:
– A) Lots of pets are outside
– B) It’s raining heavily
– C) There’s a pet parade
– D) The weather is calm

5. When you are “barking up the wrong tree,” you are:
– A) Chasing a cat
– B) Following the right idea
– C) Making a mistake
– D) Doing what dogs do

6. “Birds of a feather flock together” means:
– A) Birds are nesting
– B) People with similarities spend time together
– C) Birds are building nests
– D) People are ignoring each other

7. “Let sleeping dogs lie” suggests:
– A) Don’t disturb a peaceful situation
– B) Tell the truth
– C) Chase the dog away
– D) Wake everyone up

8. What does “ants in your pants” mean?
– A) You feel calm
– B) You are dancing
– C) You feel restless
– D) You are singing

9. If someone sheds “crocodile tears,” they are:
– A) Truly sad
– B) Swimming with crocodiles
– C) Faking sadness
– D) Smiling

10. What is a “night owl”?
– A) A bird that flies during the day
– B) A person who enjoys the morning
– C) A person who stays up late
– D) A type of bird that sings at dawn

💬 What’s Your Favorite Idiom?
There are thousands of idioms to explore—more than 25,000! Do you know any other idioms?
Thanks for reading and happy learning! 🐶🐱🐘