Animal Idioms (1 2 3)

Written by: Martin Bache

B) Work with a partner to match these animal idioms with their meanings (three of the suggested answers are not used).

1) He's no spring chicken.
2) You old fox.
3) She's a real a dark horse.
4) He's like a bear with a sore head this morning.
5) We had a whale of a time.
6) She's a bit of a night owl.
7) Anna was up with the lark.
8) He's a wolf in sheep's clothing.
9) You snake in the grass.
10) Tom made a pig of himself.

a) To have a depressing time on a wet day.
b) Someone who enjoys being out late.
c) Someone who is no longer young.
d) Someone who sleeps a lot
e) Someone who is very irritable.
f) Someone who displays an unexpected talent.
g) To have an excellent, enjoyable time.
h) To eat too much or to be greedy.
i) To be clever in a devious way.
j) To be rather dangerous despite looking harmless.
k) Someone who likes to get up quite early in the morning.
l) Someone you cannot trust or who has betrayed others.
m) Someone who sleeps a lot.

C) Now complete the following sentences using some of the idioms above:

1) Peter is a real ...................., who loves staying out until the early hours, but I have to .................... as I start work at 6AM.

2) Just because your boss shouted at you there's no need to act like .................... .

3) I don't think wearing this short skirt is really right for me. I'm 42, you know. I'm .................... .

4) Why do you always have to .................... when we go out? I couldn't believe it when you asked if you could have a third helping of pudding.

5) You ....................! Why didn't you tell me you had entered that poetry competition? I could hardly believe it when I saw your picture in the newspaper.

6) Martin comes across as shy but he's such a ....................! I told him to talk to my girlfriend while I was busy with a customer and the next thing I knew he'd given her his telephone number and asked her out on a date.