English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
ANIMALS - BIRDS - FISH - INSECTS, page 7
Idioms
from:
'big fish in a small pond' to: 'take a gander'
- (a) big fish in a small pond
- This term refers to an important or highly-ranked person in a small group or organisation.
"He could get a job with a big company but he enjoys being a big fish in a small pond."
- This term refers to an important or highly-ranked person in a small group or organisation.
- a different kettle of
fish
- To describe a person, thing or situation as a different kettle of fish
means that it is completely different from what has just been mentioned,
or another matter entirely.
"You may have good business relations with people there, but actually living in the country is a different kettle of fish."
- To describe a person, thing or situation as a different kettle of fish
means that it is completely different from what has just been mentioned,
or another matter entirely.
- drink like a fish
- A person who
drinks like a fish is one who drinks a
lot.
"I'm nervous if Ben drives when we go out because he drinks like a fish!"
- A person who
drinks like a fish is one who drinks a
lot.
- neither fish nor
fowl
- This expression is
used to describe people or things that are
difficult to classify, that are neither one
thing nor another.
"Medical interns are neither fish nor fowl. They are neither students nor fully qualified practitioners."
- This expression is
used to describe people or things that are
difficult to classify, that are neither one
thing nor another.
- other fish to fry
- A person who has other fish to fry
has more important things to do.
"I don't think he'll attend the office party; he's got other fish to fry."
- A person who has other fish to fry
has more important things to do.
- other fish in the sea
- To say that there are other fish in the sea means that
there are many people just as good or as interesting as the person mentioned.
"The candidate we selected refused the job? Never mind - there are (plenty of) other fish in the sea!"
- To say that there are other fish in the sea means that
there are many people just as good or as interesting as the person mentioned.
- sounds/smells fishy
- If something sounds or smells fishy, you are
suspicious about it.
"Do you believe what she said? Her story sounds fishy to me."
- If something sounds or smells fishy, you are
suspicious about it.
- happy as a flea in a doghouse
- If someone is (as) happy as a flea in a doghouse,
they are very happy and contented.
"Since she moved to a smaller apartment, my mother is as happy as a flea in a doghouse!"
- If someone is (as) happy as a flea in a doghouse,
they are very happy and contented.
- (be sent away
with) a flea in your ear
- If you are sent away with a flea in your ear,
you are angrily reprimanded or rebuked for something
you have done and told to go away.
"When Andy tried to put the blame on Pete, he was sent away with a flea in his ear."
- If you are sent away with a flea in your ear,
you are angrily reprimanded or rebuked for something
you have done and told to go away.
- (a) fly in the ointment
- A fly in the ointment refers to something that
prevents a situation from being completely satisfactory.
"Tony's poor English was a fly in the ointment when he applied for the job."
- A fly in the ointment refers to something that
prevents a situation from being completely satisfactory.
- (a) fly on the wall
- A person who watches a situation without being noticed is called
a fly on the wall.
"I'd like to be a fly on the wall when the management discusses my project."
- A person who watches a situation without being noticed is called
a fly on the wall.
- (a) bar fly
- A bar fly
is someone who spends a lot of time drinking
in bars and pubs.
"You'll find Johnny down at the pub - he's a real bar fly."
- A bar fly
is someone who spends a lot of time drinking
in bars and pubs.
- sly as a fox
- Someone who is as sly as a fox
is cunning and clever at getting what they want,
especially by deceiving or tricking people.
"Be wary of that insurance salesman. He's as sly as a fox."
- Someone who is as sly as a fox
is cunning and clever at getting what they want,
especially by deceiving or tricking people.
- eat the frog / eat that
frog!
- This expression is used to encourage someone do the most difficult or
most unpleasant task of the day first, before anything else, rather than avoiding or postponing it.
In that way nothing worse can happen all day.
Original expression:
"If you have to eat a frog, don’t look at it for too long.”
- This expression is used to encourage someone do the most difficult or
most unpleasant task of the day first, before anything else, rather than avoiding or postponing it.
In that way nothing worse can happen all day.
Original expression:
- (have a) frog in one's throat
- A person who has a frog in their throat has difficulty
in speaking clearly because they have a cough or a sore throat.
"Teaching was difficult today.I had a frog in my throat all morning."
- A person who has a frog in their throat has difficulty
in speaking clearly because they have a cough or a sore throat.
- juggle frogs
- A person who is juggling frogs is trying to deal with
many different tasks at the tame time and finding the situation difficult.
"I've got so many things to do at the moment, I feel like I'm juggling frogs!"
- A person who is juggling frogs is trying to deal with
many different tasks at the tame time and finding the situation difficult.
- take/have a
gander
- If you take or have a gander at something,
generally new or unusual, you have a look at it or go to check it out.
"Let's take a gander at the new shopping centre. Sally says it's fantastic!"
- If you take or have a gander at something,
generally new or unusual, you have a look at it or go to check it out.
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Please note that British English spelling is used on this website.