English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions 

ANIMALS - BIRDS - FISH - INSECTS, page 9

Idioms relating to animals, birds, fish or insects   
from:  'horse sense'   to:  'a leopard can't change its spots'

• horse sense
  • Someone who has horse sense is a practical thinker who has the ability to make sensible decisions.
    "Don't worry. Andrew has good horse sense. He'll do the right thing."
    
    
• back / bet on the wrong horse
  • If you back or bet on the wrong horse, for example the loser in a contest, match or election, you support the wrong person.
    "When I voted for him I was convinced he would win, but I backed the wrong horse!"
    
    
• beat/flog a dead horse
  • To say that someone is beating (or flogging) a dead horse means that they are wasting time and effort trying to do or achieve something that is impossible.
    "Mark is beating a dead horse trying to get his money reimbursed. The company has gone bankrupt!"
    
    
• could eat a horse
  • To say that you could eat a horse means that you are very hungry.
    "Let's get something to eat. I'm starving. I could eat a horse!"
    
    
• (a) dark horse
  • A dark horse is secretive person who keeps hidden a surprising ability or skill.
    "He is such a dark horse. I never knew he was a playwright!"
    
    
• get on your high horse
  • If you get on your high horse, you start behaving in a haughty manner, as though you should be treated with more respect.
    "He got on his high horse when he was asked to show his membership card."
    
    
• change horses in midstream
  • If you change horses in midstream, you change your plan, or choose a new leader, in the middle of an important activity.
    "Let's go through with the original plan; it's risky to change horses in midstream."
    
    
• hold your horses
  • If you tell someone to hold their horses, you think they are doing something too fast and should slow down and not rush into further action.
    "Hold your horses! We need to get the customer's approval first!."
    
    
• one horse town
  • A place referred to as a one-horse town is a small, boring town where nothing much ever happens.
    "I wish my grandparents didn't live in that one-horse town. It's such a boring place!"
    
    
• horses for courses
  • This expression means that because horses race better on a course that suits them, it is important to match people with suitable jobs or tasks. A person suited to one activity may not be suited to another.
    "His experience in sales doesn't necessarily make him ideal for the job. Horses for courses, as the saying goes!"
    
    
• straight from the horse's mouth
  • If you learn something straight from the horse's mouth, the information is given to you by someone who is directly involved.
    "How do you know Sam has resigned?"
    "I got it straight from the horse's mouth - Sam told me himself!"
    
    
• kangaroo court
  • A kangaroo court is an illegal tribunal set up by a group of people who have taken the law into their own hands and conduct trials which deny fundamental justice.
    "Calm down please! Is this a meeting or a kangaroo court?"
    
    
• handle with kid gloves
  • If you handle someone with kid gloves, you treat them very carefully or tactfully, either because they are very important or because they are easily upset or offended.
    "He's so determined to obtain her agreement that he is handling her with kid gloves (soft leather made from young goat skin)."
    
    
• as weak as a kitten
  • Someone who is as weak as a kitten is very feeble or has no strength.
    "During her illness she felt as weak as a kitten."
    
    
• have kittens
  • To say that you're going to have kittens is a dramatic way of expressing worry, anxiety or fear.
    "His mother nearly had kittens when Alex announced that we wanted to be a trapeze artist."
    
    
• mutton dressed as lamb
  • This expression refers to a middle-aged woman who tries to look younger by dressing in clothes designed for younger people.
    "The style doesn't suit her - it has a mutton-dressed-as-lamb effect on her!"
    
    
• (a) leopard can't change its spots
  • To say that a leopard can't change its spots means that it is impossible for people to change their fundamental nature.
    "Tony promised his wife he’d change his ways, but a leopard can’t change its spots!"