IDIOMS WITH ANIMALS (bird, dog and cat)

IDIOMS WITH ANIMALS

BIRD

• as free as a bird = free, without worries
• a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush = más vale pájaro en mano que cien volando
• the early bird catches the worm = al que madruga Dios lo ayuda

• birds of a feather flock together = Dios los cría y ellos se juntan
• to kill two birds with one stone = matar dos pájaros de un tiro
• to eat like a bird = eat very little
• a bird's eye view = a vuelo de pájaro
• an early bird = a person who arrives or gets up early
• a bird of ill omen = un pájaro de mal agüero
• as the crow flies = in a straight line
• a little bird told me something = expression used to say that you know something but you will not say how you found out  = me contó un pajarito

CAT

• a cat has nine lives = un gato tiene siete vidas (Nótese que en inglés el gato tiene dos vidas más!)
• curiosity killed the cat (satisfaction brought it back) = it may be dangerous to be too curious
• to fight like cat and dog = to fight a lot
• has a cat got your tongue? = ¿te comieron la lengua los ratones?
• to let the cat out of the bag = to reveal a secret carelessly
• like a cat on hot bricks = very nervous
• no room to swing a cat = not enough space
• to have a cat nap = to have a short sleep
• to play cat and mouse with somebody = to keep somebody in uncertain expectation, treating him alternately cruelly and kindly
• when the cat's away, the mice will play = cuando el gato no está, los ratones se divierten
• all cats are grey in the dark = por la noche todos los gatos son pardos
• to put/set the cat among the pigeons = to introduce somebody/something that is likely to cause trouble
• it's raining cats and dogs = it's raining a lot = está lloviendo a cántaros
• a cat in gloves catches no mice = gato con guantes no caza ratones
• hunt with cats and you catch only rats = you should choose you allies wisely

DOG

• a dog's life = constantly worried, troubled or miserable
• every dog has his day = everyone can succeed sooner or later
• love me, love my dog = if one loves somebody, one should love everyone and everything associated with him
• to be like a dog with two tails = to be very happy
• to give a dog a bad name (and hang him) = once a person has lost his reputation, it's difficult to regain it
• to go to the dog = (an organization) become less efficient
• to let sleeping dogs lie = to let it be quiet
• to make a dog's breakfast of something = to do something very badly
• not to stand/have a dog's chance = to have no chance at all
• to work like a dog = to work a lot
• to treat somebody like a dog = to treat somebody with no respect at all
• to die like a dog = to die in misery, with no honour nor dignity
• dog eat dog = (adj) when people compete against each other and do anything to get what they want; a dog eat dog world/situation.
• the tail wagging the dog = situation in which a minor part of something controls the course of the whole
• his bark is worse than his bite = perro que ladra no muerde
• barking dogs seldom/never bite = people who look aggressive are not really too bad
• you can't teach an old dog new tricks = it's difficult for an old person to change or do new things
• top dog = person who has the most power in a group
• the underdog = a person or team that is weaker than the others, and is always expected to be unsuccessful
• doggy bag = small bag for taking home the food that is left over from a meal in a restaurant