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Идиомы о животных

• like a bat out of hell
  очень быстро, со всех ног, во весь опор

  The thief left the house like a bat out of hell.
• eager beaver
  трудолюбивый человек, энтузиаст

  Sally is a very industrious and enthusiastic person; she is a regular eager beaver.
• get one's ducks in a row
  привести свои дела в порядок

  I got my ducks in a row before I quit my job.
• as drunk as a skunk
  очень пьяный, "пьян в стельку"

  The bartender refused to sell Jonny any alcohol because he was as drunk as a skunk.
• eat like a horse
  много есть, есть как лошадь

  The children spent most of their time outdoors, and when they came home in the evening they ate like horses.
• little bird told me
  мне стало известно по секрету, "сорока на хвосте принесла"

  A little bird told me that my Mom would give me a nice present for my birthday.
• as stubborn as a mule
  упрямый, как осёл

  If a person is as stubborn as a mule, it's impossible to make him change his mind.
• cock-and-bull story
  неправдоподобная история, небылица

  The man gave the police a cock-and-bull story about how his car had been stolen.
• as conceited as a barber's cat
  тщеславный, полный самомнения

  Having won the award at the Annual Fair, Timothy became as conceited as a barber's cat.
• as merry as a cricket
  весёлый (как сверчок)

  Laura is a sunny person; she is always as merry as a cricket.
• look like something the cat dragged in
  выглядеть усталым, "быть выжатым как лимон"

  Wanda was very tired after the flight and looked like something the cat dragged in.
• take the bull by the horns
  решительно взяться за дело, "взять быка за рога"

  Margaret decided to take the bull by the horns and ask Desmond if he was going to marry her.
• as strong as a horse/lion/ox
  сильный как бык

  Collin is as strong as an ox; he is the strongest among his friends.
• flog/beat a dead horse
  зря тратить силы, попусту стараться

  I felt I was flogging a dead horse when I was trying to talk my friend out of the risky business.
• have butterflies in one's stomach
  чувствовать страх или внутреннее беспокойство

  I had butterflies in my stomach while waiting for the results of the test.
• dark horse
  малоизвестный кандидат

  It happens so that a dark horse candidate may get elected senator.
• drink like a fish
  пить как сапожник

  Mark is never sober; he drinks like a fish.
• you can lead a horse to water (but you can't make it drink)
  можно предоставить кому-либо возможность, но нельзя заставить делать что-либо силой

  Alec was given the opportunity to study at a community college, but he decided not to enter the college. Well, you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink.
• fine kettle of fish
  неудобная, неудовлетворительная ситуация

  It was a fine kettle of fish when my boss called and told me to stay after office hours.
• bet on the wrong horse
  выбирать неверный курс, "поставить не на ту лошадь"

  "I am sure you are betting on the wrong horse when you try to support that project."
• kill two birds with one stone
  убить двух зайцев", выполнить два действия сразу

  He decided to kill two birds with one stone by purchasing a computer and having it serviced.
• not enough room to swing a cat
  недостаточно места

  Let's not have a party at Mary's place; there is not enough room to swing a cat in her apartment.
• as happy as a clam
  счастливый и довольный (как двустворчатый моллюск)

  The little boy was as happy as a clam when he was given a new bicycle.
• as fat as a pig
  жирный как свинья

  "If you go on eating as much as you do now, you'll be as fat as a pig."
• as sly as a fox
  хитрый как лиса

  Our neighbor Miss Cunning is as sly as a fox.
• chicken and egg situation
  ситуация, при которой не ясно, где причина, а где следствие

  It was a chicken and egg situation; I didn't quite understand what caused problems with the computer.
• as wise as an owl
  очень мудрый (как сова)

  I often ask my Granny's advise because she is as wise as an owl.
• as quiet as a mouse
  тихий как мышь, робкий

  The child was playing with her toys and was as quiet as a mouse.
• as slippery as an eel
  скользкий как угорь, увёртливый, изворотливый

  Paul is as slippery as an eel, and I am sure he cannot be trusted.
• as meek as a lamb
  послушный, кроткий как ягнёнок

  On the surface Kelly is as meek as a lamb, but I know that actually she is naughty and quarrelsome.
• as a duck takes to water
  естественно, как рыба в воде

  Sofia plunged into the water and started to swim easily and naturally, just as a duck takes to water.
• chickens come home to roost
  беда бедою отзовётся (то плохое, что желаете другому, вернётся к вам)

  Margaret's chickens have come home to roost, and she has to take responsibility for what she has done.
• straight from the horse's mouth
  услышать прямо из чьих-либо уст

  I heard the news about my friend's promotion straight from the horse's mouth.
• serve as a guinea pig
  быть подопытным кроликом

  "Is that a test you are going to perform? I don't want to serve as a guinea pig."
• there is more than one way to skin a cat
  есть много способов добиться своего

  "How did you get your son to study so hard?" I asked my friend. "I disconnected the television set," she answered. "There's more than one way to skin a cat."