Идиомы о животных

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  • eat crow
    проглотить обиду, смириться
    "I guess I'll have to eat crow if I am defeated."
  • until the cows come home
    бесконечно долго, допоздна
    We are going to throw a New Year's party and stay up until the cows come home.
  • buy a pig in a poke
    купить кота в мешке
    You can buy a second-hand car, but it will be like buying a pig in a poke if you do not look at it properly first.
  • fish out of water
    человек не в своей стихии, "рыба без воды"
    The woman was like a fish out of water at the fashion show.
  • as the crow flies
    напрямик, кратчайшим путём (так же прямо, как летит птица)
    As the crow flies, it is not more than three miles between his house and the station.
  • as crazy as a loon
    псих
    My next door neighbor, Miss Darling, is as crazy as a loon.
  • as free as a bird
    свободный как птица
    I am through with my exams, and now I am as free as a bird.
  • play chicken
    играть в опасные игры (посмотреть, кто первым испугается)
    A few boys were playing chicken on the playground.
  • straw that broke the camel's back
    переполнить чашу терпения
    Alan cheated on me again and it was the straw that broke the camel's back; I decided to break off with him.
  • hive of activity
    людской муравейник; место, где очень много народу
    The stadium was a hive of activity during the football match.
  • bug (someone)
    донимать кого-либо, раздражать
    That man really bugs me with his silly jokes.
  • make a silk purse out of a sow's ear
    сделать что-либо из ничего
    You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear; the girl is not a good tennis player, so she won't be able to win in the competition.
  • play cat and mouse with (someone)
    дразнить, дурачить; "играть в кошки-мышки"
    "Please, stop playing cat and mouse with me; I want to know your intentions immediately."
  • to hound (someone)
    подвергать гонениям, изводить кого-либо
    It seemed to Edna that the boss was hounding her, and she decided to quit her job.
  • as silly as a goose
    очень глупый
    No wonder nobody takes Julia seriously; she is as silly as a goose.
  • cry wolf
    поднять ложную тревогу
    David needn't have cried wolf; there was no real danger of fire in the house.
  • separate the sheep from the goats
    отделить более компетентных людей от менее компетентных, разделить на две группы
    I am not at all sure that joining the military is a good way to separate the men from the boys.
  • birds-eye view
    взгляд с высоты птичьего полёта
    They had a birds-eye view of the stage from their seats high up in the gallery.
  • birds and bees
    птички и пчёлки, дети в капусте (объяснение ребёнку, откуда берутся дети)
    The time comes when it is necessary to tell the children about birds and bees.
  • wild goose chase
    бессмысленная погоня или сумасбродная затея
    Jealousy sent Rena on a wild goose chase of a mysterious woman who had been seen entering her husband's office.
  • eat like a bird
    очень мало есть, "есть как птичка"
    The child probably eats like a bird; she is so thin.
  • no spring chicken
    (человек) не первой молодости
    "If I were you, I wouldn't work so much. Don't forget you are no spring chicken."
  • sacred cow
    кто-либо \ что-либо никогда не подвергающееся критике, "священная корова"
    The ideas of my boss are a sacred cow that should never be criticized or laughed at.
  • horse around
    беситься, шуметь
    The children were horsing around in the back yard.
  • curiosity killed the cat
    любопытство убило кошку (говорят о любопытном человеке)
    "Curiosity killed the cat," Leila's mother said, when she saw Leila hunting around in closets just before Christmas.
  • copycat
    ученик, списывающий работу у другого; подражатель
    Alfred is only a copycat; he hasn't created anything of real value.
  • as gruff as a bear
    грубый, неприветливый
    Oliver Schmidt is always as gruff as a bear, and most of his co-workers dislike him.
  • wolf down (something)
    есть, заглатывать что-либо с жадностью
    The boy hurriedly wolfed down his dinner and left the house.
  • hit the bulls-eye
    попасть в точку, в цель
    Samantha hit the bull's-eye when she spoke about the problems in the office.
  • as innocent as a lamb
    невинный, наивный
    Sara is as innocent as a lamb; she still believes that all people are kind and generous.
  • wolf in sheep's clothing
    волк в овечьей шкуре
    Mrs. Parker trusted the lawyer until she understood that the man was a wolf in sheep's clothing.
  • eagle eye
    пристально следящий взгляд, зоркий глаз (как у орла)
    Alan kept an eagle eye upon all Carry's activities.
  • dead duck
    конченный (человек ) или вышедшая из употребления вещь
    My television set is very old; it is in a hopeless situation, in fact it's a dead duck.
  • make a beeline for (someone or something)
    поспешить, пойти прямо к кому-либо \ чему-либо
    Felix entered the cafe and made a beeline for the table at which his friend was sitting.
  • bright-eyed and bushy-tailed
    (быть) очень весёлым, полным радости
    The kids are bright-eyed and bushy-tailed because their mother has promised to take them to the zoo.