含动物的英语习语
1. bee 蜜蜂，忙碌的人 2. as busy as a bee 忙忙碌碌
3． see the elephant 大开眼界
4． white elephant 沉重的负担，无用而累赘的东西
5． talk horse 吹牛 6． duck's egg 得零分
7． a sleeping dog 不可惹（惹不起）的人 8． bell the cat 冒险行为
9． Every dog has his day． 凡人皆有得意时。
10． When pigs fly. 决不可能！
11． Love me□love my dog． 爱屋及乌。
12． Teach fish to swim. 班门弄斧。
13． Dog doesn't eat dog． 同行不相妒。
14． The best fish swim near the bottom． 好鱼居水底。
15． kill two birds with one stone 一石双鸟，一箭双雕
16. When the cats are away the mice will play．山中无老虎，猴子称霸王 E nglish is full of animal sayings…but what are they really talking about?
1. to let the cat out of the bag —to say something you shouldn’t say, like telling a
secret. Because if you let a cat out of a bag, it is hard to get it back in! 说出一些不该
说的话，比如告密。因为一旦你把猫从包里拿出来，就很难再把它放进去！
Example: Jane let the cat out of the bag and now Mom knows about her surprise
birthday party.
2.to look a gift horse in the mouth — When buying a horse, you should look in
its mouth. Why? Because a horse’s teeth tells its age. But if someone gave you a horse
as a present, would you look at its teeth? No, that would be impolite. 买马的时候要
看看它的嘴巴。为什么？因为从马的牙齿可以看出它的年龄。不过如果有人送你
一匹马作为礼物，你会不会检查它的牙齿呢？不会，那样很不礼貌。
Example: If a small child complains about a gift, their mother will say: Don ’t
look a gift horse in the mouth.
3. to be in the doghouse —to make someone angry and receive a punishment.
Usually used for married couples. 让某人生气并得到惩罚。通常用于夫妻之间。
Example: I didn’t clean my bedroom yesterday and now I’m in the doghouse.
Mom says I can’t come to your house today.
4. to be a big fish in small pond —someone well-known but only to a small
group of people. 在小范围内的知名人士。
Example: She’s a Canto-pop singer. She thinks she’s so famous, but really she is
just a big fish in a small pond.
5. to rain cats and dogs —to rain heavily. 下大雨。
Example: Look outside! It’s raining cats and dogs! We’d better wait until it stops
a before we go to the bus stop.
6. to kill two birds with one stone —complete two tasks by doing only one thing.
We also call this “multi-tasking.” 一石两鸟。也叫“多任务处理”。
Example: I have to baby-sit my brother and also return my library book. If I take
Joey to the library, then I can kill two birds with one stone.
7.to be a fish out of water — How would you feel if you were put in unfamiliar
surroundings? Scared and unsure of what to do? When this happens, we can say we
feel like a fish out of water. 置身于陌生的环境中，你有何感受？会感到害怕、不
知所措吗？这时我们可以说自己就像一条离开水的鱼。
Example: On my first day in my new school I felt like a fish out of water.
8.to be stubborn as a mule — Mules can work hard. But if a mule does not want
to work, nothing will change its mind. To be stubborn means to refuse to change your
mind. 骡子工作勤奋、认真。不过如果一头骡子不想工作了，什么都改变不了它
的心意。倔强、固执就是说拒绝改变想法。
Example: My baby sister is as stubborn as a mule. I have tried and tried but
she will not eat green vegetables.
9.to be strong a an ox — Oxen are big, muscular bulls that can pull heavy loads.
Big strong people are often compared to this animal. 公牛十分巨大。肌肉强健的公
牛能拉动沉重的货物。高大强壮的人常被比喻成这种动物。
Example: I am glad Joe will be on our Tug-o-war team. He’s strong as an ox.
10.to be free as a bird —to be completely free. If someone has no responsibilities,
their feelings are carefree and happy -- like a bird flying in the sky. 完全自由自在。
如果一个人不用承担任何责任，他们会觉得无忧无虑、轻松愉快——就像在天空
中飞翔的鸟儿一样。
Example: I finished my homework already so I’m free as a bird all weekend.
go to the dogs 堕落 dog eat dog 自相残杀
make a pig of oneself猛吃猛喝；贪得无厌 work like a horse 埋头苦干
eat like a horse 狼吞虎咽 as strong as a horse 健壮如牛
put the cart before the horse 本末倒置 hold one's horse 耐心
One man may steal a horse while another may not look over a hedge. 只许州官放火，不许百姓点灯。
A cat has nine lives. 猫有九命。
When the cat is away, the mice will play. 猫儿不在，老鼠玩得自在。
put one's monkey up 使某人生气
When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter. 树倒猢狲散。
Don't count your chickens before they are hatched. 未成事实，勿先乐观。
live like fighting cocks 养尊处优
crow like a cock and snatch like a dog 鸡鸣狗盗
as poor as a church mouse 一贫如洗
to beat the grass and frighten the snake 打草惊蛇
Don't warm a snake in your bosom. 别养虎为患。
How can you catch tiger cubs without entering the tiger 's lair? 不入虎穴，焉得虎子？
glare like a tiger eyeing its prey虎视眈眈 like a duck to water轻而易举
Never offer to teach fish to swim. 不要班门弄斧。
a wolf in sheep 's clothing 披着羊皮的狼
have a wolf by the ears处于危急境地 bring wolves into the house引狼入室
have a bee in one's head 神经不正常、胡思乱想
wait by the stump of a tree for the appearance of hare 守株待兔
If you run after two hares you will catch neither. 脚踏两只船，必定落空。
smell a rat 感到不妙
A rat crossing the street is chased by all. 老鼠过街，人人喊打。
When the fox preaches, take care of your geese . 狐狸在说教，当心被盗。