Idioms 14

1.
act like an ape MEANING: behave badly, wildly, foolishly EXAMPLE: He has been acting like an ape ever since his girlfriend left him. 2. bet on the wrong horse MEANING: misread the future EXAMPLE: He is betting on the wrong horse if he keeps supporting the other city in their bid for the games. 3. cash cow MEANING: a good way to make money EXAMPLE: The new business is a great cash cow. We are making a lot of money now. 4. cat nap MEANING: a short sleep taken during the day EXAMPLE: I had a cat nap during the afternoon so I would feel refreshed in the evening.
5. cry wolf MEANING: give a false alarm; warn of a danger that is not there. EXAMPLE: He is crying wolf. There is no real danger or worry about the electrical system causing a fire. 6. dark horse MEANING: a candidate little known to the general public
EXAMPLE: He was a dark horse in the race to be President until he gave some good speeches on TV. 7. donkeys years MEANING: a very long time EXAMPLE: I talked to my friend for a long time because I hadnt seen her in donkeys years.
8. dumb bunny MEANING: stupid or gullible person EXAMPLE: He really is a dumb bunny. I cant believe that he can do such stupid things. 9. eat like a horse MEANING: eat a lot EXAMPLE: Her brother who is 18 years old eats like a horse. 10. every dog has his day MEANING: everyone will have his chance or turn; everyone will get what he deserves EXAMPLE: Dont worry about him. Every dog has his day and he will eventually suffer for all the bad things that he is doing. 11. hit the bulls-eye MEANING: reach the main point EXAMPLE: I think that he really hit the bulls-eye when he talked about the problems with the regular staff.
12. horse of a different colour MEANING: something totally separate and different EXAMPLE: Moving to a new location is a horse of a different colour. It was never mentioned in any of our meetings. 13. in the doghouse MEANING: in disgrace or disfavour EXAMPLE: He is in the doghouse with his wife because he went out drinking three times last week. 14. kangaroo court MEANING: a self-appointed group that decides what to do to someone who is supposed to have done wrong. EXAMPLE: It was decided in a kangaroo court that he would have to pay for the damage that he had caused to the school building. 14. lead a dogs life MEANING: work hard and be treated unkindly EXAMPLE: He is leading a dogs life since he married the woman who everyone told him not to. 15. live high on the hog MEANING: have the best of everything EXAMPLE: He has been living high on the hog since he changed jobs and moved to Texas.
16. monkey business MEANING: unethical or bad activity, mischief EXAMPLE: He should stop that monkey business and try to do the job the correct way. 17. piggyback MEANING: sitting or being carried on someones back and shoulders EXAMPLE: The boy was riding piggyback on his fathers shoulders.
18. play cat and mouse with someone MEANING: tease or fool someone EXAMPLE: He is playing a cat and mouse game with his company about his plans to quit or not. 19. rain cats and dogs MEANING: rain very hard EXAMPLE: It has been raining cats and dogs all day. 20. rat out on MEANING: desert or betray someone EXAMPLE: He ratted out on his friends and now they wont talk to him. 21. road hog MEANING: car driver who takes more than his share of the road
EXAMPLE: The person in front of me on the highway was a road hog but I tried not to get angry. 22. sacred cow MEANING: a person or thing that is never criticized or changed even if it should be EXAMPLE: The school lunch program is a sacred cow which they will never change.
23. Straw that breaks the camels back MEANING: a small trouble which follows other troubles and makes one become angry or do something EXAMPLE: Her accusing me of not working hard enough was the straw that broke the camels back so I finally asked for a transfer to another section of the company. 24. take the bull by the horns MEANING: take decisive action and not worry about the results EXAMPLE: My aunt decided to take the bull by the horns and begin preparations for the family reunion. 25. talk until the cows come home MEANING: talk for a long time EXAMPLE: We can talk until the cows come home this weekend at the lake. 26. throw someone to the wolves MEANING: send someone into danger without protection EXAMPLE:
He decided to throw his co-worker to the wolves when he asked him to go and see the other company. 27. wildcat strike MEANING: a strike spontaneously arranged by a group of workers EXAMPLE: There was a wildcat strike at the factory and over 100 people walked off the job. 28. wolf in sheeps clothing MEANING: a person who pretends to be good but really is bad EXAMPLE: Be careful of that man. He is a wolf in sheeps clothing. 29. cash cow MEANING: a good way to make money EXAMPLE: The new business is a great cash cow. We are making a lot of money now. 30. cat get ones tongue MEANING: cant speak because of shyness EXAMPLE: The cat must have got her tongue. She did not saying anything at all. change horses in midstream MEANING: make new plans or choose a new leader in the middle of an important activity EXAMPLE: They have decided to change lawyers but I told them that they shouldnt change horses in midstream.
copycat MEANING: someone who copies another persons work etc. EXAMPLE: He is a copycat according to the other students in the class. cry wolf MEANING: give a false alarm; warn of a danger that is not there. EXAMPLE: He is crying wolf. There is no real danger or worry about the electrical system causing a fire. curiosity killed the cat MEANING: being too nosy may lead a person into trouble EXAMPLE: You shouldnt worry about what he is doing. Remember curiosity killed the cat. dark horse MEANING: a candidate little known to the general public EXAMPLE: He was a dark horse in the race to be President until he gave some good speeches on TV
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