Common Animal Idioms
Act as a guinea pig
When you act as a guinea pig, you allow some kind of experiment to be performed on you.
Poor patients in undeveloped countries often act as guinea pigs for clinical trials.
Ahead of the pack
When you are ahead of the pack you are more successful than your peers.
You can’t compare Raju with other boys in the class. He is way ahead of the pack.
Alley cat
An alley cat is a stray cat.
The girl took a liking to the stray cat and brought it home but her mother did not like it.
As awkward as a cow on roller skates
When you are as awkward as a cow on roller skates, you feel very awkward.
I was awkward as a cow on roller skates when I went to a night club for the first time.
As blind as a bat
When you are as blind as a bat, you are totally blind.
As busy as a beaver
When you are as busy as a beaver, you are very busy.
As gruff as a bear
When you are as gruff as a bear, you are very unsociable.
My neighbour is as a gruff a bear. He hates to interact with us.
As hungry as a bear
When you are as hungry as a bear, you are very hungry.
I hadn’t eaten anything the whole day so I was as hungry as a bear when I reached home.
As scared as a rabbit
When you are as scared as a rabbit, you are very scared.
The little girl looked as scared as a rabbit.
As sick as a dog
When you are as sick as a dog, you are very sick.
He was as sick as a dog when he reached home.
As sly as a fox
This expression is used to refer to a person who is very smart and clever.
The old man is as sly as a fox. You must be careful when you deal with him.
As stubborn as a mule
This expression is used to refer to a person who is very stubborn.
My younger sister is as a stubborn as a mule. She will never change her mind no matter what happens.
Back the wrong horse
To back the wrong horse is to support someone who does not have any chance to win.
I am afraid you are backing the wrong horse.
Bark up the wrong tree
To bark up the wrong tree is to put the blame on the wrong person.
You are barking up the wrong tree. I didn’t break the vase.
Beat a dead horse
To beat a dead horse is to try to revive interest in a hopeless issue.
