Animal Idioms

- Monkey Business:
Example:  "Enough of this monkey business!  Get to work."
Stressed Syllables:  MON-, BUS-
IPA:  [ˈmʌŋ ki ˈbɪz nɪs]

- Rat Race:
Example:  "I'm quitting my job and moving out of New York because I've had enough of the rat race."
Stressed Syllables:  both!
IPA:  [ɹæt| ɹeɪs]
IPA tip:  You'll want to make the T in RAT a Stop T because the next word begins with a consonant.

- Cat Burglar:
Example:  "A cat burglar broke in and stole their TV."
Stressed Syllables:  CAT, BUR-
IPA:  [kæt| ˈbɜɹg ləɹ]
IPA tip:  You'll want to make the T in CAT a Stop T because the next word begins with a consonant.

- Top Dog:
Example:  "The boss is the top dog around here."
Stressed Syllables:  both!
IPA:  [tɑp dɑg]

- Cash Cow:
Example:  "My teach, but my website is my cash cow."
Stressed Syllables:  both!
IPA:  [kæʃ kaʊ]

- Eager Beaver:
Example:  "She is such an eager beaver, always the first done with the assignment."
Stressed Syllables:  EA-, BEA-
IPA:  [ˈi gəɹ ˈbi vəɹ]

- Road Hog:
Example:  "That road hog doensn't know how to drive."
Stressed Syllables: both!
IPA:  [ɹoʊd hɑg]

- Black Sheep:
Example:  "My cousin is just different.  He's always been the black sheep of the family."
Stress Syllables:  both!
IPA:  [blæk ʃip]


http://www.rachelsenglish.com/blog/animal-idioms

- Talk turkey:
We say we're talking turkey when we're discussing something seriously.


- On a wing and a prayer:
To do something on a wing and a prayer is to do something with only the slightest hope of succeeding, often in a desperate situation. This expression actually came from a WWII patriotic song which went something like this:

"Comin’ in on a wing and a prayer
What a show, what a fight, boys
We really hit our target for tonight
How we sing as we limp through the air
Look below, there’s our field over there
Though there’s one motor gone
We can still carry on
Comin’ in on a wing and a prayer."

This expression is often used wrongly with wing being substituted by whim or wink: on a whim and a prayer.


- In the wings:
The wings in a theatre are the left and right side of the stage where, unseen by the audience, performers wait for their turn to get on stage. So, when someone's in the wings, it means that they are ready to be called upon to do something when needed.

While we're on the subject of wings, you may also have heard the expression "wing it". This means to do something without proper preparation:

"During my speech at the conference yesterday, the computer suddenly broke down, so I had to wing it without my PowerPoint presentation."


- Keep the wolf from the door:
If you keep the wolf from the door, you manage to ward off poverty or hunger.


- Throw to the wolves:
When you throw someone to the wolves, you send them to a terrible fate. You put them in a situation where you don't protect them, and where they are attacked or criticized.

You can also be thrown/tossed/fed to the lions, or to the dogs.


- The worm turns:
This comes from an old proverb, 'Tread on a worm and it will turn'. This means that someone who has been treated badly for a long time decides that he will no longer accept the provocation and starts defending himself.

It is often used as 'even the worm will turn'.


- A can of worms:
This is often used with 'open' as in, 'Oops, you've just opened a can of worms!'

Cans of worms used to be sold as fishing bait (I'm not sure if they still are). Imagine opening one. Yuck! All those wriggly things creeping out, and it's just impossible to close the lid on them again!
Well, it's like that. When you open a can of worms, you release a host of problems or complications, often quite controversial.


Now you're ready to put your knowledge to the test! Click on the link to begin, and then 'Start' at the upright corner of the picture:
http://www.purposegames.com/game/idioms-13-animals-turkey-worms-quiz

http://aclil2climb.blogspot.com/2011/01/idioms-part-13-animals-turkey-worms.html