Bird Idioms

an albatross -around someone's neck

- a problem that prevents someone from succeeding

The man's lack of a university degree was an albatross around his neck and prevented him from being promoted.

as a duck takes to water

- easily and naturally

The little boy started to swim just as a duck takes to water.

as bald as a coot

- completely bald

The man in the gas station was as bald as a coot.

as crazy as a loon

- crazy

Our neighbor is as crazy as a loon.

as dead as a dodo

- dead, no longer in existence

The dog was as dead as a dodo after the accident.

as easy as duck soup

- very easy, requiring no effort

Convincing the man to buy the car was as easy as duck soup.

as free as a bird

- carefree, completely free

I was as free as a bird after I finished my last school exam.

as graceful as a swan

- very graceful

The figure skater was as graceful as a swan.

as happy as a lark

- very happy and cheerful

The boy was as happy as a lark when he received his birthday present.

as hoarse as a crow

- very hoarse

The professor was as hoarse as a crow when he finished the lecture.

as mad as a wet hen

- angry

The nurse was as mad as a wet hen when the patient tried to bite her.

as naked as a jaybird

- naked

The little boy was as naked as a jaybird when he finished his bath.

as proud as a peacock

- very proud, haughty

The father was as proud as a peacock of his young son.

as scarce as hen's teeth/scarcer than hen's teeth

- very scarce or nonexistent

Cheap hotels in this city are as scarce as hen's teeth.

as silly as a goose

- very foolish, very silly

My aunt acted as silly as a goose last evening.

as soft as down

- very soft to the touch (down is the soft/fine feathers from a goose or duck)

The fur on the little dog was as soft as down.

as the crow flies

- by the most direct way, along a straight line between two places

As the crow flies it is about six kilometers between my house and downtown.

as wise as an owl

- very wise

My grandfather is as wise as an owl and he seems to know everything.

a bat out of hell

- very fast (bats are not birds but are mammals that can fly)

The man left here like a bat out of hell. I do not know why he was in such a hurry.

bats in the belfry

- crazy, eccentric (bats are not birds but are mammals that can fly)

I think that my boss has bats in the belfry. His ideas are absolutely crazy.

bird brain

- someone who you think is stupid

The man is a bird brain and he is always making mistakes at work.

a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

- something that is certain is better than something that is not certain

"You should keep the prize money and not try to win more. Remember that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush."

birds and the bees

- the facts about sex and birth and life

The boy learned about the birds and the bees in his health education class at school.

birds-eye view

- a general view from above

"Let`s go up to the roof and get a birds-eye view of the surrounding area."

birds of a feather flock together

- people who are similar become friends or join together

"Do not complain about your friends. Remember that birds of a feather flock together. They are just like you."

chicken and egg situation

- two things happen together and it is difficult to see which one of them caused the other

It was a chicken and egg situation and it was difficult to know who caused the problems with the computer.

chicken feed

- a small sum of money

The money that I spent last night was chicken feed and I am not worried about it at all.

chicken-livered

- cowardly, easily scared

The boy called his friend chicken-livered which made him very angry.

chicken out of (doing something)

- to stop doing something because of fear

My friend was planning to come with us but he chickened out at the last moment.

chickens come home to roost

- someone`s words or actions come back to cause trouble for him or her

The man was very mean to other people when he was supervisor. Now his chickens have come home to roost and people are very unkind to him.

clip (someone`s) wings

- to limit or hold someone back, to bring someone under control

We plan to clip the supervisor's wings as he is becoming too aggressive when dealing with other people.

cock-and-bull story

- a silly story that is not true

The student told her teacher a cock-and-bull story about why she was absent.

cock of the walk

- someone who thinks that he or she is more important than others in a group

The supervisor thinks that he is cock of the walk and can do anything that he wants.

cold turkey

- abruptly and without medical aid (used when someone stops taking addictive drugs or tries to stop a bad habit)

The government program helped the drug addicts stop using heroin cold turkey.

cook (someone`s) goose

- to destroy someone`s future chances or reputation

The woman cooked her goose when she fought against her employer and lost.

count one`s chickens before they`re hatched

- to depend or think that you will get something before you actually have it

"Don`t count your chickens before they`re hatched. Remember that you may not get the job that you expect and you should not spend too much money."

dead duck

- someone in a hopeless situation or condition

The man is a dead duck. When the police catch him he will have to go to jail.

duck soup

- a task that does not require much effort

The exam was duck soup. I am sure that I did very well.

eagle eye

- an intently watchful eye

The boy has an eagle eye and he never misses anything.

early bird

- someone who arrives someplace early or starts something early

I am an early bird and I like to arrive early at work every morning.

the early bird catches the worm

- a person who gets up early in the morning has the best chance of success

"Let`s leave at six o`clock in the morning. Remember, the early bird catches the worm."

eat crow

- to admit that you are mistaken or defeated

Our boss was forced to eat crow when he discovered that what he had said was totally wrong.

eat like a bird

- to eat very little

The boy must be sick. He has been eating like a bird recently.

feather in one`s cap

- something to be proud of, an honor

Winning the speech contest was a feather in my son's cap and we are very proud of him.

feather one`s nest

- to look after one`s own financial interests - especially while holding public office

The politician was feathering his nest for many years until he was replaced in the election.

fly the coop

- to escape, to leave (like a chicken escaping from a chicken coop)

The two boys wanted to fly the coop when the school bell rang.

for the birds

- not interesting, something that you do not like, worthless

The movie was for the birds so we left early and went to eat.

foul one's own nest

- to harm one's own interests, to bring discredit to one's family

I do not want to foul my own nest so I try to be very honest in all of my dealings with others.

get one's ducks in a row

- to put one's affairs or something in order

When I get my ducks in a row I will be able to make a decision about a new career.

go to bed with the chickens

- to go to bed as the sun is setting, to go to bed very early

My grandfather always goes to bed with the chickens because he works on a farm.

a gone goose

- someone or something that has departed or run away

The boy is a gone goose. He will not be returning today.

goose bumps

- a prickly or bumpy feeling on one's skin because of cold/fear/excitement (like the skin of a goose or chicken)

I got goose bumps as I watched the horror movie.

one's goose is cooked

- one has been discovered to have done something wrong and he or she is now in trouble

My goose is cooked. Soon my friend will discover that I lost her bicycle.

in fine feather

- in good humor

My friend is in fine feather today and he has been laughing all morning.

kill the goose that lays the golden egg

- to spoil/destroy something that is beneficial or makes a lot of money

My friends sold part of their business but it is the most profitable part. I think that they have killed the goose that lays the golden egg.

kill two birds with one stone

- to succeed in doing two things by only one action

"Let`s have the meeting when we come to town to go shopping so that we can kill two birds with one stone."

lame duck

- a politician who has little time left in office and therefore has little power

The politician is a lame-duck leader and he is not effective at all.

lay an egg

- to give a bad performance

The performer laid an egg at the concert last night.

like water off a duck`s back

- without any effect, easily

Criticism falls away from my father like water off a duck`s back and he never worries about anything.

a little bird told me

- something is learned from a mysterious and secret source who you do not want to name

A little bird told me that my friends will have a surprise party for me next week.

look like the cat that swallowed the canary

- to look very self-satisfied, to look as if you have just had a great success

The boy looked like the cat that swallowed the canary after he won the relay race.

lovely weather for ducks

- rainy weather

I commented to the wet letter carrier that it was lovely weather for ducks today.

neither fish nor fowl

- something that does not belong to a definite group

The manager's idea was neither fish nor fowl. Nobody knew what to do with it.

night owl

- someone who likes to stay up very late at night

My friend is a night owl and he loves to stay up late at night.

pecking order

- the way that people are ranked in relation to each other

I have not worked at my company very long so I do not understand the pecking order yet.

play chicken

- to do something dangerous in order to see who becomes frightened first and stops

The two boys were playing chicken in the schoolyard.

rare bird

- someone who is unusual

The woman is a rare bird and she has done many interesting things in her life.

ruffle its feathers

- a bird points its feathers outward

The bird sat in the tree and ruffled its feathers.

ruffle (someone's) feathers

- to upset or annoy someone

I am usually very careful not to ruffle my supervisor's feathers.

rule the roost

- to be the boss or manager somewhere but often at home (a roost is a place where birds can perch/sit)

My grandfather ruled the roost in his family.

run around like a chicken with its head cut off

- to run around frantically and with no aim or purpose

I ran around like a chicken with its head cut off all morning as I prepared for my trip.

sitting duck

- an unsuspecting person who is easily fooled - as if waiting to be attacked

The soldier should move away from the window. He is like a sitting duck for the enemy.

spread one's wings

- to begin to be independent and try new things

My uncle's friend is beginning to spread his wings and try many new things.

no spring chicken

- not young anymore

I do not know how old my aunt is but she is no spring chicken.

swan song

- the last work or performance by an artist before death or retirement

The actor's swan song was his magnificent performance in his recent movie.

take (someone) under one's wings

- to begin to look after and care for a person

The teacher took the young boy under her wings when he first came to the school.

talk turkey

- to talk frankly, to talk business

I went to see my friend because I knew that it was time to talk turkey with him.

try out one's wings

- to try to do something that you have recently learned or become qualified to do

I plan to try out my wings at golfing now that my lessons have finished.

ugly duckling

- an ugly or plain child (who grows up to be pretty)

The girl was an ugly duckling when she was a child but now she is quite beautiful.

under the wings of (someone)

- to be under the care/control/protection of someone

The new teacher is now under the wings of the principal of the school.

watch (someone or something) like a hawk

- to watch someone very carefully

The mother watched her young child like a hawk.

what's good/sauce for the goose is good/sauce for the gander

- what is good for one person should be good for another person as well

What's good for the goose is good for the gander and if the food is good enough for me, then it is good enough for the other members of the basketball team.

wild goose chase

- a chase that is futile or worthless

The motorcycle riders led the police on a wild goose chase.

wing it

- to do the best in a situation that one is not prepared for

I forgot to study so I had to wing it on the test.

Chicken Idioms

as mad as a wet hen

- angry

The nurse was as mad as a wet hen when the patient tried to bite her.

as scarce as hen's teeth/scarcer than hen's teeth

- very scarce or nonexistent

Cheap hotels in this city are as scarce as hen's teeth.

chicken and egg situation

- two things happen together and it is difficult to see which one of them caused the other

It was a chicken and egg situation and it was difficult to know who caused the problems with the computer.

chicken feed

- a small sum of money

The money that I spent last night was chicken feed and I am not worried about it at all.

chicken-livered

- cowardly, easily scared

The boy called his friend chicken-livered which made him very angry.

chicken out of (doing something)

- to stop doing something because of fear

My friend was planning to come with us but he chickened out at the last moment.

chickens come home to roost

- someone`s words or actions come back to cause trouble for him or her

The man was very mean to other people when he was supervisor. Now his chickens have come home to roost and people are very unkind to him.

count one`s chickens before they`re hatched

- to depend or think that you will get something before you actually have it

"Don`t count your chickens before they`re hatched. Remember that you may not get the job that you expect and you should not spend too much money."

go to bed with the chickens

- to go to bed as the sun is setting, to go to bed very early

My grandfather always goes to bed with the chickens because he works on a farm.

play chicken

- to do something dangerous in order to see who becomes frightened first and stops

The two boys were playing chicken in the schoolyard.

run around like a chicken with its head cut off

- to run around frantically and with no aim or purpose

I ran around like a chicken with its head cut off all morning as I prepared for my trip.

no spring chicken

- not young anymore

I do not know how old my aunt is but she is no spring chicken.

Crow Idioms

as hoarse as a crow

- very hoarse

The professor was as hoarse as a crow when he finished the lecture.

as the crow flies

- by the most direct way, along a straight line between two places

As the crow flies it is about six kilometers between my house and downtown.

eat crow

- to admit that you are mistaken or defeated

Our boss was forced to eat crow when he discovered that what he had said was totally wrong.

Duck Idioms

as a duck takes to water

- easily and naturally

The little boy started to swim just as a duck takes to water.

as easy as duck soup

- very easy, requiring no effort

Convincing the man to buy the car was as easy as duck soup.

dead duck

- someone in a hopeless situation or condition

The man is a dead duck. When the police catch him he will have to go to jail.

duck soup

- a task that does not require much effort

The exam was duck soup. I am sure that I did very well.

get one's ducks in a row

- to put one's affairs or something in order

When I get my ducks in a row I will be able to make a decision about a new career.

lame duck

- a politician who has little time left in office and therefore has little power

The politician is a lame-duck leader and he is not effective at all.

like water off a duck`s back

- without any effect, easily

Criticism falls away from my father like water off a duck`s back and he never worries about anything.

lovely weather for ducks

- rainy weather

I commented to the wet letter carrier that it was lovely weather for ducks today.

sitting duck

- an unsuspecting person who is easily fooled - as if waiting to be attacked

The soldier should move away from the window. He is like a sitting duck for the enemy.

ugly duckling

- an ugly or plain child (who grows up to be pretty)

The girl was an ugly duckling when she was a child but now she is quite beautiful.

Goose Idioms

as silly as a goose

- very foolish, very silly

My aunt acted as silly as a goose last evening.

cook (someone`s) goose

- to destroy someone`s future chances or reputation

The woman cooked her goose when she fought against her employer and lost.

a gone goose

- someone or something that has departed or run away

The boy is a gone goose. He will not be returning today.

goose bumps

- a prickly or bumpy feeling on one's skin because of cold/fear/excitement (like the skin of a goose or chicken)

I got goose bumps as I watched the horror movie.

one's goose is cooked

- one has been discovered to have done something wrong and he or she is now in trouble

My goose is cooked. Soon my friend will discover that I lost her bicycle.

kill the goose that lays the golden egg

- to spoil/destroy something that is beneficial or makes a lot of money

My friends sold part of their business but it is the most profitable part. I think that they have killed the goose that lays the golden egg.

what's good/sauce for the goose is good/sauce for the gander

- what is good for one person should be good for another person as well

What's good for the goose is good for the gander and if the food is good enough for me, then it is good enough for the other members of the basketball team.

wild goose chase

- a chase that is futile or worthless

The motorcycle riders led the police on a wild goose chase.

Owl Idioms

as wise as an owl

- very wise

My grandfather is as wise as an owl and he seems to know everything.

night owl

- someone who likes to stay up very late at night

My friend is a night owl and he loves to stay up late at night.

Swan Idioms

as graceful as a swan

- very graceful

The figure skater was as graceful as a swan.

swan song

- the last work or performance by an artist before death or retirement

The actor's swan song was his magnificent performance in his recent movie.