■ Alligator

See you later alligator 回头见

 

■ Animal

Animal 动物

Be careful. He’s an animal!

 

■ Ant

Ants in the pants (to have) 焦躁不安；不耐烦

Do you have ants in your pants or what?

Antsy 焦虑的；不耐烦的

He’s always so ansty.

 

■ Ape

Ape over something or someone (to go) 对某事或某人如痴如狂

He went ape over the present I gave him.

Ape shit over something or someone (to go) 对某事或某人如痴如狂

He went ape shit over the new car his father gave him.

 

■ Ass

Ass 傻瓜，蠢人

What an ass!

Move your ass!

Jackass 傻瓜，蠢人

Don’t be such a jackass!

 

■ Bat

Bats in the belfry (to have) 精神失常；发疯

He got bats in the belfry.

Batty 疯疯癫癫的，疯狂的

You’re batty!

Blind as a bat 完全看不见东西的；瞎的

Without my glass, I’m blind as a bat.

 

■ Bee

Bee in one’s bonnet (to have a) 心情不好，头脑有点不正常

She sure has a bee in her bonnet today!

Busy as a bee 忙得团团转

He never seems to have time to talk. He’s always busy as a bee.

Mind one’s own bee’s wax (to) 管自己的事，别管闲事

Mind your own bee’s was!

 

■ Bird

A little bird told me 消息灵通人士告诉我

Do you know that bird?

Bird legs 很细的腿

For a runner, he sure has bird legs.

Birds of a feather flock together 相像的人彼此吸引

Early bird 早起者

You’re such an early bird!

Eat like a bird (to) 吃得很少，胃口很小

She eats like a bird.

For the bird (to be) 不称心的，令人厌恶的

This car is for the birds!

Give/flip someone the bird (to) 向某人伸出中指作下流的姿势

I waved to her from my car and she gave/flipped me the bird!

Jailbird 囚犯，犯人

He’s a jailbird.

The early bird catches the worm. 早起的鸟儿有虫吃

 

■     Buck

Buck羚羊

Can you lend me five bucks?

Buck up (to) 振作起来；愉快起来

Buck up! Things are getting better!

 

■ Bug

As snug as a bug in a rug 非常舒适，极其安逸

Were you comfortable in your new bed last night?   I was as snug as a bug in a rug.

Bug 感冒，病毒

My sister can’t come to your party ‘cause she caught a bug.

Bug (to) 烦扰，使恼怒

Stop bugging me!

Work out all the bugs (to) 解决；纠正所有的问题

My new invention is almost ready. I just need a few more hours to work out all the bugs.

 

■ Buffalo

Buffalo (to) 愚弄，欺骗

I can’t believe how I was buffaloed into buying this!

 

■ Bull

Bull shit （粗俗却流行）胡说八道，胡扯

That’s a bunch of bull shit.

Bull-headed 固执的；愚笨的

Sometimes you can be so bull-headed!

Cock-and-bull story 无稽之谈

Every time I go to his house, his father tells me cock-and-bull stories.

Take the bull by the horns (to) 采取主动；大胆果断

You’ve got to just take the bull by the horns and do it yourself.

■ Bunny

Dumb bunny 愚蠢的人，傻瓜

What a dumb bunny!

Ski bunny 滑雪时穿着时尚的女子

 

■ Butterfly

Butterflies (to have) 紧张不安的，恐慌的

I always get butterflies when I speak in front of large groups.

 

■ Camel

Straw that broke the camel’s back (the) 最终使人无法忍受的事

She borrowed my dress again without asking? That’s the straw that broke the camel’s back!

 

■ Cat

Cat call （对漂亮女子发出的）嘘声，口哨声

You should hear the cat calls she gets whenever she walks down the street!

Catnap 打盹，瞌睡

I’ll meet you at the movies right after I take a little catnap.

Copycat 模仿他人行为的人

Every time I buy something, she buys the same thing! She’s such a copycat!

Curiosity killed the cat 好奇伤身；好奇多问危险大

Pussy cat 讨人喜爱的人

He’s such a pussy cat.

Rain cats and dogs (to) 下倾盆大雨

It’s raining cats and dogs outside.

Something the cat dragged in 刚进房间的人

Look what the cat dragged in.

The cat’s got your tongue? （因为震惊，害怕而）说不出话了吗？

 

■ Chicken/Hen

Chicken out (to) 胆怯，退缩

He chickened out at the last minute.

Chicken shit （粗俗却流行）

She’s such a chicken shit.

My boss paid me chicken shit wages.

Count one’s chickens before they’re hatched (not to) 蛋未孵出勿先数小鸡；不要过早乐观

Don’t go counting your chickens before they’re hatched.

Hen-pecked 受妻子管制的，惧内的

He’s been hen-pecked for the last 25 years.

Run around like a chicken with its head cut off

（某人）像无头苍蝇一样东奔西跑，什么事情也没有做成或收获甚少

At work, he always runs around like a chicken with its head cut off. He needs to get organized.

Spring chicken 年轻人

He jogs ten miles a day and he’s no spring chicken!

■ Clam

Clam 美元

I’ll lend you 25 clams and that’s all!

Clam up (to) 保持缄默，拒不开口

When I asked him if he saw who stole it, he clammed up.

 

■ Cow

Cow 极其心烦的；极为生气的

When I told my mother that I wouldn’t be home until midnight, she had a cow!

Fat cow 肥胖的

What a fat cow!

Holy cow! 天哪！哎呀

Holy cow! Look at the size of that car!

Till the cows come home 很长时间！没完没了

 

■ Crocodile

In a while crocodile 回头见

 

■ Dog

Dog长相难看的人

She’s a real dog.

You clever dog!

The new movie is a dog.

My dog is aching!

Dog do狗粪；狗屎

Look out! You almost stepped in dog do.

Dog-eared （书页，文件等）折角的

When I lent you my book, it was in perfect condition. Now the pages are all dog-eared!

Dog-eat dog （指境遇）竞争激烈的；适者生存的

It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there.

Doghouse (in the) 得罪某人；失宠的

I’m really in the doghouse now. I forgot my wife’s birthday.

Dog-tired 疲惫不堪，筋疲力尽

I’m going to bed. I’m dog-tired.

Lucky dog 幸运儿

You lucky dog!

My dogs are barking 我的两只脚很疼

Put on the dog (to) 穿上盛装；穿上礼服

I went to a formal dinner so I really put on the dog.

Sick as a dog 病得很重的，病入膏肓

He’s sick as a dog.

Sly dog 狡猾的人

You sly dog!

Top dog (to be) （公司，机构等的）经理，主管

He’s the top dog here.

 

■ Duck

Dead duck 必然有麻烦，必定遭殃

If you stay here, you’re a dead duck.

Sitting duck 易受抨击的对象，易被击中的目标

You’re a sitting duck if you stand outside during a tornado.

 

■ Eagle

Bald as an eagle 秃顶的

He’s bald as an eagle.

Eagle eyes 目光敏锐的人，机警的人

Just call me eagle eyes!

 

■ Elephant

Have a memory like an elephant (to) 记忆力很强

She has a memory like an elephant.

White elephant （某人家中）无价值的东西，无用的物品

Did you see the gift she gave me? What should I do with this white elephant?

 

■ Fish

Fishy 可疑的；怀疑的

That seems fishy to me.

Make fish eyes at someone (to) 色迷迷地看着别人

That guy is making fish eyes at you.

That’s a different kettle of fish! 那是另一回事

That’s a fine kettle of fish! 这事一团糟！一塌糊涂

 

■ Fox

Fox 妖艳的女子；美男子

She’s a real fox!

Foxy 富有魅力的，性感的

What a foxy mama!

Sly as a fox (to be) 非常狡猾的，像狐狸一样狡猾的

 

■ Frog

Have a frog in one’s throt (to)（因喉咙里卡住了东西）喉音嘶哑的，喉痛声嘶

You sound like you have a frog in you throat.

 

■ Goat

Get someone’s goat (to) 使某人恼怒

He really gets my goat.

Old goat 老色鬼

Scapegoat 代人受过的人，替罪羊

I’m always the scapegoat when anything goes wrong.

 

■ Goose

Goose someone (to) 捏某人的屁股

He goosed her in public!

Receive/get goose egg (to) 得零分，一无所获

You know what I got for my birthday? Goose egg.

Silly goose （表示亲切）傻瓜，笨蛋

You’re such a silly goose.

Wild goose chase 徒劳无功的搜寻；无益的追求

How can we possibly find what the boss asked us for? I think we’re on a wile goose chase.

 

■ Hog

Hog 吃得很多的人，贪吃的人

Have you ever eaten with him? He’s such a hog!

I can’t believe he took all of it. He’s such a hog!

Hoggish 贪婪的；贪吃的

Don’t be so hoggish and share with your brother.

Hog heaven (to be in) 极度愉快的；过度兴奋的

This swimming pool is perfect on a hot day. I’m in a hog heaven!

Hog something (to) 贪心攫取某物；占用某物

She always hogs all the space in our bedroom.

Hogwash 废话，胡说八道

That’s a bunch of hogwash.

Road hog 挡道的司机；横冲直撞的司机

You’ll never be able to pass that driver. He’s such a road hog.

 

■ Horse

Beat a dead horse (to) 做无用功，白费劲

Stop asking him to do you a favor. You’re beating a dead horse.

Charley horse （某人的腿部）肌肉抽筋

My mother told me that whenever you get a charley horse, you should get up and walk.

From the horse’s mouth第一手的，直接得知的

I’m telling the truth. I got it right from the horse’s mouth.

Horse around (to) 开玩笑，胡闹

Stop horsing around. We have work to do.

Horse feathers 一派胡言

Horse of a different color (a) 风牛马不相及的事，完全不相干的事

That’s a horse of a different color.

Horse’s ass （粗）大傻瓜，脓包

He’s such a horse’s ass.

Horse shit 胡说，废话

On one’s high horse 狂妄的，自命不凡的

Get off your high horse!

■ Lamb

Gentle as a lamb 极其温顺的，像羔羊般柔顺的

My dog is as gentle as a lamb.

In two shakes of a lamb’s tail 立即，马上

I’ll be there in two shakes of a lamb’s tail.

 

■ Monkey

Grease monkey 机械技工；修理技工

He’s a grease monkey.

Make a monkey out of someone (to) 愚弄某人，使某人出丑

You made a monkey out of her.

Monkey around (to) 开玩笑，胡闹

Stop monkeying around. We have work to do.

Monkey’s uncle (to be) 天哪，哎呀（表示惊讶）

I’ll be a monkey uncle! He built that car all by himself!

More fun than a barrel of monkeys 非常有趣

We had more fun on vacation than a barrel of monkey.

Throw a monkey wrench into something (to) 阻挠某事的进程，从中作梗

We were about to begin construction on the building but the contractor threw a monkey wrench into the project.

 

■ Mouse

Meek as a mouse 极其温顺驯服的

Don’t be afraid of him. He’s as meek as a mouse.

Mousy 害羞的；矜持的

She’s sort of mousy.

Her hair is mousy brown.

 

■ Owl

Night owl 夜猫子，经常熬夜的人

You’re a real night owl, aren’t you?

Wise owl敏锐的人

Your father is a real wise owl.

 

■ Pig

Eat like a pig (to) 吃得过饱，暴食

When it comes to food, she eats like a pig.

In a pig’s eye! 绝不！当然不！

Would you ever go out with her? In a pig’s eye.

Pig out (to) 狼吞虎咽地大吃

I’m starving! Let’s go pig out.

Pigheaded 顽强的，固执的

You’re always so pigheaded!

When pigs fly! 绝不！绝不可能

Marry him? When pigs fly!

 

■ Pigeon

Pigeon 易受骗的人；傻瓜

Mark is so gullible. What a pigeon!

The gangster committed murder when he discovered his partner was a pigeon for the police.

Pigeonhole (to) 分类，归档

Don’t pigeonhole me! There are a lot of other things I can do besides just answer phones.

Stool pigeon （尤为儿童用语）告密者

You told her what happened? You’re a stool pigeon!

 

■ Rabbit

Rabbit ears 兔耳形市内天线

The picture on the television isn’t very sharp. I think we need to buy some new rabbit ears.

 

■ Rat

Dirty rat 卑鄙小人，鼠辈

You dirty rat!

Rat 卑鄙小人

You rat!

Rat fink 卑鄙小人

You rat fink!

Rat (to) 告发，背叛

I can’t believe that my best friend ratted on me!

Rat race 日常工作；日常例行事务

Well, I suppose it’s time to go back into the rat race.

Smell a rat (to) 对某人产生怀疑

I’m beginning to smell a rat here.

Flush/pour one’s money down a rat hole (to) 投资没有回报；白费金钱

If you invest in his company, you’re flushing/pouring your money down a rat hole.

 

■ Snail

Slow as a snail 极其缓慢

I hate hiking with him. He’s slow as a snail.

 

■ Snake

If it’d been as snake, it would’ve bitten you （某物）在显眼的地方

What do you mean you couldn’t find it? If it’d been a snake, it would’ve bitten you!

Slippery as a snake (as) 狡猾的，滑头的

I don’t trust him. He’s slippery as a snake.

Snake (a real) 卑鄙小人

He’s a real snake.

 

■ Sheep

Sheepish 窘迫的；局促不安的

Ever since I scold her, she’s been acting very sheepish with me.

She’s rather nice but rather sheepish.

 

■ Squirrel

Squirrelly 靠不住的，可疑的

I’d never go into business with him. He seems squirrelly to me.

 

■ Turkey

Quit cold turkey (to) 立即戒掉坏习惯

He quit smoking cold turkey.

Talk turkey (to) 坦率地谈话

Ok. Let’s talk turkey.

Turkey 白痴，傻瓜

What a turkey!

The movie was a real turkey!

 

■ Whale

Whale 肥胖的人

She’s a whale!

Whale of a 巨大的；特别出众的

He told us a whale of a story.

Whale on someone (to) 打某人，揍某人

Did you see her whale on her son in the market?

 

■ Wolf

Hungry as a wolf 非常饥饿的

I’m hungry as a wolf.

Wolf 色狼，色鬼

Be careful. He’s a real wolf!

Wolf down something (to) 狼吞虎咽地吃

Stop wolfing down your food!

 

■ Worm

Can of worms 敏感的话题；棘手的问题

I really opened up a can of worms when I asked him how his marrage was.

Worm 可鄙的人

You like him? He’s such a worm!

Worm out of a situation (to) 不履行义务；逃脱责任

He promised he’d help me but he wormed out of it at the last minute.

Worm something out someone (to) 哄骗某人的东西；千方百计地从别人口中探知某事

I wasn’t planning on telling her what happened last night but she wormed it out of me.