D
DANDER
get someone's dander up
to make someone angry Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
DODO
dead as a dodo
Dead; obsolete; completely washed up. Source: Funk, Charles
DOG
gone to the dogs
Taken a turn for the worse.
that dog won't hunt
Source: Dog Hause Visitor Steve Rasmussen
the hair of the dog that bit you
The drink you drink in the morning to get over the drinks you drank the night before.
Hair of the Dog
(Australian Idiom) A saying Australians use "the day after". That is to say the following morning after being out drinking and feeling "seedy" (i.e. hung-over) - the comment will be made to have some "hair of the dog", this is to infer that if you have some more to drink, generally the same as you were drinking the previous night the hangover will be gone, or at least not noticed anymore. Source: Dog Hause Visitor Lesley Vlahos
my dogs are barking
My feet are hurting Source: Burns, Sid
Alt def: My feet smell
Source of alt: Dog Hause visitor RinTimTin
in the dog house
(not in our Dog Hause) In trouble.
dog tired
Very tired.
sick as a dog
Very sick.
dog and pony show
Put on a good performance to impress someone, such as "I've got to do the 'dog and pony show' for my boss today." Source: Michael Babayco
look like somebody just shot your dog
Source: Dianna Ly
two (or three) dog night
Australian. the number of dogs needed to sleep cuddled up to for keeping warm
dog days of summer
Very hot days in July and August. It is the period in which the Dog Star, Sirius, rises in conjunction with the sun. Source: Funk, Charles
a barking dog never bites
Source: Bertram, Anne (Bowl of Cherries)
a dogs breakfast
Something bad.
dog-leg right
or
dog-leg left
The fairway turns in a golf course. Source: Burns, Sid
better be the head of a dog then the tail of a lion
Source: Bertram, Anne (Bowl of Cherries)
dog does not eat dog
One disreputable person will not harm another disreputable person. Source: Bertram, Anne (Bowl of Cherries)
it’s a dog eat dog world
Source: Cliche Finder
it's a dog's life
It’s an easy life Source: Cliche Finder
dog my cats
my goodness; what do you know Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
if you can't run with the big dogs puppy, stay on the porch
Source: England, Sandy
a tough dog to keep up on the porch
Source: Dog Hause Visitor Steve Rasmussen
every dog has its day
The time will come to each of us to chuck one's weight around; to exhibit a periods of ostentation, influence or power. Source: Funk, Charles
if you lie down with dogs, you will get up with fleas
If you associate with bad people, you will acquire their faults. Source: Bertram, Anne (Bowl of Cherries)
call off the dogs
Cease some objectionable line of conduct. The analogy is that of the chase, in which dogs following a wrong sent are called off. Source: Funk, Charles
mean as a junk-yard dog
Very Mean. Source: Dianna Ly
dog eat dog
ruthless competition or self-interest Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
quick as a dog can lick a dish
fast, very quickly Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
sad as a hound dog's eye
very sad; pitiful Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
a dog's chance
no chance at all Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
a dog's life
a wretched existence Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
sick as a dog
very sick Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
bar-dog
bartender Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
big dog
important person Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
cut dog has no pups
I don't want to cut the cards Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
like cat and dog
quarrelling savagely Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
bird dog
someone's buttock's Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
like a dog's dinner
Informal. dressed smartly or ostentatiously Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
put on the dog
US and Canadian informal. to behave or dress in an ostentatious or showy manner Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
let sleeping dogs lie
Don't bring up an old issue/topic that will raise tempers or cause an argument Source: Lewis, Stacey
(Who ever said let sleeping dogs lie, didn’t sleep with dogs…)
love me, love my dog
If you love someone, you should accept everything and everyone that person loves. Source: Bertram, Anne (Bowl of Cherries)
rain cats and dogs
Raining heavily.
why keep a dog and bark yourself
You should not do something you hired some one else to do. Source: Bertram, Anne (Bowl of Cherries)
you cannot teach an old dog new tricks
Someone who is used to doing things a certain way cannot change. Source: Bertram, Anne (Bowl of Cherries)
crooked as a dog's hind leg
dishonest Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
happy as a flea in a doghouse
very happy Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
the tail wagging the dog
Source: Wag the Dog -- the movie
work like a dog
Work very hard.
dog-faced liar
a terrible liar Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
dog my cats
my goodness; what do you know Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
a dog's breakfast
a mixture of many things, a hodgepodge Source: Wayne Magnuson
top dog
boss, leader, head honcho Source: Wayne Magnuson
like dog's breath
not pleasant, not popular Source: Wayne Magnuson
dog in the manger
a person who will not share something he does not use or need Source: Wayne Magnuson
dog it
be lazy, not work Source: Wayne Magnuson
dogged me
followed me, bothered me Source: Wayne Magnuson
go see a man about a dog
go use the toilet Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
a dog's dinner or breakfast
Informal. something that is messy or bungled Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
DUCK
duck soup
Easy. Source: Funk, Charles
biggest duck in the puddle
most important person in a small group Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and looks like a duck, it must be a duck
Assume the obvious. Source: Big List of Cliches
duck out
leave, run away, desert Source: Wayne Magnuson
it's the duck's guts
it is great, it is wonderful Source: Wayne Magnuson
ducks in a row (ducks in order)
organized, planned; each person knows his job Source: Wayne Magnuson
ducky
great, fine, lovely Source: Wayne Magnuson
dead duck
someone or something that is certain to fail Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
lame duck
an elected officeholder whose term of office has not yet expired but who has failed to be re-elected and therefore cannot gather much political support for initiatives Source: funbrain.com
happy as ducks in Arizona
very unhappy Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
a sitting duck
An easy mark. Source: Funk, Charles
like water off a duck's back
It rolls right off. Source: Arius Kaufmann
E
EEL
as slippery as an eel
Source: Bertram, Anne (Bowl of Cherries)
EAGLE
eagle eyes
a person who can see details or errors Source: Wayne Magnuson
ELEPHANT
a white elephant
A cheap gift associated with a white elephant party. Alt def: A gift you don't want and you don't know what to do with it.
Source of Alt: P. Bainbridge
an elephant never forgets
Just that. They don't! Source: Turner, Martin
a memory like an elephant
Never forgets. Source: Dianna Ly
big enough to shade an elephant
very big Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
EGG
freckled as a turkey egg
covered with freckles Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
a good egg
a good-natured person Source: Wayne Magnuson
all your eggs in one basket
depending on one plan or one investment Source: Wayne Magnuson
egg me on
encourage me, tell me to do it Source: Wayne Magnuson
egg on my face
embarrassed, outsmarted Source: Wayne Magnuson
goose egg
zero, no score Source: Wayne Magnuson
suck eggs
go, leave, have a bad experience Source: Wayne Magnuson
walk on eggshells
be very careful Source: Wayne Magnuson
nest egg
a fund of money kept in reserve; savings Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
skunk egg
an onion Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
F
FEATHERS
If it ain't chicken, it's feathers.
There is always a problem. Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
a feather in your cap
an honor, a credit to you Source: Wayne Magnuson
horse feathers
lies, false stories Source: Wayne Magnuson
knock me over with a feather
I was very surprised, I could not believe it Source: Wayne Magnuson
ruffle your feathers
annoy you, bother you Source: Wayne Magnuson
fuss and feathers
fancy, troublesome things Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
birds of a feather
individuals of the same character or background tend to stay together Source: funbrain.com
feather one's nest
to acquire wealth for oneself, especially by taking advantage of one's position or using the property of others Source: funbrain.com
FERRETS
ferret out
to uncover and bring to light by searching Source: funbrain.com
FISH
sleeping with the fishes
Watery death Source: Seinfeld -- the TV show
fish and company stink after three days
fish should be eaten while it is fresh, and guests should not stay too long Source: Wayne Magnuson
shooting fish in a barrel
a task that is too easy, a game without challenge Source: Wayne Magnuson
neither fish, flesh. nor fowl
neither this nor that Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
a woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle
Source: England, Sandy
fishing for a compliment
Looking to hear a compliment for one’s own self.
a kettle of fish
A terrible mess.
a different kettle of fish
different, not the same Source: Wayne Magnuson
like a fish out of water
Out of one's element. Source: Funk, Charles
busy as a fish peddler in Lent
very busy Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
crooked as a barrel of fish hooks
dishonest Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
got bigger fish to fry
Source: Dianna Ly
drink like a fish
A big drinker.
have better (or other) fish to fry
More important things to worry about.
there's more than one fish in the sea
There are always more options -- usually referring to the dating "pool". Source: Big List of Cliches
like a big fish in a small pond.
Someone who has no competition in a particular group because of some trait; more rich, more beautiful, more talented. Source: Dianna Ly
fish or cut bait
FLEAS
if you lie down with dogs, you will get up with fleas
If you associate with bad people, you will acquire their faults. Source: Bertram, Anne (Bowl of Cherries)
to drop a flea in one's ear
To caution. Source: Funk, Charles
happy as a flea in a doghouse
very happy Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
FLY (and FLIES)
would not hurt a fly
Wouldn't harm anything.
catching flies
open mouth Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
a fly on the wall
able to hear and see what a fly would see and hear Source: Wayne Magnuson
no flies on her (him)
"savvy" Source: McDaniel, Karen
happy as a fly in pie
very happy Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
you must lose a fly to catch a trout
You have to sacrifice something to get what you want. Source: Bertram, Anne (Bowl of Cherries)
you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar
It is easier to get what you want by flattering people and being polite to them than by making demands. Source: Bertram, Anne (Bowl of Cherries)
FOX
crazy like a fox
Source: McDaniel, Karen
fox
chiefly US a sexually attractive woman Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
fox
Informal. to perplex or confound: to fox a person with a problem Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
fox
to cause (paper, wood, etc.) to become discoloured with spots, or (of paper, etc.) to become discoloured, as through mildew. Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
out fox
to trick; deceive Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
sneaky as fox in the hen-house
Source: Dianna Ly
FROG
biggest frog (toad) in the puddle
The person of most importance in any small community or group. Source: Funk, Charles
frog spit or frog spittle
a foamy mass of threadlike green algae floating on ponds. Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
frog sticker
a short knife Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
frog in your throat
Scratchy voice.
If a frog had wheels, they wouldn't bump their butts
It is useless to wish for impossible things. Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
fine as a frog hair
very fine Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
