G
GIRAFFE
knee-high to a tall giraffe
Tall Source: Bond, Carol
GNAT
strain at gnats and swallow camels
To criticize other people for minor offences while ignoring major offenses. Source: Bertram, Anne (Bowl of Cherries)
GOAT
separate the sheep from the goats
To distinguish the good from the bad. Source: Bertram, Anne (Bowl of Cherries)
old goat
an old man, a cranky man Source: Wayne Magnuson
a scapegoat
One whom is inflicted punishment for the faults or wrongs of another. The poor scapegoat gets the punishment for everyone else's mistakes. God condoned this cruelty to animals in Leviticus 16:7-10 "And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the Lord, and the other for the scapegoat." The scapegoat got to escape, and carry the tribe's sins into the wilderness, to be eaten by some animal instead of being offered alive as a sacrifice for the Lord. Source: Silly Superstitions and Funk, Charles
get someone's goat
to irritate someone Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
GOOSE (GEESE)
what’s good for the goose is good for the gander
What is good for one person is good for another; often what is good for the man is good for the woman. Also "what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander".
doesn’t have the sense god gave geese
Stupid. Source: Bertram, Anne (Bowl of Cherries)
goose hangs high
everything is good Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
slick as goose grease
smooth and slick Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
goose flesh
the bumpy condition of the skin induced by cold, fear, etc., caused by contraction of the muscles at the base of the hair follicles with consequent erection of papillae: so called because of the resemblance to the skin of a freshly-plucked fowl. Also called: goose bumps, goose pimples, goose skin Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
goose step
a military march step in which the leg is swung rigidly to an exaggerated height. esp as in the German army in the Third Reich Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
all his geese are swans
he constantly exaggerates the importance of a person or thing Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
cook someone's goose
Informal. a. to spoil someone's plans.
b. to bring about someone's ruin, downfall, etc.
Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
kill the goose that lays the golden eggs
to sacrifice future benefits for the sake of momentary present needs. Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
goose
to prod (a person) playfully in the behind Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
as often as a goose goes barefoot
all the time Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
cannot say boo to a goose
shy Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
a wild-goose chase
A vain pursuit of something, which, even if attained, would be worthless. Source: Funk, Charles
GRASSHOPPER
Knee high to a grasshopper
Source: Visitor Mathews, Brett
grashopper
an iced cocktail of equal parts of cr*eme de menthe, cr*eme de cacao, and cream Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
grasshopper mind
unable to concentrate on any one subject for long Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
H
HARE
As mad as a March hare
Source: Bertram, Anne (Bowl of Cherries)
make a hare of (someone)
Irish informal. to defeat (someone) completely Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
to run with the hare and hunt with the hounds
To support both sides of a dispute. Source: Bertram, Anne (Bowl of Cherries)
if you run after two hares, you will catch neither
You cannot do two things successfully at the same time.
HAWK
sharp as a hawk
Source: Dianna Ly
hawk
to offer (goods) for sale, as in the street. Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
watch me like a hawk
watch me carefully Source: Wayne Magnuson
hawk
a ruthless or rapacious person Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
hawk-eyed
having extremely keen sight Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
hawk
a person who advocates or supports war or warlike policies Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
HEN
as scarce as hen's teeth
Non-existent. Source: Funk, Charles
hen
dialect. a term of address (often affectionate), used to women and girls Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
he that would have eggs must endure the cackling of hens
You must be willing to endure unpleasant, irritating things in order to get what you want. Source: Bertram, Anne (Bowl of Cherries)
have a hen to the nest
have a work in progress Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
hen party
party for only women Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
mad as a wet hen
Mad. Source: Funk, Charles
HERRING
red herring
False trail. Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Synonyms
HOG
independent as a hog on ice
Cockily independent. Source: Funk, Charles
hogwash
nonsense Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
go the whole hog
Informal. to do something thoroughly or unreservedly Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
big enough to choke a hog
very big Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
go whole hog
to do something completely or thoroughly Source: funbrain.com
be a hog
to take more than one's share of Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
call hogs
to snore Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
even a blind hog occasionaly finds an acorn
Old farmer's way of letting you know that you're not too smart when you have made a discovery or an accomplishment. Source: Paul Kiar
to go hog wild
To become highly enthusiastic. Source: Funk, Charles
HOOK
swallowed it hook, line and sinker
Believing something (usually a falsity.)
HORSE
a nod is as good as a blink to a blind horse
Source: Bertram, Anne (Bowl of Cherries)
sounding horse
Scratchy voice.
a charley horse
Leg pain.
dark horse
a little known, unexpectedly successful competitor Source: funbrain.com
a horse of another color
Something of a different nature. Source: Funk, Charles
a one horse town
A small town. Source: Funk, Charles
to ride the high horse
To act pretentiously. In the 14th century, persons of high rank were mounted on "high" horses, meaning they rode the heavy chargers used in battle or tournament. Source: Funk, Charles
as strong as a horse
Strong. Source: Bertram, Anne (Bowl of Cherries)
don’t change horses in mid-stream
Source: Wag the Dog -- the movie
look a gift horse in the mouth
Having bad manners when accepting a gift. One can tell how old a horse is by looking into it's mouth -- it is equivalent to looking for the hallmark sign on the back of a greeting card. :) Source: Funk, Charles
to put the cart before the horse
Doing something in reversed order.
every horse thinks its own pack is the heaviest
Source: Bertram, Anne (Bowl of Cherries)
there's no sense beating a dead horse
Source: England, Sandy
straight from the horse's mouth
From the highest authority. The age of a race-horse can be guessed by looking at its teeth. So no matter what any one says on how old the horse is, one can tell by looking in the horse's mouth. Source: Funk, Charles
if two ride on a horse, one must ride behind
When two people do something together, one of them will be the leader and the other will be the subordinate. Source: Bertram, Anne (Bowl of Cherries)
if wishes were horses then beggars would ride
It's no good just wishing. You have to act. Source: Turner, Martin
it is too late to shut the stable door when the horse is stolen
Don't procrastinate.
wild horse couldn’t drag me away
Even the most disasterous events won't keep me from coming. Source: Sophie woodruff
you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink
Source: Turner, Martin
horse-sense
Source: Dianna Ly
so hungry I could eat a horse
Hungry. Source: Big List of Cliches
set a beggar on horseback, and he’ll ride to the devil
Source: Bertram, Anne (Bowl of Cherries)
a horse of different color
Entirely different situation. Source: Dianna Ly
horsing around
Joking around.
hold your horses
Just wait a second. Source: Burns, Tammy
HOUND
as clean as a hound’s tooth
Source: Bertram, Anne (Bowl of Cherries)
to run with the hare and hunt with the hounds
To support both sides of a dispute. Source: Bertram, Anne (Bowl of Cherries)
being hounded
Being bothered.
J
JAYBIRD
as naked as a jaybird
Bare, naked, unadorned. Source: Visitor MMol876566
K
KITTENS
have kittens
To throw a fit. Source: Liana Kiff
dust kitten
a clump of dust or lint Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
L
LAMB
as gentle as a lamb
Source: Bertram, Anne (Bowl of Cherries)
like a lamb to the slaughter
without resistance Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
lamb down
to give birth Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
Lamb of God
a title given to Christ in the New Testament Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
mutton dressed as lamb
British expression - Meaning a grown/older woman dressed like a teen/young girl. Ie. 60 year olds in mini skirts are considered mutton dressed as lamb. Source: Dog Hause Visitor Victoria Evans
two shakes of a lamb’s tail
Very fast. Source: Funk, Charles
as meek as a lamb
Meek. Source: Bertram, Anne (Bowl of Cherries)
in like a lion, out like a lamb
comes in rough and goes out gentle -- usually the month of March.
one might as well be hanged for a sheep as for a lamb
If you have decided to do something that will have unpleasant consequences, do it to the largest degree possible, so that you will feel the punishment was worth it. Source: Bertram, Anne (Bowl of Cherries)
LARK
as happy as a lark
Source: Bertram, Anne (Bowl of Cherries)
LEASH
on a short leash
Held back by another person no being able to do what you want, usually used in reference to people within romantic relationships.
LEOPARD
a leopard cannot change his spots
Source: Bertram, Anne (Bowl of Cherries)
LION
as strong as a lion
Source: Bertram, Anne (Bowl of Cherries)
lionhearted
very brave; courageous Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
beard the lion in his den
Source: Bertram, Anne (Bowl of Cherries)
a lion's share
The greater portion.
better be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion
Source: Bertram, Anne (Bowl of Cherries)
in like a lion, out like a lamb
It comes in rough and goes out gentle -- usually the month of March.
M
MONKEY
monkey see, monkey do
That which is seen is copied.
throw a monkey wrench into the works
wreck a project Source: Wayne Magnuson
funny as a barrel of monkeys
Hilariously comical. Source: Funk, Charles
monkey
a naughty or mischievous person, esp a child Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
have a monkey on one's back
US and Canadian slang. an addict's dependence on a drug Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
make a monkey of
a butt of derision; someone made to look a fool Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
who gives a monkey's what he thinks
Brit. slang. to care about or regard as important Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
monkey suit
US slang. a man's evening dress Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
as fun as a barrel of monkeys
Something that was silly and hilarious. Source: Dianna Ly
I'll be a monkey's uncle
I am surprised. Source: Big List of Cliches
monkey business (monkey-ing around)
Something against the 'rules' (illegal, immoral etc) but not too serious. Source: Turner, Martin
a monkey in silk is a monkey no less
No matter how you dress up something, for example an ugly person clad in a silk gown, it is still the same underneath for all the window dressing. Source: Thompson, Henry
brass monkey
A metal plate to keep cannon balls from rolling around on war ships and many freighter. Source: idiomsite.com
MOUSE
a cat in gloves catches no mice
Source: Bertram, Anne (Bowl of Cherries)
as quiet as a mouse
Quiet.
burn not your house to fright the mouse away
Source: Bertram, Anne (Bowl of Cherries)
keep no more cats then will catch mice
Do not support anyone who does not or cannot do something useful for you in return. Source: Bertram, Anne (Bowl of Cherries)
the best-laid plans of mice and men
Source: Bertram, Anne (Bowl of Cherries)
the mouse that has but one hole is quickly taken
It is dangerous to always depend on just one thing, because if it fails you, you will not have any alternatives. Source: Bertram, Anne (Bowl of Cherries)
when the cat's away, the mice will play
Without supervision, people misbehave.
MULE
as stubborn as a mule
Source: Bertram, Anne (Bowl of Cherries)
mule
Slang. a person who is paid to transport illegal drugs for a dealer. Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
kick like a mule
Sourse: Dianna Ly
grin like a mule eating briars
to grin very wide Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
