N
NEST
children must fly the nest / leave the nest
Children must eventually leave home.
feathering 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
nest egg
a fund of money kept in reserve; savings Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
NOSE
cold nose, warm heart
Cold on the outside, but full of love on the inside Source: Lewis, Stacey
O
OWL
drunk as a boiled owl
Drunk. Source: Funk, Charles
owly
cranky, unco-operative, negative Source: Wayne Magnuson
I wasn't brought up in the woods to be scared by owls
I'm not foolish or easily frightened. Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
sorry as owl bait
worthless Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
wise as an owl
Source: Dianna Ly
slick as owl grease
smooth and slick Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
OX
as strong as an ox
Source: Bertram, Anne (Bowl of Cherries)
ox-eyed
having large round eyes, like those of an ox Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
OYSTER
the world is his oyster
He can do anything. Source: Dani Hoogerhyde
oyster
Informal. a very uncommunicative person Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
P
PARROT
as sick as a parrot
very, very sick; on your deathbed, sicker than a dog Source: Wayne Magnuson
PEACOCK
proud as a peacock
Proud.
happy as a peacock
very happy, very pleased Source: Wayne Magnuson
vain as a peacock
Source: Bertram, Anne (Bowl of Cherries)
PECKING
the pecking order
describes the relative rank or importance of someone within a group refers to hens establishing a dominance hierarchy by pecking
Source: indiana.edu
PIG
fat as a pig
Source: Bertram, Anne (Bowl of Cherries)
on the pig's back
Irish and N.Z. successful; established: he's on the pig's back now. Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
pig it
Informal. to live in squalor. Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
pig out
Informal. to devour (food) greedily. Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
a pig in a poke
a risk, a gamble, taking a chance Source: Wayne Magnuson
even a blind pig finds an acorn once in awhile
everybody gets lucky sometimes Source: Dog Hause Visitor Jennifer Hale
make a pig of yourself
Eat all you want.
in a pig's eye
nonsense Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
sweating like a pig
sweating a lot
eat like a pig
Eat a lot.
bleed like a stuck pig
it bleed very freely Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
if that don't beat a pig a-pecking
that's amazing Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
blind pig
a place to buy illicit liquor Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
happy as a pig in mud
happy and content Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
ain't fittin' to roll with a pig
is or are uncouth and disgusting Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
when pigs fly
Never. Source: Big List of Cliches
buy a pig in a poke
Buy something without seeing it first.
PIGEONs
stool-pigeon
An informer. Source: Funk, Charles
clay pigeon
a person easily cheated or taken advantage of Source: funbrain.com
pigeon-toed
having the toes turned inwards Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
put, set, etc., {the cat among the pigeons}
to introduce some violently disturbing new element Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
PORQUPINE
Prickly as a porcupine
Source: Dianna Ly
POSSUM
to play possum
To pretend; to deceive. If the possum is threatened with capture it will lie with closed eyes and limp muscles, and no amount of handling or ordinary abuse will cause it to show signs of life. Source: Funk, Charles
grin like a barrel of possum heads
to grin very wide Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
PUPPY (PUPS)
puppy love
Puppy love is a juvenile crush (another idiom) on a member of the opposite sex... the youngest and most infatuous of loves is puppy love! Source: BOBLOV1@aol.com
cut dog has no pups
I don't want to cut the cards Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
proud as a pup with a new collar
very proud Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
pretty as a speckled pup
very pretty Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
R
RABBIT
quick as a rabbit
Source: Dianna Ly
rabbit food
lettuce, carrots, cabbage etc. Source: Wayne Magnuson
harmless as a pet rabbit
harmless, gentle Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
RAT
like rats abandoning a sinking ship
Source: Bertram, Anne (Bowl of Cherries)
dirty rat
immoral person, liar, scum Source: Wayne Magnuson
rat fink
person who tattles Source: Wayne Magnuson
rat on
tell the police or the authorities Source: Wayne Magnuson
rat
Slang. chiefly US an informer; stool pigeon Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
rat
Informal. a despicable person Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
rats
an exclamation of rejection or disdain Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
rat race
Work force. Source: Cliche Finder
(The thing about the rat race is, weather you win or lose, you’re still a rat…)
smell a rat
Think that there is a traitor. Source: Cliche Finder
rat
Informal. a person who deserts his friends or associates, esp in time of trouble Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
rat
Informal. a worker who works during a strike; blackleg; scab Source: wordreference.com, The Collins English Dictionary
RATTLER
mean as a rattler
Source: Dianna Ly
crooked as a rattler in a cactus patch
very crooked Source: Bertram, Anne (Pig's Eye)
ROOSTER (and ROOST)
feeling like a rooster in a hen house
Feeling like you don't belong.
the chickens come home to roost
You have to face the consequences of your mistakes or bad deeds. Source: Bertram, Anne (Bowl of Cherries)
to rule the roost
To control the home.
bet on a lame rooster
bet on a loser Source: Wayne Magnuson
