14b Flashcards
(Fight) like cat and dogs
(Disagree) violently
(Like) a bull in a china shop
Behave in a clumsy/awkward
Make’s a dog dinner (of sth)
(Make) a mess (of sth)
A bear with a sore head
Irritated/in a bad mood
A different kettle of fish
A totally different situation from the one just mentioned
A dog’s life
A difficult, hard life
A fish out of water
Sb who feels uncomfortable/in unfamiliar surroundings
A red rag to a bull
Action, comment liable to provoke sb
A sitting duck
An easy target
As busy as a bee/a busy bee
Very busy
As the crow flies
In a direct line/by a direct route
Be in a doghouse
Be out of favor, in trouble
Dog eat dog
Ruthless competition, rivalry
Dog-eared
(Of books) with the corners bent and turned down through use
Donkey work
Boring, monotonous work
Donkey’s years
A long time
Kill 2 birds with one stone
Achieve 2 things with 1 action
Let the cat out of the bag
Reveal a secret
Like water off a duck’s back
Having no effect
Make a fool of oneself
Make oneself look stupid/embarrassed/ridiculous
Make a mountain out of a molemill
Cause a fuss about a trivial matter
No room to swing a cat
No room at all
Play cat and mouse with sb
Keep sb in a state of uncertain exceptation treating them alternatively cruelly and kindly
Put the cat among the pigeons
Cause trouble/controversy
Rain cats and dogs
Rain heavily
Swim like a fish
Swim very well
Talk the hind legs off a donkey
Talk for a long time, uninterrupted
Mutton dressed as a lamb
Dress in a style younger than/inappropriate to your age
Sour grapes
Say unpleasant comments bc of jealousy
Sweet tooth
Enjoy eating sweet food
Get nowhere fast
Make no/little progress
Pay sb’s way
Contribute your share of a bill/budget
White-collar job
Office/clerical work
Fly on the wall
See/hear sth in a situation which doesn’t involve you
Achilles heel
Weakest point of sb’s character
Wash sb’s hands of sb
Refuse to be involved with sb
