English idioms about dogs and cats

English is one of the richest languages in the world, as it has about 500 thousand words, and the supply of new lexemes is growing every day. Let's imagine that the entire language is one big map of the world. Idioms on the map of English would occupy the territory of the whole of Brazil - that’s where there is a complete carnival of meanings and continuous dances with translation! When we encounter such expressions, we have two options: we look for the closest equivalent in our native language or we describe the meaning of this tricky phrase. Today we will talk about English idioms related to animals. After all, even if all the scientists in the world agree that we descended from monkeys, then we cannot escape this topic. So, let's gallop!

Idioms with CAT

Be the cat's whiskeys - be the best He's the cat's whiskeys in this group. - He is the best in this group.
Has the cat got your tongue? -Have you swallowed your tongue? Tell her everything – has the cat got your tongue? - Tell her everything - did you swallow your tongue?
Let the cat out of the bag - tell all the ins and outs, the whole truth The president let the cat out of the bag and told about the military actions. — The President revealed the whole truth and spoke about military operations.
Like the cat that got the cream - like Maslenitsa for a cat, in seventh heaven. After having seen the ring, Natasha looked like the cat that got the cream. - After she saw the ring, Natasha was in seventh heaven.
Look like something the cat dragged/ brought in – look dirty, worn out Why does your backpack look like something the cat dragged? - Why is your backpack so shabby?
Not have a cat in hell's chance - don't have a single chance We don't have a cat in hell's chance in this race. “We don’t have a single chance in this race.”
Put/ set the cat among the pigeons - let a goat into the garden, bring trouble By giving a job to Steve, you set the cat among the pigeons. - Steve has a job, you let the goat into the garden.
When the cat's away - when the bosses are not there... (everyone else is having fun) When the cat's away, we like having an extra break. — When the bosses are away, we like to give ourselves another break.
Fat cat - money bag, moneybag Has this fat cat swept you off your feet? - Did this money bag get you?
Fight like cat and dog - fight like a cat and dog Since the divorce they have been fighting like cat and dog. “Ever since the divorce, they’ve been fighting like cats and dogs.”
Not enough room to swing a cat – this hotel won't have enough room to swing a cat during the film festival. — This hotel will be a big deal during the film festival.

A dog is man's friend. A selection of quotes and sayings

Anyone who doesn't like dogs doesn't value loyalty. We can safely agree with this statement, because dogs are the most sincere, most faithful and devoted animals. If a dog is angry, it barks; if it is happy to see someone, it wags its tail and curls around its legs. This is the main difference between dogs and people - they are always sincere and never lie or be a hypocrite.

Anyone who has a dog has a good heart. And it doesn’t matter what kind of dog it will be - purebred, with a pedigree, many titles and medals, or it will be an ordinary mongrel. Anyone who wants to share his love does not choose the breed of a puppy, he chooses a friend by his eyes.

Dogs are so amazing with their spiritual devotion that they have become not just pets, but also the center of many statements, and even works. We offer you a selection of meaningful quotes, beautiful and funny phrases about dogs. Cheer yourself up with us and your four-legged friends!

And dogs, unlike people, have a good memory for good things and a bad memory for bad things. (Elchin Safarli)

Dogs, unlike people, will not offend you just like that...

I have long suspected that dogs are much smarter than humans; I was even sure that she could speak, but that there was only some kind of stubbornness in her. She is an extraordinary politician: she notices everything, every step of a person. (N. Gogol)

Dogs see everything, but are silent about everything.

Dogs talk, but only to those who can listen. (Orhan Pamuk)

A dog, even when wagging its tail, is talking to a person.

Dogs are usually loved more than wives, because dogs only bark at strangers. (V. Havel)

Dogs don’t hurt their own...

If people have the naivety to believe in God, then dogs have the naivety to believe in man. (Eric Emmanuel Schmitt)

A dog will trust its owner, like a person trusts God.

If you need someone grateful, get a dog. (R. Harris)

You may not expect gratitude from people.

If a dog puts its head on your lap, sooner or later you begin to understand that it needs to be petted. (Matt Haig)

A loving owner will pet the dog without any hints.

I'm not obsessed with dogs, I just love them very much. (Tom Hardy)

You can't help but love dogs.

A dog is a friend. She understands everything, but cannot say anything. The dog sympathizes silently - this is its advantage.

Many people love dogs because they are friends who never criticize.

Anyone who says you can't buy happiness has never bought a puppy. (Wilfred Lampton)

A puppy is a happiness that grows.

The life of dogs is too short, this is their only drawback.

The worst thing is to lose those to whom you are so attached.

It's good when a dog is a friend, but it's bad when a friend is a dog...

Dogs are the most loyal and selfless friends.

The dog is the only creature that has seen its God with its own eyes (Jack London)

All dogs idolize their owners.

A dog jumps on your lap because it loves you; cat - because it is warmer (Alfred North Whitehead)

The dog is looking for affection, the cat is looking for benefit.

A dog is the only creature in the world that loves you more than itself (Josh Billings)

It's a shame that not everyone appreciates this.

If you pick up a hungry dog, feed it and caress it, it will not bite you; This is its fundamental difference from a person.

A dog, unlike a person, will always be grateful and will never betray.

The gods do not count the time of life spent walking a dog. (Folk wisdom)

When you walk your dog, you are actually walking yourself.

Perhaps being called a dog is not such a big insult. (John Stevens)

Strange people: they are compared to the most loyal creatures on Earth, and they are also offended.

The most loving creature in the world is a wet dog. (Ambrose Bierce)

Mine loves me too...)

Every dog should have its own bone. (Bee Dorsey Orley)

And your place in the house.

It’s all the same: a person gets a dog so that there is no feeling of loneliness. The dog really doesn't like to be left alone. (Karel Capek)

In general, they find each other.

Don't live in a city where you can't hear dogs barking.

This means that unfriendly people live there.

Women and cats always do as they please; men and dogs can only relax and come to terms with this state of affairs. (A. Heinlein)

Everyone has their own destiny…)

Dogs have only one drawback - they trust people. (Eliane J. Finbert)

Dogs sincerely trust those they live with.

Buy a puppy and you will find the most devoted love in the world.

There is only one way to buy love with money - buy a puppy.

It is not the dogs that should be feared, but their owners.

If the owner never offends the dog, the dog, in turn, will never get angry with people.

A dog is not just a person’s friend, it is part of the family!

Or rather, a full-fledged and equal member of the family!

A dog is the most wonderful, perfect and useful of all acquisitions that a person has ever made. (J. Cuvier)

When a person gets a dog, he disciplines himself.

No matter how little money you have, a dog will always make you rich. (Lewis Sabin)

This is true, because dogs give us something that money cannot buy - love.

Dogs love their friends and bite their enemies, unlike people who are unable to love unselfishly and mix love and hate. (Sigmund Freud)

Dogs don't know how to be hypocrites.

Money can buy any dog - but not the wagging of its tail.

The wagging of the tail must be earned)

To compare a bad person with a dog is to give him a great compliment and a huge insult to the entire canine race...

A bad person is not worthy of such comparison.

Idioms with DOG

A dog in the manger - a dog in the manger. She was acting like a dog in the manger. “She acted like a dog in the manger.”
A dog's breakfast/ dinner - a mess, a nightmare They've made a dog's breakfast out of the new house. — They created bedlam in the new house.
Dressed up like a dog's dinner - inappropriately dressed She came to the date dressed up like a dog's dinner. “She came to the date dressed like a scarecrow.”
Every dog has his/ its day – and there will be a holiday on our street Don't get despaired. Every dog has his day. - Don't despair. And there will be a holiday on our street.
Going to the dogs - collapsing, fading (about a building, place) This tourist destination is likely to go to the dogs unless it's funded properly. “This tourist destination will be lost if it is not sufficiently funded.
Like a dog with a bone – going to the end, perfectionist When it comes to making a profit, he acts like dog with a bone. “When it comes to making a profit, he goes all the way.
Let sleeping dogs lie – don't wake up a sleeping dog Don't tell him about your mistake, let sleeping dogs lie. - Don’t tell him about your mistake, don’t wake up the sleeping dog.
The tail wagging the dog - eggs teach the chicken I know what to do, I can't let the tail wag the dog. - I know what to do, I can’t let the eggs teach the chicken.
You can't teach an old dog new tricks – the hunchbacked grave will fix He still uses a typewriter instead of a computer. You can't teach an old dog new tricks. — He still uses a typewriter instead of a computer. Leopard change his spots.
Top dog – leader, main, winner Jenny Smith is sure to become top dog in the race. — Jenny Smith will definitely win the race.

English idioms about cats, close in meaning to Russian sayings

Sometimes it happens that some statements in English mean almost the same as familiar Russian phrases. In this case, it is not surprising. Firstly, the habits of cats do not change depending on the country in which they live. It’s hard to imagine, for example, a cat from Lodnon who will refuse fish, eat only lettuce leaves and make friends with all the surrounding dogs. And secondly, no one has yet canceled language borrowing.

So let's first pay attention to the cat idioms that exist in both Russian and English.

It's all too simple, isn't it? So let's not linger here and move on to the next group of words.

About the weather

a fair-weather friend - an unreliable friend, a friend until the first misfortune
a ray of sunshine - ray of sunshine, joy
have your head in the clouds - soar in the clouds
under the weather - unhealthy, sick; in trouble, in a difficult situation; drunk
chase rainbows - chasing a rainbow, pursuing an unfulfilled dream
storm in a teacup - storm in a glass of water
lightning fast - to be fast as lightning
to break the ice - break the silence, overcome embarrassment, take the first step
Indian summer - golden autumn, “Indian summer”
make hay while the sun shines - strike while the iron is hot; mow your scythe while there is dew, take advantage while you have the opportunity
under a cloud - in a difficult situation; in disgrace, in disgrace; under suspicion if someone is suspected of bad deeds
On cloud nine - on the ninth sky (English), to be in seventh heaven (Russian), to be very happy for some reason
the calm before the storm - the calm before the storm
save for a rainy day - save for a rainy day
spring clean - general cleaning
it never rains but it pours - when something bad happens, it will certainly be followed by other bad events, trouble has come - open the gate, trouble does not walk alone
every cloud has a silver lining - every cloud has a silver lining, there would be no happiness, but misfortune helped
reach for the moon - ambitious, striving to achieve a lot
blue skies - an overly optimistic view of things
run hot and cold - to experience conflicting feelings or thoughts
raindrop in the drought - wait for something that clearly should not happen, wait for rain in a drought
raining cats and dogs - it's pouring rain

About colors

Green winter – snowless winter
In the green - in the prime of life
To have a green thumb - to be a talented gardener
The green light – resolution
Green with envy – envious
Red with anger - turn purple with anger
The Reds are Indians
To paint the town red - continue drinking
To see red - get angry, become furious
To be in the red - to be in debt
To be/get out of the red – pay off debts
Red herring - deception maneuver
In the pink - in good health
Pink slip – notice of dismissal
To see pink elephants – see hallucinations, hallucinate
Tickled pink – satisfied, flattered
White coffee – coffee with milk
White lie - harmless lie
White fury - fury
White night - night without sleep
Blue-ribbon – exceptional, the best
Blue devils – melancholy, melancholy
As blue as the devil – sad, gloomy
Till one is blue in the face – for a long time and unsuccessfully
To talk a blue streak - chatter, chat a lot
Out of the blue – unexpectedly
Black and blue – bruised, bruised
Black art - black magic
Black pudding – blood sausage
Black spot is a dangerous place on the road
To have a yellow streak – to chicken out
Yellow look - envious look
The yellow press - yellow press

About body parts

An old head on young shoulders - wise beyond his years
He's got his head in the clouds - he's soaring in the clouds
He's twisting my arm - he twists my arms, puts pressure on me
His eyes are bigger than his stomach - he would eat everything with his eyes
I got cold feet - I drifted off
I let my hair down - I relaxed, gave myself a break
I shot myself in the foot - I said something stupid, I did it to my own detriment
I'd give my right arm to do it - I would give a lot to do this
I'm pulling your leg - I'm fooling you
I'm tearing my hair out - I'm just obsessed with this
It cost an arm and a leg - it's too expensive
It's like banging your head against a brick wall
I've got itchy feet - I have a wanderlust
Keep your hair on - don't lose your temper, calm down
They're up in arms - they are ready to achieve their goal
To be all ears - listen carefully
To be banging one's head against a brick wall - bang your head against the wall
To be down in the mouth - hang your nose, be depressed
To be on one's toes - to be energetic, active
To be tearing one's hair out - tearing one's hair
To bite one's tongue - bite your tongue
To break smb's heart - to break the heart
To catch smb's eye - to catch the eye, to attract attention
To cast one's eye over smth - quickly look at something, run your eyes
To do smth. to one's heart content - do something to your heart's content
To fall head over heels in love - fall head over heels in love
To feel one's heart sink - heart fell
To have a finger in every pie - a plug for every barrel
To have eyes in the back of your head - to have eyes in the back of your head
To have ones' head in the clouds - soar in the clouds
To keep an eye on something - keep an eye on something, keep an eye on something
To keep one's ear to the ground - keep your ears open
To keep one's fingers crossed - keep your fingers crossed, hope for luck
To keep one's head above the water - keep afloat, fight difficulties
To get out of hand - get out of control
To give a hand - to help
To not put a foot wrong - never make a mistake
To pay through the nose - pay at exorbitant prices
To play smth by ear - improvise
To put one's foot in it - to get into trouble, to say something tactless
To put smb's mind at rest - to calm someone down
To put one's feet up - to rest, relax
To rack one's brain - rack your brains
To say smth. tongue-in-cheek - speak ironically, mockingly
To see eye to eye - to share someone's opinion
To set one's heart on smth - to passionately desire something
To turn one's nose up at smth - turn up one's nose, treat with contempt
You haven't got a leg to stand on - you have no evidence

English idioms and expressions about cats that you'll have to think about translating

These “cat” idioms and phraseological units are just a small part of the English expressions that are dedicated to cats. We tried to select those that you may encounter in classical literature or in colloquial speech. If you hear some incomprehensible English expression where a cat appears, then feel free to consult a dictionary. Most likely, someone’s cunning little face is trying to confuse you and lead you into the jungle of English phraseology. Well, if you are interested in a variety of slang expressions that are popular in Britain and the USA, then pay attention to money idioms and finger phrases.

About food

Apple of my eye - (apple of my eye). Means something or someone valuable, dear, loved
Half a loaf is better than no bread . Half a loaf is better than no bread at all.
A man can't live by bread alone . Man does not live by bread alone
Bread and point . Bread and water - that's all food
The greatest thing after sliced bread . Something excellent, excellent, wonderful
Fine words butter no parsnips . You won’t be satisfied with praise alone (literally: you can’t butter parsnips with beautiful words)
Get the cheese . Stay with your nose
To know chalk from cheese . Know a lot about something
As like as two peas in a pod . Similar as two drops of water (like two peas in a pod)
Bad egg . Every family has its black sheep
Bear fruit . Bring the fruits
Bring home the bacon . Succeed
Carrot and stick . Carrot and stick (literally: carrot and stick)
Chew the fat . Chat, sharpen your lasses
It is no use crying over spilled milk . What's lost is lost (literally: there's no use crying over spilled milk)
Forbidden fruit . Forbidden fruit is sweetest
Get into a jam . Get into trouble
Milk the ram . Wait for milk from a goat (literally: milk a goat)
A fine kettle of fish . Nice story! So much for you!
Rub salt into wounds . Rub salt into the wounds
Spill the beans . Give away a secret, spill the beans
Walk on eggs. Taking risks, walking on thin ice

Monday, December 21, 2009

quotes about cats/ cat quotes

The smallest feline is a masterpiece. (Leonardo da Vinci)

For me, one of the pleasures of cats' company is their devotion to bodily comfort. (Sir Compton Mackenzie)

For me, one of the nice things about being with cats is their love of physical comfort. (Sir Compton MacKenzie, writer)

If you want to be a psychological novelist and write about human beings, the best thing you can do is own a pair of cats. (Aldous Huxley)

If you want to write psychological novels about people, the best thing you can do is get a couple of cats. (Aldous Huxley)

Time spent with cats is never wasted. (Sigmund Freud)

Time spent with cats is never wasted. (Sigmund Freud, neurologist and founder of psychoanalysis)

In a cat's eyes, all things belong to cats. (English proverb)

The cat is sure that everything around her belongs to her. (English proverb)

Cats always seem so very wise when staring with their half-closed eyes. (Bette Midler)

Cats look extremely wise when they observe their surroundings with their half-closed eyes. (Bette Midler, American actress)

Welcome to the Compassion for Animals website!

Here you will find articles and essays about animals collected and translated by me from English. I tried to organize the materials in the most convenient way so that you can easily and quickly find articles on topics of interest.

Participate in online promotions and spread information about them! Read the blog archives. Visit sites from the “Useful Links” and “Interesting Blogs” sections. Tell your family, friends and acquaintances about what you learned here.

Animals scream in pain - in slaughterhouses and vivariums, where they are gutted alive; in meat processing plants and fur farms, where they are dismembered and skinned alive; in the dungeons of circus cages and dolphinariums. But they cannot tell in our language about their suffering.

You speak! Thanks to everyone who is caring and compassionate.

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