Animal idioms

let the cat out of the bag= to tell a secret

I was trying to keep the party a secret, but Mel went and let the cat out of the bag

be as sick as a dog

= be very ill, especially from a stomach malady

I don't know what was in that stew but I was sick as a dog all night .

Has the cat got your tongue?

something you say to someone when you are annoyedbecause they will not speak

Hi, Lisa! How are you? How's your husband? Are you surprised to see me? What's the matter, has the cat got your tongue?

while the cat’s away, the mice will playsaid when the person who is in charge of a place is not there, and the people there behave badly

Jill: You shouldn't be reading a novel at your desk. Jane: But the boss isn't here. And when the cat's away, the mice will play.

play cat and mouse

to try to defeat someone by tricking them into making a mistake so that you have an advantage over them

The 32-year-old actress spent a large proportion of the week playing cat and mouse with the press.

fight like cat and dog= to argue violently all the time

We get on very well as adults but as kids we fought like cat and dog.

be in the doghouseif someone is in the doghouse, another person is annoyed with them because of something they have done

I forgot to turn the oven off and the dinner's ruined, so I'm really in the doghouse.

every dog has its day

= everyone gets a chance eventually.

Don't worry, you'll get chosen for the team. Every dog has its day.

let sleeping dogs lie

= leave something alone if it might cause trouble.

Jill: Should I ask the boss if he's upset at my coming in late in the mornings? Jane: If he hasn't said anything about it, just let sleeping dogs lie.