What do the following words have in common?

PIE
FLY
BULL
BATS
DOG
BUMP

Answers:

Each word can by followed by "in the _______" to make a familiar phrase:

PIE in the sky
FLY in the ointment
BULL in a China shop
BATS in the belfry
DOG in the manger
BUMP in the night 

Credit: Raymond Hamel 
OUT OF THEIR ELEMENT