IDIOMS V

The Word's The Thing

Dr. Louis D. Appel

 

The idiomatic expressions clued below each contain the name of an animal. Can you name them?

 

1. A whole different thing

2. Control you temper

3. Reveal a secret

4. More than half of something

5. Look at (as at something unusual)

6. Speak frankly and without small talk

7. Show off - pretend to be rich and stylish

8. Either do it or don't do it, but quit vacillating

9. People should be treated equally (especially men/women) 

10. Doing the difficult, but critical thing to make a plan work

11. Deal bravely and decisively with a difficult situation

12. Too old or set in your ways to learn something new

13. Earn just enough to pay the rent and buy the basics

14. People can't change their basic characteristics or beliefs

15. Be forced to admit your mistakes - sometimes with humiliation

16. Information obtained from a reliable source, on the best authority 

17. Have difficulty speaking due to dryness, hoarseness, fear, or other emotions 

Answers:

 

1. Horse of a different color

2. Hold your horses

3. Let the cat out of the bag

4. Lion's share

5. Take a gander

6. Talk turkey

7. Put on the dog

8. Fish or cut bait

9. What's good for the goose is good for the gander

10. Belling the cat 

11. Take the bull by the horns

12. You can't teach an old dog new tricks 

13. Keep the wolf from the door

14. A leopard can't change its spots (or zebra its stripes)

15. Eat crow

16. Straight from the horse's mouth

17. Have a frog in your throat