Bird idioms and expressions

What is a bird?

You all know what birds are right? If not, I’ll tell you…

A bird is a creature with wings and feathers that can fly (most of them). Some birds can swim, some are meat-eaters, and some eat fruit and seeds. They come in all shapes and sizes from the tiny hummingbird to the enormous ostrich.

FUN FACT: The word ‘bird’ can also be used as a slang term for a woman.​

bird idioms and expressions

Click on the pictures below to learn some common idioms and expressions with different types of birds. Each idiom includes the meaning and an illustrated real-life example.

Here’s a list of idioms that contain the word ‘bird’.

• a little bird told me
  meaning – you hear something from someone
  example – A little bird told me that Hayley wants a pony for Christmas.
• as free as a bird
  meaning – you can do whatever you like, you have no ties
  example – Sally is as free as a bird. She goes on holiday whenever she feels like it.
• bird’s eye view
  meaning – see something from above
  example – I’d love a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon. The bird’s eye view would be amazing.
• birdbrain
  meaning – a silly or stupid person
  example – Don’t invite that bird-brained idiot Rodney. I want to make a good impression.
• birds of a feather flock together
  meaning – people are friends with like-minded people
  example – My friend is out of jail, but he still hangs around with criminals.
• the birds and the bees
  meaning – sex education
  example – My dad is talking to my little brother about the birds and the bees.

bird idioms and expressions with pictures

different bird idioms and expressions

Here’s a list of idioms that contain different types of birds.

• as dead as a dodo
  meaning – dead and lifeless
  example – My phone is as dead as a dodo, I took loads of videos of the concert.
• as the crow flies
  meaning – a straight direct route
  example – We live 4 miles from the airport as the crow flies.
• culture vulture
  meaning – someone who is interested in art, music, theatre etc.
  example – Rupert is a culture vulture. He’ll probably go to the theatre with you.
• eagle-eyed
  meaning – a very observant person
  example – The mother kept an eagle-eye on her son to make sure he didn’t try to escape.
• go cold turkey
  meaning – completely stop taking a substance
  example – I’ve quit smoking. It was easy, I just went cold turkey.
• live in cloud cuckoo land
  meaning – a fantasy land
  example – You’re living in cloud cuckoo land if you think your wife will take you back.
• night owl
  meaning – someone who stays up late and/or prefers to work at night
  example – I’ll start revising tonight, I’m a night owl.
• one swallow doesn’t make a summer
  meaning – one good result doesn’t mean a good overall situation
  example – Sales were up 5% on last month, but one swallow doesn’t make a summer.
• put the cat among the pigeons
  meaning – do something that will cause trouble/a disturbance
  example – I won’t tell Sarah I saw Tim with another woman, I don’t want to put the cat among the pigeons.
• watch like a hawk
  meaning – watch very closely
  example – Money has been going missing from our charity box. I’m watching everyone like a hawk.

different bird idioms and expressions with pictures

chicken idioms

Here’s a list of idioms about chickens.

• chicken out
  meaning – decide not to do something because you are afraid
  example – The boy chickened out of throwing a pen at the teacher.
• spring chicken
  meaning – a young person
  example – Helen is still a spring chicken; she has plenty of time to have kids.

chicken idioms with pictures

duck idioms

Here’s a list of idioms about ducks.

• lame duck
  meaning – useless, ineffective
  example – All my boyfriends turn out to be lame ducks.
• lovely weather for ducks
  meaning – wet/rainy weather
  example – It’s lovely weather for ducks but sadly not for the beach.
• sitting duck
  meaning – an easy target
  example – The soldiers ran out of bullets, they were sitting ducks for the enemy.
• take to something like a duck to water
  meaning – have a natural ability
  example – Hayley has taken to motherhood like a duck to water. She is a natural.
• water off a duck’s back
  meaning – insults, criticism etc. have no effect on a person
  example – All the criticism is like water off a duck’s back to Henry. He just tries even harder.

duck idioms with pictures

goose idioms

Here’s a list of idioms about geese.

• goosebumps
  meaning – bumps on the skin due to fear, excitement, or the cold
  example – Take the kids in and give them a hot chocolate. They’ve got goosebumps.
• wild goose chase
  meaning – search for something that often doesn’t exist
  example – Let’s send the apprentice on a wild goose chase for a left-handed screwdriver.
• wouldn’t say boo to a goose
  meaning – a shy person
  example – I can’t believe he is a drug dealer! He wouldn’t say boo to a goose when he was younger.

goose idioms with pictures

swan idioms

Here’s a list of idioms about swans.

• swan around
  meaning – walk around thinking you’re the best I wish someone would punch Cara. example – She’s always swanning around like she’s the queen.
• swan in
  meaning – arrive without a care in the world
  example – He finally swanned in around midnight stinking of booze. I didn’t even get an apology.
• swan off
  meaning – leave/escape your duties
  example – I’d love to have Kirsty’s lifestyle. She just swans off on holiday whenever she feels like it.
• swansong
  meaning – the final act/performance/activity of a person’s career
  example – We need to get tickets to the tour, it’s their swansong.

swan idioms with pictures

You can download a table of bird idioms and expressions below.

If you’ve enjoyed this page, don’t forget to check out some more animal idioms by clicking on the links below.