meat and protein idioms
Are you ready to learn some idioms and expressions about the different types of meat we eat?
egg idioms
a bad egg
meaning – a naughty/bad person
example – Antony is a bad egg, he’s always in trouble with the law.
a good egg
meaning – a good person
example – The world can be a miserable place. I’m glad we have good eggs like you in it.
a nest egg
meaning – a person’s savings for the future
example – Hopefully, I can retire at 50. I’ve already got a nice little nest egg.
an egghead
meaning – an intellectual person
example – Brian is such an egghead. He gets full marks on every test.
egg on
meaning – encourage someone to do something
example – I didn’t want to put my hand in the spider’s cage, but my brother egged me on.
have egg on one’s face
meaning – look stupid or be embarrassed/humiliated
example – If you accuse him and he is innocent, you’ll end up with egg on your face.
walk on eggshells
meaning – be very cautious around someone and try not to upset them
example – Since my sister was diagnosed with diabetes, we’ve all been walking on eggshells.
you can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs
meaning – you can’t achieve something without having bad effects
example – Everyone hates me now I’m the boss. You can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs.
fish idioms
a big fish in a small pond
meaning – someone who is important in a small area
example – Joe was a big fish in a small pond. When he went to uni, that all changed.
a red herring
meaning – a misleading clue
example – There are so many red herrings in the film. You will never guess who the murderer is.
clam up
meaning – suddenly become quiet and stop talking
example – Whenever I ask him if he’s being bullied, he just clams up.
drink like a fish
meaning – drink too much alcohol
example – I think Tara has a problem; she drinks like a fish.
fish for compliments
meaning – try and elicit compliments from someone
example – Kirsty always fishes for compliments, she is so annoying.
have bigger fish to fry
meaning – have more important/interesting things to do
example – I can’t help you look for a new bike. I’ve got bigger fish to fry.
like a fish out of water
meaning – feel uncomfortable in a certain situation
example – I felt like a fish out of water at Oxford university, everyone was posh but I’m not.
packed in like sardines
meaning – lots of people or objects close together with little room
example – I went to a hen farm. It was horrible, all the chickens were packed in like sardines.
plenty more fish in the sea
meaning – when a relationship fails, there are more people to have relationships with
example – Everyone is telling me there’s plenty more fish in the sea, but I only want Hugh.
smell fishy
meaning – seem suspicious
example – The car I want to buy is way too cheap, something smells fishy.
meat idioms
a spring chicken
meaning – a young person
example – Helen is still a spring chicken; she has plenty of time to have kids.
all sizzle and no steak
meaning – a person/thing that is disappointing/fails to measure up to the hype
example – The film was all sizzle and no steak, I fell asleep halfway through.
be a lamb
meaning – an endearing way to ask someone to do something for you
example – Can you be a lamb and drive me to work as it’s raining?
beef up/beef something up
meaning – become stronger/meatier/more powerful
example – I’m 500 words short for my assignment, I need to beef it up a bit.
bring home the bacon
meaning – work to earn money for the family
example – I stay at home and look after the kids while my wife brings home the bacon.
chicken out
meaning – decide not to do something because you are afraid
example – The boy chickened out of throwing a pen at the teacher.
go cold turkey
meaning – completely stop taking a substance
example – I’ve quit smoking. It was easy, I just went cold turkey.
have beef with
meaning – have a problem with someone
example – I’m not using that hotel chain. I have beef with them.
in two shakes of a lamb’s tail
meaning – in a very short time
example – I’ll be with you in two shakes of a lamb’s tail. I’ve got to send a couple of emails first.
like a lamb to the slaughter
meaning – be calm and unaware of the danger to come
example – Four boys waited like lambs to the slaughter outside the headmaster’s office.
make mincemeat out of someone/something
meaning – thoroughly defeat
example – Jeffreys made mincemeat out of Saunders in the ring.
mutton dressed as lamb
meaning – an older woman who dresses in clothes that suit a much younger woman
example – My mum is mutton dressed as lamb; she should dress more appropriately.
one might as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb
meaning – you will get the same punishment for a crime so may as well commit a bigger offence
example – I’ll borrow my sister’s shoes too; I might as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb.
save someone’s bacon
meaning – rescue someone from a difficult situation
example – Thanks for lending me £50. You saved my bacon.
