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Are you ready to learn some idioms and expressions about the different types of meat we eat?
meaning – a naughty/bad person
example – Antony is a bad egg, he’s always in trouble with the law.
meaning – a good person
example – The world can be a miserable place. I’m glad we have good eggs like you in it.
meaning – a person’s savings for the future
example – Hopefully, I can retire at 50. I’ve already got a nice little nest egg.
meaning – an intellectual person
example – Brian is such an egghead. He gets full marks on every test.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
meaning – a misleading clue
example – There are so many red herrings in the film. You will never guess who the murderer is.
meaning – suddenly become quiet and stop talking
example – Whenever I ask him if he’s being bullied, he just clams up.
meaning – drink too much alcohol
example – I think Tara has a problem; she drinks like a fish.
meaning – try and elicit compliments from someone
example – Kirsty always fishes for compliments, she is so annoying.
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.
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.
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.
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.
meaning – seem suspicious
example – The car I want to buy is way too cheap, something smells fishy.
meaning – a young person
example – Helen is still a spring chicken; she has plenty of time to have kids.
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.
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?
meaning – become stronger/meatier/more powerful
example – I’m 500 words short for my assignment, I need to beef it up a bit.
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.
meaning – decide not to do something because you are afraid
example – The boy chickened out of throwing a pen at the teacher.
meaning – completely stop taking a substance
example – I’ve quit smoking. It was easy, I just went cold turkey.
meaning – have a problem with someone
example – I’m not using that hotel chain. I have beef with them.
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.
meaning – be calm and unaware of the danger to come
example – Four boys waited like lambs to the slaughter outside the headmaster’s office.
meaning – thoroughly defeat
example – Jeffreys made mincemeat out of Saunders in the ring.
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.
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.
meaning – rescue someone from a difficult situation
example – Thanks for lending me £50. You saved my bacon.
