Tuesday 14 January 2014

Animals And Idioms.

I want to thank Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet superstar for doing the previous posting.  If only I could write as clearly as she does.  Thanks again, Penny, for your writing advice.   Maybe you can teach this old human new tricks.
Ever noticed how many everyday expressions seem to make reference to animals?

Holy cow, you've been waiting until the cows come home.  Time to take the bull by the horns as you grab the bull in a china shop.

What's that?  Cat get your tongue?  Maybe you need a catnap.  You don't want to look like something the cat dragged in.  Be careful on that hot tin roof.  And it seems the cat's amongst the pigeons.  Of course, when the cat's away, the mice will play.  And now you grin like a Cheshire cat as you think about having nine lives. Be warned, however, for curiosity killed the cat.  Who let the cat out of the bag?  Which also reminds me, when are you going to buy a bigger house?  Not enough room to swing a cat.

You might think this posting is a bit of a wild goose chase.  And no, I've never seen anybody chasing a wild goose.  Perhaps I'm barking up the wrong tree.  Although my bark's worse than my bite.  Mad dogs and Englishmen got out in the midday sun.  Evidently, it's a dog-eat-dog world.  Yet, every dog has its day.  Any more jumbled sentences and I may end up in the dog house.

Writing this posting is enough to make me go ape.  A bit of monkey business.  Monkey see, monkey do. Have you heard of the half-ape, half-flower creature?  A Chimp pansy.

Almost time to end this post.  I'm as busy as a beaver.  An eager beaver.  Which is a bit of a cock and bull story.  I wont go the whole hog.  Hope you had a whale of a time or I might end up in a kangaroo court.  I know I had more fun than a barrel of monkeys.  That was straight from the horse's mouth.
It's raining cats and dogs.  Watch out for the poodles.

104 comments:

  1. Too funny! Nice job stringing all those animal lines along!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Sherry,

      Thank you, Sherry. And no I wasn't drunk as a skunk when I wrote it! :)

      Gary :)

      Delete
  2. I know you wouldn't steer us wrong, Gary!
    Funny stuff. Now I will be thinking of animal sayings all night.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Alex,

      No bull from me, good sir.

      Happy animal idioms to you.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  3. Pawsome and punny...hehe...
    You're wicked with words, Gary - love it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Kim,

      Thank you for that. You know me, never one to make a mountain out of a molehill.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  4. Witty post, Gary. Now I feel as playful as a puppy. (Well, this one doesn't exist, but I just made it up.)
    Lots of polar bears hugs for you and Penny!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Julia,

      Very kind of you, my friend. No kitten, playful as a puppy sounds good to me :)

      Snug as a hug in a rug to you, Julia.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  5. Did someone say puppy? The kids are giving me puppy dog eyes. Guess I should go be a mum, eh? (Brilliant.)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Crystal,

      And they called it puppy love. The kids gave you puppy dog eyes? Let me take a closer look at your photo icon! :) Have fun, mum :)

      Gary :)

      Delete
  6. I am impressed with your ability to write a whole post using idioms! Cat would have gotten my tongue. ;) What a fun and clever post.
    ~Jess

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    Replies
    1. Hi Jess,

      Hey thanks for that. More than one way to skin a cat, apparently :)

      Gary :)

      Delete
  7. Very fun post. Now I'm thinking of animal sayings. :-)

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    Replies
    1. Hi Danielle,

      Glad you thought it was a fun post. Thank you. I think I used the lion's share of them in the posting.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  8. Delightful! You know, my son gets very upset when we refer to animals in the negative sense...as in bloody pig. He says, be fair to the pig! :)

    Penny is really Pawesome! Hugs to her!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Vidya,

      There are number of idioms that do hog for attention. They start to boar after awhile :) Your son is quite right.

      Penny thanks you for such a pawsitive compliment.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  9. Oh, I never heard "cat's amongst the pigeons." But, there are not many pigeons in this little town. I love the wolf in sheep's clothing.

    I never leave the fox to watch the henhouse. But, the raccoons invite themselves over, so I lose hens..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Linda,

      Ah yes, the cat's amongst the pigeons. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. What the hell that means, I have no idea :) Who's afraid of the big, bad wolf....

      Not a good situation with the hen house. As sly as a fox. As Rocky as a raccoon. If you read this comment, would you please contact me, Linda. I cannot get onto your site. My email is readily available from my profile. Thank you.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  10. Penny is one amazing posting dog!!!

    Arf Arf...

    ~shoes~

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Mr. Red Shoes,

      Penny has let sleeping dogs lie. I shall let her know what you said. Arf! Arf! Indeed!

      Gary :)

      Delete
  11. Bats in your belfrey, bees in your bonnet....what's the matter, someone get your goat? Strong as an ox, weak as a kitten......I think I'll goose step it on out of here now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Delores,

      Thank you for participating. Can you imagine if I'd used every animal idiom it would have been my longest posting, ever! Like a bat out of hell. And no, I wont nag you with any more. I'm only horsing around :)

      Gary :)

      Delete
  12. Big smiles. This post has made me as happy as a pig in mud. Which is no bull. I am flatter than a lizard drinking, and still can't find anything wrong with it. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Sue

      Grinning like a Cheshire cat :) Did you know I'm knee-high to a grasshopper? Thank you, Sue. Tie me kangaroo down, sport...

      Gary :)

      Delete
  13. I just backed the wrong horse so now I am going to get as drunk as a skunk. Ah well Gary, the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry but I always was the black sheep of the family!
    I just bought a poke from a man in the pub; I wonder what's inside it?
    CLICK HERE for Bazza’s Blog ‘To Discover Ice’

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    Replies
    1. Hi bazza,

      I knew I could rely on you to add to this fascinating topic. Thank you for not aping any of my idioms. Please inform the British, my good chap, that "rough as a bear's arse" is incorrect. A bear's butt is smooth. Don't ask!

      You bought a stuffed pig. Congrats and happy poking....

      Gary :)

      Delete
  14. You're like a wise owl and sly fox, Penny. Cute as a button too. Wait a minute, a button isn't an animal. Heck, what makes a button cute, anyway? Some buttons are ugly. Don't mind me. I'm slow as a snail right now with a witty comment.

    Hugs to you and your human.
    xoRobyn

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    Replies
    1. Hi Robyn,

      I shall pass on your wisely sly comment to Penny. Cute as a button, yep. And daft as a brush. Did you hear about the snail who painted the letter "S" on the side of its vehicle? That way, all the other snails would say, " look at that S car go!"

      Penny's alleged human,

      Gary :) x

      Delete
  15. You're quite batty good sir. Mad as a box of frogs swanning around like a dog with two....erm ....best left I think that one, ahem. I'm just parroting on now. ;)

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    Replies
    1. Hi Michelle,

      Thank you very much. And thanks for your clever participation. How are you, duck? Now I must go find out about the bird and the bees....

      Gary :)

      Delete
  16. Love it! Love it! Love it! My son hates it when I talk in idioms. These young ones ~ I fear that the idiom may die.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Carol,

      Thank you, thank you, thank you! :) The idiot, sorry, the idiom must live on. Although I might be going out on a limb with this one.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  17. The French also have funny animal sayings. One of my favorites is, to speak French like a Spanish cow, "Parler français comme une vache espagnole." I guess that would be "Le ¡Moo-Olé! :P

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    Replies
    1. Hi Elise,

      Mon dieu, Elise! Parfois je me sens comme maladroit comme une vache sur patins à roulettes.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  18. Very clever post. I am grinning like a Cheshire Cat.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Arleen,

      Thank you. As clever as a fox, perhaps. Happy grinning, my friend.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  19. Never thought of it until now but yes you are very right - so many sayings have to do with animals. That makes me as curious as a cat!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Keith,

      Indeed, there are and an elephant never forgets. And you know what curiosity did to the cat :)

      Gary :)

      Delete
  20. What a great idea to post about! Penny has nothing on you, even though she is a great writer! Thanks Gary, for starting my day off with a laugh!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Lisa,

      Thanks for that, Lisa. I had to compete against Penny in the dog-eat-dog world. So much for the rat race. I'm very glad this made you laugh.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  21. LOL, love this. Anything with animals in the title will get my attention and this didn't disappoint.

    No question Penny did an amazing job with her post. She is always so wise. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Julie Flanders,

      I know how much you adore our animal friends. I'm glad this didn't disappoint you.

      Penny did an amazing job, as paw usual, um per usual, with her pawst, um post :) She keeps hounding me to try and write as well as her.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  22. Thanks for a fun post and fun time. I sometimes am guilty of using some of those idioms LOL.
    Fun post means you are doing good, which is great.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Munir,

      Thank you for being part of this fun experience :) Looks like the cat's out of the bag :)

      Gary :)

      Delete
  23. haha yeah I've noticed a time or three that humans have a thing for animal references, they also seem to have a thing for bull umm spit

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    Replies
    1. Hi Pat in the Hatt,

      Humans talk a load of bull. I can hardly bear it.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  24. Aaah! The pressure! I'm desperately trying to think of clever animal-themed retorts and have come up totally empty-handed. Sigh. I'm blaming it on the farting cat. (That sounds as if it *should* be some obscure and silly phrase, but of course, I'm referring to my very own gassy cat.)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Ms. CrankyPants,

      The farting cat, fur sure. The farting cat is now going to be an official animal idiom. Talk about being the cat's ass :) What a gas.....

      Gary :)

      Delete
  25. NICE!
    Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet superstar, should love todays post!
    Unless she finds it unBearable.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi DAVID,

      She almost approved of this post. She did however, hound me over some of the idioms. Doesn't bear thinking about.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  26. Replies
    1. Hi Caren,

      I aint nothing but a hound dog, crying all the time....

      Gary :)

      Delete
  27. Dang I can remember my momma yelling, Close the door! Were you born in a barn? With all those idioms I imagine that is where that expression may have come from! :) Great post btw!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Gossip_Grl,

      Being born in a barn can make you stable. I've been informed you have to lock the barn door after the horse is gone.

      Thank you for liking this post. I appreciate that.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  28. If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it just might be a duck!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Robin,

      What the duck! Such a fowl comment. I like it and I wont duck the issue.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  29. Very clever! Hope it's not raining cats and dogs there!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Suzanne,

      Thanks. It's coming down in buckets.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  30. I like looking up the origin of idioms like those. I grew up hearing 'keep your eyes peeled' whenever looking for something.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi JoJo,

      Some of the origins make for fascinating reading. Peeling your eyes doesn't sound like much fun :)

      Gary :)

      Delete
  31. I agree with what everyone else has already said. You are a wise one, ole Gary-san. But you are also the cat's meow.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Joylene,

      I agree with all of them and you. Note how shy and humble I am. I'm the cat's meow and I'm wearing the cat's pyjamas. Enjoy your time in Mexico.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  32. Seriously. You are too funny. That would make the cutest kid's story. My guys would have had me reading a story with all those idioms over and over again!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Elizabeth,

      You are way too nice. Thanks. I'm feeling like the cat that got the cream! :)

      Gary :)

      Delete
  33. *LOL* Hilarious! I feel kind of dizzy like I've been on an amusement park ride now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Christine,

      As dizzy as a goose. This was like being at Playland :)

      Gary :)

      Delete
  34. This is fantastic!
    Made me laugh for sure.
    Chimp pansy.....ha ha, my stuffed baby chimpanzee is rolling his eyes over here.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi River,

      Glad you liked it. Thank you.

      Your stuffy baby chimpanzee is rolling his eyes? Sounds painful! :)

      Gary :)

      Delete
  35. Thanks for the laugh Gary :)

    ......dhole

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Donna,

      I'm really pleased this good make you laugh. I'm laughing like a hyena :)

      Gary :)

      Delete
  36. I agree with Elizabeth that this could be turned into the "cutest kid's story!" You could be the next Dr Doolittle or Dr Seuss!


    Julie

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    Replies
    1. Hi Julie,

      Elizabeth, just like you, is very clever. Dr. Seuss meets Mother Goose on a wild goose change with Dr. Doolittle :)

      Gary :)

      Delete
  37. I think I will Lion the bed for a while or I may go and Cow-er in the corner . . . HAH HHAH HAH HA HHAH AH ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Rob,

      Are you sure you aren't lion to me? Your comment was moooving. Aha and howl are you!

      Gary :)

      Delete
  38. HeeHee! Cute post Gary! It drives me nuts when the newscasters keep mixing these up... the other day one reporter was talking about fog and said it was" as thick as cats and dogs out"... what???

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi CraveCute,

      I think that reporter was in a fog. As thick as pea soup. Oh my, that does make me scratch my head!

      Gary :)

      Delete
  39. Fun stuff! After reading this, I realize we do have a plethora of animal idioms.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Medeia,

      More fun than a barrel of monkeys! There are so many animal idioms that I think I'm starting to talk pigeon English.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  40. This was a most entertaining read, Gary. I almost ducked for cover, but busy bee me just couldn't play possum or act a sloth. I'll leave you now with bird in hand while I eye the two in the bush.

    Later alligator. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Jeff,

      I love how you got involved with this. The early bird catches the worm. And I wont chicken out or duck the issue.

      In awhile, Crocodile.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  41. I've seen people chase wild geese, but I've also seen wild geese chase people, so we're good there. And swans. And ducks. And squirrels. That makes me feel squirrely just thinking about it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Shannon,

      You have? Wow, an actual wild human chase, perhaps. A lot of chasing in your neck of the woods. I wonder if you saw Rocky and Bullwinkle :)

      Gary :)

      Delete
  42. Cute post! I LOVE the raining cats and dogs pic - especially the little cat curled up on the girl's umbrella. Aww. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Lexa,

      Thank you. That photo is hilarious. I'm surprised Mary Poppins wasn't somewhere amongst that.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  43. You did well with this. LOL!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Shelly,

      Thank you and well a whale of a good time :)

      Gary :)

      Delete
  44. lol - I'm just giggling like a hyena over here! Too funny, Gary! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi M.J.,

      Hysterical laughing like a hyena alert! Thank you, dear friend.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  45. I love the photo of the wolf in sheep's clothing!

    Unfortunately, I have two children home from school today. Both of them are sick as dogs. What does that even mean anyway?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Leslie,

      Ah yes, the wolf in sheep's clothing. Sometimes I think I'm a lamb dressed up as mutton.

      In Britain, they say, "sick as a parrot", instead. I hope your children are okay.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  46. I've chased a wild turkey and escaped unscathed. Does that count?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Carol,

      Sure thing. Sounds like a sporting activity for Thanksgiving.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  47. I love puns Gary, so you had me rolling. I was going to come up with an animal idiom, but I don't give a hoot.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Maurice,

      Let the pundemonium continue :) Very good! I knew you were a wise old owl.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  48. Well, aren't you the bee's knees? Certainly no dumb bunny could come up with all these fun animal idioms. I guess that must make you a smart... gentleman.

    Happy weekend! I hope you and Penny are as snug as a couple bugs in a rug, and happy as a couple clams.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Susan,

      Yep, I sure is. Although some think I'm a snake in the grass as I cry crocodile tears.

      And a hoppy, happy weekend to you, Susan. Must go now, I have a frog in my throat.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  49. To say nothing of spanking the monkey, flogging the weasel, or yanking the trouser snake.
    Yeah, I guess I went there.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Al,

      Are you describing a "selfie"? Aren't you the dog's bollocks!

      Gary :)

      Delete
  50. I smiled all the way through that! Love it. And the responses are awesome! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Jemi,

      I'm glad this made you smile. The responses and the interaction really do make for a fun time. That and a barrel of monkeys! :)

      Gary :)

      Delete
  51. I Love!

    you are the Cat's Meowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Kim,

      Thank you. Some have called me the dog's bollocks. Evidently, that's a compliment!

      Gary :) x

      Delete
  52. Excellent collection of idioms! What a strange language we speak.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Susan,

      And I knew the collection would grow. As quiet as a church mouse, I shall now finish typing.

      Gary :)

      Delete

I do try to comment back to each commenter individually. However, I might have to shorten my replies or give a group thank you. That way, I can spend more time commenting on your blogs. Thank you and peace, my friend.