act like an ape

MEANING: behave badly, wildly, foolishly
EXAMPLE:
He has been acting like an ape ever since his girlfriend left him.
bark up the wrong tree

MEANING: choose the wrong course of action
EXAMPLE:
He is barking up the wrong tree. He accuses me of causing the computer problem but I was away at the time.
Her bark is worse than her bite

MEANING: someone’s words are worse than their action
EXAMPLE:
You shouldn’t worry about her. Her bark is worse than her bite and she is really a very nice person.

bet on the wrong horse

MEANING: misread the future
EXAMPLE:
He is betting on the wrong horse if he keeps supporting the other city in their bid for the games.
bull in a china shop

MEANING: a person with no tact who upsets others or upsets plans
EXAMPLE:
He is like a bull in a china shop so you should be careful if you invite him to your house for the weekend.
cash cow

MEANING: a good way to make money
EXAMPLE:
The new business is a great cash cow. We are making a lot of money now.
cat get one’s tongue

MEANING: can’t speak because of shyness
EXAMPLE:
The cat must have got her tongue. She did not saying anything at all.
cat nap

MEANING: a short sleep taken during the day
EXAMPLE:
I had a cat nap during the afternoon so I would feel refreshed in the evening.

change horses in midstream

MEANING: make new plans or choose a new leader in the middle of an important activity
EXAMPLE:
They have decided to change lawyers but I told them that they shouldn’t change horses in midstream.
copycat

MEANING: someone who copies another person’s work etc.
EXAMPLE:
He is a copycat according to the other students in the class.
cry wolf

MEANING: give a false alarm; warn of a danger that is not there.
EXAMPLE:
He is crying wolf. There is no real danger or worry about the electrical system causing a fire.
curiosity killed the cat

MEANING: being too nosy may lead a person into trouble
EXAMPLE:
You shouldn’t worry about what he is doing. Remember curiosity killed the cat.
dark horse

MEANING: a candidate little known to the general public
EXAMPLE:
He was a dark horse in the race to be President until he gave some good speeches on TV.
dog-eat-dog

MEANING: ready or willing to fight and hurt others to get what one wants
EXAMPLE:
It is a dog-eat-dog world outside the father said to his young son.
donkey’s years

MEANING: a very long time
EXAMPLE:
I talked to my friend for a long time because I hadn’t seen her in donkey’s years.

dumb bunny

MEANING: stupid or gullible person
EXAMPLE:
He really is a dumb bunny. I can’t believe that he can do such stupid things.
eager beaver

MEANING: a person who is always eager to work or do something extra
EXAMPLE:
She is a real eager beaver and I am sure she will do very well in this company.
eat like a horse

MEANING: eat a lot
EXAMPLE:
Her brother who is 18 years old eats like a horse.
every dog has his day

MEANING: everyone will have his chance or turn; everyone will get what he deserves
EXAMPLE:
Don’t worry about him. Every dog has his day and he will eventually suffer for all the bad things that he is doing.
fraidy-cat

MEANING: someone who is easily frightened (used by children)
EXAMPLE:
The little boy called his friend a fraidy-cat because he wouldn’t climb the tree.

get on one’s high horse
MEANING: behave with arrogance
EXAMPLE:
She is always getting on her high horse and telling people what to do.
get off one’s high horse

MEANING: begin to be humble and agreeable
EXAMPLE:
I wish that she would get off her high horse and begin to think about how other people feel about things.
go ape

MEANING: become highly excited or angry
EXAMPLE:
He will go ape if he sees that you have not finished the work that was due today