🐶 Animal Idioms
English has a remarkable habit of turning animals into characters in everyday conversation. You can bark up the wrong tree, cry wolf, let the cat out of the bag, or be as busy as a bee without anyone expecting an actual animal to appear.
These 11 idioms use animals to describe people, mistakes, secrets, problems, clever solutions, and everyday situations. Some have surprisingly old histories, while others are simply memorable ways of expressing an idea.
🐾 Animal Idioms
🌳 Bark Up the Wrong Tree
Meaning: To look in the wrong place, follow the wrong idea, or blame the wrong person.
Example:
If you think I deleted the files, you're barking up the wrong tree. I haven't even opened that folder.
Buscar en el lugar equivocado, seguir una idea errónea o culpar a la persona que no es.
🇫🇷 French: Faire fausse route
Chercher au mauvais endroit, suivre une mauvaise piste ou accuser la mauvaise personne.
🇩🇪 German: Auf dem Holzweg sein
Am falschen Ort suchen, der falschen Idee folgen oder die falsche Person beschuldigen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Sbagliare bersaglio
Cercare nel posto sbagliato, seguire un'idea errata o incolpare la persona sbagliata.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Latir para a árvore errada
Procurar no lugar errado, seguir a ideia errada ou culpar a pessoa errada.
🕰️ Origin: The expression comes from hunting. Dogs could chase an animal up a tree and then bark at the tree while the animal had escaped to another one. If the dog was barking at the wrong tree, it was looking in the wrong place.
Meaning: To look in the wrong place, follow the wrong idea, or blame the wrong person.
Example:
If you think I deleted the files, you're barking up the wrong tree. I haven't even opened that folder.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Ladrar al árbol equivocadoBuscar en el lugar equivocado, seguir una idea errónea o culpar a la persona que no es.
🇫🇷 French: Faire fausse route
Chercher au mauvais endroit, suivre une mauvaise piste ou accuser la mauvaise personne.
🇩🇪 German: Auf dem Holzweg sein
Am falschen Ort suchen, der falschen Idee folgen oder die falsche Person beschuldigen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Sbagliare bersaglio
Cercare nel posto sbagliato, seguire un'idea errata o incolpare la persona sbagliata.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Latir para a árvore errada
Procurar no lugar errado, seguir a ideia errada ou culpar a pessoa errada.
🕰️ Origin: The expression comes from hunting. Dogs could chase an animal up a tree and then bark at the tree while the animal had escaped to another one. If the dog was barking at the wrong tree, it was looking in the wrong place.
🐑 Black Sheep
Meaning: A person who is noticeably different from the other members of a family or group.
Example:
Everyone in her family became doctors, so she jokingly calls herself the black sheep because she became a documentary filmmaker instead.
Alguien que destaca por ser distinto al resto de la familia o del grupo.
🇫🇷 French: Le mouton noir
Une personne nettement différente des autres membres d'une famille ou d'un groupe.
🇩🇪 German: Das schwarze Schaf
Jemand, der sich deutlich von den anderen in der Familie oder in der Gruppe unterscheidet.
🇮🇹 Italian: La pecora nera
Una persona visibilmente diversa dagli altri membri della famiglia o del gruppo.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: A ovelha negra
Alguém bem diferente dos outros membros da família ou do grupo.
💡 Usage: Being the black sheep does not necessarily mean being a bad person. It often simply means being the unusual member of a group.
Meaning: A person who is noticeably different from the other members of a family or group.
Example:
Everyone in her family became doctors, so she jokingly calls herself the black sheep because she became a documentary filmmaker instead.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: La oveja negraAlguien que destaca por ser distinto al resto de la familia o del grupo.
🇫🇷 French: Le mouton noir
Une personne nettement différente des autres membres d'une famille ou d'un groupe.
🇩🇪 German: Das schwarze Schaf
Jemand, der sich deutlich von den anderen in der Familie oder in der Gruppe unterscheidet.
🇮🇹 Italian: La pecora nera
Una persona visibilmente diversa dagli altri membri della famiglia o del gruppo.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: A ovelha negra
Alguém bem diferente dos outros membros da família ou do grupo.
💡 Usage: Being the black sheep does not necessarily mean being a bad person. It often simply means being the unusual member of a group.
🐝 Busy as a Bee
Meaning: Extremely busy or constantly active.
Example:
I've been as busy as a bee all morning, answering emails, fixing the printer, and trying to finish the report before lunch.
Estar muy ocupado o en constante actividad.
🇫🇷 French: Occupé(e) comme une abeille
Être extrêmement occupé ou sans arrêt en mouvement.
🇩🇪 German: Beschäftigt wie eine Biene
Sehr beschäftigt oder ständig in Bewegung sein.
🇮🇹 Italian: Occupato/a come un'ape
Essere estremamente occupati o sempre in attività.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Ocupado(a) como uma abelha
Estar extremamente ocupado ou sempre em movimento.
💡 Usage: This is usually a lighthearted expression. It emphasizes energetic activity rather than simply saying that someone has a lot of work.
Meaning: Extremely busy or constantly active.
Example:
I've been as busy as a bee all morning, answering emails, fixing the printer, and trying to finish the report before lunch.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Ocupado/a como una abejaEstar muy ocupado o en constante actividad.
🇫🇷 French: Occupé(e) comme une abeille
Être extrêmement occupé ou sans arrêt en mouvement.
🇩🇪 German: Beschäftigt wie eine Biene
Sehr beschäftigt oder ständig in Bewegung sein.
🇮🇹 Italian: Occupato/a come un'ape
Essere estremamente occupati o sempre in attività.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Ocupado(a) como uma abelha
Estar extremamente ocupado ou sempre em movimento.
💡 Usage: This is usually a lighthearted expression. It emphasizes energetic activity rather than simply saying that someone has a lot of work.
🐺 Cry Wolf
Meaning: To repeatedly give false warnings until people stop believing you when there is a real problem.
Example:
The alarm has gone off six times this week because of burnt toast. If it sounds tonight, nobody may take it seriously. We've cried wolf too many times.
Dar falsas alarmas tantas veces que luego nadie te cree cuando el problema es de verdad.
🇫🇷 French: Crier au loup
Donner de fausses alertes jusqu'à ce que plus personne ne vous croie quand le danger est réel.
🇩🇪 German: Wolf schreien
Immer wieder falschen Alarm geben, bis einem niemand mehr glaubt, wenn es ernst wird.
🇮🇹 Italian: Gridare al lupo
Lanciare falsi allarmi finché la gente smette di crederti quando c'è un problema vero.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Gritar que o lobo vem
Dar falso alarme tantas vezes que as pessoas deixam de acreditar quando o problema é real.
🕰️ Origin: The expression comes from Aesop's well-known fable about a shepherd boy who repeatedly tricks villagers into believing that a wolf is attacking the sheep. When a real wolf finally appears, nobody believes his warning.
Meaning: To repeatedly give false warnings until people stop believing you when there is a real problem.
Example:
The alarm has gone off six times this week because of burnt toast. If it sounds tonight, nobody may take it seriously. We've cried wolf too many times.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Gritar que viene el loboDar falsas alarmas tantas veces que luego nadie te cree cuando el problema es de verdad.
🇫🇷 French: Crier au loup
Donner de fausses alertes jusqu'à ce que plus personne ne vous croie quand le danger est réel.
🇩🇪 German: Wolf schreien
Immer wieder falschen Alarm geben, bis einem niemand mehr glaubt, wenn es ernst wird.
🇮🇹 Italian: Gridare al lupo
Lanciare falsi allarmi finché la gente smette di crederti quando c'è un problema vero.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Gritar que o lobo vem
Dar falso alarme tantas vezes que as pessoas deixam de acreditar quando o problema é real.
🕰️ Origin: The expression comes from Aesop's well-known fable about a shepherd boy who repeatedly tricks villagers into believing that a wolf is attacking the sheep. When a real wolf finally appears, nobody believes his warning.
🐘 Elephant in the Room
Meaning: An obvious and important problem or subject that everyone knows about but deliberately avoids discussing.
Example:
We spent an hour discussing the new office layout, but nobody mentioned the elephant in the room: the company was moving out of the building.
Un problema obvio e importante que todos conocen pero evitan hablar de él.
🇫🇷 French: L'éléphant dans la pièce
Un problème évident et important que tout le monde connaît mais évite volontairement d'aborder.
🇩🇪 German: Der Elefant im Raum
Ein offensichtliches, wichtiges Thema, das alle kennen, aber bewusst nicht ansprechen.
🇮🇹 Italian: L'elefante nella stanza
Un problema ovvio e importante che tutti conoscono ma evitano di discutere.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: O elefante na sala
Um problema óbvio e importante que todo mundo conhece, mas evita discutir.
💡 Usage: The expression works because an elephant would be almost impossible to ignore in an actual room. The "elephant" is the obvious issue everyone is avoiding.
Meaning: An obvious and important problem or subject that everyone knows about but deliberately avoids discussing.
Example:
We spent an hour discussing the new office layout, but nobody mentioned the elephant in the room: the company was moving out of the building.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: El elefante en la habitaciónUn problema obvio e importante que todos conocen pero evitan hablar de él.
🇫🇷 French: L'éléphant dans la pièce
Un problème évident et important que tout le monde connaît mais évite volontairement d'aborder.
🇩🇪 German: Der Elefant im Raum
Ein offensichtliches, wichtiges Thema, das alle kennen, aber bewusst nicht ansprechen.
🇮🇹 Italian: L'elefante nella stanza
Un problema ovvio e importante che tutti conoscono ma evitano di discutere.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: O elefante na sala
Um problema óbvio e importante que todo mundo conhece, mas evita discutir.
💡 Usage: The expression works because an elephant would be almost impossible to ignore in an actual room. The "elephant" is the obvious issue everyone is avoiding.
🐦🪨 Kill Two Birds with One Stone
Meaning: To accomplish two goals with a single action.
Example:
I'll walk to the library instead of taking the bus. I can return my books and pick up some groceries on the way, so I'll kill two birds with one stone.
Conseguir dos objetivos con una sola acción.
🇫🇷 French: Faire d'une pierre deux coups
Atteindre deux buts avec une seule action.
🇩🇪 German: Zwei Fliegen mit einer Klappe schlagen
Zwei Ziele mit einer einzigen Handlung erreichen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Prendere due piccioni con una fava
Raggiungere due obiettivi con un'unica azione.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Matar dois coelhos com uma cajadada só
Cumprir dois objetivos com uma só ação.
🕰️ Origin: The expression has been used in English for centuries. A similar idea appears in much older expressions from other languages, but the familiar English wording became established by the 17th century.
Meaning: To accomplish two goals with a single action.
Example:
I'll walk to the library instead of taking the bus. I can return my books and pick up some groceries on the way, so I'll kill two birds with one stone.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Matar dos pájaros de un tiroConseguir dos objetivos con una sola acción.
🇫🇷 French: Faire d'une pierre deux coups
Atteindre deux buts avec une seule action.
🇩🇪 German: Zwei Fliegen mit einer Klappe schlagen
Zwei Ziele mit einer einzigen Handlung erreichen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Prendere due piccioni con una fava
Raggiungere due obiettivi con un'unica azione.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Matar dois coelhos com uma cajadada só
Cumprir dois objetivos com uma só ação.
🕰️ Origin: The expression has been used in English for centuries. A similar idea appears in much older expressions from other languages, but the familiar English wording became established by the 17th century.
🐱 Let the Cat Out of the Bag
Meaning: To reveal a secret, especially accidentally or before the intended time.
Example:
We were planning a surprise party for Nina, but Tom let the cat out of the bag when he asked her which cake she wanted.
Revelar un secreto, sobre todo sin querer o antes de tiempo.
🇫🇷 French: Vendre la mèche
Révéler un secret, surtout par accident ou trop tôt.
🇩🇪 German: Die Katze aus dem Sack lassen
Ein Geheimnis verraten, besonders versehentlich oder zu früh.
🇮🇹 Italian: Spifferare il segreto
Rivelare un segreto, soprattutto per sbaglio o prima del previsto.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Deixar o gato sair da sacola
Revelar um segredo, principalmente sem querer ou antes da hora.
💡 Usage: The expression is especially common when someone reveals information that was supposed to remain secret.
Meaning: To reveal a secret, especially accidentally or before the intended time.
Example:
We were planning a surprise party for Nina, but Tom let the cat out of the bag when he asked her which cake she wanted.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Irse de la lengua / descubrir el pastelRevelar un secreto, sobre todo sin querer o antes de tiempo.
🇫🇷 French: Vendre la mèche
Révéler un secret, surtout par accident ou trop tôt.
🇩🇪 German: Die Katze aus dem Sack lassen
Ein Geheimnis verraten, besonders versehentlich oder zu früh.
🇮🇹 Italian: Spifferare il segreto
Rivelare un segreto, soprattutto per sbaglio o prima del previsto.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Deixar o gato sair da sacola
Revelar um segredo, principalmente sem querer ou antes da hora.
💡 Usage: The expression is especially common when someone reveals information that was supposed to remain secret.
🦆 Like Water Off a Duck's Back
Meaning: To be unaffected by criticism, insults, or other unpleasant comments.
Example:
The restaurant received a harsh review, but the chef took it like water off a duck's back and went straight back to work.
No dejarse afectar por críticas, insultos u otros comentarios desagradables.
🇫🇷 French: Glisser comme l'eau sur les plumes d'un canard
Ne pas être affecté par les critiques, les insultes ou d'autres remarques désagréables.
🇩🇪 German: Abperlen wie Wasser vom Entenrücken
Von Kritik, Beleidigungen oder unangenehmen Kommentaren unberührt bleiben.
🇮🇹 Italian: Scivolare come l'acqua sul dorso di un'anatra
Non farsi toccare da critiche, insulti o altri commenti sgradevoli.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Escorrer como água no dorso de um pato
Não se deixar afetar por críticas, ofensas ou outros comentários desagradáveis.
💡 Usage: The image is easy to picture. Water lands on a duck's feathers and runs away instead of soaking in.
Meaning: To be unaffected by criticism, insults, or other unpleasant comments.
Example:
The restaurant received a harsh review, but the chef took it like water off a duck's back and went straight back to work.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Resbalarle como el agua a un patoNo dejarse afectar por críticas, insultos u otros comentarios desagradables.
🇫🇷 French: Glisser comme l'eau sur les plumes d'un canard
Ne pas être affecté par les critiques, les insultes ou d'autres remarques désagréables.
🇩🇪 German: Abperlen wie Wasser vom Entenrücken
Von Kritik, Beleidigungen oder unangenehmen Kommentaren unberührt bleiben.
🇮🇹 Italian: Scivolare come l'acqua sul dorso di un'anatra
Non farsi toccare da critiche, insulti o altri commenti sgradevoli.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Escorrer como água no dorso de um pato
Não se deixar afetar por críticas, ofensas ou outros comentários desagradáveis.
💡 Usage: The image is easy to picture. Water lands on a duck's feathers and runs away instead of soaking in.
🐇 Pull a Rabbit Out of a Hat
Meaning: To produce an unexpected solution, idea, or result when a difficult situation seems to have no easy answer.
Example:
With only one day left before the festival, the sound technician pulled a rabbit out of a hat and found a replacement system just in time.
Encontrar de pronto una solución inesperada cuando el problema parece no tener salida fácil.
🇫🇷 French: Sortir un lapin du chapeau
Trouver une solution, une idée ou un résultat inattendu quand la situation paraît sans issue simple.
🇩🇪 German: Ein Kaninchen aus dem Hut zaubern
Unerwartet eine Lösung finden, wenn eine schwierige Lage kaum einen Ausweg zu haben scheint.
🇮🇹 Italian: Tirare fuori un coniglio dal cappello
Produrre una soluzione o un'idea inaspettata quando la situazione sembra senza via d'uscita facile.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Tirar um coelho da cartola
Sair com uma solução inesperada quando a situação difícil parece não ter resposta fácil.
💡 Usage: The expression comes from the classic image of a magician unexpectedly producing a rabbit from a hat. It is often used for a clever or surprising last-minute solution.
Meaning: To produce an unexpected solution, idea, or result when a difficult situation seems to have no easy answer.
Example:
With only one day left before the festival, the sound technician pulled a rabbit out of a hat and found a replacement system just in time.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Sacar un conejo de la chisteraEncontrar de pronto una solución inesperada cuando el problema parece no tener salida fácil.
🇫🇷 French: Sortir un lapin du chapeau
Trouver une solution, une idée ou un résultat inattendu quand la situation paraît sans issue simple.
🇩🇪 German: Ein Kaninchen aus dem Hut zaubern
Unerwartet eine Lösung finden, wenn eine schwierige Lage kaum einen Ausweg zu haben scheint.
🇮🇹 Italian: Tirare fuori un coniglio dal cappello
Produrre una soluzione o un'idea inaspettata quando la situazione sembra senza via d'uscita facile.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Tirar um coelho da cartola
Sair com uma solução inesperada quando a situação difícil parece não ter resposta fácil.
💡 Usage: The expression comes from the classic image of a magician unexpectedly producing a rabbit from a hat. It is often used for a clever or surprising last-minute solution.
🐓 Running Around Like a Headless Chicken
Meaning: To rush around in a confused or panicked way without knowing what to do.
Example:
When the restaurant suddenly lost power, everyone was running around like headless chickens until the manager calmly found the emergency lights.
Correr de un lado a otro, confundido o en pánico, sin saber qué hacer.
🇫🇷 French: Courir comme un poulet sans tête
S'agiter dans tous les sens, confus ou paniqué, sans savoir quoi faire.
🇩🇪 German: Wie ein kopfloses Huhn herumrennen
Verwirrt oder panisch hin- und herrennen, ohne zu wissen, was zu tun ist.
🇮🇹 Italian: Correre come un pollo senza testa
Correre in giro confusi o in preda al panico, senza sapere cosa fare.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Correr como uma galinha sem cabeça
Correr de um lado para o outro, confuso ou em pânico, sem saber o que fazer.
💡 Usage: This is informal and usually humorous. It suggests frantic movement without much useful progress.
Meaning: To rush around in a confused or panicked way without knowing what to do.
Example:
When the restaurant suddenly lost power, everyone was running around like headless chickens until the manager calmly found the emergency lights.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Ir como un pollo sin cabezaCorrer de un lado a otro, confundido o en pánico, sin saber qué hacer.
🇫🇷 French: Courir comme un poulet sans tête
S'agiter dans tous les sens, confus ou paniqué, sans savoir quoi faire.
🇩🇪 German: Wie ein kopfloses Huhn herumrennen
Verwirrt oder panisch hin- und herrennen, ohne zu wissen, was zu tun ist.
🇮🇹 Italian: Correre come un pollo senza testa
Correre in giro confusi o in preda al panico, senza sapere cosa fare.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Correr como uma galinha sem cabeça
Correr de um lado para o outro, confuso ou em pânico, sem saber o que fazer.
💡 Usage: This is informal and usually humorous. It suggests frantic movement without much useful progress.
🐴 Straight from the Horse's Mouth
Meaning: Information obtained directly from the original or most authoritative source.
Example:
I didn't hear the story from a coworker or a friend. I got it straight from the horse's mouth when the director announced it herself.
Información obtenida directamente de la fuente original o más fiable.
🇫🇷 French: De source sûre / de première main
Une information obtenue directement à la source originale ou la plus fiable.
🇩🇪 German: Aus erster Hand
Informationen, die direkt von der ursprünglichen oder maßgeblichen Quelle stammen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Di prima mano
Informazioni ottenute direttamente dalla fonte originale o più autorevole.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Da boca do cavalo / de fonte segura
Informação obtida direto da fonte original ou mais confiável.
🕰️ Origin: The expression is traditionally associated with horse racing. Someone who wanted reliable information about a horse's condition or chances could get it directly from the horse itself, figuratively speaking, rather than from someone passing along a rumor. The phrase has been in use since at least the 20th century.
Meaning: Information obtained directly from the original or most authoritative source.
Example:
I didn't hear the story from a coworker or a friend. I got it straight from the horse's mouth when the director announced it herself.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: De buena tinta / de primera manoInformación obtenida directamente de la fuente original o más fiable.
🇫🇷 French: De source sûre / de première main
Une information obtenue directement à la source originale ou la plus fiable.
🇩🇪 German: Aus erster Hand
Informationen, die direkt von der ursprünglichen oder maßgeblichen Quelle stammen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Di prima mano
Informazioni ottenute direttamente dalla fonte originale o più autorevole.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Da boca do cavalo / de fonte segura
Informação obtida direto da fonte original ou mais confiável.
🕰️ Origin: The expression is traditionally associated with horse racing. Someone who wanted reliable information about a horse's condition or chances could get it directly from the horse itself, figuratively speaking, rather than from someone passing along a rumor. The phrase has been in use since at least the 20th century.
🧠 Useful Distinctions
🐺 Cry wolf vs. 🐘 Elephant in the room
Cry wolf is about giving warnings that people eventually stop believing.
Elephant in the room is about an obvious issue that people avoid discussing.
One is about too many warnings. The other is about too much silence.
Cry wolf is about giving warnings that people eventually stop believing.
Elephant in the room is about an obvious issue that people avoid discussing.
One is about too many warnings. The other is about too much silence.
🌳 Bark up the wrong tree vs. 🐴 Straight from the horse's mouth
If you're barking up the wrong tree, you're following the wrong explanation or blaming the wrong person.
If you've heard something straight from the horse's mouth, you've gone directly to the source.
One points toward the wrong source. The other emphasizes that you have the right one.
If you're barking up the wrong tree, you're following the wrong explanation or blaming the wrong person.
If you've heard something straight from the horse's mouth, you've gone directly to the source.
One points toward the wrong source. The other emphasizes that you have the right one.
🐇 Pull a rabbit out of a hat vs. 🐦🪨 Kill two birds with one stone
Pull a rabbit out of a hat emphasizes an unexpected or clever solution.
Kill two birds with one stone emphasizes efficiency. One action achieves two goals.
Pull a rabbit out of a hat emphasizes an unexpected or clever solution.
Kill two birds with one stone emphasizes efficiency. One action achieves two goals.
💬 Idioms in Everyday English
🎤 "I heard it straight from the horse's mouth."
Use this when you want to make clear that you got information directly from the person who knows about it.
🇫🇷 Je l'ai appris de source sûre.
🇩🇪 Ich habe es aus erster Hand gehört.
🇮🇹 L'ho saputo di prima mano.
🇵🇹 Soube da boca do cavalo.
Use this when you want to make clear that you got information directly from the person who knows about it.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Lo supe de buena tinta. / Me lo dijeron de primera mano.🇫🇷 Je l'ai appris de source sûre.
🇩🇪 Ich habe es aus erster Hand gehört.
🇮🇹 L'ho saputo di prima mano.
🇵🇹 Soube da boca do cavalo.
📢 "Don't cry wolf every time something goes wrong."
This suggests that repeated false alarms can make people ignore a genuine emergency.
🇫🇷 Ne crie pas au loup à chaque fois que quelque chose tourne mal.
🇩🇪 Schrei nicht jedes Mal Wolf, wenn etwas schiefgeht.
🇮🇹 Non gridare al lupo ogni volta che qualcosa va storto.
🇵🇹 Não grite que o lobo vem toda vez que alguma coisa dá errado.
This suggests that repeated false alarms can make people ignore a genuine emergency.
Show translations
🇪🇸 No grites que viene el lobo cada vez que algo sale mal.🇫🇷 Ne crie pas au loup à chaque fois que quelque chose tourne mal.
🇩🇪 Schrei nicht jedes Mal Wolf, wenn etwas schiefgeht.
🇮🇹 Non gridare al lupo ogni volta che qualcosa va storto.
🇵🇹 Não grite que o lobo vem toda vez que alguma coisa dá errado.
🤐 "Who let the cat out of the bag?"
A natural way to ask who revealed information that was supposed to remain secret.
🇫🇷 Qui a vendu la mèche ?
🇩🇪 Wer hat die Katze aus dem Sack gelassen?
🇮🇹 Chi ha spifferato il segreto?
🇵🇹 Quem deixou o gato sair da sacola?
A natural way to ask who revealed information that was supposed to remain secret.
Show translations
🇪🇸 ¿Quién se fue de la lengua?🇫🇷 Qui a vendu la mèche ?
🇩🇪 Wer hat die Katze aus dem Sack gelassen?
🇮🇹 Chi ha spifferato il segreto?
🇵🇹 Quem deixou o gato sair da sacola?
🚗 "We're going to the bank and the supermarket anyway, so let's kill two birds with one stone."
Here the idiom highlights the convenience of combining two tasks into one trip.
🇫🇷 On va de toute façon à la banque et au supermarché, alors autant faire d'une pierre deux coups.
🇩🇪 Wir müssen sowieso zur Bank und zum Supermarkt, also schlagen wir zwei Fliegen mit einer Klappe.
🇮🇹 Dobbiamo comunque andare in banca e al supermercato, quindi prendiamo due piccioni con una fava.
🇵🇹 Já vamos ao banco e ao supermercado mesmo, então vamos matar dois coelhos com uma cajadada só.
Here the idiom highlights the convenience of combining two tasks into one trip.
Show translations
🇪🇸 De todas formas vamos al banco y al súper, así que matamos dos pájaros de un tiro.🇫🇷 On va de toute façon à la banque et au supermarché, alors autant faire d'une pierre deux coups.
🇩🇪 Wir müssen sowieso zur Bank und zum Supermarkt, also schlagen wir zwei Fliegen mit einer Klappe.
🇮🇹 Dobbiamo comunque andare in banca e al supermercato, quindi prendiamo due piccioni con una fava.
🇵🇹 Já vamos ao banco e ao supermercado mesmo, então vamos matar dois coelhos com uma cajadada só.
🏆 Final Practice
English in the Real World:
Picture yourself in a conversation where someone is blaming the wrong person, giving false warnings, avoiding an uncomfortable subject, or finding a clever solution at the last minute. Choose the animal idiom that fits the situation best.
Picture yourself in a conversation where someone is blaming the wrong person, giving false warnings, avoiding an uncomfortable subject, or finding a clever solution at the last minute. Choose the animal idiom that fits the situation best.
Question 1 of 8
🌳
A coworker insists that you deleted an important file, but you know you never opened it. What would you say?
✅ Correct: 0
❓ Questions: 0
🎯 Accuracy: 0%