1、英语中关于动物的俚语一、狗/Dog在中国文化中狗的寓意有褒有贬，狗虽忠实但有些用于形容人的词语都是贬义，比如：狗东西、狐朋狗友、狼心狗肺等。而在西方文化中，狗是家中的宠物，可享受较高的待遇，最好的朋友，也是人们寄托感情的对象。Dog a dog in the manger 狗占马槽put on the dog 炫耀、摆阔go to the dogs 一蹶不振dog-eared books 读得卷了边的书dog sleep 不时惊醒的睡眠dog watch 夜班a sly dog 偷鸡摸狗者a yellow dog 杂种狗、卑鄙可耻的小人a big dog 看门狗、保镖、要人You are a
2、lucky dog! 你真是个幸运儿dog nose 啤酒与杜松子酒的混合酒a dog in a blanket 葡萄卷饼或卷布丁dog does not eat dag 同类不相残Every dog has his day 凡人皆有得意时Love me love my dog 爱屋及乌Sick as dog 病得厉害Top dog 最重要的人物As faithful as a dog 像狗一样忠诚dog-tired 像狗一样的累dog-eared books 读得卷了边的书dog watch 夜班old dog 上了岁数的人、老手He that lies down with dogs mus
3、t rise up with flea. 近朱者赤，近墨者黑A good dog deserves a good bone. 西方人论功行赏时常说 好狗应有好骨头a dog chance 极有限的一点儿机会（希望）dogs days 很热的日子rain cats and dogs 倾盆大雨go to the dogs 破产under dog 走狗sleeping dogs 阴险的人love me ,love my dog 爱屋及乌lead a dogs life 过着非人的生活let sleeping dogs lie 别惹事生非the Hong Kong dog 吃坏了肚子、拉肚子dog i
4、n the manger 占着- - to put on the dog 耍阔in the dog house 陷入困境a dog in the manger 占着茅坑不拉屎barking dog doesnt bite 虚张声势的人a (case of) dog eat dog.残酷的竞争；自相残杀。dressed like a dogs dinner.穿着十分时髦或显眼。put on the dog.炫耀；摆阔。teach an old dog new tricks.改变老人的想法，做法。go to the dogs.江河日下take a hair of the dog that bite
5、 you.以毒攻毒wake a sleeping dog.惹是生非二、鼠/Rat汉语中的“胆小如鼠” ， “鼠目寸光”等词皆有猥琐、卑微等意。作为英语俚语中的 rat指人时寓意与汉语稍有出入，但也有贬义。I can smell a rat 我觉得事有蹊跷You are a rat 你是一个鼠辈He rats me out 他把我给卖了love rat 爱情骗子mall rat 喜欢到购物中心去逛的年轻人smell a rat 不太对劲，感觉奇怪You dirty rat! 你这卑鄙的小人三、牛/Cow VS 马/horse中国人以牛比喻强壮、勤劳，而在英国马曾经是最重要的交通工具，牛则很少干活
6、，故马在英国文化中是勤劳和吃苦耐劳的象征。Have a cow 生气As happy as a cow 快乐的像只小鸟Why buy the cow when the milk is free. 何必为了一棵树放弃整片森林Dont have a cow 别大惊小怪till the cows come home 很久，很久cash cow 摇钱树Work like a horse 力大如牛Beat a dead horse 做无用功，徒劳Change horse in the midstream 临阵换将I am hungry. I can eat a horse. 我好饿，我可以吃下一匹马。H
7、orse white horse 白浪put the cart before the horse 车在马前(本末倒置)straight from the horses mouth 听马说的(根据最可靠的消息来源)a willing horse 积极工作的人hold ones horses 等一下、忍耐、控制自己的感情eat like a horse 吃得很多beat a dead horse 鞭打死马(徒劳)Dont look a gift horse in the mouth赠马不看牙(收人礼物别嫌好道歹 )a horse laugh 嘲笑high horse 趾高气扬、自以为很了不起on
8、a horse 快马加鞭hold your horse 稍等put the cart before the horse 本末倒置ride on ones high horse 趾高气扬a dark horse 黑马look a gift horse in the mouth.吹毛求疵四、老虎/tiger vs 狮子/lion如果在中国文化中老虎是“林中之王” ，那么在英美文化中这顶桂冠就要送给狮子。狮子隐喻勇敢、剽悍的人As majestic as a lion 勇猛威严The British Lion 不列颠之狮（英国）The lions mouth 虎穴Throw feed to the
9、lions 送入户口A lion in the way 拦路虎have a tiger by the tail 骑虎难下lion hearted 非常勇敢的the lions share 绝大部分ass in a lions skin 说大话的胆小鬼bold as a Essex lion(irony) 勇敢如艾塞克斯之狮lion-hearted person 勇敢的人If you dont enter a tigers den, you cant get his cubs. 不入虎穴，焉得虎五、兔/rabbit兔子在中国文化中可谓有褒有贬，生性温顺老实，所以属兔的人多被认为高贵大方、深受爱戴
10、。但“狡兔三窟” ， “兔崽子”等词又可以看出它的不好之处。在英语中则常用于贬义。Rabbit and hare are on behalf of insecurity or a person who played a game badly .不可靠或玩弄花招的人Rabbit 在口语中指拙劣的运动员（尤指网球运动员）Odd rabbit 该死rabbit punch (用掌边对某人颈背的)重击六、羊/sheep在中国的生肖文化中，属羊的人高贵迷人，热爱自然，有艺术气质，外柔内刚。而在英语中羊则多用于贬义。black sheep 败家子If one sheep leaps over the di
11、tch, all the rest will follow. 榜样的力量是无穷的。A lazy sheep thinks its wool heavy. 懒羊嫌毛重。 He that makes himself a sheep shall be eaten by the wolf. 甘心做绵羊，必然喂豺狼七、猪/Pig猪，贬义，提及猪意味着自私、贪吃、迟钝、懒惰、固执、粗鄙、肮脏。如“死猪不怕开水烫” 。buy a pig in a poke 瞎买东西八、狐狸/Fox VS 狼/Wolfa wolf in a sheeps clothing 披着羊皮的狼eat like a wolf 狼吞虎咽
12、be foxy 吹毛求疵的(1) Dont trust a goat with the kitchen-garden, or a wolf with sheepfold. 不能请羊管菜园,不能请狼管羊圈。 (2) Who keeps company with wolves, will learn to howl. 和狼在一起，就会学狼叫。(3) Man is a wolf to man. 人对人是狼。 （人心狠，人吃人） (4) A growing youth has a wolf in his belly. 年轻人，在成长，吃起饭来像饿狼 九、熊/Bear在中国人的心目中，熊的形象一般是“行
13、为缓慢” ，具有“呆傻”之态。指人时常说“熊样” ，股市中有“熊市”之说。Bear like a bear with a sore head 易怒的、脾气坏的a bear garden 嘈杂、喧闹的场所或者会议bear down 加倍努力十、猫/Cat猫在中国人眼中温顺可爱，中国人喜欢猫，而在西方文化中，猫是魔鬼“撒旦”的化身，是中世纪巫婆的守护神。尤其是黑猫让西方人深恶痛绝。Cat 在英语中谕指“可鄙的女人” 、 “恶妇” 。Cat like a cat on hot bricks 非常紧张、象热锅上的蚂蚁Set the cat among the pigeons 引来可能招惹是非或麻烦的人
14、或事物more than one way to skin a cat 剥猫皮各有巧妙不同( 另有办法)bell the cat 担当风险，挺身而出The cat among the pigeons. 人为刀俎，我为鱼肉rain cats and dogs 倾盆大雨a cat nap 打个盹儿let the cat out of the bag 放出袋中猫( 泄漏秘密)Kitty corner 小猫的角落(斜对角)a copy cat 抄袭作弊的人be like a cat on hot bricks 热锅上的蚂蚁let the cat out of the bag 泄密a fat cat 大款
15、，很有钱的人be catty 爱搬弄是非的，爱诽谤人的bell the cat 为别人利益冒险的cat & dog life 争吵不休的生活cat around 寻欢作乐let the cat out of bag 泄密make a cat laugh 好笑的see how the cat jumps 观望形势turn cat in the pan 背叛When the cat is away, the mice will play. 山中无老虎，猴子称代王十一、鱼/fishFish plenty of other fish in the sea海里鱼儿多的很(天涯何处无芳草 )fish in
16、 troubled waters 浑水摸鱼bigger fish to fry 有更大的鱼要炸 (有更重要的事情要办)like shooting fish in a barrel 桶里射鱼 (瓮中捉鳖)a big fish in a small pond 小地方的大人物Teach a fish to swim. 班门弄斧drink like a fish 牛饮a fish story 吹牛a fish out of water 失去依靠cold fish 冷血an odd/a queer fish .古怪的人，难以理解得人。十二、鸟/birdBird the early bird catche
17、s the worm早起的鸟 才能捉到虫(捷足先登 )an early bird 早到或者早起的人a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush 一鸟在手胜过两鸟在林Birds of a feather flock together 羽毛相同的鸟总飞成一群(物以类聚)for the birds 无聊、无趣、愚蠢的Feather makes a fine bird. 美人美衣Birds of a feather flock together.物以类聚jail bird 关在监狱里的人eat like a bird 吃的很少Kill two birds wi
18、th one stone. 一石二鸟birds of feather.一丘之貉十三、蛇/snakea snake in the grass 伪装成朋友的阴险小人十四、牛/BullBulls eye 正中红心 A bull in a china shop. 鲁莽的人Bull market 牛市其他：1、 sitting duck 容易上当的人2、 chicken feed 很小数量的钱I turned down the job at the hamburger restaurant, because they only pay chicken feed.3、 turkey farm 指领导把一些
19、能力低或不愿勤恳工作而又不能解雇的人调到的那个地方。 If you continue to behave that way, one day I am going to send you to the turkey farm.4、 goose bumps 鸡皮疙瘩5、 have a turkey on ones back 喝醉酒或吸毒成瘾6、 let sleeping dogs lie 别惹事生非7、 kill the goose that lays the golden eggs 杀鸡取卵8、 spring chicken 已不再年轻9、 nit- picker 刺儿头10、 talk tu
20、rkey 严肃地谈某事11、 Im hungry as a wolf! 我要饿死了！12、 chicken out(on) 逃脱13、 chicken-livered/hearted 胆小的，胆怯的14、 count the chickens before they are hatched 高兴的过早15、 be chicken 害怕，显得胆怯16、 run around like a chicken with its head cut off 晕头转向17、 turkey cock 装腔作势的人18、 Jack ass 愚蠢的人19、 get ants 紧张，烦躁20、 stool pige
21、on 卧底，内鬼21、 pigeon hearted 非常胆小(1) One swallow does not make a spring. 孤燕不报春。(2) One swallow does not make a summer. 一燕不成夏。As Busy as bee. 勤奋white elephant 大而无用的东西1. have a whale of a time.玩的非常痛快；过的非常愉快。2. a whale of a victory.巨大的胜利。4. a lamb of a temper.羔羊般的柔顺。5. a little shrimp of a fellow.一个小的像虾米
22、似的人at a snails pace.极慢的。monkey business.胡闹；骗人的把戏；恶作剧。18. cling/stick to sb. like a leech.纠缠某人不放；依附与某人。19. act/play the goat.举止轻浮；不负责任。20. separate the sheep form the goats.把好人同坏人分开。even a worm will turn.狗急跳墙look like a dying duck in a thunderstorm.惊慌失措break a butterfly on a wheel.小题大做cast peals befo
23、re swine.明珠暗投the cat weeping over the dead mouse 猫哭老鼠a narrow winding trail 羊肠小道even a worm will turn 狗急跳墙glare like a tiger eyeing its prey 虎视眈眈pull a tooth from the tigers mouth 虎口拔牙a tiger s head and a snakes tail 虎头蛇尾dragons and fishes jumbled together 鱼龙14 pass off fish eyes as pearls 鱼目混珠monst
24、ers and demons 牛神蛇鬼the fox borrows the tigers fierceness 狐假虎威a pack of rogues 狐朋狗党evil associates 狐朋狗友in bits and pieces 鸡零狗碎a mouse can see only an inch 鼠目寸光a horse galloping without a stop 马不停蹄gain an immediate 马到成功chicken feathers and garlic skins 鸡毛蒜皮even fowls and dogs are not spared 鸡犬不宁the cr
25、owing of cocks and the barking of dogs 鸡鸣犬吠monstrously audacious 狗胆包天 mere trash 狗屁不通拓展归类： 1. as busy as a bee.忙碌至极2. as merry as a cricket/ grig.非常高兴；非常快活。3. as slippery as an eel.油滑；不可靠。4. at one fell swoop.一举；一下子；刹那之间。5. beard the lion 捋虎须；奋勇还击；在太岁头上动土6. bell the cat.猫脖子拴铃铛；为了大家的利益承担风险。7. bird of
26、 passage.漂泊不定的人。8. birds of feather.一丘之貉。9. black sheep.败家子；害群之马；无用之辈。10. dark horse.黑马；竞争中出人意料的获胜者。11. break a butterfly on a wheel.小题大做；杀鸡用牛刀。12. buy a pig in a poke 买下没有看的东西；隔山买老牛。13. a pig in a poke 上当之货。14. by/on shankss mare. 骑两脚马 -徒步，步行。15. cannot make a silk purse out of a sowear.朽木不可雕也。坏材料做
27、不出好东西。16. cannot say boh /bo to a goose. 胆小如鼠。17. cast peals before swine.明珠暗投；对牛弹琴。18. cast sheeps eyes 送秋波；抛媚眼；以目传情。19. The cat among the pigeons. 猫在鸽群中-人为刀俎，我为鱼肉。20. cats paw. 被人当爪牙利用的人；受人愚弄的人。21. a cock-and-bull story.无稽之谈；荒诞的故事。22. cock-a-hoop.（俚）得意扬扬；自鸣得意。as busy as a bee （像蜜蜂）忙忙碌碌的as graceful as a swan （像天鹅）姿态优雅的as gentle as a lamb （像羊羔）性情温顺的as cunning as a fox （像狐狸）一样狡猾的as poor as a church mouse 一贫如洗b Buddy, where is john？ 要上厕所 ?Bungee jumping 蹦极跳a rug rat 还不会走路的小婴儿
