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1. chicken 2. chicken livered What?! You're afraid of ghosts?! I can't believe you're such a chicken.
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Having something for certain is better than the possibility of getting something better. start learning
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A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. I didn't want to sell the house so cheap, but there was only one buyer and, after all, a bird in hand is better than two in the bush.
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Something that is completly different from something else that has been talked about. start learning
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a different kettle of fish We can talk about children too, but it's a different kettle of fish, so first let's talk about work.
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An elevated view of an object from above, with a perspective as though the observer were a bird. start learning
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It would be fun to see our city from the bird's eye view.
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People who have similar characters or similar interests will often choose to spend time together. start learning
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Birds of a feather flock together. They have very much in common and they get on very well. Birds of a feather flock together.
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Short sleep, during the day. start learning
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I like taking cat naps in the afternoon.
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When someone thinks he is the cat's whiskers they think they're better than everyone else. start learning
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She always thought that she were the cat's whiskers but she was nothing special.
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Someone who doesn't show their feelings. start learning
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She wouldn't be a good actress, she's a real cold fish.
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Someone who is part of a group but is different and often disliked, or a problem that grows quickly and crowds out everything else. start learning
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This new manager proved to be just a cuckoo in the nest.
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A person who is secretive and often does something surprising. start learning
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He was a dark horse, nobody believed he would win the election, but now he is our president.
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start learning
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We shouldn't have taken this credit, it was a dead duck.
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If something is dog-eared, it is in bad condition. start learning
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I've told you a hundred times, don't wear this trousers they're dog-eared.
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Sometimes all you need to succeed is luck. start learning
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Even a blind squirrel can find a nut once in a while. I didn't think she was that clever! But on the other hand, even a blind squirrel can find a nut once in a while.
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Someone who is very rich and powerful. start learning
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Look at that girl, her mother is a fat cat in this city.
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It's said when someone is very quiet. start learning
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Has the cat got your tongue? Why don't you say anything, has the cat got your tongue?
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It's raining very heavily. start learning
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It's raining cats and dogs! You are thoroughly wet! Anyway, it's not surprising it's raining cats and dogs.
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We say it when we are not pleased with somebody's arrival. start learning
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Look what the cat dragged in! Look what the cat dragged in! That wasn't the best timing.
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Used to describe a place that is very small. start learning
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not enough room to swing a cat This place isn't very spacious, in fact, there's not enough room to swing a cat.
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Someone who is frightened for no reason. start learning
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Instead of calling someone a chicken you can call them a scaredy-cat.
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A long joke or story with a silly ending. start learning
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I love telling shaggy dog stories, but people seldom laugh at them.
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If you do something in a timely manner you will succeed. start learning
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The early bird catches the worm. I don't like getting up early, but I force myself to do it. I remember that the early bird catches the worm.
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Something everyone knows about but no one talks about. start learning
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That fact that he was sacked from his job was the elephant in the room.
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When a usually meek person or group of people becomes angry. start learning
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When the government introduced taxes for students the worm has turned and young people hit the streets.
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To pester someone into doing something. start learning
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Stop badgering me, I won't smoke a cigarette!
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My mother is as sly as a fox, she can always talk me into things I didn't, at first, intend to do.
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I'm always dog tired after running.
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to be like a bear with a sore head When I don't get enough sleep I'm like a bear with sore head.
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to be like a bull in a china shop Please, be careful! You're like a bull in a china shop.
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To be nervous and unable to keep still. start learning
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to be like a cat on a hot tin roof You are like a cat on hot tin roof, don't worry so much.
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to be like a dog with two tails He was like a dog with two tails when he was promoted.
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To be so frightened or surprised that you cannot move or think. start learning
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to be like a rabbit in the headlights Every time I have to answer the teacher's question I'm like a rabbit in the headlights.
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To have ideas or plans that are completely unrealistic. start learning
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to be living in cloud cuckoo land I hate when my father talks about buying a house in the country! I think he's living in cloud cuckoo land.
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To raise a false alarm about something. start learning
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Don't cry wolf, this snake is harmless.
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I eat very little, but my brother... he eats like a horse.
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Noisy neighbours really get my goat.
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To become associated with something powerful and potentially dangerous. start learning
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to grab a tiger by the tail Don't tease him, he's much stronger than you, you'll grab a tiger by the tail.
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To be unable to keep still because you are very excited or worried about something. start learning
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to have ants in one's pants Can you sit still for a moment? You look as if you had ants in your pants.
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To hear something interesting from someone actually involved. start learning
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to hear something straight from the horse's mouth They are going to raise taxes, I've heard it straight from the horse's mouth, I spoke to prime minister.
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To solve two problems with a single action. start learning
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to kill two birds with one stone When I go to visit John I can also come by my grandmother and kill to birds with one stone.
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to let the cat out of the bag I knew, you are going to organize a surprise party for me, John let the cat out of the bag.
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To look very pleased and a bit smug about something. start learning
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to look like the cat that got the cream Let me guess! You've passed the test? You look like the cat that got the cream.
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To do something that exposes a very difficult issue or set of problems. start learning
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Don't mention politics, if you do you'll open a can of worms.
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To surprise everyone by suddenly doing or saying something clever. start learning
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to pull a rabbit out of the hat His story seemed to have no sense at all and then he pulled a rabbit out of the hat and everything became clear.
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to put a cat among the pigeons Think twice before you tell them anything, you'd better not put a cat among pigeons.
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To speak frankly and openly. start learning
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John wanted to talk turkey, but Jane just wanted to joke around.
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