Animal Idioms for IELTS Speaking

Here are useful idioms and expression about Animals to help you answer IELTS questions in a natural way in the IELTS speaking test.

1. As busy as a beaver: extremely busy

• My BFF is as busy as a beaver with the upcoming arduous test. She has no time for anything else.

1. As quite as a mouse: being extremely quiet

• She walked into the room as quite as a mouse

3. Take the bull by the horns: face to a difficult or dangerous situation directly and with courage.

• I decide to take the bull by the horns and tell him he was upsetting Jane.

4. Do the donkey work: do manual labor or jobs that are routine or least important.

• If you tell him to take it easy, he’ll sit back and let you do all the donkey work.

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5. Flog/whip a dead horse: waste time on something unlikely to be successful

• Invest in shares and the chances are you’ll be flogging a dead horse.

6. A lion’s share: the largest or best plan of something when it is divided.

• The lion’s share of her money – over 80% – went to her nephews and nieces.

7. A stag night: a social/drinking evening for groom’s male friends prior to wedding.

• I’m having my stag night on the same day as my Sue is having her hen night.

8. Keep the wolf from the door: earn enough to buy food and other essentials.

• If you can’t get a better job, you won’t be able to keep the wolf from the door.

9. Dog tired: very tired

• He was dog tired – out on call all night and then took surgery in the morning.

10. Let sleeping dogs lie: not interfere; not mention something that could cause trouble

• She doesn’t need to know he’s been unfaithful. Let sleeping dogs lie.

11. Let the cat out the bag: reveal a secret

• He couldn’t keep it secret, let the cat out of the bag and told her everything.

12. Cat nap smell a rat: sense that something is wrong.

• They intended to trick him but they were always larking about and he smelt a rat.

13. A wild goose chase: a search that has no chance of success.

• I didn’t know her flight number so trying to find Amy at Heathrow was a bit of a wild goose chase.

14. Chicken out: Stop participating in something which is too dangerous or difficult.

• They are short of funds so I think they’re going to chicken out of this project.

15. A fish out of water: A person who feels uncomfortable or awkward because he or she is in surroundings that are not familiar.

•  I didn’t know anyone at the reception so felt like a fish out of water.

     16. Have a cow : get extremely upset , angry, worried

• Their parents had a cow when they saw the mess their sons made.
• Example:
  Use have a cow in the speaking test:
  

  When was the last time ou got upset about something You should say what had happened why did it upset you what did you do  and how did you cheer yourself up after it?

Also check :

• IELTS Speaking
• IELTS Speaking preparation tips
• Linking words for IELTS Speaking
• IELTS Speaking recent actual test
• Sports Vocabulary IELTS
• Work Vocabulary IELTS
• Idioms for IELTS Speaking
• IELTS Pronunciation Guide
• Common English words in IELTS Speaking
• Ough words