oologists
aren’t the only ones who closely observe animals. Apparently, language
experts are just as interested in birds and beasts. Their examination of
the living world is obvious in the many idioms that take cues from
animal behaviour.Badger someone: persuade someone to do what
one wants by harassing and bothering them.
My son has been badgering me
for the past month to buy him a mobile phone.
Make a beast/pig of
oneself: eat too much.
I made such a pig of myself at the party
last night that I am feeling quite sick today.
Eager beaver:
someone who works very hard and is eager to do something.
The new
recruit is such an eager beaver that he comes to office even on
Sunday.
Have a bee in one’s bonnet (about something): be
continually occupied with or obsessed by an idea or thing.
My mother
has a bee in her bonnet about cleanliness. Whenever you see her she has
a scrubber in her hand.
Make a beeline for something: hurry
towards something, taking the quickest and most direct way.
By the time
I reach home from office I am so hungry that I make a beeline for the
refrigerator.
A lone wolf: someone who prefers to be alone or
has little social contact with others.
I have invited my new neighbour
over many times but he has never visited me. He appears to be a lone
wolf.
A bird in the hand (is worth two in the bush): it is
better to keep what you have than to risk losing it by trying to get
something better.
Even though the college which is offering me a seat
is not the one I had hoped to study in, I think I will take admission
because a bird in the hand...
Early bird: an early riser.
I
would love to go for a morning walk, but alas, I am not an early bird.
The
bird has flown: someone has escaped or disappeared.
After searching
for the murderer for two weeks, the police gave up. It was obvious that
the bird had flown.
A bird’s eye view: a view from a very high
place which allows you to see a large area.
When you look down from
Monkey Point in Kasauli, you get a bird’s eye view of Chandigarh.
Eat
like a bird: eat very little.
Ever since my teenage daughter
decided to lose weight, she has been eating like a bird.
Birds of a
feather: people with similar traits or interests.
My friend and I
have so much in common that my mother often says we are birds of a
feather.
Kill two birds with one stone: achieve two ends with
one action.
By enrolling my son in a hobby class I have killed two
birds with one stone. Not only is he learning something useful but he is
also watching less TV.
A home bird: someone who prefers to spend
his free time at home.
A couple of years ago I enjoyed partying, but
now I have become quite a home bird.
