Cat and dog idioms
Plus the pros and cons of learning idioms
Hello!
Do you have a pet? Many years ago, my family had a lovely cat called George! I’ve often thought about getting a cat of my own but never have. I like dogs too but I wouldn’t want to have one. Cats are easier to look after!
Anyway, today, I thought I’d share a few cat and dog idioms with you. It’s amazing how many we have! I’ve tried to pick out the ones which I think are used the most often.
Cats
Don't let the cat out of the bag.
We say this when we have a secret, for example, planning a surprise birthday party. It means be careful what you say and don't tell anyone. Don't let the secret out, even by saying something accidentally.
That put / will put the cat among the pigeons.
That caused / will cause an argument or an upset.
A copycat
A person who copies what other people do instead of having their own ideas.
You can find more cat idioms here.
Dogs
He's in the dog house.
He did something wrong and now people are angry or upset with him.
Her bark is worse than her bite.
She seems like a scary person at first but she's harmless really.
Let sleeping dogs lie.
Don't interfere. Forget about it. Leave it alone because you don't want to make things worse.
You can find more dog idioms here.
Cats AND dogs!
They fight like cat and dog (UK) / They fight like cats and dogs (USA)
They are always having angry arguments with each other.
It's raining cats and dogs
It's raining heavily.
I’ve seen lots of posts on social media telling learners not to use this one. They say it’s old-fashioned but I don’t know how true that is. I still use it! I am middle-aged though!!
A word of warning about idioms
Idioms are fun. Many learners enjoy learning and using them. But there are so many that you’ll never know them all. That’s OK. I don’t know them all either!
If you’re talking to other people who speak English as a second language, they probably won’t know the same idioms as you (although I think everyone knows “raining cats and dogs”!)
Even native English speakers don’t know them all. Some idioms are specific to Britain and not known in America, and vice versa. Some idioms are regional so they’re only known in one part of the country. And some are specific to a certain age group.
Learning idioms can be useful if you want to live in an English-speaking country, or if you want to understand songs, movies and so on.
But using idioms when you speak isn’t always the best idea. They are usually informal and not suitable in a more formal context. Also, they should perhaps be avoided in international communication where simple and clear language is better.
Exciting news!
Something new is coming to “Learn English with Katie” on Substack next week. I can’t share all the details just yet, but if you enjoy learning with me, you won’t want to miss it! I'll reveal everything next week!
Katie 💙
PS I also have a second newsletter which is aimed at professional women who want to use English at work. If that’s you, you can sign up here.
Thank you very much
Thank you teacher and nice day