100 Country-Life Idioms Still Used Today

100 Country-Life Idioms Still Used Today

No. Item Definition
1. A bird in the hand A sure thing is better.
2. A cash cow Reliable source of profit.
3. A hard row to hoe A difficult task or situation.
4. A leopard can’t change its spots People don’t change easily.
5. A little bird told me I heard it indirectly.
6. A red herring A misleading clue.
7. A snake in the grass A hidden betrayer.
8. A wild goose chase A pointless search.
9. A wolf in sheep’s clothing Dangerous person pretending harmless.
10. As the crow flies In a straight line.
11. Barking up the wrong tree Blaming the wrong thing.
12. Big fish in a small pond Important in a small group.
13. Birds of a feather Similar people stick together.
14. Bite off more than you can chew Take on too much.
15. Bread and butter Main source of income.
16. Bring home the bacon Earn money for family.
17. Busy as a bee Very busy.
18. Butter someone up Flatter to gain favor.
19. Cast pearls before swine Offer value to the unworthy.
20. Chew the fat Chat casually.
21. Chicken out Lose courage; back down.
22. Compare apples and oranges Compare unlike things.
23. Cool as a cucumber Very calm.
24. Couch potato Inactive person.
25. Cry wolf Raise false alarms.
26. Curiosity killed the cat Being nosy can be risky.
27. Dig your heels in Refuse to change.
28. Dog-eat-dog Ruthlessly competitive.
29. Don’t count your chickens Don’t assume success too early.
30. Don’t throw the baby out Don’t discard the good with bad.
31. Every dog has its day Everyone gets a chance.
32. Fish or cut bait Decide and act.
33. Fly on the wall Invisible observer.
34. Full of beans Energetic and lively.
35. Get off your high horse Stop acting superior.
36. Go whole hog Do something completely.
37. Have your cake and eat it Want two incompatible benefits.
38. Hold your horses Wait; slow down.
39. Hook, line, and sinker Completely fooled.
40. Hot potato Controversial issue.
41. In a pickle In trouble.
42. In the same boat In the same situation.
43. Keep the wolf from the door Avoid hunger or poverty.
44. Keep your head above water Manage to survive financially.
45. Keep your nose to the grindstone Work hard and steadily.
46. Kill two birds with one stone Achieve two goals at once.
47. Know which side is buttered Know where advantage lies.
48. Let sleeping dogs lie Don’t stir up trouble.
49. Let the cat out of the bag Reveal a secret accidentally.
50. Like a bull in a china shop Clumsy and careless.
51. Like a fish out of water Uncomfortable in new situation.
52. Like a pig in mud Very pleased.
53. Like herding cats Hard to organize people.
54. Like moths to a flame Drawn to something risky.
55. Like rats leaving a sinking ship Abandoning a failing cause.
56. Living high on the hog Living very comfortably.
57. Lock the stable door Act too late to help.
58. Make a beeline Go straight toward something.
59. Make a clean sweep Eliminate everything at once.
60. Make hay while the sun shines Take advantage of good conditions.
61. Mend fences Repair relationships.
62. Milk it Exploit for advantage.
63. Miss the boat Lose an opportunity.
64. Neither fish nor fowl Hard to classify.
65. No spring chicken Not young anymore.
66. Not my cup of tea Not to my taste.
67. Not worth a hill of beans Not valuable at all.
68. Off the beaten track Away from usual places.
69. On the right track Proceeding correctly.
70. Open a can of worms Create more problems.
71. Out of the woods Out of danger.
72. Pig out Eat too much.
73. Plenty of fish in the sea Many other options exist.
74. Put all eggs in one basket Risk everything on one plan.
75. Put the fox in charge Give power to untrustworthy person.
76. Rat race Fierce, endless competition.
77. Rock the boat Cause trouble or instability.
78. Rule the roost Be in charge.
79. Sacred cow Untouchable belief or institution.
80. Separate wheat from chaff Sort valuable from worthless.
81. Sly as a fox Very cunning.
82. Small potatoes Something unimportant.
83. Smell a rat Suspect something is wrong.
84. Spill the beans Reveal a secret.
85. Stir up a hornet’s nest Cause trouble by interfering.
86. Straight from the horse’s mouth From the original source.
87. Take the bull by the horns Face a problem directly.
88. The cat’s out of the bag A secret is revealed.
89. The early bird gets the worm Early action brings advantage.
90. The grass is greener Others seem better off.
91. The worm turns The oppressed fight back.
92. There’s more than one way Multiple solutions exist.
93. Throw someone to the wolves Sacrifice someone to save yourself.
94. Till the cows come home For a very long time.
95. Water under the bridge Past events no longer important.
96. When life gives you lemons Make the best of trouble.
97. When pigs fly Never; impossible.
98. Worth one’s salt Competent and deserving respect.
99. Wouldn’t hurt a fly Very gentle.
100. You reap what you sow Actions bring matching results.