English Idioms (Part 5)
21/11/17 English Idioms (Part 5)
21. Butterflies in one’s stomach
When you say that you have butterflies in your stomach, you’re saying that you’re very nervous. Sometimes when you get nervous, you get a fluttery feeling in your stomach, similar to the way butterflies flutter around.
Example: I was so nervous before my speech, I had butterflies in my stomach.
22. All bark and no bite
Another dog idiom. Dogs of all breeds will bark, but many are harmless. If you’re saying that someone is all bark and no bite, you’re saying that they give threats but won’t act on them. They may seem scary or intimidating, but they’re totally harmless.
Example: My boss yells a lot, but he’s all bark and no bite.
23. Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
Meaning: A question that shows that there may be no right answer
24. Wolf in sheep’s clothing
Meaning: Something or someone dangerous presenting as gentle, weak or innocent
Example: Don’t trust him, he’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
25. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks
When someone says “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” they’re saying that there’s no point in changing someone’s established routine. They may also say that it’s very difficult to teach a new task to someone, almost impossible. This phrase comes from the difficulty of training older dogs.
Example: My mom won’t learn how to use the computer. I guess you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.
