A paper tiger is an expression drawn from a Chinese saying. A paper tiger may pose in a threatening way, but it is actually completely harmless.
A native English expression with a similar meaning is "its bark is worse than its bite," referring to dogs.
Example: Asian politicians and leaders such as Mao Zedong have sometimes referred to the United States as "a paper tiger," describing it as far more menacing in abstract than it would be in reality. Of course, using this description was itself a great deal of political posturing.
Actual paper tigers can be made using origami.
Showing posts with label Animals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Animals. Show all posts
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Monday, August 16, 2010
Review: Animal Idioms
John was always an eager beaver whenever he bought a new tool. First, he would be a busy bee around the house, repairing or renovating everything in sight. Then, he would put his tools away in his overcrowded garage. John was a packrat who never threw a single tool away, leaving his garage very crowded.
Reginald was a fat cat who had made hundreds of millions during the real estate boom. However, his best known project, an expensive hotel, was criticized as a white elephant that consumed a great deal of money while delivering very little in return.
Carol believed at one time that her husband was being faithful, but she smelled a rat when he was arriving "late from work" one too many times. Carol's friend Sandra let the cat out of the bag by telling Carol that her husband had indeed been unfaithful; he had been sleeping with Sandra! This revelation opened a can of worms by causing a great deal of friction between the one-time friends.
Veronica enjoys pigging out at the local fast food restaurant. Often, she can be seen wolfing down a hamburger during her lunch break. Peter, an acquaintance, asked Veronica's friend Kathy if Veronica would ever eat in a more dignified and ladylike manner. Kathy replied, "Yeah, when pigs fly!"
Donald was speaking with his grandmother over the phone. She was having difficulty speaking clearly. Donald asked, "Are you all right? You sound like you have a frog in your throat. You should be careful. People have been dropping like flies with the flu this year. If you don't feel well, you need to see a doctor."
Reginald was a fat cat who had made hundreds of millions during the real estate boom. However, his best known project, an expensive hotel, was criticized as a white elephant that consumed a great deal of money while delivering very little in return.
Carol believed at one time that her husband was being faithful, but she smelled a rat when he was arriving "late from work" one too many times. Carol's friend Sandra let the cat out of the bag by telling Carol that her husband had indeed been unfaithful; he had been sleeping with Sandra! This revelation opened a can of worms by causing a great deal of friction between the one-time friends.
Veronica enjoys pigging out at the local fast food restaurant. Often, she can be seen wolfing down a hamburger during her lunch break. Peter, an acquaintance, asked Veronica's friend Kathy if Veronica would ever eat in a more dignified and ladylike manner. Kathy replied, "Yeah, when pigs fly!"
Donald was speaking with his grandmother over the phone. She was having difficulty speaking clearly. Donald asked, "Are you all right? You sound like you have a frog in your throat. You should be careful. People have been dropping like flies with the flu this year. If you don't feel well, you need to see a doctor."
A Busy Bee
A "busy bee" is someone or some creature who or that is very busy, like an industrious worker bee.
Example: "Lucy was a busy bee around the house, washing dishes, dusting shelves, and doing the laundry."
Example: "Lucy was a busy bee around the house, washing dishes, dusting shelves, and doing the laundry."
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Smelling A Rat
Just as something being "fishy" describes something suspicious, to "smell a rat" is to suspect trickery or treachery.
Trickery is as in fraud. Treachery is as in betrayal. Also, in criminal culture, "a rat" is a police informant. This term has spread into popular culture; "ratting" or "ratting out" is to inform on someone and betray that person to an authority of some kind, whether lawful (police) or unlawful (organized crime).
Example: "I considered buying that car at nine thousand dollars, but I smelled a rat. The car should have been worth much more. I looked deeper and discovered that the engine will need to be replaced. That'll add thousands of dollars to the price. I want a good car for $9000, but I want one in good condition."
When a dog bred to hunt rats acts like it is suspicious, it probably smells a rat. This is the origin of the expression.
Trickery is as in fraud. Treachery is as in betrayal. Also, in criminal culture, "a rat" is a police informant. This term has spread into popular culture; "ratting" or "ratting out" is to inform on someone and betray that person to an authority of some kind, whether lawful (police) or unlawful (organized crime).
Example: "I considered buying that car at nine thousand dollars, but I smelled a rat. The car should have been worth much more. I looked deeper and discovered that the engine will need to be replaced. That'll add thousands of dollars to the price. I want a good car for $9000, but I want one in good condition."
When a dog bred to hunt rats acts like it is suspicious, it probably smells a rat. This is the origin of the expression.
A Packrat
The Packrat - genus Neotoma - is a type of rodent of western North America that is famous for hoarding food and other objects.
Similarly, when a human is referred to as "a packrat," the person is being described as someone who hoards objects, finding ever more creative ways to pack the maximum amount of possessions in the space available.
Example: "Jerry's a total packrat. He never throws his old junk away. His house is so packed full of old things, you can barely walk in it! He needs to throw that junk out!"
Well, as a famous proverb says, one man's trash is another man's treasure. A packrat wants to keep objects around because they could be useful in the future; thus, they are held for their potential value, not their value at the present. To someone else, these objects are junk; to the packrat, they are much more valuable. Only time can tell us if the packrat is correct in his assessments, or is simply overzealous and obsessive beyond the point of reason.
Similarly, when a human is referred to as "a packrat," the person is being described as someone who hoards objects, finding ever more creative ways to pack the maximum amount of possessions in the space available.
Example: "Jerry's a total packrat. He never throws his old junk away. His house is so packed full of old things, you can barely walk in it! He needs to throw that junk out!"
Well, as a famous proverb says, one man's trash is another man's treasure. A packrat wants to keep objects around because they could be useful in the future; thus, they are held for their potential value, not their value at the present. To someone else, these objects are junk; to the packrat, they are much more valuable. Only time can tell us if the packrat is correct in his assessments, or is simply overzealous and obsessive beyond the point of reason.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
A Frog In Your Throat
If a person really did have a frog in his or her throat, that person would have a very difficult time speaking. As an idiom, to have a frog in your throat means to be speaking with a hoarse voice.
Hoarse means gruff, deep, and harsh. It is usually caused by some kind of illness.
Example: "Mary, are you all right? You sound like you have a frog in your throat." "Ah, I'm fine, it's just a cold, nothing serious." Here, Mary's voice sounds hoarse, but it is not (to anyone's knowledge) caused by a serious illness, but by the common cold.
Hoarse means gruff, deep, and harsh. It is usually caused by some kind of illness.
Example: "Mary, are you all right? You sound like you have a frog in your throat." "Ah, I'm fine, it's just a cold, nothing serious." Here, Mary's voice sounds hoarse, but it is not (to anyone's knowledge) caused by a serious illness, but by the common cold.
When Pigs Fly
One of English's more colorful idioms, "when pigs fly" describes an extremely unlikely event, one that will never realistically come to pass.
Pigs would only fly (legitimately) if they sprouted angel-like wings and began flying on their own power. This is a ridiculous idea, and is used to ridicule another idea.
Example: "Think you might wind up marrying Ray someday?" "Me? Marry that fat, lazy slob Ray? When pigs fly!!" In this case, the speaker is strongly denying that there is even a remote possibility of marrying "Ray."
Pigs would only fly (legitimately) if they sprouted angel-like wings and began flying on their own power. This is a ridiculous idea, and is used to ridicule another idea.
Example: "Think you might wind up marrying Ray someday?" "Me? Marry that fat, lazy slob Ray? When pigs fly!!" In this case, the speaker is strongly denying that there is even a remote possibility of marrying "Ray."
Horsing Around
To "horse around" is to play roughly, without regard for normal limitations such as rules or safety.
Real horses play very energetically and roughly. This is why "horsing around" creates an image of rough, physical activity. However, children "horsing around" can cause damage to private property, or injury to themselves or each other. Parents and school teachers usually limit or ban horsing around for this reason.
Example: "Ted and Tommy were horsing around outside. Because of that, Ted tripped and scraped his left knee. Their mother should tell them to tone it down."
The word horseplay (a noun) represents the act of horsing around.
Real horses play very energetically and roughly. This is why "horsing around" creates an image of rough, physical activity. However, children "horsing around" can cause damage to private property, or injury to themselves or each other. Parents and school teachers usually limit or ban horsing around for this reason.
Example: "Ted and Tommy were horsing around outside. Because of that, Ted tripped and scraped his left knee. Their mother should tell them to tone it down."
The word horseplay (a noun) represents the act of horsing around.
An Eager Beaver
Someone said to be "an eager beaver" is someone very excited and enthusiastic about doing a particular task.
Example: "Ron's been such an eager beaver since joining the company. He volunteers for everything and never complains."
While this is usually a positive trait, excessive enthusiasm can be annoying, or threatening, to some, especially in a very competitive environment.
A person can be an eager beaver for a particular task, that the person particularly likes.
Example: "Ron's been such an eager beaver since joining the company. He volunteers for everything and never complains."
While this is usually a positive trait, excessive enthusiasm can be annoying, or threatening, to some, especially in a very competitive environment.
A person can be an eager beaver for a particular task, that the person particularly likes.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Wolfing Food Down
To "wolf down" food is to eat food quickly, without fully chewing it.
Often, something that is wolfed down is not really chewed at all; it is simply swallowed.
Example: "Peter wolfed down his sandwich before leaving for work. I think he was in a hurry." In this case, Peter would have had to chew his sandwich somewhat (or choke to death!), but he did not take the time to eat the sandwich slowly. Rather, he ate as quickly as physically possible, swallowing his food in as large chunks as possible, to save time before hurrying to go to work.
Often, something that is wolfed down is not really chewed at all; it is simply swallowed.
Example: "Peter wolfed down his sandwich before leaving for work. I think he was in a hurry." In this case, Peter would have had to chew his sandwich somewhat (or choke to death!), but he did not take the time to eat the sandwich slowly. Rather, he ate as quickly as physically possible, swallowing his food in as large chunks as possible, to save time before hurrying to go to work.
Pigging Out
To "pig out" is to eat a great deal of food, thus resembling a hungry pig.
Pigs do not have table manners, so the phrase implies eating without any regard for manners whatsoever. Either way, the phrase implies eating a large amount of food.
Example: "Martha's kids were pigging out at McDonald's the other day. They were eating so many French fries, I thought they would burst." This means, the children were eating a great deal of French fries. French fries from a fast food restaurant are usually eaten with fingers, not forks, so "pigging out" can be an appropriate idiom for eating that way.
Pigs do not have table manners, so the phrase implies eating without any regard for manners whatsoever. Either way, the phrase implies eating a large amount of food.
Example: "Martha's kids were pigging out at McDonald's the other day. They were eating so many French fries, I thought they would burst." This means, the children were eating a great deal of French fries. French fries from a fast food restaurant are usually eaten with fingers, not forks, so "pigging out" can be an appropriate idiom for eating that way.
Opening A Can Of Worms
Figuratively, to open a can of worms is to create or initiate a situation that will cause trouble or will simply be unpleasant.
Worms are considered unpleasant and rather dirty in English culture. To open a can of worms - such as worms prepared as bait for fish - makes cleaning things up again much more difficult. Just as letting the cat out of the bag means letting a secret out that cannot be hidden again, opening a can of worms means starting trouble that is much more difficult to finish, than it was to start.
Example: "When Jim said bad things about Megan's web page, little did he know that he was opening a can of worms. The fans of Megan's page were convinced that the criticism was unfair and mean-spirited. Jim ended up receiving an avalanche of criticism himself." In this example, the initiator of trouble gets far more trouble than he bargained for (than he believed he was going to receive).
Worms are considered unpleasant and rather dirty in English culture. To open a can of worms - such as worms prepared as bait for fish - makes cleaning things up again much more difficult. Just as letting the cat out of the bag means letting a secret out that cannot be hidden again, opening a can of worms means starting trouble that is much more difficult to finish, than it was to start.
Example: "When Jim said bad things about Megan's web page, little did he know that he was opening a can of worms. The fans of Megan's page were convinced that the criticism was unfair and mean-spirited. Jim ended up receiving an avalanche of criticism himself." In this example, the initiator of trouble gets far more trouble than he bargained for (than he believed he was going to receive).
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Letting The Cat Out Of The Bag
Letting the cat out of the bag, is a metaphor for revealing a secret. It is far easier to keep a cat in a bag, than to put the cat back into the bag after it is out. Cats, like secrets, are very independent creatures that do not do as they are told; they follow their own desires. Once revealed, a secret cannot be made secret again; it spreads and becomes known to one and all.
Example: "Billy was having an affair with Jessica, but his wife didn't know. Jessica started bragging about it and one of her friends told Billy's wife. Now the cat's out of the bag and Billy's wife is probably going to divorce him." The consequences of a secret being revealed cannot normally be undone. Once the cat is out of the bag, it stays out.
A Fat Cat
Idiomatically, "a fat cat" is someone who is very wealthy and, as a result, is able to eat more food than necessary and otherwise enjoy a life of luxury. Thus, they resemble fat, lazy cats that eat, sleep and do nothing useful.
Once, wealthy people who were plump (not obese necessarily, but merely larger than average) had their size seen as proof of their wealth, showing that they could survive famine and that they stood above ordinary people.
Today, obesity is more of a problem with poorer people who cannot afford health food, gym memberships, and all the various trappings of a "healthy lifestyle." Fatter foods have become cheaper and available to the masses, while healthier foods have been made more expensive.
In practice, any wealthy person can be described as "a fat cat," but in modern times, this has a clear, negative connotation.
Example: "The fat cat who runs the local bank is a greedy jerk who enjoys taking advantage of people. Even though he has so much money, he tries to cheat other people in business, even over the most trivial things! He won't even tip waiters at restaurants properly." This describes a person viewed (by the speaker) as being unjustly rich, and unjustly aggressive in seeking to save trivial amounts of money (to a rich person).
Once, wealthy people who were plump (not obese necessarily, but merely larger than average) had their size seen as proof of their wealth, showing that they could survive famine and that they stood above ordinary people.
Today, obesity is more of a problem with poorer people who cannot afford health food, gym memberships, and all the various trappings of a "healthy lifestyle." Fatter foods have become cheaper and available to the masses, while healthier foods have been made more expensive.
In practice, any wealthy person can be described as "a fat cat," but in modern times, this has a clear, negative connotation.
Example: "The fat cat who runs the local bank is a greedy jerk who enjoys taking advantage of people. Even though he has so much money, he tries to cheat other people in business, even over the most trivial things! He won't even tip waiters at restaurants properly." This describes a person viewed (by the speaker) as being unjustly rich, and unjustly aggressive in seeking to save trivial amounts of money (to a rich person).
A White Elephant
White elephants have been regarded as holy in Thailand, India and other Asian countries since ancient times. The owner of a white elephant was required by law to pay for the upkeep of the elephant with special (and thus, expensive) food and to provide access for common people to worship the white elephant.
It is said that if a Thai king was dissatisfied with a subject, he would give the subject a white elephant. Since the elephant was holy, it could not be refused. As a consequence, the cost of maintaining the elephant would bankrupt the subject, reducing him to poverty and suffering. Thus, the "gift" was a gift meant to hurt the recipient.
Idiomatically, a white elephant is something that is very expensive to maintain, and which provides absolutely no benefit whatsoever to the owner.
Example: The Millennium Dome, a structure built in England to house an exhibition from January 1, 2000 until the end of that year (which brought in the new millennium, hence the name). The Dome is considered to be a poorly planned and poorly managed project that did not attract the expected number of visitors. Also, after the original exhibition was closed, the Dome cost one million pounds per month to maintain. Because of this, many considered the Dome to be a white elephant, a building that was nothing but a financial burden to the government, and to taxpayers.
The English word boondoggle is often used with a similar meaning, implying financial waste without meaningful gain.
It is said that if a Thai king was dissatisfied with a subject, he would give the subject a white elephant. Since the elephant was holy, it could not be refused. As a consequence, the cost of maintaining the elephant would bankrupt the subject, reducing him to poverty and suffering. Thus, the "gift" was a gift meant to hurt the recipient.
Idiomatically, a white elephant is something that is very expensive to maintain, and which provides absolutely no benefit whatsoever to the owner.
Example: The Millennium Dome, a structure built in England to house an exhibition from January 1, 2000 until the end of that year (which brought in the new millennium, hence the name). The Dome is considered to be a poorly planned and poorly managed project that did not attract the expected number of visitors. Also, after the original exhibition was closed, the Dome cost one million pounds per month to maintain. Because of this, many considered the Dome to be a white elephant, a building that was nothing but a financial burden to the government, and to taxpayers.
The English word boondoggle is often used with a similar meaning, implying financial waste without meaningful gain.
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