The Millstone Times January 2019

The Logic of Logos and Catchphrases Animal Related Phrases By Pam Teel Yes, there are many common phrases that we use all the time relating to animals, but did you ever wonder what these phrases really mean? Bird phrases: Birds of a Feather Flock Together- People tend to associate with others who share similar interests or values. Love Birds- A pair of people who love each other; they are like small parrots that are called 'lovebirds.' Sitting Ducks- Someone or something that is in a vulnerable position; being in danger. The Early Bird Gets the Worm- Arriving first or early can be advantageous and increase one's chances of success. Ugly Duckling- Someone who seems plain at first in appearance or capability, but later turn out to be quite spectacular. Kill two birds with one stone- To succeed in achieving two things in a single action Dog, Cat Sayings: All Bark and No Bite- Being full of talk, but with little or no action behind it. Barking Up the Wrong Tree- To make a wrong assumption about someone. Curiosity Killed the Cat- Typically said to people who are being too nosy, as their prying behavior may lead to harm. Raining Cats and Dogs- A saying that's used to describe heavy rainfall. Scaredy Cat- Being afraid of doing something; terrified. You Can't Teach an Old Dog New Tricks- It can be challenging to teach a person something new, especially if they are set in doing things a certain way. Horse Sayings: No use beating a Dead Horse- To bring up an issue that has already been resolved or that has already been talked about at length. Don't Look a Gift Horse In The Mouth- When you receive a gift from someone, do not be ungrateful. Hold Your Horses- To tell someone to wait, or to stop. (e.g., I'm not ready to leave yet, hold your horses.) Long in the Tooth- Old in age. Mainly used when referring to people or animals, but it can also be used when refer- ring to objects. Other Animals : An Elephant Never Forgets- A person who has a good memory. Crocodile Tears- This means someone is expressing sorrow in an insincere way. Cry Wolf- This refers to someone who is lying. Elephant In The Room- Ignoring a large, obvious problem or failing to address an issue that stands out in a major way. Fish Out Of Water- A person who's in a situation that they are unfamiliar with. Give a Man a Fish- It can be more beneficial to teach someone a useful skill (like fishing) than filling a need for them once. Happy as a Clam- The state of being happy; feeling delighted. I Smell a Rat- A suspicious feeling that something is not quite right; awry. Like Shooting Fish in a Barrel- Something that is easy to do; an action that's simple to accomplish. Playing Possum- Pretending to be dead or to be deceitful about something. The Straw that Broke the Camel's Back- A series of annoying occurrences that eventually lead to one final thing that causes a person to lose their patience.

" Birds of a Feather Flock TogetheR "

"Scaredy Cat"

" Hold Your Horses "

Take the bull by the horns- Take control of a situation. Bringing Home the Bacon- Making money to survive on. We’re Nothing but Guinea Pigs- Being experimented with.

"Happy as a Clam"

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The Millstone Times

January 2019