Animal Verbs And Idioms 2e2q1i

Animal verbs and Idioms Teacher Dante.

Animal Quiz  http://www.english-test.net/esl/learn/english/gram

mar/ae001/esl-test.php

Animal Verbs and Idioms.  Animal names as verbs 

Animals whose names have become verbs are numerous. Domestic animals include the pig, the dog and the horse, while some of the wild ones are the rat, the ferret, the wolf, the rabbit, the hare. Most animal verbs have rather negative, or at least not very positive connotations. The bright-eyed quickness and tenacity of the ferret (used for hunting rabbits) has produced a verb that means to find people or information, but the predatory wolf is understandably associated with gobbling up food, but the faithful devotion of the dog is transformed into a negative characteristic, while the almost silent rabbit has for some reason become associated with mindless chatter:

Note down the following expressions:  Wolf  to

down

be dogged by

 Rabbit  ferret

on

out

Try to use the expressions acordingly: 1. 2. 3. 4.

Jane was _____________ about her current inquiry into computer based maths teaching. (British book) Any hint of concealed behavior challenges the entire press to __________ the truth. (American radio) He continued to be __________ fitness problems, however, and retired in 1971. (British newspaper) Stewart looked relaxed, dressed in only jeans and a Tshirt, as he ____________ three massive bowls of Caesar salad. (Australian newspaper)

Try to use the expressions acordingly:  Stewart

looked relaxed, dressed in only jeans and a Tshirt, as he wolfed down three massive bowls of Caesar salad. (Australian newspaper)  Any hint of concealed behavior challenges the entire press to ferret out the truth. (American radio)  He continued to be dogged by fitness problems, however, and retired in 1971. (British newspaper)  Jane was rabbiting on about her current inquiry into computer based maths teaching. (British book)

Continued...  

The speed of the hare is reflected in a verb meaning to run extremely quickly, while the squirrel’s habit of hoarding food for winter has given rise to a colourful verb meaning to save money or goods for later use. It was probably inevitable that the maligned pig should be associated with greed, while the rat is seen as devious and treacherous, the horse as playful and boisterous.

 NOTE  hare

DOWN:

up/ down  Squirrel away  Pig on  Horse about  rat on

Try to use the expressions accordingly: 1.

2.

3.

4. 5.

He leaned forward to examine a photo showing Bella, then aged seven, with her father, then fit and well, ___________together in the pool at the beach house in East Hampton. (British newspaper) Most people who experience harassment at work just put up with it because they think they will be blamed for __________ their colleagues. (British newspaper) Halting the car with a screech of the brakes I leapt out, ___________ the steps to the porch and flung wide the front door. (British book) After the shock I stopped ____________chips and crisps and ate healthily. (British newspaper) A parent may be _____________ assets to surprise the child with a legacy. (American book)

Try to use the expressions accordingly: Halting the car with a screech of the brakes I leapt out, hared up the steps to the porch and flung wide the front door. (British book)  A parent may be squirreling away assets to surprise the child with a legacy. (American book)  After the shock I stopped pigging on chips and crisps and ate healthily. (British newspaper)  He leaned forward to examine a photo showing Bella, then aged seven, with her father, then fit and well, horsing about together in the pool at the beach house in East Hampton. (British newspaper)  Most people who experience harassment at work just put up with it because they think they will be blamed for ratting on their colleagues. (British newspaper) 

Online quiz  http://www.eflworksheets.com/grammar/nounsand

verbs/nounorverb3gapfill.htm

Animal idioms 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

To drink like a fish To eat a horse To make a mountain out of a molehill A little bird told you Not enough room to swing a cat To grin like a Cheshire cat To be in the doghouse To be no spring chicken Copycat To have butterflies

11 Donkey’s years 12 A leopard can’t change his/her spots 13 To be fishy 14 To get someone’s goat 15 To look a gift horse in the mouth 16 To talk the hind leg off a donkey 17 The cat has got his/her tongue 18 To horse around 19 To be as quiet as mice 20 Like a dog with two tails