Idioms about Birds: Part 1

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  1. a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush – it is better to be content with what you have than to risk losing it in the attempt to seek more
  2. a little bird(y) told me – told by a secret informant
  3. albatross around your neck – something that makes you feel guilty or frustrated, something that prevents success
  4. as bald as a coot – completely bald
  5. as crazy as a loon – crazy
  6. as dead as a dodo – totally dead, extinct
  7. as free as a bird – totally free, carefree
  8. as mad as a wet hen – angry
  9. as scarce as hens’ teeth – non-existent
  10. as the crow flies – in a straight line
  11. bird brain – an insult meaning stupid
  12. birds of a feather flock together – people who have the same outlook/tastes/interests will be found in each other’s company
  13. birds-eye view – view from above
  14. chicken and egg situation – a situation where it is impossible to agree which of two connected things existed first
  15. chicken feed – a ridiculously small amount of money
  16. chicken-livered – cowardly
  17. chickens come home to roost – words or actions which have an unexpected consequence
  18. cock of the walk – a person who dominates within a group
  19. cock-and-bull story – a far-fetched and unlikely story
  20. dead duck – someone or something with little chance of success
  21. duck soup – a very easy task
  22. eagle eye – a close watch
  23. early bird – someone who arrives or begins early
  24. feather in one’s cap – an honour, an achievement to be proud of
  25. for the birds – not worthy of consideration
  26. gone goose – someone (or something) who (that) is beyond hope
  27. in fine feather – in good humour/form/health
  28. like a duck to water – quickly and easily, like a natural
  29. lovely weather for ducks – rainy weather
  30. neither fish nor fowl – difficult to identify/categorise

If you enjoyed this post, why not check out our other articles about idioms?


26 Feb 2018
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"Spellzone fits in beautifully with our Scope and Sequence of Phonological Awareness and Spelling. It also aligns perfectly with the four areas of spelling knowledge and uses the Brain, Ears, Eyes approach to learning spelling."
Thank you!

Teacher, Australia