Published on April 9, 2025
Animals have long served as a source of cultural inspiration and have played a key role in shaping our stories around the world. It’s no surprise they’ve made their way into our everyday language as idioms, becoming some of our most familiar expressions.
Just think back to the last time you were told not to count your chickens before they hatched when you were excited about a new project. Or when you were told that you were barking up the wrong tree when you tried getting your monthly allowance a tad bit early to see a concert in high school?
Ever heard a phrase where you understood every word, but the meaning didn’t quite add up?
An idiom is a phrase or expression with a figurative meaning, and versions of them exist in every known language across the world. Idioms offer a fascinating window into cultural expressions and linguistic perspectives, giving us a whimsical lens through which to understand language and culture. Appropriately, the word “idiom” comes from the ancient Greek word idioma, which means “peculiar phraseology.”
But why make things harder by using idioms? Well, they’re a creative way to express yourself, and they add a touch of humour and fun to everyday situations.
Inspired by our love for wildlife at Evergreen Brick Works, here are our 10 favourite animal idioms and their meanings.
*No animals were harmed in the making of these idioms.
Illustration by Fatima Ali
What it means: What a wild sight this would be. This idiom describes heavy rain and strong winds rather than a typical drizzle. Imagine a downpour so intense that it feels like the sky is throwing just about everything at you — cats, dogs and maybe even a squirrel.
What it means: If you’ve ever felt like you just couldn’t sit still, you’ve probably had ants in your pants. But don’t worry — this idiom just refers to feeling restless or fidgety, often because you’re excited or impatient to get going.
Illustration by Fatima Ali
What it means: At Evergreen Brick Works, we get a front row seat to see just how busy beavers can be! They’re known for their hard work, constantly building and fixing their dams. When you’re “as busy as a beaver,” you’re really hustling to get things done.
What it means: Imagine a giant elephant just standing there in the middle of the room while everyone awkwardly pretends it doesn’t exist. That’s the essence of this idiom. It means when there’s a very big, obvious issue or problem and nobody is talking about it.
Illustration by Fatima Ali
What it means: Have you ever tried to solve a small problem, only for it to unravel into a whole mess of problems? To “open a can of worms” means you’ve unintentionally made things more difficult. Good luck trying to put those worms back in the can!
What it means: That fluttery feeling you get before public speaking or some other big event? That’s the feeling of having butterflies in your stomach. It’s a mix of nervous excitement and anxiety that gets those butterfly wings flapping.
Illustration by Fatima Ali
What it means: This idiom likely comes from seeing a mother duck leading her ducklings in a neat, organized line. Getting your ducks in a row means getting organized and making sure all the details are lined up before you take action.
What it means: A fish doesn’t do so well out of its natural habitat — and sometimes neither do we. This idiom describes the awkwardness and discomfort of being in an unfamiliar or out-of-place situation. Feeling lost or not fitting in? You might be feeling like a fish out of water.
Illustration by Fatima Ali
What it means: If you’ve ever watched a snail inch its way across a sidewalk — slow, steady and probably regretting its life choices — you get the idea on this one. This idiom just means moving very, very slowly, whether it’s in traffic or a long meeting.
What it means: We’ve almost reached the end of our wild goose chase through animal idioms, and this one perfectly sums up the pursuit. A wild goose chase is a journey where the goal is unreachable or impractical. Hopefully you don’t walk away from this story feeling like it was a wasted effort!
Learn more
We love the way animals inspire us to connect to the natural world in all new ways. Idioms are only just the beginning. In Evergreen’s children and youth programming, we explore things like nature names, animal sense walks and so much more. It’s all part of reconnecting children to nature.
