英语中含有动物名称的习语（一）清单-2027届高考英语一轮复习专项

尊敬的编辑老师： 您好！ 我非常佩服您审阅稿件的认真和严谨态度。由于撰稿时间有限，我对于稿件的校对工作做得很不够。今后在上传稿件之前，我务必认真做好稿件的审校，将稿件中的错误或欠妥之处消灭在萌芽状态。我要虚心向您学习！谢谢您！ 英语中含有动物名称的习语（一） 英语中含有动物名称的习语大多根植于西方的历史、民俗、农耕和寓言，绝大多数情况下，其真实含义与字面意思是不同的。使用这些习语时，要关注以下几点：① 中英文动物意象差异很大，不要照字面直接翻译和理解。如：lucky dog不是“幸运狗”，而是“幸运儿”（含褒义色彩）；② 这类习语的感情色彩（褒义、中性、贬义）相对固定；③ 结构相对固化，属于固定搭配。有关含有动物名称的英语习语的高考命题主要有以下几个方面：① 阅读理解“词义猜测题”：用字面意思做干扰项；② 完形填空：根据褒贬色彩、语境逻辑判断习语含义；③ 七选五：谚语类动物习语常放在段首或段尾做观点句；④ 读后续写：部分习语可作高分心理描写（如：have butterflies in one’s stomach内心忐忑紧张）。 下列每句中都有一个含有动物名称的习语，你能准确说出它们的汉语意思吗？ 1. I really thought I looked the cat’s whiskers in that dress. 【句意】我确实认为我穿那条连衣裙看上去最漂亮。 【解析】the cat’s whiskers / pyjamas意为“最棒的东西（或人、主意等）”。又如：He thinks he’s the cat’s whiskers (= he has a high opinion of himself). 他自以为了不起。 2. I wanted it to be a surprise, but my sister let the cat out of the bag. 【句意】我想给大家来个惊喜，可我妹妹却先说漏了嘴。 【解析】let the cat out of the bag意为“（尤指无意中）泄露秘密”。 3. She was like a cat on hot bricks before her driving test. 【句意】她考驾驶执照前十分紧张不安。 【解析】like a cat on hot bricks 意为“局促不安；如坐针毡；坐立不安；像热锅上的蚂蚁”。 4. Tom was like the cat that got the cream after he got the prize he had long expected. 【句意】拿到期盼已久的奖项之后，汤姆沾沾自喜。 【解析】like a cat that’s got the cream意为“扬扬得意；踌躇满志；沾沾自喜；洋洋自得（形容人因成功、如愿以偿而满脸美滋滋、十分满足的样子）”。又如：After hearing he had passed the tough interview, he stood there like the cat that got the cream. 听到自己通过难度很大的面试，他站在那儿，一脸志得意满。 5. What’s wrong? Has the cat got your tongue? Why don’t you answer my question? 【句意】怎么了？哑巴啦？你为什么不回答我的问题？ 【解析】(has the) cat got your tongue? 意为“怎么哑巴啦？怎么不说话了？（用来质问 / 打趣某人突然闭口无言、答不上话）（带有调侃意味）”。又如：When they asked him to explain his plan, he said nothing. His friend laughed and said, “Has the cat got your tongue?” 大家请他解释方案，他一言不发。朋友笑着打趣：“怎么不说话了？” 6. After walking in the heavy rain for hours, he looked like something the cat brought in. 【句意】在大雨里走了数小时后，他浑身狼狈不堪。 【解析】look like sth. the cat brought / dragged in意为“穿着邋遢；衣衫褴褛；不修边幅；脏乱不堪”。又如：When she fell into the mud, her dress was torn. She looked like something the cat brought in. 她摔进泥里，裙子破了，整个人看起来狼狈不堪。 7. They do not have a cat in hell’s chance of being elected. 【句意】他们没有任何希望当选。 【解析】not have/stand a cat in hell’s chance (of doing sth) 意为“毫无机会做某事”。 8. The police played an elaborate game of cat and mouse to trap him. 【句意】警方跟他玩了一场精心布局的猫捉老鼠游戏，使他落网。 【解析】play (a game of) cat and mouse with sb. 意为“和某人玩起猫捉老鼠的游戏；耍弄”。 9. If you tell them the truth now, you will put the cat among the pigeons. 【句意】如果你现在把真相告诉他们，会引起一场风波。 【解析】put/set the cat among the pigeons意为“引起麻烦；招惹是非；惹出乱子，引起轩然大波”。又如：Her comment about the unfair rule really put the cat among the pigeons. 她那条关于不公平规定的评论一下子掀起了轩然大波。 10. As soon as the head teacher left the classroom, the students started chatting loudly. When the cat’s away, the mice will play. 【句意】班主任一离开教室，学生就大声聊天。真是山中无老虎，猴子称大王。 【解析】when the cat’s away the mice will play意为“猫儿不在，老鼠玩得自在（指管事的不在，下面的玩个痛快）；猫儿不在，老鼠翻天; 上司不在，下面人就胡来；山中无老虎，猴子称大王”。又如：No one in the office finished work when the manager was on business trip. When the cat’s away, the mice will play. 经理出差，办公室没人干活。山中无老虎，猴子称大王。 11. Don’t keep asking about his private matters. Curiosity killed the cat. 【句意】别一直追问他的私事，好奇会惹麻烦。 【解析】curiosity killed the cat意为“好奇害死猫（告诫他人不要过度好奇，多管闲事、打探不必要的事情会给自己招来麻烦）”。又如：You’d better stop searching for that secret information. Remember curiosity killed the cat. 你最好不要再去查找那份秘密资料。记住，好奇心会招来祸端。 12. Managing a political party is a lot like herding cats. 【句意】管理一个政党很像放牧一群猫，极为困难。 【解析】like herding cats 意为“如牧猫般困难（形容非常难的任务，尤涉及对人的组织管理）”。 13. We had to stay indoors because it was raining cats and dogs. 【句意】外面大雨滂沱，我们只好待在屋里。 【解析】be raining cats and dogs意为“下倾盆大雨”。又如：It started raining cats and dogs the moment we set off for the hike. 我们刚出发去徒步，就下起了瓢泼大雨。 14. There were so many books and boxes in the room that there was no room to swing a cat. 【句意】房间里堆满书和箱子，挤得转不开身。 【解析】no room to swing a cat意为“没有活动的余地；连转身都很难（地方狭小；没有活动空间，挤得转不开身）”。又如：We can’t put another desk here; there’s no room to swing a cat. 这里放不下另一张桌子，空间太狭小。 15. Don’t give up if this method fails. There’s more than one way to skin a cat. 【句意】如果这个办法行不通别放弃，解决问题的方法不止一种。 【解析】there’s more than one way to skin a cat意为“（要做成某事）方法不只一个，有的是办法；条条大路通罗马”。又如：We don’t have to follow his plan. Remember there’s more than one way to skin a cat. 我们不必照搬他的方案。记住，条条大路通罗马。 16. Mum will have kittens when she sees the broken vase. 【句意】妈妈看到打碎的花瓶会大发雷霆。 【解析】have kittens意为“心慌意乱；大惊失色；极度焦虑；惊慌恼火”。又如：He’ll have kittens if he knows we are late again. 如果知道我们再次迟到，他会十分着急。 17. The meeting was just a dog and pony show. No real decisions were made. 【句意】这场会议只是一场作秀，没有做出任何实质性决议。 【解析】a dog and pony show意为“（为公关或促销而举行的）造势活动；装门面的活动，纯粹为了炫耀的活动；作秀；华而不实的表演 或展示；表面热闹但没有实质内容的活动”。又如：Don’t be fooled by their presentation. It’s nothing but a dog and pony show. 别被他们的演示迷惑，那只是华而不实的表演。 18. I’m afraid in this line of work it’s a case of dog eat dog. 【句意】恐怕在这种行业中竞争是残酷无情的。 【解析】(a case of) dog eat dog意为“残酷无情的竞争；损人利己的角逐；相互残杀”。 19. Don’t be a dog in the manger. If you don’t need the ticket, give it to others. 【句意】别占着资源不用。如果你不需要这张票，就把它让给别人。 【解析】a dog in the manger意为“占马槽的狗；占着茅坑不拉屎的人；占着资源自己不用，也不让别人享用的人”。又如：Stop being a dog in the manger. Let those who really want the chance have it. 别霸占机会却不利用，把机会留给真正需要的人。 20. My essay was a dog’s breakfast because I ran out of time. 【句意】因为时间不够，我的作文写得乱七八糟。 【解析】a dog’s breakfast意为“乱七八糟的东西或局面；一团糟”。又如：The room looked a dog’s breakfast after the party. 派对结束后房间乱成一团。 21. The orchestra made a complete dog’s breakfast of the fourth movement. 【句意】这支管弦乐队把第四乐章演奏得一塌糊涂。 【解析】make a dog’s breakfast of sth. 意为“把某事弄得一团糟”。又如：He’s made a real dog’s breakfast of these accounts. 他把这些账目搞得简直一塌糊涂。 22. She was dressed up like a dog’s dinner. 【句意】她打扮得俗艳不堪。 【解析】a dog’s dinner意为“花里胡哨，俗艳，自以为了不起”。 23. Back then, the workers had a dog’s life, working long hours for little pay. 【句意】那时候工人们日子很苦，长时间干活，薪水微薄。 【解析】a dog’s life意为“悲惨（苦难）的生活；牛马（猪狗）不如的生活；日子难熬”。又如：His wife’s a nag who leads him a dog’s life. 他老婆是个唠叨鬼，把他的日子搞得苦不堪言。 24. He lied to everyone and cheated his friends. What a dirty dog he was! 【句意】他欺骗所有人，背叛朋友，真是个卑鄙小人！ 【解析】dirty dog意为“ 讨厌的家伙; 不老实的东西；卑鄙小人；无赖；下流的家伙”。又如：Don’t trust him. He is a dirty dog who always breaks his promises. 别相信他，他是个不守承诺的无赖。 25. Even ordinary people can achieve success. After all, every dog has its day. 【句意】普通人也可以获得成功，毕竟人人皆有得意之时。 【解析】every dog has his/its day意为“人人皆有得意时；凡人皆有得意日”。又如：Don’t be upset about your failure. Every dog has its day. 不要为这次失败沮丧，人人都有走运的时候。 26. Once people think he is dishonest, nothing can change their minds. Give a dog a bad name. 【句意】一旦大家认定他不诚实，就很难改变看法，这就是人言可畏。 【解析】give a dog a bad name意为“恶名难洗；名声一毁，万难挽回；一旦给人安上坏名声，就很难洗刷；人言可畏；欲加之罪，何患无辞”。又如：Don’t spread untrue rumors about him. Remember, if you give a dog a bad name, it will stick forever. 不要散播关于他的谣言，须知一旦坏名声传开，就很难抹去。 27. This firm’s gone to the dogs since the new management took over. 【句意】这家公司自新的管理人员接手以来日渐衰败。 【解析】go to the dogs意为“（国家或团体）每况愈下，趋于衰败，一蹶不振”。 28. When he heard he passed the exam, he was like a dog with two tails. 【句意】听到自己考试通过，他开心得不得了。 【解析】like a dog with two tails意为“（因发生了好事情而）非常高兴，非常开心；乐不可支；喜不自胜”。又如：She was like a dog with two tails after winning the prize. 获奖之后，她乐不可支。 29. He does not have a dog’s chance of passing the exam. 【句意】他根本不可能通过这次考试。 【解析】not have a dog’s chance意为“毫无机会；绝无可能；毫无成功的机会，毫无希望”。 30. They bought expensive clothes just to put on the dog at the party. 【句意】他们买昂贵衣服只是为了在派对上摆阔撑场面。 【解析】put on the dog意为“装阔气; 故作聪明; 装腔作势；装门面；炫耀，刻意打扮得华丽来撑场面”。又如：He rented a luxury car to put on the dog during the meeting. 他租了一辆豪车，就为了开会时撑场面。 31. You’ve hired an assistant to deal with paperwork. Why keep a dog and bark yourself? 【句意】你已经雇了助理处理文书，何必事事亲力亲为？ 【解析】why keep a dog and bark yourself? 意为“既然有人代劳，何必自己操劳；专人做专事，不必越俎代庖”。又如：Let the technician repair the machine. Why keep a dog and bark yourself? 让技术员来修机器好了，既然有专人，不必自己动手。 32. I was as sick as a dog with the flu and stayed in bed for three days. 【句意】我得了流感，病得很厉害，卧床三天。 【解析】(as) sick as a dog意为“病得很重；呕吐得厉害；恶心难受”。又如：After eating the bad seafood, he was as sick as a dog. 吃了变质海鲜之后，他病得很重，上吐下泻。 33. It is better to let sleeping dogs lie and not bring up that painful mistake. 【句意】最好莫揭旧伤疤，不要再提起那个令人痛苦的过错。 【解析】let sleeping dogs lie意为“过去的事就不要再提了；不要没事找事；别惹麻烦；不要旧事重提；莫揭旧伤疤”。又如：I know what happened, but I will let sleeping dogs lie to keep peace. 我知道发生过什么，但为了和睦，我选择不再翻旧账。 34. The assistant makes all the big decisions now. It’s the tail wagging the dog. 【句意】现在助理做所有重大决定，完全是本末倒置。 【解析】the tail is wagging the dog意为“主次颠倒，喧宾夺主；本末倒置；小人物 / 次要部分掌控全局”。又如：Don’t let small details control your whole plan. That’s the tail wagging the dog. 不要让细枝末节左右整个方案，那样就主次颠倒了。 35. My grandpa refuses to use mobile payment. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks. 【句意】我的祖父不肯用移动支付，真是老大不可教。 【解析】you can’t teach an old dog new tricks意为“老大不可教；无法改变人们长时间形成的思想（或做事方法等）；积习难改；江山易改本性难移”。又如：He won’t change his old working habits. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks. 他不愿改掉旧的工作习惯，江山易改本性难移。 36. He told us a shaggy-dog story. We waited for a funny ending but got nothing. 【句意】他讲了一个冗长无聊的故事，我们等着好笑的结局，结果什么都没有。 【解析】a shaggy-dog story意为“冗长无趣的笑话；冗长乏味、铺垫很久却没有像样结局的冗长笑话 / 故事；虎头蛇尾的故事”。又如：Don’t waste our time on another shaggy-dog story. 别再拿这种虎头蛇尾的长篇故事浪费我们时间。 37. No one can beat him; he is the top dog in this field. 【句意】没人能打败他，他是这个领域的领军人物。 【解析】top dog意为“（尤指竞争中的）夺魁者，优胜者；（经过争斗后）最有权的人；领军人物；一把手；掌权者；行业里的佼佼者”。又如：After years of competition, he became the top dog in the company. 经过多年竞争，他成了公司里的一把手。 38. The boss treated him like a dog, so he quit the job. 【句意】老板刻薄地对待他，所以他辞职了。 【解析】treat sb. like a dog意为“把某人当狗看待；虐待某人；刻薄对待某人，不把某人当人看”。又如：I don’t know why he stays with her – she treats him like dirt. 我不知道为什么他还跟她在一起 — 她根本不把他当人看。温馨提示：treat sb like dirt也表达相同的含义。如：He hates his manager, who treats him like dirt. 他很讨厌自己的经理，对方根本不把他当人看。 Many workers complained they were treated like dirt in that company. 很多员工抱怨在那家公司遭受轻视与不公对待。 1 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $