与十二生肖相关的英语俗语

Rat
smell a rat  觉得可疑
the rat race 激烈的竞争
play cat and mouse with sb. 欲擒故纵，(像猫抓耗子似地)欺负(折磨、虐待)某人

Ox , bull , cow ,calf
a bull in a china shop     经常闯祸的人，笨手笨脚的人
take the bull by the horns 不畏艰险
like a red rag to a bull   使愤怒
till the cows come home    永远地，无限期地
kill the fatted calf       热情款待，设宴欢迎

Tiger
paper tiger 貌似强大而实质虚弱的敌人

Hare
hunt with the hounds and run with the hare 同时支持相对立的两派, 脚踩两只船
Dragon
sow (the) dragon's teeth                   起纠纷或引起争端

Snake
a snake in the grass潜伏的危险或敌人，阴险而伪善的朋友

Horse
hold your horses              忍耐，克制，别急躁
put the cart before the horse 本末倒置
flog a dead horse             徒劳，浪费精力
high horse                    自大，盛气凌人

Sheep
a wolf in sheep's clothing                   披着羊皮的狼，伪装善良的坏人
as well be hanged for a sheep as (for) a lamb一不做，二不休；索性蛮干
a black sheep                                害群之马，败家子

Monkey
monkey about / around 胡闹，恶作剧
monkey with           胡乱折腾，瞎摆弄
get (have) one's monkey up生气，发脾气

Cock
cock one's snook (snoot) to (at) sb. 瞧不起某人
cock up                              把……弄糟

Dog
a dog in the manger 占着茅坑不拉屎的人，自私自利的人
top dog             处于支配地位
lead a dog's life   过困苦的生活
put on the dog      炫耀，摆阔；竭力表现自己，似乎自己非常重要，而事实并非如此

Pig
pigs might fly       无稽之谈，奇迹可能会发生
buy a pig in a poke (未见实物而)乱买东西(吃了亏)