An idiom is a phrase where words together mean something DIFFERENT from each word alone. This page teaches 10 animal idioms with Hindi meanings, origin stories, examples, conversations, common mistakes, and writing practice!
“Let the cat out of the bag” means to accidentally reveal a secret. In Hindi: “राज़ खोल देना”.
🗣️ Say it: Let the CAT out of the BAG
😂 Literal
🐱 A cat jumping out of a shopping bag
→
✅ Actual
🤫 Accidentally telling someone’s secret
📜 Origin: In old markets, sellers would put a cat in a bag and pretend it was a piglet. If someone opened the bag, the trick was revealed!
✏️ Examples:
Aarav let the cat out of the bag about Priya’s surprise birthday party.
Don’t let the cat out of the bag — the gift is a secret!
💬 In a Conversation:
👧 Priya: Aarav, do you know what Mummy is planning for my birthday?
👦 Aarav: Um… I can’t say. I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag!
👧 Priya: So there IS a plan! You just let the cat out of the bag!
👦 Aarav: Oops! 🙊
⚠️ Common Mistake:
❌ I let the cat from the bag.
✅ I let the cat out of the bag.
💡 Always use ‘out of’ — never ‘from’!
✍️ Your Turn:
#2⭐🌧️🐱🐶
“Raining cats and dogs”
What does “Raining cats and dogs” mean?
“Raining cats and dogs” means raining very heavily. In Hindi: “मूसलाधार बारिश होना”.
🗣️ Say it: It’s RAINING cats and DOGS!
😂 Literal
🐱🐶 Cats and dogs falling from the sky
→
✅ Actual
☔ Very heavy rainfall with strong winds
📜 Origin: In old England, stray cats and dogs would hide in thatched roofs. During heavy rain, they’d fall out — making it seem like it was raining cats and dogs!
✏️ Examples:
We couldn’t go to the park because it was raining cats and dogs.
Take an umbrella — it’s raining cats and dogs outside!
💬 In a Conversation:
👦 Rahul: Mummy, can I go play cricket?
👩 Mummy: Are you crazy? Look outside — it’s raining cats and dogs!
👦 Rahul: But I don’t see any cats or dogs falling from the sky!
👩 Mummy: Ha ha! It means very heavy rain, beta!
⚠️ Common Mistake:
❌ It’s raining the cats and dogs.
✅ It’s raining cats and dogs.
💡 No ‘the’ before ‘cats and dogs’ in this idiom!
✍️ Your Turn:
#3⭐🐦🤫
“A little bird told me”
What does “A little bird told me” mean?
“A little bird told me” means i heard from someone (but i won’t say who). In Hindi: “किसी ने बताया (पर नाम नहीं बताऊँगा)”.
🗣️ Say it: A little BIRD told me
😂 Literal
🐦 A tiny bird whispering in your ear
→
✅ Actual
🤫 Someone told me secretly
📜 Origin: From the Bible: ‘A bird of the air shall carry the voice.’ People used it to mean secret information.
✏️ Examples:
A little bird told me that you got full marks in the test!
A little bird told me you have a crush on someone!
💬 In a Conversation:
👧 Meera: Sneha, I heard you’re moving to a new house!
👧 Sneha: Who told you? It was supposed to be a secret!
👧 Meera: Let’s just say… a little bird told me! 🐦
👧 Sneha: That ‘little bird’ sounds a lot like Priya!
⚠️ Common Mistake:
❌ A small bird said me.
✅ A little bird told me.
💡 Always ‘little bird’ (not small) and ‘told me’ (not said me)!
✍️ Your Turn:
#4⭐⭐🐶🌳
“Barking up the wrong tree”
What does “Barking up the wrong tree” mean?
“Barking up the wrong tree” means looking in the wrong place or blaming the wrong person. In Hindi: “गलत जगह तलाश करना / गलत आरोप लगाना”.
🗣️ Say it: Barking up the WRONG tree
😂 Literal
🐶 A dog barking at a tree trunk
→
✅ Actual
🔍 Looking in the wrong place / blaming the wrong person
📜 Origin: From hunting dogs that would bark at a tree thinking the animal was there, but it had already escaped to another tree!
✏️ Examples:
If you think I ate your chocolate, you’re barking up the wrong tree!
The police were barking up the wrong tree — the real thief was someone else.
💬 In a Conversation:
👩🏫 Teacher: Arjun, did you draw on the whiteboard?
👦 Arjun: No, Ma’am! You’re barking up the wrong tree! I was in the library!
👩🏫 Teacher: Hmm, I see. Then who was it?
👦 Arjun: I think you should ask Vikram — I saw him with markers!
⚠️ Common Mistake:
❌ You’re barking on the wrong tree.
✅ You’re barking up the wrong tree.
💡 Always ‘up’ — never ‘on’ or ‘at’!
✍️ Your Turn:
#5⭐🐦🌅🪱
“The early bird catches the worm”
What does “The early bird catches the worm” mean?
“The early bird catches the worm” means people who wake up or start early have an advantage. In Hindi: “जो सुबह जल्दी उठता है, उसे फायदा मिलता है”.
🗣️ Say it: The EARLY bird catches the WORM
😂 Literal
🐦 A bird waking up early to eat a worm
→
✅ Actual
⏰ Starting early gives you an advantage
📜 Origin: A simple observation from nature — birds that wake up early find the most worms to eat!
✏️ Examples:
Priya wakes up at 5 AM to study. The early bird catches the worm!
If you want the best seats at the movie, go early. The early bird catches the worm!
💬 In a Conversation:
👨 Papa: Aarav! It’s 6 AM! Time to study for your exam!
👦 Aarav: But Papa, it’s so early! Five more minutes…
👨 Papa: Remember — the early bird catches the worm!
👦 Aarav: Fine… but this worm better be worth it! 😴
⚠️ Common Mistake:
❌ Early bird gets the worm.
✅ The early bird catches the worm.
💡 Use ‘catches’ not ‘gets’ for the proper idiom!
✍️ Your Turn:
#6⭐🐴✋
“Hold your horses”
What does “Hold your horses” mean?
“Hold your horses” means wait! be patient! slow down!. In Hindi: “रुको! धीरज रखो!”.
🗣️ Say it: HOLD your HORSES!
😂 Literal
🐴 Physically holding horses by their reins
→
✅ Actual
✋ Wait! Slow down! Be patient!
📜 Origin: From horse riding — when riders needed to slow down, they’d literally hold (pull back) their horses’ reins.
✏️ Examples:
Hold your horses! Let me finish my sentence before you interrupt.
Hold your horses, Rahul — dinner isn’t ready yet!
💬 In a Conversation:
👦 Rahul: Priya! Quick! Tell me the answer to question 5!
👧 Priya: Hold your horses! I’m still on question 3!
👦 Rahul: But the exam is in 10 minutes!
👧 Priya: Then hold your horses AND start studying! 📚
⚠️ Common Mistake:
❌ Hold your horse!
✅ Hold your horses!
💡 Always plural — ‘horses’ not ‘horse’!
✍️ Your Turn:
#7⭐⭐🐔🥚❌
“Don’t count your chickens before they hatch”
What does “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch” mean?
“Don’t count your chickens before they hatch” means don’t assume success before it actually happens. In Hindi: “अंडे फूटने से पहले चूज़े मत गिनो”.
🗣️ Say it: Don’t count your CHICKENS before they HATCH
😂 Literal
🐔 Counting baby chicks inside unhatched eggs
→
✅ Actual
⚠️ Don’t assume you’ll succeed before it happens
📜 Origin: From Aesop’s fable about a milkmaid who dreamed of selling milk to buy chickens, then eggs, then a farm — but she tripped and spilled all the milk!
✏️ Examples:
You haven’t even given the exam yet — don’t count your chickens before they hatch!
Aarav was already planning his victory dance, but his coach said: don’t count your chickens!
💬 In a Conversation:
👧 Sneha: I’m definitely going to win the singing competition!
👧 Meera: Don’t count your chickens before they hatch — the results aren’t out yet!
👧 Sneha: But I sang so well!
👧 Meera: Let’s wait and see. Fingers crossed! 🤞
⚠️ Common Mistake:
❌ Don’t count chickens before hatching.
✅ Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.
💡 Include ‘your’ and ‘they’ for the full idiom!
✍️ Your Turn:
#8⭐🐊😢
“Crocodile tears”
What does “Crocodile tears” mean?
“Crocodile tears” means fake tears, pretending to be sad when you’re not. In Hindi: “मगरमच्छ के आँसू (झूठा रोना)”.
🗣️ Say it: CROCODILE tears
😂 Literal
🐊 A crocodile crying real tears
→
✅ Actual
😢 Pretending to be sad when you’re really not
📜 Origin: People believed that crocodiles cried while eating their prey. So ‘crocodile tears’ means fake sadness!
✏️ Examples:
Don’t believe her crocodile tears — she’s just pretending to be sorry!
Vikram cried crocodile tears when he got caught, but he wasn’t really sorry.
💬 In a Conversation:
👦 Aarav: Mummy, I’m SO sorry I broke the vase! *crying*
👩 Mummy: Are those real tears or crocodile tears, Aarav?
👦 Aarav: Real tears! I promise!
👩 Mummy: Hmm… then why are you smiling behind your hands? 🐊
⚠️ Common Mistake:
❌ He is crying crocodile.
✅ He is shedding/crying crocodile tears.
💡 Say ‘crocodile tears’ — always include ‘tears’!
✍️ Your Turn:
#9⭐🐒🤪
“Monkey business”
What does “Monkey business” mean?
“Monkey business” means silly, mischievous, or dishonest behaviour. In Hindi: “शरारत / बदमाशी”.
🗣️ Say it: MONKEY business
😂 Literal
🐒 Monkeys running a business in suits
→
✅ Actual
🤪 Silly, naughty, or dishonest behaviour
📜 Origin: Monkeys are known for being playful and naughty — so ‘monkey business’ means foolish or sneaky behaviour!
✏️ Examples:
No monkey business in class today — we have a test!
The teacher caught the boys doing monkey business instead of studying.
💬 In a Conversation:
👩🏫 Teacher: Class, I’m going to the staff room for 5 minutes. NO monkey business!
👦👧 Class: Yes, Ma’am! We’ll be good!
👩🏫 Teacher: *returns to find paper planes everywhere*
👦👧 Class: Umm… the wind did it? 🐒
⚠️ Common Mistake:
❌ Stop the monkey’s business!
✅ Stop the monkey business!
💡 No apostrophe — it’s ‘monkey business’ not ‘monkey’s business’!
✍️ Your Turn:
#10⭐🐷✈️
“When pigs fly”
What does “When pigs fly” mean?
“When pigs fly” means something that will never happen. In Hindi: “जब सूरज पश्चिम से उगे (असंभव)”.
🗣️ Say it: When PIGS fly!
😂 Literal
🐷✈️ Pigs with wings flying through the sky
→
✅ Actual
❌ Something that will absolutely never happen
📜 Origin: Since pigs obviously cannot fly, this phrase means something is completely impossible!
✏️ Examples:
Rahul will clean his room? When pigs fly!
I’ll stop eating mangoes when pigs fly!
💬 In a Conversation:
👧 Priya: Rahul, will you ever stop playing video games and read a book?
👦 Rahul: Sure — when pigs fly! 🐷
👧 Priya: Well, I just saw a pig emoji with wings, so…
👦 Rahul: That doesn’t count! 😂
⚠️ Common Mistake:
❌ When pig flies.
✅ When pigs fly.
💡 Plural ‘pigs’ and simple present ‘fly’ (not ‘flies’)!
✍️ Your Turn:
🎯 Match the Meaning!
Let the cat out of the bag
Raining cats and dogs
Hold your horses
Crocodile tears
When pigs fly
✏️ Fill in the Idiom
Stuck? Click 💡 Hint!
It’s ___ outside — take an umbrella!
Aarav accidentally ___ about the surprise party.
Don’t ___ before they hatch — wait for the results!
___ ! I haven’t finished speaking yet!
The teacher said ‘No ___ while I’m gone!’
❓ Quiz — Test Yourself!
1. ‘Let the cat out of the bag’ means:
2. ‘Raining cats and dogs’ means:
3. ‘The early bird catches the worm’ teaches:
4. ‘Crocodile tears’ means:
5. ‘Hold your horses’ means:
6. ‘When pigs fly’ means:
7. ‘Barking up the wrong tree’ means:
8. ‘Monkey business’ means:
🤓 Fun Facts
🤓 There are over 25,000 idioms in the English language! Most native speakers use about 200 regularly.
🤓 The idiom ‘Crocodile tears’ is actually partly true — crocodiles DO produce tears while eating, but it’s to lubricate their eyes, not because they’re sad!
👨👩👧 Parent Tips
Use idioms naturally in daily conversation: ‘It’s raining cats and dogs — take your umbrella!’ Kids learn best by hearing idioms used in real situations.
Play the ‘Literal Drawing’ game: ask your child to draw what the idiom literally means (cats falling from sky!) then explain the real meaning. Great for visual learners!
Make idiom flashcards: idiom on front, meaning + example on back. Review 2-3 daily during car rides or waiting time.
Watch English cartoons together and spot idioms when characters use them. Pause and discuss: ‘Did you hear that idiom?’
Challenge: use 3 new idioms in conversation this week. Give a star ⭐ for each correct usage. Make it a fun family game!
Animal idioms are phrases that use animal names but don’t literally mean what they say. For example, ‘raining cats and dogs’ doesn’t mean animals are falling from the sky — it means very heavy rain!
How many animal idioms are on this page?
This page teaches 10 popular animal idioms using cats, dogs, birds, horses, chickens, crocodiles, monkeys, and pigs. Each includes meaning, Hindi translation, examples, and a fun dialogue.
Why should kids learn idioms?
Idioms are used constantly in English conversation, books, and media. Knowing them helps kids understand native English, read better, and express themselves more colourfully.
Are these idioms used in India?
Yes! All these idioms are commonly used in Indian English. The examples on this page use Indian names, schools, and situations to make them relatable for Indian kids.
What grade level are these idioms for?
These animal idioms are rated Easy (Grade 2-3). They use simple, visual concepts that young learners can understand and remember.