February 2017: Bird Idioms
- creativecaitlin
- Nov 28, 2018
- 3 min read
Hey, y’all and welcome back to Caitlin’s Corner! This month I have a lot to say—as in, I have a lot of sayings to share you bird lovers! Here are some bird idioms that you can try using in your everyday speech:
1. Birds of a feather flock together: This one means those that are similar in their interests or how they act can be considered friends and stick together for a while because of those similarities. Are you and your best friend birds of a feather?
2. For the birds: I imagine someone throwing up their hands, exasperated, when I hear this phrase. Its meaning is that the thing described as “for the birds” is basically worthless and should not be taken into account.
3. Bird-brained: Have you ever heard someone being called bird-brained? If so, that is a shame, because it means that the person was addressed as being stupid. Ironically, crows can be smarter than humans in some aspects, though. So if anyone ever has the nerve to call you bird-brained, take it with pride and explain to him or her how that person may have just called you smart without knowing it!
4. Bird in the hand (is worth two in the bush): …what? Well, this one means something that is a fact, compared to one that is just speculated over.
5. Chickens come home to roost: Hey, be careful there; chickens come home to roost! This idiom means that what someone does now can come back to them later and cause bad things to happen. Karma!
6. The bird has flown: This one was used as far back as the 1600s, like when William Gurnall used it in his book The Christian in Complete Armour. It means that the person that you are looking for has gone away, sometimes talking about a prisoner that has escaped.
7. A little bird: Usually you use this to hint at something secret, such as “a little bird told me that you were at the park today.”
8. To have a bird: Some days I just have a bird, which means that I am very agitated. What a weird phrase! I’d rather just have an actual bird.
9. Chicken feed: Got some chicken feed you are willing to give me? No, not actual chicken feed! This idiom means a little bit of money, usually not a concerning sum.
10. An albatross around someone’s neck: I don’t know if I’d like an albatross wrapped around my neck! Good thing that the albatross resembles a problem that stops someone from any sort of progress, considering it is around that person’s neck.
11. As a duck takes to water: Ducks find themselves in their natural habitat in water, so this means easily.
12. As proud as a peacock: Peacocks love showing off their amazing, colorful feathers! To be as proud as a peacock is to be extreme proud and showy of something that you have done.
13. To get one’s ducks in a row: Awww…how cute would that be? Well, getting your ducks in a row means to set a schedule of what you are going to do, figuring out what events will happen when.
14. As silly as a goose: Since I was younger, I have used the phrase “you silly goose!” to address someone that is acting extra silly or foolish.
15. To clip someone’s wings: This phrase I’ve heard flying around. If you were to clip someone’s wings, you would limit them under your control (since you are the one clipping the wings, after all).
16. Lame duck: I actually learned this one in my government class. Turns out a lame duck is another name for someone in office that doesn’t have much time left before they will lose that position.
17. Pecking order: This idiom means taking people and comparing them to rank all in a certain “order.”
18. To take someone under one’s wings: Hey buddy, I’m going to take you under my wing for this one! In this case, I will care and look out for you, as if a wing protects you.
19. A wild goose chase: This one I find funny! If you were to go on a wild goose chase, that adventure would end up worthless.
20. In fine feather: And finally, this whole article has been in fine feather, which means good humor.
I hope you enjoyed this month’s article on Caitlin’s Corner! Make sure you teach some of these idioms to your friends and family; a little bird told me you want to! See you next month!
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