From spreading your wings to being a sitting duck, these idioms infuse our conversations with avian charm and wisdom. Let’s take flight into the fascinating world of bird-related expressions and discover the tales they tell.
Idioms for Birds
Spread Your Wings
Meaning: Taking on new challenges or trying something different.
In a Sentence: After years in the corporate world, Sarah decided to spread her wings and start her own bakery.
Nest Egg
Meaning: Savings set aside for the future.
In a Sentence: They wisely built a nest egg by investing in diverse portfolios for a secure retirement.
Birds of a Feather Flock Together
Meaning: People with similar interests or characteristics tend to associate with one another.
In a Sentence: In the bustling city, artists often found comfort in each other’s company – truly, birds of a feather flock together.
The Early Bird Catches the Worm
Meaning: Taking action early leads to success.
In a Sentence: Arriving at the job fair before the doors opened, Mark secured an interview with his dream company. Indeed, the early bird catches the worm.
A Little Bird Told Me
Meaning: Learning a secret or a piece of information from an unknown source.
In a Sentence: She discovered the surprise party details because a little bird told her.
Like Water Off a Duck’s Back
Meaning: Not affected or bothered by criticism or insults.
In a Sentence: Despite the negative comments, his confidence was like water off a duck’s back.
Kill Two Birds with One Stone
Meaning: Completing two tasks with a single effort.
In a Sentence: By working from home, she managed to kill two birds with one stone – saving time and avoiding the commute.
A Bird in the Hand Is Worth Two in the Bush
Meaning: Having something tangible now is better than the potential of something greater in the future.
In a Sentence: Instead of risking his stable job for a speculative business opportunity, he chose to stick with the bird in his hand.
Night Owl
Meaning: A person who stays up late at night.
In a Sentence: Being a night owl, Jake found his creative peak after midnight.
As the Crow Flies
Meaning: The shortest distance between two points.
In a Sentence: Although the road twisted and turned, the town was only ten miles away as the crow flies.
Don’t Count Your Chickens Before They Hatch
Meaning: Do not anticipate success or profit before it occurs.
In a Sentence: Celebrating prematurely can be risky; it’s essential not to count your chickens before they hatch.
Feather in Your Cap
Meaning: An achievement or honor to be proud of.
In a Sentence: Winning the community service award was a feather in her cap and a testament to her dedication.
A Lame Duck
Meaning: An ineffectual or unsuccessful person.
In a Sentence: The new manager, unfortunately, turned out to be a lame duck, unable to lead the team effectively.
Eagle Eye
Meaning: Exceptionally keen and sharp eyesight.
In a Sentence: With eagle eyes, the detective spotted the crucial clue in the dimly lit room.
Free as a Bird
Meaning: Feeling unrestricted and liberated.
In a Sentence: After quitting his stressful job, he felt as free as a bird, ready to explore new opportunities.
Hawk-Eyed
Meaning: Being extremely watchful and observant.
In a Sentence: The security guard was hawk-eyed, detecting even the slightest movement on the surveillance cameras.
Like a Chicken with Its Head Cut Off
Meaning: Behaving erratically or without purpose.
In a Sentence: During the chaotic moments before the deadline, everyone was running around like chickens with their heads cut off.
Cock of the Walk
Meaning: Someone who acts with excessive self-assurance.
In a Sentence: After winning the championship, he became the cock of the walk, strutting proudly around the arena.
Like a Bat Out of Hell
Meaning: Moving or proceeding very quickly.
In a Sentence: When the storm hit, people scattered like bats out of hell, seeking shelter from the pouring rain.
A Swallow Does Not Make a Summer
Meaning: One positive event does not guarantee ongoing success or happiness.
In a Sentence: Scoring one goal in the first quarter doesn’t secure victory; a swallow does not make a summer.
Wise as an Owl
Meaning: Having great wisdom or intelligence.
In a Sentence: Her grandmother, with years of experience, was as wise as an owl, offering valuable advice to the family.
Pecking Order
Meaning: A hierarchy of authority or status.
In a Sentence: In the corporate world, the pecking order determines who holds the most influence and decision-making power.
Like a Duck to Water
Meaning: Adapting easily and naturally to a new activity or situation.
In a Sentence: Despite being a novice, he took up photography like a duck to water, capturing breathtaking images from the start.
Empty Nest Syndrome
Meaning: Feelings of sadness or loss when children leave home.
In a Sentence: Experiencing empty nest syndrome, she found solace in redecorating the now quiet and spacious house.
Black Swan Event
Meaning: An unexpected and rare occurrence with significant consequences.
In a Sentence: The economic downturn was a black swan event that caught many financial experts by surprise.
Cry Over Spilled Milk
Meaning: To lament or regret something that has already happened.
In a Sentence: Instead of crying over spilled milk, he focused on finding a solution to the unexpected problem.
As Free as a Bird
Meaning: Being completely free and unrestrained.
In a Sentence: After finishing his exams, he felt as free as a bird, ready to embark on a carefree summer adventure.
Peckish
Meaning: Slightly hungry.
In a Sentence: Feeling a bit peckish, she grabbed a small snack to tide her over until dinner.
Goosebumps
Meaning: Small, raised bumps on the skin caused by cold, excitement, or fear.
In a Sentence: The eerie music and suspenseful plot gave her goosebumps as she watched the thrilling movie.
A Sitting Duck
Meaning: Someone vulnerable and exposed to danger.
In a Sentence: Without the proper security measures, the outdated computer system became a sitting duck for cyberattacks.
Summary
| Idiom | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Spread Your Wings | Taking on new challenges or trying something different. | After years in the corporate world, Sarah decided to spread her wings and start her own bakery. |
| Nest Egg | Savings set aside for the future. | They wisely built a nest egg by investing in diverse portfolios for a secure retirement. |
| Birds of a Feather Flock Together | People with similar interests or characteristics tend to associate with one another. | In the bustling city, artists often found comfort in each other’s company – truly, birds of a feather flock together. |
| The Early Bird Catches the Worm | Taking action early leads to success. | Arriving at the job fair before the doors opened, Mark secured an interview with his dream company. Indeed, the early bird catches the worm. |
| A Little Bird Told Me | Learning a secret or a piece of information from an unknown source. | She discovered the surprise party details because a little bird told her. |
| Like Water Off a Duck’s Back | Not affected or bothered by criticism or insults. | Despite the negative comments, his confidence was like water off a duck’s back. |
| Kill Two Birds with One Stone | Completing two tasks with a single effort. | By working from home, she managed to kill two birds with one stone – saving time and avoiding the commute. |
| A Bird in the Hand Is Worth Two in the Bush | Having something tangible now is better than the potential of something greater in the future. | Instead of risking his stable job for a speculative business opportunity, he chose to stick with the bird in his hand. |
| Night Owl | A person who stays up late at night. | Being a night owl, Jake found his creative peak after midnight. |
| As the Crow Flies | The shortest distance between two points. | Although the road twisted and turned, the town was only ten miles away as the crow flies. |
| Don’t Count Your Chickens Before They Hatch | Do not anticipate success or profit before it occurs. | Celebrating prematurely can be risky; it’s essential not to count your chickens before they hatch. |
| Feather in Your Cap | An achievement or honor to be proud of. | Winning the community service award was a feather in her cap and a testament to her dedication. |
| A Lame Duck | An ineffectual or unsuccessful person. | The new manager, unfortunately, turned out to be a lame duck, unable to lead the team effectively. |
| Eagle Eye | Exceptionally keen and sharp eyesight. | With eagle eyes, the detective spotted the crucial clue in the dimly lit room. |
| Free as a Bird | Feeling unrestricted and liberated. | After quitting his stressful job, he felt as free as a bird, ready to explore new opportunities. |
| Hawk-Eyed | Being extremely watchful and observant. | The security guard was hawk-eyed, detecting even the slightest movement on the surveillance cameras. |
| Like a Chicken with Its Head Cut Off | Behaving erratically or without purpose. | During the chaotic moments before the deadline, everyone was running around like chickens with their heads cut off. |
| Cock of the Walk | Someone who acts with excessive self-assurance. | After winning the championship, he became the cock of the walk, strutting proudly around the arena. |
| Like a Bat Out of Hell | Moving or proceeding very quickly. | When the storm hit, people scattered like bats out of hell, seeking shelter from the pouring rain. |
| A Swallow Does Not Make a Summer | One positive event does not guarantee ongoing success or happiness. | Scoring one goal in the first quarter doesn’t secure victory; a swallow does not make a summer. |
| Wise as an Owl | Having great wisdom or intelligence. | Her grandmother, with years of experience, was as wise as an owl, offering valuable advice to the family. |
| Pecking Order | A hierarchy of authority or status. | In the corporate world, the pecking order determines who holds the most influence and decision-making power. |
| Like a Duck to Water | Adapting easily and naturally to a new activity or situation. | Despite being a novice, he took up photography like a duck to water, capturing breathtaking images from the start. |
| Empty Nest Syndrome | Feelings of sadness or loss when children leave home. | Experiencing empty nest syndrome, she found solace in redecorating the now quiet and spacious house. |
| Black Swan Event | An unexpected and rare occurrence with significant consequences. | The economic downturn was a black swan event that caught many financial experts by surprise. |
| Cry Over Spilled Milk | To lament or regret something that has already happened. | Instead of crying over spilled milk, he focused on finding a solution to the unexpected problem. |
| As Free as a Bird | Being completely free and unrestrained. | After finishing his exams, he felt as free as a bird, ready to embark on a carefree summer adventure. |
| Peckish | Slightly hungry. | Feeling a bit peckish, she grabbed a small snack to tide her over until dinner. |
| Goosebumps | Small, raised bumps on the skin caused by cold, excitement, or fear. | The eerie music and suspenseful plot gave her goosebumps as she watched the thrilling movie. |
| A Sitting Duck | Someone vulnerable and exposed to danger. | Without the proper security measures, the outdated computer system became a sitting duck for cyberattacks. |