大家有没有注意到，我们在日常生活中经常会说出一些带动物的语句，比如“我饿得可以吃掉一头牛”，就比单纯地说“我饿了”有力度。除此之外，动物也常常出现在一些成语和俗语里，如“授人以鱼不如授人以渔”“不入虎穴焉得虎子”等等。
其实不仅是汉语里，在英文中也时常出现和动物相关的生动形象的表达方式。下面就和小U一起来看看英文中有哪些和动物相关的俚语吧～
All is fish that comes to one's net
落入网里的都是鱼
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这是16世纪初流传在英国的一句古老的渔家谚语，原意是指打渔人一网撒下，大鱼小鱼、好鱼坏鱼都是收获，没有什么用不上的。现在通常用来指事物无分贵贱、各有用处，只要对自己有用就行。
☞ describe one's ability to make use of anything available
e.g. I don't know how Chris fixed his car with the few tools he had with him, but he's so smart like that—all is fish that comes to his net.
我不知道克里斯是怎么用他身上仅有的几样工具修好车的，但是他很聪明——物尽其用。
All cats are grey in the dark
所有猫在黑暗中都是灰色的
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这句话的本意是指在昏暗的环境下我们看所有的猫都是灰色，在分辨不清事物的情况下很难看出它的美丑和好坏。通常引申为不能单纯因美丑判断别人的好坏，不可以貌取人。
☞ The qualities that distinguish people from one another are obscured in some circumstances, and if they can't be perceived they don't matter.
e.g. All cats are grey in the dark, beauty is not important.
所有猫在黑暗中都是灰色的，美丑并不重要。
Ass in a lion's skin
披着狮子皮的驴
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这一典故出自《伊索寓言》，是指外表虽然可以暂时掩盖一个人的缺点，但它很容易被揭穿。通常用来指代那些色厉内荏、装腔作势，实则虚弱无能的人。
☞ a donkey who is trying to portray itself as a strong and powerful lion
e.g. Everybody knows that he is an ass in a lion's skin.
大家都知道他是个色厉内荏的胆小鬼。
Beard the lion in his den
入狮穴捋狮须
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这个短语通常指敢于触犯有权势者，敢于对抗或挑战强有力的对手或敌人，类似于中文里我们常说的“太岁头上动土”“老虎嘴中拔牙”的意思。
☞ to confront risk or danger head on, especially for the sake of possible personal gain
e.g. You dare to beard the lion in his den.
你竟敢在太岁头上动土。
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
一鸟在手胜过双鸟在林
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bird in the hand比喻已经到手、有把握的事情，而bird in the bush则比喻还未到手、没把握的事情。这句俚语通常用来表达已经到手的东西比可能得到的东西实惠得多，要珍惜目前所拥有的。
☞ It is better to have something less valuable than to pursue something more valuable that may not be able to be obtained.
e.g. I suggest you stick to your present job. After all, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
我建议你坚持做好现在的工作，毕竟一鸟在手胜过双鸟在林。
Black sheep
黑色的绵羊
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在西方国家，人们认为黑绵羊的毛不如白绵羊珍贵，因此在牧羊人看来黑羊是没有什么价值的，不怎么受待见。而且，黑羊混杂在白羊中间还会吓唬白羊。因此这个词通常喻指家庭中的不肖子弟、败家子或社会的害群之马。
☞ One who is unlike other members of a family, group or organization, sometimes due to intentional rebelliousness, and often viewed unfavorably by them.
e.g. Mike is considered a black sheep in the village and no one likes him.
迈克被看作是村里的败类，没有人喜欢他。
Bring owls to Athens
送猫头鹰到雅典
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雅典盛产猫头鹰，希腊神话中雅典守护神的标志就是猫头鹰，它还是雅典城的城徽，因此该俚语被用来表示“多此一举”“做徒劳无益的事”。
☞ To do or undertake something redundant, pointless or futile.
e.g. The councilor's plans to improve the economy by increasing taxes simply would be bringing owls to Athens.
这个议员通过增加税收来改善经济的计划只会徒劳无功。
A leopard cannot change his spots
猎豹无法改变身上的斑点
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就像豹皮有斑点不能除去一样，人的本性也不会轻易改变，所以这句话就是指江山易改本性难移。
☞ One will stay true to one's nature, even if one pretends or claims otherwise.
e.g. Well, he is late again. I guess a leopard cannot change his spots.
哎，他又迟到了。我想是江山易改，本性难移。
这些和动物有关的特殊用法你们都了解了吗？如果U粉儿们还知道其他俚语，欢迎在留言区告诉小U噢～
编辑 | 陶见平、周子琪
实习生 | 金禹彤
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