Idiomy w języku angielskim – porównania ze zwierzętami

Lipiec 27, 2017 Agata Pruszyńska

W języku angielskim chętnie używanymi wyrażeniami są krótkie porównania idiomatyczne, które sprawiają, że język jest bardziej żywy. Dzięki nim wyrażanie naszych myśli jest łatwiejsze i bardziej obrazowe. Niektóre z tych porównań mogą wydać się na pierwszy rzut oka dziwne, niespotykane i niezrozumiałe. To jedna z trudności występująca w nauce idiomów w języku angielskim. Musimy nauczyć się, co znaczą oraz kiedy możemy ich używać. Na szczęście część z nich jest używana w typowych sytuacjach, a ich znaczenia możemy się domyślić, przez co łatwiej je zapamiętać i poprawnie stosować. Dzisiejsza lista porównań odnosi się do opisu cech charakteru. Wszystkie porównania mają wspólny punkt odniesienia, a mianowicie nawiązują do zwierząt. Aby ułatwić zapamiętanie idiomów, wykorzystałam zdjęcia oraz przykładowe zdania z poszczególnymi idiomami.

Mam nadzieję, że dzisiejsza lista idiomów będzie dla Was użyteczna, a po części teoretycznej zapraszam Was na ćwiczenia, które dla Was przygotowałam. Znajdziecie je tutaj – Idiomy angielskie ze zwierzętami – Ćwiczenia.

 

#19 idiomów angielskich ze zwierzętami#

 

#1 as mad as a hornet

= extremely angry (zły jak osa, wściekły jak diabli)

Examples:

➡ 1. Stop acting like that. It makes me mad as a hornet!
➡ 2. After he had found out the truth, he was as mad as a hornet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

#2 as blind as a bat

= have poor eyesight, be unable to see well (ślepy jak kret)

Examples:
➡ 1. I need my glasses. Where are they? Without them I’m as blind as a bat.
➡ 2. If you don’t stop sitting long hours in front of the computer, you will become as blind as a bat.

 

 

 

#3 as brave as a lion

= very brave, not afraid of anything or anybody, intrepid (odważny jak lew)

Examples:
➡ 1. The wicked flee when no one pursues; but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
➡ 2. He wasn’t afraid of anybody, he was as bold as a lion.

 

 

 

 

#4 as busy as a bee

= very busy and active, hard-working (pracowity jak pszczoła)
Another expression can be used as well – (AS) BUSY AS A BEAVER.

Examples:
➡ 1. I have to go to sleep right now because tomorrow I will be as busy as a bee.
➡ 2. She’s been as busy as a bee recently. She’s had lots on her plate.

 

 

 

 

#5 as cunning as a fox

= very clever, exceptionally shrewd, wily, artful, tricky (chytry jak lis, przebiegły jak lis)
Another way to use this simile is ‘(AS) SLY AS A FOX’.

Examples:
➡ 1. I wouldn’t trust him if I were you. He’s as cunning as a fox.
➡ 2. He thought he was sly as a fox embezzling money but finally the police caught him red-handed.

 

 

 

 

 

#6 as fit as a fiddle

= very healthy, full of energy, very strong (zdrowy jak ryba)

Examples:
➡ 1. My grandma is as fit as a fiddle. She rides a bike and swims despite being 95.
➡ 2. I used to be fit as fiddle, but now I’m in failing health unfortunately.

 

 

 

 

#7 as free as a bird

= completely free, you can do what you want, you don’t have any worries or troubles (wolny jak ptak)

Examples:
➡ 1. Julie is as free as a bird because she hasn’t got any worries.
➡ 2. I’ve been travelling for two years and that makes me free as a a bird. 

 

 

 

 

 

#8 as gentle as a lamb

= mild-mannered, very calm and caring (potulny jak baranek)
We can also say ‘(AS) MEEK AS A LAMB’.

Examples:
➡ 1. Peter is as gentle as a lamb. He has never hurt anybody.
➡ 2. I love people who are meek as a lamb. They are always very kind to everyone.

 

 

 

 

#9 as greedy as a wolf

(łakomy jak wilk)

Other expressions with the same meaning are:
– (AS) GREEDY AS A PIG
– (AS) GREEDY AS A DOG

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#10 as hungry as a bear

= famished, very hungry (głodny jak wilk)
Another expression with the same meaning is: (AS) HUNGRY AS A HUNTER.

Examples:
➡ Let’s eat something, shall we? I’m hungry as a bear.
➡ I hate waiting for my lunch. I’m always hungry as a hunter.

 

 

 

 

#11 as happy as a lark

= cheerful, very happy (wesoły jak szczygieł)

Examples:
➡ 1. When she bought a new dress, she was happy as a lark.
➡ 2 My gradma is 85 years old but always as happy as a lark.

 

 

 

 

 

 

#12 as proud as a peacock

= extremely proud (dumny jak paw)

Examples:
➡ 1. When his son got into University of Oxford, he was proud as a peacock.
➡ 2. Julie’s novel was awarded for the first time last year. It’s a shame you didn’t have a chance to see her – she was as proud as a peacock.

 

 

 

 

#13 as quiet as a mouse

= very silent (cichy jak mysz)

Examples:
➡ 1. I didn’t even know that she came back home last night – she was as quiet as a mouse.
➡ 2. They were doodling being as quiet as a mouse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

#14 as sick as a dog

= very sick, vomiting a lot (poważnie chory)
We can also say: ‘(AS) SICK AS A PARROT’ but the meaning is different and it means very disappointed (rozczarowany do głębi)

Examples:
➡ 1. Last Thursday we went to a restaurant and I probably ate something stale becasue I was as sick as a dog.
➡ 2. Susan was sick as a parrot when she found out that Jack was going to leave the country.

 

 

 

 

 

#15 as silly as a goose

= silly, extremely stupid, particularly foolish (głupi jak gęś)
Another expression with the same meaning is ‘(AS) SILLY AS A SHEEP’.

Examples:
➡ 1. I was silly as goose hoping that one day he would change.
➡ 2. He turned out to be as silly as a goose for the umpteenth time, making the same mistake again and again.

 

 

 

 

#16 as strong as an ox

= someone who has a lot of strength, who is very strong (silny jak wół, silny jak byk)

Examples:
➡ 1. John is as strong as an ox. He can lift heavy things with ease.
➡ 2. A new engine in our machines, strong as an ox, can last up to fifteen years.
➡ 3. Don’t grapple with him, he’s as strong as an ox, you will lose.

 

 

 

 

 

#17 as stubborn as a mule

= very stubborn, not willing to change their mind (uparty jak osioł)
We can also say ‘(AS) OBSTINATE AS A MULE’.

Examples:
➡ 1. Why do you never take my advice? You’re as stubborn as a mule.
➡ 2. Luke won’t change his mind no matter what you do. He’s as obstinate as a mule.

 

 

 

 

 

#18 as timid as a rabbit

= shy and fearful (płochliwy jak zając)

Examples:
➡ 1. Giving a speech is a nightmare for me because I’m as timid as a rabbit.
➡ 2. I’ve always thought that Julie is as timid as rabbit but it’s not true – she can stand up for herself when it’s necessary.

 

 

 

 

#19 as wise as an owl

= really smart, clever (mądry jak sowa)
Another expression with the same meaning is: ‘(as) wise as Solomon’.

Examples:
➡ 1. I like listening to people who are wise as an owl. You can always learn something important from them.
➡ 2. After so many years of his life he should be wise as an owl, but in fact he acts like a fool.

 

 

Oczywiście nie są to wszystkie porównania ze zwierzętami w języku angielskim. Wybrałam te najpopularniejsze i najczęściej używane. Jeżeli interesują Was inne idiomy i ich zastosowanie, to zapraszam do tej zakładki – Idiomy angielski.