Algumas expressões em português utilizam animais e, nem sempre, é possível fazer uma tradução literal para o inglês pelo simples fato de que essas expressões não são utilizadas por lá como aqui.
Então, como faz? Vamos dar uma olhada em algumas expressões:
- to become highly excited or angry about someone or something
Our teacher will go ape if you do not finish the work that was due today.
make a monkey out of (someone)
- to make someone look foolish
My friend made a monkey out of me when he started arguing with me in front of my boss.
monkey around with (someone or something)
- to play with or waste time with someone or something
The boy spent the morning monkeying around with the old radio.
monkey business
- unethical or illegal activity, mischief
The boy should stop the monkey business and do the job correctly.
a monkey on one's back
- a serious problem that stops someone from being successful at something
Seven games without scoring a goal was a monkey on the back of the famous soccer player.
monkey see, monkey do
- someone copies something that someone else does
It is monkey see, monkey do for the boy. He copies everything that his friend does.
play cat and mouse with (someone)
- to tease or fool someone, to change between different types of behavior when dealing with someone
The man is playing cat and mouse with his company about his plans to quit or not.
when the cat's away, the mice will play
- when you are not watching someone they may get into trouble
When the cat's away, the mice will play and when the teacher left the classroom the students began to play around.
in a pig`s eye
- unlikely, not so, never
Never in a pig`s eye will my friend be able to save enough money to go to Mexico for the winter.
as fat as a pig
- very fat
The woman in the supermarket was as fat as a pig.
buy a pig in a poke
- to buy something without seeing it or knowing anything about it
You can buy the used computer but it will be like buying a pig in a poke if you do not look at it first.
cast pearls before swine
- to waste something on someone who will not be thankful or care about it
Giving the jewellery to the woman will be casting pearls before swine. She will not appreciate it at all.
as awkward as a cow on roller skates
- very awkward
The little girl was as awkward as a cow on roller skates when she began riding her bicycle.
a bull in a china shop
- a tactless person who upsets others or upsets plans, a very clumsy person
The boy is like a bull in a china shop so you should be careful if you invite him to your house.
a cash cow
- a product or service that makes much money
Our new business is a cash cow. We are making much money now.
have a cow
- to become very angry and upset about something
Our teacher had a cow when nobody prepared for the class.
hit the bulls-eye
- to reach or focus on the main point of something
Our manager hit the bulls-eye when he talked about the problems in the company.
- used to express strong feelings of astonishment or pleasure or anger
"Holy cow," the man said when he saw the car that hit the street lamp.
a sacred cow
- a person or thing that is never criticized or changed even if it should be (from a cow which is sacred in India)
The school lunch program is a sacred cow which they will never change.
take the bull by the horns
- to take decisive and direct action
My aunt decided to take the bull by the horns and begin preparations for the family reunion.
until the cows come home
- until very late, for a long time
We can talk until the cows come home this evening.