as the crow flies

- by the most direct way, along a straight line between two places

As the crow flies it is about six kilometers between here and the cinema.

(like a) bat out of hell

- very fast

He left here like a bat out of hell. I don`t know why he was in such a hurry.

bats in the belfry

- crazy, eccentric

I think that he has bats in the belfry. His ideas are absolutely crazy.

bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

- one shouldn`t risk losing something certain by trying to get something that is not certain

You should keep the prize and not try and win another one. Remember that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

birds and bees

- the facts about sex and birth

He learned about the birds and bees in his health education class at school.

birds-eye view

- a general view from above

Let`s go up onto the roof and get a birds-eye view of the surrounding area.

birds of a feather flock together

- people who are similar become friends or join together

Don`t complain about your friends. Remember that birds of a feather flock together. They are just like you.

chicken feed

- a small sum of money

The money that I lost at the horse races was only chicken feed so I am not worried about it at all.

chicken-livered

- cowardly, easily scared

He called his friend chicken-livered which made him very angry.

chicken out

- stop doing something because of fear

He was going to come with us but he chickened out at the last moment.

chickens come home to roost

- someone`s words or acts come back to cause trouble for them

He was very inconsiderate of other people when he was supervisor. Now his chickens have come home to roost and people are very unkind to him.

clip one`s wings

- limit or hold one back, bring one under control

We had to try and clip his wings as he was becoming too aggressive in dealing with other people.

cold turkey

- stop taking drugs (heroin etc.) abruptly and without medical aid

The government program helped the drug addicts stop using heroin cold turkey.

cook one`s goose

- destroy one`s future chances or reputation

They really cooked their goose when they fought against their employer and lost.

count one`s chickens before they`re hatched

- depend or rely on getting something before one actually has it

Don`t count your chickens before they`re hatched. Remember that you haven`t passed your exams yet and may not get the job that you expect.

dead duck

- someone in a hopeless situation or condition

He is a dead duck. When the police find him he will have to go to jail.

duck soup

- a task that does not require much effort

The exam was duck soup. I am sure that I did very well.

early bird catches the worm

- a person who gets up early in the morning has the best chance of success

Let`s leave about six o`clock in the morning. Remember that the early bird catches the worm.

eat crow

- admit one is mistaken or defeated

He was forced to eat crow when he found out that what he said was totally wrong.

eat like a bird

- eat very little

He must be sick as he has been eating like a bird during the last few weeks.

feather in one`s cap

- something to be proud of, an honor

Winning the speech contest was a feather in his cap and we are very proud of him.

feather one`s nest

- look after one`s own (financial) interests - especially while holding public office

He had been feathering his own nest for years so he finally was replaced in the election.

for the birds

- not interesting, something you don't like

The movie was for the birds so we left early and got something to eat.

kill the goose that layed/lays the golden egg

- spoil something that is good or something that one has by being greedy

They sold part of their business but it was the most profitable part. I think that they have killed the goose that lays the golden egg.

kill two birds with one stone

- suceed in doing two things by only one action

Let`s have the meeting when we are in town so we can kill two birds with one stone.

lame duck

- a politician who has little time left in office and therefore has less power

He is a lame-duck leader and is not effective at all.

like water off a duck`s back

- without effect

Criticism falls away from him like water off a duck`s back and he never worries about anything.

pecking order

- the way people are ranked in relation to each other

I have not worked there very long so I don`t really understand the pecking order yet.

sitting duck

- an unsuspecting person easily fooled - as if waiting to be attacked

The soldier should move from that window. He is like a sitting duck for the enemy.

(no) spring chicken

- a young person

I don`t know how old she is but she is definitely no spring chicken.

ugly duckling

- ugly or plain child (who grows up to be pretty)

She was really an ugly duckling when she was a child but now she is quite beautiful.