Animal Idioms Comparison Between Chinese And English 1aCan you give some animal idioms you know ?2a IntroductionIdiom is a fixed group of words or a single word, or even a sentence with a special meaning that cannot be guessed from the literal meaning of its components. “Language is the carrier container of culture, and is strongly influenced and shaped by culture.3a Animal Idioms are very common in our daily life . They enrich our English verbal communications . So now , let us introduce them for you. 4aSimilarities of connotations Englishas sly as a foxas fat as a pigas slow as snailas cruel as a wolf Chinese像狐狸一样狡猾肥得像猪像蜗牛一样慢像狼一样残忍5aThe reasons why different animal words have the similar cultural meaning6aDifferences of connotations Chinese 噤若寒蝉（cricket)热锅上的蚂蚁(ant)吹牛(cattle)落汤鸡(chick)瓮中之鳖(turtle)鸡皮疙瘩(chicken) English as mute as fish like a cat on hot bricks talk horsegoose flesh a rat in a hole wet as a drowned rat7aReasons causing cultural connotation differences1.Different geography 2.Different customs 3.Influence of historical allusion 4.Influence of religion8aDifferent Thoughts Between Chinese and English “Dragon” is a divine totem in the Chinese culture, and is greatly admired by the Chinese people and they consider themselves as the descendants of the dragon. Dragon is the symbol of all auspicious animals. In English the word “dragon” symbolizes evil. Such as: “the old dragon”, “dragons teeth”. Chinese people take “owl” as a symbol of bad luck. But in the UK, there is “as wise as an owl”. “owl” in English stands for wisdom.9aSimilar Attitudes Towards The Same AnimalBoth English and Chinese have the same attitude towards animals. They both compare “parrot ”to “imitate”, compare “pig” to “greedy” or “dirty”, compare “peacock” to “proud” , compare “ass” to “foolish” ,compare“wolf” to “cruel” ,“lamb ”to“innocent”,“bird” to“ free”.10aExamples11a1.Bird (1) Kill two birds with one stone. 一箭双雕；一举两得。 (2) A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. 双鸟在林不如一鸟在手。 (3) Birds of a feather flock together. 物以类聚，人以群分。 (4) Fine feathers make fine birds. 人要衣装，马要鞍。 (5) A bird is known by its note, and a man by his talk. 听音识鸟，闻言识人。 (6) Each bird loves to hear himself sing. 鸟儿都爱听自己唱。（自我欣赏） 12a2. Cat (1) A cat has nine lives.猫有九条命；(吉人天相) (2) Cats hide their claws. 知人知面不知心。 (3) Who will bell the cat? 谁去给猫系铃？（谁愿意为大家冒风险？） (4) The cat shuts its eyes when stealing cream. 猫偷吃奶油的时候总是闭着眼睛。（掩耳盗铃） 13a3. Henhen-party 女人聚会，She has invited all her girlfriends to a hen-party on Friday night.hen-pecked 惧内的，Hes hen-pecked from morning to night.like a hen with one (only) chicken 大惊小怪的，Shes like a hen with only one chicken.mother hen （忙乱、小题大做的）女人，She fusses over them like a mother hen.14a4. Dog (1) Love me, love my dog. 爱屋及乌. (2) Every dog has his day. 人人皆有得意时。 (3) Let sleeping dogs lie. 勿惹事生非。 (4) Dead dogs bite not. 死狗不咬人。 (5) Dog does not eat dog. 同类不相残。 (6) A son never thinks his mother ugly, and a dog never shuns its owners home however shabby it is.儿不嫌母丑，狗不嫌家贫。 15a5. Fish Big Fish 大人物 eg:The boss shows some big fish around the factory.Cold Fish 冷冰冰 eg: Sue is a cold fish.Fish in troubled waters 混水摸鱼 eg : He fishes in the troubled waters of marital strife.have other fish to fry 另有它图，Ive got plenty of other fish to fry.16a6. Horse (1) You can take a horse to the water, but you cant make him drink. 带马到河边容易，逼马饮水难。 (2) Dont ride the high horse. 勿摆架子。 (3) A horse may stumble on four feet. 马有四条腿，亦有失蹄时。 17a a wolf in sheeps clothing “披着羊皮的狼披着羊皮的狼 ”18aa black sheep “害群之害群之马” 19aa sheep among wolves “羊入虎口羊入虎口” 20aenough to make a horse laugh “笑掉大牙笑掉大牙”21aIt rains cats and dogs. “瓢瓢泼大雨大雨”22aThe cat shuts its eyes when stealing cream “掩耳盗掩耳盗铃”23asee how the cat jumps “看看风使舵使舵, 随机随机应变”- wait for the cat to jump 24aWhen the cats away, the mice will play .“山中无老虎山中无老虎 猴子称霸王猴子称霸王”25aLove me, love my dog爱屋及屋及乌26a Let the cat out of the bag!露露出出马脚脚27aBleed like a pig血血流流如如注注28aConclusionWith the development of the animal culture, more and more animal words are employed in English and Chinese idioms. They read smooth and sound pleasant to the ear, and they are widespread and popularized.29a30a