English is full of animal-related phrases that turn ordinary actions into animated pictures. They’re perfect for texting, chatting or spicing up a paragraph. Check out a few examples below. Remember, when you need a punchy verb, you can always look to the great outdoors.
Horse around
Meaning: to behave in a silly, rowdy way
Example: The children were horsing around in the backyard, laughing and chasing one another.
Pig out
Meaning: to eat far too much or greedily
Example: We pigged out on fries and wings while watching the football game.
Badger
Meaning: to repeatedly ask someone to do something; pester
Example: My friends finally badgered me into joining their book club.
Chicken out
Meaning: to decide not to do something because you are too frightened
Example: Despite practising the move all summer, I chickened out at the edge of the diving board.
Clam up
Meaning: to abruptly stop talking, often due to embarrassment or reluctance
Example: As soon as the teacher asked about the broken window, the whole class clammed up.
Rat on / rat out
Meaning: to betray someone by disclosing information about them
Example: He promised to keep our secret, then ratted us out to the principal.
Squirrel away
Meaning: to hide or store something, usually of value, for future use
Example: May squirrelled away her babysitting money to buy a guitar.
