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English Grammar›Ch 10: Idioms & Phrases›Animal Idioms for Exams
Master 7 high-frequency animal idioms for SSC and Railway exams.
Animal idioms rarely refer to literal animals. Always look for the figurative meaning and the specific action or quality described in the sentence.
Memory Hooks
| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Let the cat out of the bag | Reveal a secret | She let the cat out of the bag. |
| Cry wolf | To give a false alarm | Don't cry wolf often. |
| Crocodile tears | False display of grief | He shed crocodile tears. |
White Elephant
(Costly but useless)
Costly but useless
This project is a white elephant.
Dark Horse
(Unexpected winner)
Unexpected winner
Ravi proved to be a dark horse.
Lion's Share
(The largest portion)
The largest portion
He took the lion's share.
Bell the Cat
(Face a danger)
Face a danger
Who will bell the cat?
To own a white elephant animalA costly possession with no use
Examiners often use literal animals in options to trick you.
Bell the cat: To feed a catBell the cat: To lead in danger
Do not confuse the phrase with caring for animals.
Cry wolf: To behave like a wolfCry wolf: To raise a false alarm
It is about lying, not about behaving like an animal.
Q1.The manager took the 'lion's share' of the credit for the project success.
Q2.No one believed him because he had 'cried wolf' too many times before.