Animal Idioms
1 / 15What does the idiom 'let the cat out of the bag' mean?
About Animal Idioms
How well do you know idioms that feature animals? This free word games activity is built for older adults who want clear, readable browser-based games without sign-up friction.
Word games are useful for vocabulary, reading confidence, and language-focused problem-solving at a comfortable pace. This quiz includes 15 questions, so it works well as a quick session or as part of a longer brain-training routine. A printable version is available if you prefer offline play or want to share the game at home, in a classroom, or in a group setting.
About Animal Idioms
Animal Idioms is a free word games quiz with 15 multiple-choice questions with a mix of 5 easy, 5 medium, 5 hard questions. How well do you know idioms that feature animals? A typical run takes about 7 minutes, hints are always one tap away, and your streak ticks up the first time you finish a game on a given day.
A few sample questions
1. What does the idiom 'let the cat out of the bag' mean?
Answer: To reveal a secret
'Let the cat out of the bag' means to accidentally reveal a secret or surprise. The phrase may originate from medieval market fraud where a cat was substituted for a piglet in a bag.
2. If someone is described as 'the black sheep' of the family, what does that mean?
Answer: They are considered the odd one out or disgrace
The 'black sheep' of the family is the member who is regarded as a disgrace or who doesn't fit in. Black wool was less valuable because it couldn't be dyed, making black sheep undesirable to shepherds.
3. What does it mean to 'have a bee in your bonnet'?
Answer: To be obsessed with an idea
To 'have a bee in your bonnet' means to be preoccupied or obsessed with a particular idea or topic. The image of a bee buzzing inside a hat conveys the persistent, nagging quality of the obsession.
4. What does the expression 'when pigs fly' mean?
Answer: Something that will never happen
'When pigs fly' is used to say that something is extremely unlikely or impossible. Since pigs cannot fly, the expression emphasizes that the event in question will never occur.
5. What does it mean to 'cry wolf'?
Answer: To raise a false alarm repeatedly
To 'cry wolf' means to raise a false alarm so often that when real danger comes, no one believes you. It comes from Aesop's fable about a shepherd boy who repeatedly lied about a wolf attacking his flock.
Things you'll learn along the way
- 'Hold your horses' means to slow down, be patient, or wait a moment before acting. It originates from the literal act of restraining horses to prevent them from moving forward too quickly.
- 'Playing possum' means pretending to be dead, asleep, or unaware of a situation. It comes from the opossum's defense mechanism of feigning death when threatened by a predator.
- 'A little bird told me' means you learned something from a source you don't want to reveal. The expression dates back centuries and may have biblical origins from Ecclesiastes 10:20.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are in Animal Idioms?
Animal Idioms has 15 multiple-choice questions. Each one has four answer options and an explanation that appears after you answer, so you learn something even when you miss.
Is Animal Idioms free to play?
Yes. The entire SeniorBrainGames catalog — including Animal Idioms — is free, with no sign-up required, no time limits, and no ads on top of the game. It also works offline once the page has loaded once.
How long does Animal Idioms take?
Most players finish Animal Idioms in about 7 minutes. You can pause between questions, replay it as often as you like, and there is no penalty for taking your time — answers are explained after you submit them.
What's a good follow-up after Animal Idioms?
If you enjoyed this word games quiz, try the Daily Challenge — five rotating questions, refreshed every 24 hours, that count toward your streak. You can also use the Surprise Me button on the homepage to land on a different game type for variety.
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