在美国英语里，有许多常用俚语是由动物字眼构成的，相当的生动、形象。掌握它们，会你的口语和作文更地道，更生色！

Session I: It's a Zoo Out There(真象个动物园）1. Smell a Rat = feel that something is wrong可以用 I smell a rat 来表达自己感觉什么事情不正常、奇怪、不对头的意思，就象闻到死老鼠的味道一样。

范例对话:

A: How come the front door is open? Didn't you close it before we went shopping?

B: I'm sure I did. I can't understand it.

A: Frankly¹, I smell a rat.

B: Me, too. I'm convinced that something is definitely wrong here.

A: We'd better call the police.

2. Fishy² = strange and suspicious

同 smell a rat 意思相近，也表示感觉奇怪和怀疑，就象闻到鱼的腥臭味一样。

范例短文:

When the security guard（保安）saw a light in the store after closing hours, it seemed to him that there was something fishy going on. He called the central office and explained to his superior（上级） that he thought something strange and suspicious（令人怀疑的） was occuring.

3. Take the Bull by the Horns = take decisive action in a difficult situation在困难的条件下作出决定性的动作，或不计安危，勇敢面对，直接面对，就象擒牛从牛角入手的方法。

范例短文:

Julie has always felt that she was missing out on a lot of fun because of her clumsiness（笨拙） on the dance floor. She had been putting off taking lessions, but she finally took the bull by the horns and went to a professional dance studio for help. She was tired of feeling left out and acted decisively to correct the situation.

4. For the Birds = uninteresting， meaningless, boring and silly无聊、无趣，愚蠢的，只是为鸟儿们准备的。

范例短文:

They went to a poetry reading, but they got bored and restless. As far as they were concerned, it was for the birds! They left during an intermission（中间休息） because they found the reading totally uninteresting and meaningless.

5. Straight From the Horse's Mouth = from a reliable source说话者本人的原话，或从可靠、权威人士处得来的信息。美国人在这里把说话的人比作大马了。

范例对话:

A: How did you find out that Jill was engaged?

B: I got the information from a very reliable source.

A: You mean Jill told you so herself?

B: That's right. I got it straight from the horse's mouth!