在美國英語里，有許多常用俚語是由動物字眼構成的，相當的生動、形象。掌握它們，會你的口語和作文更地道，更生色！

Session I: It's a Zoo Out There(真象個動物園）

1. Smell a Rat = feel that something is wrong
可以用 I smell a rat 來表達自己感覺什么事情不正常、奇怪、不對頭的意思，就象聞到死老鼠的味道一樣。

范例對話:
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: Frankly, I smell a rat.
B: Me, too. I'm convinced that something is definitely wrong here.
A: We'd better call the police.

2. Fishy = strange and suspicious
同 smell a rat 意思相近，也表示感覺奇怪和懷疑，就象聞到魚的腥臭味一樣。

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（上級） that he thought something strange and suspicious（令人懷疑的） was occuring.

3. Take the Bull by the Horns = take decisive action in a difficult situation
在困難的條件下作出決定性的動作，或不計安危，勇敢面對，直接面對，就象擒牛從牛角入手的方法。

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
無聊、無趣，愚蠢的，只是為鳥兒們準備的。

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（中間休息） because they found the reading totally uninteresting and meaningless.

5. Straight From the Horse's Mouth = from a reliable source
說話者本人的原話，或從可靠、權威人士處得來的信息。美國人在這里把說話的人比作大馬了。

范例對話:
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!