fly the coop
Meaning: To escape.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Category: Animals
Origin: The expression is usually used in connection with being in jail (sentence 1) but can also be used figuratively (sentence 2). It is a reference to captured birds escaping when their cage (coop) is opened.
More idioms — Animals
- get off one's high horse — To stop acting superior.
- get someone's goat — To irritate or annoy someone.
- go whole hog — To spare nothing; to do something with maximum enthusiasm.
- grin and bear it — To accept or endure a bad situation.
- horse around — To play a little roughly.
- horse of another color — A situation or plan which represents a change from what was expected or assumed.
More English idioms
- horse sense — Common sense (sentence 1) or shrewdness; cleverness (sentence 2).
- lame duck — A person who holds an office but has little real influence because he or she has not been…
- not look a gift horse in the mouth — To find fault with a gift or to refuse a gift, usually because one is suspicious of the g…
- look like the cat that swallowed the canary — To have a knowing and self-satisfied smile on one's face; to be pleased with oneself, oft…
- lucky dog — A lucky person.
- monkey around — To play like a monkey, i.e., climb on or examine things with curiosity.
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