在美國英語裡，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 來表達自己感覺什麼事情不正常、奇怪、不對頭的意思，就象聞到死老鼠的味道一樣。
範例對話：
A: How come the front door is open? Didn’t you close it before wewent 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 wronghere。
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。
範例短文：
When the security guard(保安)saw a light in the store after closinghours, it seemed to him that there was something fishy going on. Hecalled the central office and explained to his superior(上級) that hethought something strange and suspicious(令人懷疑的') was occuring。
3. Take the Bull by the Horns = take decisive action in adifficult 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。
範例短文：
Julie has always felt that she was missing out on a lot of funbecause of her clumsiness(笨拙) on the dance floor. She had beenputting off taking lessions, but she finally took the bull by thehorns and went to a professional dance studio for help. She wastired of feeling left out and acted decisively to correct thesituation。
4. For the Birds = uninteresting， meaningless, boring andsilly
無聊、無趣，愚蠢的，只是為鳥兒們準備的。
範例短文：
They went to a poetry reading, but they got bored and restless. Asfar as they were concerned, it was for the birds! They left duringan intermission(中間休息) because they found the reading totallyuninteresting and meaningless。
5. Straight From the Horse’s Mouth = from a reliablesource
說話者本人的原話，或從可靠、權威人士處得來的資訊。美國人在這裡把說話的人比作大馬了。
範例對話：
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!