When Pigs Fly, Horsing Around, An Eager Beaver, Dropping Like Flies

When Pigs Fly
One of English's more colorful idioms, "when pigs fly" describes an extremely unlikely event, one that will never realistically come to pass.

Pigs would only fly (legitimately) if they sprouted angel-like wings and began flying on their own power. This is a ridiculous idea, and is used to ridicule another idea.

Example: "Think you might wind up marrying Ray someday?"  "Me? Marry that fat, lazy slob Ray? When pigs fly!!" In this case, the speaker is strongly denying that there is even a remote possibility of marrying "Ray."


Horsing Around
To "horse around" is to play roughly, without regard for normal limitations such as rules or safety.

Real horses play very energetically and roughly. This is why "horsing around" creates an image of rough, physical activity. However, children "horsing around" can cause damage to private property, or injury to themselves or each other. Parents and school teachers usually limit or ban horsing around for this reason.

Example: "Ted and Tommy were horsing around outside. Because of that, Ted tripped and scraped his left knee. Their mother should tell them to tone it down."

The word horseplay (a noun) represents the act of horsing around.


An Eager Beaver
Someone said to be "an eager beaver" is someone very excited and enthusiastic about doing a particular task.

Example: "Ron's been such an eager beaver since joining the company. He volunteers for everything and never complains."

While this is usually a positive trait, excessive enthusiasm can be annoying, or threatening, to some, especially in a very competitive environment.

A person can be an eager beaver for a particular task, that the person particularly likes.


Dropping Like Flies
When many living creatures, including plants, are dying in large numbers, English natives often say, they are "dropping like flies."

Few high school graduates in Western countries are unaware of fruit fly experiments. Fruit flies have a short life span; that is why science studies them extensively. A group of fruit flies that has reached the end of that life span will result in many small, dead flies lying on their backs. This is the image created by the expression, dropping like flies.

Example: "Many elderly people have been dropping like flies during the heat wave in Russia. Please, check up on your loved ones and make sure they are safe and sound." (Safe and sound is another idiom that means "safe and in sound (good) health.")

➤ Read more idioms and phrases, English grammar and vocabulary at Basic English Grammar And Vocabulary .