Most dogs in the United States seem to have an easy life. They sleep a lot and get fed often. People take their dogs for a walk two times a day and also let them play outside. Dogs get medical care when they are sick or injured. What a great life! Right? Well, we say people with a similar, carefree existence enjoy a dog’s life. They have no troubles or responsibilities. They can come and go as they please, sleep all day, and never have to work.

But not everyone has it so easy. In fact, some people say we live in a dog-eat-dog world. That means many people are competing for the same things, like good jobs. They say that to be successful, a person has to work like a dog. This means they have to work very, very hard. Such hard work can make people dog-tired. And, the situation would be even worse if they became sick as a dog.

Still, people say every dog has its day. This means that every person enjoys a successful period during his or her life. To be successful, people often have to learn new skills. Yet, some people say that you can never teach an old dog new tricks. They believe that older people do not like to learn new things and will not change the way they do things.

Some people are compared to dogs in bad ways. People who are unkind or uncaring can be described as meaner than a junkyard dog. Junkyard dogs live in places where people throw away things they do not want. Mean dogs are often used to guard this property. They bark or attack people who try to enter the property. However, sometimes a person appears to be mean and threatening but is really not so bad. We say his bark is worse than his bite.

A junkyard is not a fun place for a dog. Many dogs in the United States sleep in safe little houses near their owners’ home. These doghouses provide shelter. Yet they can be cold and lonely in the winter.

Husbands and wives use this doghouse term when they are angry at each other. For example, a woman might get angry at her husband for coming home late or forgetting their wedding anniversary. She might tell him that he is in the doghouse. She may not treat him nicely until he apologizes. However, the husband may decide that it is best to leave things alone and not create more problems. He might decide to let sleeping dogs lie.

Dog expressions also are used to describe the weather. The dog days of summer are the hottest days of the year. A rainstorm may cool the weather. But we do not want it to rain too hard. We do not want it to rain cats and dogs.

all seriers are from: http://www.voanews.com

 

Replying to [echowong]: Hi Echo, I am glad that you like the Mouth article. Please enlighten me what is that biggest mouth idiom? thanks

Replying to [Moolan99]:it's a chinese riddle. the biggest mouth is qi tun shan he, which means you can gulp mountains and rivers in one breath.

Today’s expressions include a very important word – “heart.”  We will try to “get to the heart of the matter” to better understand the most important thing about words and their stories.  So “take heart.”  Have no fear about learning new expressions.   Besides, popular English words can be fun.  There is no need for a “heavy heart.”  Such feelings of sadness would only “break my heart,” or make me feel unhappy and hopeless.  

Now, let us suppose you and I were speaking freely about something private.  We would be having a “heart to heart” discussion.  I might speak from “the bottom of my heart,” or say things honestly and truthfully.   I might even “open up my heart” to you and tell a secret.   I would speak with “all my heart,” or with great feeling.

When a person shares her feelings freely and openly like this, you might say she “wears her heart on her sleeve,” or on her clothing.   Her emotions are not protected. 

If we had an honest discussion, both of us would know that the other person’s “heart is in the right place.”  For example, I would know that you are a “kind-hearted” and well-meaning person.  And, if you are a very good person, I would even say that you have “a heart of gold.”  However, you might have a “change of heart” based on what I tell you.  Our discussion might cause you to change the way you feel about something.

But, let us suppose you get angry over what I tell you. Or worse, you feel no sympathy or understanding for me or my situation.  If this happens, I might think that you have a “heart of stone.”   And, if you say something to make me frightened or worried, my “heart might stand still” or “skip a beat.”

Yet, even though you may be angry, I would know that “at heart,” you are a kind person.  In reality, you do care.   And any argument between us would not cause me to “lose heart” or feel a sense of loss. 

“My heart goes out” to anyone who loses a friend over an argument.  It really is a sad situation, and I feel sympathy for the people involved. 

I promise that what I have told you today is true – “cross my heart.”

I really wanted to play some music at the end of this feature.  In fact, “I had my heart set on it.” So here it is, a song called “Don’t Go Breaking my Heart” by Elton John.

source: VOA

Replying to [opalcutter]:
You may find the sky raining cats, dogs, bicycles, carriages and many other small objects about a kilometer away from a cyclone.

Who knows, you may even find some Benjamin Franklin Dollar-Notes. They frequent the states near the Mexican Gulf.


SS

Dear Moolan,

Love that song of Elton "Don't go breaking my heart!"  Catchy tune!

Here are some more heart idioms to add to your find:

heartbeat away from (something)

- to be the next person to take over someone's position if they die

The young prince is a heartbeat away from becoming the next king of his country.

in one's heart of hearts

- to know something is true although you may not want to admit it or believe it

In her heart of hearts she knew that she would soon have to change jobs although she did not want to.

young at heart

- to do things that usually younger people enjoy doing (usually used for an older person)

The older couple were young at heart and they had much fun together.

macs2005

Replying to [macs2005]:A light heart lives long

Replying to Moolan99:


I must not be left behind in matters concerning the '' here are some more heart related diseases…

 

have a 'heart!
(informal) used to ask sb to be kind and/or reasonable

heart and 'soul
with a lot of energy and enthusiasm:


They threw themselves heart and soul into the project.

your 'heart is not in sth
used to say that you are not very interested in or enthusiastic about sth

sb’s heart 'leaps
used to say that sb has a sudden feeling of happiness or excitement

sb’s heart 'sinks
used to say that sb suddenly feels sad or depressed about sth:


*My heart sank when I saw how much work there was left.


*She watched him go with a sinking heart.

let your heart rule your 'head
to act according to what you feel rather than to what you think is sensible

pour out / open your 'heart to sb
to tell sb all your problems, feelings, etc.

my heart 'bleeds (for sb)
(ironic) used to say that you do not feel sympathy or pity for sb.


I have to go on a business tour. My heart bleeds for you!