4a little bird told me (something)informalKNOW something used to say that you know something, but you will not say how you found out 有人告诉我(某事)
A little bird told me that you’ve got engaged.
有人告诉我说你订婚了。
5.birds of a feather (flock together)informalSAME used to say that two or more people have similarattitudes, beliefs etc 物以类聚,人以群分;有相同志趣[信念等]的人(聚在一起)
Examples from the Corpus
birds of a feather (flock together)• He figured I had a hustle of my own going and that made us birds of a feather.
6give somebody the bird
a)American EnglishAmE informal to make a very rudesign at someone by holding your middlefinger up 对某人竖起中指〔一种下流手势〕
b)British EnglishBrERUDE/IMPOLITE to show strong disapproval of someone who is performing or speaking in public, by shouting, making rude noises etc 向某人发嘘声,向某人喝倒彩
Examples from the Corpus
give somebody the bird• Holm oak and tamarisk withstand the wind and saltspray and give shelter to the birds.• Would they, er, give it the bird.• Anyway, opens first night - this mind-reader comes on - audience really gives him the bird.
7.a bird in the hand (is worth two in the bush)USEFULused to say that it is better to keep what you have than to risklosing it by trying to get more 一鸟在手胜过双鸟在林,千羊在望不如一兔在手
8.the bird has flowninformalLEAVE A PLACE used to say that the person you are looking for has already left or escaped 要找的人走了,要抓的人逃了
9.be (strictly) for the birdsUSELESS old-fashioned informal to be silly, useless, or not practical 愚蠢;毫无用处;不实用
Examples from the Corpus
be (strictly) for the birds• The Easter Fete was for the birds, Timothy Gedge said.
10.wise/wily/funny/weird etc old birdold-fashioned informal a person who seems wise, funny etc 聪明/狡猾/古怪/奇怪等的老东西
Examples from the Corpus
wise/wily/funny/weird etc old bird• I hadn't noticed what a weird old bird Ned was, either.• Just so. Funny old bird.
do bird• So how do birds find their way?• How do birds and fishes carry out their far-flungmigrations, unless led by deities in their own image?• So, why do birdssing?
flock of birds• These young people, much like a flock of birds, settled along the Joneses' street frontage.• The pupilsflocked out of the rooms like a flock of birds.• A flock of birds flew homewards very high over Ringer's Foin.• Look out for flocks of birdstucking into it - among them will be rooks.• Steel met steel with a force that sent a nearbyflock of birdsshrieking into the air.• Other dories were already launched, oars flying out in the cove toward the moorings like a panicked flock of birds.• The composition of the flocks of birds following the fishing-boats will be changing.• A whole flock of birds; and not loopy-plumed songbirds, but scrappy, raucousbrown birds with teeth.