Expressions with Animal Origins but No Animal Names Starting with He-Ho

Many common English expressions have animal-related origins but contain no animal names. Here are some examples that begin with the letters he-ho.

The original meaning of the noun herd is any group of animals feeding or traveling together. A large group of people is also called, usually disparagingly, a herd. The herd is the common people.

As an intransitive verb, to herd refers to animals and means to go in a herd. Extended derisively to humans, the verb means to assemble or move in a group.

As a transitive verb, to herd refers to animals and means to keep (the animals) together. Applied contemptuously to humans, to herd means to gather or lead (people as a herd).

When angered, a horse will rise up on its hind legs. Hence, among humans, to become angry is to get (rear) up on one's hind legs.

Some animals, such as bears, will rise up on their hind legs to fight. Therefore, among humans, to stand up and face adversity is to stand up on one's hind legs.

A structure for housing bees or a colony of bees themselves is a hive. Extended to humans, hive means a place swarming with activity or a crowd of active people.

Referring to bees, the intransitive verb to hive means to dwell in a hive. Extended to humans, the verb means to reside in close quarters.

Referring to bees, the transitive verb to hive means to store up (honey) in a hive. Extended to humans, the verb means to store up (anything) as if in a hive.

Thomas Hobson (died 1631) was an English liveryman known for forcing every customer to take the horse nearest the door or none at all. Today an apparently free choice when there is no real alternative is a Hobson's choice.

From the analogy of a well-hooked fish, the adverbial figurative phrase hook, line, and sinker means completely, without hesitation or reservation. The expression usually refers to a gullible person who has "swallowed" some false or foolish idea, as in "he fell for the story hook, line, and sinker."

In its original reference to winged creatures, to hover means to suspend in midair over a spot by flapping the wings, especially when preparing to swoop. Extended, to hover applies to any object that hangs over a place, such as a cloud that seems stationary.

A person or an animal that moves to and fro near a place is said to hover. To be is a state of uncertainty or irresolution-that is, to be "suspended" over a decision before "swooping" to take it-is to hover.
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Lyman, Darryl. Dictionary of Animal Words and Phrases. Middle Village, New York: Jonathan David Publishers, 1994.

The Oxford English Dictionary. 2nd ed. Oxford, England: Clarendon Press, 1989.