What Do These Animal and Pest-Related Phrases Mean?

What Do These Animal and Pest-Related Phrases Mean?

There are tons of phrases in our vernacular that we don’t fully know the meaning of or the reasons why we say them in certain situations. There are an odd number of pest-related phrases that we have been using for so many years that the original meaning may be difficult to determine. Idioms and metaphors are commonplace in our culture because they help us to make sense of the different situations and feelings in our everyday lives, but it is important to know what they really mean. 

“Quiet as a Mouse/Church Mouse”

Meaning: Extremely quiet and still

This saying has taken on many forms over the years. The most commonly used versions today are “quiet as a mouse” or “quiet as a church mouse.” They mean the same thing, so it’s up to you if you want to include a devout detail for the mouse in the saying. The origins of this quote is unknown, like most commonly used metaphors, but it is thought that it was first used in the 1300s with the version “still as a mouse.” The entirety of this idiom family likely stems from a mouse’s tendency to be still and quiet when a predator is anywhere nearby. Whatever version of this saying that you use, it is certain that mice know how to be as quiet as can be.

“Fly on the Wall”

Meaning: Freely listening to and observing a situation from the background

This saying is not only the name of a classic Miley Cyrus song from the late 2000s, it is also a common saying used when someone expresses their desire to listen to a situation go down from the shadows. The expression likely originated in the 1920s, and has given a good name for flies that want to be spies. It also refers to a type of documentary where the camera crew does not interfere with the film subjects in any way, so the viewer feels like they have a front row seat to all the action and can really concentrate on what is happening. In other words, we can finally feel like the pesky insect that seems to love hanging out on the walls and listening to us live our lives. 

“Knee High to a Grasshopper”

Meaning: Very short and small

This Southern saying is a favorite among older people who see their young grandkids and nieces/nephews for the first time in a while. The often loud proclamation that the last time the child was seen was when they were very young is about both youth and height. A grasshopper is small, so their knees are even smaller and don’t come off the ground very much. When someone says that a child is “knee high to a grasshopper” they are saying the kid is very young and small. So a doting relative that says, “ The last time I saw you, you were knee high to a grasshopper” is implying that they haven’t seen the child in years, which places the focus on the child’s now-apparent height and age.

“Being a Snake”

Meaning: Being sneaky and backstabbing; having an ulterior motive

This saying quickly gained popularity in the last couple of decades due to its prevalence in social media. People are quick to call one another a “snake” and imply that this person is not to be trusted, often accompanying the scathing message with a snake emoji. The origins of the expression are also unknown, but it’s reasonable to assume that it relates to the classic biblical story of the deceitful serpent in the garden. Snakes are commonly used as the sneaky betrayer in children’s tales and movies as a result of this, which is why the saying is commonplace among friend groups with a member who seems to have different priorities than the rest of the group.

“Wise Old Owl”

Meaning: A wise person

This expression has a more concrete beginning, although the year that the rhyme was originally published is up for debate. This phrase comes from an old nursery rhyme that talks about a wise owl and how we can learn a lot from him. It goes like this:

A wise old owl lived in an oak

The more he saw the less he spoke

The less he spoke the more he heard.

Why can’t we all be like that wise old bird?

The lesson from this rhyme is pretty clear: you hear and learn more when you are listening to your surroundings. It is assumed that wisdom comes with age and life experience, which it often does, so the fact that the owl is old lends to its wise ways. The owl is commonly seen as a symbol of timeless wisdom, so this phrase is almost a compilation of adjectives. 

“Fat as a Tick”

Meaning: full or stuffed with a meal

This is another Southern saying that is often used around the dinner table after a full feast shared among family. When someone uses this phrase, they mean that they are completely full and feel like they could explode with food. Ticks get larger the more blood that they consume, so this saying refers to feeling like you may pop since you are so full. This is also often said at big holiday meals, like Thanksgiving and Christmas. Ticks are gross pests that can cause real problems if they are attached to us, so being very happy with a big meal is a strange feeling to associate with this insect.

“Make a Mountain Out of a Mole Hill”

Meaning: Make a small problem into a larger issue

This expression is often used in exasperation at someone who is exaggerating about the situation. There are many small issues that should easily be resolved without much stress, but this is not always the case. This is commonly said from a parent to a child when the kid is figuring life out and feeling like every small situation is the end of the world because they haven’t experienced a lot of life yet. Telling someone to not make a mountain out of a mole hill is essentially telling them to calm down and not blow something out of proportion. This can be useful in soothing someone and reminding them that they will make it through this situation, but there are definitely some situations that are already molehills and should be handled as such.

“Float like a Butterfly, Sting like a Bee”

Meaning: Be light on your feet and keep an eye out for the time to act

This is arguably one of the most famous sports sayings in history. Originally said by Cassius Clay, aka Muhammed Ali, this saying can have a deeper meaning than originally thought. He said it in 1964 in response to a question about how he would square up against unstoppable opponent Sonny Liston prior to the match. Physically, this means that he would be light on his feet and look for opportunities to land a punch. But if we were to take this mentally, it could be advice to keep an eye out for danger and make every action count. It’s up to you how you want to interpret this expression, but it is undoubtedly a legendary phrase that will forever be quoted by sports fans everywhere. 

“Like a Bat Out of Hell”

Meaning: Moving very quickly, usually out of panic

This saying relies heavily on imagination, since it brings about imagery of an orangey-red tinted fire pit filled with the flying terrors. Since it is depicted as such a hot place, it is reasonable to imagine that the bats would be fleeing as quick as they can to avoid getting their wings singed. The origin of this expression is unknown, but since the location has been referenced since the dawn of time, it likely originated relatively early on. When someone is described as moving “like a bat out of hell,” they are likely moving extremely quickly and in a panicked state. They are also probably acting out of fear or extreme stress, and don’t have much of a plan for where they are going. It can also be used in a humorous way while driving, since we have all seen those drivers who fly out of a turn or erratically merge onto the freeway like their life depends on it. 

Pest Control is Not Metaphorical

These sayings are metaphorical in nature, but pest control services are, luckily, not fake. Our team is here to serve you in any way that we can, and we have the eco-friendly pest solutions that you need, no matter the season. Contact us at any time to learn more about how we can take care of – maybe literally – pests including quiet mice and flies on the wall. 

Citations

A wise old owl. (n.d.). All Nursery Rhymes. Retrieved on April 12, 2022, from https://allnurseryrhymes.com/a-wise-old-owl/ 

Dorian, J. (2019, July 20). 10 southern sayings most people have to look up. Wide Open Country. Available at https://www.wideopencountry.com/10-southern-sayings-rest-america-doesnt-get/ (Accessed on April 12, 2022).

Like a bat out of hell. (n.d.). Merriam-Webster. Retrieved on April 12, 2022, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/like%20a%20bat%20out%20of%20hell 

Make a mountain out of a molehill. (n.d.). Cambridge Dictionary. Retrieved on April 12, 2022, from https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/make-a-mountain-out-of-a-molehill 

Pinker, R. (2010, October 11). Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. Brunswick. Available at https://www.brunswickgroup.com/review-article-20-i1703/ (Accessed on April 12, 2022).

Quinlan, J. (2020, December 12). Fly on the wall. The Village Idiom. Available at https://thevillageidiom.org/fly-on-the-wall/ (Accessed on April 12, 2022). 

What does quiet as a mouse mean?. (n.d.). Writing Explained. Retrieved on April 12, 2022, from  https://writingexplained.org/idiom-dictionary/quiet-as-a-mouse