English Grammar and Animals

COLLECTIVE NOUNS
Collective nouns are the words used to define a group of people, animals or inanimate objects. There are many collective nouns that refer to animals.  
The use of 'nouns of assembly' or 'terms of venery' are collective nouns specific to certain kinds of animals.  This stems from an English hunting tradition in the Late Middle Ages - originating in France. Many of the words may have been chosen for the humorous or poetic images that they conjured up.

GENERIC ANIMAL NAMES
Many species of animals, particularly domesticated animals, have specific names for the male, female and the young of the species.  There are many generic terms - bull, cow, calf - but many species have unique names for their general characteristics.  

SIMILES
A Simile is when two things are directly compared because they share a common feature.  A Simile is a type of metaphor in which the comparison is made with the use of the words LIKE or AS.  A metaphor also offers a figurative comparison, but 'implied' rather than introduced by As or Like.  

AS ...
*   As wet as a dog's nose
*   As slippery as an eel
*   As slow as a snail

LIKE ...
*   His nose was wet, like a dog's
*   Slippery like an eel
*   She was slow like a snail

IDIOMS
Idioms are expressions, phrases or words that should not be taken literally.  When idioms are used, they have a meaning other than the one you would find in a common dictionary. Idioms have a figurative meaning.  There are probably 25,000+ idiomatic expressions in the English Language. 
For instance, actors, performers, or those about to give a speech might be told to:

 'Break a leg'  -  This literally means 'go out and break your leg'.
 'Break a leg'  -   Idiomatically, this means 'do your best' or 'do well'.   

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​​The following idioms, relating to animals, do not feature in any specific category in this site:

Animal
A rare animal
Animal passion
Animal spirits
A political animal
Behave like an animal
Behave worse than an animal

Beast
A beast of burden
Beauty and the beast
The nature of the beast

Creature
Creature comforts

Pet
Pet name
To be in a pet

​Animals with the most idioms, metaphors or expressions probably reflect the fact that they were the most familiar to us. For instance:  birds - cats - chickens - cows - dogs - eggs - fish - horses - insects - pigs  and  sheep. 

METAPHORS
Metaphors are expressions used when one wishes to describe something as though it is actually something else - for instance, to describe two things with similar characteristics. 
Generally, metaphors do not use the words 'like' or 'as'.

        'A blanket of snow' describes the snowfall as if it were fabric covering the ground.  ​

ANIMAL EXPRESSIONS

1. All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others.
2. Animal, vegetable or mineral.
3. Beast of burden.
4. Beasts of the field.