Leopards,Tigers and People.

An idiom is a common ,fixed expression of a  special kind.

Idioms are a characteristic element in many languages, especially in English. 

Many people enjoy using idioms because they can often be strange,funny or even slightly mysterious expressions. 

Why are there so many english  idioms with animals ?

According to author Stephen Curtis who published the book: Animal idioms in action ,he says "The english language acquired most of its common idiomatic expressions in the days before people lived in big cities. People saw animals living wild in the countryside,they worked with animals on farms,they often had animals living in their houses,and they heard stories about bigger,fiercer and stranger animals living in other countries.

They noticed that some kinds of animal behaviour neatly described how human beings behave in particular situations. That is how animal idioms were born."

Then I've selected two idioms which have the animals leopard and tiger in them.They mean the same in specific situations.

. A leopard can't change its spots.

. A tiger never changes its stripes.

 If you click on the link below you are going to listen to a very interesting conversation with these idioms.

Then you can answer the questions about the conversation,ok ?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/the-english-we-speak/ep-160308

How different are Tim and Jane ?  

Why isn't their wedding going to last long ?

Do you agree with this statement: "opposites attract " ?