frog (redirected from European common frogs)

*a frog in one's throat

Fig. a feeling of hoarseness or a lump in one's throat. (Often regarded as a sign of fear. *Typically: get ~; have ~.) I feel like I'm getting a frog in my throat when I have to speak in public. She says she gets a frog in her throat when she is nervous.

See also: throat

big frog in a small pond

an important person in the midst of less important people. (Alludes to a large frog that dominates a small pond with few challengers.) I'd rather be a big frog in a small pond than the opposite. The trouble with Tom is that he's a big frog in a small pond. He needs more competition.

See also: big, pond, small

biggest frog in the puddle and biggest toad in the puddle

Prov. The most important or powerful person in some small, unimportant group. Jill: Elaine seems to be obsessed with becoming class president. Jane: Yes, she really wants to be the biggest frog in the puddle. The people in my office don't care about doing their work; mostly they compete over who will be the biggest toad in the puddle.

See also: big

If frogs had wheels, they wouldn't bump their butts, and If a toady frog had wings, he wouldn't bump his ass.

Rur. It is useless to wish for impossible things. (Use caution with ass.) Tom: If I had two hundred thousand dollars, I could buy that farm. Jane: Yeah, and if frogs had wheels, they wouldn't bump their butts. Charlie: If I were rich and famous, I'd make people listen to me. Bill: If a toady frog had wings, he wouldn't bump his ass.

See also: bump, butt, had, if

know no more about something than a frog knows about bedsheets

Rur. to have no knowledge of something. Don't let Bill fix your car. He knows no more about cars than a frog knows about bedsheets. When I first started studying French literature, I knew no more about it than a frog knows about bedsheets.

See also: know, more

like herding frogs

Rur. chaotic; disorderly. (On the image of trying to direct frogs, which will jump any which way.) Trying to get those kids to march into the auditorium is like herding frogs. Trying to get everybody to cooperate is like herding frogs.

See also: herd, like

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have a frog in your throat  (informal)

to be unable to speak clearly until you give a slight cough Excuse me, I've got a bit of a frog in my throat.

See also: have, throat