bird (redirected from flip the bird)

an early bird

someone who gets up early in the morning. Ellen's the early bird in this house, not me.

See also: early

as free as a bird

completely free to do what you want and without any worries. She'd been travelling alone round the Greek islands for a year - free as a bird.

See also: free

be (strictly) for the birds (American & Australian, informal)

if you think something is for the birds, you think it is stupid and has no use. Gambling, games of chance - that sort of thing is strictly for the birds.

The bird has flown.

something that you say which means that someone has escaped or disappeared. It's no use searching any more. The bird has flown.

See also: has

A bird in the hand (is worth two in the bush).

something that you say which means it is better to keep what you have than to risk losing it by trying to get something better. If I were you I'd accept the money they're offering. After all, a bird in the hand...

See also: hand

a bird's eye view

a view from a very high place which allows you to see a large area. We had a bird's eye view of the old town from the top of the city walls.

See also: eye, view

a bird-brain (informal)

a stupid person. He's just a bird-brain - he can't get anything right.

bird-brained (informal)

very stupid. I'm not listening to her bird-brained schemes any longer. (always before noun)

the birds and the bees (humorous)

if you tell someone, especially a child, about the birds and the bees, you tell them about sex. My parents never actually sat down and told me about the birds and the bees.

See also: bee

birds of a feather

people who are similar. The survey reports that people who are 'birds of a feather' make better marriages than those who are opposites.

See also: feather

Birds of a feather flock together.

something that you say which means people who have similar characters or similar interests will often choose to spend time together. I saw the boy who stole my bag with that gang of trouble makers last night - well, birds of a feather flock together, they say.

See also: feather, together

The early bird catches the worm.

something that you say in order to tell someone that if they want to be successful they should do something immediately. If you see a job that interests you, apply as soon as possible. The early bird catches the worm.

See also: catch, early, worm

eat like a bird

to eat very little. We went out for a meal, but she ate like a bird and hardly said a word.

See also: eat, like

flip/give someone the bird (American & Australian, very informal)

to make a very impolite sign by raising your middle finger towards someone in order to show that you are angry with them. If he'd shouted at me like that I'd have flipped him the bird.

See also: flip, give

kill two birds with one stone

to manage to do two things at the same time instead of just one, because it is convenient to do both. I killed two birds with one stone and saw some old friends while I was in Leeds visiting my parents.

See also: kill, stone, two

A little bird told me (so).

something that you say in order to let someone know that you are not going to tell them who gave you the information being discussed. 'So who told you she'd got the job?' 'Oh, let's just say a little bird told me so.'

See also: little, told

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a bird in the hand

what you have or know is better than something you do not have or know. Investors are focused on the bird in the hand, and not looking for new opportunities very much these days.

Usage notes: based on the full form, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, which is rarely used

Etymology: based on the idea that a person should catch one bird that is easy to catch rather than hoping to find more somewhere else

See also: hand

a bird's eye view

the appearance of something seen from above. The large painting offers a bird's eye view that shows the layout of the ancient city.

Usage notes: sometimes used to show how an animal's view is different: A basement window gives you a dog's eye view of the world — all you see is the bottom of the fire hydrant and passing feet on the sidewalk.

See also: eye, view

for the birds

without value. “What do you think of the new system?” “I think it's for the birds — it won't work.”

Etymology: based on the idea that birds eat seed, which is not worth much

kill two birds with one stone

to do two things at the same time using the effort needed to do only one. I killed two birds with one stone and saw some old friends while I was in Louisiana visiting my parents.

See also: kill, stone, two