English phrases

[!]GB (girl) nana[!]f; to pull the birds draguer les nanas[!];
[!](person) a funny ou queer old bird un drôle d'oiseau[!].

Idioms
a little bird told me[!] mon petit doigt m'a dit;
as free as a bird libre comme l'air;
the birds and the bees le b-a ba de la vie;
to sing like a bird chanter comme un oiseau;
to tell sb about the birds and the bees expliquer à qn comment naissent les enfants;
the bird has flown l'oiseau s'est envolé;
to do bird[!] faire de la taule[!];
to get the bird[!] se faire siffler;
to give ou flip sb the bird[!]US envoyer paître qn[!];
to kill two birds with one stone faire d'une pierre deux coups;
(strictly) for the birds fait pour les imbéciles

- bird bath = vasque pour oiseaux
- bird-brain = cervelle d'oiseau
- bird call = cri d'oiseau
- bird-fancier = amateur d'oiseaux
- bird-feeder = trémie
- birdlime = glu
- bird man = ornithologue
- bird of prey = oiseau de proie
- bird's eye view = vue d'ensemble
- birdtable = perchoir

Teilhard a écrit:One bird in one's hand is better than two in a bush

Bird-in-the-hand Theory is one of the major theories concerning dividend policy in an entreprise. This theory was developed by Myron Gordon and John Lintner as a response to Modigliani and Miller's dividend irrelevance theory.

bird's-eye view 
1. Lit. a view seen from high above. We got a bird's-eye view of Cleveland as the plane began its descent. From the top of the church tower you get a splendid bird's-eye view of the village.
2. Fig. a brief survey of something; a hasty look at something. The course provides a bird's-eye view of the works of Mozart, but it doesn't deal with them in enough detail for your purpose. All you need is a bird's-eye view of the events of World War II to pass the test.
See also: view
Birds in their little nests agree.
Prov. People who live together should try hard to get along peacefully. (Usually used to admonish children not to fight with each other.) Brother: She called me a name! Sister: I did not! He's a liar! Father: Now, now, kids—birds in their little nests agree. Let's not argue about this, guys. Birds in their little nests agree.
See also: agree, little, nest
Birds of a feather flock together.
Prov. Similar people tend to associate with each other. I always thought Amy was pretentious, and now she's going out with that snobbish boy, Louis. Birds of a feather flock together. George: Why do you think Donald is dishonest? Ned: All his friends are dishonest. Birds of a feather flock together.
See also: feather, flock, together
early bird 
1. . Fig. a person who gets up early. I never miss sunrise. I'm an early bird. The early birds were up at dawn and ready for breakfast.
2. Fig. a person who arrives early. The early birds get the best seats. There were some early birds who arrived before the party was set to start.
3. Fig. having to do with early arrival. (Usually hyphenated.) Early-bird arrivals will be given a free cup of coffee. The early-bird special this week is a free six-pack of iced tea for the first 100 visitors.
See also: early
eat like a bird
Fig. to eat only small amounts of food; to peck at one's food. Jane is very slim because she eats like a bird. Bill is trying to lose weight by eating like a bird.
See also: eat, like
Fine feathers make fine birds.
Prov. If you dress elegantly, people will think you are elegant. (Can be used ironically, to suggest that even though someone dresses well, he or she is not a high-class person.) Bill: I don't see why I should have to wear a necktie for a job interview. Jane: Fine feathers make fine birds.
See also: feather, fine, make
on the bird
available on satellite television. There is a whole lot of good stuff on the bird, but you need a receiving dish to get it. I get a huge book every month listing what programs are on the bird.
the birds and the bees
Euph. sex and reproduction. (See also .) My father tried to teach me about the birds and the bees. He's twenty years old and doesn't understand about the birds and the bees!
See also: and, bee
The early bird catches the worm.
Prov. If you wake up and get to work early, you will succeed. (Sometimes used to remark that someone is awake and working surprisingly early, as in the first example.) Fred: What are you doing in the office at 7:30 A.M.? Jane: The early bird catches the worm. I didn't expect to see you studying at the library at this hour of the morning. The early bird catches the worm, huh?
See also: catch, early, worm
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Birds in their little nests agree.
Prov. People who live together should try hard to get along peacefully. (Usually used to admonish children not to fight with each other.) Brother: She called me a name! Sister: I did not! He's a liar! Father: Now, now, kids—birds in their little nests agree. Let's not argue about this, guys. Birds in their little nests agree.
See also: agree, little, nest

It's an ill bird that fouls its own nest.
Prov. Only a foolish or dishonorable person would bring dishonor to his or her self or his or her surroundings.; Only a bad person would ruin the place where he or she lives. (See also foul one's own nest.) I don't like my new neighbor. Not only does he never mow his lawn, he covers it with all kinds of trash. It's an ill bird that fouls its own nest.
See also: foul, ill, nest

"The dog's kennel is not the place to keep a sausage." - Danish Proverb
"To live long, eat like a cat, drink like a dog." - German Proverb
"Three things it is best to avoid: a strange dog, a flood, and a man who thinks he is wise." - Welsh Proverb
"The dog wags his tail, not for you, but for your bread." - Portuguese Proverb
"The barking of a dog does not disturb the man on a camel." - Egyptian Proverb
"Children aren't dogs; adults aren't gods." - Haitian Proverb
"Beware of a silent dog and still water." - Latin Proverb
"The greater love is a mother's; then comes a dog's; then a sweetheart's." - Polish Proverb
"One dog barks at something, the rest bark at him." - Chinese Proverb
"Do not respond to a barking dog." - Moroccan Jewish saying
"Only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the noonday sun." - Indian Proverb
"Those who sleep with dogs will rise with fleas." - Italian Proverb
"Show a dog a finger, and he wants the whole hand." - Yiddish Proverb
"If you are a host to your guest, be a host to his dog also." - Russian Proverb
"A house without either a cat or a dog is the house of a scoundrel." - Portuguese Proverb
"An honest man is not the worse because a dog barks at him." - Danish Proverb
"Every dog is allowed one bite." - US Proverb
"A good dog deserves a good bone." - US Proverb
"If you stop every time a dog barks, your road will never end." - Saudi Arabian Proverb
Dog does not eat dog. - Proverb
Why keep a dog and bark yourself? - Proverb

it's dog eat dog
every dog has its day
give a dog a bad name (and hang him) proverb
to put on the dog[!]US
love me, love my dog
to go and see a man about a dog euphemistic humorous (relieve oneself)
they don't have a dog's chance
it's a dog's life
to lead a dog's life
to lead sb a dog's life
there's life in the old dog yet (of oneself)
to go to the dogs[!] [company, country] [person]
to treat sb like a dog
to be dressed ou got up like a dog's dinner[!]
it's a real dog's breakfast[!]!
you wouldn't put a dog out on a night like this!