無數的經驗告訴我們，若一些短語或詞組的意思很奇怪或不符合邏輯，那麼它肯定是一個習語，比如 put one's feet up，它不是「抬起某人的雙腳」的意思，因為這個很離譜，它的寓意是「放鬆，好好休息一下」，例如：
You go home and put your feet up.
你回家好好休息一下。
After a day of gardening I'm ready to put my feet up.
經過一天的園藝工作，我已經準備好好休息一下。
又如 eat crow，不要理解為「吃烏鴉」，因為那給人的感覺很奇怪，它的寓意是「被迫認錯或收回自己的話」，通常會引起很大的羞愧，例如：
I think Ellen is a perfectionist because the thought of having to eat crow terrifies her.
我認為艾倫是個完美主義者，因為一想到要承認錯誤，她就害怕。
When it became clear that they had arrested the wrong person, the police had to eat crow.
很明顯警察抓錯人了，他們只好被迫認錯。
同樣，get sb's goat 不要理解為「取得某人的山羊」，它是一個習語，跟山羊沒有關係，用來比喻激怒或惹惱某人，例如：
She got my goat the moment she said my mother was no good at parenting.
她一說我母親不善於育兒，我就生氣了。
Why are you so sad – who’s got your goat?Although I don’t want to get your goat, I』ve lost your phone – somewhere.雖然我不想惹你生氣，但我把你的電話丟了——在什麼地方。The newcomer in our class is very intolerant – you can easily get her goat.Abusing and shouting at home by kids often get my goat.解析：abusing 和 shouting 是兩個獨立的動名詞，所以它們合起來作主語，謂語動詞用複數。其實，用來比喻類似惹某人生氣的單詞或短語還很多，常見的還有：
一、常見表生氣的單詞
1、angry 發怒的，憤怒的，生氣的等，例如：
The passengers grew angry about the delay.
延誤使乘客氣憤起來。
二、常見表生氣的短語
1、drive sb crazy/mad/insane 把人逼得發瘋 / 發狂 / 失去理智，例如：
They're building a house next door and the noise is driving us all crazy.
他們在隔壁蓋房子，噪音把我們都逼瘋了。
2、in a fit of anger 氣頭上，一時氣憤，例如：
When she didn't get her way, she drove off in a fit of anger. 當她不能隨心所欲時，一氣之下開車走了。
3、bite one's head off，非常生某人的氣，例如：
I'm very sorry I lost my temper. I didn't mean to bite your head off.
很抱歉我發脾氣了。我不是故意要生你的氣。
She flounced out of my room in a huff。5、piss sb off 使生氣，使厭煩，例如：Her attitude really pisses me off.