Abstract:English animal idiom takes up a large proportion and is one of the most important features in English idiom. The origins of English animal idiom relate closely to religion, animal image, social background, etc, which are the main reasons why the meaning of these idioms will be misunderstood when they are translated into Chinese. However, while western countries are trying to create new idioms based on animals, Chinese people also have been catching this idea to make up idioms and proverbs according to animal image. As animal images in forming animal idioms differ from western countries to eastern countries, the meaning of each animal idiom may be misinterpreted if we don’t pay more attention to animal images. Nevertheless, there still exists cultural equivalence which can be a rule when translate. Thus, we should focus on the comparison and correlation of each other when doing the English animal idiom study and translation.

Key words：English animal idioms, translation, cultures and customs, origins

摘要:有关动物的英语习语很多，它是英语习语里一个重要的特点。英语动物习语的起源跟宗教、动物的特征和形象以及社会背景等有这密切的联系，当翻译成中文的时候，难免会因为文化背景的不同而导致语义的曲解。然而，一方水土一方文化，西方国家会从动物身上找寻捷径，中国成语、谚语也会在动物身上开刀。不同的动物在东西方观念里有不同的地位，翻译过程中会有牛头对马嘴的现象；然而，有些却是能体现出观念、文化等的对等。我们应该在研究和翻译的时候有一个系统的对比和衔接。

关键词：英语动物习语；翻译；文化和习俗；起源