🗓️ Idiom: Run Around Like a Headless Chicken (verb)
💬 Meaning
- Be very busy and active but without clear direction.
- Try to do many things at once in a confused or unorganised way.
🧠 Example Sentences
- When the deadline was announced, everyone in the office started running around like headless chickens.
- She was running around like a headless chicken trying to prepare for the client visit.
- Without a plan, the whole team will just run around like headless chickens.
🏛️ Origin
This expression comes from the image of a chicken that can still move for a short time after its head is cut off. It moves quickly but without control or purpose. People began using this phrase to describe humans who rush about in confusion or panic, especially under pressure.
📝 Practice Exercises
1. Fill in the blank:
If you don’t stay calm and plan your tasks, you’ll end up __________ before the meeting.
Answer
running around like a headless chicken
2. Choose the correct option:
What does “running around like a headless chicken” mean?
a) Being calm and focused
b) Being busy but without direction
c) Working slowly and carefully
Answer
b) Being busy but without direction
3. Change the sentence using “running around like a headless chicken”:
“Everyone was rushing around with no plan during the crisis.”
Answer
Everyone was running around like headless chickens during the crisis.
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