It seems you might have to "hold your horses" before you "open a can of worms".
A Swansea University researcher says these phrases could be discouraged in order to not offend vegans.
According to Shareena Hamzah, the growing popularity of veganism could lead to a cull of meat and dairy sayings, reports Daily Mail.
Hamzah says the influence of veganism will raise awareness about animal cruelty and push people towards using less "meaty" metaphors.
Meaning that phrases like "bring home the bacon" and "killing two birds with one stone" may soon go out of style to avoid offending animal lovers.
According to Metro, the researcher cited guidance from Peta, an animal rights charity, which wants people to replace expressions such as "take the bull by the horns" with "take the flower by the thorns".
"If veganism forces us to confront the realities of food's origins, then this increased awareness will undoubtedly be reflected in our language and literature," she wrote in her paper.
"The increased awareness of vegan issues will filter through our consciousness to produce new modes of expression."
Hamzah further said it was unlikely that these phrases would be cut out of the linguistic diet altogether, but their more sparing use could in fact heighten their impact.
The Daily Mail reports that Peta has been pushing for harm-free alternatives for a while now and has a list of suggestions people can use.
See the list here:
Out: Bring home the bacon In: Bring home the bagels
Out: Let the cat out of the bag In: Spill the beans
Out: All your eggs in one basket In: All your berries in one bowl
Out: Open a can of worms In: Open Pandora’s box
Out: Flog a dead horse In: Feed a fed horse
Out: Hold your horses In: Hold the phone
Out: Killing two birds with one stone In: Feeding two birds with one scone
Out: Taking the bull by the horns In: Taking the flower by the thorns
Out: More than one way to skin a cat In: More than one way to peel a potato
Out: Be the guinea pig In: Be the test tube
Sources: Metro, Daily Mail, Briefpost