Virginia law animated

"A pig in a bag." See Lake v. Tyree, 90 Va. 719, 19 S.E. 787 (1894); Woodrum v. Gross, 90 Va. 60, 17 S.E. 764 (1893).

"Cat out of the bag." Swann v. Com., 247 Va. 222, 232 n.6, 441 S.E.2d 195, 202 n. 6 (1994); Jenkins v. Com., 244 Va. 445, 455, 423 S.E.2d 360, 367 (1992); Mundy v. Com., 11 Va. App. 461, 469, 390 S.E.2d 525, 529 (1990); Pruett v. Com., 232 Va. 266, 271, 351 S.E.2d 1, 4 (1986).

"Cat and mouse game." McNair v. Com., 37 Va. App. 687, 696, 561 S.E.2d 26, 30 (2002); Canipe v. Com., 25 Va. App. 629, 644, 491 S.E.2d 747, 754 (1997); Satcher v. Com., 244 Va. 220, 247, 421 S.E.2d 821, 837 (1992); Iglesias v. Com., 7 Va. App. 93, 104, 372 S.E.2d 170, 176 (1988); Roenke v. Virginia Farm Bureau Mut. Ins. Co., 209 Va. 128, 134, 161 S.E.2d 704, 708 (1968).

Creeping in "like the fog 'on little cat's feet.'" Clark v. Winchester Memorial Hospital, 1984 WL 276313.

"Cock and bull story." Taylor v. Com., 208 Va. 316, 324, 157 S.E.2d 185, 191 (1967).

"The tail wagging the dog." Infants v. Virginia Housing Development Authority, 221 Va. 659, 679, 272 S.E.2d 649, 661 (1980) (Poff, J., dissenting); Rockingham County v. Town of Timberville, 201 Va. 303, 309, 110 S.E.2d 390, 395 (1959); Cogsdale v. Howard, 170 Va. 28, 32, 195 S.E. 514, 516 (1938).

"Cart before the horse." Newton v. Com., 29 Va. App. 433, 445, 512 S.E.2d 846, 851 (1999); Lovelace v. Lovelace, 237 Va. 174, 178, 375 S.E.2d 750, 753 (1989); see Reittinger v. Com., 29 Va. App. 724, 742 n.4, 514 S.E.2d 775, 784 n.4 (1999) ("No matter how appealing the cart may be, the horse must precede it.") (citation omitted); Hunter v. Norfolk Redevelopment & Housing Authority, 195 Va. 326, 338, 78 S.E.2d 893, 900 (1953).

"Gone to the dogs." Hogan v. Callas, 139 Va. 137, 123 S.E. 361, 362 (1924).

"Dead as a dodo." Norfolk County v. City of Portsmouth, 186 Va. 1032, 1043, 45 S.E.2d 136, 141 (1947).

"A dog in the fight." Transcontinental Ins. Co. v. RBMW, Inc., 262 Va. 502, 515, 551 S.E.2d 313, 320 (2001).

"Let a sleeping dog lie." Ward v. Bank of Pocahontas, 167 Va. 169, 179, 187 S.E. 491, 495 (1936).

"Leg over leg the dog went to Dover." City of Danville v. Sallie, 146 Va. 349, 355, 131 S.E. 788, 790 (1926).

"A mule by any other name is still a mule." Dials v. Lee's Hill, 41 Va. Cir. 214, 1996 WL 1065664; see also Clark v. Winn Dixie, 40 Va. Cir. 228, 1996 WL 1065588 ("You can call a mule 'Man o'War,' but that won't make him a racehorse.")

"Smelled like three day old fish." Eaton v. Com., 240 Va. 236, 264 n.4, 397 S.E.2d 385, 402 n.4 (1990).

"Shooting fish in a barrel." Hughes v. Com., 211 Va. 28, 30, 175 S.E.2d 419, 420-21 (1970).

"Running around like a little poodle dog." Payne v. Tancil, 98 Va. 262, 35 S.E. 725 (1900).

"A case of barking dog." Hannah v. Com., 153 Va. 863, 866, 149 S.E. 419, 420 (1929).

"A mad dog who should be put in a gunny sack with some bricks and dropped off a bridge." Payne v. Com., 257 Va. 216, 226, 509 S.E.2d 293, 299 (1999).