roost

Everyday

1. A roost is a place where birds or bats rest or sleep, such as a branch, a perch or a barn. tree →
2. To roost is for birds or bats to settle down to rest or sleep there. tree →
3. «Rule the roost» means to be the boss of a group or a home. tree →
4. «Come home to roost» means that bad things someone did come back to cause trouble for them. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons about birds and bats, roosts are where they sleep, often in large groups; bat roosts are protected by law in the UK. Chickens roost on a perch in their coop at night. In stories the idioms show who is in charge or how bad deeds return. Phrases: rule the roost, come home to roost, bat roost, go to roost.

Examples

• The hens went to roost as the sun set. tree →
• Hundreds of starlings roost under the pier. tree →
• Bats roost in the old church roof. tree →
• You must not disturb a bat roost. tree →
• In our house the cat rules the roost. tree →
• The owl roosts in the hollow tree during the day. tree →
• His lies came home to roost when the truth came out. tree →
• The parrot has a favourite roost by the window. tree →
• Evil wishes, like chickens, come home to roost. tree →

Note

Noun: a roost, roosts. Verb: roost, roosts, roosted, roosting. «Rooster» (US, Australia) is a male chicken (UK: cockerel), from the same word. Both idioms are figurative, not about real birds.