NATIONWIDE — The animal rights group PETA is asking people to stop using common phrases like "bring home the bacon" and "beat a dead horse," because they are considered "anti-animal language."

  • PETA wants people to stop using "anti-animal language"
  • Group says phrases like "bring home the bacon" are harmful
  • PETA shared a chart of suggested phrases 

The group says idioms like those promote speciesism.

"Words matter, and as our understanding of social justice evolves, our language evolves along with it," PETA tweeted.

The group then shared a chart with phrases it considers more animal-friendly. PETA suggests replacing "be the guinea pig" with "be the test tube." Instead of the expression "kill two birds with one stone," it recommends "feed two birds with one scone." And instead of "take the bull by the horns," you should say "take the flower by the thorns."

PETA later tweeted that the phrases were similar to racist and homophobic language.

"Just as it became unacceptable to use racist, homophobic, or ablelist language, phrases that trivalize cruelty to animals will vanish as more people begin to appreciate animals for who they are and start 'bringing home the bagels' instead of the bacon," PETA wrote in a tweet.

PETA has faced backlash for its suggestions. Twitter users quickly responded with their own tweets. Some called PETA's phrases ridiculous, while others offered their own suggestions.