The growing popularity of veganism could lead to a cull of meat and dairy sayings, an academic has claimed.

Phrases such as 'bring home the bacon' and 'killing two birds with one stone' will go out of fashion to avoid offending animal lovers, according to Shareena Hamzah of Swansea University.

She cited guidance from Peta, the animal rights charity, which wants people to replace expressions such as 'take the bull by the horns' with 'take the flower by the thorns'.

Dr Hamzah said the influence of veganism will raise awareness of animal cruelty and push people towards using less meaty metaphors.

Dr Shareena Hamzah (pictured) said the influence of veganism will raise awareness of animal cruelty and push people towards using less meaty metaphors

'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 said.

'The increased awareness of vegan issues will filter through our consciousness to produce new modes of expression.'

But Dr Hamzah said it was unlikely such phrases would be cut out of the linguistic diet altogether, and their more sparing use could in fact heighten their impact.

She said: 'The image of 'killing two birds with one stone' is, if anything, made more powerful by the animal-friendly alternative of 'feeding two birds with one scone'.'

Peta also wants to replace the phrase 'to flog a dead horse' with 'to feed a fed horse'.

Likewise, 'more than one way to skin a cat' should become 'more than one way to peel a potato', it says.