Body Idioms

Body Idioms
Quiz
Idiom Meaning Example Sentence
Give me a minute to finish my work and then

all ears fully listening
I'll be all ears to hear about your project.
break a leg good-luck Today's the big game, eh? Break a leg!
My sister didn't get cold feet until she put her

cold feet nervous just before a big event
wedding gown on.
cost an arm and a These cakes are delicious, but they cost an
be very expensive
leg arm and a leg.
I cried my heart out when my best friend

cry your heart out cry very hard
moved away.
meet, stand up to unpleasant

I stayed out all night. When I eventually got
face the music consequences, for example criticism or
home I had to face the music from my wife.
punishment
(my) flesh and I have to hire Mia. She's my own flesh and
relative
blood blood.
get something off Thanks for listening to me complain about my

tell someone your problems
one's chest boss. I just needed to get this off my chest.
give a hand, lend I can give you a hand when you move if you
help (someone) do something
a hand like.
Amy has her head in the clouds if she thinks

have one's head in be unaware or unrealistic about
she's going to pass her exams without
the clouds something
studying.
My brother is head over heels for his new

head over heels deeply in love
girlfriend.
The kids gave Anthony a head start in the

head start an earlier start
bicycle race because he was the youngest.
I was in over my head when I agreed to

in over one's head taking on a task that you can't handle
babysit the triplets and the dogs.
I'll keep an eye on the dinner while you're on

keep an eye on take care of, watch in order to protect
the phone.
Keep your chin up. I'm sure you'll make

keep one's chin up try to be cheerful
some friends soon.
learn by heart, I learned my multiplication tables by heart in
memorize
know by heart the fourth grade.
let one's hair Go to the cottage and let your hair down this
relax, have fun
down weekend.
(my) lips are Don't worry, I won't tell your mother how
promise to keep a secret
sealed much you spent. My lips are sealed.
makes my blood It makes my blood boil when people don't tie

makes me very angry
boil up their dogs.
I heard that they might be opening a post

neck of the woods nearby location or region
office in our neck of the woods soon.
My uncle's an old hand at car repair. He'll

(an) old hand an experienced person
know what the problem is.
over my dead My daughter wants a tatoo. I told her she'd get

not unless I'm dead and can't stop you
body one over my dead body.
The party organizers deserve a pat on the

pat on the back recognition or a thank-you
back for a job well done.
We don't know if the weather will be good

play something by
do something without a plan enough for camping. We'll have to play it by
ear
ear.
I was just pulling your leg. I'm not really a

pull one's leg joke or tease someone
police officer.
The rule of thumb is that the students wear

rule of thumb basic rule (not always followed)
black pants and white shirts.
The couple don't see eye to eye on how to

see eye to eye agree
train their pets.
(by the) skin of

just barely I passed my exam by the skin of my teeth.
one's teeth
stick your neck help someone a lot, with possible bad I stuck my neck out for Bessie when she was
out consequences for oneself thrown out of her house.
I need three spoonfuls of sugar in my tea. I

sweet tooth a love of sugar or sweet things
have a sweet tooth.
I'm a bit thick in the head when it comes to

thick in the head not very intelligent
reading a map.
I'm washing my hands of Mary's addiction.

wash one's hands
stop dealing with an issue or problem She is going to have to get some professional
of something
help.
Body Idioms
1. keep an eye on
take care of, watch in order to protect
I'll keep an eye on the dinner while you're on the phone.
2. cry your heart out
cry very hard
I cried my heart out when my best friend moved away.
3. neck of the woods
nearby location or region
I heard that they might be opening a post office in our neck of the woods soon.
4. Keep your fingers crossed.
I've got an exam tomorrow at 9am, so keep your fingers crossed for me.
To literally cross your middle finger over your first finger to try and hope for a bit of luck, or a positive
outcome.
5. be as hard as nails
to have no feelings or sympathy for other people She'll be good in business - she's as hard as nails.
6. pay through the nose (informal)
to pay too much for something (usually + for ) If you want a decent wine in a restaurant, you have to pay
through the nose for it.
7. rub elbows (with someone) and rub shoulders with someone
Fig. to associate with someone; to work closely with someone. (No physical contact is involved.) I don't care to
rub elbows with someone who acts like that! I rub shoulders with John at work. We are good friends.
8. have butterflies in your stomach
to feel very nervous Her mouth was dry, there were butterflies in her stomach, and her knees were shaking so
much it was hard to walk on stage.
9. step on someone's toes and tread on someone's toes
1. Lit. to step down onto someone's toes, causing pain. Please don't step on my toes as you walk by.
2. Fig. to offend or insult someone, as if causing physical pain. You're sure I won't be stepping on her toes if I
talk directly to her supervisor? I didn't mean to tread on your toes.
10. break a leg
good-luck
Today's the big game, eh? Break a leg!
11. face the music
meet, stand up to unpleasant consequences, for example criticism or punishment
I stayed out all night. When I eventually got home I had to face the music from my wife.
12. head over heels
deeply in love
My brother is head over heels for his new girlfriend.
13. let one's hair down
relax, have fun
Go to the cottage and let your hair down this weekend.
14. pat on the back
recognition or a thank-you
The party organizers deserve a pat on the back for a job well done.
15. play something by ear
do something without a plan
We don't know if the weather will be good enough for camping. We'll have to play it by ear.
16. rule of thumb
basic rule (not always followed)
The rule of thumb is that the students wear black pants and white shirts.

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Body Idioms

Idiom Meaning Example Sentence

Give me a minute to finish my work and then

My sister didn't get cold feet until she put her

I cried my heart out when my best friend

meet, stand up to unpleasant

get something off Thanks for listening to me complain about my

Amy has her head in the clouds if she thinks

My brother is head over heels for his new

The kids gave Anthony a head start in the

I was in over my head when I agreed to

I'll keep an eye on the dinner while you're on

Keep your chin up. I'm sure you'll make

makes my blood It makes my blood boil when people don't tie

I heard that they might be opening a post

My uncle's an old hand at car repair. He'll

over my dead My daughter wants a tatoo. I told her she'd get

The party organizers deserve a pat on the

We don't know if the weather will be good

I was just pulling your leg. I'm not really a

The rule of thumb is that the students wear

The couple don't see eye to eye on how to

(by the) skin of

I need three spoonfuls of sugar in my tea. I

I'm a bit thick in the head when it comes to

I'm washing my hands of Mary's addiction.

take care of, watch in order to protect

I'll keep an eye on the dinner while you're on the phone.

2. cry your heart out

cry very hard

I cried my heart out when my best friend moved away.

3. neck of the woods

nearby location or region

4. Keep your fingers crossed.

6. pay through the nose (informal)

7. rub elbows (with someone) and rub shoulders with someone

8. have butterflies in your stomach

9. step on someone's toes and tread on someone's toes

Today's the big game, eh? Break a leg!

11. face the music

meet, stand up to unpleasant consequences, for example criticism or punishment

12. head over heels

My brother is head over heels for his new girlfriend.

13. let one's hair down

relax, have fun

Go to the cottage and let your hair down this weekend.

14. pat on the back

15. play something by ear

do something without a plan

16. rule of thumb

basic rule (not always followed)

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