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Body Idioms

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  • (my) lips are sealed
    promise to keep a secret
  • play something by ear
    do something without a plan e.g. We don't know if the weather will be good enough for camping. We'll have to play it by ear.
  • sweet tooth
    a love of sugar or sweet things
  • keep one's chin up
    try to be cheerful
  • (my) flesh and blood
    relative e.g. I have to hire Mia. She's my own flesh and blood.
  • head over heels
    deeply in love
  • neck of the woods
    nearby location or region e.g. I heard that they might be opening a post office in our neck of the woods soon.
  • let one's hair down
    relax, have fun e.g. Go to the cottage and let your hair down this weekend.
  • head start
    an earlier start e.g. The kids gave Anthony a head start in the bicycle race because he was the youngest.
  • cost an arm and a leg
    be very expensive
  • give a hand/ lend a hand
    help (someone) do something
  • stick your neck out
    help someone a lot, with possible bad consequences for oneself
  • makes my blood boil
    makes me very angry
  • over my dead body
    not unless I'm dead and can't stop you
  • have one's head in the clouds
    be unaware or unrealistic about something
  • pat on the back
    recognition or a thank-you
  • keep an eye on
    take care of, watch in order to protect
  • be all ears
    fully listening e.g. Give me a minute to finish my work and then I'll be all ears to hear about your project.
  • get something off one's chest
    tell someone your problems e.g. Thanks for listening to me complain about my boss. I just needed to get this off my chest.
  • cry your heart out
    cry very hard
  • rule of thumb
    basic rule (not always followed) e.g. The rule of thumb is that the students wear black pants and white shirts.
  • wash one's hands of something
    stop dealing with an issue or problem e.g. I'm washing my hands of Mary's problems. She is going to have to get some professional help.
  • (an) old hand
    an experienced person e.g. My uncle's an old hand at car repair. He'll know what the problem is.
  • break a leg
    good-luck e.g. Today's the big game, eh? Break a leg!
  • get/have cold feet
    nervous just before a big event e.g. My sister didn't get cold feet until she put her wedding gown on.
  • learn by heart/ know by heart
    memorise
  • see eye to eye
    agree
  • (by the) skin of one's teeth
    just barely e.g. I passed my exam by the skin of my teeth.
  • pull one's leg
    joke or tease someone e.g. I was just pulling your leg. I'm not really a police officer.
  • in over one's head
    taking on a task that you can't handle
  • thick in the head
    not very intelligent
  • face the music
    meet, stand up to unpleasant consequences, for example criticism or punishment
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