IDIOMS AND OTHER EXPRESSIONS USING PARTS OF THE BODY

CHECK YOUR ENGLISH VOCABULARY FOR PHRASAL VERBS AND IDIOMS

IDIOMS AND OTHER EXPRESSIONS USING PARTS OF THE BODY

Complete the idioms in bold with a word from the box. Both sentences in each pair use the same word, although the idiom in each one has a different meaning. Each idiom is explained in italics at the end of the sentence. Note that in some cases you will need to use the word from the box in its plural form.

arm      back       chin       ear        elbow        eye        face       finger      foot       hair      hand       head       heart       leg      lip       neck        nose        shoulder       throat       toe       tongue        tooth

1	(a) I can't quite remember the name of the restaurant we went to last night, but it's on the tip of my _____. (I know the name of the restaurant, but I can't remember it at this exact moment) (b) Helen has a rather sharp _____, especially if you do something to upset her. (Helen has a severe and unkind way of talking to people)
2	(a) You've won the lottery? I don't believe you! You're pulling my _____. (You are telling me something that isnot true, as a joke) (b) My new camera cost me an arm and a _____. (My new camera was very expensive)
3	(a) Do you want to speak to me? Well, go ahead: I'm all _____. (I'm listening carefully) (b) Dave works really hard, but he's still a bit wet behind the _____. (Dave is a bit young and lacking knowledge and experience)
4	(a) I'm sorry, but your explanation went right over my _____. (I didn't understand your explanation) (b) I made a small mistake, and my boss bit my _____ off! (My boss reacted in a rude and angry way when there was no reason)
5	(a) I've always wanted to live in Australia. I'd give my right _____ to go out there right now. (I'd do anything  to go to Australia) (b) There are lots of things wrong with the company I work for. I've got a list as long as my _____. (I've got a very long list of problems with my company)
6	(a) We caught the train by the skin of our _____. (We caught the train, but we nearly missed it) (b) My children are always fighting _____ and nail. (My children are always fighting and arguing a lot)
7	(a) Have I done something to upset Noel? I just said hello to him and he gave me the cold _____. (Noel treated me in an unfriendly way, or refused to speak to me) (b) I can't work properly with you looking over my _____ all the time. (I can't work properly because you are always watching me and then criticising my work)
8	(a) You really put your _____ in it when you asked Hilary how her husband was: he left her for another woman last week. (You said something that upset or embarrassed Hilary) (b) I was going to ask Sarah to go out with me, but at the last minute I got cold _____. (I suddenly felt nervous about doing something that I had planned to do)
9	(a) I can't stand Erica. She gets right up my _____. (Erica annoys me a lot) (b) I offered Bob a job working in the shop, but he just turned his _____ up at it. (Bob refused to accept the job I offered him because he didn't think it was good enough)
10	(a) Mr Jennings thinks he's a popular teacher, but the children are always making fun of him behind his _____. (The children say things about Mr Jennings without him knowing) (b) I'm trying to work. Get off my _____! (Stop criticising me or telling me what to do)
11	(A) I can't go out with you tonight. I'm up to my _____ in work. (I've got a lot of work to do) (B) I've just lost the company a £10,000 order. I'll probably get it in the _____ for that. (I'll probably be criticised or punished for losing the order)
12	(A) You're always working so hard. Why don't you let your _____ down for a change? (Why don't you relax and enjoy yourself?) (B) I thought Heidi would be really angry with me for going out with her boyfriend, but to my surprise she didn't turn a _____. (Heidi didn't seem surprised or shocked that I went out with her boyfriend)
13	(A) Your secret is safe with me. My _____ are sealed. (I won't tell anyone about your secret) (B) Read my _____: get out, you're fired! (Listen very carefully to what I'm saying)
14	(A) I would love to help you, but my _____ are tied. (I can't help you because a rule or law is preventing me) (B) I can't see you at the moment, I'm afraid: my _____ are full. (I'm extremely busy with a difficult job)
15	(A) When John stood up and started singing in the restaurant, it made my _____ curl. (I was extremely embarrassed when John started singing) (B) I didn't mean to tread on your _____, but I didn't realise it was your job to answer the phone. (I didn't mean to offend you by doing something that you are responsible for)
16	(A) Could you keep an _____ on the children while I go to the shops? (Could you look after the children for a short while?) (B) Andy and I get on very well together, even though we don't always see _____ to _____. (Andy and I don't always agree on the same things)
17	(A) Richard and Mark were at each other's _____ all through the meeting. (Richard and Mark were arguing in an angry way) (B) Television channels are always forcing programmes about the environment down our _____. (Television channels are always forcing us to accept programmes about the environment)
18	(A) Amy has a _____ of gold. (Amy is a very kind person) (B) Brian seems a bit rude and bad-tempered, but his _____ is in the right place. (Brian tries to be kind and do good things, even though it does not always seem like this)
19	(A) Good luck in the exam. I'll be keeping my ________ crossed for you. (I'll be hoping that things will happen in the way that you want them to) (B) Natalie is extremely lazy. She won't lift a _____ to help us. (Natalie won't do anything to help us)
20	(A) When he slipped on the banana skin, none of us could keep a straight _____. (We couldn't prevent ourselves from laughing) (B) We need to end the conflict without losing _____. (We need to end the conflict without losing people's respect by appearing weak or stupid)
21	(A) I know that you're having a hard time at the moment, but try to keep your _____ up. (Try to be brave and happy, even though you are in a difficult situation) (B) I was very critical of his work, but he took it on the _____. (He accepted something unpleasant in a brave way without complaining)
22	(A) Maggie is upset because her boyfriend gave her the _____ last night. (Maggie's boyfriend told her that he didn't want to go out with her anymore) (B) Could you give me some _____ room, please? (Could you give me enough space so that I'm comfortable?)

ANSWER KEY

1. tongue 2. leg 3. ears 4. head (For (b), we can also say My boss jumped down my throat) 5. arm 6. (a) teeth, (b) tooth (For (b), we can also say fighting tooth and claw) 7. shoulder 8. (a) foot, (b) feet 9. nose (For (a), we can also say She gets my back up or She pisses me off (1)) 10. back 11. neck (For (b), we can also say I'm up to my eyeballs in work) 12. hair (For (b), we can also say She didn't bat an eyelid) 13. lips 14. hands 15. toes 16. eye 17. throats (In (b), forcing could be replaced with pushing, ramming, thrusting or shoving) 18. heart 19. (a) fingers, (b) finger 20. face 21. chin 22. elbow There are also lots of compound adjectives (= adjectives containing more than one word) which use parts of the body. These include: weak-kneed; starry-eyed; straightfaced; tight-lipped; tight-fisted; big-headed; hard-headed; hard-hearted; soft-hearted; big-hearted; thick-skinned; two-faced; light-fingered. This exercise uses just a few of the English idioms that use parts of the body. There are hundreds more in the Macmillan English Dictionary. Develop a 'bank' of these, and try to use them in your everyday English.