In English, we often use body parts to express ideas that have nothing to do with the actual parts of the body. These idioms are fun and can make your speech sound more natural and relatable. Let's explore some common idioms using body parts, with real-life examples to help you see how they are used.
Listening Attentively: “All Ears”
Have you ever been so interested in what someone was saying that you were fully engaged, waiting eagerly for every word? In that situation, you were probably all ears! When someone says, “I’m all ears,” it means they are listening carefully and attentively.Example:You’re explaining an important idea at work, and your colleague says, “I’m all ears, tell me more!” They want to hear every detail.
Ignoring Something: “Turn a Blind Eye”
Sometimes, we choose to overlook things, whether for the sake of peace or convenience. When you turn a blind eye, you are intentionally ignoring something or pretending not to see it.Example:Your friend parked in a no-parking zone, but the police officer turned a blind eye and didn’t issue a ticket. In this case, they chose not to enforce the rule.
Embarrassing Yourself: “Put Your Foot in Your Mouth”
We’ve all said something we immediately regretted. When you put your foot in your mouth, you say something awkward, embarrassing, or offensive—usually without meaning to.Example:At a party, you ask someone if they’ve gained weight, only to find out they’re pregnant. You realize you’ve really put your foot in your mouth.
High Costs: “Cost an Arm and a Leg”
When something is really expensive, we often say it costs an arm and a leg.Example:You’ve been saving for months to buy your dream phone, but when you finally see the price tag, you exclaim, “This phone costs an arm and a leg! It’s so expensive!”
Missing the Obvious: “Right Under Your Nose”
Have you ever searched for something everywhere, only to find it in the most obvious place? That’s when you find something right under your nose.Example:After spending 20 minutes looking for your glasses, you realize they’ve been right under your nose—sitting on your head the whole time!
Playful Deception: “Pull Someone’s Leg”
If you’ve ever teased someone in a lighthearted way, you’ve probably pulled their leg. This idiom means to joke with someone by making them believe something untrue.Example:Your friend tells you they’re moving to Antarctica, and when you look shocked, they laugh and say, “I’m just pulling your leg!”
Expressing Frustration: “Pain in the Neck”
Certain tasks or people can be frustrating to deal with, which is when they become a pain in the neck.Example:Trying to figure out complicated tax forms can be such a pain in the neck. It’s frustrating and difficult!
Feeling Afraid: “Cold Feet”
Getting cold feet happens when you get nervous or scared just before a big event or decision.Example:You’ve been planning your skydiving trip for weeks, but right before you jump out of the plane, you get cold feet and second-guess your decision.
More Body Part Idioms
1. Head over heels
Meaning: Completely in love or deeply infatuated.Example: "She’s head over heels for her new boyfriend."
2. Keep an eye on
Meaning: To watch or monitor something or someone closely.Example: "Can you keep an eye on my bag while I go to the restroom?"
3. Get something off your chest
Meaning: To express or confess something that’s been bothering you.Example: "I’ve been stressed out lately, and I just needed to get it off my chest."
4. Break a leg
Meaning: A way of wishing someone good luck, often used in performances or presentations.Example: "You’ll do great in the play tonight—break a leg!"
5. By the skin of your teeth
Meaning: Barely managing to do something, just avoiding disaster or failure.Example: "I passed the test by the skin of my teeth!"
6. Keep your chin up
Meaning: Stay optimistic or positive, especially during tough times.Example: "I know it’s hard right now, but try to keep your chin up."
7. Lend a hand
Meaning: To help someone.Example: "Can you lend me a hand with moving this furniture?"
8. Have a heart of gold
Meaning: To be kind, generous, and compassionate.Example: "She’s always helping others; she really has a heart of gold."
9. Stick your neck out
Meaning: To take a risk by supporting someone or something.Example: "He stuck his neck out to defend his colleague at the meeting."
10. Have a gut feeling
Meaning: To have a strong instinct or intuition about something.Example: "I have a gut feeling that something is going to go wrong with the deal."
11. A sight for sore eyes
Meaning: Something or someone you are very happy to see.Example: "After being stuck in traffic for hours, home was a sight for sore eyes."
12. Heart in your mouth
Meaning: To feel very nervous or scared.Example: "When I heard the loud crash, my heart was in my mouth."
13. To have itchy feet
Meaning: To feel the urge to travel or move around.Example: "After staying in one place for so long, I’m starting to get itchy feet and want to explore new places."
14. To be a pain in the butt
Meaning: Someone or something that is very annoying or difficult.Example: "Having to redo all that work was such a pain in the butt."
15. Tongue-tied
Meaning: Unable to speak or express yourself due to nerves or embarrassment.Example: "I was so nervous during my speech, I got completely tongue-tied."
16. Give the cold shoulder
Meaning: To intentionally ignore or be unfriendly toward someone.Example: "She’s been giving me the cold shoulder ever since our argument."
17. Put your back into it
Meaning: To apply a lot of effort to something.Example: "If you really put your back into it, you’ll finish the project in no time."
18. Get off on the wrong foot
Meaning: To make a bad start in a relationship or situation.Example: "We got off on the wrong foot at first, but now we’re good friends."
19. Keep your fingers crossed
Meaning: To hope for good luck or a positive outcome.Example: "I’m taking my exam tomorrow, so keep your fingers crossed for me!"
20. Give a hand
Meaning: To applaud someone or give them recognition for their efforts.Example: "Let’s give him a hand for that incredible performance!"
21. Pulling my hair out
Meaning: To be extremely frustrated or stressed.Example: "I’ve been trying to fix this computer all day, and I’m about to start pulling my hair out!"
22. Keep your head above water
Meaning: To just manage to survive or cope with a difficult situation, often related to finances or stress.Example: "With all the bills coming in, it's been tough to keep my head above water."
23. A weight off your shoulders
Meaning: Relief after resolving a stressful situation or completing a task.Example: "Finishing that report was such a weight off my shoulders."
24. To give someone the cold shoulder
Meaning: To intentionally ignore someone or act unfriendly toward them.Example: "After our argument, she gave me the cold shoulder at the party."
25. Off the top of my head
Meaning: To say something without much thought or preparation.Example: "I don’t know the exact figures off the top of my head, but I can look it up for you."
26. Get your head out of the clouds
Meaning: To stop daydreaming and focus on reality.Example: "You need to get your head out of the clouds and focus on your work."
27. Have a chip on your shoulder
Meaning: To be easily angered or offended due to past experiences.Example: "Ever since he got passed over for the promotion, he's had a chip on his shoulder."
28. Stick to your guns
Meaning: To maintain your position or opinion despite opposition.Example: "Even though everyone disagreed, she stuck to her guns and defended her idea."
29. To bite your tongue
Meaning: To stop yourself from saying something that you want to say, often to avoid causing offense.Example: "I wanted to criticize him, but I decided to bite my tongue and stay quiet."
30. My hands are tied
Meaning: To be unable to take action due to restrictions or lack of authority.Example: "I’d love to help you, but my hands are tied because of company policy."
31. To be all thumbs
Meaning: To be clumsy or awkward, especially with your hands.Example: "When it comes to assembling furniture, I’m all thumbs."
32. Pick someone’s brain
Meaning: To ask someone for advice or information on a specific topic.Example: "Can I pick your brain about how you managed to finish that project so quickly?"
33. Get off someone’s back
Meaning: To stop criticizing or pressuring someone.Example: "I wish my boss would get off my back about that report. I'm doing my best!"
34. A slap on the wrist
Meaning: A light or mild punishment for something wrong.Example: "He only got a slap on the wrist for breaking the rules."
35. See eye to eye
Meaning: To agree with someone or share the same point of view.Example: "We don’t see eye to eye on how to manage the project."
36. The apple of someone’s eye
Meaning: Someone who is highly cherished or loved.Example: "Her grandson is the apple of her eye."
37. Play it by ear
Meaning: To decide how to handle a situation as it develops rather than planning ahead.Example: "We don’t know what the weather will be like, so let’s play it by ear."
38. Have a big mouth
Meaning: To talk too much or reveal secrets.Example: "He has such a big mouth! I can’t believe he told everyone about the surprise party."
39. Get something off your back
Meaning: To stop being bothered by something or someone.Example: "I finally finished that assignment and got it off my back."
40. Toe the line
Meaning: To follow the rules or conform to expectations.Example: "If you want to keep your job, you’d better toe the line and do what the boss says."
41. Keep your nose out of my business
Meaning: To stop interfering in someone else's affairs or matters that don’t concern you.Example: "I told him to keep his nose out of my business—it’s a private matter!"
Conclusion
Using idioms that involve body parts is a great way to make your English more colorful and relatable. These expressions are often used in casual conversation, so the next time you’re chatting with someone, try slipping one in—it will make your speech sound more natural and fun! Whether you’re all ears or just trying not to put your foot in your mouth, these idioms are sure to come in handy.
Discussion:
All Ears:
Can you remember a time when you were "all ears" during a conversation? What made it so interesting?
How do you show someone that you are "all ears" when they are speaking?
Turn a Blind Eye:
Have you ever "turned a blind eye" to something? Why did you choose to ignore it?
Do you think it's ever okay to "turn a blind eye" to certain behaviors or rules?
Put Your Foot in Your Mouth:
What’s the most memorable time you’ve “put your foot in your mouth”? How did you handle it afterward?
How do you avoid “putting your foot in your mouth” in social situations?
Cost an Arm and a Leg:
What’s something you’ve bought that “cost an arm and a leg”? Was it worth it?
How do you feel when something you really want “costs an arm and a leg”?
Right Under Your Nose:
Can you recall a time when you were searching for something and found it “right under your nose”? What was it?
Why do you think we sometimes overlook things that are “right under our nose”?
Pull Someone’s Leg:
Have you ever successfully “pulled someone’s leg”? How did they react when they found out?
How do you tell when someone is “pulling your leg,” or do you usually fall for it?
Pain in the Neck:
What’s something or someone that is a “pain in the neck” for you lately? How do you deal with it?
Why do certain tasks or people become a “pain in the neck”?
Cold Feet:
Have you ever gotten “cold feet” right before making a big decision? What was it about?
What do you think helps people overcome their “cold feet” in stressful situations?
Head Over Heels:
Can you describe a time when you were “head over heels” for someone or something? How did it feel?
Do you think being “head over heels” can affect your judgment? Why or why not?
Keep an Eye On:
Have you ever had to “keep an eye on” something important for someone? How did it go?
Why is it important to “keep an eye on” certain things or people?
These questions can help spark engaging conversations while incorporating idioms into practical discussions!
A Short Story ; The Day I Put My Foot in My Mouth
It was a Monday morning, and I was already pulling my hair out trying to get to work on time. My boss had been on my case for weeks, so I needed to keep my head above water. Just when I thought things couldn’t get worse, I realized I had left my keys right under my nose—on the kitchen table. Typical.
When I finally made it to the office, everyone was acting weird. My best friend Sarah wouldn’t even look at me, giving me the cold shoulder. I tried to pick her brain, but she wouldn’t budge. She’s usually all smiles, so this was odd. I knew something was wrong, but I decided to bite my tongue and wait for her to tell me.
At the team meeting, I could tell my boss was going to be tough. I stuck my neck out and offered to lead the big project, hoping it would get her off my back. But as soon as I volunteered, I realized I had put my foot in my mouth. The project was massive, and I had no idea how I would manage it. What a pain in the neck!
During lunch, I overheard Sarah talking to our coworkers. Apparently, she was upset because she thought I had been pulling her leg when I said I couldn’t make it to her party. In reality, I had been overwhelmed with work, trying to keep my head out of the clouds. I rushed over to explain, but just as I was about to apologize, my boss appeared out of nowhere, giving me a slap on the wrist for being late that morning.
I wanted to get the meeting done so I could get this off my chest. I apologized to Sarah, and thankfully, she laughed it off, saying she was just stressed. “You know, you’ve been the apple of my eye since day one,” she said. "Next time, just tell me. Don’t let work make you pull your hair out!"
At the end of the day, I had a moment of clarity. I decided to stick to my guns—I would take on the project, but on my own terms. No more feeling like I had to toe the line for everyone. And from now on, I’d make sure to keep my boss and stress off my back.
As I left the office, Sarah waved and shouted, “Let’s play it by ear this weekend!” I nodded, relieved. Despite the rough start, it felt like a weight off my shoulders.
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