Body Idioms | English Club https://www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/idioms-body.

htm

Bo d y I d i o m s En g l i sh Cl u b .co m

“ I 'm all ear s.

Here are some common idioms based on the human body. Each entry includes the
meaning of the idiom and shows the idiom in context in an example sentence. At the
end is a body idioms quiz to check your understanding.

idiom m e an i n g ex am p l e s en t e n c e

a l l ear s fully listening Give me a minute to finish my

work and then I'll be al l ea r s to
hear about your project.

b r eak a l eg good-luck Today's the big game, eh?

B r eak a l eg !

c o l d f e et nervous just before a big My sister didn't get c o l d f e et

event until she put her wedding gown
on.

c o s t an ar m be very expensive These cakes are delicious, but

a n d a l eg they c o s t a n ar m a n d a l eg .

c r y y o u r h ea r t cry very hard I c r i e d m y h ear t o u t when my

out best friend moved away.

f ac e t h e m u s i c meet, stand up to I stayed out all night. When I

unpleasant conseqences, for eventually got home I had to
example criticism or f ac e t h e m u s i c from my wife.
punishment

1 di 4 17/02/2017 20:12
Body Idioms | English Club https://www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/idioms-body.htm

( m y ) f l es h a n d relative I have to hire Mia. She's my

b lo od own f l e s h an d b l o o d .

g et s o m et h i n g tell someone your problems Thanks for listening to me

o f f o n e' s c h es t complain about my boss. I just
needed to g et t h i s o f f m y
c h es t .

g i v e a h an d , help (someone) do I can g i v e y o u a h an d when

l en d a h an d something you move if you like.

h av e o n e' s be unaware or unrealistic Amy h as h er h ea d i n t h e

h ead i n t h e about something c l o u d s if she thinks she's going
clo uds to pass her exams without
studying.

h ead o v er deeply in love My brother is h ead o v er h ee l s

h eel s for his new girlfriend.

h ead s t ar t an earlier start The kids gave Anthony a h e ad

s t ar t in the bicycle race
because he was the youngest.

i n o v er o n e' s taking on a task that you I was i n o v e r m y h e ad when I

h ead can't handle agreed to babysit the triplets
and the dogs.

k eep an e y e o n take care of, watch in order I'll k e ep an ey e o n the dinner

to protect while you're on the phone.

k eep o n e' s try to be cheerful K eep y o u r c h i n u p . I'm sure

chin up you'll make some friends soon.

2 di 4 17/02/2017 20:12
Body Idioms | English Club https://www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/idioms-body.htm

l ea r n b y h ea r t , memorize I learned my multiplication

k n o w b y h e ar t tables b y h ea r t in the fourth
grade.

l et o n e ' s h ai r relax, have fun Go to the cottage and l et y o u r

dow n h ai r d o w n this weekend.

( m y ) l i p s ar e promise to keep a secret Don't worry, I won't tell your

s eal ed mother how much you spent.
M y l i p s a r e s eal ed .

m a k es m y makes me very angry It m a k es m y b l o o d b o i l when

b lo od bo il people don't tie up their dogs.

n ec k o f t h e nearby location or region I heard that they might be

w oods opening a post office in our
n ec k o f t h e w o o d s soon.

( a n ) o l d h an d an experienced person My uncle's an o l d h an d at car

repair. He'll know what the
problem is.

o v er m y d ea d not unless I'm dead and My daughter wants a tatoo. I

body can't stop you told her she'd get one o v er m y
d ead b o d y .

p at o n t h e recognition or a thank-you The party organizers deserve a

b ac k p at o n t h e b ac k for a job well
done.

p lay do something without a plan We don't know if the weather

s o m et h i n g b y will be good enough for
e ar camping. We'll have to p l ay i t

3 di 4 17/02/2017 20:12
Body Idioms | English Club https://www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/idioms-body.htm

b y e ar .

p u l l o n e' s l eg joke or tease someone I was just p u l l i n g y o u r l eg .

I'm not really a police officer.

r u le o f t hu m b basic rule (not always The r u l e o f t h u m b is that the

followed) students wear black pants and
white shirts.

s ee ey e t o ey e agree The couple don't s ee ey e t o

ey e on how to train their pets.

( b y t h e) s k i n just barely I passed my exam b y t h e s k i n

o f o n e' s t e et h o f m y t eet h .

s t i c k y o u r n ec k help someone a lot, with I s t u c k m y n e c k o u t for Bessie

out possible bad consequences when she was thrown out of
for oneself her house.

s w e et t o o t h a love of sugar or sweet I need three spoonfuls of sugar

things in my tea. I have a s w eet
tooth.

t h ick in t he not very intelligent I'm a bit t h i c k i n t h e h ead

h ead when it comes to reading a
map.

w ash one' s stop dealing with an issue or I'm w as h i n g m y h an d s o f

h an d s o f problem Mary's addiction. She is going
s o m et h i n g to have to get some
professional help.

4 di 4 17/02/2017 20:12