Table of Contents
Introduction
Idioms are fascinating linguistic tools that add color and depth to our everyday language.
One category of idioms that’s particularly interesting is the category of idioms with parts of the body. From the face to the shoulder, various body parts have inspired expressions that convey a wide range of meanings and emotions.
In this list, we’ll explore some common idiomatic expressions used with different body parts, along with their meanings and examples.
Idioms With Parts of the Body
Here are examples of idioms with parts of the body:
Idioms Used with “Face”:
- “Face the music“: Accept the consequences of one’s actions.
- Example: “You did it. You have to face the music.”
- “Save face”: To avoid embarrassment or humiliation, often by maintaining dignity or preserving one’s reputation.
- Example: Despite losing the game, the coach managed to save face by praising his team’s effort in front of the press.
- “Face value”: Accepting something as it appears on the surface without further investigation or analysis.
- Example: He took her compliment at face value, not realizing she was being sarcastic.
Idioms Used with “Head”:
- “Hit the nail on the head“: To be absolutely correct.
- Example: “Yes, you hit the nail on the head. You’re absolutely right.”
- “Thick in the head“: Stupid
- Example: “He’s thick in the head.”
- “Head over heels”: To be deeply in love or infatuated with someone.
- Example: Sarah is head over heels for her new boyfriend; she can’t stop talking about him.
- “Keep your head above water”: To manage to survive or cope with a difficult situation.
- Example: Despite the financial difficulties, they managed to keep their heads above water by budgeting carefully.
- “Off the top of your head”: To say or do something without much thought or preparation.
- Example: I can’t give you a precise number off the top of my head, but I’d say there were around twenty people at the party.
- “Bite someone’s head off”: To respond to someone angrily or sharply.
- Example: I just asked her a simple question, and she bit my head off!
Idioms Used with “Eyes”:
- “Eye to eye“: To agree on something.
- Example: “You two, you don’t see eye to eye; you don’t agree with each other.”
- “Keep an eye on”: To watch or monitor something closely.
- Example: Could you keep an eye on my bag while I go to the restroom?
- “Eagle eye”: To have keen or sharp observation skills, often noticing even the smallest details.
- Example: Sarah has an eagle eye for errors in the data; she always finds mistakes others miss.
- “In the blink of an eye”: Happening very quickly or suddenly.
- Example: The car accident happened in the blink of an eye; one moment we were driving, and the next, we were spinning out of control.
Idioms Used with “Hand”:
- “Old hand”: Someone who is experienced in a particular activity.
- Example: “You’re an old hand at teaching.”
- “Hand in hand”: To go together or closely associated with each other; in close cooperation or partnership.
- Example: Hard work and dedication often go hand in hand with success.
- “Have a hand in”: To be involved in or responsible for something.
- Example: He had a hand in organizing the charity event, so it’s no surprise it was such a success.
Idioms Used with”Thumb”:
- “Rule of thumb”: A general principle or guideline based on experience rather than strict rules.
- Example: As a rule of thumb, you should save at least 10% of your income for retirement.
- “Under someone’s thumb”: Under someone’s control or influence; submissive to someone’s authority.
- Example: She’s been under her boss’s thumb ever since she started working at the company.
- “Green thumb”: A natural talent for gardening or growing plants.
- Example: With her green thumb, she managed to turn her backyard into a beautiful garden in no time.
Idioms Used with “Neck”:
- “Neck and neck”: When competitors are very close in a race or competition and neither is clearly ahead of the other.
- Example: The two runners were neck and neck as they approached the finish line.
- “Stick one’s neck out”: To take a risk or put oneself in a vulnerable position in order to help or achieve something.
- Example: I stuck my neck out and recommended her for the job, even though she doesn’t have much experience.
- “Breathing down someone’s neck”: To closely monitor or follow someone, often causing them to feel pressured or uncomfortable.
- Example: With the deadline approaching, my boss has been breathing down my neck to finish the project on time.
Idioms Used with “Heart”:
- By heart: To memorize something thoroughly.
- Example: “Learn something by heart.”
- “Cross my heart (and hope to die)”: A solemn promise or assurance of truthfulness.
- Example: I didn’t tell anyone your secret, cross my heart.
- “Heart of gold”: To describe someone who is very kind, generous, and caring.
- Example: Despite her tough exterior, she has a heart of gold and would do anything to help those in need.
- “Take to heart”: To take something very seriously or to be deeply affected by something.
- Example: I hope you don’t take his criticism to heart; he didn’t mean to offend you.
Idioms Used with “Ears”:
- All ears: Fully attentive and ready to listen.
- Example: “I’m all ears.”
- All ears: Fully attentive and ready to listen.
- Example: “I’m all ears.”
- Fall on deaf ears: To go unnoticed or be ignored, especially when asking for something.
- Example: “Her pleas for help fell on deaf ears.”
- Bend someone’s ear: To talk to someone for a long time, especially about something that concerns you.
- Example: “I need to bend your ear about a problem I’m having with my project.”
Idioms Used with “Shoulders”:
- Chip on your shoulder: To feel inferior or resentful.
- Example: “He has a chip on his shoulder.”
- Rub shoulders: To associate with influential or famous people.
- Example: “In her job, she sometimes rubs shoulders with famous people.”
- Give someone the cold shoulder: To ignore someone intentionally.
- Example: “He gave me the cold shoulder after our disagreement.”
Idioms Used with Teeth:
- Armed to the teeth: Heavily armed.
- Example: “The terrorists were armed to the teeth.”
- “By the skin of one’s teeth”: Narrowly avoiding failure or disaster.
- Example: He passed the exam by the skin of his teeth; he only just got enough points to pass.
- “Get one’s teeth into”: To become deeply involved or absorbed in something.
- Example: She finally got her teeth into the new project and made significant progress.
- “Cut one’s teeth on”: To gain experience or develop skills in a particular area.
- Example: She cut her teeth on smaller projects before tackling the big ones.
Idioms Used with “Back”:
- Back to the wall: In a difficult situation with limited options.
- Example: “With his back to the wall, he had to accept the deal.”
- “Behind someone’s back”: Doing something without someone’s knowledge, typically something negative or deceitful.
- Example: She was spreading rumors about him behind his back.
- “Turn one’s back on”: To reject or abandon someone or something.
- Example: He turned his back on his old friends when he became successful.
- “Back to the drawing board”: To start again from the beginning because a previous attempt has failed.
- Example: Our plan to launch the product failed, so it’s back to the drawing board for us.
Conclusion
Idioms with parts of the body enrich our language with vivid imagery and nuanced meanings. From facing the consequences to being all ears, these expressions add depth to our conversations and writings. Understanding and using these idioms not only enhances our communication skills but also offers insights into cultural and social nuances.
So next time you hear someone say they’re “keeping everything under their thumb” or “hitting the nail on the head,” you’ll know exactly what they mean!
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