People — appearance Talking about people’s looks Amy: That new sales manager is very easy on the eye!, isn’t he? Yes, he’s drop-dead gorgeous’! It’s nice to have some eye candy? at work. It certainly makes a change. The last sales manager wasn’t much to look at‘. Didn’t you think so? I thought he was quite good-looking. Oh well. Beauty’s in the eye Kate: ‘Amy: Kate: Amy: of the beholder’, I suppose. Kate: How very wise you are! Amy: Well, I’m not just a pretty face‘! " good-looking ? extremely attractive formal) ° pleasant to look at, but not very interesting (informal) * wasn’t good-looking ° people have different ideas about what is beautiful (proverb, behold is an old-fashioned word meaning see) ® clever as well as attractive (humorous) ‘Ways of dressing idiom example ‘meaning done up / She was dressed up like a dog's ‘wearing clothes which made her look silly dressed up like | dinner at the reception, in a big hat, | when she had dressed for a formal occasion a dog’ dinner _| lots of make-up and ridiculous shoes. _| (informal) done up / tnever normally wear smart clothes | wearing very stylish and fashionable clothes, dressed up to | or much make-up, but it's fun to get__| often for a particular occasion (informal) done up to the nines occasionally. Selina’s dressed to kill today, isn't she! wonder who she's trying to impress? intentionally wearing clothes to attract attention and admiration your glad rags ‘Come on, put your glad rags on. I'm going to take you out to dinner. your best clothes (humorous) mutton dressed ‘A miniskirt at her age? She looks like dressed in a way more suitable for a as lamb mutton dressed as lamb! younger woman (mutton is meat from an older sheep, whereas amb is meat from a young sheep) (informal, disapproving) down-atheel | Henry is very down-at-heel since his | wearing old clothes that are in bad condition business collapsed. because of not having enough money Other appearance idioms T'm developing quite a middle-age spread — I must start doing more exercise. [fat around the waist that sometimes develops as you get older] ‘Timmy was a naughty little boy, but he always looked as if butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. [he could never do anything wrong] If you're going for a job as a lawyer, you'd better look the part and wear a smart suit for the interview. [look suitable for a particular situation] She's the spi age of her grandmother. [looks exactly like] 60 Englh lioms in Use Advanced28.1 28.2 28.3 28.4 28.5 Exercises Look at A, Correct the mistakes in these idioms. 1 Her new boyfriend is really attractive, but he’s so boring! He's just eye sweets. 2 Beauty is in the eye of the spectator. 3 Of course my idea’s a good one! I’m not just a pretty head! 4 Fve never met my brother’s boss, but my brother says she’s not much for looking at. 5 Tove that film star, He’s fall-dead gorgeous! 6 His new girlfriend is really pretty; she’s very simple on the eye. Which idiom is the odd one out? Choose a, b or c. 1 The woman was a) easy on the eye b) drop-dead gorgeous c) not just a pretty face. 2 Milly went out a) dressed to kill b) like mutton dressed as lamb c) done up to the nines. 3 The new teacher a) isn’t much to look at b) is rather down-at-heel c) is easy on the eye. 4 My uncle a) is the spitting image of Ted b) has developed a serious middle-age spread c) has put his glad rags on. Complete each idiom. 1 done up / dressed up like a dog’s 2 your... rags 3 look the sn 4 dressed to... 5. 6 not just a... ones face ‘Complete each sentence with an idiom from 28.3. 1 We'll need to leave for the wedding soon. Hurry up and put . rnin Oy 2 She’s 50, but she dresses like a teenager. She looks like 3 Ifyou want to get a good job in a bank, you'll have to stop dressing like a student and make an effort to 4 Even on an ordinary day at work, Gemma is high heels and a smart suit. I wonder who she's trying to impress! 5 As well as being extremely good-looking, that actor is a very good businessman. He's ' 6 The actress looked ridiculous at the film premigre - too much jewellery and a very short dress. She really was : . Agree with what A says. Complete each dialogue with an idiom. 1 A: Karl has put on a lot of weight since he hit 50, hasn’t he? B: Yes, he’s getting a real 2 A: Paul looks just like George Clooney, doesn't he? B: Absolutely. He's ... 3 A: Ie’ unlike Naomi to be so badly dressed, isn't it? B: That's right. She’s never normally so a 4 A: Idon’t like his new girlfriend, She's not even that good-looking. B: No, she’s soe 5 A: You'd never believe that Billy could be so nanghey would you? B: No, he looks as if se English Idioms in Use Advanced 61