Idioms Based on Body Parts
Id
To do something behind someone’s back=
to do it without his knowledge or
when he is not present.
To take a back seat = to play an unimportant or a
less important part in something than before.
To be glad to see the back of someone = to be
happy that he has left or gone away.
To lose heart = to become
discouraged.
To have something to heart = to be greatly
affected or influenced by it.
To learn something by heart= to know it from
memory.
Keep your hair on! = calm down! don’t get
angry!
To let one’s hair down = to have a carefree
time, to relax and enjoy oneself after being
formal and correct in behaviour.
To escape by a hair’s breadth = to escape very
To play music by ear=
to play it from memory.
To be all ears = to listen
eagerly or curiously.
To have a good ear for something = to be
able to discriminate sounds and tones
accurately.
To have a finger in
the pie= to be concerned
with the matter.
To put one’s finger on something = to point
out or find out exactly the reason for
something that is wrong.
One’s fingers are all thumbs= one is clumsy
or unskilled
To be neck and neck =to be equally good ,
to be side by side in a race.
A pain in the neck= an irritating, tiresome
person.
To stick one’s neck out = to say something
with the risk that it may cause trouble.