Body Idioms Exercise

A large number of idioms are formed with the names of body parts. Here is a list of them.

Fill in the blanks.

1. If you put your …………………….. foot forward you’ll succeed in the

interview.
best
right
left
To put your best foot forward is to make a favorable impression.

2. She has an interview tomorrow and she is pulling her

…………………………. out.
hair
eyes
head
To pull your hair out is to be very worried about something

3. Before accepting the job offer, she made it clear that she must have a
free …………………………
hand
voice
head
When you have a free hand you have the power to do what you want.

4. He has no …………………………….. in running the company.

hand
part
hands
To have a hand in something is to be involved in it.

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 Body Idioms Exercise

5. In almost all societies rich people still have the ………………………….

hand.
bigger
higher
upper
To have the upper hand is to have power and control over someone or a situation.

6. The robbers were caught …………………………… while trying to sell the

stolen goodies in the market.
black handed
red handed
handcuffed
To get caught red-handed is to get caught while doing something illegal or wrong.

7. The old man and his sons work hand in ……………………………..

hand
glove
mill
When two people are hand in glove, they have an extremely close relationship.

8. He got his ……………………… rapped for talking too much in the class.
elbows
knuckles
fingers
To rap someone’s knuckles is to give him a light punishment so that he wouldn’t repeat the
same offence.

9. So it is your debut tonight. Break a …………………………..

hand
foot

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 Body Idioms Exercise

leg
It is a phrase used to wish someone good luck.

10. Don’t believe what he says. He is just pulling your

…………………………..
feet
hand
leg
To pull someone’s leg is to subject him / her to a playful joke or hoax.

11. She thought she had got that role but in the end they chose to cast
someone else. There’s many a slip twixt .......................................... and
lip.
mug
cup
glass
This is an expression used to imply that things can wrong at any time.

12. That thought had never crossed my ……………………………

head
heart
mind

PLAY AGAIN !
Answers
If you put your best foot forward you’ll succeed in the interview.
She has an interview tomorrow and she is pulling her hair out.
Before accepting the job offer, she made it clear that she must have a free hand.
He has no hand in running the company.
In almost all societies rich people still have the upper hand.

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 Body Idioms Exercise

The robbers were caught red handed while trying to sell the stolen goodies in the market.
The old man and his sons work hand in glove.
He got his knuckles rapped for talking too much in the class.
So it is your debut tonight. Break a leg.
Don’t believe what he says. He is just pulling your leg.
She thought she had got that role but in the end they chose to cast someone else. There’s
many a slip twixt cup and lip.
That thought had never crossed my mind.

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