Lesson 2: Idioms from the Body

Introductory Quiz
Guess the correct meaning of each idiom from the context. It's OK if you get a lot
of answers wrong – what’s important is to do your best in trying to figure it out!

1) Put that cell phone away! You need to pay attention constantly while
driving; an accident can happen in the blink of an eye.

"In the blink of an eye" means...

A very quickly / suddenly

B while you are sleeping
C when nobody is watching

2) I've heard that song so many times that I know the lyrics by heart.

If you "know something by heart," it means...

A you feel strong emotion about it

B you're tired of it
C you've memorized it

3) You can't start crying every time someone gives you a suggestion for
improvement. You need to develop a thick skin.

If you have a "thick skin," you...

A don't let criticism affect you emotionally

B never cry, even in very sad situations
C are very defensive of your abilities

4) Unfortunately, my job interview got off on the wrong foot - I accidentally

mixed up the company's name with that of its biggest competitor.

If something "got off on the wrong foot," it means...

www.espressoenglish.net
© Shayna Oliveira 2012
 A it was not the right time
B it started badly
C you forgot something important

5) It really gets on my nerves when my roommate borrows my clothes

without asking.

If something "gets on your nerves," it means that it...

A annoys you
B makes you nervous
C surprises you

6) The other team clearly had the upper hand - their players were stronger
and faster. We lost the game 6-1.

Having the "upper hand" means...

A being more popular

B having good luck
C having the advantage

7) Ever since I received the promotion that Jenna was hoping to get, she's
been giving me the cold shoulder. She won't even look at me during staff
meetings.

To "give someone the cold shoulder" means...

A not making an effort to do any work

B rejecting or treating rudely
C saying bad things about someone to others

8) The client is dragging his feet on giving us an answer to the proposal -

we've been waiting for three weeks. It appears he's not very enthusiastic
about working with our company.

If someone is "dragging his feet," it means he...

www.espressoenglish.net
© Shayna Oliveira 2012
 A is delaying or doing something very slowly
B is not communicating well
C is too busy to complete the task

9) I knew that my friend was lying to his brother, but I held my tongue
because I didn't want to get involved in a family conflict.

To "hold your tongue" means...

A to agree with someone

B to say nothing
C to change the topic

10) Moving to a new country where you don't speak a single word of the local
language takes guts.

If something "takes guts," it...

A has major benefits

B is not safe
C requires courage

11) Trying to get my teenage son to help out around the house is like pulling
teeth.

If something is "like pulling teeth," it means that it is...

A a very infrequent event

B extremely difficult and painful
C necessary for maintaining a good relationship

12) I hate everything about my co-workers. They're lazy, annoying, and rude.
Sorry for ranting - I just had to get that off my chest.

If you "get that off your chest," it means you...

A express feelings you've kept inside for a long time

B finally quit a job that you don't enjoy
C say something that you're going to regret later

www.espressoenglish.net
© Shayna Oliveira 2012
Explanation

#1 – in the blink of an eye = (A) – very quickly / suddenly

The word "blink" is when you close both eyes and open them again
immediately. We blink our eyes every few seconds automatically. Because this
action is very fast, the idiom "in the blink of an eye" means very quickly or
suddenly.

Another idiom with the same meaning is "in a heartbeat." The difference is
that “in the blink of an eye” is usually used with can, could, or the past tense:

• An accident could happen in the blink of an eye.

• Everything changed in the blink of an eye.
“In a heartbeat” is usually used with the word would:

• I would move to Hawaii in a heartbeat if I had the chance.

• If I were rich, I would buy that car in a heartbeat.

#2 – know by heart = (C) – you've memorized it

The ancient Greeks believed that the heart, not the head, was the center of
intelligence and memory (as well as emotion). This is what gave origin to the
idiom "know by heart" meaning "memorized."

There's also the idiom "learn by heart." The difference is that "learn by heart"
refers to the process of memorizing something, and "know by heart" means
you have already memorized it.

#3 – thick skin = (A) – don't let criticism affect you emotionally

www.espressoenglish.net
© Shayna Oliveira 2012
The thick skin of an animal like a crocodile means it can't be injured easily - so
if a person has "thick skin" it means they have the ability to receive
criticism without letting it affect them emotionally.

"Thick-skinned" is also used as an adjective - and the opposite, "thin-skinned,"

describes someone who is easily hurt or offended by any little thing.

#4 – get off on the wrong foot = (B) – it started badly

The origin of this idiom probably comes from the fact that many cultures have
a superstition that the right foot is lucky and the left foot is unlucky. So if you
start walking with the "wrong foot," it means you've started badly.

This idiom is used both for starting projects badly and for starting
relationships badly. It's common to say that two people "got off on the wrong
foot" if they didn't like each other the first time they met.

#5 – it gets on my nerves = (A) – annoys you

www.espressoenglish.net
© Shayna Oliveira 2012
Nerves are the fibers that transmit signals from your brain to the other parts
of your body. Nerves also enable you to feel pain and irritation - so if
something "gets on your nerves," it means it's annoying.

You can use this idiom with a person or an action:

• My little brother always gets on my nerves.

• It gets on my nerves when my neighbors play loud music at night.

#6 – upper hand = (C) – having the advantage

The exact origin of this idiom is unknown, but the hand is often a symbol of
power. So if someone has the upper hand, it means they have the greater
power; the advantage.

#7 – give someone the cold shoulder = (B) – rejecting or

treating rudely

If you don't want to talk to someone, you might turn away so that they see
your shoulder, not your face. The idiom "give someone the cold shoulder"

www.espressoenglish.net
© Shayna Oliveira 2012
means to reject the person or treat them rudely - sending the clear message
that you don't want to talk to or interact with them.

#8 – drag your feet = (A) – is delaying or doing something very

slowly

The verb "drag" means to pull something along the ground with a lot of effort.
If you "drag your feet," you would be walking very slowly and reluctantly – so
this idiom means to delay or move slowly on a project because you don't
really want to do it.

#9 – hold your tongue = (B) – to say nothing

You use your tongue when you speak, so to "hold your tongue" means NOT to
speak - to say nothing.

www.espressoenglish.net
© Shayna Oliveira 2012
#10 – takes guts = (C) – requires courage

"Guts" is an informal word for your stomach and intestines.

In the past, it was believed that these internal organs were the source of a
person's courage. So if something "takes guts," it means it requires courage.

You can also say that someone doesn't have the guts [to do something] if the
person doesn't have enough courage to do the activity. For example, "I don't
have the guts to sing in front of a huge audience!"

#11 – like pulling teeth = (B) – extremely difficult and painful

Your teeth are set very firmly in your mouth, and "pulling" (extracting) teeth
is a painful and difficult process.

The idiom "it's like pulling teeth" is used to describe something that's difficult
and painful. It's often used when talking about trying to get information from
a person who doesn't want to communicate.

www.espressoenglish.net
© Shayna Oliveira 2012
#12 – get something off your chest = (A) – express feelings
you've kept inside for a long time

Your chest contains your heart, which is considered the center of emotion. So
to get something off your chest means to express feelings or emotions that
you have kept inside for a long time.

This phrase can be used for expressing positive or negative emotions. People
usually feel better after expressing their feelings, so it's common to say "it
feels good to get that off my chest."

You can now take the practice quiz and try the short-answer exercises.

www.espressoenglish.net
© Shayna Oliveira 2012
Practice Quiz
1) We need to get the air conditioner fixed. It's making a constant clicking
sound that's really ______________.

A giving me the cold shoulder

B getting on my nerves
C dragging my feet

2) I'd like to get to know my mother-in-law better, but she's a very private
person. Trying to make conversation with her is ______________.

A in a heartbeat
B getting it off my chest
C like pulling teeth

3) Nokia is offering free shipping on all their products in an effort to

______________ in the cell phone market.

A get off on the wrong foot

B get the upper hand
C hold their tongue

4) When I quit my job, my stress levels went down _________________.

A in the blink of an eye

B by heart
C like pulling teeth

5) I said some things I regret during the argument. I should have _____________
and listened to the other person's point of view.

A held my tongue
B taken guts
C gotten it off my chest

6) I need to learn ten songs _____________ for the piano competition.

www.espressoenglish.net
© Shayna Oliveira 2012
 A by heart
B thick skin
C in the blink of an eye

7) My husband said he would paint the house in January, but he's been
______________ ever since. I'm tired of waiting!

A giving me the cold shoulder

B dragging his feet
C holding his tongue

8) The hockey team's star player ________________ with a terrible performance in

the first game of the season.

A got the upper hand

B got on his nerves
C got off on the wrong foot

9) Skydiving isn't for me. I don't ______________ to jump out of an airplane!

A know by heart
B have the guts
C have the upper hand

10) You need to _______________ if you want to work in customer service - the job
often involves dealing with angry people.

A have a thick skin

B hold your tongue
C drag your feet

Answers are at the end of this lesson.

www.espressoenglish.net
© Shayna Oliveira 2012
Short-Answer Exercises
1) What's one thing that really gets on your nerves?

2) Has someone ever given you the cold shoulder? What happened?

3) What's one thing you don't have the guts to do?

4) Describe a time when you wanted to say something, but you held
your tongue.

5) Do you have a thick skin or a thin skin? Give an example.

If you want correction / feedback, you can e-mail me your writing at

homework@espressoenglish.net

Practice Quiz Answers

1) B

2) C

3) B

4) A

5) A

6) A

7) B

8) C

9) B

10) A

www.espressoenglish.net
© Shayna Oliveira 2012