Body Idiom

1. pain in the neck (annoying)

E.g. I hope my brother doesn’t bring a pet dog, it can be a real pain in the neck!

2. play it by ear (to react to a situation as it develops, without planning for it before)
E.g. A: What are we going to buy at the mall?
B: I will play it by ear when I arrive there.
3. Cost an arm and a leg (very expensive)
E.g. Taking a trip to oversea is a good idea but it is
going to cost an arm and a leg. Will you be ok?

4. to get something of your chest (you want to tell

about your problem to someone so that you can feel
better!)
E.g. Thanks for listening to me complain about my
sister. I just needed to get it off my chest.
5. To keep an eye on something (to take care of
something or to watch over something to protect it)
E.g. Please keep an eye on your puppy or it will run
outside!

6. I am all ears (paying attention/ fully listening)

E.g. Please give me 5 minutes to finish my assignment
then I will be all ears for your conversation.
7. To get cold feet (feeling really nervous)
E.g. I used to get cold feet before I made my
presentation.

8. to go over someone’s head (you missed the

meaning or you haven’t understood what’s
happening)
E.g. Sorry! I don’t get it and it went straight over my
head. Could you say it again ?
9. To have a sweet tooth (to like eating sweet foods)
E.g. Julia eats three cakes everyday. She has a sweet
tooth.

10. to give/ lend someone a hand (to help someone)

E.g. My bags are very heavy. Can you lend me a hand
please?
The teacher gave Mike a hand with his
assignment.
11. To be an old hand at something/ at + gerund
(to be very experienced at something)
E.g. You should ask David to fix your television. He’s an
old hand at repairs.

12. keep your hair on (stay calm and don’t be angry

with me)
E.g. A: I’m sorry. I deleted your assignment
accidentally.
B: What? You fool!
A: Keep your hair on! I’ll write down for you again.
13. Cast iron stomach
(You have got a very strong stomach, cannot get sick
easily/ can withstand bad food)

E.g. I can eat lots of spicy food and it cannot make me

sick because I have got a cast iron stomach.

14. Land on your feet( to recover quickly from very

bad experience)

E.g. He lands on his feet again after his business

failure.
15. Weak at the knees (You are very nervous)
E.g. This big crowd makes me go weak at the knees.

16. Hands down (without a doubt)

E.g. She is going to get the full mark in this exam. Hands down!

17. My hands are full (too busy)

E.g. I have taken up too many classes in a day. My hands are so
full.