| The author. Brighton. Yesterday. |
Body Idioms.
As I've mentioned before; using idioms can be rather problematic for non-native speakers of English.
You need to use them correctly (mistakes can seem funny to native speakers) and be confident in what you're saying. You need to know which idioms are current and which are no longer fashionable. You also need to know which circumstances to use them.
You need to use them correctly (mistakes can seem funny to native speakers) and be confident in what you're saying. You need to know which idioms are current and which are no longer fashionable. You also need to know which circumstances to use them.
Most learners of English enjoy idioms and it is fun comparing them with similar ones in your native language.
Below are current, commonly used body idioms which, even if you choose not to use, will help you understand native English speakers.
To be back to back: Literally- have your back touching another person's back but commonly used figuratively to describe thing that follow each other- I have a really busy day with back to back meetings in the afternoon.
To break one`s back (doing something): Work very hard at doing something- I broke my back helping my friend with his project.
To be back to back: Literally- have your back touching another person's back but commonly used figuratively to describe thing that follow each other- I have a really busy day with back to back meetings in the afternoon.
To break one`s back (doing something): Work very hard at doing something- I broke my back helping my friend with his project.
To catch one's breath: Return to normal breathing after exercise- I had to stop halfway up the stairs to catch my breath.
To be dead from the neck up: Very stupid- My boss is an idiot; dead from the neck up.
Don't hold your breath: Don't wait. It's not going to happen- You think England are going to win the European Cup! Don't hold your breath.
To get a lump in one's throat: Feel in your throat that you're going to cry- I can't watch it without getting a lump in my throat.
To get butterflies in one's stomach: Feel nervous or anxious- I always get butterflies in my stomach before an interview.
To get something off one's chest: Talk about something that has been bothering you- We need to talk. There are some things I have to get off my chest.
To grate on one's nerves: Annoy, bother or irritate- That woman's voice really grates on my nerves.
To give somebody a hand: Help somebody. Very common for offers/or requests- Can I give you a hand with your suitcase?
To hate someone's guts: Strongly hate somebody- Can't stand him...! I hate his guts.
To be in cold blood: Without feeling or remorse- The hostage was murdered in cold blood.
To be in the flesh: In person. To see a person in reality- I've never met anyone famous in the flesh.
To jump down someone's throat: React suddenly/angrily/overact about something- I was only five minutes late and the boss almost jumped down my throat.
To make one's flesh/skin crawl: To disgust/horrify in such a way your skin gets goosebumps- The beginning of the film made my flesh/skin crawl.
To be neck and neck: Even or level, usually in a contest- The teams were neck and neck right up to the end of the match.
To be out of breath: Breath quickly after exercise- You look out of breath. Have you been running?
A pain in the neck/arse (UK) ass or butt (USA): An annoying, bothersome person- Paul is such a pain in the arse.
To put one's back into something: Make an effort. That freezer isn't heavy. Put your back into it!
To put one's foot in it : Do or say something in error that may embarrass someone/revel a secret by mistake- I really put my foot in it. I congratulated her because thought she was pregnant but she wasn't.
To ram (something) down (someone`s) throat: Force your ideas or opinions on someone- He's always ramming his opinions down our throats.
To save one's breath: Not to bother saying something because it won't be listen to- He never listens to advice. You should save your breath.
To be soaked to the skin: Very wet- I didn't have an umbrella and got soaked to the skin.
To take one's breath away: To be very moved by the beauty or grandeur of something- When I saw the Grand Canyon for the first time it took my breath away.
To hate someone's guts: Strongly hate somebody- Can't stand him...! I hate his guts.
To be in cold blood: Without feeling or remorse- The hostage was murdered in cold blood.
To be in the flesh: In person. To see a person in reality- I've never met anyone famous in the flesh.
To jump down someone's throat: React suddenly/angrily/overact about something- I was only five minutes late and the boss almost jumped down my throat.
To make one's flesh/skin crawl: To disgust/horrify in such a way your skin gets goosebumps- The beginning of the film made my flesh/skin crawl.
To be neck and neck: Even or level, usually in a contest- The teams were neck and neck right up to the end of the match.
To be out of breath: Breath quickly after exercise- You look out of breath. Have you been running?
A pain in the neck/arse (UK) ass or butt (USA): An annoying, bothersome person- Paul is such a pain in the arse.
To put one's back into something: Make an effort. That freezer isn't heavy. Put your back into it!
To put one's foot in it : Do or say something in error that may embarrass someone/revel a secret by mistake- I really put my foot in it. I congratulated her because thought she was pregnant but she wasn't.
To ram (something) down (someone`s) throat: Force your ideas or opinions on someone- He's always ramming his opinions down our throats.
To save one's breath: Not to bother saying something because it won't be listen to- He never listens to advice. You should save your breath.
To be soaked to the skin: Very wet- I didn't have an umbrella and got soaked to the skin.
To take one's breath away: To be very moved by the beauty or grandeur of something- When I saw the Grand Canyon for the first time it took my breath away.
To talk behind someone`s back: Gossip or speak without someone's knowledge, secretly, when someone is absent- I don't like people who talk behind my back.
To be thick-skinned: Insensitive. Not easily hurt- Don't worry about upsetting him. He's so thick-skinned he won't notice.
To be thick-skinned: Sensitive. Easily hurt- Be careful when you tell her the news. He's so thinned skinned, he's likely to burst into tears.
To turn one's stomach: Make someone feel like vomiting- The violence in that film almost turned my stomach.
To be up to one's neck/eyeballs in something: Very involved or busy with something- I won't to be able to come over. I'm up to my neck in work.
To waste one's breath: Speak to someone when they won't listen- It's no good telling him what you think, you're just wasting your breath.
To be a yoke around someone's neck: To be a burden or something which prevents you acting efficiently- I really don't like my job. It's a yoke around my neck.
To be thick-skinned: Sensitive. Easily hurt- Be careful when you tell her the news. He's so thinned skinned, he's likely to burst into tears.
To turn one's stomach: Make someone feel like vomiting- The violence in that film almost turned my stomach.
To be up to one's neck/eyeballs in something: Very involved or busy with something- I won't to be able to come over. I'm up to my neck in work.
To waste one's breath: Speak to someone when they won't listen- It's no good telling him what you think, you're just wasting your breath.
To be a yoke around someone's neck: To be a burden or something which prevents you acting efficiently- I really don't like my job. It's a yoke around my neck.
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