Body and actions of the body (FUN IDIOMS) Flashcards

These are idiomatic phrases you likely recognise. Good for Listening A/B. (42 cards)

1
Q

It’s his ACHILLES HEEL

A

his weakness

Netflix is my Achilles heel for studying.

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2
Q

to add insult to injury

A

To make a harm feel much worse.

After being run over and suffering a broken leg, the insurance company decided I was responsible and needed to apologise and pay the driver!

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3
Q

I’m all ears

A

I’m listening carefully

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4
Q

I’m all thumbs

A

I’m clumsy

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5
Q

It costs an arm and a leg

A

It is expensive

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6
Q

to be the apple of someone’s eye

A

to be the most important person. Often said of fathers and daughters.

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7
Q

Break a leg!

A

Good luck!

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8
Q

to bust my chops

A

to scold/ tell me off

US English

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9
Q

by the skin of my teeth

A

to pass narrowly / to be just in time

I passed the exam by the skin of my teeth

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10
Q

to get cold feet

A

to be nervous and want to cancel

Many people get cold feet before a wedding.

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11
Q

cry your heart out

A

cry a lot

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12
Q

face the music

A

deal with bad consequences

I lied to my boss and got found out. Now I have to go to a disciplinary hearing and FACE THE MUSIC.

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13
Q

face the music

A

take responsibility for your mistakes

I lied to my boss and got found out. Now I have to go to a disciplinary hearing and FACE THE MUSIC.

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14
Q

your own flesh and blood

A

your family

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15
Q

get a head start

A

begin before others / begin early

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16
Q

give someone the cold shoulder

A

to ignore someone

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17
Q

give a hand / lend a hand to someone

18
Q

to have eyes in the back of your head

A

to be perceptive and notice things

A good nurse has eyes in the back of their head.

19
Q

to have your head in the clouds

A

to not notice anything

My teenage son has his head in the clouds these days.

20
Q

to be in over your head

A

to not be able to cope.

On my first day in A and E, I felt in over my head!

21
Q

keep an eye on someone / something

A

to watch / monitor

22
Q

keep your chin up!

A

stay positive

23
Q

to keep your head above water

A

to have enough money to survive.

During time of inflation, many families will struggle to keep their head above water.

24
Q

to keep your lips sealed

A

to keep something secret

25
to know by heart
to memorise something
26
to let your hair down
to have fun! At the weekends I let my hair down by going to the pub.
27
Over my dead body
Never! My daughter wanted a tattoo, but I told her 'Over my dead body!'
28
It makes my blood boil!
It makes me angry
29
in the same neck of the woods
in the same area That pub is in my neck of the woods.
30
an old hand
an experienced person That ward sister is an old hand.
31
give someone a pat on the back
to praise someone | Good job!
32
to play something by ear
literally - play music without score To do things without a plan A good doctor doesn't play things by ear.
33
pull someone's leg
to tease or joke with someone I'm pulling your leg. Don't look so serious!
34
rule of thumb
a general rule A rule of thumb is to always consider information even if you don't know what it means.
35
to see eye to eye with someone
to agree
36
to stick your neck out for someone
Help someone even if it harms you. You should stick your neck out for your friends.
37
to have a sweet tooth
to love sweet things
38
tongue in cheek
sarcastically / jokily
39
under the thumb
to be controlled by someone
40
wash my hands of someone/ something
to rid yourself of someone in your life | to abandon a problem
41
it is water off a duck's back
a problem flows away easily
42
thick in the head
stupid