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MG > Body and actions of the body (FUN IDIOMS) > Flashcards

Body and actions of the body (FUN IDIOMS) Flashcards

These are idiomatic phrases you likely recognise. Good for Listening A/B.

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

A

help 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
Q

to know by heart

A

to memorise something

26
Q

to let your hair down

A

to have fun!

At the weekends I let my hair down by going to the pub.

27
Q

Over my dead body

A

Never!

My daughter wanted a tattoo, but I told her ‘Over my dead body!’

28
Q

It makes my blood boil!

A

It makes me angry

29
Q

in the same neck of the woods

A

in the same area

That pub is in my neck of the woods.

30
Q

an old hand

A

an experienced person

That ward sister is an old hand.

31
Q

give someone a pat on the back

A

to praise someone

Good job!

32
Q

to play something by ear

A

literally - play music without score

To do things without a plan

A good doctor doesn’t play things by ear.

33
Q

pull someone’s leg

A

to tease or joke with someone

I’m pulling your leg. Don’t look so serious!

34
Q

rule of thumb

A

a general rule

A rule of thumb is to always consider information even if you don’t know what it means.

35
Q

to see eye to eye with someone

A

to agree

36
Q

to stick your neck out for someone

A

Help someone even if it harms you.

You should stick your neck out for your friends.

37
Q

to have a sweet tooth

A

to love sweet things

38
Q

tongue in cheek

A

sarcastically / jokily

39
Q

under the thumb

A

to be controlled by someone

40
Q

wash my hands of someone/ something

A

to rid yourself of someone in your life

to abandon a problem

41
Q

it is water off a duck’s back

A

a problem flows away easily

42
Q

thick in the head

A

stupid

MG (8 decks)

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