Idiom Category: Body and bodily functions, Page 5

Hollow leg

Someone who has a hollow leg eats what seems to be more than his stomach can hold.

Home is where you lay your hat

Wherever you are comfortable and at ease with yourself is your home, regardless where you were born or brought up.('Home is where you lay your head'  and 'Home is where you hang your hat' are also used.)

Hot foot

If you hot foot it out of a place, you leave very quickly, often running.

Hot-blooded

Someone who is hot-blooded is easily excitable or passionate.

Hot-headed

A hot-headed person gets angry very easily. (The noun 'hothead' can also be used.)

I've got a bone to pick with you

If somebody says this, they mean that they have some complaint to make against the person they are addressing.

In a heartbeat

If something happens very quickly or immediately, it happens in a heartbeat.

In cold blood

If something is done in cold blood, it is done ruthlessly, without any emotion.

In one ear and out the other

If something goes in one ear and out the other, you forget it as soon as you've heard it because it was too complicated, boring etc.

In over your head

If someone is in over their head, they are out of the depth in something they are involved in, and may end up in a mess.

In that vein

If you do something in that (or this) vein, you do it in the same distinctive manner or style.

In the face of

If people act in the face of something, they do it despite it or when threatened by it.

In the flesh

If you meet or see someone in the flesh you actually meet or see them, rather than seeing them on TV or in other media.

In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king

If surrounded by people less capable or able, someone who would not normally be considered special can shine.

In the lap of luxury

People in the lap of luxury are very wealthy and have have everything that money can buy.

In the twinkling of an eye

If something happens in the twinkling of an eye, it happens very quickly.

In your blood

A trait or liking that is deeply ingrained in someone's personality and unlikely to change is in their blood.  A similar idiom is 'in his DNA.'

In your face

If someone is in your face, they are direct and confrontational. (It is sometime written 'in yer face'colloquially)

Iron fist

Someone who rules or controls something with an iron fist is in absolute control and tolerates no dissent. An iron fist in a velvet glove is used to describe someone who appears soft on the outside, but underneath is very hard. 'Mailed fist' is an alternative form.

It cost an arm and a leg

If something costs an arm and a leg, it is very expensive indeed.

Itchy feet

One gets itchy feet when one has been in one place for a time and wants to travel.

Joined at the hip

If people are joined at the hip, they are very closely connected and think the same way.

Jump down someone's throat

If you jump down someone's throat, you criticise or chastise them severely.

Keep a straight face

If you keep a straight face,  look serious and do not laugh even though you want to.

Keep an eye out

If you keeep an eye out for something, you are watching carefully to see if it happens.

Keep body and soul together

If you earn enough to cover your basic expenses, but nothing more than that, you earn enough to keep body and soul together.

Keep someone at arm's length

If you keep someone or something at arm's length, you keep a safe distance away from them.

Keep someone on their toes

If you keep someone on their toes, you make sure that they concentrate on what they are supposed to do.

Keep your chin up

(UK) This expression is used to tell someone to have confidence.

Keep your ear to the ground

If you keep your ear to the ground, you try to keep informed about something, especially if there are rumours or uncertainties.

Keep your eye on the prize

This means that you should keep your focus on achieving a positive end result.

Keep your eyes peeled

If you keep your eyes peeled, you stay alert or watchful.

Keep your fingers crossed

If you are keeping your fingers crossed, you are hoping for a positive outcome.

Keep your hair on

Keep your hair on is advice telling someone to keep calm and not to over-react or get angry.

Keep your head

If you keep your head, you stay calm in times of difficulty.

Keep your head above water

If you are just managing to survive financially, you are keeping your head above water.

Keep your nose clean

If someone is trying to keep their Nose Clean, they are trying to stay out of trouble by not getting involved in any sort of wrong-doing.

Keep your nose to the grindstone

If you keep your nose to the grindstone, you work hard and seriously.

Kick in the teeth

Bad news or a sudden disappointment are a kick in the teeth.

Knee-jerk reaction

A knee-jerk reaction is an instant, instinctive response to a situation.

Knit your brows

If you knit your brows, you frown or look worried.

Knock something on the head

If you knock something on the head, you stop it or stop doing it.

Lead with the chin

If someone leads with their chin, they speak or behave without fear of the consequences.

Left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing

If the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing, then communication within a company, organisation, group, etc, is so bad that people don't know what the others are doing.

Left-handed compliment

A left-handed compliment is one that sounds like praise but has an insulting meaning. ('Backhanded compliment' is an alternative form.)

Lend an ear

If you lend an ear, you listen to what someone has to say. ('Lend your ear' is an alternative form.)

Let your hair down

If someone lets their hair down, they relax and stop feeling inhibited or shy.

Light on your feet

If someone is light on their feet, they can move quickly and are agile.

Like pulling teeth

If something if like pulling teeth, it is very difficult, especially if trying to extract information or to get a straight answer from someone.

Like the back of your hand

If you know something like the back of your hand, you know it very well indeed.

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