Metaphors and idioms

a thank-you
Example: The party organisers deserve a pat on the

back for a job well done.

(An) old hand
an experienced person
Example: My uncle's an old hand at car repair. He'll know what the problem is.

Over my dead body
not unless I'm dead!
Example: My daughter wants a tattoo. I told her she'd get one over my dead body.

that the students should attend 80% of their lessons

Play something

by ear
do something without a plan
Example: We don't know if the weather will be good enough for camping. We'll have to play it by ear.

Pull one's leg
joke or tease someone
Example: I was just pulling your leg. I'm not really a police officer.

they may be
Example: When I eventually got home I had

to face the music from my parents.

Cost an arm and a leg
be very expensive
Example: These cakes are delicious, but they cost an arm and a leg.

Cry your heart out
cry very hard
Example: I cried my heart out when my best friend moved away.

get cold feet until she put her wedding gown on.
All ears
fully

listening
Example: Give me a minute to finish my work and then I'll be all ears to hear about your project.

Break a leg
good-luck
Example: Good luck for the performance! Break a leg!

listening to me complain about my boss. I just needed

to get it off my chest.
Give a hand, lend a hand
help (someone) do something
Example: I can give you a hand when you move house if you like.
Have one's head in the clouds
be unaware or unrealistic about something
Example: Amy has her head in the clouds if she thinks she's going to pass her exams without studying.

his new girlfriend.
head start
an earlier start
Eample: The kids gave Anthony

a head start in the bicycle race because he was the youngest.
in over one's head
taking on a task that you can't handle
Ex:ample I was in over my head when I agreed to babysit the triplets and the dogs.

protect
Example: I'll keep an eye on the dinner while you're on the

phone.
Keep one's chin up
try to be cheerful
Example: Keep your chin up. I'm sure you'll make some friends soon.
Learn by heart, know by heart
Memorise
Example: I learned English grammar by heart.
Let one's hair down
relax, have fun
Example: Go to the cottage and let your hair down this weekend.

I won't tell your husband how much you spent. My

lips are sealed.
makes my blood boil
makes me very angry
Example: It makes my blood boil when people don't clean up after their dogs.
neck of the wood
nearby location or region
Example: I heard that they might be opening a post office in our neck of the woods soon.

how to train their pets.
(by the) skin of one's teeth
just

barely
Example: I passed my exam by the skin of my teeth.
stick your neck out
help someone a lot, with possible bad consequences for oneself
Example: I stuck my neck out for Bessie when she was in trouble.

three spoonfuls of sugar in my tea. I have a sweet

tooth.
Thick in the head
not very intelligent
Ex: I'm a bit thick in the head when it comes to reading a map.
Wash one's hands of something
stop dealing with an issue or problem
Ex: I'm washing my hands of Mary's addiction. She is going to have to get some professional help.

that





I Cried My Heart Out 
1. Faced

The Music 2. Got Cold Feet 3. Was In Over My Head 4. I Cried My Heart Out

 I cut my own hair because the hairdresser costs 

An Arm and an leg.

1. Pull one’s leg 2. Break a leg 3.An arm and a leg 4.An old hand

c) I'm sure someone will find your kitten.

Keep your chin up

1. My Lips Are Sealed 2. See eye to eye 3. Stick your neck out 4. Keep Your Chin Up

d) I love chocolate. I have a sweet 

Tooth.

1. Mouth 2. Taste 3.Tongue 4.Tooth

e) I'm just       your leg. I didn't really dye my hair blue.

pulling

1. Eating 2. catching 3. Cutting 4. Pulling

f) On the weekends I like to drink wine and 

Let my hair Down

1. Get a head start 2. Get off my chest 3. Keep an eye on 4. Let my hair down

woods for once.
Neck
1. Head 2. Neck 3.Hand 4. Foot
b) We're

going away for the week. Can you keep       on our house?

An eye

1. Your Chin 2. An eye 3. A hair 4. A foot

c) It makes my       when people are rude.

blood boil

1. Hair grow 2. Teeth ache 3. Mouth drop 4. Blood boil

d) I wish I knew his phone number by 

Heart.

1.Mind 2. Heart 3. Nose 4. Eyes

bed was as dry as a bone at the end

of the summer. 
a bone of contention
something that people disagree about
Example: The issue of working on Saturday evenings is a bone of contention between the shop and the workers. 
down to the bone
entirely, to the core
Example: The rain and snow chilled me right down to the bone. 
know (something) in one's bones
to know and sense something, to have an intuition about something
Example: I know it in my bones that I am not going to pass my English exam. 

a busy and stressful time
Example: I was able to breathe

easily again when I knew that I would not miss my flight. 
At the top of one`s lungs
with a very loud voice
Example: I yelled at the top of my lungs to get the man's attention. 
Not breathe a word (about someone or something)
to keep a secret about someone or something
Example: "Please don't breathe a word about my new job to my supervisor." 
Breathe one's last
to die, to breathe one's last breath before dying
Example: The elderly man breathed his last late yesterday evening. 
Don't hold your breath.
Don't stop breathing to wait for something (because it will never happen).
Example: "Don't hold your breath," I said when my friend asked when he would be able to borrow our friend's car. 

(often by standing right behind them), to pressure someone to

do something
Example: My boss has been breathing down my neck all day to pressure me to finish the report. 
dead from the neck up
- to be very stupid
Ex: My boss seems to be dead from the neck up. 
a millstone around (someone's) neck
- a burden or handicap for someone
Ex: My parents' house is a millstone around their neck and they want to sell it
a pain in the neck
- an annoying or bothersome person or event
Ex: Our customer is a pain in the neck and is always complaining about something.
save (someone`s) neck/skin
- to save someone from danger or trouble or embarrassment
Ex: The worker tried to save his own neck without thinking about other people. 

tendency to try to get into a conflict with others
Example:

Our supervisor has a chip on his shoulder and is not an easy person to work with. 
look over one's shoulder
- to be worried that something dangerous or bad may happen to you
Ex: I always look over my shoulder when I am walking alone at night. 
put one's shoulder to the wheel
- to get busy and do some work
Ex: We must put our shoulders to the wheel and get our work done early. 
a shoulder to cry on
- someone to whom you can tell your problems to and then ask for sympathy and advice
Ex: I gave my friend a shoulder to cry on when her boyfriend dumped her. 
straight from the shoulder
- an open and honest way of speaking
Ex: The manager was speaking straight from the shoulder when he told the workers about the factory closing. 

My neighbor is beginning to get under my skin with

her constant complaining. 
jump out of one`s skin
- to be badly frightened, to be very surprised
Example: I almost jumped out of my skin when I saw my boyfriend at the movie theater with another girl. 
skin-deep
- on the surface only, not having any deep or honest meaning
Example: I believe that the speaker's interest in the environment is only skin-deep. 
save (someone`s) skin
- to save someone from danger or trouble or embarrassment
Example: The worker tried to save his own skin without thinking about other people. 
thin-skinned
- easily upset or hurt, very sensitive
Example: My friend is thin-skinned and is always upset about something that someone says to her. 

very much
Example: I cannot stomach the new woman who I

work with. 
eyes are bigger than one's stomach/belly
- taking more food than one can eat
Example: My eyes were bigger than my belly when I went to the buffet table and took too much food. 
turn (someone`s) stomach
- to make someone feel sick, to disgust someone
Example: The sight of the dead dog on the road turned my stomach. 
not have the stomach for (something)
- to have no desire to do something because you think that it is unpleasant or wrong
Example: I do not have the stomach to talk with my friend about his work and financial problems.

or frightened about something
Example: I broke into a cold sweat

when I went to tell my teacher about my mistake. 
by the sweat of one's brow
- by one's hard work or effort
Example: The restaurant owner built his business by the sweat of his brow. 
sweat blood
- to be very anxious and tense about something
Example: I began to sweat blood when I heard that some of our staff may be transferred to another city. 
blood, sweat, and tears
- great personal effort
Example: We put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into fixing our old house. 

brackets: 

1. There is a lot of

between my friend and myself. 

(a) new blood (b) bad blood (c) flesh and blood (d) blood, sweat, and tears

2. The woman her son when he lost his job and needed some money. 

(a)turned her back on (b)sweat it out for (c)got off the back of (d)put her shoulder to the wheel for

3.When I saw the dead horse it  

(a) made my blood boil (b) scratched my back (c) turned my stomach (d) grated on my nerves

4. I cried out to stop the child from running into the street. 

(a) all in one breath (b) in the flesh (c) straight from the shoulder (d) at the top of my lungs

5. It was wet and cold out so when I returned home I was wet

(a) shoulder to shoulder (b) neck and neck (c) to the bone (d) behind my back

bad blood

(anger)

(refused to help)

turned her back on

(made me sick).

turned my stomach

(as loud as possible)

at the top of my lungs

(throughout my body). 

to the bone

to finish

painting her house before it rains. 

(a) breaking into a cold sweat (b) out for blood (c) getting under my skin (d) breaking her neck

7. My supervisor when I was late for the meeting. 

(a) jumped down my throat (b) jumped out of her skin (c) took my breath away (d) risked her neck

8. There was a scandal in the company and the president quickly tried to

(a) save his breath (b) save his neck (c) cut a fine figure (d) throw his weight around

9.The girl never eats and is

(a) skin-deep (b) broad in the beam (c) skin and bones (d) a bundle of nerves

10.My friend never wants to to help others. 

(a) stick his neck out (b) get his back up (c) waste his breath (d) press the flesh

11.He is if he does not take a training course with the other members of the group. 

(a) busting a gut (b) venting his spleen (c) thin-skinned (d) cutting his own throat

(trying her hardest)

breaking her neck

(suddenly became angry at me)

jumped down my throat

(protect himself). 

save his neck

(very skinny). 

skin and bones.

(do anything extra or risky)

stick his neck out

(hurting his own chances)

cutting his own throat

the neck (b) a pat on the back (c) a

stab in the back (d) a breath of fresh air

13.The other runners were during the marathon. 

(a) holding my breath (b) out of breath (c) breathing down my neck (d) sweating blood

14.He gave me when I saw him at the restaurant. 

(a) time to catch my breath (b) the cold shoulder (c) a bone of contention (d) a shoulder to cry on

15.I do not want to have his resignation from the company

(a) off my chest (b) over my dead body (c) in my blood (d) on my shoulders

16.My father is always to help him clean up the yard at home. 

(a) pulling his weight (b) splitting his sides with laughter (c) on my back (d) covering his back

17.The car at the showroom is  

(a) chilled to the bone (b) too rich for my blood (c) a kink in my neck (d) a millstone around my neck

(an obnoxious person). 

a pain in the neck

(following closely behind me)

breathing down my neck

(unfriendly treatment)

the cold shoulder

(as my responsibility). 

on my shoulders

(pressuring me)

on my back

(too expensive for me).

too rich for my blood

 
(a) have my words stick in my throat (b) give

me the shirt off her back (c) land in my lap (d) get on my nerves

19.The two boys were all morning. 

(a) at each other's throats (b) back-to-back (c) soaked to the skin (d) head and shoulders above each other

20.I spent several days my proposal for the new children's playground. 

saying something under my breath for (b) making a clean breast of (c) drawing blood for
(d) putting flesh on

21.When I finally discovered that I had passed the university entrance exam I was able to  

(a) huff and puff (b) breathe easy (c) shoot from the hip (d) breathe my last

22.I was work last night so I could not go to a movie. 

(a) not breathing a word about (b) wetting my whistle with (c) up to my ears in (d) dead from the neck up with

(irritate me).

get on my nerves.

(fighting)

at each other's throats

(adding details to)

putting flesh on

(relax).

breathe easy

(very busy with)

up to my ears in

mood for a tough argument, encounter.
2.Get it off your chest
b.   Be

involved with many projects simultaneously.

3.Have the stomach for a fight

c.   Be sensible, wise, reasonable.

4.Have your finger in many pies.

d.   Disaster, catastrophe

5.Have your head in the clouds

e.   Have a superior attitude towards others.

6.Have your head screwed on (straight)

f.   Lead/advantage

7.Head over heels in love

g.   Listen out for news about something

8.Pig's ear

h.   Try and stay happy and think positively

9.Head start

i.   Negative attitude towards something for no reason

10.Keep your chin up

j.   Not to concentrate, dream about something else.

11.Keep your ear to the ground

k.   Something said only to be polite and keep someone

12.Lip service

l.   Talk to someone to about problem you have

13.Look down your nose at people

m.   Totally in love with someone

ANSWER: (1;i) , (2;l) , (3;a) , (4;b) , (5;j) , (6;c) , (7;m) , (8;d) , (9;f) , (10;h) , (11,g) , (12;k) , (13;e)

the top of my head I can tell you how

many people are in the room.
Roll your eyes
Show that you are bored or disapprove
Example: When she repeatedly spoke about her daughter’s dancing, we all rolled our eyes.
Down in the mouth
In low spirits
Example: She is always down in the mouth when her boyfriend stays out late with his friends.
Buttons yours lip
Don’t let the secret out
Example: Don’t tell anyone about this. Button your lips
Lend me your ear
Listen to me
Example: Could you lend me an ear for a minute?

bank under everybody’s nose.
Lose your heart to
Fall in love with
Ex:

Janet has lost her heart to Ben.
Pull someone’s leg
Trick or joke with someone
Ex: Linda said she wants to marry Nick, but it wasn’t true. She was pulling our leg.
Drag your feet
Work very slowly
Ex: They are supposed to finish painting the room by six, but obviously they won’t. They are dragging their feet.

ear
Off the top of my head
Have a sweet tooth

Button your lips
Roll your eyes
Pull someone’s leg
Down in the mouth
Under one’s nose
Lose your heart to
Drag your feet

Work very slowly
In plain view
To fall in love with
Express boredom
Making a rough guess
Love to eat sweets
Don’t let the secret out
Please, listen to me
Joke, trick someone
In low spirits

ANSWER: (1.h) , (2.e) , (3.f) , (4.g) , (5.d) , (6.i) , (7.j) , (8.b) , (9.c) , (10.a)

hair, face, tooth, eyebrows, tongue, ears, shoulder, stomach
My

are burning.
Bite your
Keep a stiff upper
Let one’s down
Cause to raise
Have a long
One’s eyes are bigger than one’s
Long in the
Give someone the cold
Have one’s in the clouds

ears

tongue

lip

hair

eyebrows

face

stomach

tooth

shoulder

head

down, under, with, over, off, out, at
To be head and

shoulders others
Have one’s head the clouds
Hit the nail the head
the top of one’s head
Be the head of something
Pull the wool someone’s eyes
Cry one’s eyes
Breathe one’s neck
open arms
one’s nose

above

in

on

Off

at

over

out

down

With

Under