English Idioms About Body Parts

A NEC original lesson

I’m all thumbs

I’m all thumbs today; I dropped my favorite vase and it broke into pieces.

•I have 10 thumbs•My vase is slippery•I am clumsy today

Heart to heart

I think my brother is making a bad decision, so we had a heart to heart and I told him what I thought.

•A heart surgery•A conversation about your feelings•I told my brother about my heart problem

Head start•Start before time to start •Start on time•Delayed start

The runner won the race because hw had a head start

Cross your mind•Fly over your head•Think about•Forget

Has it ever crossed your mind that sometimes old people need help to walk cross a road?

Get cold feet

•Need a pair of shoes•Become very happy•Become very scared or nervous

I was going to get married, but I got cold feet and couldn’t do it.

Wrong foot

•Left foot•Right foot•Bad start

I got off on the wrong foot with my new neighbor when my dog ran loose in his yard.

I’m all ears•I want to listen•My ears are too big•I like to watch elephants

When my friend had a problem, I told him, “please tell me your problem, I am all ears.”

Get off my back

•There is a monkey on my back•I need a massage•Stop telling me over and over to do something.

I told my sister to “get off my back” when she kept telling me to take out the garbage

I’m all thumbs = clumsy Heart to heart = deep conversation Head start = start ahead of time Cross your mind = think about Get cold feet = nervous / scared Got off on the wrong foot = bad start I’m all ears= I want to listen Get off my back = stop nagging (telling over and over)

Wrong foot

I’m all ears

Head start

Get cold feet

Cross your mind

Get off my back

Heart to heart

I’m all thumbs

Don’t put words in my mouth

I’m hungry

•I’m hungry•I don’t like words•Don’t try to tell me what I am thinking.

Just because you think you know the answer, don’t put words in my mouth.

Trick up your sleeve•You’re hiding something•You have a different idea to try•There is a bug on your arm

The boy didn’t catch the fish with a hook, but he had another trick up his sleeve; he used a net.

Takes the cake

•Won a cake as a prize•Stole a cake•Is the best yet

Your well written essay takes the cake; it is better than all the rest.

Cost an arm and a leg

•Was very expensive•Had to have surgery•Someone is very strong

The car looks very expensive, it must have cost an arm and a leg.

At the top of your lungs

•I am sick today•To yell very loudly•To yawn very big.

The woman was yelling at the top of her lungs.

Belly up•To go swimming•To try very hard•Something has failed or died

The business failed to make money so it went belly up

Blood sweat and tears•Someone has been hurt•Someone is very hot and sweaty•Someone has worked very hard on something

A lot of blood sweat and tears went into building the Suramado Bridge.

Bright eyed and bushy tailed

•Wide awake and ready to go•Acting like a squirrel•Still sleepy and wanting to sleep in

It was 5:00 in the morning and I was already awake all bright eyed and bushy tailed.

Don’t put words in my mount Something up your sleeve Takes the cake An arm and a leg At the top of your lungs Belly up Blood sweat and tears Bright eyed and bushy tailed

Belly up

Don’t put words in my mouth

I’m hungry

Takes the cake

Trick up your sleeve

At the top of your lungs

Blood sweat and tears

Cost an arm and a leg

Bright eyed and bushy tailed

Thank you!!!Remember to .Practice speaking English.

Mr. Jesse