Idioms referring to Parts of the Body
The use of body parts to form idioms is also very common. Now, we will take a look at everyday English expressions that refer to body parts:
To have butterflies in one’s stomach
You can use this phrase when you are excited or even in love. It may also represent a sense of fear or anguish. To get “butterflies in the stomach” is a very common expression to describe for nervous excitement.
Feel it in your bones
Do you trust your intuition? Then you are “feeling it in your bones.” You can use this expression for a good or a bad feeling.
Hands down
When someone or something is an undisputed winner, we say that it is the winner “hands down.”
This cost an arm and a leg
You will use this expression when a product or service is pretty expensive: ‘’Do you want a Montblanc pen? They cost an arm and a leg!’’ (Do you want a Montblanc pen? They are very expensive!)
Slap on the wrist
A “slap on the wrist” is a small, but non-physical punishment. For example: ‘’He stole from the Company and just got a warning. It was a slap on the wrist!’’ (He stole from the Company and just got a warning. It was a minimal punishment!)
Get cold feet
The expression “cold feet’’ means that a person has become nervous or afraid of doing something that was already planned. Fox example: “He was planning to ask her out on a date, but got cold feet at the very last minute.”
Have your mind set on something
Is George Harrison your favorite Beatle? Then you will probably have already heard the expression “I’ve got my mind set on you.’’ If you say that you’ve “got your mind set” on something, it means that you have already decided on accomplishing something.
Born with a silver spoon in your mouth
Is synonymous with wealth, It means born into an aristocratic or very rich family: “James doesn’t know anything about working for a living; he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth”.
Skin-deep
Something with a depth measured as only ‘’skin-deep’’ is easy to imagine: it’s superficial, without much importance or significance. You can use this expression as in the following example: ‘’Her interest for politics is only skin-deep.’’ This means her interest in politics is only superficial.
Learn more: 6 Idioms topics in daily life
