In English we have a lot of idioms which use different parts of the body. By using idioms you can show you have a more natural English and it can enrich your English vocabulary and help you sound like a native English speaker. Here I have compiled some exercises that look at some of the most useful and most common English idioms that use body parts. Have a go at the exercises then check out the meanings. You can check your answers at the bottom of this blog post.

 

English Idioms: Body Parts (Definitions)

Complete the sentences below with one of the words from the box. You may repeat the words.

     A.

1. If you bite your ____________, you stop yourself from saying something.
2. If you put your ____________ up, you sit down and relax.
3. If you give someone a ____________, you help them.
4. If you are pulling someone’s ____________, you are joking or not being serious about something.
5. If you say you are all ____________, it means you are listening to them and paying your full attention.
6. If you cry your ____________ out, it means that you cry a lot.
7. If someone does something or talks to someone behind your ____________, they do or say something unkind without the person knowing what they are doing.
8. If a situation gets out of ____________, it gets out of control.
9. If you turn a blind ____________, you know people are doing something they shouldn’t, but you choose to ignore it.
10. If you try to catch someone’s ____________, you try to get their attention.
11. If something costs an ____________ and a ____________, it is very expensive.
12. If you make or pull a ____________, your facial expression shows you don’t like something.

 

English Idioms: Body Parts (Exercises)

Now try to put the expressions in the following sentences. You may need to change some words for example subjects or the tense of the verb etc. You can check the answers at the bottom of the blog.

 

     B.

1. I wanted to go to the Caribbean with my friends, but the trip ____________. I just can’t afford it.
2. My teenage daughter ____________ as I placed the plate of vegetables in front of her.
3. I am furious with my colleague. He ____________ to my boss ____________ and now he is in charge of the project.
4. The film was a tragic love story. I ____________ when I watched it.
5. My son had a house party when we were away and it ____________ and the police arrived.
6. I have an employee that always arrives late, but I ____________ as he is a very good worker.
7. Anne would you mind ____________ with my homework? I am having problems with the third question.
8. I can’t wait to hear what you have to say about the project. I ____________!
9. I tried to ____________ the waiter’s ____________, but he just kept ignoring me. He was obviously too busy.
10. Tom was really upset and wanted to tell Jane exactly what he thought of her, but he decided to ____________ instead.
11. When I get home I am going to ____________ and have a nice cup of tea.
12. James: Is that really your Porsche or are you ____________?

      Mike: No it’s mine….seriously, I bought it last week.

 

I hope you enjoyed the exercises. Keep an eye out for more blog posts on idioms because remember that learning idiomatic expressions helps non-native speakers become more fluent, and sound more native-like. Try using some of the expressions next time you meet up with someone to speak English!

 

Also, feel free to contact me if you have any doubts or have any other types of idioms you would like to see on this blog.

 

Answers

1.  

1. tongue
2. feet
3. hand
4. leg
5. ears
6. eyes
7. back
8. hand
9. eye
10. eye
11. arm, leg
12. face

 

 

     B.

1. costs an arm and a leg / is going to cost an arm and a leg
2. pulled / made a face
3. talked…. behind my back
4. cried my eyes out
5. got out of hand
6. turn a blind eye
7. giving me a hand
8. am all ears
9. catch…. eye
10. bite his tongue
11. put my feet up
12. pulling my leg