Body Idioms — Idioms
Eyes, ears, shoulders, and legs — the body teaches the language. · 10 idioms · Level B1
keep an eye on
Meaning: to watch and take care of something or someone
neutral watching, responsibility
Example: Keep an eye on the kids while I cook.
A Keep an eye on my bag?
B Sure — go grab your coffee.
⚠️ Common mistake: Keep an eye ON — one eye is enough for this idiom (never 'eyes').
lend an ear
Meaning: to listen sympathetically
neutral supportive listening
Example: She always lends an ear when friends are in trouble.
A Can you lend an ear?
B Always. Start from the beginning.
⚠️ Common mistake: Lend an ear — one ear, lent not given: you'll get it back after the story.
all ears
Meaning: fully listening and very interested
informal inviting stories
Example: Tell us about the trip — we're all ears.
A I'm all ears — what happened?
B The pilot announced a surprise landing in Hawaii!
⚠️ Common mistake: All ears — you ARE all ears (your whole body became ears). Needs a form of 'be': I'm all ears.
have your hands full
Meaning: to be very busy with many responsibilities
neutral busy lives, parenting
Example: With three kids and a shop, she has her hands full.
A You have your hands full today.
B Two toddlers and a deadline. Send coffee.
⚠️ Common mistake: Have your hands FULL (not 'full hands') — full of tasks, babies, boxes.
give the cold shoulder
Meaning: to deliberately ignore someone or treat them coldly
neutral social rejection
Example: After the argument, she gave him the cold shoulder for a week.
A She's giving me the cold shoulder.
B Apologize for the comment. Today.
⚠️ Common mistake: Give SOMEONE the cold shoulder — a turned shoulder says everything.
have a sweet tooth
Meaning: to love sweet food
informal food preferences
Example: He has a sweet tooth — dessert is his favorite meal.
A You have a sweet tooth, admit it.
B The cake drawer at work knows my name.
⚠️ Common mistake: Have A sweet tooth (singular tooth for all sweets!) — sweet tooths is wrong and funny.
a big mouth
Meaning: a tendency to talk too much or reveal secrets
informal teasing, gossip warnings
Example: He has a big mouth — never tell him a secret.
A Careful — he has a big mouth.
B Then the surprise stays between us.
⚠️ Common mistake: A big mouth is teasing-dangerous: said about blabbermouths, rarely to their faces kindly.
cost an arm and a leg
Meaning: to be extremely expensive
informal complaining about prices
Example: College textbooks cost an arm and a leg.
A The repair cost an arm and a leg.
B Worth it for safe brakes, though.
⚠️ Common mistake: Cost AN arm and A leg — both articles, both limbs. Pure exaggeration for shocking prices.
break a leg
Meaning: good luck (especially before a performance)
informal theater, performances, exams
Example: Break a leg tonight — you'll be amazing on stage!
A Break a leg up there!
B Thanks — see you after the show.
⚠️ Common mistake: Break a leg means GOOD LUCK — theater superstition avoids saying 'good luck' directly.
pull someone's leg
Meaning: to tease or joke with someone by lying playfully
informal jokes, teasing
Example: Relax — I'm just pulling your leg, the test is next week.
A Are you pulling my leg?
B Guilty. Your face was priceless.
⚠️ Common mistake: Pull SOMEONE'S leg — playful deception: I'm pulling your leg = I'm joking!
Practice
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