A large number of idioms are formed with the names of body parts. Here is a list of them.
Fill in the blanks.
1. If you put your …………………….. foot forward you’ll succeed in the interview.
To put your best foot forward is to make a favorable impression.
2. She has an interview tomorrow and she is pulling her …………………………. out.
To pull your hair out is to be very worried about something
3. Before accepting the job offer, she made it clear that she must have a free …………………………
When you have a free hand you have the power to do what you want.
4. He has no …………………………….. in running the company.
To have a hand in something is to be involved in it.
5. In almost all societies rich people still have the …………………………. hand.
To have the upper hand is to have power and control over someone or a situation.
6. The robbers were caught …………………………… while trying to sell the stolen goodies in the market.
To get caught red-handed is to get caught while doing something illegal or wrong.
7. The old man and his sons work hand in ……………………………..
When two people are hand in glove, they have an extremely close relationship.
8. He got his ……………………… rapped for talking too much in the class.
To rap someone’s knuckles is to give him a light punishment so that he wouldn’t repeat the same offence.
9. So it is your debut tonight. Break a …………………………..
It is a phrase used to wish someone good luck.
10. Don’t believe what he says. He is just pulling your …………………………..
To pull someone’s leg is to subject him / her to a playful joke or hoax.
11. She thought she had got that role but in the end they chose to cast someone else. There’s many a slip twixt .......................................... and lip.
This is an expression used to imply that things can wrong at any time.
12. That thought had never crossed my ……………………………
Answers
- If you put your best foot forward you’ll succeed in the interview.
- She has an interview tomorrow and she is pulling her hair out.
- Before accepting the job offer, she made it clear that she must have a free hand.
- He has no hand in running the company.
- In almost all societies rich people still have the upper hand.
- The robbers were caught red handed while trying to sell the stolen goodies in the market.
- The old man and his sons work hand in glove.
- He got his knuckles rapped for talking too much in the class.
- So it is your debut tonight. Break a leg.
- Don’t believe what he says. He is just pulling your leg.
- She thought she had got that role but in the end they chose to cast someone else. There’s many a slip twixt cup and lip.
- That thought had never crossed my mind.
