pull someone's leg
To joke with someone by telling them something untrue, just for fun.
Example: Relax, I was only pulling your leg.
B114 words · Intermediate
Body Idioms vocabulary — B1
Body idioms for describing feelings and reactions, with phrases like get cold feet, cost an arm and a leg and wear your heart on your sleeve.
14 questions
Words in this set
14get cold feet
To suddenly feel nervous or have doubts right before doing something important.
Example:
He almost cancelled the wedding after getting cold feet.
keep a straight face
To avoid smiling or laughing, even when something is funny.
Example:
I could barely keep a straight face during his impression.
have your hands full
To be extremely busy, with too many tasks to manage at once.
Example:
With three kids and a new puppy, she really has her hands full.
under your nose
Right in front of you, in plain sight, yet somehow unnoticed.
Example:
The keys were under my nose the whole time.
twist someone's arm
To persuade someone to do something they were originally reluctant to do.
Example:
I didn't want to go, but she twisted my arm.
cost an arm and a leg
To be extremely expensive.
Example:
That new laptop cost an arm and a leg.
lend an ear
To listen kindly to someone who wants to talk about a problem.
Example:
Thanks for lending an ear while I complained about work.
wear your heart on your sleeve
To show your feelings openly instead of hiding them.
Example:
He wears his heart on his sleeve, so you always know his mood.
put your best foot forward
To try as hard as you can to make a good impression.
Example:
Remember to put your best foot forward at the interview.
head over heels
Completely in love.
Example:
They were head over heels within a fortnight of meeting.
a big mouth
A tendency to say things that should be kept private.
Example:
She has a big mouth and everyone knows it, including her.
keep your chin up
To stay cheerful in a difficult situation.
Example:
He told her to keep your chin up and she nearly hit him.
shake a leg
To hurry up.
Example:
Somebody had better shake a leg or we will miss the last train.
