put your foot in your mouth
To say something embarrassing or tactless without meaning to.
Example: I really put my foot in my mouth when I asked about her ex.
B216 words · Upper-intermediate
Body Idioms vocabulary — B2
Body idioms for describing agreement, conflict and risk, with phrases like see eye to eye, get under someone's skin and stick your neck out.
16 questions
Words in this set
16get something off your chest
To finally relieve yourself of a worry by telling someone about it.
Example:
I need to get this off my chest — I broke your favourite mug.
see eye to eye
To agree completely with someone about something.
Example:
My brother and I don't always see eye to eye about politics.
rule of thumb
A simple, practical guideline based on experience rather than exact measurement.
Example:
As a general rule of thumb, add one extra guest's worth of food to any party.
give someone the cold shoulder
To deliberately ignore someone or treat them in an unfriendly way.
Example:
Ever since the argument, she's been giving him the cold shoulder.
have a change of heart
To alter your opinion or decision about something, often unexpectedly.
Example:
She almost sold the house, but then had a change of heart.
have your head in the clouds
To be distracted by daydreams, not paying attention to what is really happening.
Example:
Pay attention — you've had your head in the clouds all lesson.
have an ear for something
To possess a natural ability to notice and understand something well, especially music or language.
Example:
She has an ear for accents and can copy them perfectly.
get under someone's skin
To annoy someone persistently, or to become someone's constant, deep interest.
Example:
His constant complaining really gets under my skin.
keep a cool head
To stay calm and think clearly in a stressful or difficult situation.
Example:
The pilot kept a cool head during the emergency landing.
a knee-jerk reaction
An immediate response made without thinking.
Example:
Banning it was a knee-jerk reaction and it solved nothing.
an iron fist
Very strict and harsh control.
Example:
The department was run with an iron fist for two decades.
have your hands tied
To be unable to act because of rules or circumstances.
Example:
The manager would like to help but she has have your hands tied.
put your back into it
To use all your physical effort.
Example:
If everyone would put your back into it the van would move.
stick your neck out
To take a risk by saying or doing something unpopular.
Example:
Somebody had to stick your neck out and question the figures.
get your teeth into
To start working on something with real energy.
Example:
She wanted a project she could get your teeth into.
