(as) fit as a fiddle
Meaning: healthy and physically fit.
Example: “In spite of her age, Mary is as fit as a fiddle.”
Focused Idiom Category
Health and Body Idioms
Health and body idioms use physical condition, body parts, illness, strength, pain, breathing, or movement to describe both literal and figurative experiences. Many of these expressions refer to the head, heart, hands, feet, eyes, or bones while actually communicating ideas about attention, memory, courage, agreement, exhaustion, or behaviour. This page keeps that bodily image at the centre of the category, rather than mixing in every idiom that happens to mention a person. Short meanings allow quick comparison, and each entry includes an example sentence plus clear category details on the same page. The A–Z navigation helps users reach a specific expression, while related sections connect naturally to emotions, everyday life, and problems. The collection is useful for English learners who regularly encounter body-based figurative language in conversation, news, stories, and workplace communication.
77Relevant idioms
A
A Idioms
4 entriesall ears (and eyes)
Meaning: listening eagerly and carefully.
Example: “I’m all ears.”
all thumbs
Meaning: very awkward and clumsy, especially with one’s hands.
Example: “He’s all thumbs.”
armed to the teeth
Meaning: heavily armed with weapons.
Example: “The bank robber was armed to the teeth when he was caught.”
B
B Idioms
2 entriesbabe in arms
Meaning: an innocent or naive person.
Example: “He’s a babe in arms when it comes to taking girls out.”
bite the hand that feeds one
Meaning: to do harm to someone who does good things for you.
Example: “How can you bite the hand that feeds you?”
C
C Idioms
6 entriescall of nature
Meaning: the need to go to the lavatory.
Example: “I have to answer the call of nature.”
can’t see beyond the end of one’s nose
Meaning: unaware of and uncaring for the things which might happen in the future; not far-sighted.
Example: “He can’t see beyond the end of his nose.”
can’t see one’s hand in front of one’s face
Meaning: unable to see very far, usually owing to darkness or fog.
Example: “It was so dark that I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face.”
catch one’s breath
Meaning: to resume one’s normal breathing after exertion; to return to normal after being busy or very active.
Example: “I ran so fast that it took me ten minutes to catch my breath.”
catch someone’s eye
Meaning: to establish eye contact with someone; to attract someone’s attention.
Example: “Try and catch the barman’s eye.”
chance one’s arm
Meaning: to do something risky or dangerous.
Example: “He certainly chanced his arm when he was rude to the boss’s wife.”
D
D Idioms
4 entriesdaily dozen
Meaning: physical exercises done every day.
Example: “My brother always feels better after his daily dozen.”
dead to the world
Meaning: sleeping very soundly.
Example: “He spent the whole plane journey dead to the world.”
die of a broken heart
Meaning: to die of emotional distress, especially grief over a lost love.
Example: “They say she died of a broken heart.”
do an about-face
Meaning: to make a total reversal of opinion or action.
Example: “Without warning, the government did an about-face on taxation.”
E
E Idioms
1 entriesexpecting (a child)
Meaning: pregnant.
Example: “Tommy’s mother is expecting a child.”
F
F Idioms
7 entriesface the music
Meaning: to receive punishment; to accept the unpleasant results of one’s actions.
Example: “Mary broke a dining-room window and had to face the music when her father got home.”
face value
Meaning: outward appearance; what something first appears to be.
Example: “Don’t just accept her offer at face value.”
feel fit
Meaning: to feel well and healthy.
Example: “If you want to feel fit, you must eat the proper food and get enough rest.”
feel like a million dollars
Meaning: to feel well and healthy, both physically and mentally.
Example: “A quick swim in the morning makes me feel like a million dollars.”
feel like a new person
Meaning: to feel refreshed and renewed, especially after getting well or getting dressed up.
Example: “I bought a new suit, and now I feel like a new person.”
find it in one’s heart to do something
Meaning: to have the courage or compassion to do something; to persuade oneself to do something.
Example: “She couldn’t find it in her heart to refuse to come home to him.”
find one’s feet
Meaning: to become used to a new situation or experience.
Example: “She was lonely at first when she left home, but she is finding her feet now.”
G
G Idioms
8 entriesbill of health
Meaning: to pronounce someone well and healthy.
Example: “The doctor gave Sally a clean bill of health.”
butterflies in one’s stomach
Meaning: to cause someone to have a nervous stomach.
Example: “Exams give me butterflies in my stomach.”
get a black eye
Meaning: to get a bruise near the eye from being struck.
Example: “I got a black eye from walking into a door.”
get a clean bill of health
Meaning: to be pronounced healthy by a doctor.
Example: “Sally got a clean bill of health from the doctor.”
get a lump in one’s throat
Meaning: to have the feeling of something in one’s throat—as if one were going to cry; to become emotional or sentimental.
Example: “Whenever they play the national anthem, I get a lump in my throat.”
get back on one’s feet
Meaning: to become independent again; to become able to move around again.
Example: “He was sick for a while, but now he’s getting back on his feet.”
get butterflies in one’s stomach
Meaning: to get a nervous feeling in one’s stomach.
Example: “Whenever I have to go on stage, I get butterflies in my stomach.”
get in someone’s hair
Meaning: to bother or irritate someone.
Example: “Billy is always getting in his mother’s hair.”
H
H Idioms
9 entrieshale and hearty
Meaning: well and healthy.
Example: “Doesn’t Ann look hale and hearty after the baby’s birth?”
hand in glove (with someone)
Meaning: very close to someone.
Example: “John is really hand in glove with Sally, although they pretend to be on different sides.”
hand it to someone
Meaning: give credit to someone, often with some reluctance.
Example: “I must hand it to you.”
hand over fist
Meaning: to be exchanged very rapidly.
Example: “We took in money hand over fist.”
hand over hand
Meaning: [moving] one hand after the other.
Example: “Sally pulled in the rope hand over hand.”
hand-me-down
Meaning: something, such as an article of used clothing, which has been “handed down,” or given, to someone because another person no longer needs it.
Example: “Why do I always have to wear my brother’s hand-me-downs?”
hang by a hair and hang by a thread
Meaning: to be in an uncertain position; to depend on something very insubstantial.
Example: “Your whole argument is hanging by a thread.”
have a big mouth
Meaning: to be a gossiper; to be a person who tells secrets.
Example: “Mary has a big mouth.”
have a bone to pick (with someone)
Meaning: to have a matter to discuss with someone; to have something to argue about with someone.
Example: “I’ve got a bone to pick with you.”
J
J Idioms
2 entriesjump down someone’s throat and jump on someone
Meaning: to scold someone severely.
Example: “If I disagree with them, my parents will jump down my throat.”
jump out of one’s skin
Meaning: to react strongly to shock or surprise.
Example: “I nearly jumped out of my skin.”
K
K Idioms
6 entrieskeep a stiff upper lip
Meaning: to be cool and unmoved by unsettling events.
Example: “John always keeps a stiff upper lip.”
keep a straight face
Meaning: to make one’s face stay free from laughter or smiling.
Example: “It’s hard to keep a straight face when someone tells a funny joke.”
keep an eye out (for someone or something)
Meaning: to watch for the arrival or appearance of someone or something.
Example: “Please keep an eye out for the bus.”
keep body and soul together
Meaning: to feed, clothe, and house oneself.
Example: “I hardly have enough money to keep body and soul together.”
keep one’s eye on the ball
Meaning: to remain alert to the events occurring around one.
Example: “If you want to get along in this office, you’re going to have to keep your eye on the ball.”
keep one’s hand in (something)
Meaning: to retain one’s control of something.
Example: “I want to keep my hand in the business.”
L
L Idioms
2 entriesby heart
Meaning: to know something perfectly; to have memorized something perfectly.
Example: “I know my speech by heart.”
land a blow (somewhere)
Meaning: to strike someone or something with the hand or fist.
Example: “Bill landed a blow on Tom’s chin.”
M
M Idioms
2 entriesmake eyes at someone
Meaning: to flirt with someone.
Example: “Tom spent all afternoon making eyes at Ann.”
make no bones about something
Meaning: to have no hesitation in saying or doing something; to be open about something.
Example: “Fred made no bones about his dislike of games.”
N
N Idioms
5 entriesnaked eye
Meaning: the human eye, unassisted by optics such as a telescope, microscope, or spectacles.
Example: “I can’t see the bird’s markings with the naked eye.”
near the bone and near the knuckle
Meaning: coming too close to mentioning something which should not be mentioned, for example because it might hurt or offend someone.
Example: “Jack’s remark about prisons was a bit near the bone.”
neck and neck
Meaning: exactly even, especially in a race or a contest.
Example: “John and Tom finished the race neck and neck.”
neither hide nor hair
Meaning: no sign or indication.
Example: “We could find neither hide nor hair of him.”
no skin off someone’s nose
Meaning: no difficulty for someone; no concern of someone.
Example: “It’s no skin off my nose if she wants to act that way.”
O
O Idioms
4 entriesoff colour
Meaning: not very well; slightly ill.
Example: “Mary is a bit off colour after the long journey.”
old hand at doing something
Meaning: someone who is experienced at doing something.
Example: “I’m an old hand at fixing clocks.”
on all fours
Meaning: on one’s hands and knees.
Example: “I dropped a contact lens and spent an hour on all fours looking for it.”
one’s eyes are bigger than one’s stomach
Meaning: to take more food than one can eat.
Example: “I’m afraid that my eyes were bigger than my stomach when I ordered.”
P
P Idioms
2 entriespain in the neck
Meaning: a bother; an annoyance.
Example: “This assignment is a pain in the neck.”
pale around the gills and green around the gills; green about the gills
Meaning: looking sick.
Example: “John is looking a little pale around the gills.”
R
R Idioms
2 entriesrear its ugly head
Meaning: to appear or become obvious after lying hidden.
Example: “Jealousy reared its ugly head and destroyed their marriage.”
receive someone with open arms and welcome someone with open arms
Meaning: to welcome someone eagerly.
Example: “They received us with open arms.”
S
S Idioms
4 entriessafe and sound
Meaning: safe and whole or healthy.
Example: “It was a rough trip, but we got there safe and sound.”
save one’s breath
Meaning: to refrain from talking, explaining, or arguing.
Example: “Save your breath.”
save someone’s skin
Meaning: to save someone from injury, embarrassment, or punishment.
Example: “I saved my skin by getting the job done on time.”
see eye to eye (about something) and see eye to eye (on something)
Meaning: to view something in the same way.
Example: “John and Ann never see eye to eye about anything.”
T
T Idioms
2 entriestake leave of one’s senses
Meaning: to become irrational.
Example: “Have you taken leave of your senses?”
take something to heart
Meaning: to take something very seriously.
Example: “John took the criticism to heart and made an honest effort to improve.”
U
U Idioms
1 entriesup in arms
Meaning: rising up in anger.
Example: “The citizens were up in arms, pounding on the gates of the palace, demanding justice.”
W
W Idioms
4 entrieswalls have ears
Meaning: we may be overheard.
Example: “Walls have ears, you know.”
warm the cockles of someone’s heart
Meaning: to make someone feel pleased and happy.
Example: “It warms the cockles of my heart to hear you say that.”
with all one’s heart and soul
Meaning: very sincerely.
Example: “Oh Bill, I love you with all my heart and soul, and I always will!”
with every other breath
Meaning: saying something repeatedly or continually.
Example: “Bob was out in the garden raking leaves and cursing with every other breath.”
Helpful Answers
Frequently asked questions
What are body idioms?
Body idioms are expressions that use body parts or physical conditions to communicate a figurative meaning.
Are all health idioms medical?
No. Many use health or anatomy as imagery for attention, emotion, effort, agreement, courage, or personal behaviour.
Can these idioms be misunderstood literally?
Yes, especially by learners. Reading the meaning and example together makes the intended non-literal use clear.
Are body idioms common in conversation?
Very common. English frequently uses references to the head, heart, hands, feet, eyes, and other body parts.
How should teachers present them?
Group idioms by body part or function, explain the figurative meaning, and ask learners to create realistic situations for each one.
