Idioms with body parts can be hard to understand if you have never heard them before! But, we use them in all kinds of situations in English.
Below you’ll find idioms involving parts of the body that can be used to talk about work, relationships, illnesses, and a whole lot more.
This list of common body idioms includes definitions and example sentences so you can become more familiar with how to use them, too.
Body idioms involving the back
Of all the idioms with body parts, a lot of them mention the back:
Pat on the back
When you give someone a pat on the back you congratulate them or give them praise for something. This idiom is often used reflexively.
“You did a great job today; give yourself a pat on the back.”
On someone’s back
To be on someone’s back is to be harassing or criticizing someone about something (usually a problem). To get off someone’s back means to cease this action.
We can also talk about having someone on your back and getting someone off your back.
“She’s constantly got someone on her back asking for changes to the computer system.”
“Finally, I’ve finished this proposal. That should get my boss off my back for a while.”
Behind someone’s back
Something done behind someone’s back is done in secret from them even though it affects them.
“I just found out my wife has been seeing someone else behind my back.”
Stab someone in the back
If you stab someone in the back, you betray someone or secretly do harm to someone who trusted you.
“I hope I never get stabbed in the back by one of my friends.”
For most people this is just another body idiom, but for some it may have more sinister undertones.
Turn your back on
To turn your back on someone or something means to abandon or refuse to help.
“He turned his back on the group when they most needed him.”
Cover your back (or ass)
To cover your back (slang: cover your ass) means to make sure you won’t be blamed if something goes wrong.
“After a phone conversation you should put everything in writing and send it to the other person for agreement to cover your back.”
More idioms with body parts
There are plenty of other idioms involving different parts of the body:
Butterflies in your stomach
If you’re nervous about something then you might get butterflies in your stomach. This describes the nervous (sometimes excited) feeling you get in your stomach.
“I get butterflies in my stomach just thinking about having to give my best man’s speech.”
We have listed a lot more animal idioms in our separate guide.
At each other’s throats
Two people who are always at each other’s throats are quarreling or bickering all the time.
“Why are you and your brother always at each other’s throats? Can’t you play nicely for once?”
At the top of your lungs
If you shout or scream at the top of your lungs, you do it as loudly as you possibly can.
“I had to shout at the top of my lungs to get the kids’ attention.”
Raise eyebrows
To raise eyebrows is to cause shock, surprise or disapproval through your actions. You can also raise your eyebrows in judgment of someone else’s actions.
“I think you’re going to raise a few eyebrows if you wear that dress to dinner tonight.”
“I couldn’t help but raise my eyebrows when Jedd told me he wanted to propose to Alex.”
Learn more about when to use rise and raise.
Get on someone’s nerves
If something or someone gets on your nerves, you find it or them annoying or irritating.
“It really gets on my nerves when people talk loudly on their phones in public.”
Make someone’s blood boil
To make someone’s blood boil means to make them very angry or irate.
“It makes my blood boil when people show no respect for others around them.”
This is much worse than just getting on their nerves.
Check out more idioms for anger and annoyance here.
Bone of contention
If you have a bone of contention with someone then there is something causing disagreement or conflict between you.
“There has always been a bone of contention between my mother-in-law and me over how I raise my children.”
Breathe down someone’s neck
The body idiom to breathe down someone’s neck means to watch and monitor them very closely, usually in an annoying way.
“I can’t relax at work when I have my boss constantly breathing down my neck.”
Having someone breathing down your neck is similar to having someone on your back.
Pick someone’s brains
No, we’re not talking about surgery here. To pick someone’s brains means to ask them for their opinion or advice on a particular topic, especially when they are more knowledgeable about it than you are.
“Do you mind if I pick your brains for a moment about the fundraiser?”
This can also be used as an idiom about learning when you are studying a new topic.
Hold your breath
The phrase hold your breath, as well as its literal meaning, can mean to wait expectantly for something that may not happen. It’s usually used in a negative statement.
“I’m hoping it will be sunny at the weekend but I won’t hold my breath.”
Eyes bigger than your stomach
If you have eyes bigger than your stomach then you think you can eat more than you can, usually resulting in leftover food.
“Marco has eyes bigger than his stomach when we eat out; he orders more than he can possibly eat.”
Check out our separate article about face idioms featuring eyes, ears, teeth, and more.
Frog in your throat
When you have a frog in your throat, you are unable to speak clearly, either through illness or nervousness.
“I always get a frog in my throat when I have to speak in public.”
Give someone the cold shoulder
When you give someone the cold shoulder you behave in an unfriendly manner or show no interest in someone.
“Every time I see her she gives me the cold shoulder but I don’t know why.”
Discover some more cool idioms using ‘cold’ here!
Gut feeling / reaction / response
A gut feeling is an intuitive sense that you personally have. We also talk about a gut reaction or gut response. It’s the thing that you instinctively feel.
“My gut feeling is that we should hold off on investing for a few more weeks.”
Have your hands tied
To have your hands tied means to be prevented from doing something.
“I’m afraid the CEO has made the decision already so my hands are tied.”
See eye to eye
To see eye to eye with someone means to be in agreement or to have similar attitudes and beliefs. It’s often used in the negative sense.
“I often don’t see eye to eye with my boss, but I just keep quiet and get on with the job.”
This one makes it onto our list of Biblical idioms too, since it originates from a Bible verse.
Head and shoulders above
If something or someone is head and shoulders above others, it means it or they are significantly better than other similar people or things.
“We chose this car because its performance is head and shoulders above the others in the same price bracket.”
Joined at the hip
When we say that two people are joined at the hip, it means that they are always together and very closely connected.
“Julia and Eliza have been joined at the hip ever since they met.”
You could use this idiom to describe two people who are in love and spend every moment together. Discover more love idioms here!
Neck and neck
If two people or teams are neck and neck in a race or contest, it means they are exactly equal in position or standing.
“The two leading teams are neck and neck as we enter the final round.”
Get something off your chest
To get something off your chest means to tell someone something that you have been holding in for a while.
“Are you OK? You look like you need to get something off your chest.”
You’ll probably feel better after you have got something off your chest.
Have two left feet
It’s reassuring to know that idioms shouldn’t be taken literally! If someone says you have two left feet, it means you are a bad dancer; probably because you lack coordination and rhythm.
“I don’t enjoy going to nightclubs. I have two left feet, so I always end up standing awkwardly in the corner.”
Would you like to learn some more idioms about dancing?
Over my dead body
The expression over my dead body is used to say that you will do everything possible to prevent something from happening.
“Do you really think you’re going out looking like that? Over my dead body!”
The implication is that after you die you will no longer be able to prevent this thing from happening – but until then, you’ll oppose it.
Rub elbows / shoulders
When you rub elbows or shoulders with someone you socialize or mix with them.
“They spent the evening rubbing elbows with some of the country’s freshest young talent.”
I hope this list of idioms with body parts was useful, and you learned something new about how to use them. Are there any other body idioms that you have seen or heard people using? Please leave a comment below to share them.
