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21 September 2007: Body Idioms & Expressions with Foot, Heel and Toe

It is raining in Chester today and the summer has really ended. So we are all beginning to think about settling down to some really hard work and to start thinking about which exams to take in December. The school is a little quieter and there aren't so many people waiting in the computer room to send e-mails to friends and family at home. Angela is still with us and we have a Danish work experience student, Mia, in the office with Sam, Leander, Mathew, Hannah and Karen.

Natalia, who won the Stay in Touch competition this year, starts her two week course on Monday and we are all looking forward to seeing her again. Just think - it could be you next year if you enter and win the 2007 competition, which will be on the website in December. So keep working on your English!

Let's look at idioms to do with the body today. In English we have all kinds of idioms using fingers, hands, bones, toes and we use these all the time.

Exercise 1
Match the expressions with their meanings.
Drag-and-drop your chosen answer into one of the spaces below. Only use each answer once.
to have itchy feet
to get cold feet
to get off on the wrong foot
to land on your feet
to drag your heels
to dig your heels in
to toe the line
to keep someone on their toes
to be hot on the heels of
to dip your toe in the water
MeaningExpression
1:to start a relationship badly
2:to be slow about doing something
3:to make someone concentrate on what they are doing so they are ready to deal with the situation whatever happens
4:to follow someone/something closely
5:to change your mind and no longer want to do something
6:to want to travel all the time and not be able to stay in one place
7:to try something to see if it will be successful or if you will like it
8:to accept the rules and obey people in authority
9:to be determined not to do something you don't really want to do
10:to be very lucky
Drag-and-drop your chosen answer into one of the spaces below. Only use each answer once.
to have itchy feet
to get cold feet
to get off on the wrong foot
to land on your feet
to drag your heels
to dig your heels in
to toe the line
to keep someone on their toes
to be hot on the heels of
to dip your toe in the water
Exercise 2
Complete the sentences by using one of the expressions from above. Don't forget to put the verb in the right tense!
I wish Stella would settle down and get a proper job. She has always   .
I really don't like Peter. I'm afraid that we    and we have never really liked each other.
Paul is so lucky. Fancy inheriting a house worth £1 million. He's really    this time.
Stop   . I know you don't want to do your homework but it has to be done.
I'm not sure I want to live in Kabul now. I think I've   .
The new boss really   . We never know what he is going to ask us to do next.
You don't have to make up your mind immediately. Why don't you just    and see how you feel after a week or so?
When you join the army you are expected   . The officers will not accept any disobedience.
He has really    now. I don't think you will be able to persuade him to change his mind.
The police said that they    the robbers but I have my doubts.

The word this week is tautological, which is a word we use to describe something which is repeated unnecessarily. For example "a big giant" is tautological as all giants are big. It's a nice word, so try to use it.

Have a good week or two and work hard.
Best wishes from all at English in Chester!


Online English Language Practice
Online English Language Practice