Idioms and Expressions, List 3

Prepare for the TOEFL Exam by practicing this list that focuses on idioms and expressions that relate to bodies and body parts.
15 words 101 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. bare bones
    (plural) the most basic facts or elements
    While the technologies may be bare bones, their impact is far-reaching. Forbes (Dec 20, 2013)
  2. cold feet
    timidity preventing the continuation of a course of action
    When we were almost next, the little girl in front of us got cold feet about going down the tall slide, so she turned around to let us pass. Auggie & Me
  3. cold shoulder
    a refusal to recognize someone you know
    I was prepared for his wrath, but the cold shoulder stings more. Love, Hate & Other Filters
  4. cold-blooded
    without regret, sympathy, or human feeling
    “You need to accept it. It may sound callous, cold-blooded, but you will never see Jermaine again. At least, not in this life.” The Stars Beneath Our Feet
  5. in cold blood
    in an insensitive, unemotional manner
    But she was upset by the idea of killing the rabbit in cold blood. Watership Down: A Novel
  6. half-hearted
    feeling or showing little interest or enthusiasm
    He made a half-hearted attempt to catch up, then slowed down, turned and made off in the opposite direction. 1984
  7. neck and neck
    even or close in a race or competition or comparison
    He was still neck and neck with the other kid. Patina
  8. pain in the neck
    something or someone that causes trouble
    Maybe it wouldn’t hurt if she were a little more like Zane, a pain in the neck who didn’t care what anybody thought of him. A Tangle of Knots
  9. at first hand
    from the original source; directly
    After all, they were not designed to be seen at first hand, but through a lens, on a screen. The Guardian (Oct 12, 2012)
  10. single-handed
    unsupported by other people
    Anatole speaks French and English both, and single-handedly runs the school all by himself. The Poisonwood Bible
  11. thick-skinned
    insensitive to criticism
    He was regarded as thick-skinned and insensitive—even cruel. East of Eden
  12. thin-skinned
    quick to take offense
    It’s hard to imagine anyone, thin-skinned or not, objecting to this. New York Times (Jun 16, 2011)
  13. secondhand
    by indirect means
    “I experienced a lot of secondhand embarrassment, which I think is worse than firsthand embarrassment,” she said. Washington Post (Dec 23, 2020)
  14. eye-popping
    amazingly impressive
    Once you’ve visually adjusted to the eye-popping scenery, your eyes pop once more. Forbes (Apr 2, 2013)
  15. sound bite
    a very short speech; usually on radio or television
    Their remarks are cut down to the briefest of sound bites, delivering specific bits of information that drive the movie ahead. The New Yorker (Aug 29, 2019)
Created on Fri Sep 10 14:09:29 EDT 2021 (updated Tue Sep 14 12:54:39 EDT 2021)

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