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ENGLISH  IDIOMS  &  IDIOMATIC  EXPRESSIONS

(idioms used in everyday conversational English, with their meaning)
BLOOD  -  BONES  -  SKIN
 

 


Idiom

Meaning

 

  That makes my blood boil!   If something makes your blood boil, it makes you really angry.
  "His condescending attitude made my blood boil!"
  Make your blood run cold   If something makes your blood run cold, it shocks or scares
  you a lot.
 
"The look in the prisoner's eyes made my blood run cold."
  Blood, sweat and tears   A project or action which involves blood, sweat and tears
 
requires a lot of effort and hard work.

  "His success wasn't due to luck; it was blood, sweat and
  tears
all the way."
  Bag of bones   To say that someone is a bag of bones means that they are
  extremely thin.
 
"When he came home from the war he was a bag of bones."
  To have a bone to pick with
  somebody           
  To say that you have a bone to pick with somebody means
  that you are annoyed with them and want to talk to them about it.
  Bone of contention   A bone of contention is a matter or subject about which there
  is a lot of disagreement.
  "The salaries have been agreed on, but opening on Sundays
  remains a bone of contention."
  Make no bones about
  something
  If you make no bones about something, you do not hesitate to
  express your thoughts or feelings about it, even if it is
  embarrassing.
  Throw someone a bone   If you throw someone a bone, you say something kind or
  reward them in some way to make them feel good.
  "The old man can't help very much but Bill throws him a bone
  now and then to keep him happy."
  Work your fingers to the bone   A person who works their fingers to the bone is extremely
  hardworking.
  "He deserves his success; he worked his fingers to the bone
  when he started the business."
  Skin someone alive
 
  If you are angry and threaten to skin someone alive, you mean
  that you are going to punish them severely.
 
"If that kid damages my car again, I'll skin him alive!"
  By the skin of your teeth   To do something by the skin of your teeth means that
  you just manage to do it, but that you almost fail.
  "He passed the driving test by the skin of his teeth."
  It's no skin off my nose    To use this expression means that you don't care if something
  happens.
  "It's no skin off my nose if he doesn't accept the invitation -
  I don't care one way or another."
  Jump out of your skin   If you jump out of your skin, you are extremely surprised or
  shocked.    
  "Jane nearly jumped out of her skin when the horse put its head
  through the window!
  All skin and bone   If someone is all skin and bone, they are very thin, or too thin
 
"After trekking in the Himalayas, he was all skin and bone."
  (Put) skin in the game   If you put skin in the game, you show your confidence in a company
  by making a considerable investment or financial commitment.
  "I got good news today. Apparently a serious investor is willing to
  put skin in the game."
  There's more than one way
  to skin a cat 
  This expressions means that there are many different ways of achieving
 something
  "How about trying a different method?  There's more than one way
  to skin a cat you know!"
 

 


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