English Idioms & Idiomatic Expressions
Body idioms
Nose
| nose out of joint | If something puts
your nose out of joint, it offends
or annoys you. When he discovered he wasn't on the invitation list, that really put his nose out of joint! |
| follow one's nose | If you follow
your nose, you go straight ahead. This can also mean to follow your instinct in life. The station is at the end of the road - just follow your nose. |
| keep your nose clean | A person who keeps their nose clean
behaves well and avoids trouble. He spent a term in prison a few years ago but he's kept his nose clean ever since. |
| keep nose to the grindstone | A person who
keeps their nose to the grindstone is
someone who concentrates on working or
studying hard. She was so determined to get into the college of her choice that she kept her nose to the grindstone all year. |
| led by the nose | Someone who is
led by the nose is dominated or
controlled by a person or group who makes
them do exactly what they want. Jack has always been led by the nose by his mother. |
| look down one's nose | If someone
looks down their nose at a person or
thing, they consider that person or thing as
inferior. Intellectuals often look down their noses at amusement parks and such. |
| no skin off someone's 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. |
| turn up one's nose | If you turn up
your nose at something, you reject it
because you think it is not good enough for
you. He's out of work, but he turns up his nose at any job he's offered. |
| win by a nose | When
there is a very slight difference between
the winner and the other competitors,
victory is won by a nose. One second ahead of the others, he won by a nose. |