English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
BODY IDIOMS:
NOSE
Idioms
from: 'nose out of joint'
to: 'win by a 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"
- If something puts your nose out of joint, it offends or annoys you.
- follow your 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."
- If you follow your nose, you go straight ahead.
- 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."
- A person who keeps their nose clean
behaves well and avoids trouble.
- keep nose to the grindstone
- A person who keeps their nose to the grindstone is
someone who concentrates on working or studying hard.
"Carla was so determined to get into the college of her choice that she kept her nose to the grindstone all year."
- A person who keeps their nose to the grindstone is
someone who concentrates on working or studying hard.
- 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."
- Someone who is led by the nose is dominated or
controlled by a person or group who makes them do exactly what they want.
- 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."
- If someone looks down their nose at a person or
thing, they consider that person or thing as inferior.
- 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."
- To use this expression means that you don't care if
something happens.
- 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."
- If you turn up your nose at something,
you reject it because you think it is not good enough for you.
- 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."
- When there is a very slight difference between
the winner and the other competitors, victory is won by a nose.
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Please note that British English spelling is used on this website.