40 body idioms

To have a gut feeling

Tener una corazonada

I have a gut feeling that something is wrong.

To have a soft spot for someone

Tener debilidad por alguien

I have a soft spot for my niece because she reminds me of myself at her age.

To have a chip on your shoulder

Tener una actitud resentida

He always has a chip on his shoulder because he thinks people don’t respect him enough.

To keep your chin up

Mantenerse optimista

Even though things aren’t going well, you should keep your chin up and keep trying.

To turn a blind eye

Hacer la vista gorda

The teacher turned a blind eye to the students cheating on the test.

To break a leg

Buena suerte

Break a leg on your audition today!

To have a sweet tooth

Ser goloso

My dad has a sweet tooth and loves eating dessert.

To stick your neck out

Arriesgarse

I stuck my neck out and offered to help, even though I wasn’t sure if I could do it.

To have a green thumb

Tener mano para las plantas

My mom has a green thumb and her garden is always full of beautiful flowers.

To have butterflies in your stomach

Tener mariposas en el estómago

I always get butterflies in my stomach before a job interview.

To have your head in the clouds

Tener la cabeza en las nubes

He has his head in the clouds and never pays attention to what’s going on around him.

To put your foot in your mouth

Meter la pata

I put my foot in my mouth and accidentally insulted her.

To be all ears

Estar todo oídos

I’m all ears, tell me what happened.

To have your back against the wall

Estar acorralado

I felt like I had my back against the wall and had no choice but to tell the truth.

To get cold feet

Echarse atrás

I was going to skydive, but I got cold feet at the last minute.

To be up to your neck in something

Estar hasta el cuello en algo

He’s up to his neck in debt and doesn’t know how to get out of it.

To be a pain in the neck

Ser un pesado

My neighbor is a pain in the neck and always complains about everything.

To have your heart in your mouth

Tener el corazón en la boca

I had my heart in my mouth when I saw the car accident happen right in front of me.

To have a skeleton in the closet

Tener un secreto oscuro

He has a skeleton in the closet and doesn’t want anyone to know about it.

To let your hair down

Relajarse

Let’s go out tonight and let our hair down.

To keep your fingers crossed

Cruzar los dedos

I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I’ll get the job.

To have eyes in the back of your head

Tener ojos en la nuca

My mom always seemed to have eyes in the back of her head and knew when I was up to no good.

To give someone the cold shoulder

Dar la espalda a alguien

She gave him the cold shoulder because she was still angry at him.

To have ants in your pants

Estar inquieto

The kids had ants in their pants

To be in over your head

Estar en problemas

He’s in over his head with the new project and needs more help.

To be a shoulder to cry on

Ser un hombro en el que llorar

I’m always here for you if you need a shoulder to cry on.

To have your hands tied

Tener las manos atadas

I wish I could help you, but my hands are tied and I can’t do anything.

To be under someone’s thumb

Estar bajo el yugo de alguien

She’s under her boss’s thumb and can’t make any decisions without their approval.

To stick to your guns

Mantenerse firme

I know it’s unpopular, but I’m going to stick to my guns on this issue.

By the skin of one’s teeth

Por los pelos

I almost missed my flight, but I made it by the skin of my teeth.

Cost an arm and a leg

Costar un ojo de la cara

The new car cost me an arm and a leg, but it was worth it.

Cry your eyes out

Llorar a moco tendido

When I saw the ending of the movie, I cried my eyes out.

Get something off your chest

Desahogarse

If you need to talk, I’m here to listen. Sometimes it’s good to get things off your chest.

Give/lend a hand

Echar una mano

Can you give me a hand with this heavy box?

Head over heels

Enamorado/a perdido/a

She’s head over heels in love with her new boyfriend.

Keep an eye on

Vigilar

Can you keep an eye on my suitcase while I go to the restroom?

Learn/know (off) by heart

Aprender/saber (de memoria)

She learned the song by heart after listening to it a few times.

My lips are sealed

Prometo no decir nada

I won’t tell anyone your secret, my lips are sealed.

Over my dead body

Solo si estoy muerto/a

She said she wanted to sell the house, but I said over my dead body.

Pat on the back

Palmadita en la espalda

He did a great job on the project, so I gave him a pat on the back.

Play something by ear

Improvisar

I don’t have a set plan for our vacation, I thought we could play it by ear and see what we feel like doing each day.