Body idioms F & H

Match the following expressions to their definitions. Then make some examples of your own with them.
  1. I can't face going to work tomorrow. The boss has called a meeting for first thing in the morning.
  2. I stayed out all night drinking with my friends. When I got home, I had to face the music from my wife.
  3. Let's face it, we both know that this relationship is going nowhere.
  4. He was going to change career but he got cold feet.
  5. She eventually found a job with an international firm. She always manages to land on her feet.
  6. I've put my foot in it again. I asked Sarah where her husband was. I didn't realize that they had broken up.
  7. You should put your foot down otherwise your boss will think that he can call you whenever he wants.
  8. I knew there was something wrong but I couldn't put my finger on what it was.
  9. I was all fingers and thumbs and I dropped the ipad.
  10. At the end of a difficult week she went out with her friends and let her hair down.
  11. The party started to get out of hand and some of the neighbours called the police.
  12. I've been explained the rules many times but I still can't get my head round them.
  13. I'm going to try to learn all the questions and answers by heart.
  14. The government has had a change of heart - they are not going ahead with their plans to expel the refugees.
  15. She had her heart set on getting that post. I hope she finds a job soon.
A. we need to accept the truth.
B. a feeling of clumsiness.
C: to really want to get or achieve stg
D: to say stg that causes sb to be embarrassed or upset
E: to accept criticisim or punishment for stg you have done
F: to allow yourself to behave more freely than usual and have fun
G: to be able to repeat stg from memory
H: to lose courage
I: to use your authority to stop stg happening
J: unable to be controlled
K: to discover the exact reason why a situation is the way it is
L: unable to understand stg
M: to not want to do or deal with stg unpleasant
N: a different opinion or way of feeling about stg
O: to be successful or lucky

Comments

JosĂ© said…
Hi Graham, this is a homework of mine. It’s no necessary that you check it because all is correct. I’m not like Montse who makes a lot of mistakes

1 I can't face going to work tomorrow. The boss has called a meeting for first thing in the morning. C
2. I stayed out all night drinking with my friends. When I got home, I had to face the music from my wife. E
3. Let's face it, we both know that this relationship is going nowhere. K
4. He was going to change career but he got cold feet. H
5. She eventually found a job with an international firm. She always manages to land on her feet. O
6. I've put my foot in it again. I asked Sarah where her husband was. I didn't realize that they had broken up. D
7. You should put your foot down otherwise your boss will think that he can call you whenever he wants. I
8. I knew there was something wrong but I couldn't put my finger on what it was. A
9. I was all fingers and thumbs and I dropped the ipad. B
10. At the end of a difficult week she went out with her friends and let her hair down. M
11. The party started to get out of hand and some of the neighbours called the police. J
12. I've been explained the rules many times but I still can't get my head round them. L
13. I'm going to try to learn all the questions and answers by heart. G
14. The government has had a change of heart - they are not going ahead with their plans to expel the refugees. N
15. She had her heart set on getting that post. I hope she finds a job soon. F

I’m going to write the phrasal verbs with the translation in Spanish:
Face the music: Afrontar las consecuencias.
Let face: Seamos realistas.
Get cold feet: Echarse atrás.
Land feet: Caer de pie.
Put foot: Meter la pata.
Put down: Ponerse en su sitio.
Put finger on: Dar en el clavo.
Fingers and thumbs: Estar nervioso.
Let down: Decepcionar.
Get out of hand: Irse de las manos.
Can’t get my head round them: No se entienden.
By heart: De memoria.
Change of heart: Cambiar de opinion.
Have heart: Ser compasivo.
But although all is correct, you have to check it, Graham, because you are the best.

See you.
Graham said…
Hi José,

Like phrasal verbs, it's a long road to being able to use idioms with confidence. I can understand the Spanish expressions you gave (yes, even if I hadn't seen the English euqiivalent) but I wouldn't be able to use all of them. So what I'm trying to say is take it easy. :-)

Allow me to correct the odd mistake:

This is some homework of mine. See: http://madteachergraham2.blogspot.com.es/2012/02/common-uncountables.html

It's not necessary to correct it because...
Graham said…
You have found all of the definitions except for:

1 - M
3 - A
8 - K
10 - F
15 - C

Not perfect but then again, who is? :D