If you’ve already introduced body-related idioms in Part 1 and Part 2 of this series, your students have probably started to notice that English loves using the body to describe emotions, decisions, and relationships. From heads and hearts to hands and feet, these expressions appear everywhere in everyday conversation.

In this final installment, we’re wrapping up the series with 10 more body-related idioms to teach your students. By the end, they’ll have a full set of full, memorable expressions to add to their language toolbox!

1) Trust your gut

Definition: To follow your instinct or intuition

Example: I wasn’t sure about the job offer, but I decided to trust my gut.

2) Lend an ear

Definition: To listen carefully to someone

Example: Thanks for lending me an ear when I needed to talk.

3) Keep your fingers crossed

Definition: To hope for good luck

Example: I have my driving test tomorrow, keep your fingers crossed!

4) Stick your neck out

Definition: To take a risk or defend an opinion

Example: She stuck her neck out and suggested a completely new strategy.

5) Have blood on your hands

Definition: To be responsible for a serious mistake or harm

Example: The company had blood on its hands after ignoring safety warnings.

6) Not see eye to eye

Definition: To disagree with someone

Example: We don’t see eye to eye at all on politics.

7) Pull someone’s leg

Definition: To joke or tease someone

Example: Relax! I’m just pulling your leg.

8) Break someone’s heart

Definition: To cause deep emotional sadness

Example: When my girlfriend left me, it broke my heart.

9) Have a big mouth

Definition: To talk too much or reveal secrets

Example: I can’t tell him the surprise, he has a big mouth!

10) Be the backbone of something

Definition: To be the main support of something

Example: Teachers are the backbone of the education system.

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And that wraps up our 30 body-related idioms! Of course, English has many more expressions like these, so feel free to do your own research and continue introducing new idioms to your students. The more idioms your learners encounter, the more confident they’ll become in understanding natural conversations and expressing themselves like native speakers.