English Idioms and Expressions
Idioms: Feelings, Emotions and Reactions-4
from: 'open old wounds' to: 'in a stitherum'
- open (or reopen) old wounds
- If you open or reopen old wounds you revive memories of an unpleasant event, situation or dispute that took place in the past.
"He carefully avoided the subject so as not to open old wounds."
- If you open or reopen old wounds you revive memories of an unpleasant event, situation or dispute that took place in the past.
- (have) pins and needles
- To have pins and needles is to have a tingling sensation in a part of the body,
for example an arm or a leg, when it has been in the same position for a long time.
"I lay curled up for so long that I had pins and needles in my legs."
- To have pins and needles is to have a tingling sensation in a part of the body,
for example an arm or a leg, when it has been in the same position for a long time.
- (on) pins and needles
- If you are on pins and needles, you are very anxious or nervous about what is going to happen.
"Scott was on pins and needles while he waited for the result of the exam."
- If you are on pins and needles, you are very anxious or nervous about what is going to happen.
- pour your heart out
- If you pour your heart out to someone, you express your feelings freely.
"When she needs to pour her heart out to someone, Elsa goes to visit her grandmother."
- If you pour your heart out to someone, you express your feelings freely.
- (as) proud as a peacock
- A person who is as proud as a peacock is extremely proud.
"When his son won first prize, Bill was as proud as a peacock."
- A person who is as proud as a peacock is extremely proud.
- proud/pleased as punch
- Someone who is as proud or pleased as punch is delighted or feels very satisfied about something.
"Dad was as proud as punch when he won the tennis match."
- Someone who is as proud or pleased as punch is delighted or feels very satisfied about something.
- pull yourself together
- When you pull yourself together you become calm again, manage to control your emotions and behave normally after an upsetting event.
"Give me time to pull myself together before I announce the bad news to the family."
- When you pull yourself together you become calm again, manage to control your emotions and behave normally after an upsetting event.
- put your foot in your mouth
- If you put your foot in your mouth, you say something that offends, upsets or embarrasses someone.
"Jenny really put her foot in her mouth when she mentioned the housewarming party - Andy hadn't been invited."
- If you put your foot in your mouth, you say something that offends, upsets or embarrasses someone.
- reduce someone to tears
- If your behaviour or attitude makes someone cry, you reduce them to tears.
"The teacher criticised her presentation so harshly that she was reduced to tears."
- If your behaviour or attitude makes someone cry, you reduce them to tears.
- regain your composure
- If you regain your composure, you calm down and control your emotions again after a stressful or upsetting event.
"It took her a while to regain her composure after hearing the insulting remarks."
- If you regain your composure, you calm down and control your emotions again after a stressful or upsetting event.
- save face
- When someone saves face, they manage to avoid humiliation or embarrassment and preserve their dignity and the respect of others.
"They allowed him to save face by accepting his resignation."
- When someone saves face, they manage to avoid humiliation or embarrassment and preserve their dignity and the respect of others.
- (have a) soft spot
- If you have a soft spot for someone or something, you particularly like them.
"My grandfather has always had a soft spot for his first grandchild."
- If you have a soft spot for someone or something, you particularly like them.
- speak volumes
- If something speaks volumes, it expresses a reaction or opinion very clearly, with no need for words.
"The happy smile on the child's face when he opened the box spoke volumes about my choice of gift."
- If something speaks volumes, it expresses a reaction or opinion very clearly, with no need for words.
- a spring in your step
- If you walk with or have a spring in your step, you walk energetically with the appearance of being happy, confident and lively.
"Ever since she got a promotion, Emily has been walking with a spring in her step!’"
- If you walk with or have a spring in your step, you walk energetically with the appearance of being happy, confident and lively.
- stars in your eyes
- If someone has stars in their eyes, they are looking extremely happy.
"The contestant had stars in her eyes when she saw the car she had won."
- If someone has stars in their eyes, they are looking extremely happy.
- let off steam
- A person who lets off steam releases surplus energy or strong feelings either through intense physical activity
or by talking in an unrestrained manner.
"Let's bring the kids to the playground so they can let off steam."
- A person who lets off steam releases surplus energy or strong feelings either through intense physical activity
or by talking in an unrestrained manner.
- steamed up
- If someone gets steamed up about something, they become very angry, excited or enthusiastic about it.
"Calm down - there's no need to get all steamed up about it!"
- If someone gets steamed up about something, they become very angry, excited or enthusiastic about it.
- in a stew
- When someone is in a stew about something, they are worried and agitated.
"When she was organizing the wedding reception, Laura got into a stew over the seating arrangements."
- When someone is in a stew about something, they are worried and agitated.
- in a stitherum
- Someone who is (all) in a stitherum is excited, agitated or confused about something.
"The mayor's resignation created quite a stitherum in the town."
- Someone who is (all) in a stitherum is excited, agitated or confused about something.
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