|
Idiom |
Meaning |
|
Teeth |
|
Grit your teeth |
When you are determined to do something in spite
of the difficulties involved,
you grit your teeth.
"To reach safety I had to wade through the mud, so I just had to grit
my teeth." |
|
By
the skin of your
teeth |
To do something by the skin of your teeth
means that you just manage
to do it, but that you almost fail. |
|
Sink
your teeth into something
|
If you sink your teeth into something, you do it with a lot of energy
and
enthusiasm.
"When Julie got promoted, she immediately sank her teeth into her new job." |
|
Tongue |
|
Bite
your tongue |
If you bite your tongue, you try not to say what you really
think or feel.
"It was difficult for me not to react; I had to bite my
tongue." |
|
Tongue-tied |
If
you are tongue-tied, you have difficulty in expressing yourself
because you are nervous or embarrassed.
"At the start of the interview I was completely tongue-tied,
but little by little I relaxed." |
|
On the tip of your
tongue
|
To
say that a word or an answer is
on the tip of your tongue means
that you're sure you know it but have difficulty finding it.
"What's that actor's name? Wait ... I know it - it's on the tip of my
tongue!" |
|
Tongue in cheek |
If you describe a remark as tongue in cheek, you mean that it is not
meant to be taken seriously; it is meant to be funny or ironic.
"Peter's remark was taken more seriously than intended.
It was supposed to be tongue in cheek." |