A person who is in bad physical condition is described as being "in bad shape". The document provides definitions for several idioms relating to health, fitness, and the human body. Phrases explained include "back on your feet", "back into shape", "bag of bones", "full of beans", and "black out".
A person who is in bad physical condition is described as being "in bad shape". The document provides definitions for several idioms relating to health, fitness, and the human body. Phrases explained include "back on your feet", "back into shape", "bag of bones", "full of beans", and "black out".
A person who is in bad physical condition is described as being "in bad shape". The document provides definitions for several idioms relating to health, fitness, and the human body. Phrases explained include "back on your feet", "back into shape", "bag of bones", "full of beans", and "black out".
condition. I really am in bad shape. I must do more exercise. back on your feet If you are back on your feet, after an illness or an accident, you are physically healthy again. My grandmother had a bad 'flu but she's back on her feet again. back into shape To get yourself back into shape, you need to take some exercise in order to become fit and healthy again. Eva decided she'd have to get back into shape before looking for a job. bag of bones To say that someone is a bag of bones means that they are extremely thin. When he came home from the war he was a bag of bones. full of beans A person who is full of beans is lively, active and healthy. He may be getting old but he's still full of beans. black out If you black out, you lose consciousness. When Tony saw the needle, he blacked out. blind as a bat Someone whose vision is very poor, or who is unable to see anything, is (as) blind as a bat. Without his glasses, the old man is as blind as a bat. blue around the gills If a person looks blue around gills, they look unwell or (also: green or pale) sick. You should sit down. You look a bit blue around the gills. feel blue To feel blue means to have feelings of deep sadness or depression. I'm going to see my grandmother. She's feeling a bit blue at the moment. kick the bucket To kick the bucket is a lighthearted way of talking about death. He will inherit when his grandfather kicks the bucket. cast iron stomach If you can eat all sorts of food and drink what you like, without any indigestion, discomfort or bad effects, it is said that you have a cast-iron stomach. I don't know how you can eat that spicy food. You must have a cast-iron stomach. clean bill of health If a person has a clean bill of health, they have a report or certificate declaring that their health is satisfactory. All candidates for the position must produce a clean bill of health. off colour If you are off colour, you look or feel ill. What's the matter with Tom? He looks a bit off colour today. dead as a doornail This expression is used to stress that a person is very definitely dead. At the end of the winter they found the old man as dead as a doornail. (like) death warmed If you look like death warmed up, you look very ill or up tired. My boss told me to go home. He said I looked like death warmed up. die with one's boots A person who dies with their boots on dies while still on leading an active life. He says he'll never retire. He'd rather die with his boots on! dogs are barking When a person says that their dogs are barking they mean that their feet are hurting. I've been shopping all day. My dogs are barking!
fight tooth and nail If you fight
tooth and nail for something, you fight with energy and determinatio n. The Transport Minister fought tooth and nail to have the proposed road safety law accepted. first out of the gate If you are first out of the gate, you are the first to make a start at something that others have also accepted to do. Sandra was so enthusiastic about the project that she was first out of the gate. fly by seat of pants If you fly by the seat of your pants, you do something without any knowledge or experience, using only your instinct and hoping that you will succeed. Without any formal training, he decided to fly by the seat of his pants and try his luck in New York. go the extra mile If you go the extra mile, you do more than what is expected of you. You can count on Tom; he's always willing to go the extra mile. go to great lengths (or pains) When trying to achieve something, if you go to great lengths, you do everything that is possible in order to succeed. The two parties went to great lengths to reach an agreement. go into overdrive If someone or something g oes into overdrive, they begin to work very hard or start to perform intensely. At the start of every new collection my imagination goes into overdrive. going places To say that someone is going places mean s that they show talent and ability that will no doubt lead to a successful future. Even at college it was obvious that Paul was going places. keep nose to grindstone A person who keeps their nose to the grindstone is someone who concentrates on working or studying hard. She was so determined to get into the college of her choice that she kept her nose to the grindstone all year. hang in there This expression is used to encourage someone to persevere and not give up in spite of the difficult circumstanc es. I know the atmosphere is very tense, but just hang in there and things will eventually calm down. hang on by fingernails When you hang on by the fingernails, y ou succeed in continuing to do something in a very difficult situation. The restaurant is losing more and more customers; the owner is just hanging on by his fingernails. have one's heart set on Someone who has their heart set on somethin g is determined to obtain something they want very much. From an early age Tiger had his heart set on becoming a professional golfer. hell-bent on something If you are hell-bent on doing something, you are recklessly determined to do it, even if it is dangerous or stupid. Although he is still weak, he's hell- bent on playing the match. hitch one's wagon to a star Someone who hitches their wagon to a star has great ambitions and is very determined to reach their goal. At an early age she decided to hitch her wagon to a star and become famous. a long row to hoe A difficult task, assignment or undertaking that will take a long time is a long row to hoe. Getting through medical school is going to be a long row to hoe.
make headway If you make headway, you make progress in what you are trying to achieve. Investigators have made little headway in their search for the causes of the catastrophe. mean business If someone means business, they are serious about what they announce. The boss says that in future any missing material will be reported to the police, and he looks as though he means business. never say die You can say 'never say die' to encourage someone to persevere in their efforts and not give up or abandon their project. Keep going - it's too soon to give up. Never say die! paddle your own If you paddle your own canoe, you do what you want to canoe do without help or interference from anyone. He decided to paddle his own canoe and set up his own business. pound the Someone who pounds the pavement walks the streets or pavement goes from company to company, usually in search of employment. (You can also pound the pavement in an effort to raise funds or gain support for a cause.) Charlie is out there pounding the pavement since he lost his job. pull out all the If you pull out all the stops, you do everything you can to stops make something successful. We'll have to pull out all the stops to get the store ready for the opening day. punch above If you punch above your weight, you try to perform at a one's weight level that is beyond your ability. She submitted her idea for the 'invention of the year' award, knowing that she was punching above her weight. reach for the If you reach for the moon, you are very ambitious and try moon to achieve something even if it is difficult. His parents were hardworking people who encouraged their children to reach for the moon. raise/lower your If you raise/lower your sights, your raise or lower your sights expectations, or you are more or less ambitious. He had to lower his sights and accept a less well-paid job than what he hoped for. sink your teeth If you sink your teeth into something, you do it with a lot into of energy and enthusiasm. When Julie got promoted, she immediately sank her teeth into her new job. sky's the limit To say the sky's the limit means that there is no limit to the possibility of success or progress for someone or something. "How successful do you think the project will be?" "Who knows ... the sky's the limit!" stand one's If you stand your ground you maintain your position and ground refuse to yield or give way. He claimed innocence and stood his ground in spite of the repeated accusations. stick to one's If you stick to your guns, you show determination when guns faced with opposition. The government stuck to its guns in spite of the criticism. stop at nothing Someone who would stop at nothing would do anything, even something illegal or immoral, to obtain what they want. He's stop at nothing if there was a possibility of making money. wait in the wings If someone is waiting in the wings, they are waiting for an opportunity to take action, especially to replace someone else in their job or position. There are many young actors waiting in the wings ready to show their talent.