English idioms of the face

Face

face-to-face = in person: “We need to arrange a face-to-face meeting.”

face the music = take responsibility for a difficult situation: “We’ve got to face the music – this company is going under.”

face up to responsibilities = accept responsibilities: “You need to face up to your responsibilities – it’s time you got a job and started to save money.”

be two-faced = be hypocritical: “I can’t believe she told you that she likes Harry – she told me she hates him! She’s so two-faced!”

Ears

be all ears = listen attentively: “So, you’ve got an idea. I’m all ears.”

have an ear for = be good at music: “He’s doing well in his piano lessons – he’s definitely got an ear for music.”

keep your ears to the ground = listen out for something: “I’ll keep my ears to the ground – the next time I hear someone wants to rent out a flat, I’ll let you know.”

up to your ears in something = be extremely busy: “I’m sorry I can’t come out this weekend – I’m up to my ears in work.”

Eyes

keep your eyes peeled = watch extremely attentively: “Keep your eyes peeled for him – he’s in the crowd somewhere.”

keep an eye out for = watch for someone or something: “Keep an eye out for the next turning on the left.”

eye up = look at someone because you think they look nice: “Whenever she goes to a club, she always gets eyed up by older men.”

have your eye on something / someone = want someone or something: “I’ve got my eye on a new computer.”

have eyes in the back of your head = warn someone that you can see exactly what they are doing: “Don’t make those signs at me – I’ve got eyes in the back of my head!”

Other parts of the face

stick your nose in = get involved in something or someone else’s business: “I wish she wouldn’t stick her nose in like that – I really don’t want anyone else’s help.”

on the tip of my tongue = when you’ve forgotten the word you want to say: “What’s the word for it – it’s on the tip of my tongue…”

tongue-tied = when you can’t say anything because you feel shy: “She’s tongue-tied when she has to speak in public.”

by the skin of my teeth = just manage to do something: “He got out of the burning building by the skin of his teeth.”

cut your teeth on something = where you learn to do something: “He’s the best man to run the company – he cut his teeth in the Production Department and ran it successfully for years.”

teething problems = start-up problems with a new project: “We’re having teething problems with our distribution systems.”

have a cheek = be disrespectful: “He’s got a cheek saying you never help him – I saw you writing his report for him!”

a frog in my throat = when your throat tickles and makes you cough: “Sorry I can’t stop coughing – I’ve got a frog in my throat.”

stick your neck out = do or say something that might have negative results: “I’m going to stick my neck out and say what I think.”

be up to your neck in = be in a difficult situation: “He’s up to his neck in debt.”

breathe down someone’s neck = check constantly what someone else is doing: “I can’t write this letter with you breathing down my neck!”