Learn English » Grade 8 English Vocabulary

Grade 8 English Vocabulary

Idioms using human body parts - finger, thumb and hand

• The plan has been given the thumbs up/down
  - has been approved (up) or rejected (down).
• That office block sticks/stands out like a sore thumb next to such a beautiful park.
  – looks different from everything else in its environment (in a negative sense).
• As a rule of thumb, always write down the code.
  - As a general, useful rule
• The boss has given me a free hand at work.
  - Allows me to take whatever action I want to
• Things got out of hand and the police arrived.
  - Got out of control.
• I don’t really have any first-hand knowledge of nature conservation.
  - Direct/from experience
• That restaurant has changed hands twice.
  - Been sold to a new owner
• I have my hands full with three children.
  - Am very busy/have a lot of things to do.
• I’d like to try my hand at scuba-diving one day.
  - Try it for the first time.
• Give me a hand with this big box, will you?
  - Help me, e.g. to carry lift it
• I have washed my hands off the whole project as it caused so many problems.
  - Stopped being involved in
• I always like to have a dictionary to hand when I’m reading English newspapers.
  - Available; nearby
• Rosa had all the statistics at her fingertips.
  - Remembers and quotes easily
• I think I have put my finger on the problem.
  - Identify what is wrong.
• Jane never lifts a finger at home.
  - Never helps out.
• Paula has really got green fingers.
  - Everything she plants seem to grow beautifully.
• He got his fingers burnt in a financial deal in 1998.
  - Suffered badly and lost a lot of money at the time.
• I am getting my exam results tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed for me!
  - Hope for good luck

Worksheet

Rewrite the underlined part of each sentence with an idiom.

• I think it would be good if you got some direct experience of working in a poor country before working for an aid organisation at home.
• Jerry has withdrawn completely from the club committee. He was so disgusted that he just quit, and never wants to see any of them again.
• That new power station on the coast is such an ugly sight! You’d think they would have built it to blend in with the landscape.
• Have you ever had a go at water-skiing? My sister’s got a boat if you would like to try.
• I always have to have the cookbook right next to me when I’m trying out a new recipe.
• The Director of Police said that he has identified the cause of the mysterious disappearance of the woman.

Answers

• First-hand
• Washed his hands off
• Sticks out like a sore thumb
• Tried your hand
• To hand
• Put his finger on