人体部位和英语习语

1. Head

The head is thought to be the most important part of the human body. So a leader is

often compared to a head (首脑). Thus we have Head of State or the head of a

delegation. The head is where the brain is located. It is naturally associated with

ideas and intelligence. Very often, we need other people's ideas and opinions when we

want to do something well. The is because two heads are better than one (三个臭皮匠顶

个诸葛亮).

2. Eye

The eyes are extremely precious to us. That is why we say" Mind your eye (当心)! when

we reminding someone to be careful.

Not only human beings and animals have eyes, many things also have" eyes"- the eyes

of a ship, the eye of a needle, the eye of a typhoon, and so on.

3. Ear

The ear is the organ of hearing. A piece of light music is easy on the ear. (悦耳动听

). We are usually all ears (专心聆听) for bit news.

When they think somebody is overhearing, English people use either of the two

proverbs: Walls have ears (隔墙有耳) and Pitchers have ears (壶罐有耳). They also

think that little pitchers have big ears（小孩子耳朵尖）. Nice boys and girls respect

other people. They will not secretly listen to others' private conversations.

4. Nose

The English phrase "face to face (面对面)" and its Chinese counterpart（对应） are

exactly the same. But English people, to express the same idea, can say nose to nose

instead. There is no such substitute in Chinese.

The word nose appears in many idioms. Here are two which are quite similar to their

Chinese equivalents: lead somebody by the nose (牵着某人的鼻子走) and turn up one's

nose at somebody or something (对某人或某物嗤之一鼻）.

English people can say as plain as the nose in one's face (一清二楚) to mean "very

obvious". May be to them, the nose is the most conspicuous part of the face.

5. Lip

We have two lips: the upper lip and the lower lip. If one's two lips are closed, one

cannot speak. So it goes without saying that "don't open your lips (不要开口)" means

" don't speak".

His lips are sealed. Are his lips really stuck together by wax or glue? No, his lips

are sealed when asked about something that he must keep secret. Sometimes a top

secret is betrayed because it has escaped someone's lips (脱口而出). Then the

incident may become a piece of news that is on everybody's lips (众口相传).

6. Tongue

We all know we cannot speak without the tongue. So the tongue is closely related to

speech. To hold one's tongue (保持沉默) means "to keep silent". A person who has too

much tongue (太多嘴) is disliked by all, for he is too talkative. Mother tongue is

not the tongue of a mother: it is a person's native language.

"Don't you have a moth below your nose (你鼻子底下不是有张嘴吗)?" The Chinese say so

to blame a person who did not say what he should have said. But this not the right

way to express the idea in English. English people would say, "You have a tongue in

your head, haven't you?"

7. Face

Face has to do with the idea of respect and dignity both in Chinese and English. You

lose your face (丢面子) if you fail again and again, but a decisive victory will save

your face (挽回面子) after all your failures.

When you feel unhappy, you pull a long face (拉长脸). The idea is conveyed in Chinese

in the same way. But "about face (向后转)" does not refer to the face. It is a

military order to turn round and face in the opposite direction. It is the exact

equivalent of " about turn".

8. Shoulder

The shoulders can bear heavy things. Your father has a great responsibility for the

family on his shoulder. When faced with difficulty, the family should stand shoulder

to shoulder (肩并肩) to overcome it. You should not turn a cold shoulder (不理睬) to

your family members. Nor should you give your friends the cold shoulder (冷落朋友).

Both expressions mean treating others coldly.

9. Back

A good host is hospitable to his guests. But, if guest is tiresome, the host is glad

to see his back (他离开).

If your friend has done something really well, you may give him a pat on the back (轻

轻拍背部) to show your appreciation.

If you turn your back on somebody (不理睬他人), you mean you do not like making

friends with that person.

10. Heart

The heart is an extremely important organ inside the chest. It usually stands for

something important or the centre of something, for example, the heart of the matter

(问题的核心) or the heart of mystery.

Many other expressions make use of the word heart. A lover can be called a sweet

heart (情人). The Purple Heart (紫心徽章) is a medal given as an honor to American

soldiers wounded in battle.

If your friend is in trouble, you may encourage him by saying "Don't lose heart (不要

灰心)."

11. Stomach

The stomach is naturally related to one's appetite. If you dislike heavy food, you

have no stomach for it (反胃). The word is also related to one's interests or

likings. If you find something boring or vulgar, you have no stomach for it, either.

Bad food turns your stomach. Similarly, your stomach turns at a bad joke.

Stomach can also be a verb. Look at this example: "How could you stomach (忍受) such

rude words?" Apparently, stomach here can be replaced by "tolerate".

12. Arm

Every person has two arms: the right arm and the left arm. The right arm is usually

stronger, so we call a good helper the right arm (得力助手).

We all know an arm is not very long. But when you keep someone at arm's length (保持

距离), the distance is long enough. For that means you don not like that person and

you try your best to avoid him or her. We should indeed keep the bad friends at arm's

length.

13. Hand

Quite a number of phrases formed form the word hand are very similar to their Chinese

counterparts. Here are some obvious examples: a fresh hand (新手), short of hands (人

手短缺), hand in hand (手拉手) and wash one's hands of something (洗手不干了). But do

not always take this for granted. Study these examples and you will understand.

He lives from hand to mouth (He has just enough money to live on). We gave them a big

hand (We gave them lots of applause).

14. Finger

How many fingers does each of your hands have? Now let's name them in English from

the smallest: the little finger, the ring finger, the middle finger, the index finger

and thumb. Each finger has its own part to play. If your fingers are all thumbs (笨拙

), that is too bad. That means you are very clumsy.

15. Thumb

Chinese people turn up their thumbs to express appreciation. English people do so to

express not only appreciation but also approval. Chinese people never turn their

thumbs down to mean anything. But English people do. They do so to show depreciation

disapproval. Thus in English you can say, "We turn thumbs up (赞成) to Jack's

suggestion but they turn thumbs down (不赞成) to it."

Similarly, you can warmly praise someone by saying "Thumbs up (真棒)!" and show your

dissatisfaction by saying "Thumbs down (差劲)!"

16. Skin

Most people will only think of the hair on our head when the word hair is mentioned.

In fact, some animals and plants also have hair.

A horrible scene may make a person's hair stand on end (毛骨悚然). But a courageous

person will not turn a hair (不畏惧) even though he is in face of danger.

Sometimes, a friend of yours may be so angry that he may act foolishly. Then you had

better give him this advice: "Keep your hair on (别发脾气)".

Selected from the book The Human Body by Huang Juanhua