Idioms and Proverbs (Level 3)

Idioms (Body Part Idioms)

気がきく (きがきく)

To be thoughtful; to be considerate

口が軽い (くちがかるい)

To be talkative; unable to keep secrets

鼻が高い (はながたかい)

To be proud; feeling superior

開いた口がふさがらない (あいたくちがふさがらない)

To be dumbfounded; speechless from shock

気が遠くなる (きがとおくなる)

To feel overwhelmed; to feel faint

首を長くする (くびをながくする)

To eagerly look forward to something

心が通う (こころがかよう)

To understand each other well; to have mutual feelings

手が空く (てがあく)

To be free; to have free time

骨を折る (ほねをおる)

To put in great effort; to work hard

目から鱗が落ちる (めからうろこがおちる)

To suddenly understand something; a revelation

Proverbs

さるも木から落ちる (さるもきからおちる)

Even monkeys fall from trees; even experts make mistakes

石橋をたたいて渡る (いしばしをたたいてわたる)

To take precautions; to be overly cautious (literally, "tap a stone bridge before crossing")

七転び八起き (ななころびやおき)

To get up after falling seven times; perseverance; never giving up